AU2004100730A4 - Adjustable Gate Frames - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION

PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Agent and Address ORANA Incorporated James David Irwin and Michael William Curtin for Service: MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention Title: Adjustable Gate Frames The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

ADJUSTABLE GATE FRAME FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to gate frames and particularly gate frames for use with garden gates.

BACKGROUND

In installing a gate into a gate aperture it is usual to fasten a hinge side of the gate onto a gate post and have a latch on the gate to engage onto an opposed post. The distance between these posts and the desired height of a gate can vary and hence installing a gate in such a situation can be a problem.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved gate frame for such a system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one form therefore, although this may not necessarily be the only or broadest form the invention is said to reside in a gate frame assembly including a hinge post, a latch post and upper and lower rails extending between the hinge post and latch post, characterised by the upper and lower rails being telescoping to enable adjustment of the width of the gate frame.

Preferably the gate frame assembly further includes at least one angled brace extending between one of the posts and one of the rails.

Preferably the upper and lower rails are formed from inner and outer square tubes, the inner tube telescoping within the outer tube. Preferably the tubes are metal.

In a preferred embodiment the inner tubes are fixed to the latch post and the outer tubes are attached to the hinge post.

There may be further included a locking mechanism to hold the telescoping rails at a selected width. Preferably the locking mechanism is a screw, a clamp ot other mechanism.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the angled brace extends from the lower end of the hinge post to the outer end of the upper rail.

In a further embodiment there may be an intermediate rail between the upper and lower rails and extending between the gate post and latch post with the intermediate rail also being telescoping. Angled braces can extend from the hinge post to the intermediate rail or to the upper or lower rails.

There may be hinges affixed to the hinge post and a latch bar fixed to the latch post.

In one form the gate frame assembly further includes an upper portion having upper post portions adapted to extend in a telescopic manner into the hinge and latch posts respectively and an upper telescoping rail extending between the upper posts whereby the height of the gate frame can be varied.

Once the correct width of the gate frame has been determined and the locking mechanism such as a screw placed into the rails to extend through the inner and outer rails to lock the telescoping rails at a certain length then pickets or other facing can be put onto the gate frame.

In will be realised that mounting of the pickets or other facing onto the gate frame may also assist with fixing the amount of telescoping of the upper and lower rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This then generally describes the invention but to assist with understanding reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of gate frame according to the invention in the retracted position; Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in the extended position; Figure 3 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in an exploded configuration; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 shows a gate frame in the retracted position with pickets affixed to the frame; Figure 6 shows a gate frame in the expanded position with pickets affixed; Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of gate frame according to the invention; Figure 8 shows the embodiment of gate frame in Figure 7 in the extended position; and Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of gate frame according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Now looking more closely at the drawings an in particular the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, it will be seen that a gate frame 1 comprises a hinge post 3 with hinges 5 fixed to it. Extending from the hinge post there is an upper rail generally shown as 7 and a lower rail generally shown as 9.

As can be seen in more detail in Figure 2 the upper rail 7 includes an outer tube 11 and an inner tube 13 telescoping in the outer tube. Similarly the lower rail 9 includes an outer tube 15 and an inner tube 17 telescoping with in the outer tube 15. In each case the outer tubes 11 and 15 are fixed to the hinge post 3.

The inner tubes 13 and 17 are fixed to a latch post 19 which is essentially parallel with the hinge post 3. The latch post 19 includes a latch bar 20 to engage against a latch. Other forms of latch mechanism may also be used.

An angled brace 21 extends from lower down on the hinge post 3 to the outer end of the outer upper rail 11.

As can be particularly seen in Figure 4 it will be noted that the inner and outer tubes of the upper and lower rails are formed from square metal tube and the inner rail fits into and telescopes in the outer tube.

As can be particularly seen in Figure 4 apertures 23 are provided in the upper and lower outer rails so that when the selected width of the gate has been chosen then a screw may be placed through the aperture 23 into the inner tubular rails 13 and 17 respectively to lock the gate frame at that width. By this means an essentially continuous adjustment can be provided.

Figures 5 and 6 show the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4 with pickets 25 mounted onto the gates. It will be noted that in the retracted condition only five pickets fit on the gate but in the extended position nine pickets can be fitted onto it. It will be realised of course that any other number of pickets may also be used. Alternatively a flat panel type of gate cladding can be cut to size.

Figure 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of gate frame according to the invention. In this embodiment there are upper and lower rail assemblies 30 and 32 and an intermediate rail assembly 34. Angled braces 36 and 38 extend from the hinge post 40 to the intermediate rail. Figure 8 shows the embodiment of Figure 7 in the extended position but of course it will be realised that the any amount of extension may be possible depending upon the size of the gate needed.

Other configurations of angled brace 36 and 38 may be possible such as a brace extending from the hinge post 40 to the upper and lower rails 30 and 32.

The gate frame shown in Figures 1 to 6 may have a height of 750mm and a minimum width of 600mm and a maximum width of 1000mm.

The gate frame shown in Figures 7 and 8 may have a height of 1 3 50mm, a minimum width of 1000rm and a maximum width of 1 7 00mm. It will be realised of course that other ranges or dimensions may also be used.

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of gate frame according to the invention in which the height of the gate frame can be altered as well as the width.

The gate frame assembly of Figure 9 includes a hinge post 3 with hinges 5 fixed to it and a latch post 19. Extending from the hinge post there is an upper rail generally shown as 7 and a lower rail generally shown as 9. The upper rail 7 includes an outer tube 11 and an inner tube 13 telescoping in the outer tube. Similarly the lower rail 9 includes an outer tube 15 and an inner tube 17 telescoping with in the outer tube In each case the outer tubes 11 and 15 are fixed to the hinge post 3. The inner tubes 13 and 17 are fixed to the latch post 19 which is essentially parallel with the hinge post 3. Each of the hinge post 3 and the latch post 19 have an open upper end and telescoping upper hinge post 50 and telescoping upper latch post 52 are adapted to fit into the hinge post 3 and latch post 19 respectively. Extending between the telescoping upper hinge post 50 and telescoping upper latch post 52 is an upper telescoping rail formed from upper outer rail 56 and upper inner rail 58. By this arrangement not only can the width of the gate be varied but also the height of the gate frame can be varied. Suitable locking means such as a screw fastener may be used to set the correct height of gate frame. Such a screw fastener can be screwed through the hinge post into the upper hinge post and also a fastener may be screwed through the latch post into the upper latch post.

Throughout this specification various indications have been given as to the scope of this innovation but the innovation is not limited to any one of these but may reside in two or more of these combined together. The examples are given for illustration only and not for limitation.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (4)

1. A gate frame assembly including a hinge post, a latch post and upper and lower rails extending between the hinge post and latch post, characterised by the upper and lower rails being telescoping to enable adjustment of the width of the gate frame.

2. A gate frame assembly as in claim 1 further including at least one angled brace extending between one of the posts and one of the rails.

3. A gate frame assembly as in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower rails are formed from inner and outer square tube, the inner tube telescoping in the outer tube with the inner tubes affixed to the latch post and the outer tubes attached to the hinge post.

4. A gate frame assembly as in any one claim further including a locking mechanism to hold the telescoping rails at the selected width. A gate frame assembly as in any one claim further including an upper portion having upper post portions adapted to extend in a telescopic manner into the hinge and latch posts respectively and an upper telescoping rail extending between the upper posts whereby the height of the gate frame can be varied. Dated this Ist day of September,

2004. ORANA INCORPORATED By its Patent Attorneys MADDERNS