AU2013100699A4 - Farm gate - Google Patents

Abstract

A gate, such as a farm gate (10) comprises a generally rectangular frame (12) and at least one support (14) extending from one side of the frame to another side for stiffening the frame. The support defines a plurality of notches or recesses. A mesh (24) is fixed to the gate, typically by welding and wires forming the mesh are located in the recesses. Advantageously, by locating the mesh in the notches the mesh contributes more to the structure of the gate with the result that the gate is stronger. The thickness of the gate is also reduced. .. .. . ... .. .. .. . . ......I ... Ax. ... .. ................ ..................

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 WHITES GROUP PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Farm gate The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a gate, in particular to a gate comprising a frame made from steel pipe or tubing and a mesh cover of the type that are commonly used on farms in Australia. 5 Background of the Invention There is a wide range of different farm gates on the market in Australia, Most farm gates consist of a galvanised steel pipe outer frame, internal pipe supports to brace the outer frame and a sheet of wire mesh welded over the frame and supporting pipe. 10 The size of the gate varies, and the internal supports range from simple vertical supports to more complex zigzag supports. While the gates are reasonably effective, they are not neat and such gates often have sharp edges where the exposed edges of the mesh sit on the frame. They can be damaged during transportation. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which 15 has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. 20 Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a gate, such as a farm gate or the like, comprising a generally rectangular outer frame and at least one support extending from one side of the frame to another side of the frame for stiffening the frame and a mesh fixed to the frame wherein the support defines a plurality of recesses and wherein 25 wires forming the mesh are located in the recesses. In a preferred embodiment, the mesh is fixed to the frame and to the support by welding. Preferably, the frame and support are formed from tubing, preferably galvanised steel tubing, having a circular cross-section. The support typically extends from a base 30 of the frame to a top of the frame. It is preferred that the mesh is welded towards the inside of the frame so that the distal face of the mesh is substantially co-planar with the face of the frame. Typically, the mesh is formed from arrays of parallel laterally extending wires and parallel longitudinally extending wires welded together and wherein the spacing 35 between the recesses in the support corresponds to the spacing between the longitudinal wires of the mesh. 2001408_1.doc 3 Advantageously, as the mesh sits inside notches in the internal supports, the overall thickness of the gate is reduced and the thickness of the gate is essentially the thickness of the tubes/pipes forming the frame rather than the thickness of the frame plus the mesh. 5 Further, the gate is stronger, as the mesh sitting in the notches becomes incorporated as part of the structure of the gate and adds to the strength of the gate, rather than just sitting to one side of the frame. The mesh is also better protected by the external frame, and damage to the mesh in use, and also during transport, is reduced. Gates are heavy and bulky and with 10 existing designs, the mesh component can be easily damaged during transportation. Brief Description of the Drawings Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 15 Figure 1 shows a photographic detail view of the central portion of an embodiment of a farm gate; Figure 2 is a side view of a pipe support showing notches; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section through a gate illustrating the wires of the 20 mesh located in the notches of the support; Figures 4 to 10 illustrate various gate designs having different internal supports. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a detail view of a mesh gate 10 25 embodying the invention, having an external generally rectangular frame 12 and a vertical support 14. The entire gate is shown in Figure 4. The external frame 12 is generally rectangular and is most typically made from galvanised steel pipe/tubing having a circular cross-section, although other suitable materials could be used. It includes a single vertical support 14 which extends from the base 12a of the frame to its 30 top 12b. The support 14 is welded to the frame 12 at its top 12b and bottom 12a and strengthens and stiffens it. A series of notches 20 or recesses, which are shown in Figure 1, but can best be seen in Figures 2 and 3, are formed in one side of the support 14. The notches are spaced apart at the same distance as the longitudinal spacing between laterally 35 extending wires 22 of a sheet of wire mesh 24, typically welded wire mesh, which is welded to the frame 12. 2001408_I.doc 4 The laterally extending wires 22 of the mesh locate in the notches 20 of the support pipe when the mesh is welded to the frame, so that the mesh sits inside the frame, rather than on top of the frame. Note that the outer frame 12 does not define notches. The mesh is fixed to the rectangular frame at a similar height when the gate is 5 laid flat on a horizontal surface so that it is welded at least partly to one side of and inside the frame near the top of the frame, but not on top of the frame. As a result, the overall thickness of the gate is equivalent to the thickness/diameter of the pipe forming the frame of the gate, as opposed to the thickness of the frame plus the thickness of the mesh. This results in a space saving 10 during transport and also results in a neater gate with an improved appearance. The mesh does not stick out and is less likely to cause damage due to sharp edges. The mesh is also better protected and is less likely to be damaged during transport. Advantageously, by locating the mesh in the notches the mesh contributes more to the structure of the gate with the result that the gate is stronger. 15 Figures 5 to 10 show alternative gate designs. The gate 30 of Figure 5 has two vertical supports 40, both of which define notches. Figures 6 and 7 show gates 50, 52 respectively, having a zig-zag or N shaped supports 42, 44 both of which define notches. Figures 8 and 9 show gates 60, 62 having diagonal supports 64, 66 which extend from one corner of the frame 12 to a diagonally opposite corner, both of which 20 supports define notches. Figure 10 shows a gate 70 having a notched V-shaped support 72. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present 25 embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 2001408_.doc

Claims (5)

1. A gate, such as a farm gate or the like, comprising a generally rectangular frame and at least one support extending from one side of the frame to another side of the frame for stiffening the frame, and a mesh fixed to the frame wherein the support 5 defines a plurality of recesses and wherein wires forming the mesh are located in the recesses.

2. A gate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is fixed to the frame and to the support by welding. 10

3. A gate as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein the frame and support are formed from tubing, preferably galvanised steel tubing having a circular cross-section and wherein the support extends from a base of the frame to a top of the frame. 15

4. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mesh is welded towards the inside of the frame rather than on top of the frame.

5. A gate as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mesh is formed from arrays of parallel laterally extending wires and parallel longitudinally extending wires 20 welded together and wherein the spacing between the recesses in the support corresponds to the spacing between the longitudinal wires of the mesh. 2001408_1.doc