CA2448349A1

CA2448349A1 - Gate

Info

Publication number: CA2448349A1
Application number: CA 2448349
Authority: CA
Inventors: Anthony Gilbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-06
Filing date: 2003-11-06
Publication date: 2005-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-06
Also published as: CA2448349C

Abstract

A gate assembly is disclosed, having mechanically actuatable opening means, passive closing and locking means, manual override capability of said opening and closing means, and adjustable means for controlling gate opening and closing velocity and gate opening range.

Description

TITLE: GATE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a bi-directional gate having mechanically actuated opening means, passive closing and locking means, manual override capability of said opening and closing means, and adjustable means for controlling gate opening and closing velocity and fixed gate opening range.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ordinary gates for use in agricultural and other settings require manual opening and closing or rely on electrical or other remote-controlled means that require a power source for opening and closing. Ordinary manually operated gates require a person to unfasten and re-fasten the gate. Remote-controlled gates require a power source and a triggering means, typically in the form of a hand-held unit.
Both of these traditional gates present difficulties and inconvenience to gate users, particularly in the agricultural setting. For example, in an agricultural setting, a farmer driving a farm vehicle may find it difficult or inconvenient to repeatedly park the vehicle, exit the vehicle, open the gate, re-enter the vehicle, drive through the opened gate, and then exit the vehicle to close the gate to cross into another field. These inconveniences are compounded when the farmer gets older and has more physical difficulty getting up into and down out of his tractor, especially if the tractor sits very high off the ground, or in adverse weather conditions or if animals are kept in the fenced area that the gate encloses, due to the time the process of gate opening and closing takes and the potential for animals to get through the gate.
With respect to remote-controlled gates, these are expensive to install and repair, prohibitively so in the farming context where numerous gates are often required for livestock. It is inconvenient to have to keep track of one or several remote units in an agricultural vehicle, keep the remote unit clean, prevent the remote unit from being damaged and keep the remote unit charged, in order to activate a gate remotely. Remote-controlled gates may not function optimally or at all in harsh weather conditions. Additionally, with remote controlled gates, it is difficult to control the speed of opening and closing, and the width of opening and closing, which are important insofar as preventing the untimely escape or injury of livestock and enabling large agricultural vehicles to pass through the gate. A
farm gate should open to a sufficient width to enable a vehicle to pass through, and should close at a slow and steady speed to avoid trapping a vehicle or animal. Finally, gates in agricultural settings should not be able to be opened accidentally by livestock, a common problem with manually operable gates.
The present invention provides an inexpensive solution to overcoming all of the foregoing difficulties. Preferably, the gate has a mechanically-triggered opening means, adjustable opening range and velocity, and passive closing and locking means, with manual override opening and closing means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus, namely a gate and first and second gate posts according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and showing a cross-sectional view of a triggering means;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of the gate and first and second gate posts and also shows a preferred embodiment of the triggering means of Figure 1 in cross section in closed position Figure 3 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of the gate and first and second gate posts of Figure 2 in locked position, covered in weatherproof coating;
Figure 4 is a close up cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a latch means of the gate of Figure 2 in closed position;
Figure 5 is a front elevation view of a sleeve member of the gate and the second gate post of Figure 2 in closed position;
Figure 6 is a front elevation cross-sectional view of the sleeve member and the second gate post of Figure 5 in closed position;
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the sleeve member and the second gate post of Figure 6 in closed position;
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the sleeve member and the second gate post of Figure 5 in open position Figure 9 is a top view of the gate of Figure 2 moving from open position A
(dotted lines) to closed position B (solid lines) and the first gate post Figure 10 is a side elevation of a typical tractor and tractor bucket, with the tractor bucket activating the triggering means of Figure 2 Figure 11 is a front elevation of the gate and the first and second gate posts of Figure 2, with the triggering means depicted in cross section, just following impact by the tractor of Figure 10 on the triggering means (opening position) Figure 12 is a front elevation of the gate and first and second gate posts of Figure 2, with the triggering means depicted in cross section, in semi-closed position.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 1, a gate, generally indicated by reference numeral 1 comprising vertical support members 2, 3 and a plurality of horizontal support members 4, 5, 6, 7 disposed substantially perpendicular to said vertical support members 2, 3. Said gate 1 relates releasably with first gate post member 8 and is rotatably fixably attached to and supported by a second gate post member 9. Both said first and second gate post members are preferably disposed substantially parallel to said vertical support members, 2,3 and are preferably wall-mounted or fixed in the ground.

Preferably, a top horizontal support member 5 of said gate is adapted such that said top horizontal support member 5 houses a pressure sensitive triggering means 10 that relates with a latch means 11 of said gate such that said latch means 11 is retracted from a locked closed position following substantial force by a part of a vehicle, for example a tractor bucket, as shown at 12 in Fig.10, on said triggering means 10. Said triggering means 10 is preferably activated by significant lateral pressure.
As shown in Fig.2, said triggering means 10 is preferably a steel cable of a fixed length, affixed at a first end to a first vertical support member 2, then threaded through or traversing said top horizontal support member 5, then threaded over a first pulley 13 on a second vertical support member 3, then threaded over a second pulley 14 on a middle horizontal support member 6, then threaded through or traversing said middle horizontal support member 6 through a first spring means 15 and being affixed to a latch means 11. In a preferred embodiment, said triggering means 10 is of uniform tension except for a part of said triggering means 16 lying between said latch means 11 and said first spring means 15, which said part 16 remains slack and without tension until said triggering means 10 is activated, following which said part 16 becomes tense.
In a preferred embodiment said latch means 11 is slidable in a horizontal plane.
Preferably, said vertical support members 2, 3 are tall enough to place said triggering means 10 significantly higher than an average farm animal's head height, in order to avoid inadvertent triggering due to animal contact with said triggering means 10.
Preferably, said first spring means 15 is an ordinary compression spring that is pre-loaded to half compression, as shown in Fig.2. Ln response to activation by lateral pressure on said triggering means 10 , the tension in said triggering means 10 increases, resulting in tightening of said triggering means 10 and full compression of said first spring means 15, as shown in Fig.11, and retraction of said latch means 11 from a latch housing 12 located on said first gate post member 8. As shown in Fig 2 said latch means 11 is preferably comprised of a latch pin 18 and a latch spring 19, said latch spring 19 preferably being coiled around said latch pin 18. Said latch spring 19 is preferably an ordinary compression spring and is preferably more easily compressed than said first spring means 15, and is compressed as a result of increased tension in said triggering means 10 resulting from activation of said triggering means 10. In a preferred embodiment, said latch means 11 further comprises a manual slidable grip 20 to which said latch pin 18 and said latch spring 19 are attached, by which the user may manually release said latch means 11 from said latch housing 17, allowing the gate to open. Fig.9 depicts said latch pin 18 retracting from said latch housing 17 such that said gate 1 ejects from a closed position B to an open position A. Closed position B is also illustrated by Fig.2, while open position A is illustrated by Fig.11.

As shown in Fig.2, said gate 1 further comprises a sleeve member 21 attached to said second vertical support member 3 and disposed rotatably about said second gate post member 9.
As shown in Fig 6, preferably said second gate post member 9 is hollow and substantially cylindrical. Preferably, said sleeve member 21 is substantially cylindrical and of greater diameter than said second gate post member 9 and covers an upper portion of said second gate post member 9 and is connected to said second gate post member 9 by connecting means 22, preferably a threaded rod 23 extending downwardly through a top surface of said sleeve member 21 and into said second gate post member 9 secured by a nut 24, enabling rotation of said sleeve member 21 about said second gate post member 9. In a preferred embodiment, an ordinary spring 25 is attached to a lower end of said threaded rod 23 and extends downwardly therefrom to a fixed point, preferably a scroll pin 26 affixed on an inner surface of said second gate post member 9 distal from said lower end of said threaded rod 23. Said connecting means 22 is manually adjustable, enabling tension on said spring 25 to be adjusted to personal user preference. Adjustment of said spring 25 to increased tension will result in an increased closing velocity of said gate, while decreasing tension will result in a decreased closing velocity of said gate.
Preferably, as depicted in Fig.7 the length of said sleeve member 21 is constant for approximately one half of the circumference of said sleeve member and decreases incrementally linearly from a first side point 27 and a second side point 28 towards a mid-point 29, said mid-point 29 being the point of shortest length of said sleeve member 21. Preferably, said mid-point 29 and first side point 27 and second side point 28 are adapted by being molded to receive an anchor means 30, said anchor means 30 preferably comprising a bearing assembly 31 fixably attached to an outside surface of said second gate post member by a bolt 32.
As depicted in Fig. 3, in a preferred embodiment the entire gate is coated in plastic or other weather proof panels in order to further prevent injury to animals and damage to vehicles.
The above description is intended to be illustrative rather than construed in a restrictive sense, and variations to the specific configurations described may be apparent to skilled persons in adapting the present invention to specific applications. Such variations are intended to form part of the present invention insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the claims below.

Claims

1. A gate assembly comprising:
a) a latch assembly, further comprising a retractable latch pin and a latch retractor means b) first and second fixed gate post members, said first gate post member adapted to receive said latch pin, c) first and second vertical support members, said first vertical support member adapted to enable through passage of said latch pin said second vertical support member rotatably fixedly attached to said second gate post member, said second vertical support member further comprising closing velocity control means and opening range control means d) a plurality of horizontal support members disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second vertical support members and parallel to eachother and fixedly attached to and spanning between said vertical support members, wherein one of said horizontal support members houses said latch assembly, and wherein one of said horizontal support members further comprises a triggering means, wherein said triggering means is adapted to be sensitive to pressure and wherein said triggering means is fixedly attached to said latch assembly

2. The gate assembly of claim 1 wherein said second gate post member is substantially cylindrical, and wherein said second vertical support member further comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve member of greater diameter than said second gate post member wherein said sleeve member is fixedly attached to said second vertical support member and wherein said sleeve member caps said second gate post member and is rotatable about said second gate post member.

3. The gate assembly of claim 2 wherein said second gate post member is hollow and wherein said sleeve member is attached to said second gate post member with connecting means.

4. The gate assembly of claim 3 wherein said connecting means comprises a threaded rod extending through said sleeve member into said second gate post member wherein a first end of said threaded rod is fixed at an outer surface of said sleeve member with a manually adjustable fixing means.

5. The gate assembly of claim 4 wherein said adjustable fixing means is a standard nut.

6. The gate assembly of any of claims 3, 4 or claim 5 wherein said velocity control means comprises said connecting means and an adjustable tension means, wherein said connecting means relates with said adjustable tension means, said adjustable tension means being fixed at a first end thereof to an inner surface of said second gate post member.

7. The gate assembly of claim 6 wherein said adjustable tension means is a standard spring, fixedly attached to said connecting means at a first end of said standard spring, and fixedly attached to said inner surface of said second gate post member at a second end of said standard spring.

8. The gate assembly of any of claims 2,3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said opening range control means comprises a fixed anchor point on said second gate post member wherein a lower edge of said sleeve member is adapted at a mid point thereof to substantially conform with the shape of said anchor point and releasably engages with said anchor point and wherein said lower edge of said sleeve is further adapted at two side points thereof to substantially conform with an edge of said anchor point such that movement of said sleeve member beyond said anchor point is precluded by said side points, said lower edge of said sleeve member being in constant contact with and slidable about said anchor point between said side points of said sleeve member.

9. The gate assembly of claim 8 wherein said sleeve member further comprises locking means enabling lockable engagement of each of said side points with said anchor point.

10. The gate assembly of any of claims 8 or 9 wherein said anchor point is a standard bearing assembly fixed by a standard bolt.

11.The gate assembly of any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein said triggering means comprises a cable of fixed length fixedly attached at a first end thereof to said first vertical support member and fixedly attached at a second end thereof to said latch pin.

12. The gate assembly of claim 11 wherein said latch retractor means comprises said cable.

13. The gate assembly of claim 12 wherein said latch retractor means further comprises a manually slidable grip means fixedly attached at a first end thereof to said cable and fixedly attached at a second end thereof to said latch pin.

14. The gate assembly of claim 12 or 13 wherein said latch retractor means further comprises a first spring means through which said cable passes.

15. The gate assembly of claim 14 wherein said first spring means is an ordinary compression spring fixedly attached at a first end thereof to a first attachment plate, said first attachment plate being fixedly attached to said horizontal support member, said spring fixedly attached at a second end thereof to a moveable second attachment plate, said second attachment plate being moveable along said horizontal support member wherein said spring is pre-loaded to half compression, becoming further compressed in response to lateral pressure on said cable at a point prior to said cable's passage through said first spring means.

16. The gate assembly of any of claims 12, 13, 14 or 15 wherein said latch retractor means further comprises a second spring means through which said latch pin passes, wherein said second spring means is fixedly attached at a first end thereof to a third attachment plate, wherein said third attachment plate is fixedly attached to said horizontal support member, wherein said second spring means is fixedly attached at a second end thereof to said latch pin and wherein said second spring means compresses in response to increased tension in said triggering means or pressure on said latch pin.

17. The gate assembly of any of claims 15 or 16 wherein in a closed position said cable is maintained in constant tension from said first end thereof to said second attachment plate and wherein said cable is maintained at a relatively lesser tension thereafter.

18. The gate assembly of any of claims 1,2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 wherein said first gate post member further comprises a latch pin receiving receptacle further comprising flanged sides and a bottom said receptacle being of sufficient length to receive an end of said latch pin when said gate assembly is in a closed position, said flanges tapering downwardly away from a center point of said receptacle.

19. The gate assembly of any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 further comprising weather-proof coating means.