GB2330167A

GB2330167A - A lockable gate for wheelchair access and a barrier system including such a gate

Info

Publication number: GB2330167A
Application number: GB9721450A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Richards
Original assignee: RICHARDS STUART COLIN
Current assignee: RICHARDS STUART COLIN
Priority date: 1997-10-10
Filing date: 1997-10-10
Publication date: 1999-04-14
Also published as: GB9721450D0

Abstract

A gate arrangement 10 for wheelchair access comprises a gate 12 and lock means 14. The lock 14 is releasable by a key of a type available substantially only for disabled users, such as that used in the National Key Scheme run by the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR). The gate 12 may include a pair of nudge members 34, 36 arranged in parallel so that the wheels do not ride over the lower member 34. The gate may form part of a barrier system that provides unrestricted access to pedestrians, wheelchairs and pedal cycles but restricts the passage of motorcycles.

Description

Wheelchair Access The present invention relates to wheelchair access.

The invention provides a gate arrangement for wheelchair access, the arrangement comprising a gate, and lock means operable to lock the gate closed, the lock means being releasable by a key of a type available to disabled users.

The gate preferably comprises a nudge member against which a wheelchair may bear to nudge the gate open. The said nudge member may be located parallel with and above another member of the gate, the members cooperating to resist wheelchair wheels from riding over the said other member.

Preferably the gate is supported on a gatepost which is permanently attached to a body embedded in the ground. Hinges are preferably provided between the gate and the gatepost, the hinges being so formed as to prevent the gate being lifted off the gatepost. The hinges may comprise a plurality of interleaved members and a pivot bar extending between members of one leaf of the hinge, and attached thereto.

Preferably the arrangement carries a warning sign visible from a distance to alert a wheelchair user to the nature of the lock. Preferably the lock means is substantially wholly enclosed for protection against tampering, such as being enclosed within a housing, preferably of steel. The housing may be formed, at least in part, by a gatepost.

The gate may carry a protective member to protect the lock means. The lock means may comprise a rim lock, the protective member serving to protect the latch thereof.

Preferably the arrangement further comprises barrier members which define a route past the gate, the route being constricted and substantially open.

Preferably the route is so constricted as to prevent motorcycle access. The route may allow unrestricted access by pedestrians, unmotorised wheelchairs and pedal cycles.

The invention also provides a barrier system comprising barrier members which define an open route through the system, the route being so formed as to substantially prevent motorcycle access through the system, and the system further comprising a lockable gate by which a wheelchair may pass through the system.

The gate may be part of a gate arrangement as set out above.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation, both above and below ground level, of a gate arrangement according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows details of the lock arrangement of the gates of Figs. 1 and 2, in more detail and on an enlarged scale.

Turning to Fig. 1, there is shown a gate arrangement 10 for wheelchair access. This comprises a gate 12 and lock means, indicated generally at 14, operable to lock the gate closed. The lock 14 is releasable by a key of a type available to disabled users, as will be described in more detail below.

The arrangement 10 forms part of a barrier system 16 to control access, in this example, along the towpath 18 of a canal. The edge 20 of the canal is indicated toward the right hand side of Fig. 1 and it can be seen that the system 16 extends across substantially the whole width of the towpath 18 (and can be extended further by fencing if required at a site).

The gate 12 is supported by hinges 22 on a gatepost 24. The gatepost 24 is attached to a large block 26 of concrete embedded in the towpath 18. The hinge 22 is formed by three ears 28 on the gate 12, interleaved with three ears 30 on the gatepost 24, therebeing a vertical pivot bar 32 extending down through the arrangement and being fixed (e.g. by welding) to the ears 28, and free to turn in bores in the ears 30. It can be seen that at the top of the hinge 22, the uppermost ear 28 is above the uppermost ear 30, whereas in the middle, the ear 30 is above the ear 28. This prevents the gate 12 being moved in the axial direction of the hinge 22, such as in an attempt to remove the gate from the gatepost 24.

The gate 12 is in the general form of an open frame of members, such as steel bars or tubes, welded together to form a barrier through which a cycle, particularly a motorcycle, cannot pass. The lower edge of the gate 12 is provided by a horizontal member 34 about 50mm above ground level. This prevents access under the gate. However, a member of this nature can pose a problem with some designs of wheelchair, which may be stabiliser wheels inclined to ride up and over the member 34. This is prevented by the presence of a nudge bar 36 about 220mm further up the gate 12. The positions of the member 34 and nudge bar 36 are chosen to substantially prevent a wheelchair riding up over the member 34, thus allowing the user to open the gate (once unlocked) by nudging against the member 34 and nudge bar 36.

The gate 12 can be locked in its closed position by the lock means 14, which cooperates with a second gatepost 38. A keyhole at 40 allows the lock means to be released, and is located at a convenient height for a wheelchair user to operate. Once the lock has been released, the user may then nudge the gate open, pass through, and then swing the gate shut behind them.

The lock means is chosen to be operated by a key of a type available to disabled users. One scheme operating in the United Kingdom is called RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation). This scheme allows a disabled person to obtain a key which will fit locks on many public facilities, such as disabled toilets, thus allowing those facilities to be used by disabled users, but to remain locked otherwise, thus deterring vandalism. A prominent sign 42 is provided on the gatepost 38 to be highly visible from a distance, alerting a wheelchair user to the presence of a RADAR lock in the arrangement, thus providing an opportunity for the user to locate their key in readiness for use.

The installation shown in Figs. 1 and 2 also has inner and outer barriers 44,46 to allow access by pedestrians and others. As can be best seen from Fig.

2, the inner barrier is relatively short and substantially in the plane of the gate when locked, therebeing a short gap 48 between the inner barrier 44 and the gatepost 38. This gap 48 is not sufficiently wide to allow a motorcycle through.

The inner barrier 44 is located within the outer barrier 46 which is substantially U-shaped in plan. The barriers 44,46 therefore define between them a convoluted route 50 through the system, by means of which a pedestrian may pass through, but which is sufficiently convoluted, narrow or otherwise restricted to prevent a motorcycle from passing through. The route may also allow children's pushchairs, unmotorised wheelchairs and pedal cycles to pass, and provides open, unrestricted access for them. However, the convolutions present a constriction which prevents motorcycle access.

Unfortunately, if the constrictions are sufficient to prevent motorcycle access, they will tend to prevent access for motorised wheelchairs, but users of motorised wheelchairs may use the gate 12, if they have a RADAR key.

The portion 52 of the barrier 46 closest to the edge of the tow path 18 is preferably sufficiently close to the edge to deter attempts to pass around the outside of the barrier 46, but fencing can be installed at this position to further deter unauthorised access, if necessary.

It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the gatepost 38 and the barriers 44,46 are also secured in position by large concrete blocks 54 to prevent removal by vandals.

Fig. 3 shows the lock arrangement in more detail. The gatepost 38 is hollow and carries within it a plate 56 welded to the gatepost 38 and projecting out to one side through a window 58. The RADAR lock 60, in the general form of a rim lock, is bolted to the plate 56 at positions 62. The lock 60 also projects through the window 58. A cover 64 is welded over the projecting end of the lock 60 and plate 56, to prevent tampering. Keyholes 66 formed in the gatepost 38 allow a RADAR key to be introduced from either side of the gate arrangement, to operate the lock 60. The latch 68 of the lock 60 extends through a second window 70 to engage a recess 72 in the gate 12, thereby locking the gate closed. A slam plate 74 welded at 76 to the gate 12 provides protection to the latch 68 by preventing access to the latch 68, such as by crowbar, file or saw. It can be seen from Fig. 3 that the lock 60 is so oriented that the gate 12 can simply slam shut once having opened in the direction of the slam plate 74.

After installation, it can accordingly be seen that any pedestrian, unmotorised wheelchairs, pushchairs, pedal cycles and the like, wishing to pass through the barrier system can use the route 50 defined by the barriers 44,46.

Powered wheelchairs can use the gate 12 to bypass the route between the barriers. However, the form of the route 50 will substantially prevent motorcycles from passing through the system, because they will not be able to traverse the route 50, and would not generally have access to a RADAR key in order to open the gate 12.

The strength with which the various components are formed, primarily by welded steel fabrications, and the security of their installation by means of the concrete blocks 26,54, renders the arrangement highly resistant to vandalism or unauthorised removal or damage. The lock 60 is well protected and the hinges 22 substantially prevent the gate being removed. However, access is still easily obtained by pedestrians and by wheelchair users having a RADAR key.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, other materials could be used in the fabrication of the arrangement, and other arrangements and layouts could be implemented for controlling access to particular locations. However, the arrangement which has been described is expected to be sufficiently versatile for use in a wide range of situations, particularly if additional fencing were to be installed to either side of the arrangement, thereby preventing access other than through the gate 12 or by the route 50.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A gate arrangement for wheelchair access, the arrangement comprising a gate, and lock means operable to lock the gate closed, the lock means being releasable by a key of a type available substantially only for disabled users.
2. An arrangement according according to claim 1, wherein the gate comprises a nudge member against which a wheelchair may bear to nudge the gate open.
3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the said nudge member is located parallel with and above another member of the gate, the members cooperating to resist wheelchair wheels from riding over the said other member.
4. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the gate is supported on a gatepost which is permanently attached to a body embedded in the ground.
5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein hinges are provided between the gate and the gatepost, the hinges being so formed as to prevent the gate being lifted off the gatepost.
6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the hinges comprise a plurality of interleaved members and a pivot bar extending between members of one leaf of the hinge, and attached thereto.
7. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, and carrying a warning sign visible from a distance to alert a wheelchair user to the nature of the lock.
8. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the lock means is substantially wholly enclosed for protection against tampering.
9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the lock means is enclosed within a housing.
10. An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the housing is of steel.
11. An arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the housing is formed, at least in part, by a gatepost.
12. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the gate carries a protective member to protect the lock means.
13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the lock means comprises a rim lock, the protective member serving to protect the latch thereof.
14. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, further comprising barrier members which define a route past the gate, the route being constricted and substantially open.
15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the route is so constricted as to prevent motorcycle access.
16. An arrangement according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the route allows unrestricted access by pedestrians, unmotorised wheelchairs and pedal cycles.
17. A barrier system comprising barrier members which define an open route through the system, the route being so formed as to substantially prevent motorcycle access through the system, and the system further comprising a lockable gate by which a wheelchair may pass through the system.
18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the gate is part of a gate arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 16.
19. A gate arrangement substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A barrier system substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.