GB2547710A

GB2547710A - Gate assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2547710A
Application number: GB1603467.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guy Grainger Ashton Steven
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-02-29
Filing date: 2016-02-29
Publication date: 2017-08-30
Also published as: GB201603467D0

Abstract

A timber fence assembly 46 comprising a frame having two elongate side members 12 positioned vertically and spaced apart in use, and a rectangular panel 14 extending between the frame members in use, each side edge of the panel being mounted to a respective side member by a mortise and tenon joint 16, the panel being provide with a tenon projection on each side edge, respective side members having a corresponding mortise hole. There may be two panels, a side of each being attached to an intermediate member 48 via tenon projections 52. Projections and mortise holes may have corresponding openings for receiving a securing peg, the opening being slightly offset such that insertion of a peg in the opening forces the tenon projection into the mortise hole. There may be upper and lower frame members, the lower member 42 having a profiled member 44 to divert water.

Description

Gate Assembly

This invention concerns timber gate assemblies.

Timber gates have been widely used for many years. A conventional structure includes a panel made from a number of vertically aligned planks interconnected by tongue and groove joints, with the panel extending across an opening in a frame. Generally a diagonal bracing member is required on one face of the gate, generally the rear, to support such a structure. This means that the gate very much has front and rear faces, and the rear face may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the front face.

It is often required to protect the timber in such gates by paint and/or other coatings. A further problem with such a structure is that moisture can often ingress into the structure. This moisture can cause damage to the wood, and can also prevent complete application of paint or other coatings.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a timber gate assembly, the assembly including a frame with two elongate side members each extending substantially vertically in use spaced from each other, and a rectangular panel extending between the frame side members, the panel being mounted to the frame on each side edge of the panel via a mortise and tenon joint, with a tenon projection provided on each side edge of the rectangular panel, and a corresponding mortise hole provided in each frame side member. A plurality of mortise and tenon joints may be provided between the rectangular panel and each frame side member.

The frame may also include a top elongate member extending between upper ends of the frame side members.

One or more mortise and tenon joints may be provided between the rectangular panel and the top frame member, with a tenon projection provided on an upper edge of the panel, and a corresponding mortise hole provided in the underside of the top frame member. A mortise and tenon joint may be provided between the frame top member and each frame side member.

The frame may also include a lower elongate member extending between lower ends of the frame side members. A mortise and tenon joint may be provided between the frame lower member and each frame side member. A profiled member may be provided on an upper edge of the lower frame member to divert water away therefrom. A groove may be provided in the inner edge of the frame side members to locate the side edge of the rectangular panel. A groove may be provided in the underside of the top frame member to locate an upper edge of the rectangular panel.

The gate assembly may include more than one rectangular panel, and the frame may include an intermediate member beatable between two adjacent rectangular panels, and mountable to each panel by one or more mortise and tenon joints with a tenon projection provided on a respective side of the rectangular panel, and a corresponding mortise hole provided in respective sides of the intermediate member.

The or each intermediate member may extend substantially vertically in use and may be mounted to the upper frame member by a mortise and tenon joint. One or more horizontally extending intermediate members may be provided which may be mounted to side frame members and/or one or more intermediate members by mortise and tenon joints.

Some or all of the mortise and tenon joints may have an offset opening in a tenon projection relative to aligned openings in edges of the mortise hole, such that insertion of a peg in a one of the mortise aligned holes, into the tenon projection opening, and into the other mortise aligned hole, urges the tenon projection into the mortise hole.

Alternatively the mortise and tenon joints may be glued, and/or fastened by wedges.

The assembly may be made of plywood, particle board or other timber materials.

An adhesive and/or sealant may be provided along contacting edges of the rectangular panel and frame members.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying in which:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first gate assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional end view along the line A-A of

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional plan view along the line B-B of

Fig. 1;

Figs. 4-6 are respectively similar views to Figs. 1 - 3 but of a second gate assembly with cross-sectional views respectively along the lines C-C and D-D;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a third gate assembly according to the invention;

Figs. 8-10 are respectively similar views to Figs. 1 - 3 and along the lines E-E and F-F, of a fourth gate assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view in greater detail of part of a one of the gate assemblies;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of a part of one of the gate assemblies;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic side view of a fifth gate assembly according to the invention;

The drawings show various gate assemblies according to the invention, and the same reference numeral shall be used for similar features of each gate.

Figs. 1 - 3 show a first gate assembly 10 which is relatively tall. The assembly includes two frame side members 12, with a rectangular panel 14 extending therebetween. Three mortise and tenon joints 16 are provided between each side edge of the rectangular panel 14 and the respective side frame member 12.

Each mortise and tenon joint 16 (Fig. 11) includes a mortise hole 18 in the respective side frame member 12 with aligned openings 20 on either side of the mortise holes. The joints 16 also include a tenon projection 22 on a side edge of the panel 14, of a size to slidingly fit within a mortise hole 18. An opening 24 is provided through the tenon projection 22. The joints 16 are configured such that in a general rest position the opening 24 in the projection will be slightly misaligned with the aligned openings 20, such that as a peg 26 is inserted thereinto this will urge the tenon projection 22 into the mortise hole 18, and hence urge the panel 14 and frame members 12 together. A groove 28 is provided on the inner edges of the frame side members 12 to slidingly receive an edge 30 of the panel 14.

The gate assembly 10 also includes an upper member 32 in the form of a length of profiled elongate strip with a central apex 34 to divert moisture off the top of the gate assembly 10. The upper member 32 may be mounted to the frame side members 12, and perhaps also the panel 14, by suitable fixings.

Figs. 4-6 show a second gate assembly 36 which in relative terms is wider than the first gate assembly 10. In this instance two mortise and tenon joints 16 are provided between each of the side members 12 and the panel 14. In this instance the frame includes a top member 38 which is mounted to upper ends of the frame side members by slightly smaller mortise and tenon joints 40 at each end of the top member 38. The top member 38 is also mounted to the top edge of the panel 14 by two mortise and tenon joints 16.

The frame also includes a lower member 42 which extends between lower ends of the side members 12 and is mounted to each thereof by smaller mortise and tenon joints 40. No mortise and tenon joints are provided between the panel 14 and the lower frame member 42. A profiled member 44 with an upper apex is mounted to the underside of the panel 14 extending between the frame side members 12, to divert moisture away from the frame lower member 42. A profiled upper member 32 is mounted along the top edge of the top member 38 to again divert moisture away therefrom.

Fig. 7 shows a third gate assembly 46. In this instance the assembly 46 includes two rectangular panels 14 arranged side by side, with an intermediate frame member 48 extending therebetween. In this instance one mortise and tenon joint 16 is provided between the outer edge of each side panel 14 and the respective frame side member 12. A mortise and tenon joint 50 with a shorter tenon projection 52 is provided between the inner side edges of the two panels 14 and the intermediate frame member 48. A mortise and tenon joint 16 is provided between each of the two side panels 14 and the intermediate frame member, with the upper frame member 38. Again a lower frame member 42 is provided with mortise and tenon joints 16 to the frame side members 12. A profiled member 44 is mounted to the underside of the two panels 14 and also the intermediate member 48 by screws 54. A relatively long screw 56 extends through the lower member 42, profiled member 44 and into the intermediate member 48.

Figs. 8-10 show a fourth gate assembly 58, again with two rectangular panels 14. In this instance three mortise and tenon joints 16 are provided between each frame side member 12 and the respective panel 14, and also between the respective panel 14 and the intermediate member 48. Two mortise and tenon joints 16 are provided between each panel 14 and the frame upper member 38.

Fig. 12 shows a panel 14 engaging in the groove, with adhesive and/or a sealant 60 provided between the panel 14 and frame side member 12.

Fig. 13 shows a fifth gate assembly 62 indicating that conventional mountings 64 and for instance a metal diagonal bracing strip 66 can be provided on the gate to potentially provide increased rigidity or potentially just aesthetic effect.

The above arrangements provide for aesthetically pleasing gate assemblies with significant rigidity which can readily be assembled. The assemblies can have the same appearance on each side, without for instance the requirement for diagonal bracing members. The configurations shown provide greatly reduced locations for water ingress relative to existing arrangements.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance any of the above features can be combined, and the gate assembly could take a number of different forms. Different types of fixings may be used as required.

Lower and upper panels could be provided with a horizontally extending frame member in between. As shown for instance on the left hand side of Fig. 7 the panels may be decorated, and for instance in this panel a plurality of vertical grooves 68 are provided to give the appearance of a number of planks 70.

Whilst the mortise and tenon joints had been described using a peg, these joints may alternatively or additionally be glued, or otherwise fastened together for instance with wedges.

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

1. A timber gate assembly, the assembly including a frame with two elongate side members each extending substantially vertically in use spaced from each other, and a rectangular panel extending between the frame side members, the panel being mounted to the frame on each side edge of the panel by a mortise and tenon joint, with a tenon projection provided on each side edge of the rectangular panel, and a corresponding mortise hole provided in each frame side member.

2. A timber gate assembly according to claim 1, in which a plurality of mortise and tenon joints are provided between the rectangular panel and each frame side member.

3. A timber gate assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which the frame also includes a top elongate member extending between upper ends of the frame side members.

4. A timber gate assembly according to claim 3, in which one or more mortise and tenon joints is provided between the rectangular panel and the top frame member, with a tenon projection provided on an upper edge of the panel, and a corresponding mortise hole provided in the underside of the top frame member.

5. A timber gate assembly according to claims 3 or 4, in which a mortise and tenon joint is provided between the frame top member and each frame side member.

6. A timber gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the frame also includes a lower elongate member extending between lower ends of the frame side members.

7. A timber gate assembly according to claim 6, in which a mortise and tenon joint is provided between the frame lower member and each frame side member.

8. A timber gate assembly according to claims 6 or 7, in which a profiled member is provided on an upper edge of the lower frame member to divert water away therefrom.

9. A timber gate asembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a groove is provided in the inner edge of the frame side members to locate the side edge of the rectangular panel.

10. A timber gate assembly according to claim 3 or any of claims 4 to 9, when dependent on claim 3, in which a groove is provided in the underside of the top frame member to locate an upper edge of the rectangular panel.

11. A timber gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the gate assembly includes more than one rectangular panel.

12. A timber gate assembly according to claim 11, in which the frame includes an intermediate member beatable between two adjacent rectangular panels, and mountable to each panel by one or more mortise and tenon joints with a tenon projection provided on a respective side of the rectangular panel, and a corresponding mortise hole provided in respective sides of the intermediate member.

13. A timber gate assembly according to claims 11 or 12, in which the or each intermediate member extends substantially vertically in use.

14. A timber gate assembly according to any of claims 11 to 13 when dependent on claim 3, in which the or each intermediate member is mounted to the upper frame member by a mortise and tenon joint.

15. A timber gate assembly according to claim 14, in which one or more horizontally extending intermediate members is provided.

16. A timber gate assembly according to claim 15, in which one or more horizontally extending intermediate members are mounted to side frame members and/or one or more intermediate members by mortise and tenon joints.

17. A timber gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which some or all of the mortise and tenon joints have an offset opening in a tenon projection relative to aligned openings in edges of the mortise hole, such that insertion of a peg in a one of the mortise aligned holes, into the tenon projection opening, and into the other mortise aligned hole, urges the tenon projection into the mortise hole.

18. A timber gate assembly according to any of claims 1 to 16, in which the mortise and tenon joints are glued, and/or fastened by wedges.

19. A timber gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly is made of plywood, particle board or other timber materials.

20. A timber gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which an adhesive and/or sealant is provided along contacting edges of the rectangular panel and frame members.