GB2556342A

GB2556342A - Gate assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2556342A
Application number: GB1616487.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Woolridge Wayne
Original assignee: Barkers Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Barkers Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2016-09-28
Filing date: 2016-09-28
Publication date: 2018-05-30
Also published as: GB201616487D0

Abstract

A gate assembly 10 includes a gate 46 and a mounting arrangement. The mounting arrangement includes upper and lower mounting brackets 22, 24 extending from a post 14. An upstanding locating part 34 is provided on the lower mounting bracket to locate within a hollow end member 48 of the gate. A downwardly extending locating part 38 descends from the upper mounting bracket to also locate in the hollow end member. The upper locating part is longer than the distance to the ground from the lower mounting bracket, such that even if the lower mounting brackets fails, the gate will be saved from falling over (see fig 10). Preferably, the locating part on the lower mounting bracket is sufficiently long that if the upper bracket fails, it will retain the gate in an upright condition, thereby avoiding the possibility of the gate accidentally falling and potentially injuring a child.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Barkers Engineering Limited (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

Duke Street, FENTON, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 3NS, United Kingdom (56) Documents Cited:

EP 1921240 A1 CN 203835113 A1 US 3300900 A

CA 002057615 A1 FR 002455157A1 (58) Field of Search:

INT CL E05D, E06B

Other: Online: WPI, EPODOC, Patent Fulltext (72) Inventor(s):

Wayne Brian Woolridge (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Swindell & Pearson Ltd

Friar Gate, DERBY, DE1 1GY, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Gate assemblies

Abstract Title: Gate with failsafe mounting arrangement (57) Agate assembly 10 includes a gate 46 and a mounting arrangement. The mounting arrangement includes upper and lower mounting brackets 22, 24 extending from a post 14. An upstanding locating part 34 is provided on the lower mounting bracket to locate within a hollow end member 48 of the gate. A downwardly extending locating part 38 descends from the upper mounting bracket to also locate in the hollow end member. The upper locating part is longer than the distance to the ground from the lower mounting bracket, such that even if the lower mounting brackets fails, the gate will be saved from falling over (see fig 10). Preferably, the locating part on the lower mounting bracket is sufficiently long that if the upper bracket fails, it will retain the gate in an upright condition, thereby avoiding the possibility of the gate accidentally falling and potentially injuring a child.

The claims were filed later than the filing date but within the period prescribed by Rule 22(1) of the Patents Rules 2007.

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FIG. 5

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FIG. 8

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Gate Assemblies

This invention concerns gate assemblies, and mounting arrangements for gates.

There are a wide range of existing gate assemblies. One application for such assemblies is in the surrounding fence or other barrier for children’s play areas. In such an application and other such applications, it is extremely important that the gate cannot fall over, potentially for instance injuring a child, even in the event of the assembly being damaged.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a gate assembly, the assembly comprising a gate and a mounting arrangement, the mounting arrangement including a support member mountable to the ground to be upstanding therefrom, spaced upper and lower mounting brackets extending from the support member to pivotally support the gate extending therebetween so as to be pivotally movable between open and closed positions, the gate including an at least partially hollow end member extendable between the upper and lower mounting brackets, a first elongate locating part being provided extending upwardly from the lower mounting brackets and locating wtihin the gate end member to permit relative rotational movement therebetween, a second elongate locating part being provided extending downwardly from the upper mounting bracket and locating within the gate end member to permit relative rotational movement therebetween, the second locating part being longer than the distance to the ground from the lower mounting bracket.

The first elongate part may be longer than the distance from the ground to the lower mounting bracket.

The first locating part may be permanently mounted to the lower mounting bracket.

The second locating part may be selectively mountable to the upper mounting bracket, and may be mountable to the upper mounting bracket once the gate is in position on the first locating part.

The second locating part may comprise an elongate bar which is locatable within the gate end member, the elongate bar extending from a mounting plate which is mountable to the upper mounting bracket. The mounting plate may be mountable on top of the upper mounting bracket, and the second locating part elongate bar may extend through an opening in the upper mounting bracket.

The first and second locating parts may be circular in cross section. The gate hollow end member may be rectangular or circular in cross section.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting arrangement for a gate, the mounting arrangement being according to any of the previous paragraphs.

A further aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts to produce a gate assembly according to any of the preceding paragraphs.

A still further aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts to produce a mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic part sectional side view through part of a first gate assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a second gate assembly according to the invention in a closed condition;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the gate assembly of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the gate assembly of Fig. 3 in an open condition;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the gate assembly of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic side view of a lower part of the assembly of

Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side view of a lower part of the assembly of Fig. 3 during installation of the assembly;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of an upper part of the assembly of Fig. 3 during installation;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side view of an upper part of the gate assembly of Fig. 3 in a first particular condition; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side view of a lower part of the assembly of Fig. 3 in a second particular condition.

The drawings show first and second gate assemblies 10, 12, used with for instance fences to surround children’s playgrounds or the like.

The first gate assembly 10 includes a support member 14 mountable to the ground 16 to be upstanding therefrom. The support member 14 has a base plate 18 engageable with the ground 16. The support member 14 is formed of a hollow square section tube and has a top closure member 20.

Upper and lower mounting brackets 22, 24 extend from the support member 14 respectively spaced a short distance from the lower and upper ends thereof. Each mounting bracket 22, 24 comprises a horizontally aligned respective plate 26, 28. A strengthening corner web 30 is provided extending from the lower mounting bracket plate 28 to the support member 14.

A lower elongate locating part 32 in the form of a length of bar 34 extends upwardly from the lower mounting bracket.

An upper elongate locating part 36 is provided in the form of a length of bar 38 extending downwardly from the upper mounting bracket 22. The upper elongate locating bar 38 is provided extending from a mounting plate 40 which is mountable on top of the upper mounting bracket plate 26, with the upper elongate locating bar 38 extending through an opening 42 in the upper mounting bracket 22. As shown in Fig. 2, the opening 42 may be in the form of a slot to provide some possible adjustment, two sets of nut and bolt fastenings 44 are provided to retain the mounting plate 40 in place on the upper mounting bracket plate 26.

In this instance only part of a gate 46 is shown which gate 46 has a hollow end member 48 with upper and lower crossbars 50, 52 extending therefrom. The hollow end member 48 is rectangular in cross section and locates extending between the upper and lower mounting brackets 22, 24, with the elongate locating parts 36, 32 extending into respective ends of the hollow end member 48 to permit relative pivotal movement between the gate 46 and the support member 14.

Figs. 3 to 11 show the second plate assembly 12 which is generally similar to the first gate assembly 10, and corresponding reference numerals are used for equivalent components. In this instance a full gate 46 is shown with crossbars 50, 52 and a pattern of vertically extending bars 54 with curved upper ends 56, extending between the crossbars 50, 52.

The second gate assembly 12 is shown with the support member 14 extending into the ground 16 and being mounted thereto in a conventional manner. A further support member 58 is provided, spaced from the support member 14, to which the distal end 60 of the gate can be latched in a conventional manner.

In use the support members 14, 58 will be located in position as required. The mounting plate 40 at this point will not be mounted to the upper mounting bracket 22. The gate 46 will be lowered onto the lower mounting bracket 24 such that the lower elongate part 32 extends upwardly into the hollow end member 48 as illustrated in Fig. 8. The gate 46 will be positioned in place, and the upper locating part 36 positioned to extend through the upper mounting bracket 22 into the hollow end member 48, as shown in Fig.

9. The mounting plate 40 will be fixed to the upper mounting bracket 22 using the nut and bolt fastenings 44.

The gate 46 can then be used in a conventional manner, being latched to the further support member 58 when closed, and pivotally moved between open and closed conditions. As shown the gate 46 can pivot either way from a closed position.

If a one of the upper or lower mounting brackets 22, 24 were to fail by becoming broken or bent, the arrangements 10, 12 should still retain the gate 46 in a generally upright position such that it will not fall over with the potential of damage to people, and especially young children.

Fig. 10 illustrates the condition where the lower mounting bracket 24 has failed and hence the gate 46 has dropped relative to the upper mounting bracket 22. As though the upper elongate locating part 36 is longer than the distance beween the lower mounting bracket 28 and the ground 16, the upper elongate locating part 36 still extends in to the hollow end member 48, retaining the gate 46 upstanding.

Fig. 11 illustrates the condition where the upper mounting bracket 22 has failed. As can be seen, as the lower elongate locating part 32 is sufficiently long, it remains in the lower end of the hollow end member 48 and retains the gate 46 in a at least generally upright condition, thereby avoiding the danger of a gate 46 falling on somebody.

There are thus described arrangements which provide significant advantages and advanced safety criteria. Despite this the gate assembles 10,12 are of relatively straightfoward construction and can thus be robustly manufactured for long term essentially maintenance free use.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the different mountings may take a different form. The upper elongate locating part could be mounted differently to the upper mounting bracket. The gate hollow end member could have a different profile, and could be circular in cross section.

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 21 09 17

1. A gate assembly, the assembly comprising a gate and a mounting 5 arrangement, the mounting arrangement including a support member mountable to the ground to be upstanding therefrom, spaced upper and lower mounting brackets extending from the support member to pivotally support the gate extending therebetween so as to be pivotally movable between open and closed positions, the gate including an at least partially hollow end member extendable

10 between the upper and lower mounting brackets, a first elongate locating part being provided extending upwardly from the lower mounting brackets and locating wtihin the gate end member to permit relative rotational movement therebetween, a second elongate locating part being provided extending downwardly from the upper mounting bracket and locating within the gate end

15 member to permit relative rotational movement therebetween, the second locating part being longer than the distance to the ground from the lower mounting bracket.

2. A gate assembly according to claim 1, in which the first elongate part is

20 longer than the distance from the ground to the lower mounting bracket.

3. A gate assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which the first locating part is permanently mounted to the lower mounting bracket.

25

4. A gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the second locating part is selectively mountable to the upper mounting bracket

5. A gate assembly according to claim 4, in which the second locating part is mountable to the upper mounting bracket once the gate is in position on the first

30 locating part.

21 09 17

6. A gate assembly according to claims 4 or 5, in which the second locating part comprises an elongate bar which is locatable within the gate end member, the elongate bar extending from a mounting plate which is mountable to the upper mounting bracket.

7. A gate assembly according to claim 6, in which the mounting plate is mountable on top of the upper mounting bracket.

8. A gate assembly according to claims 6 or 7, in which the second locating 10 part elongate bar extends through an opening in the upper mounting bracket.

9. A gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the first and second locating parts are circular in cross section.

15

10. A gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the gate hollow end member is rectangular or circular in cross section.

11. A mounting arrangement for a gate, the mounting arrangement being according to any of the preceding claims.

12. A kit of parts to produce a gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims.

13. A kit of parts to produce a mounting arrangement according to any of the 25 preceding claims.

14. 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.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1616487.3 Examiner: Alan Jones