US2348561A - Portable gate - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1944. J. a. MUTCH PORTABLE GATE Filed Nov. 11, 1945 l i/ 29 n 0 7 Q 34 1%? 19 31/ a i go "x O O 0 0 O 0 9 0 l9 OZ/ 2 Sheets-She et 1 y 1944. J. B. MUTCH 2,343,561

PORTABLE GATE Filed Nov. 11, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ts W I Patented May 9, 1944 James B. Mutch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Wood Items, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 11, 1943, Serial No. 509,887

Claims. (01. 160138) down the staircase or from falling down a stair case. Sometimes portable gates are used on porches to close the usual passage leading onto and from the porch. Other uses may be made of portable gates of the character involved in the present application. As the door and passage openings vary in width, I have provided a self adjusting portable gate which may be readily collapsed and expanded to fit varying sized door or other passages and which when collapsed can be readily carried from one place to another.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible and expansible portable gate designed particularly for household use where it is desired to place a barrier across a door or passageway or at the top or bottom of a staircase or across the passage of a porch or other place and which may be readily and quickly adjusted and firmly installed in operative position across doors or other passages of varying width and which is readily and easily removed from operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable gate for said or other purposes and provided with eifective locking means carried by the gate to lock the gate in operative position.

A still further object is to provide an operating means for an adjustable gate and which is of simple construction and readily applied to the gate to effectively lock the gate in installed position in a doorway or passageway against acci dental dislodgment, and which is so constructed as to provide a handle to facilitate carrying the collapsed gate from one place to another.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of elements illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, it being understood'that changes may be made in matter of shape, size, and portions of the various elements without departing' from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, so long as departure is not made beyond the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing one application of the same in use;

Fig. 2 illustrates the invention in folded condition;

3 is a rear elevation of the invention as applied in use;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing the various parts separated;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of door jamb engaging member; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modified form of door jamb engaging member.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, the reference character A indicates, generally, a gate which is adjustable as to length to fit door or other openings of varying sizes and which includes a flexible portion l9 and rigid supporting end bars 20 and 2| coupled together.

The flexible portion I9 of the gate is of a common, lazy-tong type composed of crossed inclined bars pivotally connected together at their points of intersection by means of bolts or rivets 22 in the usual manner so as to provide for expansion and contraction and consequent adjustability of the gate.

The supporting end bars 20 and 2| are pivotally connected to the ends of the flexible portion of the gate. For instance, there are upper and lower links 23 and 24, respectively, projecting from the ends of the flexible portion IQ of the gate and pivotally connected to the supporting end bars, as will be explained, and in a manner such as to suspend or support the flexible portion is of the gate above the lower ends of the supporting end bars and the floor.

Upper and lower wood, rubber, plastic, metal or other substantial brackets 25 and 26, respectively, are firmly secured to and project outwardly from the respective end bars 20 and 2| by means of suitable bolts 2'! and nuts 28. These brackets 25 and 25 each'has a U-shaped or other recess 29 adapted to embrace the respective supporting end bars and on their outer sides the brackets have U-shaped or other recesses 30 adapted to embrace the doorstops 3| of a door jamb whereby to hold the gate in its expanded or spread-out condition firmly in the doorway between the door jambs.

The inner sides of the aforesaid supporting end bars 20 and 2| have upper and lower slots 32 and 33, respectively, formed therein and into.

these slots the respective aforesaid links 23 and 24 extend and have their outer ends loosely pivoted on the respective aforesaid bolts 21. The inner ends of said links 23 and 24 are pivoted on certain of the rivets or bolts 22 connecting the cross bars of the flexible portion of the gate, and preferably between the respective cross .bars of the flexible portion of the gate, as shown.

When the gate is not in use and adjusted to folded or collapsed condition, it is a very compact article and can be shipped, stored, or kept in a relatively small space. To use the gate in a doorway or other passageway, I provide suitable means for looking it in expanded condition, said means being such as to provide a carrying handle for carrying the gate from one room to another or for transporting the gate when not used in a doorway or passage.

To the ends just alluded to, I provide a locking means carried by the supporting end bars and 2! and consisting of a combined operating member and handle 34 to which, in notch 35 thereof, are pivoted at 36 the inner ends of slidable rods 3'! and 38. These rods 31 and 38 have telescopic sliding fit in the sleeves 39 and 40 against the normally expanding springs '4! and 42 in the sleeves, the sleeves at their outer ends being pivoted at 43 and 44 respectively, to the supporting end bars 23 and 2|. Thus, the locking'means is carried by the supporting end bars 20 and 2| and on the outer side of the gate, and by virtue of the springs 4| and '42 in thesleeves 39 and 6B, the rods 31 and 38 have a normal tendency to slide outwardly of the sleeves incident to the normal expansion tendency of said springs.

The rods .37 and 38 have slots '42 in them through which and the respective sleeves extend bolts-45 which form stops to limit outward sliding movement of the rods in the respective sleeves and which prevent turning of the rods in the sleeves, obviating'twisting and consequent unnecessary strain on the handle or operating member 34 during the operation of expanding or contracting of the gate or when the gate is installed for use and accidental pressure brought to bear upon the gate.

When the gate is collapsed and it is "desired to place the same across a door opening or passage, it may be readily carried to the :place of installment in a collapsed position by grasping the operating member 34 as a handle, facilitating carrying of the gate in a collapsed condition. To position the gate at a door opening or passageway, the flexible portion l9 of the gate is expanded and the brackets carried by the supporting end bars are disposed over the opposite door jamb stops 3|. Then upon a downward push or force on the operating member 34, the rods 3'! and 38 are forced inwardly of the respective sleeves 39 and 40 against the normal outward thrust of the springs M and 42, the said sleeves at the same time moving downwardly on their respective pivots 43 and 44, further expanding the gate during this downward thrust on the operating member 34 to force the respective brackets over the door jamb stops tightly.

By continued downward movement on the operating member 34 and the consequent compression of said springs in the sleeves 39 and 40, the expansion of the flexible portion I9 of the gate is continued, and when the operating member 34 and said telescoping rods and sleeves cross dead-center, the gate is locked in the door or other opening against accidental collapse or dislodgment. The said operating means is supported solely by the supporting end members 20 and 2| being pivotally or swingingly connected thereto, as previously stated, and effects a selflocking of the gate in operative position.

If desired, the brackets 25 and 26 may not possess the aforesaid outer recesses 30. The brackets 45 may-have their outer faces formed fiat, as at 46 (Fig. 6), for flat meeting face contact with a flat door jamb or other side frame members not embodying said stops 3|, and yet sufficiently and firmly hold the gate in the door or passage opening against falling outwardly or inwardly of the doorway or passage because of the forced pressure of the fiat faces 45 against the sides of the door or passage opening incident to said operating member passing dead center for locking purposes. As a matter of fact, under certain conditions the gate holding brackets may be omitted entirely and the locking means depended upon to lock the gate end bars 20 and 21 tightly against the sides of a door or passageway under such pressure of expansion as to hold the gate in operative position- To remove the gate from locked condition relative to a door or passage opening, it is simply necessary to gras'p the operating member 34 and pull upwardly on it, causing the rods 37 and 38 under the expansion of the springs 4! and 42 to move outwardly of the respective sleeves 3S and 40 and pull the supporting bars away from the sides of the door or passage as will be readilyunderstood. By pulling upwardly on th operating member 34 across the dead-center locking line to itsuppermost limit of upward movement, the gate is completely collapsed or folded and readily carried to a convenient place until again needed for use.

Thus, I provide a collapsible and expansible portable gate of relatively light Weight includin rigid supporting end members and an intermediate flexible portion having pivotal link connection with the said end members in combination with an operating means supported by the end members and unconnected with said flexible portion and movable upwardly and downwardly in a'plane substantially the same as the vertical plane of the gate to'c-ollapse and expand the gate and lock the gate in an expanded condition whether or not the gate is installed in a doorway or passage. The operating means is such as to provide a convenient handle for carrying the gate in folded or collapsed condition from place to place. 7

Under certain conditions, the door jamb engaging members may be in the form of suction cups 4'! carried by the gate supporting end members. -As shown in Fig. 7, the suction cups 4'! may be secured to the aforesaid supporting end bars as shown in Fig. '7. The suction cups may be of any suitable form and they may be secured tothe gate in any suitable manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a simple andinexpensive portable gate for the purposes stated, and that in its collapsed or folded condition or :for shipping purposes, its overall size is greatly reduced to conserve space.

What is claimed is:

-1. A collapsible and expansible gate comprising rigid upright supporting end members and an intermediate flexible portion pivotally connected to the supporting end members, means pivotally connected to the end members including oppositely disposed spring actuated telescoping elements, and an operating member pivotall connected to the spring actuated telescoping members movable to actuate the latter to contract and expand the gate.

2. A collapsible and expansible gate comprising rigid upright end supporting members and an intermediate flexible portion pivotally connected to said end members, means pivotally connected to the end members including oppositely disposed spring actuated telescoping elements, a member pivotally connected to the inper ends of said oppositely disposed spring actuated telescoping elements for downward movement to actuate the spring actuated telescoping elements to expand the gate and upon upward movement to collapse the gate,'and door jamb engaging members carried by the supporting upright end members.

3. A collapsible and expansible gate comprising rigid upright supporting end members and an intermediate flexible portion pivotally connected to said end members, means including oppositely disposed spring actuated telescoping elements pivotally connected to the respective end members and extending toward each other, and a member pivotally connected at its ends to the inner ends of said oppositely disposed spring actuated telescoping elements and movable downwardly to actuate said spring actuated telescoping elements to expand the gate and lock it in expanded condition against accidental colla se.

1. A collapsible and expansible gate comprising rigid upright supporting end members and an intermediate flexible portion pivotally connected to said end members, means including oppositely disposed spring actuated telescoping elements pivotally connected to the respective end members and extending toward each other, and a relatively short hand grasping member located substantally midway between the said upright supporting end members and pivotally connected at its ends to the inner ends of said oppositely disposed spring actuated telescoping elements and movable downwardly to actuate said telescoping elements to expand the gate and lock it in expanded condition against accidental collapse, said hand grasping member constituting a handle for carrying the gate from one place to another when in collapsed condition.

5. A collapsible and expansible portable gate comprising rigid supporting end members and a collapsible intermediate portion having pivotal link connections with said end members, and means carried by the end members and disposed adjacent said flexible portion below the top of the gate unconnected with said flexible portion and operable upwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane along side of the gate to collapse and expand the gate.

6. A collapsible and expansible gate comprising rigid supporting end members and a collapsible intermediate portion having pivotal link connections with said end members, and means carried by the end members and disposed along side of said flexible portion and unconnected with said. flexible portion and operable close to the gate in a plane parallel with the vertical plane of the gate and below the top the gate to collapse and expand the gate and to lock the gate in expanded condition against accidental collapse.

7. A collapsible and expansible gate comprising rigid supporting end members and a collapsible intermediate portion having pivotal link connections with said end members, and operating means supported solely by the end members and having vertical up and down movement along side of the gate and in a plane substantially parallel with the vertical plane of the gate and within the marginal edges of the gate for collapsing and expanding the gate and for lock -ing the gate in an expanded condition against accidental collapse.

8. In a collapsible and expansible gate; means for collapsing and expanding the gate comprising an operating means swingingly connected to the gate between the top and bottom of the gate and movable close to and in substantially the vertical plane of the gate to collapse and expand the gate and to lock the gate in expanded condition against accidental collapse.

9. In a collapsible and expansible gate; an operating means for collapsing and expanding the gate including spaced spring actuated telescoping elements pivotally connected to the ends of the gate and a movable member pivotally connected to the spaced spring actuated telescoping elements to move the latter upwardly and downwardly in a plane substantially parallel with the vertical plane of the gate to actuate the spring actuated telescoping elements to collapse and expand the gate.

10. In a collapsible and expansible portable gate; an operating means carried by the gate for collapsing and expanding the gate and movable up and down and adjacent the gate and in a plane substantially parallel with the vertical plane of the gate and a portion of whichoperating means constitutes a carrying handle to carry the gate in collapsed condition from one place to another.

JAMES B. MUTCH.

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