US2661557A - Multiple movement gate - Google Patents

Description

ec. 8, i953 A. Rl-:YMANN MULTIPLE MOVEMENT GATE Filed April 26, 1951 E mm w mww Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES MULTIPLE MOVEMENT GATE Alois Reymann, Sandwich, Ill.

Application April 26, 1951, Serial No. 222,995 1 claim. (o1. 39-76) This invention relates to gates, and has particular reference to a novel and improved farm gate of such construction that it is inherently free of any tendency to sag, is easily adjustable as to ground clearance, may be securely latched at various degrees of ground clearance, and may be readily raised to clear snowdrifts, ice, or other obstructions such as might otherwise interfere with the swingingv movement ofthe gate and prevent easy opening and closing thereof.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a gate structure wherein the gate is not only adjustable as to ground clearance, but is also adapted to be locked at various elevations, so that Ait may be set at a height such that it will prevent passage of large farm animals, yet permit the smaller farmyard animals to pass under it.

A still further object of the invention is the privision of a gate so designed and constructed that the gate frame is readily capable of vertical lifting as well as horizontal swinging movement, and so designed that sagging may be avoided even though the hinge post on which the gate is mounted should be pulled out of precise vertical alignment by the strains imposed upon it.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a gate having means for affording vertical movement as well as swinging movement, with balancing devices whereby the weight of the gate is adequately supported in all positions; so that it may be easily raised or lowered without appreciable manual effort.

A still' lfurther object of the invention is the provision of a gate arranged for vertical shifting movement as well as lateral swinging, together with a gate latch mechanism of such design and construction as to permit engagement of the latch at any point within a wide range of vertical positions, and so constructed that the counterbalancing springs of the gate structure hold the latch against accidental release.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in the present invention by a gate having a unique arrangement of frame members wherein the vertical and the horizontal frame members are of rigid construction and arranged in intersecting relationship, but wherein the several individual members of the frame are pivoted to each other so that the entire assembly is free for vertical lifting movement as well as horizontal swinging movement. Thus the outer or free swinging end of the gate may be manually raised as the gate is opened, to bring the parts into upwardly in- `\clined, diagonal relationship with each other whereby the gate can swing clear of any obstructions such as accumulations oi snow or ice in its normal path of swinging movement. The latch construction is so arranged that it may be released only after the free swinging end of the gate is manually lowered, as by bearing downwardly on one of the frame members thereof.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings of the present specication, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a gate as contemplated by this invention, the normal position of the frame elements thereof being illustrated in full lines and a raised position of the gate shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a detail plan sectional view of the gate latch mechanism, the view being taken substantially on the plane of the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the pivotal joints between the horizontal frame members and the upright members of the frame; i Figure 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of the vertical supporting member of the gate and the hinge post on which the gate is mounted, with a fragmentary section of one of the horizontal frame members of the gate shown thereon; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the lower end of the lifting link and the roller construction employed there'- on.

The gate consists, in its essential parts, of a supporting member lli comprising a heavy U- shaped metal channel (Figure 4) having hinge pins Il and I2 at the upper and lower ends thereof whereby it is hinged to suitable brackets I3 and M on the gate post I5. The member l0 serves as a mounting for the cross frame members I6, Il, I8, I9 and 20, which may comprise wooden beams pivotally mounted to the supporting member l0 on bolts 2l, 22, 23, 24 and 25, respectively. The frame of the gate also includes one or more upright frame members 26, each of which will be pivoted to the several horizontal members by bolts 2l, 28, 29, 30 and 3l. The bolts 21-3I are preferably each provided with a spacing sleeve 32 (Figure 3). These sleeves and bolts each extend through a bore in one of the longitudinal frame members so that the opposite frame members 26, which are preferably of angle iron, may be tightly bolted together, yet will be free for pivotal movement with respect to the horizontal Wooden beams of the frame.

The gate includes a lifting link 33 and balance spring 34 to compensate for the weight of the frame and facilitate the manual shifting of the gate between the full line and dotted line positions shown. As illustrated, the lifting link 33 is pivoted to the supporting member l by the top bolt 2l thereon, and the lower end of the lifting link is provided with a cross bolt 35 on which a bushing 36 and roller 3 are carried. The bolt 35 also extends thru'gh. a clevisy 38 byy which the balancev spring 39 is attached to the link. The outer end of the balance spring 34 is secured to the frame by a bracket 39 and a tie bolt 49 have# ing an adjusting nut il thereon to vary the ten-f sion exerted by the balance spring 3d.

The latch mechanism of the gate includes a horizontal slide bar 42 mounted inbrackets 43 on one of the horizontal frame members, and provided with a downwardly extending,` mantially operable handle 44. r`ihe forward end of the latch has a hooked end portion A5 which isadaptedto engage a keeper on the gate post as described more fully in my copending applica tions Ser. Nos. 690,726 and- 38,820. The keeper consists of a vertical angle iron IH' and parallel bar 48 between whichv the hooked end t5 of the' latch bolt may engage, ItY is preferred, however, to provide vertical stop portions 59 at intervals along the angle iron, so that the hooked end' portion of the latch bar will bear against the surface of one of the stops, so that the latch not only limits the vertical movement of the gate, but is at the same time self-locking. That is, the Contact between the hooked end t5 and the stops 49 prevents inadvertent rotation of the latch bolt, and this provides an adequate safeguard against accidental release. Intentional release of the latch is, of course, easily accomplished by manually shifting the frame members of the gate sufciently to allow the end of the latch 45 to clear the stops 49, and then lifting the manual handle 44 and withdrawing the latch bolt from the keeper. When lifted to the dotted lin'e position shown in Figure 1, the gate will easily clear obstructions such as snowdrifts 50.

It will be seen from the above that inasmuch as the frame members of the gate are pivoted to each other in a flexible manner and are provided 'with a balancing spring, there will be no tendency for the gate to sag even in the event that the hinge post should be pulled out of precise vertical alignment. Moreover, the outer end of the gate may be raised or lowered manually to provide any required amount of ground clearance. The structure is so Idesigned that it may be lifted to a considerable height if necessary in order to clear obstructions such as snow or ice which may accumulate in its normal path of horizontal swinging movement. It is, at the same time, comparatively simple and easy to assemble and is sufficiently inexpensive to manufacture as to be practicable from a commercial standpoint.

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim as newv and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A gate comprising in combination, a supporting member consisting of a U-shaped metallic channel having a pair of hinge pins at the upper and' lower ends thereof, with a plurality of. bolts extending between the flanges at vertically spaced intervals; a plurality of wooden beamsl each having one end portion disposed between said flanges and pivoted on the aforesaid bolts and extending outwardly therefrom in parallel relation to each other; a plurality of upright frame members disposed in exo-acting pairs' on the fronty and back faces of said beams,

with each of said uprightv frame members: ex

tending across each of the beams and; being pivoted thereto by bolts extending between the frame members and passingV through spacing sleeves. received in pivotal apertures of each of said beams; with a pair of lifting links pivotally connected to one of the aiorementioned bolts on the supporting member, said links extending downwardly and outwardly from said bolt inparallel relationship and on the opposite sides ofv at least one of said beams; a roller between the lower ends of said linksl adapted to engage one of said beams on its lower surface to urge the gate upwardly, and a balance spring horizontally disposed between adjacent beams and extending outwardly from said roller, whereby the action of said roller and links will exert an upward component of force on the gate.

ALOIS REYMANN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name y Date 79,109 David June 23, 1868 905,575 Plowman s Dec. 1, 1908 950,671 Landis Mar. 1, 1910 1,355,953 Fay Oct. 19,V 1920 2,500,236 Anderson V... Mar. 14, 1950 2,618,876 Goode i Nov. 25, 1952

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