US3821865A

US3821865A - Channeled end gate

Info

Publication number: US3821865A
Application number: US00261714A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Steinke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-12
Filing date: 1972-06-12
Publication date: 1974-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-02

Abstract

A channeled end gate for use with a standard stock rack and having a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, slats secured to spaced uprights with elongated channels disposed over the ends of the slats wherein the gate is vertically movable in the slideway of the end wall of the rack.

Description

United States Patent Steinke 1 CHANNELED END GATE [76] Inventor: Myrel R. Steinke, Culbertson, Nebr.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No; 261,714

[52] US. Cl. 49/404, 49/360 [51] Int. Cl E05f 15/16 {58] Field of Search 49/347, 360, 301, 302,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,275 2/1887 Ellis 49/347 [451 July 2,1974

7/1968 Case 49/360 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or FirmHenderson & Strom 5 7 ABSTRACT A channeled end gate for use with a standard stock rack and having a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, slats secured to spaced uprights with elongated channels disposed over the ends of the slats wherein the gate is vertically movable in the slideway of the end wall of the rack.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures Webster 256/73 PATENTEDJUL 21914 3 821 865 sum 1 or 2 PATENFEDJUL 2 1914 31821355 SHEEI 2- 0f 2 h M n o o o o CHANNELED END GATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION within the guides provided by the metal channels during vertical displacement and reside in the channels when in place, blocking the opening and preventing horizontal excursions of the gate.

' When the end gate is in use, the slats of the gate are subjected to force and abuse by livestock confined within the stock rack. Repeated impact to individual slats causes splitting to occur at the slat ends. Such splitting weakens the security of the gate, as well as impedes the ease of insertion, removal and operation by binding within the channels.

End gates made of wood can warp because of either the quality of wood used in its construction, because of continuous exposure to atmospheric conditions and because of exposure to an animal envirnm'ent Paint and other protective coatings are applied to the gate to prevent deterioration however normal and abnormal use causes the coating to wear and ultimately, bare wood is exposed. Even with the highest quality of woods, moisture will be absorbed by the slats and they will expand, crack and warp. Any deterioration of the slats can substantially impede the ease of operation of the gate in the guide or slideway'and cause unnecessary replacement or repairs.

As conventional stock racks are equipped with rackmounted channels, the simplest approach with respect to manufacture, installation and use, would be to employ the presence of the stock rack metal channels with an improved and novel gate which would substantially 7 SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION This invention is a channeled end gate for a stock BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, although various modifications and alternate constructions can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the rear end of a stock rack with the channeled end gate partially vertically displaced; j

FIG. 2 is a top partial plan view of the rear end of the stock rack with the channeled end gate mounted therein;

FIG. 3-is a front elevational view of the partially as-. sembled channeled end gate; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3.

' DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the channeled end gate 10 (FIG. 1)of this invention is disclosed in combination with a conventional stock rack which is generally mounted on a truck body or the like. A conventional stock rack includes a forward wall, two side walls and an end wall, each connected at its edges to an adjacentwall to form an enclosure. Only the end wall 11 of the stock rack is illustrated since the end gate 10 of this invention is operably connected thereto and is a part rack and in particular, for a standard stock rack on a truck, which end gate is kept from binding, or the slats from splitting by the use of gate-mounted metal channels.

It is an object of this invention to prevent binding of the gate during insertion, removal and operation.

Another object of this invention is the distribution'of force to all slats of an end gate when an individual slatis struck.

A further object of this invention is to substantially prevent splitting of the ends of the slats of an end gate.

Yet another object of this invention is durability and increased useful life of the end gate.

Still another object of this invention is to provide greater security in containing livestock in a stock rack.

A further object of this invention is the provision for ease of removal and insertion and vertical displacement of the gate in a stock rack.

thereof. The end wall 11 includes two spaced apart end sections 12 and 13 and the vertically slidable end gate 10. Each end section includes a pair of spaced, vertically disposed posts 14 and l6 having a plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced slats 17 secured therebetween. Secured to each post 14 is a U-shaped metal channel 18,(FIGS. l and 2) wherein the open side of the channels 18 are in alignment and facejeach other thus providing a slideway 19 for the end gate 10.'

The end gate 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3) includes a pair of spaced

upright members

21 and 22 and a plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced slats 23. Each slat 23 is secured to both

uprights

21 and 22 by a suitable fastening unit such as a screw 24 (FIG; 4). In addition, the end gate 10 has a pair of upright U-shaped channels 26 and 27 (FIG. 1) disposed over the ends of each slat 23 with the base wall 28 (FIG. 4) of each channel disposed over the slat ends and the side walls 29 disposed over a portion of the sides of the slat. Spaced holes (not shown) are drilled through the

channels

26 and 27 in alignment with holes (not shown) rope 30 is secured to the top of one end section 12, passed over the pulley 34 and a second pulley 35 which is secured to the top of the other end section 13, and the free end is releasably secured to a holding bracket 40 attached to the lower end of the other end section 13, thus a pull on the free end of the rope will cause the gate to vertically rise on the channels 18.

The end gate (FIGS. 1 and 2) is slidably mounted on the end wall 11 between the slideway 19 with the

channels

26 and 27 normally disposed in the channels 18 of the slideway. With the ends of slats protected by the

channels

26 and 27 and securely fastened between the sidewalls thereof moisture will not cause an expansion of the end slats. Furthermore, after considerable use wherein the gate is slid up and down in the slideway the ends will not splinter or wear. In addition pressure against the gate or the kicking of a slat by an animal penned in the rack will not readily cause a slat end to break, as the force will be transmitted from the slat to other slats and the

channels

26 and 27 by the rivits and the channel. It should therefore now be apparent that the channeled end gate will substantially increase the life of the gate in the slideway and substantially decrease the splintering or wearing of any slat.

Although reference has been made to the use of certain materials, it is not intended to limit the invention thereby, accordingly other materials could readily be substituted in the construction of the end gate.

I claim:

1. A channeled and gate for use with a stock rack having an opening formed therein, the gate comprising:

a pair of vertically disposed U shaped guides secured to the rack at the sides of the opening thus forming a slideway in which a gate can be slidably mounted for providing access into the rack;

a plurality of horizontally disposed slats;

at least one vertically disposed upright member secured to each said slat thus forming a gate; and

a pair of parallel, vertically disposed channel means secured over the ends of said slats and slidably mounted in said guides, each said channel means having a U shape formed by a base wall and a pair of parallel side walls secured to said base wall thus providing a channel therebetween with a portion of each said slat disposed in said channel with said base wall abutting said slat ends and said side walls in juxtaposition with said slat side walls adjacent said slat ends, said channel means thus preventing the ends of said slats from becoming distorted due to absorption of moisture or splitting due to external forces.

Claims

1. A channeled end gate for use with a stock rack having an opening formed therein, the gate comprising: a pair of vertically disposed U shaped guides secured to the rack at the sides of the opening thus forming a slideway in which a gate can be slidably mounted for providing access into the rack; a plurality of horizontally disposed slats; at least one vertically disposed upright member secured to each said slat thus forming a gate; and a pair of parallel, vertically disposed channel means secured over the ends of said slats and slidably mounted in said guides, each said channel means having a U shape formed by a base wall and a pair of parallel side walls secured to said base wall thus providing a channel therebetween with a portion of each said slat disposed in said channel with said base wall abutting said slat ends and said side walls in juxtaposition with said slat side walls adjacent said slat ends, said channel means thus preventing the ends of said slats from becoming distorted due to absorption of moisture or splitting due to external forces.