Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-13
2003-10-28
Hong, John C. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C029S464000, C119S423000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06637094
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates, in general, to starting gates and, more particularly, to starting gates used for horse races.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Horse races are typically run on an oval shaped track having a start line and a finish line. Prior to starting the race, a starting gate is positioned at the start line and the horses are placed in the stalls of the starting gate. The race is started by simultaneously opening the front doors of each individual stall, thereby releasing the horses so they can race around the track. The starting gate is moved away from the track immediately after the race has begun to prevent it from impeding the horses as they run around the track. Chamberlain teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,116 an in-motion starting gate having individual doors that are opened using hydraulic cylinders coupled to the individual doors. Georgette et al. teach in U.S. Pat. No. 2,808,026 opening the doors by using an electromagnet mounted to each individual door. The starting gates in these patents use many parts or components to open the individual doors. As those skilled in the art are aware, the greater the number of components, the greater the likelihood of at least one of the components failing thereby decreasing the reliability of the starting gates. Another aspect concerned with reliability is a gate failure mechanism in which one of the front doors either fails, allowing a horse to “leak out” of the starting gate, or does not open, holding one horse in the stall. Along similar lines, one door may open more slowly than the others, either putting the horse and rider in that gate at a disadvantage or more often causing the race to be nullified. Because of the large sums of money wagered on individual races, unreliable starting gates negatively impact the profits of both the race track operators, the starting gate owners, and the horse owners.
Starting gates are historically manufactured in an inverted or “dead centipede” configuration. Manufacturing the starting gates in this fashion has high manufacturing costs because it requires the extra step of turning the starting gate over to its operating position. Not only does this step increase the monetary cost of manufacturing a starting gate, it increases the probability of an accident occurring that can injure one or more workers building the starting gate. Another drawback of manufacturing the starting gates in an inverted configuration is that the tolerances cannot be maintained to ensure that all the moving parts of the doors will be properly aligned when the structure is turned over, i.e., the individual doors may not open and close properly.
Accordingly, what is needed is a safe, low cost method of manufacturing starting gates that operate reliably.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the foregoing need by providing a cost efficient method of manufacturing a reliable starting gate. In one aspect of the present invention, the starting gate is manufactured in an “up-right” configuration, which permits substantially better tolerance control which improves the mating fit of the parts and results in improved reliability. It also eliminates the need for the expensive and dangerous step of inverting the starting gate. In another aspect of the present invention, the starting gate is manufactured in a modular configuration having subassemblies that are manufactured to predetermined dimensions with controlled tolerances, wherein the subassemblies are interchangeable.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2868168 (1959-01-01), Dunn
patent: 2955570 (1960-10-01), Purcell
patent: 3604399 (1971-09-01), Mills
patent: 3703883 (1972-11-01), Mills
patent: 4070988 (1978-01-01), Smith
patent: 4130087 (1978-12-01), Dunn
patent: 4311116 (1982-01-01), Chamberlin
patent: 4498666 (1985-02-01), McCallum
Letter to Robert Ehmann, from Nelson & Roediger dated Apr. 14, 2003 with exhibits.
Notice of Motion and Motion for Leave to File First Supplemental and Amended Complaint, filed by Nelson & Roediger on May 12, 2003.
Kammerzell Donald L.
Manion Scott A.
O'Connor Mike T.
Dover Rennie William
Hong John C.
K-Zell Metals Inc.
Titus John D.
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