Movable or removable closures – Panel with closure feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-14
2001-01-23
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Panel with closure feature
C049S449000, C052S223600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176043
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to PVC gates and, more particularly, to a framing system for the gates.
2. Prior Art
Recent trends in the fencing industry have demonstrated that PVC fences and gates have begun to replace the more conventional wooden and metallic fences and gates for some purposes.
One of the problems with PVC gates, for example, arises when the user or installer attempts to attach metallic parts directly to the PVC material. In many instances, there is a tendency for the screws to tear out of the PVC material.
The present invention, on the other hand, provides a framing system wherein certain portions of the PVC gate are sandwiched and compressed between stainless steel framing brackets to which the hardware elements, such as hinge straps, are attached directly, thereby obviating, in that particular case, a direct connection between the hinge strap and the PVC material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a metallic framing system, preferably of stainless steel, for a plastic gate, preferably of poly vinyl chloride (hereinafter PVC). The PVC gate is formed from a pair of spaced vertical PVC frame members connected at their upper and lower ends to a pair of spaced horizontal PVC frame members, thereby forming four corners on the PVC gate. The gate is further defined as having a front side and a rear side. A pair of L shaped metallic framing brackets are mounted at each corner of the PVC gate such that one framing bracket at each corner lies along the rear side of the PVC gate and one framing bracket lies opposite the last mentioned framing bracket along the front side of the PVC gate. The pairs of framing brackets are adapted to embrace the vertical PVC frame member and the adjacent portion of the horizontal PVC frame member and further hold the PVC gate in compression between the framing brackets at each corner.
The PVC gate is disposed between two PVC gate posts which are generally of considerably larger size than the PVC frame members of the gate. On one of the PVC gate posts (hereinafter referred to as the hinge post) are located a pair of right angled hinge elements each of which is connected to two sides of the hinge post. Each right angled member has a pair of ears on the side adjacent the PVC gate which support a pivot pin. The composite hinge also includes a hinge strap which is adapted to connect directly to one of the stainless steel framing brackets on the front side of the gate, preferably the uppermost and lowermost framing brackets. Each framing bracket to which a hinge strap is connected is provided with a pair of bolts that are welded to the inside of the framing bracket and which extend forward and through a pair of holes in the hinge strap.
The holes in the hinge strap are slotted so as to provide adjustability of the gate with respect to the hinge post. The ends of the hinge straps are bent and further provided with curved ends in which the hinge pins are received. The relationship between the hinge straps, the PVC gate and the hinge post is such that the gate can rotate through a 180 degree arc.
Also, the hinge strap is not connected directly to the PVC portions but rather to one of the hinge brackets between which the PVC gate is compressed.
On the opposite side of the PVC gate from the hinge post is a second PVC post, hereinafter referred to as the latch post. Mounted on the latch post are a back plate and pivotal latch member which are similar in some respects to the latch shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,203 issued on Oct. 3, 1989 to Gerald H. Rogers. For the purpose of providing a striker bar which will cooperate with the latch mechanism mounted on the latch post, an intermediate horizontal PVC frame member is provided to extend between the two vertical PVC frame members. At the position where the intermediate horizontal PVC frame member connects with the vertical PVC frame member adjacent the latch post, another pair of framing members are provided so as to compress the PVC gate in the region of this connection between the intermediate horizontal PVC frame member and the vertical frame member. A U shaped striker support member is connected to the forward intermediate framing bracket in much the same manner that the hinge straps are connected to their associated framing brackets. A striker bar is mounted on the ends of the U shaped striker bar support so that it is positioned and spaced in parallel relation with the forward face of the PVC gate. The outer end of the striker bar extends slightly beyond the adjacent edge of the latch post and is adapted to engage complementary openings in the back plate and in the pivotal latch member. The striker bar thus serves as a handle for opening and closing the gate.
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Dorman William S.
Stodola Daniel P.
Strimbu Gregory J.
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