Movable or removable closures – With means mounting closure for swinging – Hinging position reversal means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-02-27
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
With means mounting closure for swinging
Hinging position reversal means
C049S193000, C292S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192629
ABSTRACT:
This invention deals with the field of gates for closing an opening in a wall, fence or so forth, and in particular with such a gate that hinges and latches on both ends.
BACKGROUND
The value of two-way gates that will both hinge and latch on each side is well known. Examples of such prior gates are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,898 to Etnyre; U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,717 to Lewis; U.S. Pat. No. 2,822,630 to Guyer and U.S. Pat. No. 1,505,039 to Lay.
The devices disclosed in these patents all provide the advantages that they may be opened. from either side, and in fact in either direction from either side, and can be completely removed easily. There however are disadvantages associated with each.
It is a distinct advantage to be able to simply push or slam a gate closed and have it latch in place automatically. Only the gate of Guyer may, in one embodiment, be closed by simply pushing or slamming the gate closed. All the others require relatively precise placement of the gate relative to the gate post, and subsequent manual lifting or latching. In the Gruyer embodiment, when the gate is slammed a hole in a bracket falls over a pin. The embodiment incorporates a fairly complex linkage wherein tolerances must be kept within a limited range. Because of the need to maintain these tolerances, the embodiment would not be suitable for the rough treatment many gates, especially those for use with livestock, are subjected to.
This rough treatment often results in bent and deformed gates or gate posts. None of the prior art gates provide any adjustment to allow the working parts to be adjusted to compensate for deformed gates or gate posts.
Only the gate of Lay does not require hinge parts projecting from the fixed sides of the opening when the gate is open. These projecting parts are dangerous to persons, vehicles, livestock and so forth passing through the gate. While the Lay gate has no such projecting parts, it leaves an open hole in the ground when the gate is open, which is also dangerous. This hole is also liable to be filled with soil, snow and so forth unless the socket pipe defining the hole is raised which would again present a danger to traffic passing through the gate.
Only the gate of Lay may slide vertically up to a certain degree and still function properly. This ability is an advantage where snow or such might block a gate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gate that may be opened from either end.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a gate that leaves no projections inside the gate post when the gate is open.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a gate that may will latch closed automatically when pushed into a closed position.
The invention accomplishes these objects providing a gate operable so as to open from either end thereof, said gate comprising an opening defined on each side by a vertical column, said vertical columns having inner sides facing each other across the width of the opening, and outer sides opposite said inner sides; a gate panel having two ends and two sides; a fixed U-shaped top hinge member extending from an upper portion of each end of said gate panel and a fixed U-shaped bottom hinge member extending from a lower portion of each end of said gate panel such that the open ends of said U-shaped hinge members are aligned towards one side of said gate panel and aligned with said vertical columns such that when said gate is closed each said U-shaped hinge member engages said vertical columns such that a first leg thereof lies on said inner side of one of said vertical columns, substantially perpendicular to said opening and the second leg thereof lies on said outer side of one of said vertical columns, substantially perpendicular to said opening; a support member extending radially from each said vertical column such that the bottom edge of one said hinge member on each end of said gate is supported thereby when that end of said gate is closed; a U-shaped latch member pivotally attached about a vertical axis to each end of said gate panel such that said latch members may pivot from a closed position engaging said vertical columns such that the legs of said latch members are substantially perpendicular to the legs of said hinge members, thereby securing said hinge members to said vertical columns, to an open position wherein said legs of said latch members are at an acute angle to said legs of the hinge members, thereby releasing said hinge members to be moved away from said vertical columns; controls to selectively lock said latch members into said closed position and to release said latch members, allowing said latch members to pivot into said open position.
Such a gate would not be operable to swing in or out, but could be easily removed by unlatching both ends and put in position so as to swing the opposite direction if so desired, for example into a pen instead of out of the pen. Such a gate would provide a passage way through the open gate with no projections into same or other hazards such as a hole in the ground. Such a gate would also freely move up on the vertical columns to avoid obstructions.
The control could comprise biassing means to lock the latch member into the closed position when the legs of the latch member are pivoted into the closed position. The pivotal attachment of the latch members to the ends of the gate panel could comprise a vertical pin fixed to the closed end of the U of each the latch member, the pin engaging a vertical aperture defined by a member fixed to the gate panel, the pin and latch member thereby free to rotate and to move vertically in the aperture, the latch member thus being able to pivot from a closed to an open position.
The controls could comprise a block fixed to the gate panel such that when the latch member is in the closed position, the latch member is held in a bottom vertical position by the biassing means wherein the block prevents pivoting of the latch member. Raising means could be provided to raise the latch member against the biassing force to an upper vertical position wherein the latch member may pivot over the top of the block and rest on the block in the open position when the raising means is released. In this way, when the gate is pushed shut or slammed, the latch member will pivot into the closed position as it contacts the vertical column, and be pushed down into the closed and latched position by the biassing force, thus providing a gate that latches closed automatically when slammed..
To provide maximum strength, a latch member could be provided vertically adjacent to each the hinge member. The controls could comprise a vertical lifting member joining the latch members on each end of the gate panel, thereby simultaneously raising both such latch members so they would be free to pivot over the blocks into an open position, thereby allowing the hinge members to move away from the vertical column and the gate to open.
Conveniently, the vertical apertures could be defined by the hinge members and the blocks could be fixed to the top of the hinge members.
The fixed position of the U of the hinge members relative to the gate panel could be adjustable closer to or farther from the gate panel, thereby allowing accommodation for bent or deformed gates.
The support members could extend from the outer sides of the vertical columns, thereby supporting the hinge member as it rotates on the vertical column when the gate is swung open from the opposite end without risk of the open end of the hinge U aligning with the support member, at which point the gate would slide down the vertical column. This position also keeps the inner sides of the vertical columns free from projections. Rails attached to the vertical columns as part of a fence could conveniently serve as support members.
The hinge members, latch members, support members and controls could conveniently be supplied in a kit for installation on a gate.
In another aspect the invention provides a gate operable so as to open from either end thereof
Akins Allan
Kuffner Joe
Peters Len
Akins Allan
Lamb Charles G.
Reutlinger Middleton
Stodola Daniel P.
Thompson Hugh B.
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