Automatically operable automotive vehicle gate apparatus provided with self protection and automotive protection

• US 4,364,200 A
• Filed: 12/29/1980
• Issued: 12/21/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kettering Medical Center
• Original Assignee: Kettering Medical Center
• Inventors: Cobb, Carl W. E.
• Primary Examiner(s): KANNAN, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US06/220,358
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 49/192, 49/35, 49/49, 49/141, 49/237
• US Class Current: 49/192
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/06 by swinging into open position about a vertical or horizontal axis parallel to the road direction, i.e. swinging gates

Abstract

Automatically operable automotive vehicle gate apparatus provided with self protection and automotive protection. The gate apparatus includes operational mechanism which moves a gate member within a gateway between a closed position and an open position. The gate apparatus also includes structure which permits the gate member to be moved to an open position when opening forces are applied thereto, without operation of the operational mechanism. Thus, the gate apparatus is protected against damage. The gate apparatus also includes mechanism which permits the gate operation mechanism to move from an open position to a closed position while the gate member remains in an open position. Thus, if an automotive vehicle should be within the gateway when closing action of the gate operation mechanism occurs, the automotive vehicle is protected against damage.

Claims

1. Automotive vehicle gate apparatus comprising:

rotary support means,

a gate having a closed position and an open position,

connection means joining the gate to the rotary support means for angular movement of the gate between closed position and open position with rotative movement of the rotary support means, said connection means including means for angular movement of the gate about a plurality of axes with respect to the rotary support means and including means for angular movement of the gate from the closed position thereof to the open position thereof when forces are applied to the gate,

the connection means including a bracket, a housing joined to the bracket, the housing including an inclined cam surface, a roller movable upon the cam surface, a stem supported by the roller and movable therewith, and pivotal means joining the stem to the gate.

2. The automotive vehicle gate apparatus of claim 1 in which the cam surface is generally V-shaped, and includes means resiliently urging the roller and the stem toward a normal position at the lower part of the cam surface, the gate thus being in a normal horizontal closed position when the stem and roller are in the lowermost part of the cam surface, the stem and the gate while horizontal thus being movable upwardly by substantially horizontal forces applied to the gate in either of opposite directions.

7. The automotive vehicle gate apparatus of claim 1 which includes spring means applying forces to the gate and to the connector means and urging the gate to a given angular position with respect to the housing and bracket.

8. The automotive vehicle gate apparatus of claim 1 which includes a roller member encompassing the stem and movable along the V-shaped cam slot with movement of the stem along the V-shaped cam slot and with movement of the connection body with respect to the housing.

3. Automotive vehicle gate apparatus comprising:

rotary operator means rotatable about a generally horizontal axis,

a gate having a closed position and a plurality of open positions,

connection means joining the gate to the rotary operator means for angular movement of the gate about a substantially horizontal axis between closed position and an open position with rotative movement of the rotary operator means, said connection means including means permitting angular movement of the gate about a plurality of axes from the closed position thereof to an open position thereof when forces are applied to the gate and without rotative movement of the rotary operator means, said plurality of axes including axes substantially normal one to the other, one of said axes being substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the rotary operator means and one of said axes being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary operator means.

4. The automotive vehicle gate apparatus of claim 3 in which said connection means includes cam means joining the gate to the rotary support means.

5. The automotive vehicle gate apparatus of claim 3 in which the gate is in a generally horizontal position when in closed position and in which the connection means includes means for pivotal movement of the elongate gate within a substantially vertical plane.

6. Automotive vehicle gate apparatus of the type provided with support structure having a rotary shaft, the improvement comprising:

a bracket,

means joining the bracket to the shaft for rotative movement therewith,

a housing attached to the bracket and movable therewith, the housing having a generally V-shaped cam slot therein,

a connection body within the housing and movable with respect thereto,

a spring member within the housing and urging linear movement of the connection body,

a stem joined to the connection body and extending from the housing through the V-shaped cam slot, the stem being normally at the lowermost portion of the V-shaped cam slot, the stem being movable along the V-shaped cam slot,

a closure member,

connector means pivotally joining the closure member to the stem,

the closure member being angularly movable with rotative movement of the shaft and the bracket between a substantially horizontal closed position and an upwardly inclined open position, the closure member also being movable with respect to the housing and with respect to the bracket as pressure is applied to the closure member to move the stem along the V-shaped cam slot, the closure member through the connector member being pivotally movable with respect to the housing and bracket when pressure is applied thereto.