Adjustable passageway gate

• US 5,617,674 A
• Filed: 05/06/1996
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terrill, Timothy T.
• Original Assignee: Terrill, Timothy T.
• Inventors: Terrill, Timothy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): KANNAN, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/642,200
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 49/55, 49/57, 49/50, 49/465, 49/463, 49/506, 160/215, 160/216, 160/222
• US Class Current: 49/55
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/002 Safety guards or gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26

Abstract

An adjustable passageway gate that includes a thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel, a large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped extension member, a pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped extension members, an elongated and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped cross member, and a bolt. The thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel is positionable in on one side of a wall. The large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped extension member and the pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped extension members are extendable to contact the wall when the passageway of the wall is wider than the thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel. The elongated and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped cross member is displaced a distance from the thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel and contacts the other side of the wall. The bolt passes through a centrally-disposed and laterally-oriented throughbore of the elongated and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped cross member and threadably engages the centrally-disposed and laterally-oriented threaded throughbore of the thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel, so that the wall is sandwiched therebetween and the passageway of the wall is blocked.

Claims

1. An adjustable passageway gate, comprising:

a) a thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel having a first side, a second side disposed opposite to said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, and a centrally-disposed and laterally-oriented threaded throughbore;

said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel being positionable in a passageway defined by a wall that has a first side and a second side disposed opposite to the first side of the wall;

b) a large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member extendable from and retractable into said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and being extended to contact the first side of the wall when the passageway of the wall is wider than said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

c) a pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members extendable from and retractable into said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel and being extended to contact the first side of the wall when the passageway of the wall is wider than said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members being spaced apart, so that said adjustable passageway gate can straddle a lower door hinge of a door when the passageway is created by the door being opened and can be used on doors that swing outwardly and inwardly to the right and to the left;

d) an elongated and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped cross member displaced a distance from said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and having a centrally-disposed and laterally-oriented throughbore and contacting the second side of the wall; and

e) a bolt passing through said centrally-disposed and laterally-oriented throughbore of said elongated and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped cross member and threadably engaging said centrally-disposed and laterally-oriented threaded throughbore of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, so that the wall is sandwiched between said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and said elongated and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped cross member and the passageway of the wall is blocked.

2. The gate as defined in claim 1, wherein said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped front face with a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side disposed opposite to said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, and a centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore;

said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped second face that is displaced a distance from and is parallel to said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped first face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel and has a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side disposed opposite to said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped second face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel has a centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore that is in lateral alignment with said centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped first face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

3. The gate as defined in claim 2, wherein said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has an upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member that connects said top of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped first face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel to said top of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped second face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

4. The gate as defined in claim 3, wherein said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel has a horizontal part that has a midpoint and a pair of ends and extends along said top of said generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped first face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and along said top of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped second face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and forms therewith a top of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

5. The gate as defined in claim 4, wherein said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a downwardly-extending vertical part that has a length and extends downwardly from said midpoint of said horizontal part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and terminates prior to said centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

6. The gate as defined in claim 5, wherein said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a pair of downwardly-extending vertical end parts that extend downwardly from said pair of ends of said horizontal part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel a distance less than said length of said vertical part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

7. The gate as defined in claim 6, wherein said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member that connects said bottom of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped first face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel to said bottom of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped second face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

8. The gate as defined in claim 7, wherein said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel has a horizontal part that has a midpoint and a pair of ends and extends along said bottom of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped first face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel and said bottom of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped second face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and forms therewith a bottom of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

9. The gate as defined in claim 8, wherein said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has an upwardly-extending vertical part that has a length and extends upwardly from said midpoint of said horizontal part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and terminates prior to said centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

said upwardly-extending vertical part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is disposed below and in alignment with said downwardly-extending vertical part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

10. The gate as defined in claim 9, wherein said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a pair of upwardly-extending vertical end parts that extend upwardly from said pair of ends of said horizontal part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel a distance less than said length of said upwardly-extending vertical part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

11. The gate as defined in claim 10, wherein one of said pair of upwardly-extending vertical end parts of said pair of ends of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is displaced below and in alignment with a corresponding one of said pair of downwardly-extending vertical end parts of said pair of ends of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and forms therewith a first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and defines therebetween a long throughslot of said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

12. The gate as defined in claim 11, wherein said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, said downwardly-extending vertical part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, a part of said horizontal part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel between said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and said downwardly-extending vertical part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, said upwardly extending vertical part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, and a part of said horizontal part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel between said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and said upwardly-extending vertical part of said upper internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel together define a large, internally-disposed, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chamber that opens into said long throughslot of said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

13. The gate as defined in claim 12, wherein said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a pair of shoulders formed where said long throughslot of said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel opens into said large, internally-disposed, and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped chamber of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

14. The gate as defined in claim 13, wherein said large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member has a distal side and a proximal side from which a pair of outwardly-extending stop blocks outwardly extend;

said large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel is movably disposed in said large, internally-disposed, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chamber of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and is slidable through said long throughslot of said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

said large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is slidably extendable from said large, internally-disposed, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chamber of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel until said pair of outwardly-extending stop blocks of said proximal side of said large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member contact said pair of shoulders of said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

said large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is slidably retractable into said large, internally-disposed, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chamber of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel until said proximal side of said large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member contacts said upwardly-extending vertical part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and said downwardly-extending vertical part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

15. The gate as defined in claim 13, wherein said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has a second side internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member that is disposed on said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel opposite to said long throughslot of said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

16. The gate as defined in claim 15, wherein said second side internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel has a vertical part that has a midpoint and extends along said second side of said first face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and along said second side of said generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped second face of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

17. The gate as defined in claim 16, wherein said second side internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel further has an inwardly-extending horizontal part that extends inwardly from said midpoint of said second side T-shaped member vertical part of said second side internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and terminates prior to said centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

said vertical part of said second side internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is spaced between another one of said pair of downwardly-extending vertical end parts of said upper internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and a corresponding one of said pair of upwardly-extending vertical end parts of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and defines therebetween a pair of short throughslots and forms therewith a second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

each of said pair of short throughslots of said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is shorter than said long throughslot of said first side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

18. The gate as defined in claim 17, wherein said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, said downwardly-extending vertical part of said internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, a part of said horizontal part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel between said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and said downwardly-extending vertical part of said internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, said upwardly-extending vertical part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, a part of said horizontal part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel between said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel and said upwardly-extending vertical part of said internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel, and said second side internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member together define a pair of small, internally-disposed, spaced-apart, and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped chambers that open into said pair of short throughslots of said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

each of said pair of small, internally-disposed, spaced-apart, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chambers of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is smaller than said large, internally-disposed, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chamber of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

19. The gate as defined in claim 18, wherein said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel further has two pair of side shoulders formed where said pair of short throughslots of said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel open into said pair of small, internally-disposed, spaced-apart, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chambers of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

20. The gate as defined in claim 19, wherein each of said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members has a distal side and a proximal side from which a pair of outwardly-extending stop blocks outwardly extend;

each of said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is movably disposed in a respective one of said pair of small, internally-disposed, spaced-apart, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chambers of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and is slidable through a respective one of said pair of short throughslots of said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

each of said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is slidably extendable from said respective one of said pair of small, internally-disposed, spaced-apart, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chambers of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel until said pair of outwardly-extending stop blocks of said proximal side of said respective one of said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members of said of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel contact a respective pair of said two pair of shoulders of said second side of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel;

each of said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is slidably retractable into said respective one of said pair of small, internally-disposed, spaced-apart, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped chambers of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel until said proximal side of said respective one of said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel contacts a respective one of said upwardly-extending vertical part of said lower internally-disposed and inverted substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel and said downwardly-extending vertical part of said upper internally-disposed and substantially T-shaped member of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

21. The gate as defined in claim 1, wherein said bolt has a knob head and an outwardly extending and threaded shaft that extends outwardly from said knob head of said bolt and passes through said centrally-disposed, unthreaded, and laterally-oriented throughbore of said elongated and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped cross member and threadably engages said centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel.

22. The gate as defined in claim 21, wherein said knob head of said bolt has a shape and a size sufficient to make it difficult for a child to grab with the child'"'"'s small hands of the child and has a diameter sufficient to prevent passage through said centrally-disposed, unthreaded, and laterally-oriented throughbore of said elongated and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped cross member.

23. A method of using an adjustable passageway gate to prevent the undesirable passage through a passageway that is defined by a structure that has a first side and a second side that is disposed opposite to the first side of the structure, comprising the steps of:

a) positioning a thin generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped panel of said adjustable passageway gate across the passageway and contacting the first side of the structure;

b) positioning an elongated and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped cross member of said adjustable passageway gate across the passageway and contacting the second side of the structure;

c) turning a bolt of said adjustable passageway gate by a knob head of said bolt;

d) causing an outwardly extending and threaded shaft of said bolt to pass through a centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented throughbore of said elongated and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped cross member and be threaded into a centrally-disposed, laterally-oriented, and threaded throughbore of said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel; and

e) causing said elongated and generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped cross member and said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel to move towards each other until said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel securely abuts against the first side of the structure and said elongated and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped cross member securely abuts against said second side of the structure, so that the structure is sandwiched therebetween and the passageway is blocked from undesirable passage therethrough.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the step of extending a large, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension member of said adjustable passageway gate and a pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members of said adjustable passageway gate from said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel a distance sufficient to contact the first side of the structure when said thin generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped panel is not wide enough to contact the first side of the structure itself with said pair of small, spaced-apart, extendable, retractable, and generally rectangular-parallelpiped-shaped extension members straddling a lower door hinge when the passageway is created by an open door.