Gate assembly

• US 8,341,886 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lindam Ltd. (Munchkin Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Inventors: Yates, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mayott, III, Clarence W
• Application Number:
  US12/170,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20090013604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 49/50, 49/55
• US Class Current: 49/55
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0014 to prevent opening by children E05B13/00 takes precedence; child-proof container closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/061 with cams or helical tracks
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/068 with inclined pivot-axes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use, e.g. keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/40 for gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/002 Safety guards or gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/04 of wing type, e.g. revolving or sliding trap doors; louvre doors or windows E06B7/08

Abstract

A gate assembly is provided including frame means for positioning in an opening through which selective entry is required. Barrier means are mountable on the frame means via hinge means and the barrier means are movable relative to the frame means between a closed position, wherein the opening is closed, to an open position, wherein the opening is open. An automatic closure mechanism is provided for moving the barrier means from the open position to the closed position without user intervention. The automatic closure mechanism is associated with the hinge means and includes at least one ramp or inclined surface on which at least part of the gate travels when moving between the open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A gate assembly comprising:

a frame, said frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in an opening through which selective entry is permitted;

a barrier mountable on the frame via an upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is movable relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position; and

an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism is disposed on top of the base frame member'"'"'s upper surface, said automatic closure mechanism having an inclined surface, on top of which at least part of a base of the barrier rotates and moves vertically up and down when moving between the open and closed position.

2. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface has a first end disposed adjacent an upright member of the frame and a second end disposed a spaced distance from the upright frame member, the second end being lower in height than the first end.

3. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the automatic closure mechanism includes a recess into which at least a part of a base of the barrier is arranged to drop into just prior to reaching the closed position.

4. The gate assembly according to claim 3, where in use, the barrier is initially lifted in an upward direction to raise the base of the barrier out of the recess and onto the inclined surface when moving the barrier from the closed position to the open position.

5. The gate assembly according to claim 3, wherein the recess is defined between two inclined surfaces.

6. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein a resilient biasing member is associated with at least one of the upper and lower hinges to bias the barrier to a closed position.

7. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge includes a hinge pin, disposed in one of the barrier or frame, which is rotatably mountable in an aperture disposed in the other of the barrier or frame.

8. The gate assembly according to claim 6, wherein the resilient biasing member is associated with a base of the barrier or the lower hinge.

9. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower hinges are provided on a first side of the barrier, and a latching member for latching the barrier to the frame is provided on a second side of the barrier means.

10. The gate assembly according to claim 3, wherein when:

a base of the barrier is substantially aligned with the recess in the automatic closure mechanism,

the latching member on the barrier is substantially aligned with a keep housing on the frame.

11. The gate assembly according to claim 10, wherein the latching member comprises:

a latch element which is slidably movable relative to a recess defined in the keep housing between;

a latched position, wherein the latch element is resiliently biased to be located in the recess of the keep housing to keep the barrier closed; and

an unlatched position, wherein the latch element is located a spaced distance from the recess of the keep housing and the barrier can be opened.

12. The gate assembly according to claim 11, where in use, the latch element is moved in a direction away from the keep housing and is then lifted onto the inclined surface in order to move the barrier from the closed position to the open position.

13. A gate assembly comprising:

a frame, said frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in an opening through which entry is permitted;

a barrier mounted on the frame via an upper hinge and a lower hinge, wherein the barrier moves relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position; and

an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge, that automatically biases the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism having a ramp, disposed on top the base frame member'"'"'s upper surface, over which a base of the barrier rotates and moves vertically up and down.

14. The gate assembly according to claim 13, wherein the automatic closure mechanism includes a recess into which at least a part of the base of the barrier is dropped into in the closed position.

15. The gate assembly according to claim 14, where in use, the barrier is initially lifted in an upward direction to raise the base of the barrier out of the recess and onto the ramp when moving the barrier from the closed position to the open position.

16. A method of using a gate assembly, the method including:

positioning a frame, said frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, in an opening through which selective entry is permitted;

mounting a barrier on the frame via an upper and lower hinge to permit movement of the frame between an open and closed position;

providing an automatic closure mechanism having a ramp, disposed on top of the base frame member'"'"'s upper surface, adjacent to the lower hinge; and

automatically biasing the barrier from the open position to the closed position, as part of a base of the barrier rotates and moves vertically up and down over the ramp.

17. The method according to claim 16, where in the closed position, at least a part of a base of the barrier is dropped into a recess.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprises:

lifting the barrier in an upward direction to raise the base of the barrier out of the recess and onto the ramp to enable the barrier to move to the open position.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the recess is defined between two inclined surfaces.