Gate apparatus with springless automatic return gate

• US 8,607,502 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carlson Pet Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carlson Pet Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Flannery, Mark A., Million, Porter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASSAD, ABE L
• Application Number:
  US13/337,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20130160365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 49/50, 49/55, 49/56, 49/57, 492/36, 493/94, 494/63, 494/65, 163/09, 163/11, 163/12, 16/861, 16/862, 292/137, 292/163, 292/164, 292/175, 292/DIG.29, 292/DIG.37, 292/170
• US Class Current: 49/57
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/2038 moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/14 Arrangement of several locks or locks with several bolts, e.g. arranged one behind the other locks having bolts with multiple head E05B15/108; with provision for latching E05B59/00, E05B61/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/244 the striker being movable for latching, the bolt for unlatching, or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/10 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/12 with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the latch
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/068 with inclined pivot-axes
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/50 using fluid-pressure actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/18 with counteracting springs double-acting springs E05F1/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/20 in hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use, e.g. keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/40 for gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 11/022 characterised by the manner of movement
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/002 Safety guards or gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/32 Serving doors; Passing-through doors ; Pet-doors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/04 of wing type, e.g. revolving or sliding trap doors; louvre doors or windows E06B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0976 Sliding cam

Abstract

A gate apparatus having an automatically returning gate, an upper latch operated by an upper button, and a lower latch operated by an upper finger handle. Each of the latches must be opened to open the gate. The gate returns without the aid of a spring to a position close to the closed position or to the closed position by the structure of a pivot or hinge connection between the gate and the frame of the gate. Gate tubes are rectangular in section for their entire length. Wood panels are included in the gate and excluded from other portions of the gate apparatus to make the gate stand out to the user seeking to open the gate.

Claims

1. A gate apparatus, comprising:

a) a barrier frame, with the barrier frame having a first end and a second end, with the barrier frame having a lower horizontal support member that engages the first end of the barrier frame to the second end of the barrier frame, with the second end of the barrier frame having an upper portion, with the lower horizontal support member having a lower latch receiver;

b) a gate swingably engaged to the barrier frame, with the gate having a first end that is swingably engaged to the first end of the barrier frame, with the gate having a second end that is releaseably coupled to the second end of the barrier frame, with the gate having an upper portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion confronting the lower horizontal support member of the barrier frame, with the gate having an upper latch receiver;

c) a first latch apparatus, with the first latch apparatus fixed on the gate and extending over to the barrier frame to interact with the barrier frame, with the first latch apparatus having a finger handle and a lower latch extending from the lower portion of the gate and interacting with the lower latch receiver of the lower horizontal support member of the barrier frame, with the finger handle being engaged to the lower latch such that a drawing of the finger handle draws the lower latch from out of engagement with the lower latch receiver of the lower horizontal support member of the barrier frame and such that a releasing of the finger handle permits the lower latch to interact with the lower latch receiver of the horizontal support member of the barrier frame; and

d) a second latch apparatus, with the second latch apparatus fixed on the barrier frame and extending over to the gate, with the second latch apparatus having a button on the upper portion of the second end of the barrier frame and an upper latch extending from the upper portion of the second end of the barrier frame and interacting with the upper latch receiver of the gate, with the button being engaged to the upper latch such that a pushing in of the button draws the upper latch from out of engagement with the upper latch receiver of the first latch apparatus and such that a release of the button permits the upper latch to interact with the upper latch receiver of the gate;

e) wherein, for the gate to be opened, each of the lower latch and upper latch must be disengaged from the barrier frame and gate, respectively;

f) wherein the finger handle and lower latch are configured to operate in the vertical direction such that the finger handle is lifted to draw the lower latch upwardly and out of engagement with the lower latch receiver of the lower horizontal support member of the barrier frame;

g) wherein the button is configured to operate in a vertical direction, and wherein the upper latch is configured to operate in the horizontal direction and to extend in the horizontal direction over to the upper latch receiver of the gate; and

h) wherein the finger handle is configured to operate in the vertical direction and wherein the button is configured to be pushed downwardly along a vertical axis such that opposite motions are required for opening of the gate.

2. The gate apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a spring between the finger handle and lower latch, with the spring biasing the lower latch to a closed position such that a tension is provided to the finger handle when the finger handle draws the lower latch out of engagement with the lower latch receiver of the lower horizontal support member of the barrier frame.

3. The gate apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a spring between the button and the upper latch, with the spring biasing the upper latch to a closed position such that a tension is provided when the button is pushed in to draw the upper latch out of engagement with the upper latch receiver of the gate.

4. The gate apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the lower latch engages the barrier frame and when the upper latch engages the gate, the finger handle confronts the button.

5. The gate apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the lower latch engages the barrier frame and when the upper latch engages the gate, the finger handle and the button are generally aligned in the horizontal direction.

6. The gate apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a) the lower latch receiver includes a latch opening and ramps leading into the latch opening; and

b) the upper latch receiver includes a latch opening and ramps leading into the latch opening;

c) when the gate is closed, the lower latch is drawn up by one of said ramps of said lower latch receiver until the lower latch snaps into said latch opening of said lower latch receiver; and

d) when the gate is closed, the upper latch is drawn in by one of said ramps of said upper latch receiver until the upper latch snaps into said latch opening of said upper latch receiver;

e) such that the gate automatically closes to a latched position with each of the first and second latch apparatus being in a latched state.