Foot operated pet gate

• US 9,279,284 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T F H Publications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: T F H Publications Incorporated
• Inventors: Axelrod, Glen S., Gajria, Ajay
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rephann, Justin
• Application Number:
  US14/518,357
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 49/55, 49/57, 493/94, 494/63, 292/255
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 53/001 Foot-operation
• 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 11/54 for doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 13/00 Mechanisms operated by the movement or weight of a person or vehicle through power-operated wing-operating mechanisms E05F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 11/02 Gates; Doors
• 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 9/04 of wing type, e.g. revolving or sliding trap doors; louvre doors or windows E06B7/08

Abstract

A pet gate and method of operating thereof. The gate including a frame including first and second vertical side members; a door pivotally mounted to the second vertical side member. The door includes a pole extending between upper and a lower door crossbars, wherein the door pivots between an open position and a closed position. A foot actuator is mounted to the door and is vertically slidable between a raised position and a lowered position. A first channel in the foot actuator aligns with the pole and receives a drive that passes through the pole. The drive is raise-able by the foot actuator. A retractable bar is slidably provided in the upper door crossbar. The drive engages the retractable bar when the drive is raised. An upper retracting pin extends from the retractable bar and is receivable in a upper catch provided in the first vertical member.

Claims

1. A pet gate, comprising:

a frame including a first vertical side member and a second vertical side member;

a door pivotally mounted to said second vertical side member, wherein said door includes a pole extending between an upper door crossbar and a lower door crossbar, and said door pivots between an open position and a closed position;

a foot actuator mounted to said door, wherein said foot actuator is vertically slidable between a raised position and a lowered position;

a first channel provided in said foot actuator, wherein said first channel aligns with said pole;

a drive passing through said pole and received in said first channel, wherein said drive is raise-able by said foot actuator;

a retractable bar slidably provided in said upper door crossbar, wherein said drive engages said retractable bar when said drive is raised; and

an upper retracting pin extending from said retractable bar, wherein said upper retracting pin is receivable in a upper catch provided on said first vertical member.

2. The pet gate of claim 1, further comprising a first bias spring retained between said foot actuator and said lower door crossbar.

3. The pet gate of claim 1, wherein said drive further comprises a collar and said foot actuator comprises a cover that includes a lip, wherein said lip at least partially coextensive with said collar and said lip engages said collar when said foot actuator is raised.

4. The pet gate of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a lower frame crossbar spanning between said first vertical member and said second vertical member and said lower frame crossbar includes a lower catch and said drive includes a lower retracting pin receivable in said lower catch.

5. The pet gate of claim 1, further comprising a hand actuator affixed to said door, wherein said hand actuator includes a hand actuator cover having an upper cover portion and a lower cover portion, and a portion of said retractable bar is retained in said hand actuator.

6. The pet gate of claim 5, wherein said hand actuator spans said door and said first vertical member when said door is in said closed position.

7. The pet gate of claim 5, wherein said hand actuator includes an actuator button and said actuator button includes a tab extending through said upper cover portion, wherein said tab engages said retractable bar and slides said retractable bar away from said first vertical member when said actuator button is depressed.

8. The pet gate of claim 7, wherein said actuator button further includes a resilient member extending from the underside of said actuator button.

9. The pet gate of claim 7, further comprising a second bias spring retained between said retractable bar and said hand actuator cover.

10. The pet gate of claim 5, wherein said hand actuator includes an actuation lever, wherein said actuation lever engages said drive when said actuation lever is raised.

11. The pet gate of claim 10, wherein said drive includes a slot and said actuation lever includes a pin and said pin engages said drive when said actuation lever is raised.

12. The pet gate of claim 10, further comprising a third bias spring retained between said pin and said retractable bar.

13. The pet gate of claim 10, wherein said actuation lever includes an engagement tab extending therefrom, wherein said engagement tab engages said retractable bar and slides said retractable bar away from said first vertical member.

14. The pet gate of claim 10, wherein said actuation lever includes a stopping shoulder and said hand actuator includes a ledge, wherein said stopping shoulder is engagable with said ledge.

15. The pet gate of claim 1, wherein said first vertical member includes a visual indicator slidably positioned therein and said first catch includes visual indicator opening to expose a portion of said visual indicator.

16. The pet gate of claim 1, wherein said drive exhibits a weight in the range of 1 ounce to 30 pounds.

17. A method of opening a gate comprising:

raising a foot actuator slidably mounted to a door, wherein said foot actuator is vertically slidable between a raised position and a lowered position and said foot actuator includes a first channel and said door comprises a pole extending between an upper crossbar and a lower crossbar and said first channel aligns with said pole, wherein said door is pivotably mounted to a second vertical member of a frame including a first vertical member and said second vertical member, wherein said door pivots between an open position and a closed position;

engaging a drive received in said first channel with said foot actuator and raising said drive, wherein said drive extends through said pole;

sliding a retractable bar away from said first vertical member with said drive, wherein said retractable bar is slidably provided in said upper crossbar and said retractable bar includes an upper retracting pin;

removing said upper retracting pin from an upper catch in said first vertical member; and

pivoting said door relative to said second vertical member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said drive includes a lower retracting pin and said method further comprises raising said lower retracting pin out of a lower catch in said frame.