Hands free gate
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gated barrier comprising:
- a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane;
b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane, the gate having a gate axis on which the gate swings into and out of the barrier plane, the gate having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adjacent to the gate axis, a direction running from the proximal end to the distal end defining a width direction;
c) the gate having a gate frame with a proximal end support and a distal end support, the proximal end support being adjacent to the gate axis, the gate frame having first and second vertically extending support members between the proximal and distal end supports, the first and second vertically extending support members confronting each other and being spaced apart from each other, the first and second vertically extending support members defining a first width therebetween, the gate frame having first and second horizontally extending support members confronting each other and being spaced apart vertically from each other;
d) a foot opening in the gate frame, the opening being between the first and second horizontally extending support members, the foot opening having an opening width defined by a direction running from the proximal end of the gate to the distal end of the gate, the opening being free of said first and second vertically extending support members and free of further vertical support members, the opening being free of said first and second horizontally extending support members and free of further horizontally extending support members, the opening width of the foot opening being greater than the first width defined by said first and second vertically extending support members such that a foot can be inserted into said opening and pressed down on one of said first and second horizontally extending support members to draw the gate downwardly, the opening width being less than a width between the proximal and distal ends of the gate;
e) a latch engaged to the gate and being between the barrier frame and the gate, the latch having a latch end; and
f) a latch receiver on the barrier frame for receiving said latch, the latch receiver having a bottomless portion such that, when the gate is drawn downwardly by said foot, the latch end is drawn downwardly through the bottomless portion to disengage the gate from the barrier frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present gate includes a barrier frame and a gate in the barrier frame. The gate is opened by inserting a foot into a foot opening in the gate, which action compresses springs disposed about pivot pins between the gate and the barrier frame and draws an extended latch downwardly and out of a latch receiver that is bottomless, which action unlatches and frees the gate from the barrier frame such that the gate can be swung open. Downward travel of the gate is minimized until a foot pushes a pivoting stop out of the way.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A gated barrier comprising:
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a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane; b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane, the gate having a gate axis on which the gate swings into and out of the barrier plane, the gate having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adjacent to the gate axis, a direction running from the proximal end to the distal end defining a width direction; c) the gate having a gate frame with a proximal end support and a distal end support, the proximal end support being adjacent to the gate axis, the gate frame having first and second vertically extending support members between the proximal and distal end supports, the first and second vertically extending support members confronting each other and being spaced apart from each other, the first and second vertically extending support members defining a first width therebetween, the gate frame having first and second horizontally extending support members confronting each other and being spaced apart vertically from each other; d) a foot opening in the gate frame, the opening being between the first and second horizontally extending support members, the foot opening having an opening width defined by a direction running from the proximal end of the gate to the distal end of the gate, the opening being free of said first and second vertically extending support members and free of further vertical support members, the opening being free of said first and second horizontally extending support members and free of further horizontally extending support members, the opening width of the foot opening being greater than the first width defined by said first and second vertically extending support members such that a foot can be inserted into said opening and pressed down on one of said first and second horizontally extending support members to draw the gate downwardly, the opening width being less than a width between the proximal and distal ends of the gate; e) a latch engaged to the gate and being between the barrier frame and the gate, the latch having a latch end; and f) a latch receiver on the barrier frame for receiving said latch, the latch receiver having a bottomless portion such that, when the gate is drawn downwardly by said foot, the latch end is drawn downwardly through the bottomless portion to disengage the gate from the barrier frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A gated barrier comprising:
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a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane; b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane, the gate having a gate axis on which the gate swings into and out of the barrier plane, the gate having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adjacent to the gate axis, a direction running from the proximal end to the distal end defining a width direction; c) the gate having a gate frame, the gate frame forming a foot opening such that, when a foot is inserted into the foot opening and presses down on a foot portion of the gate frame forming the foot opening, a downward and vertical force is exerted upon the gate; d) a pivoting stop on the gate, the pivoting stop having an upper stop portion and a lower stop portion and a pivot between the upper stop portion and the lower stop portion, the pivot engaging the pivoting stop to the gate; e) the upper stop portion of the pivoting stop being normally in the foot opening and normally in the gate plane, the upper stop portion being pivotable out of the foot opening and out of the gate plane; f) the lower stop portion of the pivoting stop being disposed out of the foot opening and normally in the gate plane at a stop position between the gate and a stopping surface, the lower stop portion being pivotable out of the gate plane; g) a latch engaged to the gate and being between the barrier frame and the gate, the latch having a latch end; and h) a latch receiver on the barrier frame for receiving said latch, the latch receiver having a bottomless portion; i) such that, when a force is imposed upon the gate to move the gate downwardly and vertically, the lower stop portion when in the gate plane in the stop position hits said stopping surface to minimize downward and vertical travel of the gate; j) such that, when the upper stop portion pivots out of the gate plane, the lower stop portion also pivots out of the gate plane and out of said stop position; k) such that, when the lower stop portion pivots out of the stop position, the gate may be moved downwardly and vertically; and l) such that, when the gate is moved downwardly and vertically by said foot, the latch end is drawn downwardly through the bottomless portion to disengage the gate from the barrier frame. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A gated barrier comprising:
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a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane; b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane, the gate having a gate axis on which the gate swings into and out of the barrier plane, the gate having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adjacent to the gate axis, a direction running from the proximal end to the distal end defining a width direction; c) the gate having a gate frame, the gate frame forming a foot opening such that, when a foot is inserted into the foot opening and presses down on a foot portion of the gate frame forming the foot opening, a downward and vertical force is exerted upon the gate; d) a pivoting stop on the gate, the pivoting stop having an upper stop portion and a lower stop portion and a pivot between the upper stop portion and the lower stop portion, the pivot engaging the pivoting stop to the gate; e) the upper stop portion of the pivoting stop being normally in the foot opening and normally in the gate plane, the upper stop portion being pivotable out of the foot opening and out of the gate plane; and f) the lower stop portion of the pivoting stop being disposed out of the foot opening and normally in the gate plane at a stop position between the gate and a stopping surface, the lower stop portion being pivotable out of the gate plane; g) such that, when the force is imposed upon the gate to move the gate downwardly and vertically, the lower stop portion when in the gate plane in the stop position hits said stopping surface to minimize downward and vertical travel of the gate; h) such that, when the upper stop portion pivots out of the gate plane, the lower stop portion also pivots out of the gate plane and out of said stop position; i) such that, when the lower stop portion pivots out of the stop position, the gate may be moved downwardly and vertically.
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Specification