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Gate apparatus with springless automatic return gate

  • US 9,587,426 B1
  • Filed: 12/15/2013
  • Issued: 03/07/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A pressurized gate apparatus that is engaged between two vertically running surfaces and off a floor extending between the two vertically running surfaces, comprising:

  • a) a barrier frame in generally a first plane, with the barrier frame having a first vertical support member with a first vertical axis;

    b) a gate swingable into and out of the barrier frame and into and out of said first plane, with said gate having a pivot side and a latch side;

    c) a first and upper pivot connection between the gate and the barrier frame; and

    d) a second and lower pivot connection between the gate and the barrier frame;

    e) wherein said first and upper and second and lower pivot connections establish a swing axis on which the gate swings, with said swing axis being oblique relative to the first vertical axis of the first vertical support member such that said swing axis has a horizontal component whereby, after the gate has been opened and released, the gate swings back to said first plane of said barrier frame under the influence of gravity;

    f) wherein the barrier frame is a pressure frame and includes first and second ends, the first end including the first vertical support member, the second end including an upwardly extending support member;

    g) wherein the barrier frame includes a lower horizontal member engaged to the first and second ends, the lower horizontal member engaged to each of the first vertical support member of the first end and the upwardly extending support member of the second end, the upwardly extending support member and lower horizontal member manufactured to be obtuse relative to each other;

    h) wherein said gate is between said first and second ends;

    i) wherein in operation the first and second ends are relatively squeezed together between said two vertically running surfaces to thereby resiliently push back against the vertically running surfaces such that the barrier frame is fixed between the two vertically running surfaces and off the floor and such that the upwardly extending support member and lower horizontal member are pushed into about a right angle relationship;

    j) wherein the gate further comprises an upright support member having an upper end and a lower end, the first and upper pivot connection being engaged to the upper end of the upright support member of the gate, the second and lower pivot connection being offset from the lower end of the upright support member of the gate;

    k) the upright support member of the gate having an upright axis;

    l) the lower end of the upright support member of the gate being on the upright axis of the upright support member of the gate;

    m) the upright axis of the upright support member of the gate extending through the lower horizontal member of the barrier frame at a location;

    n) wherein on the upright axis the lower end of the upright support member of the gate is adjacent to and axially vertically spaced from the lower horizontal member at said location;

    o) a piece having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the piece engaged to the lower end of the upright support member, the piece extending from the lower end of the upright support member, the second and lower pivot connection being engaged between the distal end of said piece and the lower horizontal member of the barrier frame; and

    m) the second and lower pivot connection comprising a spacer, the spacer having an upper face and a lower face, the upper face of the spacer confronting the distal end of said piece, the lower face of the spacer confronting the lower horizontal member of the barrier frame, one of the upper and lower faces of the spacer being an oblique face, said upper face of the spacer making contact with an underside of said distal end of said piece, said lower face of said spacer making contact with an upper surface of said lower horizontal member, each of said underside and said upper surface being horizontal, and one of said upper and lower faces being horizontal.

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