Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6464209
-
Patent Number
6,464,209
-
Date Filed
Monday, December 4, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 15, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Browne; Lynne H.
- Cottingham; John R.
Agents
- Thomte, Mazour & Niebergall
- Thomte; Dennis L.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 256 73
- 256 24
- 256 25
- 256 26
- 256 27
- 256 21
- 256 22
- 256 19
- 256 67
- 256 60
- 256 59
- 256 69
- 256 DIG 2
- 160 371
- 160 372
- 160 377
- 049 236
- 049 240
- 049 381
- 049 389
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A gate is disclosed for positioning between a hinge post and a latch post. The gate comprises horizontally spaced-apart end members which are channel-shaped. Each of the end members has a base portion and spaced-apart side walls extending therefrom. A plurality of metal rail members are initially secured to and extend between the end members by means of pivot bolts. When the metal gate has been adjusted to conform to elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post, the relationship of the rail members and the end members is fixed by means of screws extending through the side walls of the end members into the ends of the rail members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fence gate and more particularly to a fence gate which may be adjusted to compensate for elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post of the fence.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gates are normally provided in fences to permit ingress into and egress from the fenced area. In those cases where the hinge post and the latch post of the fence are at the same elevation, the gate is normally comprised of a pair of vertically disposed end members which have horizontally extending rail members secured thereto and extending therebetween. If the hinge post is at a higher elevation than the latch post, the free end of the gate will not conform to the latch post if the gate is installed so that the end members thereof are vertically disposed and the rail members thereof are horizontally disposed. In the situation described above, the upper end of the free end of the gate may be positioned above the upper end of the latch post. In the situation described above, the lower end of the free end of the gate will be spaced considerably above the ground, thereby creating a space therebelow through which animals may pass. The situation described above makes it impossible to use a pre-fabricated gate. Thus, a gate must be specially fabricated wherein the rail members extend between the hinge post and the latch post at an angle so that the end member at the free end of the gate will be positioned lower than the end member at the hinge end of the gate. The fabrication or construction of a gate to match elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post is difficult and time-consuming. Further, in those cases where the gate is of metal construction, the metal rail members must be welded to the metal end members in the angled position which requires that the welder come to the job site to fabricate the gate. The same problems arise when the latch post is at a higher elevation than the hinge post.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A metal gate is disclosed for positioning between a hinge post and a latch post. The gate is comprised of a first channel-shaped end member having upper and lower ends and a second channel-shaped end member which is spaced from the first end member and which has upper and lower ends. Each of the channel-shaped end members comprises a base portion and spaced-apart side walls. A plurality of tubular rail members are secured to the end members and extend therebetween. The ends of the rail members are received between the side walls of the end members and are pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot bolt. The rail members may be pivotally moved with respect to the end members to enable the gate to conform to elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post. Once the gate has been positioned in its adjusted configuration, screws are driven through the side walls of the end members into the rail members to maintain the gate in its adjusted position.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved gate assembly.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a gate which may be easily adjusted to conform to elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post and vice versa.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a metal gate which may be initially connected together at the factory and may be adjusted into the proper position at the job site by simply driving screws through the end members into the ends of the rail members.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a metal gate which is easy to fabricate and to install.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side view of the gate of this invention mounted between a hinge post and a latch post;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the gate of this invention;
FIG. 3
is a side elevational view of the gate of this invention illustrating the manner in which the gate may be adjusted to conform to elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post; and
FIG. 4
is an exploded partial perspective view of the end members of the gate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The gate is this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral
10
and is designed to be positioned between a hinge post
12
and a latch post
14
. Gate
10
is comprised of first and second channel-shaped end members
16
and
18
. End member
16
is constructed of metal and includes a base portion
20
and spaced-apart side walls
22
and
24
. Similarly, channel-shaped end member
18
includes a base portion
26
and spaced-apart side walls
28
and
30
. A plurality of metal tubular rail members
32
are secured to and extend between the end members
16
and
18
, as will be described.
One end of each of the rail members
32
is selectively pivotally secured to end member
16
by means of a pivot bolt
34
extending through side portions
22
,
24
and rail member
32
. The other ends of the rail members
32
are selectively pivotally secured to end member
18
by means of a pivot bolt
36
extending through side portions
28
,
30
and rail member
32
. As seen in the drawings, the upper ends of side portions
22
-
24
and
28
-
30
are tapered downwardly from base portions
20
and
26
, respectively. Further, it can be seen in the drawings that the side portions of the end members
16
and
18
are provided with a plurality of openings
40
formed in each of the side portions thereof to enable self-tapping screws
42
or the like to be inserted therethrough into the ends of rail members
32
to maintain the rail members
32
in position with respect to the end members
16
and
18
.
The gate will normally be shipped to the job site in a disassembled fashion with the rail members
32
being disconnected from the end members
16
and
18
. However, if desired, the pivot bolts
34
and
36
could be installed prior to shipment.
Once the rail members
32
have been pivotally secured to the end members
16
and
18
by means of the pivot bolts
34
and
36
, end member
16
will be hingedly secured to hinge post
12
in conventional fashion with the end member
16
being in a vertically disposed condition or in a condition closely parallel post
12
. End member
18
will then be raised or lowered with respect to end member
16
, which is permitted by the pivot bolts
34
and
36
, until the end member
18
is in the proper position relative to the latch post
14
. The gate is temporarily maintained in that position by any suitable means and the self-tapping screws
42
are inserted through the openings
40
in the side walls of the end members
16
and
18
to rigidly connect the end members
16
and
18
to the ends of the rail members
32
. When the self-tapping screws
42
are installed, the screws
42
will maintain the desired position of the rail members
32
with respect to the end members
16
and
18
. At that time, the pivot bolts
34
and
36
may also be tightened if so desired.
It can therefore be seen that a novel gate construction has been provided which enables a gate to be assembled at the job site and to be adjusted so as to readily conform to elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post.
Thus it can been seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
Claims
- 1. A fence gate which may be adjusted to compensate for elevational differences between a hinge post and a latch post, comprising:a first end member having upper and lower ends; said first end member adapted to be secured to the hinge post; a second end member horizontally spaced from said first end member and having upper and lower ends; said second end member adapted to be positioned adjacent the latch post for attachment thereto; each of said end member being channel-shaped and having a base portion and spaced-apart side walls; a plurality of elongated, spaced-apart rail members having first and second ends secured to and extending between said first and second end members; said first ends of said rail members being received between said side walls of said first end member; said second ends of said rail members being received between said side walls of said second end member; a pivot bolt selectively pivotally securing each of said first ends of said rail members to said side walls of said first end members; a pivot bolt selectively pivotally securing each of said second ends of said rail members to said side walls of said second end members; said pivot bolts permitting the fence gate to be initially adjusted to compensate for elevational differences between the hinge post and the latch post; a plurality of threaded connection members extending through at least one of said side walls of said first end member into each of said first ends of said rail members; a plurality of threaded connection members extending through at least one of said side walls of said second end member into each of said second ends of said rail members; said threaded connection members maintaining the pivot bolt initial adjustment of the fence gate.
- 2. The fence gate of claim 1 wherein said end members and said rail members are comprised of a metal material.
- 3. The fence gate of claim 1 wherein said threaded connection members comprise screws extending through each of said side walls of said end members into said ends of said rail members.
- 4. The fence gate of claim 3 wherein said side walls of said end members have preformed openings formed therein which receive said threaded connection members.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
599175 |
May 1960 |
CA |