Claims
- 1. A gate closer apparatus for use with a swinging fence gate having a vertically extending gate frame member supported on a vertically extending gate post member by hinge members interengaging the gate post member and the vertically extending gate frame member, the gate closer apparatus comprising:a) a coil spring member having a central axial opening therethrough configured with an internal dimension greater in cross section than the external cross section of one of said vertically extending gate post member and vertically extending fence gate frame member for free reception of said one vertically extending member therethrough, the coils of said coil spring member being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the external cross section of said one of said vertically extending members to enable installation of the coil spring member on said one vertically extending member by placing the vertically extending member between the adjacent coils at one end of the coil spring member and rotating the latter to thread it onto the vertically extending member, b) the coil spring member having a first end portion configured for engaging said vertically extending fence gate frame member and a second end portion configured for engaging said gate post member, c) whereby pivotal movement of the fence gate in an opening direction effects rotational, winding movement of the coil spring member that increases stored energy in said spring member, which stored energy then moves the fence gate on its hinge members toward its closed position when the fence gate is released from an open position.
- 2. The gate closer apparatus of claim 1 including coil spring mounting means comprising a clamp bracket member engaging said first terminal end portion of the coil spring member, the clamp bracket member configured for releasable clamping securement to said one vertically extending member.
- 3. The gate closer apparatus of claim 1 including securement means for interengaging said second terminal end portion of the coil spring member and the other of said vertically extending members for winding tensioning of the coil spring member in both, opposite directions of rotational winding movement of the coil spring member.
- 4. The gate closer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one vertically extending member is said vertically extending gate frame member and the fence gate includes at least one horizontal member fixedly mounted on and extending from the vertically-extending gate frame member of the fence gate, and said coil spring member is further configured with a spacing between the coils of the coil spring member that is greater than the external dimension of the horizontal member, whereby the coil spring member is installed into encircling condition extending along a portion of the vertical gate frame member of a fence gate by rotating the coil spring member about the vertically extending gate frame member with the fixedly mounted horizontal member extending between adjacent coils of the coil spring as the latter is rotated.
- 5. A gate closer apparatus for use with a swinging fence gate having a vertically extending gate frame member supported on an adjacent, vertically extending gate post by interengaging hinge members, the gate closer apparatus comprising:a) a coil spring member having a central axial opening therethrough configured with an internal diameter greater in cross section than the external dimension of an upstanding gate post for free reception of said gate post therethrough,the coils of said coil spring member being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the external cross section of said gate post to enable installation of the coil spring member on the gate post by placing the gate post between adjacent coils at one end of the coil spring member and rotating the latter to thread it onto the gate post, and b) coil spring mounting means for engaging a first terminal end portion of said coil spring member and frictionally engaging said upstanding gate post and securing said terminal end fixedly thereto with the coil spring extending along and encircling a portion of the upstanding gate post, the coil spring member having a second, opposite terminal end portion configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the line of the central axial opening therethrough, said second terminal end portion further configured for abutting engagement with the swinging fence gate pivotally supported on the upstanding gate post by said hinge members, c) whereby pivotal movement of the swinging fence gate in its opening direction effects rotational, winding movement of the coil spring member that increases stored energy in said coil spring member, which stored energy then moves the fence gate on its hinge members toward its closed position when the swinging fence gate is released from an open position.
- 6. A gate closer apparatus for use with a swinging fence gate having a vertically extending gate frame member supported on an adjacent, vertically extending gate post by interengaging hinge members, the gate closer apparatus comprising:a) a coil spring member having a central axial opening therethrough configured with an internal dimension greater in cross section than the cross sectional dimension of said vertically extending gate frame member for free reception of said gate frame member therethrough, the coils of said coil spring member being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the external cross section of said vertically extending gate frame member to enable installation of the coil spring member on said gate frame member by placing the latter between adjacent coils at one end of the coil spring member and rotating the latter to thread it onto the gate frame member, b) coil spring mounting means for engaging a first terminal end portion of said coil spring member and frictionally engaging said vertically extending gate frame member and securing said terminal end portion fixedly thereto with the coil spring member extending along and encircling a portion of the gate frame member, the coil spring member having a second, opposite terminal end portion configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the line of the central axial opening therethrough, said second terminal end portion further configured for abutting engagement with said upstanding gate post, c) whereby pivotal movement of the swinging fence gate in its opening direction effects rotational, winding movement of the coil spring member that increases stored energy in said coil spring member, which stored energy then moves the fence gate on its hinge members toward its closed position when the swinging fence gate is released from its open position.
- 7. A gate closer apparatus for use with a swinging fence gate having a horizontally extending gate frame member mounted on and extending from a vertically extending gate frame member supported on an adjacent, vertically extending gate post by interengaging hinge members, the gate closer apparatus comprising:a) a coil spring member having a central axial opening therethrough configured with an internal dimension greater in cross section than the cross sectional dimension of said vertically extending gate frame member for free reception of said gate frame member therethrough, the coils of said coil spring member being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the external cross section of said horizontally extending gate frame member to enable installation of the coil spring member on said vertically extending gate frame member by placing the horizontally extending gate frame member between adjacent coils at one end of the coil spring member and rotating the latter to thread it onto the vertically extending gate frame member, b) coil spring mounting means for engaging a first terminal end portion of said coil spring member and frictionally engaging said vertically extending gate frame member and securing said terminal end portion fixedly thereto with the coil spring member extending along and encircling a portion of the vertically extending gate frame member, the coil spring member having a second, opposite terminal end portion configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the line of the central axial opening therethrough, said second terminal end portion further configured for abutting engagement with said upstanding gate post, c) whereby pivotal movement of the swinging fence gate in its opening direction effects rotational, winding movement of the coil spring member that increases stored energy in said coil spring member, which stored energy then moves the fence gate on its hinge members toward its closed position when the swinging fence gate is released from its open position.
Parent Case Info
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the priority filing date of U.S. Provisional application 60/156,500, filed Sep. 28, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/156500 |
Sep 1999 |
US |