Patent Grant
11492830
The present invention relates to systems and methods for improving the rotation and componentry of barrier gates. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved gate hinge and associated methods.
Traditional fence gate hinges allow for the gate to swing along a linear plane. Swinging along a linear plane does not take into account gates positioned on an incline. More often than not, opening gates equipped with traditional hinges positioned on an incline result in the bottom of the gate lodging against the incline when opened. Furthermore, opening and closing a gate equipped with traditional hinges requires a user to manually push or pull the gate for each action. Some gates may automate the opening and closing aspect. However, automated gates require electric motors, gears and a multitude of additional components that make installation difficult, increase gate maintenance, increase the likelihood for repair, and increase costs.
There exists a need in the art for an improved gate hinge that allows for the bottom of a gate to accommodate an incline when opened. Furthermore, there exists a need for a gate hinge that applies physics to automate closing the gate rather than motorized componentry. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for an improved gate hinge and associated methods.
This background is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is made as to prior art and nothing within the background should be construed as prior art against the present invention.
Embodiments of the present invention are related to an improved gate hinge that may include a post assembly with an L-Bracket, a post assembly extension, and a swing axis bolt with a T-Joint. A gate assembly may include an L-Bracket and gate assembly extension. The post assembly and gate assembly may be connected via connecting bolt. The swing axis bolt may be oriented vertically through a top and bottom of the post assembly extension and the connecting bolt may be oriented horizontally through a first side and a second side of the gate assembly extension. The connecting bolt may be structured to connect the gate assembly to the post assembly at the T-Joint. The gate assembly extension may be structured to rotate underneath the post assembly extension when the improved gate hinge is actuated.
In this embodiment, the post assembly extension may be structured to distally extend a bottom portion of a gate attached to the gate assembly relative to a top portion of the gate. The distal extension may be structured to create an elevated angle between the gate bottom and ground when the improved gate hinge is actuated.
This embodiment may further include a first distancing nut on a first side of the gate assembly extension and a second distancing nut on a second side of the gate assembly extension structured to be adjustable along the connecting bolt to increase or decrease a connection gap between the gate assembly and the post assembly. Additionally, the swing axis bolt may be positioned on the post assembly extension proximate an end distal the L-Bracket. In all embodiments, the post assembly and the gate assembly may be structured to attach to a bottom portion of a fence post and gate respectively.
Some embodiments may include the gate assembly rotated via the T-Joint on the swing axis bolt. Additionally, the post assembly extension and the gate assembly extension may include a plurality of positioning holes to adjust the distal extension of the swing axis bolt and the connecting bolt. A plurality of positioning holes may be located on the top and bottom of the post assembly extension and a plurality of positioning holes may be located on a first side and second side of the gate assembly.
Another embodiment may be an improved gate hinge with a post assembly including an L-Bracket, a post assembly extension, and a swing axis bolt with a T-Joint. A gate assembly may include an L-Bracket and gate assembly extension. The post assembly and gate assembly may be connected via connecting bolt and the swing axis bolt may be oriented vertically on the post assembly extension. The connecting bolt may be oriented horizontally on the gate assembly extension. The connecting bolt may connect the gate assembly to the post assembly at the T-Joint. The gate assembly extension may rotate via the T-Joint on the swing axis bolt and the post assembly extension may distally extend a bottom portion of a gate attached to the gate assembly relative to a top portion of the gate. The distal extension may create an elevated angle between the gate bottom and ground when the improved gate hinge is actuated.
In this embodiment, the post assembly extension and the gate assembly extension may include extension rails forming a post extension track and gate extension track between their respective rails. The post assembly extension rails may be positioned on the post assembly L-Bracket in a non-linear configuration with respect to the positioning of the gate assembly extension rails on the gate assembly L-Bracket creating an asymmetric offset. The asymmetric offset may be structured to create a flush mount for the post assembly and gate assembly. Furthermore, at least a portion of the swing axis bolt may be positioned within the post assembly extension track and at least a portion of the connecting bolt may be positioned within the gate assembly extension track.
This embodiment may include a post extension casing and a gate extension casing structured as slidable sleeves. The post extension casing may be structured to adjust the distance between the post assembly L-Bracket and the swing axis bolt. The gate extension casing may be structured to adjust the distance between the gate assembly L-Bracket and the connecting bolt. Furthermore, the T-Joint may be located atop the post extension casing and the connecting bolt may be connected to a side portion of the gate extension casing within the asymmetric offset between the post assembly extension rails and the gate assembly extension rails.
The post assembly extension rails may be parallel stacked to create a horizontal track therebetween. The gate assembly extension rails may be side-by-side from left to right to create a vertical track therebetween. Additionally, the post extension casing and the gate extension casing may be slidable to adjust the distal extension. An increased distal extension may be structured to create an increased elevated bottom gate angle. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the post assembly extension and the gate assembly extension may include a plurality of positioning holes structured to adjust the distal extension of the swing axis bolt and the connecting bolt. A plurality of positioning holes may be located on the top and bottom of the post assembly extension and a plurality of positioning holes may be located on a first side and second side of the gate assembly.
Another embodiment may be an improved gate hinge with a post assembly including an L-Bracket, a post assembly extension, and a swing axis bolt with a T-Joint. A gate assembly may include an L-Bracket and gate assembly extension. The post assembly and gate assembly may be connected via connecting bolt and the swing axis bolt may be oriented vertically on the post assembly extension. The connecting bolt may be oriented horizontally on the gate assembly extension and may connect the gate assembly to the post assembly at the T-Joint. The gate assembly extension may be structured to rotate via the T-Joint on the swing axis bolt.
In this embodiment the post assembly extension and the gate assembly extension may include at least one of the following configurations structured to adjust the distal extension of the swing axis bolt and the connecting bolt. They may include slidable extension casings and extension tracks and they may include a plurality of positioning holes.
Like the other embodiments, the post assembly and the gate assembly may be structured to attach to a bottom portion of a fence post and gate respectively and the post assembly extension may be structured to distally extend a bottom portion of a gate attached to the gate assembly relative to a top portion of the gate. The distal extension may be structured to create an elevated angle between the gate bottom and ground when the improved gate hinge is actuated.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment descriptions are illustrative and not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to persons with ordinary skill in the art after having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the following embodiments are set forth without any loss of generality and without imposing limitation upon the claimed invention.
Directional terms such as “above” “below” “upper” “lower” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Additionally, the description may contain terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention. Such positional language should be taken in context of the represented drawings.
Quantitative terms such as “generally” “substantially” “mostly” and other like terms are used to mean that the referred object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the referenced subject. Likewise, use of the terms such as first and second do not necessarily designate a limitation of quantity. Such terms may be used as a method of describing the presence of at least one of the referenced elements or may provide a means of differentiating orientation. The meaning of any term within this description is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.
Referring now to
The post assembly 101 may include an L-Bracket 150a with a first post attachment member 103a and a second post attachment member 104a. The L-Bracket 150a may secure to a post via securing members such as screws through post assembly apertures 114a within the L-Bracket 150a. The first post attachment member 103a may attach to a side of a post, while the second post attachment member 104a may attach to an inside portion of a post. For purposes of this application, the term post shall not be construed as limiting. More particularly, post is used to mean an upright rigid structure. By way of non-limiting example, an upright rigid structure may be a fence post, a column, a wall, and the like.
A post assembly extension 105a may extend distally from the second post attachment member 104a on a surface facing away from the first post attachment member 103a. As oriented in
Passing through the post assembly extension 105a, proximate the end distal the second post attachment member 104a, may be a swing axis bolt 106 with swing axis washer 112. As oriented in
Like the post assembly 101, the gate assembly 102 may include an L-Bracket 150b with a first gate attachment member 103b and a second gate attachment member 104b. This L-Bracket 150b may secure to a gate via securing members such as screws through gate assembly apertures 114b within the L-Bracket 150b. The first gate attachment member 103b may attach to a side portion of a gate, while the second gate attachment member 104b may attach to an inside portion of a gate.
A gate assembly extension 105b may extend distally from the second gate attachment member 104b on a surface facing away from the first gate attachment member 103b. As oriented in
Passing through the gate assembly extension 105b, proximate the end distal the second gate attachment member 104b, may be the connecting bolt 107 with a first distancing nut 108 and a second distancing nut 109 on opposing sides of the gate assembly extension 105b. As oriented in
The first distancing nut 108 and the second distancing nut 109 may be adjusted along the connecting bolt 107 to increase or decrease a connection gap 110 between the gate assembly 102 and the post assembly 101. Furthermore, as shown, the gate assembly 102 may rotate with a gate swing motion 206b along the indicated path utilizing the swing axis bolt 106 as its axis point.
This perspective shows the hinge 100 as would be viewed from inside an enclosed area. As shown, the second post attachment member 104a and the second gate attachment member 104b are fitted onto respective interiors of the post 201 and gate 202. Simultaneously, the first post attachment member 103a and second gate attachment member 103b are abutting each other along respective sides of the post 201 and gate 202. Each may be secured via their respective apertures 114a, 114b.
The swing axis bolt 106 may descend from an upper portion of the post assembly extension 105a through the post extension medial cavity 151a and be secured by at least one swing axis nut 203 at a bottom surface of the post assembly extension 105a.
Within the post extension medial cavity 151a may be a T-Joint 205. The T-Joint may be a rotational connector with an upper, a lower, and a medial aperture connecting point. The swing axis bolt 106 may pass through an upper aperture connecting point and exit a lower aperture connecting point. The connecting bolt 107 may connect to the T-Joint 205 at its medial aperture connecting point. By way of non-limiting example, the connecting bolt 107 may be connected to the T-Joint 205 via threading. However, the T-Joint 205 may have a swing axis motion 206a whereby it may rotate around the swing axis bolt 106. In some embodiments the swing axis bolt 106 may rotate as well. In any embodiment, the swing axis motion 206a may rotate the connecting bolt 107, which in turn may rotate the gate assembly 102 and therefore the gate 202 along the gate swing motion 206b.
The standard gate hinge 305 may be placed at an upper portion of a post 201 and gate 202 junction. When the gate 202 is opened, the standard gate hinge 305 may extend the gate 202 to a nominal distance from the post 201. However, the improved gate hinge 100, and more specifically the post assembly 101 may extend the lower portion of the gate 202 to a greater distance from the post 101 than the standard gate hinge 305. This extended distance from the post 201 may create an elevated angle for the gate 202 with respect to the gate 202 angle in a closed position. This elevated angle may allow for the gate 202 to open and ascend in the direction of elevated ground without being obstructed by the elevated ground. Furthermore, because the gate 202 is elevated in the open position, gravity will bias the gate 202 to a closed position when opened. Therefore, when released from an open position angled other than perpendicular to the post 201, gravity causes the gate 202 to self-close along its swing motion 206b. This self-closing feature may alleviate the need for a spring within the hinge 100 to close the gate.
Surrounding the post assembly extension rails 505a may be a post extension casing 509a. The post extension casing 509a may be a slidable sleeve encasing the post assembly extension rails 505a. In this embodiment, the swing axis bolt 506 may extend from and through an upper portion of the post extension casing 509a, through the post extension track 510a, and through a bottom portion of the post extension casing 509a. The post extension casing 509a may allow for the swing axis bolt 506 to be adjustable within the post extension track 510a without prolapsing once secured in place. As such, when installing the hinge 500, a user may adjust the post extension casing 509a and swing axis bolt 506 to a desired distance away from the L-Bracket 550a.
Additionally, in this embodiment, the T-Joint 511 may be located atop the post extension casing 509a. As a result, a connecting bolt 507 attaching the post assembly 501 to the gate assembly 502 may be positioned on an upper portion of the post assembly 501 overtop the post assembly extension rails 505a. Therefore, in this embodiment the gate assembly 502, which is connected via connecting bolt 507, may be positioned higher from the ground than the post assembly 501. In combination with a post extension offset 518a and a gate extension offset 518b, the positioning of the T-Joint 511 may allow for the gate assembly extension rails 505b to swing overtop or underneath the post assembly extension rails 505a depending on their respective arrangement.
The positioning of the post assembly extension rails 505a on the second post attachment member 504 may cause for a post extension offset 518a relative to the positioning of gate assembly extension rails 505b located on a second gate attachment member 504b. This offset of the rails is what may allow the post assembly 501 and gate assembly 502 to be flush mounted onto the post 201 and gate 202 junction despite the gate extension rails 505b being mounted higher from the ground than the post extension rails 505a. In this embodiment, the offset may also allow for the gate assembly extension rails 505b to swing overtop the post assembly extension rails 505a when the gate 202 opens along its gate swing motion 206b.
The gate assembly extension rails 505b may be parallel rails extending distally from the second gate attachment member 504b on a surface facing away from a first gate attachment member 503b. The gate assembly extension rails 505b may create a void between them defined as a gate extension track 510b structured to accommodate a connecting bolt 507 to slidably pass therebetween. When viewing the hinge 500 from the front, the gate assembly extension rails 505b may be parallel stacked from top to bottom creating a horizontal track. This may orient the gate extension track 510b to open in the direction facing the post assembly 501. This horizontal gate extension track 510b is what allows the connecting bolt 507 to fit between the gate assembly extension rails 505b and slide toward and away from the L-Bracket 550b.
Surrounding the gate assembly extension rails 505b may be a gate extension casing 509b. The gate extension casing 509b may be a slidable sleeve that surrounds the gate assembly extension rails 505b. In this embodiment, the connecting bolt 507 may extend from and through a side portion of the gate extension casing 509b, through the gate extension track 510b, and through an opposing side portion of the gate extension casing 509b. The gate extension casing 509b may allow for the connecting bolt 507 to be adjustable within the gate extension track 510b without prolapsing once secured in place. As such, when installing the hinge 500, a user may adjust the gate extension casing 509b and connecting bolt 507 to a desired distance away from the L-Brackets 550a, 550b.
By adjusting the connecting bolt 507 and the swing axis bolt 506 away from the L-Brackets 550a, 550b along their respective extension tracks 510a, 510b, a user installing the hinge 500 effectively distances the gate assembly 502 past that of the standard gate hinge 305 to create the desired elevated angle of the gate 202. The further away from the L-Brackets 550a, 550b the more elevated the angle created.
For the sake of clarity, the
In this orientation, the T-Joint 511 may fit within the post extension offset 518a below the post assembly extension rails 505a. Furthermore, the T-Joint may be positioned between a swing access bolt bottom member 703 and a securing nut 702. The securing nut 702 may be positioned below the post extension rails 505a and its enveloping post extension casing 509a to assist with securing the swing axis bolt 506 to a desired distance from the L-Bracket 550a. A second securing nut 702a may be positioned atop the post extension rails 505a and its enveloping post extension casing 509b to further assist with securing the swing axis bolt 506 to a desired distance from the L-Bracket 550a.
The post assembly 501 extension track first and second ends 801, 802 may act as stoppers preventing the swing axis bolt 506 and the post extension casing 509a from either sliding off of the post assembly extension rails 505a or being distanced too close to the L-Bracket 550a. In some embodiments, the distance between the extension track first end 801 and the L-Bracket 550a may be the length of a standard gate hinge 305. This may indicate to an installer that positioning the swing axis bolt 506 and post extension casing 509a at the first end may prevent the gate assembly extension rails 505b from extending to create an elevated gate angle. Any other positioning along the post extension track 510a would assist with creating an elevated angle.
Likewise, the gate assembly 502 extension track first and second ends 801, 802 may act as stoppers preventing the connecting bolt 507 and the gate extension casing 509b from either sliding off of the gate assembly extension rails 505b or being distanced too close to the L-Bracket 550b. In some embodiments, the distance between the extension track first end 801 and the L-Bracket 550b may be the length of a standard gate hinge 305. This may indicate to an installer that positioning the connecting bolt 507 and gate extension casing 509b at the first end may not create an elevated gate angle. Any other positioning along the gate extension track 510b would create an elevated angle.
In the second position 903a, 903b the connecting bolt 507 and the swing axis bolt 506 are positioned away from the L-Brackets 550a, 550b along their respective extension tracks 510a, 510b past that of the standard gate hinge 305 to create the desired elevated angle of the gate 202. The further away from the L-Bracket 550a they are positioned, the more elevated the gate angle created.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/042,279 titled Improved Gate Hinge and Associated Methods filed on Jun. 22, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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