The present invention is directed to a gate system capable of recognizing the shape of an object, for example a car, and generating a passage opening which is adapted to the shape of the object.
For entering or exiting a secured area such as a building or an installment usually a barrier in form of a single gate-bar is provided which hinders merely simple crossing. However, such bars can be easily passed by many objects which are not too big to pass. For example, for human beings such bars can be easily trespassed by climbing over said barrier. To further prevent access to locked buildings or installments door systems, such as garage doors, are of help as trespassing is only easily possible when the doors are open.
However, door systems are configured to open a large space which is much bigger than the object to pass through. Also, usually such systems remain open for quite a while to give the driver of a vehicle sufficient time to drive through the opening. In such a situation, when the vehicle has passed through the open door in a building the access area is vulnerable for a criminal to also pass through the gate or door in the shadow of the back of the car. After trespassing into a secluded area, for example in a private environment, an intruder can easily rob the car driver who is supposed to be secured by the gate system.
In Chinese Publication No. 209543444U a gate system is shown which is supposed to adapt to the breadth of a car to minimize a gap between a vehicle and the wall. However, the system relies also on a bar gate and can easily trespassed as outlined above. In U.S. Pat. No. 9,689,189 B1 a passage area is disclosed which can be closed by telescope bars. Such system does not show any capability of adapting those telescope bars to the shape of a passing object. It merely opens fully or closes the passage area. In Chinese Publication No. 1 08 978 380 a gate system for preventing red light running in urban traffic is disclosed. Also, such system is not configured to adapt to a shape of a passing object.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to present a gate system minimizing the likelihood for intruders to enter an area which is secured by the gate system.
The present invention accordingly is directed to a gate system for entering and exiting a building or installment through a passage area comprising a plurality of moveable means at the passage area in a first position which does not allow passage, characterized in that the means are capable adopting a second position to open the gate by adapting the second position to a distance corresponding to the shape of the passing object to a predetermined, preferably minimum, value without touching the object.
With such a system only a minimum passage opening is generated which allows passage for the object intended to pass, but almost no additional space is opened for intruders. Also, the system is configured to close quickly after passage of the object to minimize the likelihood for trespassing. The system is configured and adapted to create an opening which resembles, merely roughly, the shape of the passing object. Thereby, the system is configured to shape the opening in breadth and height corresponding to the passing object. Sensors are configured to detect the shape of the car and corresponding to the shape the movable means adopt the second position without touching the passing object having distance to the passing object, wherein the difference between the first position and the second position is the related to the shape of the passing object in addition to a predetermined, preferably minimum, distance between the movable objects and the passing object, in particular in breadth and height. The opening is thereby smaller than the overall passage area provided by the bottom, ceiling, left and right side. Thereby, the system as described herein is different to existing systems which are either closed or open the passage area completely. Hence, the system as described herein is capable of providing adaptability to a passing object is terms of height and breadth. The first position of the movable means as described herein is a position farthest into the passing area and supposed to prevent passing of an object.
Moveable means at the passage area can embodied in different ways such as fans, bars, plates, folding grille, air cushions or flexible, but solid curtains. Such means as part of the gate system according to the present invention can be configured in particular for passage of motor vehicles, in particular cars and motorcycles. However, the gate system can also be used for human beings or animals. In certain embodiments the movable means formed by bars or plates, in particular divided plates having sub-plates. Those plates can be configured to be flexible in adjusting their length towards the passing object by being divided into sub-plates along the breadth of the plate. Plates in the meaning of the present invention may also mean that the plates, also in the form with sub-plates, are flexible in longitudinal direction by having smaller plates being connected by connecting means such as hinges bolts or the like. Plate in the meaning of the present invention having flexibility in longitudinal direction. Plates may further have the plain meaning of a solid board not being divided or having flexibility in longitudinal direction. In certain embodiments it may be chosen that two different kinds of movable means are used for the gate system. It may be that bars or plates are used for movable means from the side and a different kind of means from the ceiling or the bottom. One embodiment may comprise rolling shutter from the ceiling as a form of flexible plates and bars or plates with sub-plates from the side.
The gate system as defined herein relies on the use of sensors capable of recognizing the shape of the object to pass and transmission of data to the moveable means to adapt their position to a predetermined, preferably minimum, distance to the object to allow passage. Such sensors can be directly located on the moveable means, but could also be located in the passage area alone or in combination with sensors on the moveable means.
The moveable means can be located at every of the four possible sides, meaning bottom, ceiling, left side and right side. In case the passage area is round in some way or does not have shape with the usual four sides (e.g., an arch), then the moveable means can be integrated into the construction of the passage at least at those sections which face the two sides of the vehicle and the ceiling area. In one embodiment moveable means are installed at three side, preferable ceiling, left and right side. In another embodiment moveable means are only located at both sides, left and right. In one other embodiment the moveable means are only located at the ceiling. If the means are located either at the ceiling or at the sides it is possible to provide a system capable of adapting the height of the opening to the height of the object to pass. This also holds true for a system which provides movable means from the ceiling and from the bottom which is another conceivable embodiment. A system which provides only means from the bottom cannot provide height control as it is necessary for generating the opening for passage to remove or retreat the bottom means almost completely leaving the ceiling area complete free. Thereby, the present gate system provides the advantage of height adaptation and minimizing the space above the object to pass.
As mentioned above, the moveable means are supposed to keep a predetermined, preferably minimum, distance from the passing object. In particular, the means are arranged in the second position in such a way that a human being or bigger object cannot trespass between the movable means and the object to pass. In one embodiment the distance between the object to pass and the tip of movable means is only a few centimeters and in particular less than 20 cm, preferably less than 10 cm and most preferably less than 5 cm. The system further is configured and adapted to set the movable means in distance to the passing object which correspond to the shape of the object. Thereby, depending on the movable means the ends of the movable means do not form a straight line in parallel to the borders of the passage area, but form a line which resembles the shape of the cross section of the passing object. The skilled person will understand that movable means cannot resemble the cross section of the passing object in the smallest detail, but in rough means given by the predetermined distance from the movable means.
Also, the gate system is supposed to prevent passage for an object of the extent of a human being or bigger when the movable means are in the first position. Depending on the nature of the means the space between the means should not allow sticking a head through an opening. In case bars are used as movable means the distance between the bars is less than 20 cm, preferably less than 10 cm. Preferably, the density of bars is 8 bars per meter, more preferably 10 bars per meter and most preferably more than 12 bars per meter.
The gate system may further comprise a sending and receiving unit for remotely activating the gate system. Such unit can be configured as a remote control. A different way to implement an automatic opening of the gate system can be achieved by a memory function capable of remembering previously passed object shapes and adapting the second position of the bars according to the shape of the previously passed object. Such a function could be supported by a license plate recognizing tool.
In one embodiment of the present invention the moveable means are bars which are installed to or integrated into at least two sides of the passage area. It is also conceivable to only have those bars solely located at the ceiling.
As mentioned above the gate system as defined herein relies on the use of sensors capable of recognizing the shape of the object to pass and transmission of data to the moveable means to adapt their position to a minimum distance to the object to allow passage. In one embodiment each movable means, for example each bar or plate, has at least one distance sensor at the tip area closest to the object to pass for measuring the distance to a passing object. It may also be that the movable means such as a bar or a plate do not carry a distance sensor and the distance sensing is conducted at a different location. In case the distance sensor is located at the tip area of the movable means closest to the object to pass it may be configured for measuring the distance in the extended direction of the means. This holds true especially for embodiments where bars deflectable plates are used as movable means. It may also be that the distance sensor is located at the tip area directing towards the passing object deviating from the extended direction of the bar. It may further be that the distance sensor is located at the tip area directing towards the passing object and measuring is conducted in the extended direction of the bar and in a direction deviating from the extended direction of the bar.
In one embodiment the moveable means are configured as telescope bars. Telescope bars have the advantage that they can be used to cover long distances into the passage area, but only demand little or no room inside the side wall or ceiling for their installment. Using telescope bars as moveable means are therefore preferred as only minimal room has to be provided in the passage area and the construction around it.
The bars, and in particular telescope bars, located at the same side wall or the ceiling are arranged parallel to each other. In that the distance between the bars can be adapted in such a way that passage and in particular trespassing is made impossible when the bars are in the first position.
As mentioned above sensors can be located on the moveable means, but could also be located in the passage area alone or in combination with sensors on the moveable means. In one embodiment of the gate system as defined herein the system further comprises distance sensors before and behind the moveable means, e.g., the bars and preferably telescope bars or deflectable plates, in the direction of the passage of the object to pre-assess the dimensions of the object to pass to trigger the movement of the means to the second position. In one embodiment those distance sensors, preferably a plurality of sensors, are integrated into the side walls and the ceiling in one plane as an assembly to assess the shape of the object to pass from three sides. Thereby, it is possible to scan the shape of the object in breadth and height and facilitate adaptation of the opening to the shape of the object. It may further be that more than one assembly of sensors in more than one plane parallel to the plane of the moveable means are installed. In such a manner a three dimensional shape can be measured and the moveable means can be adapted to the passing object accordingly.
The system may work in such a way that when an object is approaching the passage area the system is activated. The object will enter a plane with distance measuring sensors. The dimensions of the object will be transferred to the gate system and the opening will be adapted to the shape of the object in that the moveable means adapt a second position according to the shape of the object. Optional sensors at the moveable means can assist to keep distance of the means to the object. Once the object has passed the passage area the movable means return to the first position and the passage area is closed again. During the passage the second position will be adapted to the shape of the object by the information provided either of the sensors on the moveable means or by the sensors before and optionally also behind the passage area.
The system as described herein may be constructed in such a way that the regimes of side (breadth) control and height control are distanced from each other in direction of passing, hence perpendicular to the plane of the passing area. In that it may be that the height control is passed first and then the side control is passed thereafter or the other way around. The distance between those two regimes shall not be large enough to allow trespassing. It is conceivable that both regimes form a complete closure of the passage area in the first position and then adopt the second position to allow passage of the passing object. Thereby, a high degree of security is provided as two complete and closed gates can be provided in the passage area. In an embodiment height control can be provided first by movable means being integrated in the ceiling. Such movable means can also be combined usual garage door system like a plain door or a rollable curtain as long as those systems are capable of adapting their position corresponding to the height of the passing object. Before or after the movable means for height control movable means for side control are provided. Those movable means can be provided from the left and the right side or from the bottom or both. Movable means from the bottom may also be equipped with turnable or pivoting sub-means which are capable of adapting side distance to the passing object. Such sub-means may also be integrated into movable means which are used at the upper side to also adapt to the height of the passing object.
The system as described above is configured to be stationary and integrated into a construction. However, it may also be that the system is configured to move from a starting position in front of the passing object to an end position behind the passed object. In such a system the passage area comprising the movable means passes around the object which does not move while the system passes around.
Additional features, aspects, objects, advantages, and possible applications of the present disclosure will become apparent from a study of the exemplary embodiments and examples described below, in combination with the Figures and the appended claims.
In the following, embodiments of the present invention as well as further features and advantages of the present invention shall be described with reference to the Figures, wherein
In
In
In
Plates 30, 31 and 32 can individually be divided into sub-plates 30a-h, 31a-h, 32a-h which can be individually retracted in order to adapt to the shape of the passing object (
In
Further as indicated in
Sub-plates 30a-g, 31a-g and 32a-g can be configured in such a way that the plates are merely placed close to one another with or without space between each sub-plate. Sub-plates 30a-g, 31a-g and 32a-g can also be configured that some or all sub-plates are stacked and connected to one another, e.g., in a form-fit or positive locking manner. Such form-fit connection can be achieved, e.g., by a male and female shape in cross section. In all embodiments with sub-plates each sub-plate remains moveable with respect to one another in order to guarantee individual retraction for adapting the second position corresponding to the shape of the passing object. In an embodiment where movable means are integrated into at least one side of the passage area the bottom of plate 30 and/or 31 or of sub-plate 30 a and/or 31 a may have means which support sliding over the ground such as a track or a rail or wheels or rolls integrated balls. In such embodiment the sliding support means do not only facilitate easy retraction of the lowest movable means, but also carry much of the weight of all movable means.
Deflection pulleys according to an embodiment as described herein may be in the form of rolls, wheels or round bar. Further as indicated already above tracks 33 can all be effective means to provide deflectability.
A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in
In an alternative approach the movable means can be implemented as fans 60, 61, 62 and 63 as illustrated in
In
In
In
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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21000370.3 | Dec 2021 | EP | regional |
This application is the United States National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2022/087268, filed on Dec. 21, 2022, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 21000370.3, filed on Dec. 22, 2021, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2022/087268 | 12/21/2022 | WO |