AU711773B2

AU711773B2 - Adjustable gate gudgeon

Info

Publication number: AU711773B2
Application number: AU18972/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Keith Mervyn Bolch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-04-19
Filing date: 1997-04-18
Publication date: 1999-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-18
Also published as: AU1897297A; NZ286410A

Description

TITLE: ADJUSTABLE GATE GUDGEON The present invention relates to a gate gudgeon and in particular to a gate gudgeon for connection to a gate post (not shown) so that a gate can be mounted on the gudgeon.

A number of different varieties of gudgeons exist or are known at present. Most include a horizontal mounting shaft which is threaded along part or all of its length. This shaft is fitted into a hole or bore, or through a hole in a gate post. When the shaft is fitted through the post it is secured by nuts and the like at each side (through-post gate gudgeon). The positioning of the shaft is such that an upright, extending from one end of ~the shaft in a generally right angled plane to the shaft, is arranged so as to enable the hinge of the gate to be engaged therewith or over it.

In some instances, especially with a through-post gate gudgeon, a locking pin can be S"used in addition to the horizontal shaft for securement of the gudgeon to the post or about the post.

le "The bulk of known gudgeons include a horizontal shaft with an attached mounting member (in a form of a rivet which is a separate piece) welded to the horizontal shaft at one end. In some instances the gudgeon parts are integrally formed.

One disadvantage that has been found with gate gudgeons as described, with the exception of through-post gate gudgeons, is that the screw thread on the horizontal mounting needs to be fairly coarse in order to provide the necessary support for the gudgeon within the hole or shaft of the gate post. It is also necessary for the mounting member to be in an upright position for gates being hung and thus, with a course thread provided on a horizontal shaft, there is no means to adjust the positioning of the gudgeon other than with the coarseness of the screw thread. This results from the fact that the mounting shaft has to completely rotate back to the upright position to enable the gudgeon to be used. This degree of insensitivity often means that when double gates are hung, they cannot be properly aligned at their meeting point.

Also there are situations where a post is of concrete or other material which is hard to bore a hole through. In such instances, the gudgeon is carried on a face plate mounted to the post, for example by coach bolts and straps. In such instances there is little room for adjustment of the position of the upright member.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a gate gudgeon which S• overcomes these disadvantages.

The present invention provides a gate gudgeon including a locating shaft which is screw threaded along part or all of its length and which is adapted in use to engage with So a post or upright; a mounting member provided at or adjacent one end of the locating shaft and extending at an approximate right angle thereto, said mounting member being adapted in use to rotate about said locating shaft when stationary; means to retain said 15 mounting member at one end; and means to rotate said shaft relative to said mounting member.

Preferably said means to rotate the shaft is formed integrally with the shaft.

o Preferably the means to engage the shaft with a post is a coarse thread screw which may or may not be self tapping. Preferably these two means are formed integrally and may be in the form of a coach screw or alternatively, a suitable masonry fitting such as a dyna bolt or threaded rod.

Preferably the mounting member includes an upright shaft secured rigidly to a sleeve fitted about the said one end of the locating shaft, and the means to retain said mounting member at said one end includes a pin or non-movable bearing means against which said sleeve bears when the mounting member and the shaft are rotating relative to each other.

The present invention further provides a gate gudgeon including a locating shaft which is screw threaded along part or all of its length; a mounting member provided at or adjacent one end of the locating shaft and extending at an approximate right angle thereto, said mounting member being adapted in use to rotate about said locating shaft when stationary; means to retain said mounting member at one end; means to rotate said shaft relative to said mounting member; and wherein said locating shaft is internally screw threaded and adapted to engage with a screw threaded horizontal bolt secured to a face place, said face plate being adapted for securement about a gate post.

By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be 10 described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of a gate gudgeon according to *.the present invention; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the first preferred embodiment of the gate gudgeon of the o present invention.

15 Referring to the drawings, a gate gudgeon 2 is shown with a locating shaft 3 and *upright member 4. The locating shaft 3 includes a first end 5 which is unthreaded and a second end 6 which is threaded and tapered to a point 7 for ease of insertion into the hole i of the.bore in the gate post (not shown) or to create the hole and or bore as it is threaded therein.

A nut 8, secured to a first end 5 of the locating shaft 3, can be used to rotate the shaft 3 in sleeve 9 in known manner. The nut 8 can be formed integrally with the shaft 3, or secured thereto by known means, as is desired.

The upright member 4 is welded to a sleeve 9 which is a rotating fit about the first end 5 of the shaft 3. The sleeve 9 is dimensioned to fit between the nut 8 and a point adjacent to the end of the screw threading on the first end 5 of the shaft 3. If so desired, the screw threading may extend all the way along the shaft 3 without affecting the manner in which the sleeve 9 rotates about the shaft 3.

The upright member 4 includes a collar 10 at the base thereof, adjacent to sleeve 9 and above a weld 11 which secures the sleeve 9 to the upright member 4. The collar 10 may be formed integrally with the upright member 4. If so desired, the collar 10 may be extended to form a flange or washer. Such a flange or washer may also be formed separately from the upright member 4 and secured thereto by the weld 11. Alternatively, if so desired, a spacer (not shown) for additional width may be added to the overall width of the sleeve 9 so that the collar 10 is clear of the nut 8.

10 If the collar 10 is in the form of a flange that is broader than the collar 10 as shown in fig. 1, a portion of the collar 10 may be cut away for access to the nut 8 to be complete, oo ensuring there is sufficient space so that a ring spanner or other means of rotation of the nut 8 may be easily located over the nut 8 and rotated through 3600 without interfering with the upright member 4.

A split pin or locking pin 12 is inserted through a bore hole (not shown) and positioned diametrically through the locating shaft 3. The positioning of the split pin 12 and attendant hole is such that when the split pin 12 is in position, the sleeve 9 is free to rotate about the shaft 3 but not to move horizontally therealong.

In practice the above described gate gudgeon 2 is positioned and operates as follows: a hole or bore is drilled into a gate post (not shown) in the position in which the gate gudgeon 2 is desired to be secured. The upright member 4 of the gate gudgeon 2 is mounted on the respective gate hinge (not shown). The edge of the gate (Fig. 1, broken line) with the gudgeon 2 in place, is positioned adjacent the post in an orientation approximately 900 from the closing position. The locating shaft 3 is screwed into the hole, with mechanical leverage assistance on the nut 8, until the required alignment of the gate is achieved. The split pin 12 can be placed into position to prevent lateral movement of the sleeve 9. The coarse thread along the locating shaft 3 bites into the post to locate and secure the gudgeon 2 within the post.

The sleeve 9 and upright member 4 have been described as secured together by a weld 11, however it would be appreciated that this unit may be formed integrally, if so desired.

Further, the split pin 12 may be replaced by other appropriate restraining and/or bearing means for example, a spring loaded washer or a spring clip.

The gate gudgeon 2 has been described as one which is secured by screwing into 0 0 a hole or bore in a post. However it will be appreciated that the above described gudgeon 2 could equally be a through-post gate gudgeon 2 where the thread on the locating shaft .3 can be much finer than that discussed above.

•It will also be appreciated that where the gudgeon shaft 2 is to be secured to masonry as opposed to a wooden gate post, the locating shaft 3 may be any suitable masonry 15 fitting for example, a dyna bolt. It will be appreciated that the locating shaft could be secured to a post by any suitable means, for example, by welding the end of the shaft to a metal component of or on the post or by mounting the shaft on mounting brackets securable to the post.

This is particularly useful for securing the gudgeon 2 to a post of concrete or some other material through which a hole is difficult to bore. For example, the shaft 3 could be partly hollow and be internally screw threaded. A horizontal bolt with a complementary external thread can be rigidly secured (for example, by welding) to a metal face plate. The plate can be bolted about an upright post or otherwise secured to the post (for example, by welding). The shortened shaft 3 still leaves sufficient length of shaft either side of the sleeve 9 for complete adjustment of the position of the upright 4 as described above for the first preferred embodiment.

The gate gudgeon 2 can be made from any appropriate material: for example mild steel or another steel alloy. If so desired, it may be galvanised or hot dipped for weather protection, prior to its use.

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Claims

1. A gate gudgeon including a locating shaft which is screw threaded along part or all of its length and which is adapted in use to engage screw threadedly with a post or upright; a mounting member provided at or adjacent one end of the locating shaft and extending at an approximate right angle thereto, said mounting member being adapted in use to rotate about said locating shaft; means to retain said mounting member at one end; and means to rotate said shaft relative to said mounting member.

2. A gate gudgeon as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locating shaft is internally screw threaded and adapted to engage with a screw threaded horizontal bolt secured to a face plate, said face plate being adapted for securement about a gate post. 00 g* 0..0 15

3. A gate gudgeon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to engage the shaft with a post is selected from the following group; a screw threaded shaft; a self- threaded rod. °00 20

4. A gate gudgeon as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said mounting member includes an upright shaft secured rigidly to a sleeve which is fitted o••oo about one end of the locating shaft and is capable of rotation thereabout, said upright member including a collar at the base thereof with a bearing surface for a gate hinge.

I 2 Agt ugo scamdi n oeo h rcdn lisweensi 8 A gate gudgeon as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mounting member is formed integrally.

6. A gate gudgeon as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said means to retain said mounting member at said one end includes means selected from the group; a pin or split pin securable through a hole transverse to the longitudinal axis of the locating shaft; a spring washer and nut; a spring clip; and a split washer and nut; and wherein said retaining means is positioned such that the mounting member is free to rotate.

7. A gate gudgeon as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15 DATED THIS FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1999 KEITH MERVYN BOLCH PIZZEYS PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 3: