GB2129473A

GB2129473A - An adjustable gate

Info

Publication number: GB2129473A
Application number: GB08231146A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Aaron Barnett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-01
Filing date: 1982-11-01
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: GB2129473B

Abstract

An adjustable gate e.g. a children's safety guard has a barrier panel 4 of an elastic material and having an elasticity which is such as to permit adjustments of the gate. The frame 2 may be of tubular steel with screw arrangements 13, 14 for adjustment of the width to fit the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An adjustable gate The present invention relates to an adjustable gate and, in particular, to a children's safety gate which can be adjusted to fit openings or gaps of different widths and yet not permit a child to catch his/her head in the gate.

The present invention consists in an adjustable gate which is characterized by having a barrier panel of an elastic material such as elasticated netting, mesh or the like of which the degree of elasticity is such as to permit adjustments of the gate.

The gate may also comprise means for use in mounting it on a support, such as a post or a wall, and/or means may be supplied within the gate to be secured to a support to facilitate mounting the gate on the support. Preferably, means are provided to form a hinge arrangement to permit the gate to be swung with respect to a support.

For example, the gate may include at least one hinge part to be fitted on a complementary hinge part when the latter is secured to a support to provide a lift-off hinge arrangement.

Conveniently the gate also comprises means for or for use in securing the gate in its closed position when in use. For example, the gate may be provided with a latch, such as a spring loaded latch, to co-operate with a staple or striker plate secured to a support. The staple or striker plate may be supplied with the gate.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing (Fig. 1), which is a part-sectional front view, of an adjustable gate which is constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing an adjustable gate for use as a child's safety gate, comprises a main Ushaped planar main frame 1 of tubular crosssection and made e.g. of steel. The arms 2 of the U are disposed generally horizontal and the base of the U forms a generally vertical upright 3 in the mounted position illustrated in the drawing. A barrier panel 4 of an elastic or elasticated material such as elasticated netting is mounted to the frame part 1 and to a vertical rod 5 fixed between the frame arm 2 as by welding in apertures formed therein. The barrier panel 4 is of generally rectangular shape and has along each of its four edges tunnels 6 formed therein by overlapping the material of the panel and stitching or otherwise securing along the dashed lines 7 to allow passage therethrough of the arms 2, rod 5 and other elements which are to be described.

Secured within each of the arms 2 are smaller diameter tubular elements 9 from which project threaded rods 10 which are fixed as by welding inside the elements 9. As will be seen from the drawing, the threaded rods 10 have a smaller diameter than that of the tubular elements 9 leaving an annular space 11 inside the tubular arms 2 and their ends 12 project for a short distance, out of the tubular arms. Thus, the frame 1 also comprises the elements 9 and rods 10.

Two tubular elements 13 which are generally horizontal in the mounted position of the gate and which have an external diameter which is less than that of the arms 2, in fact, form extensions of the arms 2 but are adjustable relative thereto as will be explained. Each element 13 has an internally threaded bush 14 secured therein by means of which the element 13 is screwed onto the threaded rod 10 with the element entering the annular space 11 in the associated arm 2. The elements 13 have smaller diameter tubular members 8 secured therein and projecting therefrom, the projecting portions being provided with through apertures 15 for a purpose to be described. Another vertical rod 16 is mounted on the tubular members 8 by means of tubular collars 17 fixed to the ends of the rod 16.The collars 17 are freely mounted on the members 8 so that the tubular elements 13 together with members 8 can be rotated relative thereto. The collars 17 and thus the rod 16 are prevented from moving on the members 8 in the direction of the arms 2 by means of the outer ends of the tubular elements 13 which constitute end stops. As will be appreciated from the drawings, the tubular elements 13 as well as the rod 16 are in the tunnels 6 of the barrier panel 4.

One end of the gate (the left-hand end as illustrated) is provided with a spring loaded latch 19 which extends through the tubular upright 3.

The spring loaded latch is sufficiently stiff as not to be operable by a child.

In order to mount the gate in an opening or gap between two supports, such as a wall 20 and a post 21, a plate 22 having L-shaped hinge parts 23 is secured to the wall 20 as by screws and a staple or striker plate 24 is secured to the post 21 to receive the latch 19.

If the gate is not sufficiently wide or narrow to fit the opening or gap it is extended or retracted to a suitable width as follows.

A pencil, screw driver blade or other suitable tool is inserted in turn through the apertures 1 5 and the tubular elements 13 rotated in the appropriate direction. Then the appertures 15 are aligned with the upwardly-projecting portions of the hinge parts 22 which are inserted through the apertures 15 to hinge the gate to the wall 20. As the barrier panel 4 is elastic it stretches or releases as the gate is increased or decreased in width. The apertures 15 constitute complementary hinge parts and provide with the hinge parts 22 a lift-off hinge arrangement via which the gate can be swung into the opening gap, or swung to lie against the wall 20.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, differs from that of Fig. 1 in the mounting of the gate to a wall. Instead of the L-shaped hinge parts 23 a rod 30 is provided which is inserted through the apertures 15 and through apertures in projecting lugs 31 of a different form of mounting plate 32.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the bushes 14 can alternatively be fixed to the ends of the members 8.

Claims

1. An adjustable gate which is characterized by a barrier panel of an elastic material and having an elasticity which is such as to permit adjustments of the gate.

2. An adjustable gate as claimed in claim 1, characterized by being made in two parts which are threadedly interconnected to permit the adjustment, with the barrier panel being mounted on both said gate parts.

3. An adjustable gate as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that one of said parts is U-shaped with the arms of the U being tubular and the base of the U forming one end of the gate and with two externally threaded members being fixed in the two tubular arms leaving an annular space therebetween and in that the other of said parts includes respective rotatable elongate means which are provided with internally threaded means engaging with the threads on said two threaded members respectively, and an upright mounted on, and extending, between said elongate means such that said elongate means are rotatable with respect thereto to adjust the length of the gate, said upright forming the other end of the gate.

4. An adjustable gate as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the two threaded members project a short distance beyond the free ends of the tubular arms to facilitate mounting of the elongate means thereon.

5. An adjustable gate as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the elongate means are provided with hinge parts for use with complementary hinge parts in hinging the gate to a support.

6. An adjustable gate as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the threaded members are rods which are fixed to, and project from, respective tubular supports which are of lesser external diameter than the internal diameter of said tubular arms.

7. An adjustable gate as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that each elongate means comprises a tubular guide member which is mounted in a respective one of said tubular arms, and a tubular support element fixed to a threaded bush engaging with a respective one of the said threaded members.

8. An adjustable gate as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that each elongate means comprises a tubular guide member which is mounted in a respective one of said tubular arms, a threaded bush fixed in said tubular guide member and engaging with a respective one of said threaded members and a tubular support element fixed to a respective one of said tubular guide members.

9. An adjustable gate as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that another upright extends between the tubular arms adjacent the base of the U and the barrier panel extends between said uprights and said tubular arms.

10. An adjustable gate as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that tunnels are formed along the edges of the barrier panel to accommodate parts of the gate.

1 1. An adjustable gate as claimed in claim 10, as appendant to claim 9, characterized in that said tubular arms and said uprights are accommodated in the tunnels of said barrier panel.

12. An adjustable gate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the barrier panel is made of an elasticated netting or mesh.

13. An adjustable gate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An adjustable gate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.