Modular Safety Gate

Abstract

A safety gate assembly comprised of the modular and interchangeable components with non-marring surfaces, offering incremental horizontal and vertical adjustability to securely fit within a doorway or other space and without requiring permanent attachment to a doorframe or walls, as well as offering the capability for a stand-alone enclosure with the same features.

Claims

1. A modular child/pet gate that is adjustable in both the horizontal and vertical directions, comprising: a first side section, said first side section including a first side arm, and at least one vertical nested spindle, said first side section also including at least one match-boxed top rail, and at least one match-boxed bottom rail; a second side section, said second side section including a second side arm, and at least one vertical nested spindle, said second side section also including at least one match-boxed top rail, and at least one match-boxed bottom rail; a gate door, said gate door including at least one vertical nested spindle, said gate door being positioned between said first side section and said second side section; a means to swing said gate door relative to said first and second side sections; and a locking mechanism.

2. The gate of claim 1 further including at least one expansion section.

3. The gate of claim 1 wherein said top rail of said gate door further includes a match-boxed top rail and a match-boxed bottom rail.

4. The gate of claim 1 wherein said means to swing said gate door relative to said first and second side sections is a rotatable nested spindle positioned between said gate door and said second side section.

5. The gate of claim 1 wherein said means to swing said gate door is at least one hinge.

6. The gate of claim 1 wherein said first and second side arms include a ball joint rotateably connecting said first and second side arms to said first and second side sections, respectively.

7. The gate of claim 1 wherein said first and second side arms include a means to tighten said side arms to a building structure.

8. The gate of claim 1 wherein said first and second side arms further include a non-marring material located where said side arms interact with a building structure.

9. The gate of claim 1 wherein said first and second side arms are attached to said first and second side sections via a pivot hinge configured to allow a first and second side arm tines to be pivoted such that the first and second side arm tines to be positioned on opposing sides of a wall.

10. The gate of claim 1 wherein said first and second side arms further include first and second suction cups, respectively, for attachment to a wall or other flat structure.

11. The gate of claim 1 wherein said gate door includes a magnet set in said top rail, positioned to interact with an opposing magnet set in said second side section when said gate is closed.

12. The gate of claim 1 further including at least one expansion section, wherein said expansion sections are configured to attach to either in-line, at a 45 degree angle, or at a 90 degree angle.

13. The gate of claim 1 wherein at least one of said nested spindles include at least one spring tensioned button to hold said spindles at a pre-determined length.

14. The gate of claim 1 wherein at least one of said match-boxed rails include at least one spring tensioned buttons to hold said rails at a pre-determined length.

15. The gate of claim 1 further including at least one additional horizontal rail positioned between said top rail and said bottom rail.

16. The gate of claim 1 wherein said locking mechanism is a nested spindle positioned at the side of the gate door opposite the means to swing said gate door, and wherein said nested spindle is free to move up and down relative to the remainder of the gate door and wherein a bottom portion of said spindle rests in an indentation in the bottom rail of said first side section when said nested spindle moves downward and when the gate door is closed.

17. The gate of claim 16 wherein said indentation in the bottom rail of said first side section includes a first magnet positioned to interact with a second magnet located in said bottom portion of said spindle.

18. A double-door modular child/pet gate that is adjustable in both the horizontal and vertical directions, comprising: a first side section, said first side section including a first side arm, and at least one vertical nested spindle, said first side section also including at least one match-boxed top rail, and at least one match-boxed bottom rail; a second side section, said second side section including a second side arm, and at least one vertical nested spindle, said second side section also including at least one match-boxed top rail, and at least one match-boxed bottom rail; a first gate door, said first gate door including at least one vertical nested spindle, at least one top rail, and at least one bottom rail, said first gate door being swingably attached to said first side section; a second gate door, said second gate door including at least one vertical nested spindle, at least one top rail, and at least one bottom rail, said second gate door being swingably attached to said second side section; a means to swing said first gate door and said second gate door relative to said first and second side sections, and relative to each other; a magnet set in said first gate door's top rail, positioned to interact with an opposing magnet set in said second gate door's top rail when said gate is closed; and a locking mechanism.

19. The gate of claim 18 wherein said locking mechanism is a nested spindle positioned where said first gate door and said second gate door meet when said gate doors are closed, and wherein said nested spindle is free to move up and down relative to the remainder of said gate doors, and wherein said nested spindle runs through said bottom rail of said first gate door, and wherein a bottom portion of said spindle rests in an indentation in the bottom rail of said second gate door when said nested spindle moves downward and when the gate doors are closed.

20. A free standing pet/child enclosure comprising: At least one gate door, said gate door including at least one vertical nested spindle, a top rail, and a bottom rail; at least two expansion sections, wherein said expansion sections are configured to attach in-line, at a 45 degree angle, or at a 90 degree angle, to other expansion sections or said gate door; said gate door being positioned between a first expansion section and a second expansion section; a means to swing said gate door relative to said expansion sections; and a locking mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0093] FIG. 1 is a side view of the disclosed gate.

[0094] FIG. 2 is a side view of a match-boxed bottom rail.

[0095] FIG. 3 is a top view of a match-boxed bottom rail.

[0096] FIG. 4 is a side view of the gate with optional double doors.

[0097] FIG. 5 is a side view of the extension sections.

[0098] FIG. 6 is a top view of a “handshake” coupling between components.

[0099] FIG. 7 is a top view of a side arm.

[0100] FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a side arm.

[0101] FIG. 9 is a top view of another alternate embodiment of a side arm.

[0102] FIG. 10 is a side view of another alternate embodiment of a side arm.

[0103] FIG. 11 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a side arm.

[0104] FIG. 12 is a cutaway view of the interior of a side arm wrist.

[0105] FIG. 13 is a side view of the bottom of a side section with an alternative pedestal in place of the bottom side arm.

[0106] FIG. 14 is a side view cutaway of an alternate push button mechanism for unlocking the gate.

[0107] FIG. 15 is a side view of the Gate Body with alternate vertically adjustable solid panels.

[0108] FIG. 16 is a side view of the Gate Body with alternate horizontally adjustable solid panels.

[0109] Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0110] The present invention, which is described more fully hereinafter, provides a child/pet gate assembly comprised of modular and interchangeable components with non-marring surfaces and offering incremental horizontal adjustability to properly occlude and securely fit within a defined doorway or space and offering incremental vertical adjustability to suit varying height needs, without requiring permanent attachment to a doorframe or walls. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the specific embodiments described herein.

[0111] Referring to FIGS. 1-14 in the preferred embodiment of the gate the following are the primary components: two side sections; two top side arms; two bottom side arms; a gate door; expansion section(s); and feet. Alternate embodiments are also described.

[0112] Gate Body

[0113] Referring to FIG. 1, two adjustable side sections [101][102] and one or two swinging gate doors [103], comprise the basic Gate Body, which is adjustable both horizontally and vertically, as well as any optional expansion sections to complete the Gate Body. Each of these components contain nested spindles or vertically-linked spindles, which are described in later sections. For nested spindles [104], a minimum vertical overlap [105] of the nested spindles [104] should be of sufficient length, for example two inches as a minimum, to keep the spindles [104] from unexpectedly separating if fallen against or pulled/pushed by a child or pet. For vertically-linked spindles [104], all open ends of the two or more spindle members can be threaded to accept swivel connectors to join the sequence of spindles [104] to one another. All of these components can be constructed in varying widths and heights, of various geometric designs and materials, and with varying spacing between vertical members, with a suggested minimum of two inches, to accommodate desired needs and esthetics.

[0114] There are two adjustable side sections [101][102] immediately positioned one on each side of the adjustable gate door [103], unless expansion units are utilized. These adjustable side sections [101][102] contain side arms [106][107][108][109], one at each of the four corners of the Gate Body or, alternatively, two at the top corners [106][107] with two elongated pedestals [1301] at the bottom of the side sections [101][102]. Non-opening ends of upper [110] and lower [111] horizontal rails [110][111] of the gate door [103] are coupled with corresponding horizontal side [101][102] section rails [112][113].

[0115] In the preferred embodiment a rotatable nested spindle [114] is attached to the upper [112] and lower [113] rails [112][113]. Said rotatable spindle [114] includes spring loaded devices, such as spring plungers [115], to allow for predetermined vertical adjustments. The rotatable spindle [114] is attached to the upper [112] and lower [113] rails [112][113] to secure in place, but allow the gate door [103] to easily rotate around the rotatable nested spindle [114] for opening.

[0116] Referring to FIG. 2, which is a side view of an exemplary bottom match-boxed side section rail [113], and FIG. 3, which is a top view of the same match-boxed side section rail [113], the upper [112] and lower [113] rails of the side sections [101][102] are match-boxed (alternatively referred to as “horizontally-nested sliding units”) to allow horizontal adjustment of the side sections [101][102]. In the preferred embodiment the side section's nested outer vertical frame [116] includes spring loaded devices, such as spring plungers [117] to keep the entire side section [101] at its user-adjusted height while accommodating vertical movement when temporarily disengaged.

[0117] A short foot [118] is attached to the underside of the side sections' [101][102] outer vertical frames [116] to provide sufficient space for the gate door [103] to swing open without scraping the floor or surface below.

[0118] The outer corners of the side sections' [101][102] horizontal rails [112][113] are constructed to permit attachment of modular interchangeable side arms [106][107][108][109].

[0119] The spindles [104] are comprised of upper [119] and lower [120] nested members [119][120], to facilitate vertical adjustment of the side sections [101][102]. A minimum vertical overlap [105] of all upper [119] and lower [120] spindles [104] and vertical frames [116] is of sufficient length to offer strength and to keep the spindles and frames from unexpectedly separating if contacted or pulled or pushed by a child or pet.

[0120] Upper [119] and lower [120] spindles portions [119][120] are integrated with their respective match-boxed upper rail [112] and match-boxed lower rail [113]. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the match-box units have a slot [201][301] to allow a spindle [203 ][303] to freely move inside said slot [201][301]. Each match-boxed rail [112][113][202][302] has a nested spindle [203][303] attached to the match-boxed rail [112][113][202][302]. When each match-boxed rail [112][113][202][302] is extended or retracted, its affiliated spindle [203][303] extends or retracts in the horizontal direction within the slot [201][301]. This configuration is repeated with each of the spindles [114] along the length of a single match-boxed upper [112] and lower [113] rail [112][113]. These match-box rails [112][113] allow horizontal adjustment of their associated spindles [104] to provide better fit of the overall Gate Body within a doorway or restricted space and can be locked in place via various locking mechanisms.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 4, which is a side view of a Gate Body with double gate doors [401], and to FIG. 5, which is a side view of a side section [501] and an extension section [502], top [401][503] and bottom [403][504] horizontal rails [402][403][503][504] on all modular components include a means to couple with corresponding top [402][503] and bottom [403][504] rails of neighboring components [404][405][505][506]. In one embodiment the means to couple the components includes a portion of the top [404][505] and bottom [405][506] rails at the coupling end of said rails [404][405][505][506] that have reduced depth [406][507] compared to the remainder of the rails [404][405][505][506]. Corresponding portions [409][508] of rails [402][403][503][504] on the neighboring component [401][502] are shaped to fill in the “missing” portion [409][507] of the corresponding rail [402][403][505][506] of the coupled component [401][501]. For example, coupled portions of a given rail [402] may be designed to allow the top portion [409] of a rail [402] to extend over the corresponding portion [406] of the neighboring component where said neighboring component has been designed to have the bottom portion [406] of said rail [402] extend into the “missing” portion [409] of the other component's rail [402]. This method of coupling is referred to herein as a “pancake” coupling.

[0122] Alternatively, referring to FIG. 6, which is a top view of the coupling ends of a top rail, a portion of the top rail [601] at the coupling end of said rail may have reduced width [602] on one or the other side of said rail [601] compared to the remainder of the rail [603]. Corresponding portions of the rail on the neighboring component are shaped to fill in the “missing” width portion of the corresponding rail of the coupled component. Coupling portions of a given rail is achieved by placing the one side portion [602] of a rail to extend next to the corresponding portion [604] of the neighboring component where said neighboring component has been designed to have the other side of said rail extend into the “missing” portion [602] of the other component's rail. This method of coupling is referred to herein as a “handshake” coupling.

[0123] Both pancake and handshake coupling portions may include magnets [605] positioned to interact with their counterparts of the gate door. Said magnets [605] may be surface mounted or recessed, to correspond with magnets positioned in the gate door's top and bottom rail to facilitate closure of the gate door and for proper alignment of the two rail systems for the locking mechanism to engage.

[0124] Referring again to FIG. 4, any modular unit adjacent to the rotatable spindle [408] will have a pancaked coupling through which the rotatable nested spindle [408] will pass, thereby allowing the gate door [401] to rotate for door opening.

[0125] Multiple expansion sections [101][102][501][502] may be sequentially connected to achieve the desired width for the overall Gate Body assembly.

[0126] Gate Body—Adjustable Gate Door

[0127] Referring back to FIG. 1, an adjustable gate door [103] allows passage through the Gate Body when positioned in a doorway, or as a stand-alone enclosure. The gate door [103] includes nested vertical spindles [104]. The upper and lower horizontal rails [110][111] of the gate door [103] and side section [102] at the opening side of the gate door are connected via a locking mechanism[119]. In the preferred embodiment the locking mechanism [119] is a locking spindle [122] with a handle [123].

[0128] Gate Body—Expansion Section(s)

[0129] Some doorways may require a very wide gate, possibly wider than horizontal adjustments to the side sections and gate door can provide. To fulfill these needs expansion sections of various widths are connected between the gate door and the adjacent side sections. Referring to FIG. 5, an expansion section [502] is constructed similarly to the side sections [501] and contain at least one vertical nested spindles [509]. Expansion sections [502] do not include side arms. More than one expansion section [502] may be connected between a gate door [103] and a side section [101], as needed. In the preferred embodiment expansion sections utilize a removable nested spindle [510] to attach to each other or the gate door [103].

[0130] Side Arms—

[0131] In the preferred embodiment the side sections [101][102] each include a top side arm [106][107] and a bottom side arm [108][109], by which the side sections [101][102] are attached to a door frame, wall extensions, stairwell balusters, walls, or similar structures. Types of side arms [106][107][108][109] are interchangeable to provide a more custom fit or improved esthetics for particular needs.

[0132] Various configurations of side arms [106][107][108][109] are available including U-shaped side arms [106][107][108][109] that extend outward from the corners of the side sections [101][102] and are parallel to the floor or surface below when engaged with a building. Side arms [106][107][108][109] include a means to pivot the side arms 90 degrees in the plane of the Gate Body, and a means to attach said side arms [106][107][108][109] to a structural component of a building. In the preferred embodiment the side arms [106][107][108][109] include a “wrist” [701], a first connecting pin [702] that attaches the side arm [106][107][108][109] to the side section [101][102], and a second pin [703] connecting the wrist [701] to two tines [704][705]. The side arm [106][107][108][109] is pivoted via the first pin [702] so that the two tines [704][705] are on either side of a wall. The tines [704][705] are then tightened so as to squeeze the wall between the two tines[704][705], thereby securing the side arm [106][107][108][109] to the wall.

[0133] In the preferred embodiment the means to tighten the tines includes a spring [706] between the tines [704][705], biased to pull the tines [704][705] together. In an alternate embodiment the spring [706] is covered by match-boxed tubes [801]. In another alternate embodiment the tines [704][705] are pulled together via a threaded second pin [901].

[0134] Referring now to FIG. 11, which is a top view of an alternative embodiment for the side arms [106][107][108][109], includes strong cords [1101] that are permanently fastened to the back interior surfaces of the extended tines of the side arms [106][107][108][109]. The cords [1101] are attached at the other end to a cylinder [1102] located within wrist [701] of the side arm [106][107][108][109].

[0135] Referring to FIG. 12, which is a cutaway view of the wrist [701], reveals a gear mechanism [1201] with a first set of pins [1202] and a back piece [1203] with a second set of pins [1204] which oppose each other on nested shafts [1205][1206], one of which is permanently attached to a knob [1207] positioned on the outside of the cylinder [1102]. The cords [1101] are permanently attached to the outer shaft [1205] on the interior of the cylinder [1102], such that when the knob [1207] is pulled outward slightly and turned, the cords [1101] are wound around the second set of pins [1204] affixed to the back piece [1203] that opposes the knob [1207]. The cords [1101] are pulled through a hole in the center of the wrist [701]. As the cords [1101] are wound, the side arm's [106][107][108][109] tines [704][705] are pulled closer together around the doorway or doorframe until desired tightening is achieved. The knob [1207] is locked into place via the second set of pins [1204] engaging the gear mechanism [1201], thereby preventing the cords [1101] from unwinding and loosening the grip of the side arms [106][107][108][109].

[0136] Referring to FIG. 13, which is a side view of the bottom portion of a side section [101], in an alternate embodiment side arms [106][107][108][109] attach at the top corner as previously described, but in place of the bottom side arm [107][109] a pedestal [1301] is attached at the bottom corner of the side section [1302].

[0137] Referring to FIG. 14, which is an alternate embodiment of the locking mechanism [121], a spring biased button [1401] connects with a lever [1402], which is balanced or seated on a vertical fulcrum [1404]. When the button [1401] is depressed the lever [1402] pulls the locking mechanism [121][1403] up, thereby unlocking the gate.

[0138] Referring to FIG. 15, which is an alternate embodiment wherein solid panels [1501][1502][1503][1504][1505][1506] are used in place of nested spindles on the gate door [1507] and the side sections [1508][1509]. The top solid panels [1501][1503][1505] are arranged to slide over the bottom panels [1502][1504][1506] allowing for vertical adjustment of the gate door [1507] and side sections [1508][1509]. Vertical guides [1510][1511][1512][1513] along the sides of the panels [1501][1502] hold the panels in relation to remainder of the gate [1507], while also providing a guard to protect users from sharp edges. In this embodiment the lower vertical guides [1512][1513] are attached to the lower rail [1514] of the gate door [1507]. The upper vertical guides [1510][1511] are attached to the upper rail [1516] of the gate door [1507].

[0139] Referring to FIG. 16, which is an alternate embodiment wherein solid panels [1601][1602][1603][1604][1605][1606] are used in place of nested spindles on the gate door [1607] and the side sections [1608][1609]. For the gate door [1607], and each of the side sections [1608][1609] two panels are arranged such that one panel [1602] slides behind or in front of the other [1601]. Vertical guides [1610][1611] along the sides of the panels [1601][1602] hold the panels in relation to remainder of the gate [1607], while also providing a guard to protect users from sharp edges. In this embodiment the top and bottom rails are match-boxed to allow said rails to adjust horizontally.

[0140] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description provide embodiments of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework of understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following detailed description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.