Solid transparent health gate

Abstract

We disclose methods of blocking the transmission of COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens between people standing on either side of a door separating an interior space from an exterior space. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises hingedly mounting a rigid transparent gate directly to the door so that the gate swings independently of the door. Preferably, the gate is dimensioned to substantially fill the width defined by the frame holding the door. The method further comprises releasing the gate from a storage position against the door, coupling the gate to the door frame and opening the door.

Claims

1. A method of blocking the transmission of airborne pathogens between people standing on either side of a door separating an interior space from an exterior space, the door having a hinge mounted thereonto, the door hinged to and hanging within a door frame, this door and its frame having a hinge side and an opposing hinge-free side, the door frame having a length and a width, the method comprising the steps of: a. mounting an edge hinge along substantially an entire length of a hinge edge of a rectangular, rigid, and transparent gate, the gate also having an opposing hinge-free edge; b. mounting the edge hinge to the hinge side of the door, parallel to the hinge holding the door to the door frame and facing the interior space; c. mounting a receiving hook on the door frame facing the interior space; d. installing a bungee ball tie assembly along the hinge-free edge of the gate; e. coupling the receiving hook to the bungee ball tie assembly, thereby retaining the gate to fill the width defined by the door frame while leaving an at least 2.5 cm margin between the edges of the gate and the corresponding sides of the door frame; and f. opening the door, such that the gate hingedly opens relative to the door.

2. A method of blocking the transmission of airborne pathogens between people standing on either side of a door separating an interior space from an exterior space, this door having a hinge mounted thereonto, the door hinged to and hanging within a door frame, the door and its frame having a hinge side and an opposing hinge-free side, the method comprising the steps of: g. mounting an edge hinge along substantially an entire length of a hinge edge of a rectangular, rigid, and transparent gate, the gate also having an opposing hinge-free edge; h. mounting the edge hinge to the hinge side of the door, parallel to the hinge holding the door to the door frame and facing the exterior space; i. mounting a receiving hook on the door frame facing the interior space; j. installing a bungee ball tie assembly along the hinge-free edge of the gate; k. mounting a gate securing means to the hinge-free side of the door and facing the exterior space; l. releasing the gate from beneath the gate securing means; m. coupling the receiving hook to the bungee ball tie assembly, thereby retaining the gate so that it substantially fills the area defined by the door frame; and n. opening the door, such that the gate hingedly opens relative to the door.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the releasing step comprises folding up a latch assembly which is mounted parallel to the hinge and which had been securing the door against the door frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a solid transparent health gate in an interior installation and in a storage position, with its corresponding door open, as viewed from an exterior of the building.

(2) FIG. 1B is a close-up perspective view thereof, showing details of the bungee ball tie.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, as viewed from an interior of the building.

(4) FIG. 3A is a perspective view thereof, as viewed from the interior of the building and the door closed.

(5) FIG. 3B is a close-up perspective view thereof, showing details of the bungee ball tie and receiving hook.

(6) FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of the solid transparent health gate in an interior installation and in a deployed position, with its corresponding door open, as viewed from the interior of the building.

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof, as viewed from the exterior of the building.

(8) FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the solid transparent health gate in an exterior installation and in a storage position, with its corresponding door closed, as viewed from the exterior of the building.

(9) FIG. 6B is a close-up perspective view thereof, showing details of the pull-release latch assembly.

(10) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the solid transparent health gate in an exterior installation and in a storage position, with its corresponding door open, as viewed from the exterior of the building.

(11) FIG. 8A is a bottom perspective view of the solid transparent health gate in an exterior installation and in a storage position, with its corresponding door closed.

(12) FIG. 8B is a close-up perspective view thereof, showing details of the latch mounting strip and latch cushion.

(13) FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the solid transparent health gate in an exterior installation, in a partially deployed position, with the hinge latch up.

(14) FIG. 9B is a close-up perspective view thereof, showing details of the latch hinge, pull-release latch assembly, latch mounting strip, hinge mounting strip and latch mounting block without the gate in front of them.

(15) FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the solid transparent health gate in an exterior installation, in a deployed position, with its corresponding door closed, with the hinge latch down.

(16) FIG. 10B is a close-up perspective view thereof, showing details of the hinge latch.

(17) FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the solid transparent health gate in an exterior installation, in a deployed position, with its corresponding door open.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(18) 1. Door 5. Solid transparent health gate 10. Edge hinge 15. Hook and loop fastener 20. Bungee ball tie assembly 25. Receiving hook 30. Latch hinge 35. Pull-release latch assembly 40. Assembly fastener 45. Latch mounting strip 50. Hinge mounting strip 55. Gate cushion 60. Through holes 65. Latch cushion 70. Latch mounting block 75. Tee nut insert 80. Assembly fastener 85. Assembly tape 90. Assembly fastener

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(19) The solid transparent health gate can be installed in a door frame facing an interior of a building or in a door frame facing an exterior of a building. FIGS. 1A-5 show the gate installed facing a building interior. FIGS. 6-10 show the gate installed facing a building exterior. FIGS. 1A-3B show various perspective views of an interior installation, in a storage position, with gate 5 closed and secured against corresponding door 1 which is open. Gate 5 comprises a rectangular sheet of transparent rigid thermoplastic, glass or acrylic glass. We prefer Lexan® brand polycarbonate resin and Plexiglas® brand acrylic. Gate 5 may optionally comprise transparent shatter resistant or impact resistant glass or thermoplastic may also be desirable. In some embodiments of the invention, the material of Gate 5 may be tinted or capable of polarizing light, or Gate 5 may comprise a tinted or polarizing layer or film. Gate 5 is dimensioned to substantially fill widthwise the area defined by the door frame, and span enough lengthwise to physically block the transmission of droplets people produce when they breathe, speak, cough or sneeze. Moreover, different countries have different door opening sizes. Therefore, we do not define or require specific dimensions of the gate.

(20) Most preferably, the gate does not span the entire width defined by the door frame but leaves a 2.5 cm margin of clearance between the edges of the gate and the door frame. The length would need to account for a range of people's heights, including people in wheelchairs, and even people in strollers. The gate can be any thickness that is sufficiently rigid for the intended purpose. We prefer 3/16 inch or 0.476 cm. Preferably, the completed gate will be 60.96 cm by 60.96 cm by 0.476 cm thick. Optionally, the gate may be about 50-70 cm by about 50-70 cm by about 0.4-0.7 cm thick. Alternatively, the gate may be about 40-80 cm by about 40-80 cm by about 0.3-1.0 cm thick. Other dimensions are possible as long as the gate is rigid and fills enough of the open area to block respiratory droplets while still allowing the gate to hinge, and people on either side to physically exchange goods with payment.

(21) The rectangular gate 5 has one edge to which is mounted an edge hinge. This will be called the “hinge edge” of the gate. The opposing edge will be called the “hinge-free edge.” We do not identify the edges as left or right because the gate can be flipped over 180 degrees and mounted to whichever side of the door (left or right) has the hinge. As the gate is a rectangle, by definition it also has a top edge and an opposing bottom edge.

(22) On the hinge edge of the gate is permanently mounted an edge hinge 10. Edge hinge 10 is mounted directly onto its corresponding door 1, parallel to and alongside the door's own hinges, facing the interior of the building. FIG. 2 shows the door's hinges mounted on the right door jamb. However, the gate can be flipped over and mounted in the same way onto a left doorjamb. In either left or right interior facing installation, edge hinge 10 allows gate 5 to swing freely forward or backward, independently of the door to which it is mounted.

(23) Along the hinge-free side of the door frame, facing the interior, we mount a first coupling means. Preferably this is a hook such as the Command® made by 3M, as this is inexpensive and readily available. However, other first coupling means are possible, such as magnets, or cleats. To the corresponding, hinge-free, edge of the gate we mount a second coupling means. We prefer using a bungee ball assembly 20, which is durable, as well as affordable and available. Bungee ball assemblies are sold as Ball Bungees by Kotap America Ltd., (Lawrence, N.Y. 11559). Bungee ball assemblies comprise an elastic cord, known as a bungee cord. The bungee cord also has the advantage of being elastic, to accommodate holding the gate taut across different widths of door frames. We build in a margin of clearance when we cut the gate to permit the cord to stretch and hold the gate taut across the door opening. As with the first coupling means, we envision other, second, coupling means, such as magnets and also non-elastic string.

(24) We drill holes through the gate to enable us to hitch knot a bungee ball tie assembly 20 around the hinge-free edge of the gate. Bungee ball tie assembly 20 comprises a bungee ball permanently attached to a bungee cord loop. A pair of hook and loop catch strips 15 secure the right left edge of gate 5 against the door 1 in a storage position. In this storage position, the gate remains attached to the door and swings with the door. For the interior installation, the hook and loop fastener will secure the gate plenty strongly enough.

(25) We mount a receiving hook 25 onto the hinge free side of the door frame. FIG. 2 shows receiving hook 25 mounted on the interior left door frame. To deploy the gate, a person drapes the bungee ball tie assembly 20 over receiving hook 25. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the gate deployed but still attached to its door. To open the door with the gate deployed, a person separates the hook and loop fasteners and pulls the door toward him. This is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows two people on either side of the gate, with the gate deployed and the door open. The people can see and hear each other, exchange goods and payment below the bottom edge of the gate. Gate 5 blocks any respiratory droplets from passing therebetween.

(26) When we mount the gate facing an exterior space, we have to assume hook and loop fasteners are not strong enough to withstand high winds. We therefore add an extra, more robust, means of securing the gate to the door while being stored. We add a latch assembly to the exterior installation to ensure the gate is not accidentally blown open by gusts of wind. Please see FIG. 6A for the overview. As in the interior installation, the gate has an edge hinge 10 mounted to a one edge of the gate (“the hinge edge”). In this example, the hinges are on the left side as you stand exterior and look interiorly. As in the interior installation, we mount the gate onto the door, parallel to and alongside the door's own hinges (not shown). The gate has the same bungee ball tie assembly on the opposing, hinge-free edge. In the exterior installation, we mount onto the opposing, hinge-free side of the door, parallel to the length of the door frame, a gate securing means. This is in addition to the hook and loop fastener. Preferably the gate securing means is a latch assembly that selectively folds down to sandwich the unhinged right edge of the gate therebetween and against the door, and folds up to release the gate therebeneath. However, as with other specifications, it is possible to use other gate securing means that are still within the spirit and letter of this disclosure.

(27) The latch assembly comprises a latch hinge 30 resting on a support assembly comprising latch mounting strip 45, latch mounting block 70, pull-release latch assembly 35 and hinge mounting strip 50 (FIG. 9B). Latch hinge 30 rests on the support assembly and can be folded up to release the gate (FIGS. 8B and 9A) or down to enclose and sandwich the gate therebetween (FIGS. 10A and 10B). Bungee ball tie assembly 20 hangs free while the gate is in a storage position and is not enclosed by the latch. When the gate is deployed in the exterior installation (FIG. 11A), note the bungee cord pulled to the right. Receiving hook 25 is mounted on the right interior door jamb (as looking inward) as in the interior installation, although the hook is not visible in FIG. 11A.

(28) Although embodiments and examples of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications, substitutions, and rearrangements of parts, components, steps, as well as other uses, shapes, construction, and design of this system can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of this invention.