Abstract
A gate is pivotally mounted on an upstanding post located adjacent a juncture of intersecting travel paths. To prevent collisions of persons and/or vehicles moving along the intersecting travel paths at the travel path juncture, a kinetic energy harvesting switch is carried by the upstanding post and has a spring-projected push button or plunger-type operator that is depressed relative to a housing of the switch when the gate begins to open to admit a person and/or a vehicle to the travel path juncture. Energy harvested by the switch is utilized to transmit a radio frequency signal that can be received by a device that displays a visual warning and/or emits an audible warning, advising that collision avoidance measures are likely to be needed to prevent a collision at the travel path juncture.
Claims
1. A safety device comprising a barrier having a portion that is movable between open and closed orientations, that is biased toward the closed orientation, that when in the closed orientation extends across a secondary travel path near a juncture of the secondary travel path with a primary travel path, that serves to slow the exit of a person and/or a vehicle from the secondary travel path into the juncture when the person and/or vehicle begins to cause movement of the movable portion of the barrier away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation, with the safety device also including means for wirelessly transmitting a radio signal in response to initial movement of the movable portion of the barrier away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation, with the transmitted signal serving to advise another person or vehicle moving along the primary travel path toward the juncture that an individual and/or a vehicle is likely to soon enter the primary travel path at the juncture.
2. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting the signal comprises a kinetic energy switch that is operated in response to the initial movement of the movable portion of the barrier away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation.
3. The safety device of claim 2 wherein the wirelessly transmitted signal is a radio frequency signal that operates a warning device to provide an audible or visual alarm to the another person or vehicle.
4. The safety device of claim 2 wherein the kinetic energy switch has a push button or plunger-type operator that is movable relative to a housing of the switch when the switch is operated in response to said initial movement.
5. The safety device of claim 4 wherein the kinetic energy switch harvests at least a portion of the energy of the movement of the plunger to power the wireless transmission of the signal.
6. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier is a pivotally mounted gate that can be turned between a gate-closed orientation, and a gate-open orientation, and with the gate being biased toward the gate-closed orientation.
7. The safety device of claim 6 wherein the gate is gravity-biased toward the gate-closed orientation.
8. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier is connected to an upstanding support structure that is attachable to a floor surface adjacent the juncture.
9. The safety device of claim 8 wherein the movable barrier has one end region that is connected to the upstanding support structure, and another end region that is movable relative to the upstanding support structure between the open and closed orientations.
10. The safety device of claim 9 wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting the signal comprises a kinetic energy switch that is operated in response to initial movement of the another end region away from the open orientation toward the closed orientation.
11. In combination, a pivotally mounted gate that is movable between an open orientation and a closed orientation, and a kinetic energy switch operably connected to the gate to transmit a radio frequency signal that can be received by a warning device to provide a visual or audible signal when the gate is initially moved away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation.
12. The combination of claim 11 additionally including a warning device capable of receiving a radio signal transmitted by the kinetic energy switch, and capable of providing a visual or audible signal that the gate has been moved away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation.
13. The combination of claim 11 additionally including a kinetic energy switch, and means coupling the kinetic energy switch to the gate for causing the kinetic energy switch to transmit the radio frequency signal when the gate is initially moved away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation.
14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the means coupling the kinetic energy switch to the gate includes a cam that is turned by movement of the gate between the closed and open orientations, with the cam being operable to move a plunger of the kinetic energy switch.
15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the kinetic energy switch is operable to harvest at least some of the energy of the plunger, when moved, to power transmission of the radio frequency signal.
16. In combination, a) an upstanding structure, b) a gate supported by the upstanding structure for pivotal movement relative to the upstanding structure between an open orientation and a closed orientation, c) a kinetic energy switch carried by the upstanding structure, d) with the kinetic energy switch having a housing connected to the upstanding structure, and a plunger that is movable relative to the housing between extended and retracted positions, e) with the kinetic energy switch being operable to transmit a radio signal in response to a certain movement of the plunger relative to the housing, and f) means carried by the gate for causing the certain movement of the plunger in response to initial movement of the gate away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation.
17. The combination of claim 16 additionally including a device capable of receiving and responding to the radio signal to provide either or both of an audible alarm or a visual alarm that advises that the gate being moved away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation.
18. The combination of claim 16 wherein the certain movement of the plunger is a depression of the plunger toward the housing of the kinetic energy switch.
19. The combination of claim 18 wherein the means carried by the gate is a cam that is turned concurrently with pivotal movement of the gate, with the cam being operable to depress the plunger in response to initial pivoting of the gate away from the closed orientation toward the open orientation.
20. In combination, a gate supported by an upstanding structure for pivotal movement between a normal blocking orientation extending across a secondary travel path to block a person and/or a vehicle from exiting the secondary travel path, and an open orientation wherein the gate permits the person and/or vehicle to exit from the secondary travel path onto a primary travel path, AND a kinetic energy switch operably connected to the gate for wirelessly transmitting a radio signal in response to pivotal movement of the gate away from the normal blocking orientation toward the open orientation by the person and/or vehicle exiting the secondary travel path onto the primary travel path.
21. The combination of claim 20 additionally including a warning device capable of receiving and responding to the radio signal from the kinetic energy switch to provide a visual and/or an audible signal to another person and/or vehicle traveling along the primary travel path that a person and/or vehicle is exiting from the secondary travel path onto the primary travel path.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] These, and other features, advantages and objectives of the invention will become apparent from the description and preliminary claims that follow, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0040] FIG. 1 is a top, right and front perspective view of a commercially available kinetic energy switch, also known as a KES unit, with a spring-projected push button or plunger-type operator of the KES unit being extended relative to a housing of the KES unit;
[0041] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the KES unit positioned near a generally annular rotatable cam having a flat surface defined by a portion of the otherwise round perimeter of the cam, with the cam turned to an orientation that permits the spring-projected push button or plunger-type operator of the KES unit to be extended relative to the housing of the KES unit;
[0042] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the KES unit and the rotatable cam, with an arrow indicating how the cam can be turned to cause the round portion of the cam's perimeter to cause the push button or plunger-type operator of the KES unit to be depressed relative to the housing of the KES unit;
[0043] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing, on an enlarged scale, top and bottom portions of a housing that, when assembled, protectively encloses the cam and the KES unit that are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and that permits the cam to turn relative to the KES unit concurrently with the associated gate, as the cam depresses or permits the spring-projected push button or plunger-type operator of the KES unit to extend relative to the housing of the KES unit, with the top and bottom portions of the housing having aligned passages formed therefrom that permit a pivot pin (shown in FIG. 5) to extend therefrom to drivingly connect with the cam;
[0044] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an upstanding post and gate assembly that permits the gate to pivot about a vertical axis of the aforementioned pivot pin which extends through aligned passages defined by the post and gate, so the gate can pivot relative to the post about the axis of the pivot pin (which is shown foreshortened), it being understood that the pivot pin is drivingly connected to the gate to turn concurrently therewith about the axis of the pivot pin;
[0045] FIG. 6 is a schematic top plan view showing a large industrial storage area extending to the right of an upstanding factory wall, with five rows of upstanding storage structures shown extending perpendicular to the factory wall at a distance separated from the factory wall by a primary travel path that extends along the inside of the factory wall, with secondary travel paths providing aisles that separate adjacent pairs of the upstanding storage structures, with the upstanding storage structures defining side-by-side bins that open toward the associated secondary travel paths or aisles, and with post and gate assemblies being positioned adjacent the junctures of the primary and secondary travel paths;
[0046] FIG. 7 shows a selected portion of the schematic top view of FIG. 6, with one fork lift vehicle shown moving a pallet along the depicted primary travel path, with another fork lift vehicle shown moving another pallet along the depicted secondary travel path, and with both of the fork lift vehicles approaching a juncture of the primary and secondary travel paths that has a gate shown in its normal closed orientation;
[0047] FIG. 8 is a schematic top view nearly identical to FIG. 7 except that the fork lift vehicle in the secondary travel path is shown with its pallet in contact with, and beginning to open, the depicted gate structure;
[0048] FIG. 9 is a schematic top view nearly identical to FIGS. 7 and 8 except that the fork lift vehicle shown exiting the secondary travel path has its pallet in contact with, and beginning to open, a depicted pair of relatively short, oppositely pivoting gate structures;
[0049] FIG. 10 is a schematic top view nearly identical to FIG. 9 except that the depicted relatively short gate structures are being opened by a pallet that is being moved into the secondary travel path by a fork lift vehicle that is about to enter the depicted secondary travel path;
[0050] FIG. 11 is a schematic top view nearly identical to FIG. 8 except that the depicted full length gate is being pulled toward an open orientation (extending into the depicted secondary travel path) by an individual I who is about to exit from an end region of the secondary travel path;
[0051] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view copied from a utility application referenced above (from which the present utility application is continuation-in-part) showing first and second components of a hinge that can be used in the practice of the present invention, including an energy harvesting switch or KES unit such as is shown in FIG. 1 hereof, that has a spring-projected push button or plunger type of operator that extends from one end region of the housing of the KES unit, and a flexible antenna that extends from an opposite end region of the housing for transmitting a radio frequency signal in response to the push button or plunger-type operator being depressed toward and into the housing of the energy harvesting switch or KES unit;
[0052] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the first and second hinge components assembled, with a generally cylindrical, substantially vertically extending passage of the first hinge component receiving a generally cylindrical formation of the second hinge component that depends into the generally cylindrical passage, with the energy harvesting switch extending into and being carried within a generally rectangular passage that is also defined by the first hinge component;
[0053] FIG. 14 is a front view of the assembled components that are shown in FIG. 13;
[0054] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled hinge components, as seen substantially from a plane indicated by a line 15-15 in FIG. 14;
[0055] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled hinge components as seen substantially from a plane indicated by a line 16-16 in FIG. 15;
[0056] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 15, but with one of the two hinge components turned approximately ninety degrees relative to other of the two hinge components as depicted in FIG. 15;
[0057] FIG. 18 is a top view of the assembled hinge components, with one of the two hinge components connected to a gate, and with the other hinge component connected to an upstanding support; and
[0058] FIG. 19 is a top view similar to FIG. 18 but with one of the hinge components (and the attached gate) turned approximately ninety degrees relative to the orientation of the other hinge component as depicted in FIG. 18.
[0059] In FIGS. 18 and 19, portions of a wooden gate, a wooden support, and two plastic hinge components are broken away and shown in cross-section to permit wood screws to be seen that fasten the plastic hinge components to the wooden gate and to the wooden support.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0060] As has been explained, in preferred practice the present invention relates to the provision and use of post and gate assemblies, each of which includes an upstanding floor mountable post installed adjacent a separate one of the several perpendicular travel path junctures defined by a grid of travel paths followed by fork lift vehicles as they move along and among a set of upstanding storage structures in a large, industrial storage area where palletized goods are temporarily held on pallets until the goods are needed elsewhere.
[0061] As also has been explained, in preferred practice, the floor-mountable post and gate assemblies of the present invention each include a post component and a gate component that are pivotally connected, together with a kinetic energy switch that is operated by a cam interposed between the post and gate components to send uniquely encoded radio signals to remotely located receiving units that operate warning devices to notify drivers of fork lift vehicles moving along (by way of an example) a primary travel path that an individual or another fork lift vehicle is about to enter at a juncture of the primary travel path with a secondary travel path.
[0062] With the foregoing in mind, FIGS. 1-3 show a commercially available energy harvesting signal generating device known as a kinetic energy switch (or so-called KES unit) that is indicated generally by the numeral 10. The KES unit 10 has a generally rectangular housing assembly 11 with a length and width that each typically measures slightly less than two inches. A third dimension of the housing assembly 11 is a housing thickness that is typically slightly less than three-fourths of an inch.
[0063] As can be seen in each of FIGS. 1-4, extending from opposite sides of the housing 11 are a push button or plunger-type operator 12, and a flexible, small diameter antenna 13 (that is usually about three to about six inches in length, but is shown only partially in FIGS. 1-4). An optional mounting tab 14 (see the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) extends from another side wall of the housing 11, and is provided with a hole 15 that can be used to receive a fastener (not shown) for connecting the KES unit 10 to the housing 11, or to other support structure (not shown).
[0064] A slightly simpler form of the same energy harvesting switch 10 is indicated by the numeral 3000 in FIG. 12, where the housing of the switch 3000 is indicated by the numeral 3020, a push-button type operator of the switch 3000 is indicated by the numeral 3010, and a short flexible antenna of the switch 3000 is indicated by the numeral 3030. The switch 3000 differs from the switch 10 shown in FIG. 1 only in that the housing 3020 has no mounting tab 14 such as is shown in FIG. 1.
[0065] As will be explained shortly, a generally annular cam 20 that is shown in FIGS. 2-4 is provided to operate the kinetic energy switch (or KES unit) 10 in response to turning of the gate 33 of a post and gate assembly 30 that is shown in FIG. 5. When the gate 33 pivots about a pivot axis 21 (shown in FIGS. 2-5), the cam 20 also pivots about the axis 21, which causes the push button 12 of the KES unit to be operated, thereby causing the KES unit 10 to transmit a uniquely encoded radio frequency signal via the antenna 13.
[0066] The KES unit 10 is commercially available from distributors of electrical and electronic products that sell products bearing the registered trademark CHERRY, as a so-called energy harvesting wireless switch, manufacturer's part number AFIS-5002. The KES units 10 are currently being offered for sale by ZF Electronics, a German corporation.
[0067] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the KES unit 10 is shown positioned quite near to the generally annular cam 20. The cam 20 has an inner diameter 23 that extends concentrically about the pivot axis 21. A perimeter 24 of the cam 20 is round and is concentric about the pivot axis 21 except where a flat surface 25 is defined by limited portion of the perimeter 24.
[0068] The inner diameter 23 of the cam 20 is preferably sized to snugly receive (and to be drivingly connected to) an elongate stem of a pivot pin 34 (shown in FIG. 5) that pivotally connects the gate 33 to an upstanding post 32 of the post and gate assembly 30 that is shown in FIG. 5. The pivot pin 34 turns about the axis 21 together with the gate 33 relative to the post 32which means that the cam 20 also turns about the pivot axis 21 with the gate 33.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 4, top and bottom components 41 and 42, respectively, of the housing assembly 11, are depicted that, when assembled by being snapped together, are configured to protectively enclose the KES unit 10 and the cam 20.
[0070] Aligned openings 43, 44 are defined by the top and bottom housing components 41, 42, respectively, of the housing assembly 11 and extend concentrically about the pivot axis 21. The openings 43, 44 are of equal diameter, and are sized to permit the pivot pin 34 to extend loosely therethrough, so the pivot pin 34 can turn freely about the pivot axis 21 relative to the housing assembly that is defined by the snap-together top and bottom housing components 41, 42.
[0071] The top housing component 41 is configured to overlie the KES unit 10 and the cam 20, and to receive much of the bottom housing component 42 within a chamber defined by the top housing component 41. The top housing component 41 has a depending sidewall 45 that encircles much of the cam 20 and extends along opposite sides of the KES unit 10. The bottom housing component 42 is configured to underlie the KES unit 10 and the cam 20, and has an upstanding sidewall 46 configured to cooperate with the top housing component 41 in protectively enclosing the KES unit 10.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 5, the components of a post and gate structure assembly 30 are shown that include an upstanding, floor-mountable post (or post structure) 32 that pivotally supports a gate (or gate structure) 33 to swing about the pivot axis 21 of the pivot pin 31. The pivot pin 31 has an enlarged head 34 at its upper end, from which a uniform diameter stem of the pivot pin 31 depends in a slip fit extending through aligned holes 35, 36 defined by the post structure 32 and the gate structure 33, respectively.
[0073] In FIG. 5, at a location indicated generally by an arrow 37, one or more of the housing assemblies 11 that are formed by the pair of the snap-together top and bottom housing components 41, 42 can be supported by the depicted upstanding post 32, with the cam 20 inside each such housing being drivingly connected to the pivot pin 31 that extends through the cam 20 to thereby be turned about the axis 21 as the gate 33 turns about the axis 21. The turning of the cam 20 within each such housing operates the associated KES unit 10 by causing the push button 12 to be moved relative to the body of the KES unit that is protectively housed by the snap-together top and bottom housing components 41, 42 of each such housing assemblies 11, shown in FIG. 4.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 6, a typical large industrial storage area is indicated generally by a numeral 60 that is bordered along its left side by a factory wall 61. Five upstanding storage structures 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 are shown positioned atop a large floor area 62.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 6, the primary travel path 80 extends alongside the interior of the factory wall 61, and along end regions of the upstanding storage structures 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75. The secondary travel paths 81, 82, 83 and 84 define aisles that extend between adjacent pairs of the upstanding storage structures 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75.
[0076] In FIG. 6, the upstanding storage structures 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 are shown, each defining a plurality of open-front bins that are configured to receive and temporarily support and store palletized goods that are positioned in the bins, or on the shelves (not shown).
[0077] Portions of the upstanding bin structures 71 and 72 have bins 101, 102, 103 that open toward the secondary travel path (or aisle) 81. Portions of the upstanding bin structures 72 and 73 have bins 201, 202, 203 that open toward the secondary travel path (or aisle) 82. Portions of the upstanding bin structures 73 and 74 have bins 301, 302, 303 that open toward the secondary travel path (or aisle) 83. Portions of the upstanding bin structures 74 and 75 have bins 401, 402, 403 that open toward the secondary travel path (or aisle) 84.
[0078] Fork lift vehicles of various descriptions are used to move pallets containing palletized goods into, and to withdraw palletized goods from the open-front bins (identified just above) as well as to move the palletized goods through the storage area 60 and among the storage structures 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 along the grid of travel paths that include a primary travel path 80, and secondary travel paths 81, 82, 83 and 84.
[0079] In each of FIGS. 6-11, fork lift vehicles are shown, designated by the letters FLV, with each fork lift vehicle FLV being shown supporting a pallet that is designated by the letter P. In FIGS. 7-9, one of the two depicted fork lift vehicles FLV is shown moving along the depicted primary travel path 80, and the other fork lift vehicle FLV is shown moving along the depicted secondary travel path 82.
[0080] In FIGS. 7 and 8, full length gates 30 are shown at the depicted junctures of the primary and secondary travel paths 80, 82.
[0081] In FIG. 9, a fork lift vehicle FLV that is about to exit the depicted secondary travel path is shown concurrently pivoting a pair of half-length gates 30A and 30B. Half-length gates 30A and 30B are also shown in FIG. 10 where the one depicted fork lift vehicle FLV is shown exiting the depicted primary travel path 80, and entering the depicted secondary travel path 82, with the depicted gates 30A and 30B being pivoted oppositely from what is shown in FIG. 9.
[0082] In FIG. 6, four gate and post assemblies 30 (of the type shown in FIG. 5) can be seen to be floor-mounted adjacent the four perpendicular junctures of the primary travel path 80 with the secondary travel paths 81, 82, 83 and 84. A first one of the gate and post structure assemblies 30 located at the left end of the secondary travel path 81 is shown in its normal closed orientation, to which the gate structure 33 is preferably biased by one or more springs (not shown) or by cams that raise the gate (FIG. 5) slightly as the gate 33 pivots away from its closed orientation, whereby the weight of the gate 33 biases the gate (due to gravity, in a manner well known to those who are skilled in the art) back toward the gate's normally closed orientation.
[0083] In FIG. 6, a second one of the gate and post assemblies 30 is floor-mounted at the left end of the secondary travel path 82, and is shown beginning to move away from its normal closed orientation toward an open orientation. A third one of the gate and post assemblies is floor-mounted at the left end of the secondary travel path 83, and is shown pivoted to a more completely open orientation. A fourth one of the gate and post assemblies 30 is floor-mounted at the left end of the secondary travel path 84, and is shown pivoted to an even more completely open orientation.
[0084] Also shown in FIG. 6 are warning devices 91, 92, 93 and 94 that are positioned in a ceiling that overlies the primary travel path 80 near the left ends of the secondary travel paths 81, 82, 83 and 84, respectively. The warning devices 91, 92, 93 and 94 will be understood to include radio signal receivers that receive and respond to unique radio signals generated by pivotal movements of the gate and post structures 30 located adjacent the end regions of the secondary travel paths 81, 82, 83 and 84, respectively.
[0085] As the foregoing description has explained, the the present invention combines the wireless operational characteristics of KES units with the simplicity of pivotal gate and post assemblies to provide simple yet effective signal emitting devices that can be installed at relatively low cost adjacent the junctures of primary and secondary travel paths in large storage facilities to slow the speed of individuals and fork lift vehicles that are attempting to move through associated the perpendicular travel path junctures to help prevent collisions and impactsmost especially injury-causing impacts of individuals with fork lift vehicles and/or pallets carried by fork lift vehicles that are moving along primary travel paths.
[0086] As has also been explained, the present invention provides a method of utilizing both 1) relatively low cost of KES signal transmitting units that are interposed between pivotal gates and upstanding posts, and 2) the relatively unobtrusive configuration of short, floor-mounted posts on which gates are pivotally mounted, to provide easy-to-install signal-generating devices (namely KES units) that occupy a minimum of space without necessitating the costly installation of wires that connect to the signal generating devices to provide power and/or to carry signals to warning devices.
[0087] In accordance with the preferred practice of the invention, no fork lift vehicle can exit from a secondary travel path to begin entering the associated primary travel path without causing the associated gate to begin pivoting away from its closed or blocking orientation, toward an open orientation of the gateso that a radio frequency signal is immediately transmitted to a receiving unit that, in turn, causes a warning device to provide an indication to vehicle drivers moving along an adjacent primary travel path of the need to promptly take action to avoid collisions and impacts.
[0088] FIG. 11 depicts an individual I standing within a secondary travel path 82 and is pulling on a full-length gate 33 to pivot the gate 33 inwardly into the secondary travel path 82, so the individual I can exit the secondary travel path 82.
[0089] The gate 33 depicted in FIG. 11 has its range of pivotal movement limited to a only a quarter turn from a closed orientation (paralleling the length of the primary travel path 80) where the gate 33 extends across and obstructs movement into and out of the secondary travel 82, to an open orientation (paralleling the length of the secondary travel path 82) where the gate 33 opens the juncture between the primary and secondary travel paths 80, 82, respectively.
[0090] By limiting the pivotal movement of the gate 30 depicted in FIG. 11 to only the quarter-turn just described, the gate 33 cannot pivot into the primary travel path 80, and therefore cannot collide with or impact a fork lift vehicle FLV that is moving along the primary travel path 80. By permitting the gate 30 to pivot into the secondary travel path 82, a fork lift vehicle FLV that needs to pivot into the secondary travel path is not obstructed by the gate 30 even when the gate 30 is in its closed orientation, for the FLV can simply push the gate 30 toward its open orientation.
[0091] By requiring an individual I who wants to exit the secondary travel path 82 to pull the gate 30 inwardly, this has the desired effect of slowing the exit of the individual I until such time as the gate 30 has been pivoted sufficiently inwardly into the secondary travel path 82 so the individual I can move around the wide-swinging end region of the gate 30which will help the person to slow his exit from the secondary travel path 82, so that the individual I is more likely to see any approaching vehicles that are coming from the left or right along the primary travel path 80.
[0092] The following information is copied from the utility application referenced above which discloses and claims a two-part hinge that is particularly well suited to be used in the practice of the present invention.
[0093] Referring to FIG. 12, a two-part hinge 900 has a first hinge component 1000 and a second hinge component 2000 that can pivot relative to each other about a hinge axis 999 when the two hinge components 1000 and 2000 are assembled in the manner shown in FIG. 13.
[0094] As can be seen in FIG. 12, the first hinge component 1000 defines a substantially vertically extending, generally cylindrical passage 1100 into which a substantially vertically extending, generally cylindrical formation 2100 of the second hinge component depends when the first and second hinge components 1000 and 2000 are assembled in the manner shown in FIG. 13.
[0095] As can also be seen in FIG. 12 the first hinge component 1000 has a substantially flat, upwardly-facing surface 1200 defined by the upper end region of the vertically extending passage 1100. When the first and second components 1000, 2000 of the hinge 900 are assembled as is depicted in FIG. 13, the substantially flat upper surface 1200 of the first hinge component 1000 is engaged by a downwardly-facing annular surface 2200 of the second hinge component 2000. The flat surfaces 1200, 2200 extend in a horizontal planewhich is to say that the flat surfaces 1200, 2200 extend substantially perpendicular to the substantially vertically extending hinge axis 999.
[0096] As can additionally be seen in FIG. 12, the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000 have elongate formations 1020, 2020 that extend rightwardly and leftwardly, respectively, from the vertically extending hinge axis 999. The elongate formations 1020, 2020 have openings 1030, 2030 formed therethrough, respectively, that can permit portions of such threaded fasteners 1010, 2010 as are shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 to extend therethrough to fasten the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000 to an upstanding support 1040, and to a preferably relatively lightweight gate 2040, respectively, portions of which are also shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.
[0097] As will become apparent by comparing the positions of the gate 2200 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the gate 2200 can be pivoted about the substantially vertically extending hinge axis 999 through a range angular movement of at least about ninety degrees from a closed orientation depicted in FIG. 18, to an open orientation of the gate 2200 as depicted in FIG. 19.
[0098] The engagement of the substantially flat surfaces 1200, 2200 of the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000, respectively, not only limits how far the generally cylindrical formation 2100 can depend into the generally cylindrical passage 1100, but also serves to transfer the weight of the second hinge component 2000 to the first hinge component 1000. The engagement of the flat surfaces 1200, 2200 can also transfer at least some of the weight of a gate 2040 (that may be fastened to the second hinge component 2000 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19) to the upstanding support 1040 (that may be fastened to the first hinge component 1000, as is also shown in FIGS. 18 and 19).
[0099] As was explained previously in conjunction with FIG. 1, the numeral 3000 in FIG. 12 indicates a commercially available so-called energy harvesting switch or so-called KES unit such as has been available for more than a year from an entity known as CHERRY SWITCHES (also known as CHERRY ENERGY HARVESTING SOLUTIONS) which is understood to have been purchased by the German corporation ZF Electronic Systems of Pleasant Prairie, Wis. 53158. The particular type of energy harvesting switch 3000 depicted in the drawings hereof is Model AFIS-5002 sold by CHERRY SWITCHES, which transmits a radio frequency signal at approximately 915 MHz when a spring-projected plunger-type operator 3010 of the switch 3000 is depressed into or is otherwise moved relatively toward a housing 3020 of the switch 3000.
[0100] As can best be seen in FIG. 12, the push button or plunger-type operator 3010 of the energy harvesting switch 3000 extends from one end region of the housing 3020, and a flexible antenna 3030 extends from an opposite end region of the housing 3020.
[0101] As can best be seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, the push button or spring-projected plunger-type operator 3010 of the energy harvesting switch 3000 normally extends about a quarter of an inch from the housing 3020. However, when the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000 are turned from the normally closed orientation shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 18 to the normally open orientation shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, the push button or plunger-type operator 3010 is moved (by being depressed toward and into the housing 3020 of the switch as is shown in FIG. 17) by a cam 2500 that is defined by the generally cylindrical formation 2100 of the second hinge component 2000.
[0102] As is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a flat portion of the cam 2500 permits the plunger-type operator 3010 of the energy harvesting switch 3000 to extend nearly a full one-quarter of an inch from the housing of the switch 3000 when the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000, respectively, are in the closed orientation of the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000, respectively. However, when the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000, respectively, pivot relative to each other about the hinge axis 999 to the open orientation shown in FIG. 17 nw 19, a cylindrical portion of the cam 2500 causes the push button or plunger-type operator to be moved by being depressed toward and into the housing 3010 of the switch 3000, as is shown in FIG. 17.
[0103] The closed orientation of the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000 shown in FIGS. 13-16 also depicts a closed orientation of the gate 2040 that is shown in FIG. 18. The open orientation of the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000 shown in FIG. 17 also depicts an open orientation of the gate 2040 that is shown in FIG. 19.
[0104] As can be seen in FIG. 12, the first hinge component 1000 defines a substantially vertically extending, generally cylindrical passage 1012, into which a generally cylindrical formation 2012 of the second hinge component 2000 depends. A substantially flat, upwardly-facing surface 1014 of the first hinge component 1000 is engaged by a substantially flat, downwardly-facing surface 2014 of the second hinge component 2000, to limit how far the generally cylindrical formation 2012 can depend into the generally cylindrical passage 1012 of the first hinge component 1000.
[0105] The engagement of the substantially flat surfaces 1014, 2014 not only serves to transfer the weight of the second hinge component 2000 to the first hinge component 1000, but also serves to transfer at least some of the weight of a gate 2040 that is shown as being connected to the second hinge component 2000.
[0106] Referring again to FIG. 12, the first hinge component 1000 not only defines the generally cylindrical passage 1012, but also defines a generally rectangular passage 3300 that receives a majority of the housing 3020 of the energy harvesting switch 3000.
[0107] When the housing 3020 of the energy harvesting switch 3000 is inserted into the generally rectangular passage 3300 of the first hinge component 1000, a spot of glue or other adhesive (not shown) may be applied to the housing 3020 to assist in retaining the energy harvesting switch 3000 at a desired location within the passage 3300. Alternatively, the passage 3300 can be configured to receive the housing 3020 of the switch 3000 in a press-fit to frictionally retain the housing 3020 of the switch 3000 in the passage 3300.
[0108] Inasmuch as the hinge 900 depicted in the drawings hereof is presently comprised of plastics material, the gate 2040 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 as being fastened to and carried by the hinge 900 is preferably a relatively lightweight element, preferably not exceeding about twenty to twenty-five pounds, so as to not overtax the carrying capacity of the first and second hinge components 1000, 2000. If, instead of forming the hinge components 1000, 2000 from plastics material, the hinge components 1000, 2000 are formed as machined components of metal such as zinc or steel, the gate 2040 fastened to and carried by the second hinge component 2000 can obviously weigh more than only 20 to 25 pounds.
[0109] Whereas FIGS. 12-19 depict only one hinge 900 being used to pivotally attach the gate 2040 to the upright support 1040, more than one hinge (not shown) can, of course, be used to supplement the carrying capacity of the one depicted hinge 900.
[0110] Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that such claims as may be presented in a subsequently filed utility patent application will protect whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.
