Abstract
An improved barrel bolt assembly and extensible gate comprising the same wherein the assembly includes a washer having at least one inward or outward projection annularly disposed about an internal periphery thereof, a fastener having a head portion and a shank portion extending therefrom, and a barrel having a head portion and a boss portion extending therefrom, wherein the boss portion is operative to receive the fastener shank portion and the barrel boss portion further includes at least one inward or outward projection annularly and complementarily disposed and formed with respect to the inner periphery of the washer, to receive and mate with the washer, whereby the washer and barrel interlock to prevent rotational movement with respect to each other.
Claims
1. An improved barrel bolt assembly, comprising: a washer having at least one inward or outward projection annularly disposed about an internal periphery thereof; a fastener having a head portion and a shank portion extending from the fastener head portion; and a barrel having a head portion and a boss portion extending from the barrel head portion, the boss portion operative to receive the fastener shank portion; wherein the barrel boss portion further comprises at least one inward or outward projection annularly and complementarily disposed and formed with respect to the inner periphery of the washer, to receive and mate with the washer, whereby the washer and the barrel interlock to prevent rotational movement with respect to each other.
2. An improved barrel bolt assembly as in claim 1, wherein the barrel boss portion is internally threaded and the fastener comprises a screw that is externally threaded.
3. An improved barrel bolt assembly as in claim 1, wherein the washer has a plurality of inward and/or outward projections annularly disposed about an internal periphery thereof.
4. An improved barrel bolt assembly as in claim 1, wherein the barrel boss portion comprises a plurality of inward and/or outward projections annularly and complementarily disposed and formed with respect to the inner periphery of the washer to receive and mate with the washer, whereby the washer and barrel interlock to prevent rotational movement with respect to each other.
5. An improved barrel bolt assembly as in claim 1, wherein the barrel boss portion terminates in a shoulder portion and the at least one inward or outward projection of the barrel boss portion is disposed about the shoulder portion.
6. An improved barrel bolt assembly as in claim 1, wherein the fastener head portion further comprises a clamping surface having a plurality of inward or outward projections disposed thereon, the projections operative to engage a surface of the washer and prevent rotational movement there between.
7. An improved barrel bolt assembly as in claim 1, wherein the barrel head portion further comprises a clamping surface including a plurality of inward or outward projections disposed thereon, the projections operative to engage a surface of a clamped component and prevent rotational movement there between.
8. An improved barrel bolt assembly, comprising: a washer having at least one inward or outward projection annularly disposed about an internal periphery thereof; a fastener screw having a head portion and an externally threaded shank portion extending from the fastener screw head portion; and a barrel having a head portion and an internally threaded boss portion extending from the barrel head portion and terminating in a shoulder portion, the internally threaded boss portion operative to receive the externally threaded fastener screw shank portion; wherein the barrel shoulder portion further comprises at least one inward or outward projection annularly and complementarily disposed and formed with respect to the inner periphery of the washer to receive and mate with the washer, whereby the washer and barrel interlock to prevent rotational movement with respect to each other.
9. An extensible gate for use in blocking access to designated areas, comprising: at least one pair of interconnected members, such members operative to rotate transversely to one another about a common axis and corresponding joint; the at least one common joint comprising a barrel bolt assembly further comprising: a washer having at least one inward or outward projection annularly disposed about an internal periphery thereof; a fastener having a head portion and a shank portion extending from the fastener head portion; a barrel having a head portion and a boss portion extending from the barrel head portion, the boss portion operative to receive the fastener shank portion; and wherein the barrel boss portion further comprises at least one inward or outward projection annularly and complementarily disposed and formed with respect to the inner periphery of the washer, to receive and mate with the washer, whereby the washer and barrel interlock to prevent rotational movement with respect to each other.
10. An extensible gate as in claim 9, comprising a plurality of interconnected members, such members operative to rotate transversely to one another about a corresponding plurality of common axes and joints to permit the gate to be unitarily extensible and retractable.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective diagram of a prior art barrel bolt assembly;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of an improved extensible gate that may used to block access to a designated area such as, for example, a storage and/or shopping aisle defined by a pallet rack system implemented in an indoor our outdoor retail or warehouse environment, and incorporating the improved barrel bolt assembly of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram of the exemplary extensible gate of FIG. 2 showing the detail of the area designated by reference numeral 3 and illustrating a preferred, but not required, embodiment of the improved barrel bolt assembly of the present invention that may be used therein;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the improved barrel bolt assembly of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4;
[0020] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective diagram of an alternative preferred, but not required, embodiment of the improved barrel bolt assembly of the present invention as may be used, for example, in an accordion gate such as that shown in FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of the improved barrel bolt assembly shown in FIG. 5;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective diagram of an additional preferred, but not required, embodiment of the improved barrel bolt assembly of the present invention as may be used, for example, in an accordion gate such as that shown in FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective diagram of an additional preferred, but not required, embodiment of the improved barrel bolt assembly of the present invention as may be used, for example, in an accordion gate such as that shown in FIG. 2;
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0024] With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is provided a prior art barrel bolt assembly 10. As those skilled in the art will recognize, barrel bolts 10 of the type shown and described in FIG. 1, are typically used for through bolting applications where a low profile bolt head is desired on both sides of a joint and/or the respective components being joined. A conventional barrel bolt assembly 10 thus typically comprises an aptly named barrel portion 12 having a low profile head or flange 14 (also called a barrel head) and boss 16 extending therefrom that is internally threaded. Boss 16 is operative to receive a fastener screw 18 that is externally threaded 20 and similarly having a low profile head or flange 22. Barrel head 14 and screw head 22, and more particularly their respective inner surfaces 24 and 26, provide corresponding bearing surfaces that operate together to clamp and thus bind or bridge the gap between the respective joined components. In other words, boss 16 (along with fastener screw 18 received therein) sit within the components that are being fastened together with inner surface 24 of barrel head 14 sitting flush on one side of a first component and inner surface 26 of screw head 22 sitting flush on the opposite side of a second component.
[0025] In the case of an extensible gate, the above applicable joined components comprise first and second accordion members or slats 32 as shown in FIG. 2, that function to transversely move with respect to one another about the common axis of the corresponding barrel bolt joint. As indicated above, as externally threaded fastener screw 18 is tightened (i.e. torque is applied by turning), the respective components (barrel portion 12 and fastener screw 18) are drawn together. At a certain point, the distal end or shoulder of boss 16 contacts an inside surface 26 of screw flange 22 to place an upper limit on the applied clamping force thus preventing damage to the component surfaces being fastened.
[0026] Turning to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is provided a perspective diagram of an improved extensible gate 30 as may be used to inhibit or block access to a designated area such as, for example, a storage and/or shopping aisle defined by a pallet rack system implemented in an indoor or outdoor retail or warehouse environment or the like. Such pallet rack systems are well known to those skilled in the art and are described in substantial detail in co-pending patent application Ser. Nos. 15/083,757 and 15/201,665, filed Mar. 29, 2016 and Jul. 5, 2016, respectively. These applications are both commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention and their disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. By way of overview, the aforementioned pallet rack systems typically include a plurality of support posts for receiving corresponding horizontal connecting lengths and vertically spaced horizontal rack beams. Each such support post generally comprises a single piece of metal having an outwardly faced post section or margin, corresponding parallel side post sections or margins, and an opposed terminal end section or margin defining a substantially square or rectangular post cross section. The referenced outwardly facing post sections and parallel post sections are each typically provided with at least a row of vertically spaced stamped apertures such as keyhole slots and often two rows thereof defining horizontally spaced aperture or slot pairs. The slots in each slot pair may be angularly related to one another to allow a better fit for components being attached to the rack assembly, including the above referenced rack beams as well as accordion gates of the type shown and described in FIG. 2 herein. The support posts referenced above are secured together in any suitable relation by the horizontal connecting lengths often including a series of corresponding truss legs or the like.
[0027] Characteristically, the connecting lengths of such support posts are affixed to opposing terminal post end sections and/or parallel side post sections by threading and securing one or more fasteners such as bolts (including but not limited to hex bolts, carriage bolts, flange bolts, and the like) through the corresponding apertures. A plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rack beams are affixed to opposing parallel side post sections by similarly threading and securing one or more fasteners through the corresponding post section apertures. Each horizontal rack beam is typically comprised of sheet metal having a ledge or lip for receiving and supporting a wooden plank or other suitable shelving material such as sheet metal decking or the like, which in turn receives and supports product for storage and display. The placement of opposing pallet rack assemblies of the type herein described in such indoor and outdoor retail and warehouse environments defines corresponding and generally parallel aisles in relation thereto.
[0028] Turning now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown an exploded perspective diagram of the detail of the area designated by reference numeral 3 in FIG. 2 and illustrating one preferred, but not required, embodiment of the improved barrel bolt assembly 40 of the present invention for use in an exemplary improved extensible gate 30. A cross section taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 of assembled barrel bolt assembly 40 is shown in FIG. 4. Still further, an exploded perspective diagram of the component parts of barrel bolt assembly 40 is shown in FIG. 5 with a corresponding side elevation shown in FIG. 6. As shown extensible gate 30 comprises a plurality of accordion members or slats 32 that are interconnected and transversely movable with respect to one another about common axis i.e. corresponding pivot points 34 which generally comprise a fastener such as a rivet or barrel bolt as described above. Accordion members 32 cooperate together to permit gate 40 to be unitarily extensible and retractable, such as for example, to span an entryway or aisle defined by a pallet rack assembly, as limited only by the number and length of accordion members 32.
[0029] In keeping with the invention, barrel bolt assembly 40 comprises a washer 42 having at least one inward or outward projection 44 or any combination thereof (shown in FIGS. 3-6 as exemplary inward projections) annularly disposed about an internal periphery of washer 42 thereof. Assembly 40 further comprises a fastener 46 having a head portion 48 and a shank portion 50 extending therefrom that is preferably, but not necessarily, externally threaded to function as a screw. External threads of shank portion 50 are shown and designated generally by reference numeral 51. Barrel bolt assembly 40 further comprises a barrel 52 having a head portion 54 and a boss portion 53 extending therefrom that terminates in a shoulder portion 58. Again, barrel bolt boss portion is preferably, but not necessarily, internally threaded, depending on the application. Internal threads of barrel bolt boss portion 53 are shown and designated generally by reference numeral 56. Barrel bolt boss portion 53 is operative to receive fastener shank portion 50. In a preferred, but not required, embodiment, internal threads 56 are operative to receive the externally threaded fastener shank portion 50 and more specifically external threads 51.
[0030] In further keeping with the invention, barrel shoulder portion 58 further comprises at least one inward or outward projection 60 or any combination thereof (shown in FIGS. 3-6 as exemplary inward projections) annularly and complimentarily disposed and formed with respect to the inner periphery and projections 44 of washer 42 to receive and mate with the washer 42 and corresponding projections 44 thereof whereby the washer 42 and the barrel 52 (specifically barrel shoulder portion 58) interlock and thereby prevent rotational movement there between. In a further preferred, but not required embodiment, fastener head portion 48 further comprises a clamping surface 55 having a plurality of inward or outward projections disposed thereon (not shown). These projections are operative to engage a surface 57 of the washer and prevent rotational movement there between. Still further, in a preferred, but not required, embodiment, barrel head portion 54 similarly comprises a clamping surface 59 including a plurality of inward or outward projections disposed thereon (not shown). These projections are likewise operative to engage a surface of a clamped component (i.e. slat 32 in the exemplary accordion gate 30) and prevent rotational movement there between. When the aforementioned improved barrel bolt assembly is used in an accordion gate of the type shown and described in FIG. 3 by reference numeral 30, the relative transverse motion of slats 32 is ineffective to loosen barrel bolt 40 thus preventing joint fatigue and failure as well as gate fatigue and failure.
[0031] As referenced above, the inward and/or annular projections 44 of washer 42 are disposed to be complimentary to corresponding inward and/or annular projections 60 of shoulder portion 58 of barrel bolt boss portion 53 to interlock the respective components and prevent rotational movement there between. Accordingly, any suitable combination of such mated and corresponding inner and outward projections may be utilized in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention. FIGS. 5-6 thus illustrate multiple (6) inward projections 60 disposed on barrel bolt shoulder portion 60 and mated with 6 corresponding inward projections 44 disposed on the inner periphery of washer 42. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, two (2) inward projections 62 are disposed on barrel bolt should portion 58 and mated with two (2) corresponding inward projections 64 disposed on the inner periphery of washer 42. Still further, in yet an additional preferred, but not required embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a single (1) outward projection 66 is disposed on barrel bolt shoulder portion 58 to be mated with a single (1) outward projection 68 disposed on the inner periphery of washer 42.
[0032] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made and equivalent structures, features, and functions may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
