Patent ID: 6565069
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: E04F,E05D,E05Y,E06B,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
For a handrail having a peripheral profile and having an open gateway between two aligned terminals of the handrail, one terminal on either side of the gateway, a gate comprising:a pivotable gate arm having a peripheral profile that is substantially the same as the peripheral profile of the handrail, and having a hinge end and a lock end; a hinge coupling one end of which is fastened to the hinge end of the gate arm and the other end of which is fastened to a hinge terminal of the handrail, being one said terminal of the handrail, for hingedly connecting the hinge end of the gate arm to the hinge terminal of the handrail; a two-component lock, one lock component of which is fastened to the lock end of the gate arm, and the other lock component of which is fastened to a lock terminal of the handrail, being the other said terminal of the handrail; a release means for releasing the two lock components from one another after they have locked together; the two lock components matingly engaging one another as the lock end of the gate arm moves into alignment with the lock terminal of the handrail in a closed position; the two lock components being respectively provided with mating components of a releasable latch operative by the release means that is operative to latch the lock components together and thereby lock the gate arm to the handrail when the lock end of the gate arm is aligned with the lock terminal of the handrail and the mating lock components have come into engagement with one another; the length of the gate arm and of the hinged coupling and lock elements being selected so as to provide a substantially uninterrupted continuum of the handrail when the gate arm is locked into alignment with the handrail; the hinge coupling and the lock elements each having a peripheral profile selected to merge with the peripheral profile of the gate arm and the handrail.