Abstract:
A protective padding assembly for covering a section of chain link fence of the character found in sports venues, such as baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields and the like, wherein the section of chain link fence includes a hingeably connected swinging gate. The protective padding assembly uniquely includes a fence covering section, a gate covering section and an intermediate, wedge shaped portion for covering the gate hinges in a manner that will not interfere with opening and closing the gate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 12/799,022 filed Apr. 16, 2010. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to protective padding. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel protective padding assembly for covering a section of a barrier, such as a fence having a swinging gate, the protective padding assembly including a fence covering section, a gate covering section and an intermediate, wedge shaped section for covering the gate hinge in the manner that will not interfere with opening and closing the gate. 
     2. Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     Protective padding of various kinds has long been used to cover perimeter fences at a number of different types of sports venues including baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields and the like. Perimeter fences typically include a series of posts set in the ground with a fencing material, such as chain-link fencing, spanning the posts. Typically, the prior art protective padding comprises plywood panels covered with vinyl encased, high impact foam that are connected to the chain link fence using plastic washers that are bolted to the back of the protective padding assemblies. 
     To provide a gate in an opening of the fence, a pipe work frame the size of the opening is typically hinged to one side of the opening. A latch mechanism of some type is then attached to the opposite side of the opening and is used to maintain the gate in the closed position. Covering the gate and the gate hinges with a protective padding in a manner such that the gate can be freely opened and closed has long presented a very troublesome problem. The thrust of the present invention is to solve this troublesome prior art problem by providing a uniquely constructed protective padding assembly that includes a gate pad and a cooperatively associated generally wedge shaped insert of novel design that covers the gate hinge. When the gate is closed, the wedge shaped insert cooperates with the gate pad and with the pad covering the section of fence located adjacent the gate to provide a continuous length of protective pad. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel protective padding assembly for covering a section of a barrier having a swinging gate, the protective padding assembly including a barrier covering section, a gate covering section and an intermediate, wedge shaped portion for covering the gate hinge in the manner that will not interfere with opening and closing the gate. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding assembly of the aforementioned character that is of a simple construction and one that is easy to interconnect with a conventional section of a barrier such as a fence having a swinging gate. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding as described in the preceding paragraphs that effectively prevents injury to an athlete accidentally running into the swinging gate and the hinge portion of the swinging gate. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding of the character described that is sturdy in use and attractive in appearance. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a protective padding of the class described in the preceding paragraphs that is inexpensive to manufacture, is reliable in operation and has a relatively long, useful life. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a generally perspective, exploded view showing one form of the protective padding apparatus of the invention shown spaced apart from the chain-link fence and swinging gate to which the protective padding apparatus is to be attached. 
         FIG. 2  is a generally perspective, front view, similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the protective padding apparatus of the invention interconnected with the chain-link fence and swinging gate. 
         FIG. 3  is a generally perspective, rear view, similar to  FIG. 2  showing the protective padding apparatus of the invention interconnected with the chain-link fence and swinging gate. 
         FIG. 3A  is a generally perspective, enlarged view of the area designated in  FIG. 3  as  3 A- 3 A. 
         FIG. 4A  is a view taken along lines  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a view similar to  FIG. 4A , but showing the gate partially open. 
         FIG. 4C  is a view similar to  FIG. 4B , but showing the gate opened further. 
         FIG. 4D  is a view similar to  FIG. 4C  but showing the gate completely open. 
         FIG. 5  is a generally perspective, fragmentary view showing the relative positions of the gate pad and the intermediate wedge portion when the gate is in the open position and showing the elastomeric, wedge biasing cords of the apparatus in an extended configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a generally perspective, fragmentary view of an alternate form of the protective padding apparatus of the invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a view taken along lines  6 A- 6 A of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the gate partially open. 
         FIG. 7  is a generally perspective, exploded view of still another form of the protective padding apparatus of the invention shown spaced apart from the chain-link fence and swinging gate to which the protective padding apparatus is to be attached. 
         FIG. 7A  is a view taken along lines  7 A- 7 A of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 7B  is a view similar to  FIG. 7A , but showing the gate partially open. 
         FIG. 7C  is a view similar to  FIG. 7B , but showing the gate opened further. 
         FIG. 7D  is a view similar to  FIG. 7C  but showing the gate completely open. 
         FIG. 7E  is a view of the area designated in  FIG. 7  as  7 E- 7 E showing the hinge assembly of the protecting padding apparatus of this latest form of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one form of the protective padding assembly of the present invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  20 . Protective padding assembly  20  is specially designed for covering a section of a barrier, such as a chain-link fence comprising a continuous barrier portion, such as the chain-link fence portion “F” and a swinging gate such as a chain-link swinging gate “G” that is connected to the chain-link fence portion by a pair of spaced apart hinges “H”. It is to be understood that, while the barrier is shown in the drawings as a chain link fence, the protective padding assembly can be used in connection with various types of barriers, such as wooden fences, partition walls and like structures that include a hingeable connected swinging gate. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, protective padding assembly  20  here comprises a first section  22  that is connected to the continuous chain-link fence portion “F”, a second section  24  that is connected to the chain-link swinging gate, and an intermediate portion  26  that is disposed between the first and second sections. First section  22  has a tapered end portion  22   a  and second section  24  has a tapered end portion  24   a . As best seen by referring to  FIGS. 3A and 4A , intermediate portion  26  has a first tapered edge  26   a  that is disposed in close proximity with tapered edge  22   a  of first section  22  when the intermediate portion  26  is in the first gate closed position shown in  FIG. 4A . Similarly, intermediate portion  26  has a second tapered edge  26   b  that is disposed in close proximity with tapered edge  24   a  of first section  24  when the intermediate portion  26  is in the first gate closed position. As indicated in the drawings, when the gate is closed, end portion  24   b  of the gate pad is in close proximity with the end portion  28   a  of the protective pad  28  that is affixed to the fence section “F- 2 ” that is located proximate the free and of the gate “G”. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4B ,  4 C,  4 D and  5 , and as will be discussed in greater detail in the paragraphs which follow, as the gate “G” is opened, intermediate portion  26  is movable between the first gate closed position wherein it is overlying the hinges “H” and a second position wherein it is spaced apart from the hinges. 
     As is conventional in the prior art, each of the protective pad portions  22 ,  24  and  26  comprise a high impact foam pad having a vinyl coating. As is also conventional in the prior art, each of the protective pad portions is connected to a plywood panel that provides rigidity to the protective pad assemblies. As indicated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the protective pad assemblies are interconnected with the sections of chain-link fence and with the chain-link gate by means of plastic washers “W” that are bolted to the back of the protective padding assemblies. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 4B  of the drawings, as the gate is swung into the open position shown in  FIG. 4B , tapered edge  26   b  of intermediate portion  26  will slide up tapered end portion  24   a  of first section  24  and will move into the position shown in  FIG. 4B  where it rests on the outer surface of first section  24  and is spaced apart from the hinges “H”. As the gate is further opened into the position shown in  FIG. 4C  of the drawings, the inner edge  26   c  of the intermediate portion will slide along the outer surface of first section  24  against the urging of the biasing means of the invention, into the position shown in  FIG. 4C . As best seen in  FIG. 5  of the drawings, this important biasing means of the invention, which yieldably resists movement of said intermediate portion away from its at-rest position shown in  FIG. 4A , here comprises three vertically spaced apart, stretchable elastomeric cords. More particularly, the biasing means of the invention comprises an elongate, stretchable first cord  32  having a first end  32   a  connected to a tapered end portion of first section  22  and a second end  32   b  connected to the inner surface of intermediate portion  26 . The biasing means also comprises an elongate, stretchable second cord  34  having a first end  34   a  connected to a tapered end portion of first section  22  and a second end  34   b  connected to the inner surface of intermediate portion  26 . Additionally, the biasing means here comprises an elongate, stretchable third cord  36  having a first end  36   a  connected to a tapered end portion of first section  22  and a second end  36   b  connected to the inner surface of intermediate portion  26 . While the biasing means is here shown as comprising a plurality of stretchable, elastomeric cords, it is to be understood that the biasing means could be provided in several forms including coil springs, torsion springs and a variety of other spring constructions. 
     As the gate continues to be opened into the position shown in  FIG. 4D  of the drawings, the intermediate portion  26  will be forced downwardly against the further urging of the biasing means of the invention in a direction toward the outer surface of the first section into the position shown in  FIG. 4C . As can be observed by a study of  FIG. 4D , when the intermediate portion  26  has been moved into the position shown in  FIG. 4D , each of the stretchable elastomeric cords has been significantly stretched from its at-rest position. Accordingly, when the gate “G” is once again moved into the closed position, the elastomeric cords  32 ,  34  and  36  will act upon the intermediate portion  26 , positively urging it into its starting position as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4A  of the drawings. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  of the drawings, an alternate form of the protective padding assembly of the present invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  40 . This latest form of the invention is similar in many respects to the earlier described embodiment and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B to identify like components. As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention, protective padding assembly  40  is specially designed for covering a barrier such as a section of chain-link fence comprising a chain-link fence portion “F” and a chain-link swinging gate “G” that is connected to the chain-link fence portion by a pair of spaced apart hinges “H”. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  of the drawings, protective padding assembly  40  here comprises a first section  42  that is connected to the chain-link fence portion “F”, a second section  24  that is connected to the chain-link swinging gate, and an intermediate portion  44  that is disposed between the first and second sections. First section  42  has a tapered end portion  42   a  that terminates in an outer edge portion  42   c . Similarly, second section  24  has a tapered end portion  24   a . As best seen by referring to  FIG. 6A , intermediate portion  44  has a first tapered edge  44   a  that is disposed in close proximity with tapered edge  42   a  of first section  42  when the intermediate portion  44  is in the first gate closed position shown in FIG.  6 A. Similarly, intermediate portion  44  has a second tapered edge portion  44   b  that is disposed in close proximity with tapered edge  24   a  of first section  24  when the intermediate portion  44  is in the first gate closed position. The tapered edge  44   a  of intermediate portion  44  terminates in an outer edge portion  44   c . As indicated in the drawings, when the gate is closed, end portion  24   b  of the gate pad is in close proximity with the end portion  28   a  of the protective pad  28  that is affixed to the fence section “F- 2 ” that is located proximate the free and of the gate “G” ( FIG. 6A ). 
     As before, as the gate “G” is opened, intermediate portion  44  is movable between the first gate closed position wherein it is overlying the hinges “H” and a second position wherein it is spaced apart from the hinges ( FIG. 6B ). 
     As is conventional in the prior art, each of the protective pad portions  42 ,  24  and  44  comprise a high impact foam pad having a vinyl coating. As is also conventional in the prior art, each of the protective pad portions is connected to a plywood panel that provides rigidity to the protective pad assemblies. Similarly, the protective pad assemblies are interconnected with the sections of chain-link fence and with the chain-link gate by means of plastic washers that are bolted to the back of the protective padding assemblies. 
     The primary difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and the earlier described embodiment resides in the fact that the outer edge portions of the first section  42  and of the intermediate section  44  are hingeably interconnected. More particularly, outer edge portion  42   c  of first section  42  is hingeably interconnected with outer edge portion  44   c  of intermediate section  44 . While these sections can be hingeably interconnected in various ways, they are here interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced apart fabric hinges  48  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 6B  of the drawings, as the gate is swung into the open position there shown, tapered edge  44   b  of intermediate portion  44  will slide up tapered end portion  24   a  of first section  24  and will move into the position shown in  FIG. 6B , where it rests on the outer surface of first section  24  and is spaced apart from the hinges “H”. As the intermediate portion  44  moves into the position shown in  FIG. 6B , the outer edge of section  44  will pivot about the outer edge of the first section  42 , in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 6B . 
     Once again, biasing means are provided to yieldably resist movement of intermediate portion  44  away from its at-rest position as shown in  FIG. 6A . This important biasing means which is substantially identical in construction and operation to the previously described biasing means, here comprises three vertically spaced apart, stretchable elastomeric cords  32 ,  34  and  36  that are connected in the manner previously described and that operate in the manner previously described. While the biasing means is here shown as comprising a plurality of stretchable, elastomeric cords, it is to be understood that the biasing means could be provided in several forms including coil springs, torsion springs and a variety of other spring constructions. 
     As the gate continues to be opened, the intermediate portion  44  will be forced downwardly against the further urging of the biasing means of the invention in a direction toward the outer surface of first section  42 . When the intermediate portion  44  has been moved into this position, each of the stretchable elastomeric cords will have been significantly stretched from the at-rest position. Accordingly, when the gate “G” is once again moved into the closed position, the elastomeric cords  32 ,  34  and  36  will act upon the intermediate portion  44 , positively urging it into its starting position as shown in  FIG. 6A  of the drawings. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, still another form of the protective padding assembly of the present invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  50 . This latest form of the invention is similar in many respects to the earlier described embodiment and like numerals are used in  FIG. 7  and  FIGS. 7A-7E  to identify like components. As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention, protective padding assembly  50  is specially designed for covering a barrier such as a section of chain-link fence comprising a chain-link fence portion “F” and a chain-link swinging gate “G” that is connected to the chain-link fence portion by a pair of spaced apart hinges “H”. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 7A  of the drawings, protective padding assembly  50  here comprises a first section  52  having an inner surface  53  that is connected to the chain-link fence portion “F” (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 7 ), a second section  54  that is connected to the chain-link swinging gate “G” (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 7 ) and an intermediate portion  56  that is disposed between the first and second sections. As indicated in  FIG. 7 , first and second sections  52  and  54  are of a first width and intermediate portion  56  is of a second width less than the first width. 
     First section  52  has a tapered end portion  52   a , while second section  54  has a tapered end portion  54   a . The tapered edge  52   a  of section  52  terminates in an inner edge portion  54   c . Similarly, the tapered edge  54   a  of section  54  terminates in an outer edge portion  54   c.    
     Intermediate portion  56  has an inner surface  57  and a first tapered edge  56   a  that is disposed in close proximity with tapered edge  52   a  of first section  52  when the intermediate portion is in the first gate-closed position shown in  FIG. 7 . Similarly, intermediate portion  56  has a second tapered edge portion  56   b  that is disposed in close proximity with tapered edge  54   a  of second section  54  when the intermediate portion  56  is in the first gate-closed position. The tapered edge  56   a  of intermediate portion  44  terminates in an inner edge portion  56   c.    
     As before, as the gate “G” is opened, intermediate portion  56  is movable between the first gate-closed position, wherein it is overlying the hinges “H” and a second position, wherein it is spaced apart from the hinges ( FIG. 7B ). 
     As is conventional in the prior art, each of the protective pad portions  52 ,  54  and  56  comprise a high impact foam pad having a vinyl coating. As is also conventional in the prior art, each of the protective pad portions is connected to a plywood panel that provides rigidity to the protective pad assemblies. Similarly, the protective pad assemblies are interconnected with the sections of chain-link fence and with the chain-link gate by means of plastic washers that are bolted to the back of the protective padding assemblies. 
     The primary difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and the earlier described embodiment resides in the fact that the first section  52  and the intermediate section  56  of the protective padding assembly are hingeably interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, uniquely configured metal hinge assemblies  60 . More particularly, the inner surface  53  of first section  42  is hingeably interconnected with the inner surface  57  of intermediate section  56 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 7E  of the drawings, each of the hinge assemblies  60  can be seen to comprise a first pivot pin  62  having an upper portion  62   a , a lower portion  62   b , a central portion  62   c  and a second pivot pin  64  that is spaced apart from the first pivot pin. The second pivot pin also has an upper portion  64   a , a lower portion  64   b  and a central portion  64   c.    
     Also forming a part of each hinge assembly  60  is first and second leafs  66  and  68 . The first leaf  66  includes a body portion  69  having inner and outer surfaces  69   a  and  69   b . Connected to body portion  69  are vertically spaced apart knuckles  70  and  72  that are rotatably connected to the upper and lower portions of first pivot pin  62 . Second leaf  68  includes a body portion  74  having inner and outer surfaces  74   a  and  74   b . Connected to body portion  74  are spaced apart knuckles  76  and  77  that are rotatably connected to the upper and lower portions of second pivot pin  64 . As indicated in  FIG. 7A  of the drawings, the outer surface  69   a  of the body portion of first leaf  66  is connected to the inner surface  53  of the first section  52  of the protective padding assembly, while the outer surface  74   a  of the body portion of second leaf  68  is connected to the inner surface  57  of the intermediate portion  56  of the protective padding assembly. 
     Spanning the body portions  69  and  74  of the first and second leafs  66  and  68  is an elongated connector leaf  80 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7E , connector leaf  80  has a first knuckle  82  that is rotatably connected to the central portion  62   c  of first pivot pin  62  and a second knuckle  84  that is rotatably connected to the central portion of the second pivot pin  64 . Circumscribing second pivot pin  64  are conventional torsion springs  88  that function to yieldably resist movement of the intermediate portion  56  of the protective padding assembly away from its at-rest position shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     Turning to  FIG. 7B  of the drawings, as the gate is swung into the open position, the hinge assemblies will move into the position there shown and the tapered edges  56   a  of intermediate portions  56  will slide up tapered end portions  52   a  of first sections  52  and will move into the position shown in  FIG. 7B  where they rest on the outer surfaces  52   o  of first sections  52  and are spaced apart from the hinges “H”. As the intermediate portions  56  move into the position shown in  FIG. 7B  against the urging of springs  88 , the tapered edges  56   b  of sections  56  will move into proximity with the outer surfaces  54   o  of second sections  54 . 
     As the gate continues to be opened, the hinge assemblies will move into the position shown in  FIG. 7C  and the tapered edges  56   a  and  56   b  of intermediate portions  56  will slide along the outer surfaces of sections  52  and  54  into the position shown in  FIG. 7C . 
     Continued movement of the gate to the fully open position shown in  FIG. 7D , will cause the hinge assemblies to move against the urging of springs  88  into the position there shown and will cause the tapered edges  56   a  of intermediate portions  56  to further slide along the outer surfaces of sections  52  into the position shown in  FIG. 7D . At the same time, the tapered edges  56   b  of intermediate portions  56  will slide inwardly along the outer surfaces  56   o  of sections  56  into the position shown in  FIG. 7D . When the opening forces being exerted against the gate cease, the springs  88  of the hinge assemblies will cause the hinge assemblies along with the intermediate portions  56  of the protective padding assembly, to automatically return to the starting position shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.