Abstract:
A safety gate for use in household openings, such as doorways, hallways, and stair landings. The gate includes a color-coded closed/opened status indicator. In some embodiments, the barrier may be unlocked and locked with one-handed operation. The gate may include an automatic closure mechanism for moving the door from the open position to the closed position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/213,306, entitled “BOSTON GATE,” and filed on Sep. 2, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments herein relate to a safety gates which include a highly visible, color-coded locked/unlocked status indicator for use in household openings, such as doorways, to provide a barrier for a toddler or a small child, or for any other suitable use. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Safety gates are used throughout households to prevent babies, children, and pets from accessing unsafe areas, such as landings, stairs, or non-childproofed furniture or rooms. These gates, provide lightweight, movable, and secure barriers to prevent children from accessing or entering potentially dangerous areas. 
         [0004]    One disadvantage of some safety gates is the requirement of two hands to open and close the gate. While this arrangement prevents unwanted openings from children, it also hinders adults who are often carrying children or household items in one of their hands. 
         [0005]    Another disadvantage of some safety gates is the uncertainty of knowing from a distance whether the gate is locked. Adults and older children, will sometimes accidentally close, but not lock, a toddler safety gate. Without the locking mechanism engaged, a toddler or small child may open the gate and access unsafe areas. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments disclosed herein may address one or more of these disadvantages by providing a safety gate that may be easily opened and closed with one hand, and/or that has a color-coded status indicator that shows someone within visual range whether the gate is properly locked. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a gate assembly with an improved automatic closure mechanism. 
         [0007]    Additional features are described herein. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Other embodiments may be practiced in various manners. 
         [0008]    According to some embodiments, a safety gate assembly includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in an opening through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one surface with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked. 
         [0009]    According to one embodiment, a safety gate includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned between two substantially flat lateral surfaces through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and a forward open position and a rearward open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned between two substantially flat surfaces, to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the rearward or forward open positions to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises two opposing surfaces, each surface having a first color and a second color, wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked and only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0010]    According to a further embodiment, a safety gate assembly includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned between two substantially flat lateral surfaces through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and a forward open position and a rearward open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned between two substantially flat surfaces, to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one surface with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked. 
         [0011]    Another embodiment of the subject invention is a safety gate assembly comprising: a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in an opening through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the rearward or forward open positions to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises two opposing surfaces, each surface having a first color and a second color, wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked and only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0012]    An additional embodiment is a safety gate assembly comprising: a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in a doorway through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one surface with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked. 
         [0013]    Another embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in a stairwell entrance through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and a forward open position and a rearward open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned between two substantially flat surfaces, to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the rearward or forward open positions to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises two opposing surfaces, each surface having a first color and a second color, wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked and only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0014]    Another embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in an opening through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only a first color when the gate assembly is locked and only a second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0015]    A further embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned in an opening through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one sidewall with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the latch is engaged with the frame and the gate assembly is in the locked mode, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the latch is disengaged from the frame and the gate assembly is in the unlocked mode. 
         [0016]    Another embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned between two substantially flat lateral surfaces through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinges, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and a forward open position and a rearward open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned between two substantially flat surfaces, to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only a first color when the gate assembly is locked and only a second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0017]    An additional embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame comprising a base frame member joining lower ends of two spaced apart lateral frame members, positioned between two substantially flat lateral surfaces through which selective entry is permitted; a barrier mountable on the frame via upper and lower hinge, wherein the barrier is pivotable relative to the frame between a closed position and a forward open position and a rearward open position; wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned between two substantially flat surfaces, to reverse the orientation of the open position of the barrier; a latch housing on the barrier on the opposing side of the upper hinge, the latch housing having a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the barrier, the latch to engage the frame and the barrier simultaneously to retain the barrier in the closed position to establish a locked mode of the gate; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to the lower hinge that automatically moves the barrier from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of the base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the barrier moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during rotational movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one sidewall with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the latch is engaged with the frame and the gate assembly is in the locked mode, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the latch is disengaged from the frame and the gate assembly is in the unlocked mode. 
         [0018]    Another embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame adapted to mount with a door frame bordering a doorway and a gate mounted on the frame for pivotable movement about a pivot axis between a closed position closing a walkway passage formed in the frame to block movement of a person through the walkway passage and an opened position opening the walkway passage to allow movement of a person through the walkway passage, wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the open position of the gate; a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the gate, the latch to engage the frame and the gate simultaneously to retain the gate in the closed position to establish a locked mode; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to a lower hinge on the gate that automatically moves the gate from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of a base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the gate moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during pivotable movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one surface with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked. 
         [0019]    Another embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame adapted to mount with a door frame bordering a doorway and a gate mounted on the frame for pivotable movement about a pivot axis between a closed position closing a walkway passage formed in the frame to block movement of a person through the walkway passage and an opened position opening the walkway passage to allow movement of a person through the walkway passage, wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the open position of the gate; a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the gate, the latch to engage the frame and the gate simultaneously to retain the gate in the closed position to establish a locked mode; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to a lower hinge on the gate that automatically moves the gate from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of a base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the gate moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during pivotable movement; wherein the latch comprises two opposing surfaces, each surface having a first color and a second color, wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked and only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0020]    A further embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame adapted to mount with a door frame bordering a doorway and a gate mounted on the frame for pivotable movement about a pivot axis between a closed position closing a walkway passage formed in the frame to block movement of a person through the walkway passage and either forward or rearward opened positions opening the walkway passage to allow movement of a person through the walkway passage, wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the forward and rearward open positions of the gate; a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the gate, the latch to engage the frame and the gate simultaneously to retain the gate in the closed position to establish a locked mode ; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to a lower hinge on the gate that automatically moves the gate from the rearward or forward open positions to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of a base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the gate moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during pivotable movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one surface with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked. 
         [0021]    Another embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame adapted to mount with a door frame bordering a doorway and a gate mounted on the frame for pivotable movement about a pivot axis between a closed position closing a walkway passage formed in the frame to block movement of a person through the walkway passage and either forward or rearward opened positions opening the walkway passage to allow movement of a person through the walkway passage, wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the doorway to reverse the orientation of the forward and rearward open positions of the gate; a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the gate, the latch to engage the frame and the gate simultaneously to retain the gate in the closed position to establish a locked mode; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to a lower hinge on the gate that automatically moves the gate from the rearward or forward open positions to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of a base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the gate moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during pivotable movement; wherein the latch comprises two opposing surfaces, each surface having a first color and a second color, wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked and only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0022]    An additional embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame adapted to mount with a stairwell entrance border and a door mounted on the frame for pivotable movement about a pivot axis between a closed position closing a walkway passage formed in the frame to block movement of a person through the walkway passage and an opened position opening the walkway passage to allow movement of a person through the walkway passage, wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the stairwell entrance to reverse the orientation of the open position of the gate; a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the door, the latch to engage the frame and the door simultaneously to retain the door in the closed position to establish a locked mode; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to a lower hinge on the door that automatically moves the door from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of a base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the gate moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during pivotable movement; wherein the latch comprises at least one surface with a first color and a second color, further wherein the latch housing comprises at least one opening to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked, wherein the least one opening further allows the nearby observer to view only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked. 
         [0023]    Another embodiment of a safety gate assembly includes a frame adapted to mount with a stairwell entrance border and a door mounted on the frame for pivotable movement about a pivot axis between a closed position closing a walkway passage formed in the frame to block movement of a person through the walkway passage and an opened position opening the walkway passage to allow movement of a person through the walkway passage, wherein the frame can be reversibly positioned in the stairwell entrance to reverse the orientation of the open position of the gate; a releasable latch mounted for movement relative to the door, the latch to engage the frame and the door simultaneously to retain the door in the closed position to establish a locked mode; an automatic closure mechanism adjacent to a lower hinge on the door that automatically moves the door from the open position to the closed position, the automatic closure mechanism disposed on top of an upper surface of a base frame member, said automatic closure mechanism comprising a substantially flat recess disposed between two substantially vertical sidewalls with a plurality of protrusions extending outward, wherein at least part of a base of the gate moves vertically up and down within the sidewalls and the protrusions when opened and closed, and rotates on top of the sidewalls and at least one of the protrusions during pivotable movement; wherein the latch comprises two opposing surfaces, each surface having a first color and a second color, wherein the latch housing comprises an opening on either side of the gate assembly to allow a nearby observer to view only the first color when the gate assembly is locked and only the second color when the gate assembly is unlocked from either side of the gate assembly. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the door barrier or gate may move forward relative to the frame to an angle substantially 90 to 120 degrees. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the automatic closure mechanism is composed of compressible resilient material. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the first color is green and the second color is red. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the lower hinge includes a hinge pin, rotatably mountable in a first channel disposed in the automatic gate stop, and a substantially aligned second channel in the base member frame. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the latch housing engages and releases the latch with an external user-actuated button attached to an internal lever that engages the latch. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the frame comprises pressure mounts on either side of the base member and on the exterior of both lateral frame members. 
         [0030]    For purposes herein, the term “substantially” is defined as at least close to (and can include) a given value or state, as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    Advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of an improved safety gate, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a safety gate; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is an exploded front view of a safety gate according to one embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a safety gate according to one embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of a safety gate according to one embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a safety gate with the door barrier in a rear open position; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a safety gate with the door barrier in a forward open position; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a safety gate with pressure mounts on a doorway; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of a safety gate; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of a safety gate with pressure mounts on a doorway; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged side view of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  is an exploded side view of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  is an exploded side cross-sectional view of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0045]      FIG. 14  is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0046]      FIG. 15  is a top cross-sectional view of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0047]      FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the fixed rear housing of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0048]      FIG. 17  is an isometric view of the rotatable front housing of the hinge housing of a safety gate; 
           [0049]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged isometric view of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0050]      FIG. 19  is an exploded isometric view of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0051]      FIG. 20  is another exploded isometric view of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0052]      FIG. 21  is a top exploded view of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0053]      FIG. 22  is a top cross-sectional view of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0054]      FIG. 23  is a side cross-sectional view of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0055]      FIG. 24  is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0056]      FIG. 25  is an isometric cross-sectional view of the moveable front housing of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0057]      FIG. 26  is a front view of the moveable front housing of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0058]      FIG. 27  is a front isometric view of the moveable front housing of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0059]      FIG. 28  is a rear isometric view of the moveable front housing of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0060]      FIG. 29  is an isometric view of the internal latch of a safety gate; 
           [0061]      FIG. 30  is an isometric view of the fixed rear housing of the latch housing of a safety gate; 
           [0062]      FIG. 31  is a top isometric view of the automatic stop closure mechanism of a safety gate; 
           [0063]      FIG. 32  is a bottom isometric view of the automatic stop closure mechanism of a safety gate; 
           [0064]      FIG. 33  is a side view of the automatic stop closure mechanism of the improved safety gate; 
           [0065]      FIG. 34  is an isometric view of the bottom hinge pin housing of a safety gate; 
           [0066]      FIG. 35  is a front view of the bottom hinge pin housing of a safety gate; 
           [0067]      FIG. 36  is an isometric view of the bottom hinge pin housing within the automatic stop closure mechanism of a safety gate; 
           [0068]      FIG. 37  is an enlarged isometric view of the bottom hinge mechanism of a safety gate; 
           [0069]      FIG. 38  is an enlarged exploded isometric view of the bottom hinge mechanism of a safety gate; 
           [0070]      FIG. 39  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the bottom hinge mechanism of a safety gate; 
           [0071]      FIG. 40  is an enlarged front side view of the gate stop of a safety gate; 
           [0072]      FIG. 41  is an enlarged rear side view of the gate stop of a safety gate; and 
           [0073]      FIG. 42  is an isometric view of the gate stop of a safety gate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0074]    Aspects of the invention are described herein with reference to certain illustrative embodiments and the figures. The illustrative embodiments described herein are not necessarily intended to show all aspects of the invention, but rather are used to describe a few illustrative embodiments. Thus, aspects of the invention are not intended to be construed narrowly in view of the illustrative embodiments. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the invention may be used alone or in any suitable combination with other aspects of the invention. 
         [0075]    Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a safety gate for use in household openings, such as doorways, hallways, and stair landings to provide a safe barrier for a toddler or a small child. 
         [0076]    The gate assembly  1  comprises a lightweight frame  2  with a moveable door barrier  3 . The frame  2  includes two spaced apart lateral frame members  4  and  5 , joined together at their respective bases  6  and  7  to a base frame member  8 . The frame members  4 ,  5 , and  8  define an opening for the door barrier  3 . 
         [0077]    The door barrier  3  is hingedly movable forward and backward relative to the frame  2 . The door barrier  3  may hingedly move to one of two open positions relative to the frame  2 : the door barrier  3  may move forward relative to the frame  2  to an angle substantially 90 to 120 degrees, or the door barrier  3  may move backward relative to the frame  2  to an angle substantially 90 to 120 degrees. In either open position, passage through the door barrier  3  is possible. 
         [0078]    The closed position of the door  3  is substantially parallel relative to the frame  2 . In the closed position, passage through the door barrier  3  is prevented. 
         [0079]    As may be seen in  FIG. 7 , The frame  2  may be positioned within a doorway  9  or wall opening with removable pressure mounts  10 . The pressure mounts can be quickly released to move the gate assembly  1  to another desired location in the household. 
         [0080]    The door barrier  3  comprises a panel  11  having a base member  12 , a top member  13 , and a plurality of struts  14  at spaced intervals between frame members  4  and  5 . The door barrier  3  is hingedly joined to frame member  5  via a top hinge  15  and a bottom hinge  16 . 
         [0081]    The top hinge  15  comprises a top hinge panel  17  with a channel  18  that receives and holds one end  19  of top member  13  of panel  11 . The top hinge panel  17  comprises a rotatable front housing  20  and a fixed rear housing  21 . The rotatable front housing  20  and the fixed rear housing  21  are connected with a top hinge pin  22  inserted into a lower hinge pin  23 . The rear face  24  of the rotatable front housing  20  has a substantially complementary shape to the front face  25  of fixed rear housing  21 . The top hinge pin  22 , lower hinge pin  23 , and the complementary shape of the rear face  24  to the front face  25  permit the top hinge panel  17  and the door barrier  3  to fully rotate in either direction, backward and forward, with respect to the frame  2  along the axis of the top hinge pin  22  and the lower hinge pin  23 . 
         [0082]    The fixed rear housing  21  of the top hinge panel  17  further comprises a base member  26  for insertion into channel  27  on top end  28  of frame member  4 . Base member  27  and holds the rear housing  21  in a fixed position as the front housing  20  rotates relative to the frame  2 . 
         [0083]    The bottom hinge  16  of the door barrier  3  comprises a bottom hinge housing  29  with a channel  30  that receives and holds one end  31  of base member  12  of panel  11 . The bottom hinge housing  29  comprises a bottom hinge pin  32  that inserts into channel  33  in base frame member  8 . The bottom hinge pin  32  and the complementary shape of channel  33  permit the bottom hinge housing  29  and the door barrier  3  to fully rotate in either direction, backward and forward, with respect to the frame  2  along the axis of bottom hinge pin  32 . This bottom rotational axis is substantially the same rotational axis of the top hinge pin  22  and the lower hinge pin  23  of the top hinge panel  17 . 
         [0084]    The bottom hinge housing  29  and one end  31  of base member  12  of panel  11  also extend into an automatic gate closure stop  34 . Automatic gate closure stop  34  may include a compressible resilient material that comprises a bottom recess  35  which rests on the top surface  36  of base frame member  8 . Bottom recess  35  may be substantially elongate with a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to base frame member  8 . Automatic gate closure stop  34  also may include a narrow top recess  37  for removably holding bottom hinge housing  29  when the door barrier  3  is in the closed position. Top recess  37  may be substantially elongate with a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to base frame member  8 . Top recess  37  may have two sidewalls  38  composed of compressible resilient material and a channel  39  for receiving and holding bottom hinge pin  32  that inserts into channel  33  in base frame member  8 . Top recess  37  also may comprise a series of lateral protrusions  40  composed of compressible resilient material extending from sidewalls  38 . 
         [0085]    The non-hinged, swinging side of the door barrier  3  may include a top latch panel  41  with a channel  42  that receives and holds one end  43  of top member  13  of panel  11 . 
         [0086]    The top latch panel  41  may include a moveable front housing  44  and a fixed rear housing  45 . The moveable front housing  44  and a fixed rear housing  45  are connected with an internal latch  46  that inserted into a rear channel  47  (see, for example,  FIG. 20 ) on moveable front housing  44  and a front channel  48  (see, for example,  FIG. 19 ) on fixed rear housing  45 . The moveable front housing  44  comprises a channel  49  that receives and holds one of the door barrier struts  14 . 
         [0087]    The fixed rear housing  45  of the top latch panel  41  may further comprise a base member  50  for insertion into channel  51  of frame member  5 . Base member  50  and holds the rear housing  45  in a fixed position as the moveable front housing  44  is unlatched from frame  2 . 
         [0088]    The moveable front housing  44  comprises visual openings  52  on one or both sides of the housing. Visual openings  52  substantially align with the internal latch  46 . In the closed, latched position of the door barrier  3 , a first end  53  of the internal latch  46  is contained within channel  48  of fixed rear housing  45 . In this latched position, the portions of sidewalls  54  that are farther away from fixed rear housing  45  are visible through openings  52 . In  FIG. 19 , this portion is on the right side of sidewall  54 . The portion that is visible when the door barrier  3  is latched may have a first color, such as green, or any other suitable color. These portions of the sidewalls  54  of the internal latch  46  are visible, from a distance, through visual openings  52  on one or both sides of the moveable front housing  44 . Thus, with the door barrier  3  in the latched position, with internal latch  46  within channel  48  of the fixed rear housing  45 , a green color is visible on one or both sides of moveable front housing  44  through visual openings  52 . This green color indicates that the gate  1  is locked, as the first end  53  of the internal latch  46  is within channel  48  of the fixed rear housing  45 . This indication can be viewed from a distance. 
         [0089]    The moveable front housing  44  further comprises a top button  55  that contains an internal lever  56  which engages the internal latch  46  to move it out of channel  48  and fixed rear housing  45 . To open the door barrier  3 , a user grips moveable front housing  44  and slides button  55  away from fixed rear housing  45  using his or her fingers. Once the internal latch  46  is engaged by internal level  56  and removed from rear housing  45 , the moveable front housing  44  is disengaged from the rear fixed housing  45 , and the door barrier  3  may begin rotation in either direction relative to frame  2 . 
         [0090]    Once the internal latch  46  is in an unlatched position, the user lifts moveable front housing  44  using the same hand, thereby lifting automatic gate closure stop  34  out of the top recess  37  away from the sidewalls  38  and lateral protrusions  40 . With automatic gate closure stop  34  clear of top recess  37 , door barrier  3  may be moved to an open position. This movement permits the bottom hinge housing  29 , and the door barrier  3 , to fully rotate in either direction, backward and forward, with respect to the frame  2  along the axis of bottom hinge pin  32 . 
         [0091]    As door barrier  3  is opened, the bottom hinge pin  32  rotates within channel  33  of base frame member  8  and channel  39  of top recess  37  of the automatic gate closure stop  34 . This bottom rotational axis is substantially the same rotational axis of the top hinge pin  22  and the lower hinge pin  23  of the top hinge panel  17 . 
         [0092]    In this unlocked position, different portion of the sidewalls  54  of the internal latch  46  are visible through openings  52 . For example, the portions that are closer to the rear fixed housing  45  are visible through openings  52 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 19 , the left side of sidewall  54  would be visible through opening  52  when the internal latch is in the unlocked position. These portions of the sidewalls  52  have a second color that is different from the first color. For example, the second color may be red or any other suitable color. These portions of the sidewalls  54  of the internal latch  46  are visible through visual openings  52  on either side of the moveable front housing  44 . Thus, with the door barrier  3  in the unlatched position, and with internal latch  46  no longer within channel  48  of the fixed rear housing  45 , a red color (or other suitable color) is visible on either side of moveable front housing  44  through visual openings  52 . This red color indicates, from a distance, that the gate  1  is unlocked, as the internal latch  46  is not contained within channel  48  of the fixed rear housing  45 . 
         [0093]    From the door barrier  3  open position of the gate assembly  1 , the automatic gate closure stop  34  compresses against the compressible resilient material of the sidewalls  38  and the lateral protrusions  40 . This resilient force automatically pulls the automatic gate closure stop  34  and the attached the door barrier  3 , bottom hinge housing  29 , attached end  31  of base member  12  back toward top recess  37 . This pulling rotates bottom hinge pin  32  within channel  33  of base frame member  8  and channel  39  of top recess  41 . Once the door barrier  3  is proximate to the closing position, the automatic gate closure stop  34  is substantially aligned and drops down between sidewalls  38  and protrusions  40 . This dropping down of automatic gate closure stop  34  substantially aligns door barrier  3  with respect to frame  2  and moves the gate assembly  1  into a locked position. 
         [0094]    With the door barrier  3  in the locked position, the first color (e.g., green) of the internal latch  46  is visible on either side of moveable front housing  44  through visual openings  52 . This green color indicates, from a distance, that the gate  1  is locked, as the first end  53  of the internal latch  46  is within channel  48  of the fixed rear housing  45 . 
         [0095]    The bottom second end  57  of base member  12  of panel  11  is free to rotate with door barrier  3 . The gate assembly  1  comprises a gate stop  58  attached to frame  4 . The gate stop  58  comprises an a flat extension  59  for engaging a second end  57  of the base member  12  and preventing further rotation of panel  11  and door barrier  3 . In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the gate stop  58  is rotatable to stop the door barrier  3  in either direction for placement of the gate in either forward or backward orientation in any doorway  9 . 
         [0096]    Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.