Gate opener stand and method of manufacture and installation

A gate opener stand is comprised of a plurality of support tubing connected to a horizontal brace and a platform at one end of the plurality of support tubing. The opposite ends of the plurality of support tubing are held in place via a brace. The platform includes a pair of ears extending from opposite sides of the platform. Apertures within extended rounded ends of the horizontal brace align with the pair of ears extending from the platform. A pair of braces connects the platform to the horizontal brace and provides additional reinforcement and strength to the gate opener stand. In an alternative embodiment, a method of manufacture and assembly of the gate opener stand is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This original non-provisional patent application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/744,677, filed Jul. 30, 2020, and entitled “Gate Opener Stand,” which is incorporated by reference herein.

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gate openers. More specifically, the invention relates to a gate opener stand and method of manufacture and installation.

2. Description of the Related Art

There exists in the art gate opener stands. These existing gate opener stands are uniquely configured to fit a particular model or type of gate openers. When a user changes the type of gate opener used, the gate stand opener will also need to be changed out. This is time consuming as it requires digging out the old gate opener stand from the ground. In additional, many times the old gate opener stand is cemented into the ground, requiring additional equipment, tools and manpower to remove. Time is money. The longer the gate opener operator remains inoperable, the higher the expense will be to operate, if possible, the gate (e.g., opening and closing) as now such operation must be done manually. This requires at least one person manning the gate in the event the gate needs to be opened. The expense of employing personnel to operate a gate quickly escalates the longer the gate opener is inoperable. In addition, while the gate opener stand is being removed, there may not be any access (ingress or egress) through this particular gate, especially if heavy equipment is necessary for removal of the gate opener stand, necessitating the parties needing ingress or egress to search for other access points which may or may not be near the vicinity of the inoperable gate.

Another concern with prior art gate opener stands is the expense that comes with all the various components involved their construction. The more components there are, the higher the cost in materials and labor. Additional expenses are needed to pay for the additional and adequate number of personnel needed to make and put the gate stand opener together.

The typical installation time for existing gate opener stand generally vary but often fall within about three days to a week from start to finish. While the gate opener and gate opener stand is being replaced, there is also downtime in that users have no access (ingress or egress) via the downed gate until such time as the gate becomes operable again. This would not occur until the new gate opener and correspondingly configured gate opener stand have been installed.

Accordingly, there is a need for a gate opener stand that may be installed correctly each and every time without the assistance of a professional installer (e.g., a do-it-yourself install) and without the need to perform extensive and expensive ground preparations. There is a further need for such a device that is robust yet safe, and will remain level for the life of the stand, thereby reducing the manufacture and installation time and increasing the safety and enjoyment of the gate opener stand. There is also a need for a gate opener stand that may be assembled and installed quickly and safely with minimal costs and labor, yet be robust enough once complete to provide years of functionality. Finally, there is a need for a gate stand opener that may be retroactively fitted to chassis of older models or types of gate openers such that when it becomes necessary to replace the gate opener with a new one, the gate opener stand does not also need to be changed out, but can still function and accommodate a newer or different model gate opener. The present invention addresses these and other shortcomings of the currently existing gate openers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a gate opener stand that may retroactively fit the chassis of older or different models of gate openers. The gate opener stand of the present invention has a plurality of support tubing connected to a horizontal brace and a platform at one end of the plurality of support tubing. The support tubings are in a square configuration and provide support to the horizontal brace and platform. The opposite ends of the plurality of support tubing are held in place via a brace. The platform includes a pair of ears extending from opposite sides of the platform. Apertures within extended rounded ends of the horizontal brace align with the pair of ears extending from the platform. A pair of braces connects the platform to the horizontal brace and provides additional reinforcement and strength to the gate opener stand.

The plurality of support tubing traverses the horizontal brace and platform via apertures within the extended rounded ends of the horizontal brace and the pair of ears extending from opposite sides of the platform. A large aperture within the platform and two smaller apertures within the horizontal brace accommodate conduit, connectors and wiring of (and as such, retrofit) chassis of any kind or model of gate openers, which may be mounted on the gate opener stand.

Manufacture of the stand includes first cutting all components (save the square support tubing) of the gate opener stand of the present invention using a plasma cutter. Using a jig table (not shown), the components are clamped and secured in place to the jig table for manufacture. The manufacture and assembly of the gate opener stand of the present invention begins in reverse. That is to say, the final product is right side up, but during its manufacture and assembly it is assembled upside down. Each of the components are connected and secured in place with tack welding. When all components are connected as desired, full welding makes the connections permanent. The gate opener stand, once manufactured and assembled, is ready for installation at the desired location.

An additional advantage is that the gate opener stand of the present invention does not require the need for professional installation as end users may do the present invention themselves. Tools the user may be required to use for installation include a level, shovel, cement, measuring tape, and the like. The user should also possess some basic knowledge, such as, measuring skills and how to dig a hole. The average intended user of the present invention would possess such tools and knowledge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG.1, gate opener stand10of the present invention is comprised of support tubing12having top end16and bottom end20and support tubing14having top end24and bottom end28. Support tubings12and14are hollow, as indicated by hollow end22and hollow end30. Support tubings12and14are also in a square configuration. Cap18is fitted over top end16of support tubing12. Cap26is fitted over top end24of support tubing14, as shown inFIG.1.

Still referring toFIG.1, platform34and horizontal brace32are secured (welded) to support tubing12and support tubing14at top ends16and24of support tubing12and support tubing14, respectively. Platform braces36and38between platform34and horizontal brace32provide reinforcement and stability to gate opener stand10. Brace40connects at one end to support tubing12and connects at the other end to support tubing14. Brace40provides for added stability during manufacture and assembly of gate opener stand10but may be removed during final assembly.FIG.2shows a back view of gate opener stand10.

Turning now toFIGS.3and4, right and left side views, respectively, are shown. Platform brace38connects platform34to horizontal brace32, as shown inFIG.3. Similarly, platform brace36connects platform34to horizontal brace32, as shown inFIG.4. Platform braces38and36provide strength and reinforcement to gate opener stand10. Cap26fits within hollow area at top end24of support tubing14, as shown inFIG.3. Similarly, cap18fits within hollow are at top end16of support tubing12, as shown inFIG.4.

Turning now toFIG.5, platform34has extended ear portion42and extended ear portion44at opposite ends. Extended ear portion42has aperture62therein (SeeFIG.9) where cap18is fitted within hollow end of support tubing12traversing therethrough. Extended ear portion44has aperture64therein (SeeFIG.9) where cap26is fitted within hollow end of support tubing14traversing therethrough. Apertures62and64are in a square configuration. Platform34has top surface46and aperture47therein.

Referring still toFIG.5, aperture47accounts for almost half of the area of platform34. Through aperture47can be seen a portion of horizontal brace32and brace40. Apertures70and72appear in a staggered configuration within the center area of horizontal brace32. Apertures70,72and47allow for the passing of conduit, wiring and other connections from a gate opener to pass through the gate opener of the present invention for the required power hookup and for connection to other components.

Turning toFIG.6, rounded ends50and52on either end of horizontal brace32are shown with support tubing12and14traversing therethrough, respectively, terminating in hollow ends22and30. Platform braces36and38connect platform34to horizontal brace32via bottom surface48of platform34, as shown inFIG.6. A perspective view of gate opener stand10is shown inFIG.7.FIG.8illustrates gate opener10in an environmental view. Gate opener stand10is anchored securing into ground60. Support tubing12and14of gate opener stand10penetrate into ground60approximately half the length of support tubing12and14. Gate opener54is mounted on top surface4of gate opener stand10with connections98connected to power (not shown). Gate56is then pulled via chain58once chain58has been configured within gate opener54.

While the present invention uses square configurations for support tubing and corresponding apertures through which support tubing traverses, other configurations, such as a round configuration, may be used and still remain within the contemplation of the present invention.

Now describing the method of manufacture and assembly of the gate opener stand of the present invention, and referring also toFIG.9, the components of gate opener stand10are described. These include two support tubings12and14and horizontal brace32having rounded ends50and52with apertures66and68therein, respectively. Components further include platform braces36and38. Bracing tabs74,76and78extend distally from platform brace36. Bracing tabs80,82and84extend distally from platform brace38. Bracing tabs74,76,78,80,82and84are evenly spaced. The final component is platform34which has bracing slots86,88and90along the edge closest to extended ear portion42. Platform34also has complimentary bracing slots90,94and96along the edge closest to extended ear portion44.

Still referring toFIG.9, support tubing12and14are 3×3-11 gauge black steel tubing cut to 3 ft. in length. Horizontal brace32contains apertures70and72which act as conduit pathways to allow conduit and the like from a gate opener to pass.

Turning now toFIG.10, platform34is placed upside down and clamped to a jig table (not shown), exposing bottom surface48of platform34. Platform brace38is lowered down vertical axis116with bracing tabs80,82, and84corresponding to and matable with bracing slots90,88and86. Similarly, platform brace36is lowered down vertical axis118with bracing tabs74,76and78corresponding to and matable with bracing slots96,94and92. The ends of the bracing tabs traverse the bracing slots passing through platform34but only until the ends of the platform tabs become flush with the opposite surface (top surface46) of platform34(top surface46facing downward on the jig table (not shown)). In other words, the platform tabs are squared to the opposite surface area of the platform from which the tabs entered the platform slots.

Once platform braces36and38are connected and secured in place to platform34in a perpendicular relationship and the bracing tabs have traversed bracing slots and are flush with the opposite surface of platform34, tack welding is performed on inner and outer sides of platform braces where platform braces touch platform34. The tack welding is performed between bracing tabs and bracing slots, as shown inFIG.11. A partial close up of platform brace36connected to platform34illustrating the connections between bracing tabs74,76and78of platform brace36matable with bracing slots96,94and92of platform34is shown inFIG.12. The inventor is unaware of any other existing gate opener stand that has this tab/slot connection feature to securely connect platform braces to the platform.

Turning now toFIG.13, with tack welding complete, support tubing12and14are inserted down vertical axis100into and traverse apertures64and62, respectively. Apertures62and64are 3″×3″ and squarely configured to accommodate squarely configured support tubing12and14. The ends of the pair of square support tubings are then slide into the apertures of the ears of the platform to a distance certain beyond the bottom surface of the platform. More particularly, support tubing12and14traverse apertures62and64, respectively, until caps18and26at top ends16and24are one inch (1″) past apertures64and62, respectively, as shown inFIG.13. All the while, gate opener stand is upside down on jig table (not shown).

Referring now toFIG.14, apertures66and68and round ends50and52of horizontal brace32are 3″×3″ and squarely configured to accommodate squarely configured support tubing12and14. Support tubing12and14pass through apertures66and68in round ends50and52of horizontal brace32, allowing horizontal brace32to slide down vertical axis102until connecting with platform braces36and38. Additional jig table clamps (not shown) are then used to clamp support tubing12and14to hold support tubing12and14secure, square and transverse (perpendicular) to all other components, as shown inFIG.14.

Turning now toFIG.15, the user104tack welds all components at strategic contact points106,108,110,112and114to temporarily hold all components in place. This allows minor manipulation of the gate opener stand components by the user to adjust positioning of all components to ensure proper positioning vis-à-vis all other components. Temporary brace40is attached at one end to support tubing12and at the other end to support tubing14as additional stability during manufacture and assembly of the gate opener stand. However, once the gate opener stand is complete, temporary brace40becomes unnecessary and may be removed, as the full welding holds all components strongly and securely to each other.

Turning now toFIG.16, with all components assembled and tack welded to each other (including sacrificial brace40), gate opener stand10may be unclamped from the jig table (not shown). Gate opener stand10is then flipped to an upright position. All bracing slots in platform34are fully welded (not tack welded) to corresponding bracing tabs of platform braces36and38, as shown inFIG.16. Excessive heat is applied to all tack welding to ensure full weld of all previously tack welded contact points of various component parts and hot dip galvanizing does not warp platform34. Rather, platform34remains flat during the galvanization process.

Once bracing slots and corresponding bracing tabs are completely joined, all components then are fully welded. The gate opener stands—several may be done in a batch— are stacked on pallets and sent to the galvanizer (not shown) where the gate opener stands are hot dipped galvanized for added strength and protection against corrosion. Now made and assembled, the gate opener stand of the present invention is complete and ready for sale.

The present invention is constructed using ⅛″ thick or 11 gauge steel. However, other dimensions and robust materials, such as aluminum or steel alloys, may also be used in the construction and manufacture of the gate opener stand of the present invention and still remain within the contemplation of the present invention.

Installation of the gate opener stand of the present invention requires minimal experience and tools. Gate opener chassis sizes change and evolve on a regular basis. The gate opener stand of the present invention is well suited for this variation as the present invention also is capable of being retrofitted to accommodate gate openers of any make or model, without regard to size. In other words, the present invention is nonspecific to any one gate opener bolt pattern or post mount.

The gate opener stand of the present invention is designed, in most cases, for permanent installation. However, if desired by the user, the present invention may be removed and transferred to a different location and reinstalled in a matter of hours.

The present invention has application in the gate and fence industry, providing gates and fences to ranchers and farmers for residential and/or commercial use.

The various embodiments described herein may be used singularly or in conjunction with other similar devices. The present disclosure includes preferred or illustrative embodiments of specifically described apparatuses, assemblies, methods and systems. Alternative embodiments of such apparatuses, assemblies, methods and systems can be used in carrying out the invention as described herein. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosure and the drawings.