Quick fit gate

A pressure-mounted gate includes a first panel extending horizontally. A second panel is slidably coupled to the first panel. The second panel extends horizontally. A locking mechanism is coupled to the first panel and the second panel. The locking mechanism facilitates a widening of the gate by a ratcheting structure. The locking mechanism locks a position of the first panel and the second panel at a desired gate width.

BACKGROUND

Security gates are commonly used to lock or close passageways such as conventional doorways and entrances to stairwells. The purpose of such gates is primarily security, such as keeping small children from accessing stairwells that could present a hazard, and also confinement, such as confining a pet to a particular room during the night. Many types of child and pet security gates are available on the market today that range from the accordion style gates formed from lattice-connected wood slats to lightweight plastic injected molded gates that permit adjustment to width and closure.

A typical security gate is formed from one or more panels, each panel including a frame surrounding a mesh or other similar lattice structure formed therebetween. The mesh is typically used so that one can see through the gate when the gate is in place.

Typically, each panel is manually positioned between two stationary elements, such as a door jamb. The security gate is then locked in place by a locking mechanism. However, some locking mechanisms only provide a selection of discrete gate positions in which the gate may be locked. The discrete positions provided may not permit the gate to fit tightly within the stationary objects. Furthermore, once the gate is unlocked and the gate is removed from between the stationary objects, the position of the panels is changed. To re insert the gate between the stationary objects, the panels need to be manually positioned again.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein relate to a quick fit gate. In one embodiment, a pressure-mounted gate includes a first panel extending horizontally; a second panel slidably coupled to the first panel, the second panel extending horizontally; and a locking mechanism coupled to the first panel and the second panel, the locking mechanism facilitating a widening of the gate by a ratcheting structure, the locking mechanism locking a position of the first panel and the second panel at a desired gate width.

In another embodiment, a method of adjusting and locking a pressure-mounted gate comprises sliding two panels of the gate away from each other so that a width of the gate is increased and the gate is positioned to fit loosely between two stationary objects; lifting a first arm of the gate, a first end of the first arm being attached to a first panel of the gate; when the first arm of the gate is lifted a distance greater than a threshold distance, sliding a locking mechanism attached to a second arm of the gate along a portion of the first arm of the gate; and after the first arm is lifted a distance greater than the threshold distance, lowering the first arm of the gate, the lowering of the first arm of the gate causing the second arm to move a second panel of the gate horizontally away from the first panel of the gate, the lowering of the first arm of the gate causing the gate to tighten against the two stationary objects.

In yet another embodiment, a locking mechanism for a gate comprises a housing that is configured to be pivotably attached to a first end of a first arm and slidably attached to a second arm; a cover for the housing, the cover for the housing including a pawl on one end of the cover; and a spring attached to a top of the housing and pressed against an inside of the cover for the housing, wherein when the spring is compressed, the pawl moves up a distance from the top of the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Principles associated with this disclosure can, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey principles of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to quick fit gates, such as security gates for pets and children. Example gates described herein include a ratcheting mechanism that permits a gate to slide and that includes a bar and locking structure that permits the gate to expand in length incrementally. The locking structure also locks the gate in place when the bar is moved down.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, a quick fit gate100is shown. Gate100includes panels102,104. Each panel102,104includes a frame106,108surrounding a lattice structure formed by a mesh110. Panels102,104are slideably connected for adjustment to a desired width to define a closure between two stationary elements such as, for example, a doorjamb. A fastener114is connected to a top and bottom of each panel102,104to secure panel102to panel104. In addition, a pair of rubber bumpers112is connected to the side face of each frame106,108to frictionally engage the stationary elements.

Gate100also includes a locking structure116for locking panels102,104at a desired width. Locking structure116includes a first arm118pivotally attached to frame106at a first end. A second arm120is pivotally attached to frame108at a first end. A locking mechanism122attached to a second end of second arm120is configured to engage one of a plurality of notches124formed on an upper surface of first arm118, and a clip mechanism126on a second end of first arm118is configured to engage and couple first arm118to second arm120. Locking structure116is configured to position and maintain panels102,104at a desired width by ratcheting first arm118to the desired width and locking clip mechanism126to second arm120. Locking mechanism122also permits gate100to maintain a memory of the desired width when gate100is removed from between the stationary elements.

Frames106,108, first arm118and second arm120can be made of a variety of materials, such as metal, plastic, or wood. In the example shown, frames106,108, first arm118and second arm120are made of wood. In other embodiments, frames106,108, first arm118and second arm120can be made of different materials. For example, frames106,108and second arm120can be made of wood, and first arm118can be made of metal or plastic.

In addition, mesh110can be configured in a variety of patterns and can be made of a variety of materials such as metal, plastic or wood. In the example shown, mesh110forms a lattice structure and is made of plastic.

FIG. 4shows an exploded view of the locking mechanism122. The locking mechanism122includes a main housing402and a control mechanism404. The control mechanism404includes a button406and a pawl410. When the gate100is locked, the pawl410is inserted into one of the notches124on the first arm118, as explained in more detail later herein. The button406provides a means for releasing the pawl410from a locked position, so that panels102and104can move with respect to each other. The button406makes contact with a spring408on the main housing402. When the button406is pressed down against the spring408, the pawl410is lifted up from the notches124, unlocking gate100. Typically, the button406is used to unlock the gate100so that the width of gate100may be made smaller. To increase the width of gate100, ratcheting is typically used, as explained later herein.

FIG. 5shows a more detailed view of the notches124on the upper surface of the first arm118. When the pawl410is inserted into a notch, first arm118is prevented from moving with respect to the second arm120and the gate100is locked. When the pawl410is released from the notch, first arm118is free to move with respect to the second arm120. Because frame106of panel102is connected to first arm118and because frame108of panel104is connected to second arm120, when pawl410is released from the notch, panel102is permitted to move with respect to panel104.

As shown inFIG. 6, when pawl410is released from a notch124, pawl410no longer holds first arm118in place. First arm118is free to move with respect to second arm120. As shown inFIG. 7, when pawl410is inserted into the notch124, pawl410prevents first arm118from moving with respect to second arm120. As a result, gate100is locked.

Referring toFIGS. 8-10, a sequence is shown for adjusting a width of gate100between two stationary objects. In the sequence shown inFIGS. 8-10, the width is increased from a width W1to a width W3.FIG. 8shows gate100in a locked position at width W1. In order to increase the width of gate100, panels102and104are pulled away from each other until gate100fits loosely between the two stationary objects. This increases the width of gate100to a width W2. When panels102and104are pulled away from each other, the force of pulling panels102and104away from each other allows pawl410to ratchet along notches124until the width W2is reached.

Width W2represents an approximate distance between the two stationary objects. In order for gate100to fit tightly between the two stationary objects, additional ratcheting is typically required. To implement the additional ratcheting, first arm118is lifted off second arm120(FIG. 9). When first arm118is lifted a specific distance off second arm120, locking mechanism122ratchets along notches124of first arm118. The specific distance corresponds to a threshold distance that first arm118needs to be lifted to release pawl410from a notch in first arm118.

Locking mechanism122typically ratchets one or two notches when first arm118is lifted the threshold distance off second arm120. When locking mechanism122ratchets, the locking mechanism122moves up first arm118towards panel104. Because locking mechanism122is also connected to second arm120and second arm120is connected to panel104, panel104moves to the right when locking mechanism122ratchets.

Ratcheting occurs because when first arm118is lifted off of second arm120, button406of control mechanism404presses down on spring408. When button406presses down on spring408, pawl410lifts up from the notch of notches124in which pawl410is inserted. As first arm118continues to be lifted, pawl410slides one or two notches forward in notches124. The ratcheting only moves locking mechanism122in one direction, towards frame108of panel104. Because second arm120is attached to locking mechanism122, when locking mechanism122moves towards frame108of panel104, panel104moves away from panel102, thereby widening gate100.

First arm118is then lowered towards second arm120and secured into place on second arm120via clip mechanism126(FIG. 10). When first arm118is lowered, pressure is applied against second arm120. The pressure may cause second arm120to move further and tighten gate100between the two stationary objects. This increases the width of gate100to a width W3.

Referring now toFIGS. 11-13, a sequence is shown for tightening gate100from a width W2to a width W3.FIG. 11shows gate100at a width W2with first arm118and second arm120in a closed position. As discussed, width W2represents a distance in which gate W2fits loosely between the two stationary objects. As shown inFIG. 11, pawl410is inserted in a notch of first arm118that is a distance D1from a start of the notches on first arm118.

When first arm118is lifted (FIG. 12), and moved higher than the threshold distance, pawl410is released from first arm118and ratcheted up one or two notches on first arm118. The threshold distance is a distance that first arm118needs to be lifted in order for pawl410to be released from the notch that is a distance D1from the start of the notches on first arm118. After pawl410is ratcheted up one or two notches on first arm118, pawl410is now inserted in a notch at a distance D2from the start of the notches on first arm118, where D2is greater than D1.

First Arm118is now lowered so that clip mechanism126of first arm118is clipped onto second arm120(FIG. 13). Because the distance from pawl410to the start of the notches on first arm118is now D2, when first arm118is lowered onto second arm120and clipped onto second arm120, pressure is applied to first arm118that causes second arm120to tighten against the stationary elements on either end of gate100and expand gate100to a width of W3, where W3is slightly greater than W2.

When gate100is to be removed from between the two stationary objects, first arm118is lifted enough so that gate100can be removed. However, when gate100is removed, pawl410remains in the notch that is a distance D2from the start of the notches on first arm118. Because pawl410remains in the notch, gate100retains a memory of width W2. Therefore, gate100can be put aside and then reinserted between the two stationary objects without needing to resize the width of gate100.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present disclosure without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.