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BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is directed to an expandable gate operative to selectively inhibit movement through an opening and, more specifically, to a latching mechanism for an expandable gate having a latch adapted to be selectively gripped to disengage the latch and enable the gate to be compressed.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     A variety of gates are known and presently on the market that are designed to prevent children from passing from one area to another. Several of these gates can be adjusted for use in openings having various widths.  
         [0005]     Presently there are two common types of adjustable, pressure mounted, security gates that are used in the home for children and pets that have a plurality of panels that are roughly adjusted to fill the passageway in which they are to be used. One type has extendable bumpers on at least one side to firmly engage the side or sides of the passageway to hold the gate in place and the second type that has fixed bumpers on the panels that are caused to firmly engage the sides of the passageway by forcibly extending the panels in opposite directions and locking them in the maximum extended position.  
         [0006]     Gates having extendable bumpers may incorporate mechanisms that include numerous interconnecting parts that require precise fits and positioning to interact with each other to extend and retract the bumpers. Gates are also known that utilize actuating mechanisms that include a complex arrangement of links, cranks, pull rods and springs that are interconnected to a pull handle. An example of such an actuating mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,461.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is directed to an expandable gate operative to selectively inhibit movement through an opening and, more specifically, to a latching mechanism for an expandable gate having a latch adapted to be selectively finger gripped to disengage the latch and enable the gate to be compressed. The gate latch may include a pair of spring biased arms that are adapted to receive a component of the latching mechanism therein to fix the relative dimensions of the expandable gate. The gate latch may be finger gripped to overcome the bias and release the component of the latching mechanism to allow the relative dimensions of the expandable gate to substantially change.  
         [0008]     It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a variable width gate adapted to be manipulated to secure the gate within the boundary of an opening, the gate comprising: (a) an expandable gate; and (b) a locking mechanism to secure the expandable gate within a boundary of an opening, the mechanism comprising: (i) a first member mounted to the expandable gate, (ii) a second member mounted to the expandable gate and adapted to reciprocate with respect to the first member, the second member being operative to generate a force expanding the expandable gate when reciprocated toward the first member, and (iii) a latch mounted to one of the first member or the second member that selectively interacts with the other of the first member or the second member to substantially sustain the position of the first member with respect to the second member to sustain the outward force.  
         [0009]     It is a second aspect of the present invention to provide a gate latch comprising: (a) a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to a first member of a cantilever; and (b) a receiving portion adapted to selectively mount the first member to a second member of the cantilever, the receiving portion including a finger gripping portion adapted to be finger gripped to reposition the receiving portion with respect to the second member.  
         [0010]     It is a third aspect of the present invention to provide a method of sizing a variable width gate within an opening to inhibit through traffic, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pivoting a first cantilever segment with respect to a second cantilever segment, the first cantilever segment mounted to an expandable gate at a first position and the second cantilever segment mounted to the expandable gate at a second position, the pivoting of the first cantilever segment with respect to the second cantilever segment operative to change a width of the expandable gate; (b) orienting the first cantilever segment with respect to the second cantilever segment into a generally parallel orientation; and securing the first cantilever segment to the second cantilever segment to inhibit movement of the first cantilever segment with respect to the second cantilever segment.  
         [0011]     It is a fourth aspect of the present invention to provide a method of securing a gate within an opening to inhibit through traffic, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an expandable gate within an opening having a width; (b) sizing a width of the expandable gate approximate the width of the opening; and (c) locking the expandable gate in place by wedging the expandable gate within the opening, where the locking step including the steps of: (i) positioning a first member with respect to a second member to include pivotally mounting the first member to the second member, the first member being mounted to the expandable gate at a first position and the second member being mounted to the expandable gate at a second position, and (ii) securing the first member to the second member to substantially inhibit the first member from pivoting with respect to the second member, the securing step including use of a biased fastener coupled to the first member and operative to engage the second member and mount the first member to the second member.  
         [0012]     It is a fifth aspect of the present invention to provide a method of removing a gate from an opening, the method comprising the step of unlocking an expandable gate wedged within an opening, the expandable gate including a first cantilever member mounted to a second cantilever member, where the unlocking step includes finger gripping a fastener to disengage the first cantilever member from the second cantilever member, thereby allowing the expandable gate to contract.  
         [0013]     It is a sixth aspect of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism for an expansive gate comprising: (a) a first cantilever component adapted to be mounted to an expansive gate at a first position; (b) a second cantilever component adapted to be mounted to the expansive gate at a second position, the second cantilever component adapted to be pivotally mounted to the first cantilever component; and (c) a fastener adapted to maintain the general position of the first cantilever component with respect to the second cantilever component. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of an exemplary expandable gate in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a segmental frontal view of two components of a cantilever in a disengaged position in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a segmental frontal view of two components of a cantilever just prior to an engaged position in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is an overhead view of an exemplary gate latch in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a right side profile view of the exemplary gate latch of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary gate latch of  FIG. 4  with the pivoting arms in a contracted position; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary gate latch of  FIG. 4  with the pivoting arms in an expanded position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below as expandable gates or gate sections operative to occupy at least a portion of an opening to selectively inhibit movement therethrough. The various orientational, positional, and reference terms are used in an exemplary form to describe the elements of the inventions with respect to one another. However, for clarity and precision, only a single orientational or positional reference will be utilized and, therefore, it will be understood that the positional and orientational terms used to describe the elements of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are only used to describe the elements in relation to one another and may be reconfigured by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a first exemplary embodiment of an extendable gate  10  includes a first gate section  12  mounted to a second gate section  14 . The first gate section  12  includes a right side frame member  16 , a top frame member  18 , a bottom frame member  20 , and a left side frame member  22 . Each frame member  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  includes a channel (not shown) therein that runs the majority of the length of each frame member and is adapted to receive a pane  26  therein. The pane  26  may include any material that blocks a substantial portion of the opening defined by the frame members  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and in this exemplary embodiment includes plastic mesh. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to utilize other materials and panel designs, such as wire mesh, solid plastic panels, or solid panels with orifices therethrough. A pair of bumpers  27  are mounted to the right side frame member  16  that are adapted to contact a boundary, such as a wall, when the extendable gate  10  is secured within an opening. L-shaped fasteners  28  are utilized to mount the frame members  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  to one another.  
         [0023]     The second gate section  14  includes a right side frame member  36 , a top frame member  38 , a bottom frame member  40 , and a left side frame member  42 . Each frame member  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  includes a channel (not shown) therein that runs at the majority of the length of each frame member and is adapted to receive a pane  46  therein. The pane  46  may include any material that blocks a substantial portion of the opening defined by the frame members  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 , and in exemplary form includes plastic mesh. A pair of bumpers  47  are mounted to the left side frame member  42  that are adapted to contact a boundary, such as a wall, when the extendable gate  10  is secured within an opening. L-shaped fasteners  48  are utilized to mount the frame members  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  together.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the gate  10  includes two cantilevers segments  58 ,  60 , with the first cantilever segment  58  being mounted to the right side member  16  of the first gate section  12  and the second cantilever segment  60  being mounted to the left side member  42  of the second gate section  14 . The first cantilever segment  58  includes a swivel  62  mounted approximate the free end  64  thereof. The second cantilever segment  60  includes a plurality of crests  66  and troughs  68 , where at least one of the troughs  66  is adapted receive a catch  70  associated with the swivel  62 . In further exemplary embodiment, the troughs  66  are uniformly spaced apart one-half inch and include widthwise markings corresponding to the approximate location of the catch  70  to properly bias the gate sections  12 ,  14  within an opening having a certain width. For instance, if the width of the opening is approximately thirty-six inches, a trough  66  would be labeled “36” indicating that a good starting point for securing the gate  10  within the opening would be to place the catch  70  within the trough labeled “36” to create the proper bias via the cantilever segments  58 ,  60 . The second cantilever segment  60  also includes a latch  72  mounted approximate the free end  74  thereof. The latch  72  is adapted to couple the first cantilever segment  58  to the second cantilever segment  60  and create a biased wedge between the first gate section  12  and the second gate section  14 .  
         [0025]     Referencing  FIGS. 4-7 , the latch  72  includes a boxed end  76  adapted to receive the free end  74  of the second cantilever  60 . The boxed end  76  may create a friction fit between the free end  74  to secure the latch  72  to the free end  74 , or may include a fastener  78  received through an opening  80  in the boxed end  76  to secure the boxed end  76  to the free end  74  of the second cantilever segment  60 . The fastener may include, such as, without limitation, a rivet, a nail, a screw, and other fastener known to those of ordinary skill. A pair of flanges  81  extends from the boxed end  76  and is adapted to receive at least a portion of the first cantilever segment  58  therebetween as the latch  72  is mounted to the first cantilever segment  58 . Opposite the boxed end  76  is a loop  82  adapted to provide a finger insertion location to facilitate upward and downward movement of the second cantilever segment  60  with respect to the first cantilever segment  58 . Interposing the loop  82  and the boxed end  76  is an active clasp  84 .  
         [0026]     The active clasp  84  includes two pivoting arms  86 ,  88  divided by a partition  90  within the latch  72 . Spanning between the loop  82  and the boxed end  76  are two metal rods  92 ,  94 . The metal rods  92 ,  94  are offset, with the first rod  92  piercing a rounded projection  96  associated with the first pivoting arm  86 , and the second rod  94  piercing a rounded projection  98  associated with the second pivoting arm  88 . Two receivers  100 ,  102  are divided by the partition  90  and mounted thereto, with the first receiver  100  including a rounded cavity  104  that receives the rounded projection  96  of the first arm  86  and allows the rounded projection  96  to pivot therein. Likewise, the second receiver  102  includes a rounded cavity  106  that receives the rounded projection  98  of the second arm  88  and allows the rounded projection  98  to pivot therein. The partition also includes a passageway  108  therethrough that is traversed by a spring  110  concurrently mounted to the arms  86 ,  88 .  
         [0027]     Referencing  FIG. 1 , the extendable gate  10  is placed within an opening, possibly a doorway or between adjacent walls, such that the first gate section  12  is extended with respect to the second gate section  14  to position the bumpers  27 ,  47  in proximity to the boundary of the opening. As the gate sections  12 ,  14  are extended, the second cantilever segment  60  traverses the first cantilever segment  50  without the catch  70  being fixedly engaged by at least one of the troughs  66 . After the bumpers  27 ,  47  are in proximity to the boundary of the opening or are in contact with the boundary, the catch  70  is positioned within one of the troughs  66 . As discussed above, the second cantilever segment  60  may include markings (not shown) that correspond to the location where the catch  70  should be placed within a trough  66  when the opening is approximately a particular width. For instance, if the troughs  66  are uniformly spaced one-half inch apart and the gate  10  is extendable between an opening having a width between twenty-nine inches and fifty inches, the second cantilever would include forty-three troughs  66  labeled in one-half inch increments from “29” to “50”, where the “29” label would indicate a starting position for the catch  70  if the opening was approximately twenty-nine inches wide; likewise, the trough  66  labeled “50” would indicate a starting position for the catch  70  if the opening was fifty inches wide.  
         [0028]     After the catch  70  is positioned within one of the troughs  66 , the second cantilever segment  60  is pivoted with respect to the first cantilever segment  58  such that the latch  72  is moved downward toward the first cantilever segment  58 . This pivoting action by the cantilever segments  58 ,  60  exerts an outward pressure upon the sections  12 ,  14 , thereby tending to wedge the sections  12 ,  14  within the opening. If the width of the opening is too narrow based upon the position of the catch  70  within a particular trough  66 , the second cantilever segment  60  may not properly pivot with respect to the first cantilever segment  58 . An attempt to force the latch  72  to downwardly engage the first cantilever segment  58  under these circumstances would result in undue stress upon the cantilever segments  58 ,  60 , and might result in failure of the cantilevers. Alternatively, the catch  70  may be positioned within a trough  66  that enables the latch  72  to engage the first cantilever segment  58 , but does not wedge the gate  10  within the opening. In either circumstance where the initial position of the catch  70  within one of the troughs  66  did not adequately allow the sections  12 ,  14  to be wedged within the opening, the catch  70  may be repositioned to be seated within another trough  66 . The above process may be repeated until the latch  72  is mounted to the first cantilever segment  58  and the gate  10  is wedged within the opening. In this exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , the catch  70  would be repositioned to the left to decrease the wedge force and repositioned to the right, toward the latch  72 , to increase the wedge force.  
         [0029]     Referencing  FIGS. 1, 6 , and  7 , presuming that the proper trough  66  has been selected to seat the catch  70  therein, the second cantilever segment  60  is pivoted with respect to the first cantilever segment  58  to enable the latch  72  to engage the first cantilever segment  58 . The ends of the arms  86 ,  88  of the latch  72  are tapered and adapted to engage the upper corners of the first cantilever segment  58  and be forced apart, counter to the bias of the spring  110 , to pivot about the rods  92 ,  94  and accommodate the width of the first cantilever segment  58  therebetween. The arms  86 ,  88  include a recess  126  therein adjacent to the taper where the bottom corners of the cantilever segment  58  are adapted to be seated therein after the bottom corners of the cantilever segment  58  pass beyond the tapered portion of the arms  86 ,  88 . The biased nature of the arms  86 ,  88  provides a “snap-fit” to mount the first cantilever segment  58  to second cantilever segment  60 , and the recesses  126  inhibit disengagement between the cantilever segments  58 ,  60 .  
         [0030]     The biased arms  86 ,  88  of the latch  72  allow for selective disengagement between the cantilever segments  58 ,  60  by finger gripping. To disengage the latch  72  and the second cantilever segment  60  from the first cantilever segment  58 , the biased arms  86 ,  88  are gripped and directed inward approximate the partition  90  to pivot the tapered ends of the arms  86 ,  88  outward and disengage the recesses  126  from the bottom of the first cantilever segment  58 . The wedge force created by the cantilever segments  58 ,  60  in an engaged position is decreased as the latch  72  and second cantilever segment  60  pivot away from the first cantilever segment  58  and enable the gate sections  12 ,  14  to freely move with respect to one another. The decrease in wedge force backs away the bumpers  27 ,  47  from the boundary of the opening, thereby allowing the gate  10  to be resized and/or repositioned relative to the boundary.  
         [0031]     Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the inventions contained herein are not limited to these precise embodiments and that changes may be made to them without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are to be incorporated into the meanings of the claims unless such limitations or elements are explicitly recited in the claims. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claim, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.

Summary:
A variable width gate adapted to be manipulated to secure the gate within the boundary of an opening, the gate comprising: (a) a gate member; and (b) a locking mechanism to secure the gate member within a boundary of an opening, the mechanism comprising: (i) a first member mounted to the gate member, (ii) a second member mounted to the gate member and adapted to reciprocate with respect to the first member, the second member being operative to generate a force expanding the gate member when reciprocated toward the first member, and (iii) a latch mounted to one of the first member or the second member that selectively interacts with the other of the first member or the second member to substantially sustain the position of the first member with respect to the second member to substantially sustain the force.