Abstract:
A roller facilitates movement of a gate or similar barrier between a first and second position. The barrier fits at least generally within a channel formed at the periphery of the roller, and the channel is shaped to reduce the contact area and resulting friction that can otherwise occur between the confronting surfaces of the channel and the barrier.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to gate suspension systems and components, such as gate rollers, and related methods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Cantilever gates have been a staple in the fence industry for many years. These gates are especially useful in situations where other solutions to support the gate (such as ground rollers, ground track, or overhead track) as it traverses the opening are not practical or desirable. Such situations can occur due to uneven terrain, overhead clearance requirements, or the potential for ice or snow interfering with ground supported configurations. 
         [0003]    Such gates are used in a wide variety of applications, including (by way of example) gated communities, commercial, industrial, and other security-type installations. One common cantilever gate design incorporates four or more rollers within which the upper and lower horizontal frame members of the gate are positioned within channels formed in the rollers. Although the predominant configuration of the gates in these applications has been chain link attached to a frame made from round tubular members, such gates have more recently begun to be made from square or rectangular tubular members, at least in part to meet a growing demand for gates having a more ornamental style. 
         [0004]    Typically, the rollers for these gates (which facilitate the gates&#39; movement between open and closed positions) have been fashioned with channels in the rollers that are shaped to correspond to the shape of the gate frame member on which the gate is intended to be used. This allows the roller to be seated securely and not become dislodged from its intended movement track. Thus, for the conventional round tubing frame covered with chain link, the channel track. Thus, for the conventional round tubing frame covered with chain link, the channel roughly approximates a half-circle. For other shapes of gate frame members (such as those with square or rectangular cross-sectional shapes), the roller channel typically is formed with a corresponding square/rectangular shape. 
         [0005]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show examples of prior art square and round rollers. In cross-section, the roller of  FIG. 5  is mounted to rotate on an axle, and includes a generally round channel to receive a generally correspondingly-shaped gate member.  FIG. 6 , likewise in cross-section, illustrates the same for a confronting interface between a roller and a gate element that are both generally square. Many other roller systems use those same basic designs for the roller shapes, although they may have differences in materials, bracket design, axle mount configuration, or other features. 
         [0006]    Gate frame members with non-round cross-sections typically have a flat/horizontal load-bearing surface, and perpendicular (generally vertical) sidewalls. This design functions and currently is the standard practice in the industry, but it has some shortcomings. Among other things, as any of these gates (whether they have round or non-round frames) travels there is a tendency for the gate to drift side-to-side, laterally to the gate&#39;s intended travel path. Weather conditions (such as a cross-wind) can exacerbate that lateral movement. Any such lateral movement can result in undesired frictional rubbing between the confronting vertical sidewalls of the roller and the gate frame. The more extreme the wind, the more friction can occur. Besides generating excessive wear and damaging the paint or other finishes on those rubbing surfaces, that undesirable friction can increase the energy required to move the gate along the track, adding to the power requirements for the installation and causing correspondingly excessive loads on the motor that moves the gate. In certain installations and conditions, the undesired rubbing can even generate irritating or even potentially harmful noise. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a picket style cantilever sliding gate incorporating an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a gate incorporating square or rectangular upper and lower members showing the claimed roller of the roller assembly with a pocket or channel formed in the roller, and illustrating the flat surface of the gate being supported on the flat surface of the roller pocket with the sidewall of said roller formed at an angle at least slightly off of vertical, making the radially outer horizontal dimension of the roller pocket/channel wider than the innermost portion of the roller pocket. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a chain link style cantilever sliding gate (chain link indicated as cropped elements  50  and  52 ) incorporating the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cropped perspective view of the roller showing how the roller cooperates with a rectangular gate member. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a prior art roller assembly, illustrating how the roller channel can be shaped to cooperates with a round gate frame member. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of another prior art roller assembly, illustrating how the roller is shaped and is cooperating with a rectangular gate frame member (the frame member is the square near the bottom left of the drawing, on which the roller is resting). 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a gate incorporating square or rectangular upper and lower members showing an alternative embodiment of a roller of the roller assembly having a reduced contact surface shape. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , showing yet another embodiment of a roller of the roller assembly of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11  show additional alternative embodiments of a roller of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with references to the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner, simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, various embodiments of the invention (whether or not specifically described herein) may include novel features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential to practicing the invention herein described. 
         [0017]    Although the examples of the many various methods of the invention are described herein with steps occurring in a certain order, the specific order of the steps, or any continuation or interruption between steps, is not necessarily intended to be required for any given method of practicing the invention. 
         [0018]    As illustrated in the drawings, the invention preferably substantially reduces or even eliminates contact between the confronting sidewalls of the roller channel and the gate frame. Among other benefits, this substantially reduces the friction and corresponding wear on those surfaces, as well as the noise that can be generated by that rubbing. It also can reduce the energy and maintenance requirements for automated gate systems in which the invention is used, and can reduce the related maintenance requirements for the gate itself 
         [0019]    The channel of the invention preferably has tapered sides  16  and  18  (rather than substantially vertical sides as shown in the prior art of  FIG. 6 ), but can be in any shape suitable for reducing the contact area that can otherwise occur if the confronting surfaces are both substantially vertical. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the degree of taper can vary depending on the application and other factors. Although the drawings show a relatively small amount of taper (indicated by angle  32  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ), a greater or perhaps even lesser amount of tapering may be useful in certain applications. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate just two more of the many alternative “reduced contact” surface shapes that can be used to practice the invention. In  FIG. 7 , portion  62  provides a slight concave surface as the tapered area  16  approaches its radially outermost point. In  FIG. 8 , portion  64  provides a slight convex surface as the tapered area  16  approaches its radially outermost point. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one side could have a shape or contour that was different than the other side of the roller, and still provide many of the benefits of the invention. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 9 ,  10  &amp;  11  are cross sectional views of a gate incorporating square or rectangular upper and lower members showing the roller of the roller assembly with a pocket or channel formed in the roller, and illustrating the flat surface of the gate being supported on a substantially horizontal surface of the roller pocket, said surface incorporating relief recesses with the sidewall of said roller formed at an angle at least slightly off of vertical, making the radially outer horizontal dimension of the roller pocket/channel wider than the innermost portion of the roller pocket. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 1 , a gate assembly  10  preferably includes at least one roller  12  mounted on an axle  30 , which is turn is mounted on a support apparatus  40  such as a pole  42 . Mounting bracket  44  is affixed to the pole  42  via bolts  46  and  48 , and holds axle  30  at a desired vertical position for receiving the barrier  20  in the roller&#39;s channel  14 / 16 / 18 . The barrier can be any of a wide range of apparatus, including ones having generally horizontal elements  24  and generally vertical elements  24  forming a generally rectangular assembly  20 . As indicated above, other materials (such as chain link indicated as cropped elements  50  and  52  in  FIG. 3 ) can be used in place of or in addition to vertical elements  22 . 
         [0023]    The materials and dimensions for manufacturing and practicing the invention can be selected from a wide variety, depending on a number of factors (such as economics, environment in which the gate will be deployed, size of the gate, etc.). Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the specific configurations and assemblies in which the invention is provided can likewise be any of a broad range.