Abstract:
A gate assembly comprising a gate mount and a gate mounted for movement on the gate mount between an opened position and a closed position. The gate assembly further comprises an illumination system mounted on the gate mount for turning on a light mounted on the gate mount when someone approaches the gate when it is dark in the vicinity of the gate.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/623,626, filed Oct. 29, 2004, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates to security gates and, in particular, to juvenile gates for use inside a dwelling. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to lighting systems for gates.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     An illuminated security gate unit in accordance with the present disclosure includes a gate mount, a gate coupled to the gate mount for movement between an opened position and a closed position, and an illumination system associated with the gate mount. The illumination system includes means for turning on a light coupled to the gate mount to illuminate a latch included in the gate unit and a user “navigation area” around the gate as someone approaches the gate unit when it is dark.  
         [0004]     In illustrative embodiments, the illumination system includes a light source, a motion sensor, and a photo (light) sensor. In use, the motion sensor will turn on the light source whenever a person enters a navigation area around the gate unit established by the motion sensor as long as a signal is generated by the photo sensor to confirm that the navigation area is “dark enough” and that the light source should be turned on to illuminate the navigation area. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illuminated security gate unit in accordance with the present disclosure showing a gate coupled to a gate mount located, for example, in a passageway of a staircase and an illumination system provided for turning on a light coupled to the gate mount when someone walks near the gate when it is dark;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the gate unit showing a gate mounted to pivot between an opened position (in phantom) and a closed position (in solid) on a left-side pivot frame included in the gate mount and to mate with a right-side latch receiver frame also included in the gate mount, showing an illumination system associated with the gate mount and configured to include a motion sensor, light source, and photo sensor and showing illustrative motion-detection zones (represented by dotted patterns) established by the motion sensor on either side of the gate;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged front elevation view of the gate unit of  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing a light source provided in a top portion of the right-side latch receiver frame and illuminated to shine light into a navigation area around the gate unit in a manner also shown in  FIG. 5  and showing a hand-operated latch assembly coupled to a fence to define the gate and arranged to mate with the right-side latch receiver frame to retain the gate in the closed position relative to the gate mount;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a “birds-eye” view of the gate unit, stairs, and hallway of  FIG. 1  in a “darkened” condition (represented by diagonal lines) before the light source in the illumination system is turned on and showing a person approaching a motion-detection zone associated with the illumination system included in the gate unit and indicating diagrammatically an operating status of the illumination system and components included in the illumination system;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing movement of the person of  FIG. 4  into the motion-detection zone established by the motion sensor and showing illumination of an illumination area around the gate unit by the light source coupled to the right-side latch receiver frame in response to illumination signals provided by the motion sensor (sensing motion in the motion-detection zone as suggested in  FIG. 5 ) and the photo sensor (sensing darkness in the navigation area around the gate unit as suggested in  FIG. 4 );  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of components included in the right-side latch receiver frame;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged front elevation view of the top portion of the right-side latch receiver frame included in the gate mount showing the photo sensor, motion sensor, and light source; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing components included in the illumination system in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     An illuminated security gate unit or assembly  10  includes a gate  12  and a gate mount  14  comprising a pivot support frame  16  on a left side of gate  12  and a latch receiver frame  18  on a right side of gate  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Latch receiver frame  18  is adapted to receive and mate with a latch  19  included in gate  12  to retain gate  12  in a closed position. Gate unit  10  also includes an illumination system or lighting device  20  as suggested in  FIGS. 2, 3 , and  8  for illuminating an otherwise darkened navigation area  21  around gate  12  and/or gate mount  14  whenever motion is detected in a motion-detection zone  22  established around gate unit  10  as suggested, for example, in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 .  
         [0015]     As suggested diagrammatically in  FIG. 8 , illumination system  20  includes a photo sensor  24 , light source  26 , motion sensor  28 , controller  30 , on/off system switch  32 , and power supply (e.g., battery)  34 . In an illustrative embodiment, illumination system  20  is coupled to gate mount  14 , and, in particular, to latch receiver frame  18 . In such an embodiment, illumination system  20  can operate to illuminate the darkened navigation area  21  around latch receiver frame  18  even if gate  12  has been removed and discarded. It is contemplated that a family may elect to remove gate  12  once the kids grow up yet leave latch receiver frame  18  in place (for example, on a wall or staircase) so that illumination system  20  coupled to frame  18  will continue to illuminate darkened navigation area  21  around latch receiver frame  18  whenever movement is detected by motion sensor  20  and a darkness condition is detected by photo sensor  24 . With the motion sensors  28  mounted on the gate mount  14 , which gate mount  14  is in a essentially fixed position, the motion sensors  28  monitor a predetermined area and are not dependent on the position of the gate  12  or if the gate  12  is not mounted on the gate mount  14  at all. Thus the motion sensors  28  would detect a person in the motion-detection zone  22  regardless of whether the gate  12  is in an opened or closed position or not mounted on the gate mount  14 . The darkness condition is a predetermined amount of light in the darkened navigation area. Such predetermined amount of light or degree of darkness will be set as a value in the photo sensor  24 , and may be adjustable.  
         [0016]     As suggested in  FIG. 3 , gate  12  includes a fence  36  coupled to pivot support frame  16  for pivotable motion about a vertical pivot axis  37  and a hand-operated latch assembly  38  including spring-biased upper and lower latches  19  arranged to mate with latch receiver frame  18  upon movement of gate  12  to the closed position. Each latch  19  includes a plunger post  39  that is movable to extend into one of post receivers  41  formed in latch receiver frame  18 , as suggested in  FIG. 3  to retain gate  12  in the closed position. It is within the scope of this disclosure to employ any suitable latching mechanism to retain gate  12  in a closed position relative to gate mount  14 .  
         [0017]     As suggested in  FIG. 4 , light source  26  included in illumination system  20  remains turned off in darkened navigation area  21  around gate unit  10  so long as motion sensor  28  fails to sense motion in a motion-detection zone  22  around gate unit  10  established by motion sensor  28 . At this stage, photo sensor  24  is “on” to sense and distinguish between “lightness” and “darkness” in navigation area  21 . Light source  26  will be turned on by the controller  30  to illuminate navigation area  21  in response to the motion sensor  28  detecting motion in the motion-detection zone  22  only when photo sensor  24  senses a darkness condition in navigation area  21 .  
         [0018]     Motion-detection zone  22 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 2 , may include a zone represented by arcs or angles A covering angles of approximately 80° and distances of approximately ten feet, represented by lines D. The angles A and distances D are measured generally from a point at a top end of latch receiver frame  18  and also extend vertically above latch receiver frame  18 . Motion-detection zone  22  is established relative to latch receiver frame  18  whether or not gate  12  is mounted on gate mount  14 .  
         [0019]     As suggested in  FIG. 5 , a person shown in  FIG. 4  has now moved to enter motion-detection zone  22  (represented by a dot pattern) and stimulated motion sensor  28  to provide a motion-sensing signal to controller  30  in illumination system  20 . Because of the darkness in the navigation area  21  shown in  FIG. 4 , photo sensor  24  is stimulated to provide a darkness-sensing signal to controller  30 . Controller  30  in turn operates to turn on light source  26  and generate/shine light  40  (represented by dotted ray lines) in navigation area  21 .  
         [0020]     Components of illumination system or lighting device  20  and latch receiver frame  18  of gate mount  14  are best seen in  FIGS. 6-7 . Latch receiver frame  18  includes housing  42 , having a front side  44  and a rear side  46 , and housing cover  48 . Housing  42  and housing cover  48  are connected together by, for example, screws  50  and configured to include components of illumination system  20 . Illumination system  20  includes photo sensor  24 , motion sensors  28  and light source  26  mounted on an upper portion  52  of latch receiver frame  18 . Light source  26  includes, for example, a light diffuser  54  having, for example, two light pipes  56  incorporated therein. Light source  26  also includes, for example, two light-emitting diodes or LEDs  58 , with each LED  58  at least partially enclosed in one of the light pipes  56 . The photo sensor  24 , motion sensors  28  and light source  26  are enclosed by a lens  60  connected to front side  44  of housing  42 , as suggested in  FIG. 6 . Controller  30 , shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 7 , is included, for example, on printed circuit board  62  located between and enclosed by rear side  46  of housing  42  and housing cover  48 , as suggested in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0021]     Illumination system  20  also includes power supply  34 , shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 7  and further shown, for example, as four batteries in  FIG. 6 . The low-battery indicator is when battery power activated, for example, has approximately seven days or less of available power. When the controller  30  senses a low power situation, the LEDs  58  will flash at a specified rate for a predetermined period of time, for example, seven flashes at approximately one second per flash for approximately several minutes. The LEDs  58  will then be turned off. That cycle of flashes may be repeated periodically. The low-power indicator may be operative whether the system switch  32  is on or not. If, however, the power switch  32  has been turned on and the LEDs  58  have been turned on by the controller  30 , as previously described herein, and if a low-power condition is detected by the controller  30 , the LEDs  58  will flash for the predetermined rate and for the predetermined period of time and then remain on for another predetermined period time after the last motion is detected by the motion sensors  28 . Power supply  34  is enclosed on latch receiver frame  18  between front and rear sides  44 ,  46  of housing  42  and enclosed by a frame or power supply cover  64 . Power supply cover  64  includes a gate stop  66  protruding external to power supply cover  64  toward gate  12  and configured to prevent gate  12  from advancing past gate stop  66  upon the gate  12  being swung into the closed position, as suggested in  FIG. 3 . Gate stop  66  is reversible, as suggested by arrows R in  FIG. 6 , to accommodate gate unit  10  being installed such that gate  12  opens in an opposite direction to that shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0022]     Illumination system  20  also includes a system on/off switch  32 , shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 7 . Switch  32  is further shown in  FIG. 6  and located, for example, between front and rear sides  44 ,  46  of housing  42  and between upper portion  52  and power supply cover  64 . Switch  32  is used to activate illumination system  20 . That is, when switch  32  is put in the “on” position, photo sensor  24  and motion sensors  28  are activated via controller  30  and placed in condition to detect a darkness in the navigation area  21 , condition and movement, in the motion-detection zone  22  respectively. It is within the scope of this disclosure that the photo sensor  24  and motion sensors  28  would be turned on in sequence. That is, when switch  32  is put in the “on” position, photo sensor  24  is turned on and when a darkness condition is detected in the navigation area  21 , the motion sensors  28  are turned on. When motion sensors  28  detect motion in the motion-detection zone  22 , controller  30  turns on light source  26  which shines light  40  over motion-detection zone  22 .  
         [0023]     Light source  26  is connected to a timing element (not shown) which may be part of controller  30 . Such timing element can be set to maintain light source  26  in an “on” condition for a predetermined or specified period of time such as, for example, from several seconds to several minutes after the last motion is detected by motion sensors  28 . Light source  26  may, for example, generate light  40  to a power of, for example, 100-500 LUX. Front side  44  includes an opening  68  to a cavity  70  in housing  42 , the opening  68  configured to accommodate a button  72  of switch  32 . Switch  32  may be in a recessed position in opening  68  such that a user must insert a device, such as a pin or point of a pen, in order to manipulate or depress the button  72  to turn the illumination system  20  on or off. Such an arrangement is designed to prevent an undesired turning on or off of illumination system  20  by an unauthorized person, such as, for example, a child.  
         [0024]     Latch receiver frame  18  also includes upper and lower post receivers  74 ,  76 , respectively, configured to receive and mate with plunger posts  78  of gate  12  to retain gate  12  in the closed position, as suggested in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , post receivers  74 ,  76  include ramps  80  and openings  82  configured to guide and receive plunger posts  78  when gate  12  is moved toward and into the closed position. A gate lock indicator assembly  84  is also included in latch receiver frame  18  and located, for example, behind upper post receiver  74 , as suggested in  FIG. 6 . Gate lock indicator assembly  84  includes a plunger mechanism  86  configured to be depressed by plunger post  78  penetrating upper post receiver  74  when plunger post  78  penetrates opening  82 , and to be released when plunger post  78  is withdrawn from opening  82 . Gate lock indicator assembly  84  also includes viewing windows  88  on front side  44  which, for example, display color indicators reflecting whether the gate is in a locked or unlocked status (i.e., “green” is displayed for locked and “red” is displayed for unlocked). That is, when plunger post  78  has penetrated opening  82  of upper post receiver  74  and depressed plunger mechanism  86 , viewing windows  88  will display a green indication. When plunger post  78  is withdrawn, viewing windows  88  will display a red indication.  
         [0025]     Although the present disclosure has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is done by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The scope of the present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.