Patent Publication Number: US-7587861-B2

Title: Security cover for reciprocating gate arm

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to entrance security devices, and more particularly to a protective cover for a gate arm used to open and close gates such as those used in gated communities, to prevent removal of the gate arm for the purposes of unauthorized entry. 
   Gated communities have gained increased popularity in the last ten to twenty years as a form of home protection from a criminal element. These homes are designed with limited ingress and egress, coupled with a gate that is actuated by an RF remote, magnetic key card, or other form of recognition that permits authorized entrants of the community access but restricts unauthorized persons from gaining entry. In this manner, the occupants of the community are assured some level of protection against thieves, vagrants, vandals, and other undesirables. Typically, the main entry gates are monitored by watchmen, cameras, or two-way communication devices that allows visitors, deliveries, emergency personnel, and other non-residents to enter the premises. However, other gated exits may be unguarded since they are used exclusively to allow the residents to exit the premises. 
   The gates used to police these communities are typically driven by a drive system using hydraulic power or an electric motor coupled to a gear system that drives a gate arm. The gate arm is rigidly mounted to a gate that either slides linearly along a track from an open position to a close position, or the gate may be hinged on one side such that the movement of the gate arm rotates the hinged gate open and closed. An example of the latter system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,449 to Richmond, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. In Richmond, the lever arm  40  is connected to a drive mechanism  38  and transmits the force from the drive mechanism to open the gate. The lever arm  40  also prevents the gate from opening, for example, by force if an intruder sought to move the gate and gain unauthorized entry. 
   The problem with present systems such as that disclosed in Richmond is that an intruder can, for example, gain access to the gate opening and closing apparatus and disengage the lever arm  40 , by tool or by pulling the arm out of its socket. With the lever arm removed from the gate opening and closing apparatus, the gate can be freely opened and closed and thus an intruder can enter with a vehicle and defeat the purpose of the gated community. This problem is rampant among such gated communities and yet no effective, reliable solution exists for this problem this is economical, can be retrofitted for most existing applications, and completely solves the problem. The present invention is a solution to the problem achieving all of the aforementioned objects. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a security cover for a security gate arm to protect the arm from being disconnected, thereby allowing the security gate to be opened by unauthorized personnel. The cover is constructed with a rectangular housing that mounts over the upper turret of the arm drive and encloses the turret that houses the drive arm for the gate, as well as the rectangular awning structure that extends radially from the turret to shelter the drive arm. The cover further comprises a vertically disposed rod extending downward through the rectangular housing and through the turret to the gear box of the drive system where the rod is rigidly fixed, the rod extending one to two inches above the housing when the housing in mounted over the turret. The cover further comprises a locking mechanism that couples to the vertical rod to fix the cover over the turret and prevent unauthorized access to the connection of the security gate&#39;s drive arm. 
   Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism for the first embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a pivotally gate  10  secured at lugs  12  to a fixed post (not shown) so as to rotate about the post and, in that manner, open and close the gate  10 . Other kinds of gates, such as sliding gates that reciprocate along a horizontal track, will also work equally well with the present invention. The gate  10  is driven by a motor driven actuator  14  having a linkage  16  in a reciprocating motion that opens and closes the gate  10 . The linkage  16  is formed by a driver arm  18  and an attachment arm  20  linked together by a fastener  22  that permits the linkage to expand and contract about the fastener  22 . The attachment arm  20  is mounted to the gate at bracket  26  in any reliable fashion, such as for example fastener  24 , although welding or other methods of affixing the bar to the gate would be within the scope of the present invention. 
   The drive arm  18  of the drive actuator  14  is inserted in to a slot in a cylindrical support  28  that is connected to a vertical rod  30 . The rod  30  is connected to an electric motor (not shown) that is actuated by either a remote control, key card, push button, or other means to drive the gate open and closed via actuator  14 . The cylindrical support  28  is housed in a turret-shaped dome structure  32  having semi-cylindrical sleeve  34  that shields the connection of the drive arm  18  to the support  28  and helps to protect the motor and the drive mechanisms from rain, dirt, and contamination. The description of the forgoing in well known in the art. 
   As discussed in the background section of the specification, removal of the dome structure  32  or other housing exposes the connection of the drive arm  18  to the cylindrical support, permitting removal of the drive arm  18  or otherwise disabling the mechanism. With the drive arm removed, the gate  10  can be easily opened and closed, thereby permitting unauthorized access through the gate. To prevent the removal of the drive arm  18 , the present invention comprises a security cover  36  that fits over the housing  32 , having a length that extends beyond the semi-cylindrical sleeve  34  and a width that is slightly larger than the diameter of the dome structure such that the security cover  36  fits completely over the dome structure without impeding the operation of the drive actuator  14 . The security cover  36  can be rectangular, with an upper wall, front and rear ends, and left and right sides cooperating forming a rigid protective configuration. The securing cover includes an opening  39  at a front end that permits the drive arm  18  to extend therefrom, and further includes an aperture  41  on its top surface for receiving a lock rod  38 . The security cover overlays the housing  32 , such that the housing is free to rotate as necessary to control the movement of the gate  10 . The lock rod preferably has a threaded end  40  that secures to the gear box of the motor in the drive actuator, or some other rigid structure the precludes removal of the lock rod  38 . The threaded end  40  terminates at a hexagonal nut  42  that fixes the length of the lock rod  38  that is inserted into the gear box (not shown). Above the nut  42 , the lock rod includes an elongate extension that includes a neck portion  44  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The neck portion  44  is spaced from the upper end of the lock rod and provides a docking point for a locking device  46  placed over the lock rod  38 . The locking device  46  has a hole  48  that is sized to receive the lock rod therein, and is actuated by a key  50  or other lock actuating means. When the key  50  is rotated, a cylindrical bar  52  is rotated into contact with the neck portion  44  of the lock rod, fixing the locking device  46  on the lock rod  38 . With the locking device  46  fixed on the lock rod  38 , the security cover  36  cannot be removed from its position over the housing  32 , and thus the drive arm  18  cannot be tampered with by unauthorized personnel. When the key  50  is rotated to the unlock position, the cylindrical bar  52  is translated out of contact with the neck portion  44  of the lock rod by a worm gear or other mode of translation, thereby permitting removal of the locking device  46  and the security cover  36 . Thus, the present invention provides a simple, cost effective means of preventing unauthorized access to an automatic gate arm and thus improve security to gated communities.