Patent Publication Number: US-8991470-B1

Title: Portable gate assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to gate assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new gate assembly for providing a portable enclosure that can fit any doorway in order to confine kids and pets to a desired area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pair of spaced posts and a flexible net coupled to and extending between the posts. A sound emitter is coupled to the net. The sound emitter has a sensor positioned therein. The sound emitter is operationally coupled to the sensor wherein the sound emitter emits an audible indicator upon the sensor sending a proximity signal to the sound emitter when an object or a user is within a predetermined distance of the net. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top front side perspective view of a portable gate assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in the storage position. 
         FIG. 5  is a top front side view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in a circular configuration. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new gate assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the portable gate assembly  10  generally comprises a pair of spaced posts  12 . A flexible net  14  is coupled to and extends between the posts  12 . The net  14  has a first end  16  and a second end  18  wherein a first one  20  of the posts  12  is coupled to the first end  16  and a second one  22  of the posts  12  is coupled to the second end  18 . The net  14  may be aligned with a front edge  24  of each of the posts  12 . The net  14  preferably comprises an open-weaved portion  26  and a closed-weaved portion  28  wherein the open-weaved portion  26  has a plurality of gaps  30  positioned therein. The closed-weaved portion  28  is preferably coupled to a top edge  32  and a bottom edge  34  of the open-weaved portion  26 . An upper edge  36  of the net  14  may be aligned with a top end  38  of the posts  12 . Likewise, a lower edge  40  of the net  14  may aligned with a lower end  42  of the posts  12 . The net  14  is selectively positionable between an extended position  44  and a storage position  46  wherein the net  14  is rotatably mounted around a selectable one of the posts  12  when the net  14  is in the storage position  46 . 
     A pair of first hooks  48  is coupled to an outer side  49  of each of the posts  12 . Each of the first hooks  48  comprises an upper hook  50  and a lower hook  52 . The upper hooks  50  are positioned proximate the top end  38  of the posts  12 . The lower hooks  52  are positioned proximate the lower end  42  of the posts  12 . The first hooks  48  may be centrally positioned between the front edge  24  and a back edge  54  of each of the posts  12 . Each of the first hooks  48  has a straight portion  56  and an arcuate portion  58 . A first end  60  of the straight portion  56  is coupled to and extends outwardly from the posts  12 . The arcuate portion  58  comprises a first end  62 , a second end  64 , and a medial portion  66  extending between the first  62  and second  64  ends of the arcuate portion  58 . A second end  68  of the straight portion  56  is coupled to the first end  62  of the arcuate portion  58 . The second end  64  of the arcuate portion  58  of each of the upper hooks  50  is preferably directed toward an associated one of the lower hooks  52 . The second end  64  of the arcuate portion  58  of each of the lower hooks  52  is preferably directed toward a ground surface  70 . 
     A plurality of eye hooks  72  may be coupled to a structure  74  around a structural opening  76 . The structure  74  may include a garage, a shed, or the like. The eye hooks  72  comprise a first pair  78  of eye hooks  72  coupled to a first side  80  of the structure  74  and a second pair  82  of eye hooks  72  coupled to a second side  84  of the structure  74 . Each of the eye hooks  72  is preferably aligned with an associated one of the first hooks  48 . Each of the first hooks  48  is couplable to the associated one of the eye hooks  72  wherein the first hooks  48  and the eye hooks  72  are configured to secure the net  14  in a position covering the structural opening  76 . The second end  64  of the arcuate portion  58  of the first hooks  48  is insertable into the associated one of the eye hooks  72 . Alternatively, the first hooks  48  of one of the posts  12  may be coupled to the first hooks  48  of an adjacent one of the posts  12 . In this manner, the net  14  may be positioned in a circular configuration  140  when a pair of the first hooks  48  is coupled to an adjacent pair of the first hooks  48 . The circular configuration  140  requires no eye hooks  72  since a structural opening  76  is not being covered. A plurality of spaced stakes  138  may be coupled to the net  14  wherein the stakes  138  are configured for securing the net  14  above the ground surface  70  when the stakes  138  are driven downwardly into the ground surface  70 . Additional eye hooks  72  and first hooks  48  may be used as necessary. 
     A plurality of support rods  86  is coupled to the net  14 . The support rods  86  are coupled to one of a first side  88  and a second side  90  of the net  14 . The support rods  86  extend between the top edge  32  and the bottom edge  34  of the open-weaved portion  26 . An upper end  92  of the support rods  86  extend upwardly above the upper edge  36  of the net  14  wherein the support rods  86  are configured to attach to and hold open a garage door. In this manner, the garage door can still open and close while the assembly  10  is positioned to cover the structural opening  76 . A lower end  94  of the support rods  86  extend downwardly below the lower edge  40  of the net  14 . The support rods  86  are spaced and positioned parallel to the posts  12 . The support rods  86  are preferably garden sticks commonly used in the gardening industry. 
     A sound emitter  96  is coupled to the net  14 . The sound emitter  96  has a sensor  98  positioned therein. The sound emitter  96  is operationally coupled to the sensor  98  wherein the sound emitter  96  emits an audible indicator upon the sensor  98  sending a proximity signal to the sound emitter  96  when an object or a user is within a predetermined distance  100  of the net  14 . The predetermined distance  100  may be between approximately 7.5 centimeters and 50.0 centimeters. Thus, depending on the desired objective, the sensor  98  may have high sensitivity or low sensitivity and send a proximity signal accordingly. The sound emitter  96  is preferably positioned on the first side  88  of the net  14 . The sound emitter  96  may extend downwardly from the top edge  32  of the open-weaved portion  26 . The sound emitter  86  may be centrally positioned between each of the posts  12 . 
     A storage bag  102  has an open top end  104 , a closed bottom end  106 , and a perimeter wall  108  extending upwardly from the closed bottom end  106 . The closed bottom end  106  and the perimeter wall  108  define an interior space  110  configured for receiving the net  14  when the net  14  is in the storage position  46 . A perimeter edge  112  of the open top end  104  defines an opening  114  into the interior space  110 . A strap  116  may be coupled to an exterior  118  of the storage bag  102  wherein the strap  116  is configured to facilitate carrying the storage bag  102 . A first end  120  and a second end  122  of the strap  116  are coupled to the storage bag  102 . The strap  116  has a medial portion  124  extending between the first end  120  and the second end  122  of the strap  116 . The medial portion  124  of the strap  116  extends outwardly from the storage bag  102  wherein a space  126  is formed between the medial portion  124  of the strap  116  and the perimeter wall  108  of the storage bag  102 . The storage bag  102  is constructed from vinyl, plastic, or the like. The assembly  10  is preferably lightweight so as to facilitate carrying of the assembly  10 . 
     A panel  128  is removably coupled to the net  14 . The panel  128  is preferably positioned opposite the support rods  86  on one of the first side  88  and the second side  90  of the net  14 . The panel  128  may be centrally positioned between the posts  12  and between the upper  36  and lower  40  edges of the net  14 . A plurality of fasteners  130  couples the panel  128  to the net  14 . The fasteners  130  are preferably positioned around a perimeter  132  of the panel  128 . Indicia  134  may be positioned on the panel  128 . The indicia  134  are preferably positioned on an exterior surface  136  of the panel  128  such that the indicia  134  are configured for viewing when a user is positioned to face the exterior surface  136  of the panel  128 . The indicia  134  may comprise logos, scenic views, educational indicia, games for children, and the like. 
     The net  14  may be customized so as to fit any structural opening  76  having a width measuring between approximately 50.0 centimeters and 130.0 centimeters and having a length between 700.0 centimeters and 800.0 centimeters. The stakes  138  measure between approximately 90.0 centimeters and 150.0 centimeters. Each post  12  has a length and a width each between 2.0 centimeters and 8.0 centimeters and a height between 5.0 centimeters and 11.0 centimeters. The circular configuration  140  measures between approximately 50.0 centimeters and 250.0 centimeters. 
     In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, a piece of wood is cut in order to achieve posts  12  having the dimensions described above. The net  14  is then cut to fit the structural opening  76 . The posts  12  are attached to the net  14  using staples and a staple gun. A pair of the first hooks  48  is screwed into each of the posts  12  between approximately 2.0 centimeters and 8.0 centimeters from each of the top end  38  and the lower end  42  of the posts  12 . Thus, one screw is inserted into the top end  38  and one screw is inserted into the lower end  42  such that the first hooks  48  extend outwardly from the outer side  49  of each of the posts  12 . Two of the eye hooks  72  are attached to the first side  80  of the structure  74  and two of the eye hooks  72  are attached to the second side  84  of the structure  74 . The eye hooks  72  are attached so that the first hooks  48  align with the eye hooks  72 . Each of the first hooks  48  is inserted into an associated one of the eye hooks  72  such that the net  14  is positioned to cover the structural opening  76 . Alternatively, a circular configuration  140  may be achieved when the first hooks  48  of one of the posts  12  are attached to the first hooks  48  of another one of the posts  12 . The stakes  138  are used to secure the net  14  of the circular configuration  140  to the ground surface  70  by weaving the stakes  138  through the open-weaved portion  26  and driving the stakes  138  downwardly into the ground surface  70 . The assembly  10  can be used in garages, day cares, and anywhere that pets are cared for in order to confine children or pets to a specific location. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.