Abstract:
A gate is coupled to a gate mount adapted to be located in a passageway of a staircase. A hand-operated latch assembly is provided for opening and closing the gate.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/655,519, filed Feb. 23, 2005, 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 latching systems for gates.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     A security gate unit includes a gate and a gate mount configured to support the gate for pivotable movement from a closed position mating with a latch receiver frame and an opened position away from the latch receiver frame. The gate includes a hand-operated latching assembly for mating with the latch receiver frame to retain the gate in the closed position.  
         [0004]     Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a 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 a hand-operated latch assembly provided for opening and closing the gate;  
         [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;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged front elevation view of the gate unit of  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing the hand-operated latch assembly carried on a fence in mating engagement with the right-side latch receiver frame;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the fence and components included in the hand-operated latch assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the hand-operated latch assembly of  FIGS. 1-4 , with portions broken away, showing an upper plunger post included in an upper latch urged by a spring to project into a companion post receiver formed in an upper portion of the right-side latch receiver frame, a lower plunger post included in a lower latch urged by another spring to project into a companion post receiver formed in a lower portion of the right-side latch receiver frame, a downwardly biased vertical latch retractor bar coupled to both of the upper and lower latches, and a retractor bar lift handle mounted to pivot on a pivot pin coupled to the fence, coupled to a top end of the latch retractor bar, and configured to carry a trigger-actuated handle lock arm;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view, taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , showing the gate in a closed position, a plunger post included in the upper latch, and a coiled compression spring interposed between a first spring mount included in the upper latch and a second spring mount included in one of the two support shells cooperating to define a latch base containing the upper and lower latches and the latch retractor bar, and showing expansion of the coiled compression spring to urge the upper latch (to the right) toward the right-side latch receiver frame to move the plunger post into a post-receiver formed in the right-side latch receiver frame of the gate mount;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, segmented perspective view of portions of the hand-operated latch assembly of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the hand-operated latch assembly, with portions broken away, showing a person&#39;s thumb exerting downward pressure on a trigger provided in a handle lock included in the hand-operated latch assembly to move (e.g., pivot) a lock arm to unlock a lift handle coupled to the handle lock;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of the hand-operated latch assembly of  FIG. 8 , with portions broken away, showing a person&#39;s hand lifting the lift handle to raise the latch retractor bar in the latch base, thereby moving the upper and lower latches laterally (to the left) away from the latch receiver frame to “release” the plunger posts from the post receivers formed in the latch receiver frame so that the gate can be opened;  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the gate as it is being moved toward the closed position shown in  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a portion of the hand-operated latch assembly and latch receiver frame, similar to  FIG. 6  and taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 , showing a plunger post riding up a ramp on the latch receiver frame (in the direction of the dashed arrow) causing the upper latch (including the plunger post) to move to the left against a yieldable biasing force generated by the coiled compression spring as the gate is being moved to the closed position as shown in  FIG. 6  so that the plunger post “clears” the latch receiver frame and is ready to “snap” (to the right) into the post receiver formed in the latch receiver frame upon arrival of the gate at the closed position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     A security gate unit  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 . As suggested in  FIG. 3 , gate  12  includes a fence  20  coupled to pivot support frame  16  for pivotable motion about a vertical pivot axis  21  and a hand operated latch assembly  22  including spring-biased upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  arranged to mate with latch receiver frame  18  upon movement of gate  12  to the closed position. Each latch  24 ,  26  includes a plunger post  28  that is movable to extend into one of the upper and lower post receivers  124 ,  126  formed in latch receiver frame  18  as suggested, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6  to retain gate  12  in the closed position.  
         [0018]     By using hand-operated latch assembly  22  in the manner shown, for example, in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , plunger posts  28  can be withdrawn from upper and lower post receivers  124 ,  126  against yieldable spring-biasing forces applied to upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  so that gate  12  may be opened. During gate closure, plunger posts  28  are able to move laterally as needed to retract into gate  12  and then “snap back” into upper and lower post receivers  124 ,  126  formed in latch receiver frame  18  as suggested in  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  
         [0019]     As suggested, for example, in  FIGS. 2-5 , hand-operated latch assembly  22  includes a latch base  30  comprising mating first and second support shells  31 ,  32  and a latch mover  34  mounted for movement in latch base  30  to control lateral movement of upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  relative to latch base  30 . First and second shells  31 ,  32  cooperate to form an upper aperture  128  receiving the movable plunger post  28  of upper latch  24  therein and a lower aperture  228  receiving the movable plunger post  28  of lower latch  26  therein as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7, 9 , and  11 .  
         [0020]     In the illustrated embodiment, latch mover  34  is configured to allow projection of plunger post  28  of upper latch  24  through upper aperture  128  of latch base  30  into upper latch receiver  124  of latch receiver frame  18  and also projection of plunger post  28  of lower latch  26  through lower aperture  228  of latch base  30  into lower latch receiver  126  of latch receiver frame  18  upon movement of gate  12  to the closed position relative to latch receiver frame  18  as suggested in  FIGS. 3, 8 , and  9 . Latch mover  34  also provides means for withdrawing plunger posts  28  from upper and lower latch receivers  124 ,  126  formed in latch receiver frame  18  as suggested in  FIGS. 7 and 9  to permit a user to pivot gate  12  about vertical pivot axis  21  to an opened position (shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0021]     Latch mover  34  includes a latch retractor bar  36  supported for up-and-down movement in a guide channel  38  provided in latch base  30  and formed, for example, in first support shell  31  as suggested in  FIGS. 4-6 . An upper latch retractor pin  224  (included in latch mover  34 ) is coupled to an upper portion  361  of latch retractor bar  36  and arranged to “ride on” a latch retraction ramp  40  provided on upper latch  24  (in camming relation) so that upward movement of latch retractor bar  36  in direction  42  causes lateral movement of upper latch  24  in direction  44  away from latch receiver frame  18  to withdraw plunger post  28  of upper latch  24  from its companion upper latch receiver  124  in latch receiver frame  18  as suggested in  FIGS. 7 and 9 . Similarly, a lower latch retractor pin  226  (included in latch mover  34 ) is coupled to a lower portion  362  of latch retractor bar  36  and arranged to ride on a latch retraction ramp  40  provided on lower latch  26  (in camming relation) so that upward movement of latch retractor bar  36  in direction  42  causes lateral movement of lower latch  26  in direction  44  away from latch receiver frame  18  to withdraw plunger post  28  of lower latch  26  from its companion lower latch receiver  126  in latch receiver frame  18 .  
         [0022]     Fence  20  includes a barrier  19  defined, for example, by vertical spindles  201  interconnecting horizontal spaced-apart top and bottom rails  202 ,  203  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Frame  20  also includes a free-end unit  23  coupled to a free end of barrier  19  and arranged to lie in closely confronting relation to latch receiver frame  18  when gate  12  is moved to assume the closed position as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Free-end unit  23  is configured to support hand-operated latch assembly  22  for movement with barrier  19  as gate  12  is opened and closed.  
         [0023]     Free-end unit  23  of fence  20  includes a frame  25  and a latch retractor bar retainer  37  coupled to frame  25  as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Frame  25  comprises horizontal link  27  coupled to one of the spindles  201 , a tube  29  extending downwardly from link  27  to lie in spaced-apart relation to that spindle  201 , and a base  33  coupled to tube  29  and to bottom rail  203  as shown best in  FIG. 4 . As suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , first and second support shells  31 ,  32  are coupled to tube  29  to lie above base  33  using suitable fasteners  35 .  
         [0024]     Upper latch  24  is configured as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4, 6 , and  7 . In the illustrated embodiment, lower latch  26  is a duplicate of upper latch  24  and is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . Each latch  24 ,  26  is configured and constrained to move laterally relative to first and second shells  31 ,  32  of latch base  30  to withdraw plunger posts  28  from companion post receivers  124 ,  126  in latch receiver frame  18  in response to predetermined movement of latch retractor bar  36  in guide  38  formed in first shell  31 . Latch bar retractor retainer  37  is arranged to lie in the interior region of latch base  30  in a position between latch retractor bar  36  and second support shell  32  to retain latch retractor bar  36  in guide channel  38  as latch retractor bar  36  moves up and down in guide channel  38 .  
         [0025]     In the illustrated embodiment, upper latch  24  includes a post carrier  50  coupled to plunger post  28  and formed to include a pin-receiving opening  52  bordered, in part, by latch retraction ramp  40 . Illustratively, pin-receiving opening  52  has a somewhat triangular shape defined by vertical border  54  and horizontal border  56  along with latch retraction ramp  40  that is inclined to form the “hypotenuse” of the triangle-shaped pin-receiving opening  52 . As shown best in  FIGS. 5-7  and  9 , latch retractor pin  224  extends into pin-receiving aperture  52  formed in post carrier  50  to ride back and forth along inclined latch retraction ramp  40  during up-and-down movement of latch retractor bar  36  in guide channel  38  relative to latch base  30 .  
         [0026]     Post carrier  50  of upper latch  24  is also formed to include a horizontal guide slot  58  sized to receive for back-and-forth sliding movement therein a guide pin  60  appended to an inner wall of first support shell  31  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Guide pin  60  is cantilevered to first support shell  31  and arranged to extend toward second support shell  32  and into horizontal guide slot  58  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7  to help guide sliding movement of post carrier  50  in an interior space provided between first and second support shells  31 ,  32  of latch base  30 . Similarly, another guide pin  61  is cantilevered to first support shell  31  and arranged to extend into a horizontal guide slot  58  associated with lower latch  26 .  
         [0027]     Post carrier  50  of upper latch  24  is also formed to include a guide pin  160  shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . Guide pin  160  is arranged to extend toward second support shell  32  and into a horizontal guide slot  159  formed in second support shell  32  as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Upper latch  24  is constrained to move laterally (e.g., horizontally) in the interior region of latch base  30  owing, in part, to relative movement of guide pin  160  on post carrier  50  in horizontal guide slot  158  in second support shell  32  and relative movement of guide pin  60  on first support shell  31  in horizontal guide slot  58  in post carrier  50 . Guide pin  161  on post carrier  50  of lower latch  26  extends into a horizontal guide slot  159  formed in second support shell  32  as suggested in  FIG. 4  and provides a similar lateral-movement constraint for lower latch  26  latch base  30 .  
         [0028]     As shown best in  FIGS. 5-7 , a coiled compression spring  250  is interposed between a first spring mount  251  provided on post carrier  50  of upper latch  24  and a second spring mount  252  provided on an interior wall  253  of second support shell  32 . Under normal conditions, spring  250  expands to yieldably urge post carrier  50  to the right toward latch receiver frame  18 , and this movement urges the plunger post  28  on post carrier  50  to project through upper aperture  128  formed in latch base  30  into post receiver  124  formed in latch receiver frame  18 . A similar spring-biasing system is provided for lower latch  26  as also shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 .  
         [0029]     Latch mover  34  further includes a retractor bar return spring  62  and a retractor bar lift handle  64 . Retractor bar return spring  62  provides means for normally moving latch retractor bar  36  downwardly in guide channel  38  to a lowered position allowing “spring-biased” movement of post carriers  50  in upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  toward latch receiver frame  18  to project plunger posts  28  in upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  into companion post receivers  124 ,  126  formed in latch receiver frame  18  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3, 5 , and  8 . Retractor bar lift handle  64  is mounted to be moved relative to latch base  30  to provide means for lifting latch retractor bar  36  upwardly in guide channel  38  against an opposing force applied by retractor bar return spring  62  to move simultaneously post carriers  50  of both upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  laterally away from latch receiver frame  18  (against spring-biasing forces acting on upper and lower latches  24 ,  26 ) to withdraw plunger posts  28  from post receivers  124 ,  126  formed in latch receiver frame  18  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 9 . Upon release of retractor bar lift handle  64  by a person using gate  12 , retractor bar return spring  62  functions to return latch retractor bar  36  to its lowered position to allow spring-biasing forces acting on upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  to move plunger posts  28  to a projected position ready to extend (once again) into post receivers  124 ,  126  formed in latch receiver frame  18  upon swinging movement of gate  12  about pivot axis  21  to assume the closed position as suggested, for example, in  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  
         [0030]     Retractor bar return spring  62  is coupled at an upper end thereof to a spring mount  61  on latch retractor bar  36  and at a lower end thereof to a spring mount  63  on latch bar retractor retainer  37 . In the illustrated embodiment, retractor bar return spring  62  is an elongated coiled extension spring as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0031]     Retractor bar lift handle  64  includes a hand grip  66  formed to include a finger receiver  68  and a pivot support arm  70  cantilevered to hand grip  66  and mounted at a free end thereof to a pivot pin  72  coupled to tube  29  of frame  25 . Hand grip  66  is thus supported for pivotable movement about a pivot axis established by pivot pin  72  between a lowered position shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5 ,  7 , and  8 , and a raised position shown, for example, in  FIG. 9 . Hand grip  66  is pivotably coupled to an upper end of latch retractor bar  36  at pivot mount  74  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 7 - 9 . In the lowered position of hand grip  66 , latch bar retractor  36  remains in its lowered position. Movement of hand grip  66  to its raised position (as shown in  FIG. 9 ) lifts latch retractor bar  36  upwardly in guide channel  38  provided in latch base  30  to move simultaneously both spring-biased upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  laterally to withdraw plunger posts  28  from post receivers  124 ,  126  formed in latch receiver frame  18 .  
         [0032]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a first handle component  81  is configured to mate with a second handle component  82  to form hand grip  66  and pivot support arm  70 . Each component  81 ,  82  is a monolithic element molded of a suitable plastics material in the illustrated embodiment.  
         [0033]     A handle lock  76  provides releasable means for retaining retractor bar lift handle  64  in the lowered position normally to retain plunger posts  28  in their projected positions shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3-8 . As suggested in  FIG. 9 , an operator can “release” handle lock  76  to allow manual movement of retractor bar lift handle  64  relative to latch base  30  to move latch retractor bar  36  upwardly and thus upper and lower latches  24 ,  26  laterally to withdraw plunger posts  28  from companion post receivers  124 , 1   26  formed in latch receiver frame  18 .  
         [0034]     In the illustrated embodiment, handle lock  76  comprises a lock arm  78 , a trigger  80 , and a trigger-biasing spring  84  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4, 5 , and  7 . Lock arm  78  includes a retainer hook  85 , a connector  86 , and a pivot mount  87  at a junction between retainer hook  85  and connector  86  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 4 . A pivot pin  88  is coupled to hand grip  66  and arranged to mate with pivot mount  87  to support lock arm  78  for pivotable movement about a pivot axis established by pivot pin  88  between a locked position shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 7  and an unlocked position shown, for example, in  FIG. 8 . In the locked position, retainer hook  85  is arranged to extend into a hook receiver  89  formed in latch base  30  and to engage a hook retainer flange  90  provided at or near to hook receiver  89  to block withdrawal of retainer hook  85  from hook receiver  89  as shown best in  FIG. 5 . In the unlocked position, lock arm  78  has been pivoted to move in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin  88  as suggested in  FIG. 8  to disengage retainer hook  85  and hook retainer flange  90 . This disengagement frees retractor bar lift handle  64  to be pivoted by a gate user also in a counterclockwise direction to assume the raised position shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0035]     Trigger  80  comprises an arm actuator  91  coupled to connector  86  and an actuator pivot mount  92  coupled to a pivot pin  93  coupled to hand grip  66 . Trigger-biasing spring  84  is interposed between a flange  94  included in hand grip  66  and an underside  95  of trigger  80  normally to yieldably bias trigger  80  to a raised position shown in  FIG. 5  wherein a thumb portion  96  of actuator arm  91  projects outwardly through an aperture  97  formed in hand grip  66 . In operation, a gate user pushes downwardly on thumb portion  96  to move actuator arm  91  against trigger-biasing spring  84  and “rotate” lock arm  78  about pivot pin  88  as suggested in  FIG. 8  to disengage retainer hook  85  and hook retainer flange  90 . Then the gate user can pivot retractor bar lift handle  64  in counterclockwise direction  98  as shown in  FIG. 9  to allow gate  12  to be opened.  
         [0036]     As suggested in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , plunger post  28  of upper latch  24  “rides up” (i.e., moves along) a receiver ramp  328  formed on an exterior portion of latch receiver frame  18  in direction  300  when gate  12  is moved by closing force  302  to contact latch receiver frame  18  during gate closure. Camming movement of plunger post  28  on receiver ramp  328  causes upper latch  24  to move laterally (to the left) in direction  44  to cause plunger post  28  to move in upper aperture  128  to retract into the interior region of latch base  30 . Such retraction of plunger post  28  against a normal spring-biasing force generated by spring  250  allows plunger post  28  to “clear” latch receiver frame  18 . Plunger post  28  is thus ready to “snap into” post receiver  124  formed in latch receiver frame  18  (under the spring-biasing force provided by spring  250 ) upon arrival of gate  12  at the closed position.  
         [0037]     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.