Improvements in and relating to Folding or Collapsable Gates, Shutters, Window Guards, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Folding or Collapsable Gates,
Shutters, Window Guards, and the like.
We, THE BOSTWICK GATE AND SHUTTER COMPANY LIMITED of Baldwin's
Gardens, Gray's Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers, and
WILLIAM EDWIN WILLIAMSON of Whitcomb House, Whitcomb Street, Pall
Mall in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to folding or collapsable gates, shutters, or the like of the
kind or class described in the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 13918
A.D. 1887 granted to Walter Whitfield Bostwick, and comprises the improvements
hereinafter set forth with reference to a gate by way of example.
One feature of the present invention has for its object to reduce the size of the
spaces in the gate when open without increasing the width into which the gate will
collapse. For this purpose we according to one construction provide between each
pair of pickets an additional bar or bars placed parallel with the said pickets and
attached to the lattice work in such a manner as not to interfere with the
collapsing of the gate or prevent the pickets coming close together as heretofore
when the gate is collapsed. Each of such additional bars is preferably connected
with the ordinary lattice work at two points, being hinged or pivoted thereto at
one.connection and slotted at the other connection so as to allow the lattice to
expand and contract as the gate is opened and closed. These bars have the effect
of reducing to less than one half their original size the larger spaces in the gate,
and do not add materially either to the weight or cost of the gate.
By this improvement we can so make the gates that a person's arm for example
cannot be passed therethrough while the gate is still capable of closing into as
small a compass as heretofore, or we can arrange that the spaces may be as
large as heretofore but that the gate will close up into a smaller compass.
In a modification of this part of our invention we effect the same object by
providing on the face of the gate in front of the large open spaces a supple-
mentary collapsable lattice work of very light construction.
Another feature of this invention relates to the provision of cover plates for
the lower or floor track of the gate, and means connected with the gate handle
for automatically raising these cover plates when the handle is pulled to expand
the gate.
In carrying out this part of our invention we provide the track with a single
hinged cover plate or a pair of such plates so arranged that when shut they cover
the gate track and rest flush with the general floor level. The gate handle is hinged
to the gate so as to be partially rotatable or is otherwise connected thereto so as
to be movable for a short distance with reference to the gate and is connected to
a link or rod so arranged in combination with the folding cover plate or plates
aforesaid that when the handle is pulled for the purpose of expanding the gate it
will act through the said link or rod and operate to raise the folding cover plates
which latter will then allow the gate to travel along the track.
The folding cover plates will preferably be arranged to lie against the gate
when the latter is in the track, and will fall by gravity when the gate is again
collapsed.
Another part of our invention relates to a track rail which can be raised to form
the track for the gate to run upon when it is being opened and shut, and which
can be lowered or caused to sink below the floor level when the gate is collapsed.

page_text: A convenient mode of carrying this part of our invention into effect is as follows;
We provide two or more inclined surfaces on the lower edge of the track rail which
surfaces are supported by rollers on another rail that can be moved endwise, the
upper or track rail being prevented from end wise movement by the frame in which
it is situated. For moving the lower rail endwise we provide a driving pinion
which gears with rack teeth formed on or attached to the rail, and we provide for
turning the said pinion by a box-key or similar means. We prefer to so arrange
that the said key can only he disengaged from the pinion or re-engaged therewith
when the rail is either elevated or depressed so that the operator will not allow
the rail to remain in any intermediate position.
A further feature of our invention relates to dwarf or spear head gates which
have no fixed top track, and consists in providing the gate with a stiffening bar
fixed to the front picket and arranged to slide in a socket behind the gate so that
when the gate is collapsed the said stiffening bar is moved with the front picket
and is pushed back into the said socket. In some cases we may arrange that a
portion or portions only of the gate is or are provided with top stiffening bars
which when the gate is collapsed slide therewith. These sliding bars may be used
in combination with our ordinary hinged top bar that falls down in front of the
gate when the latter is collapsed.
Dated this 26th day of August 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Folding or Collapsable Gates,
Shatters, Window Guards, and the like.
We, THE BOSTWICK GATE AND SHUTTER COMPany, Limited, of Baldwin's
Gardens, Gray's Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers, and
WILLIAM EDWIN WILLIAMSON, of Whitcomb House, Whitcomb Street, Pall
Mall, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained, in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to folding or collapsable gates shutters or the like of the
kind or class described in the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 13918,
A.D. 1887 granted to Walter Whitfield Bostwick and comprises the improvements
hereinafter set forth with reference to a gate by way of example.
One feature of the present invention has for its object to reduce the size of the
spaces in the gate when open without increasing the width into which the gate will
collapse. For this purpose we according to one construction provide between cach
pair of pickets an additional bar or bars placed parallel with the said pickets and
attached to the lattice work in such a manner as not to interfere with the collapsing
of the gate or prevent the pickets coming close together as heretofore when the gate
is collapsed.
In a modification of this part of our invention we effect the same object by
providing on the face of the gate in front of the large open spaces a supplementary
collapsable lattice work of very light construction.
Another feature of this invention relates to the provision of cover plates for the
lower or floor track of the gate, and means connected with the gate handle for
automatically raising these cover plates when the handle is pulled to expand
the gate.
Another part of our invention relates to a track rail which can be raised to form
the track for the gates to run upon when it is being opened and shut, and
which can be lowered or caused to sink below the floor level when the gate is
collapsed.

page_text: A further feature of our invention relates to dwarf or spear head gates which
have no fixed top track, and consists in providing the gate.with a stiffening bar
fixed to the front picket and arranged to slide in a socket so that when the gate is
collapsed the said stiffening bar is moved with the front picket and is pushed back
into the said socket. In some cases we may arrange that a portion or portions only
of the gate is or are provided with top stiffening bars which when the gate is
collapsed slide therewith. These sliding bars may be used in combination with our
ordinary hinged top bar that falls down in front of the gate when the latter is
collapsed.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood we will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :—
Figures 1 and 2 are front views of a gate provided with supplementary vertical
bars and cover plates for the track according to our invention, Figure 1 shewing
the gate collapsed and Figure 2 shewing the same expanded.
Figures 3 and 4 are end views partly sectional of Figures 1 and 2 respectively.
Figures 5 and 6 are sectional plan views taken on the line 1-2 of Figures 1 and 2
respectively.
Figure 7 is a plan and Figure 8 is a sectional elevation shewing our improved
rising track rail in its lower position.
Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 8, but showing the rail raised.
Figure 10 is a plan of Figure 9 with the track rail and cover plate removed, and
Figure 11 shews a key for use with the same.
Figure 12 is a front view, and
Figure 13 is a plan of a dwarf gate constructed with our improvements, and
Figure 14 is a detail view of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters of reference denote similar parts in all the drawings.
AA are the pickets, B B the bars of the lattice work pivoted thereon in a
manner well understood, C the lower track rail and D the rollers which support the
gate on the said track rail.
Referring now to Figures 1 to 6, A' A' are additional bars placed parallel with
the pickets A and connected to the lattice bars at A³, A³. The bars A' are simply
pivoted to the lattice bars at A2 but are slotted at their upper ends as shown at A
in order to allow of their rising and falling vertically up or down when the gate is
collapsed or expanded. The said bars A¹ are cut away at the places A³, A³
so as to allow room when the gate is collapsed for the pins A which connect the
pickets together.
The additional bars A' have the effect of reducing the larger spaces in the gate
to less than one half their original size and do not add materially to the weight or cost
of the gate. A modification of this part of our invention is hereinafter described
with reference to Figures 12 to 14. CC are hinged cover plates which when the
gate is collapsed cover the lower track rail and rest flush with the general floor
level. The gate handle E is pivoted at E on the foremost picket and connected
by a link with the bar E3 which is adapted to slide up and down on the pins E.
The lower end of the sliding bar E³ is provided with a projecting part E so that
when the handle E is rotated on its pivot and the bar E is raised the said
projecting part E' engages with the cover plate C and lifts the same thus allowing
the gate to be pushed or pulled along the track. When we provide two cover
plates as shewn in the drawing the devices for lifting the same are duplicated one
device being applied on each side of the gate and worked if desired by a common
handle. The cover plates are preferably arranged to lic against the gate when the
latter is in the track and will fall by gravity when the gate is collapsed.
In Figures 7 to 10 we have illustrated our improved rising track rail which when
the gate is collapsed can be lowered to the floor level, and raised again when it is
required to expand the gate.
Fis the track rail which slides up and down in its frame but cannot move end wise
therein; F F are downwardly projecting parts provided with inclined surfaces F.
The inclined surfaces are supported on rollers G¹ pivoted on another rail G which

page_text: can be moved endwise by means of a driving pinion H which gears with a rack G'
formed or secured to the rail G. The said pinion can be rotated by a key such as
shown in Figure 11.
In Figure 8 the track rail is shewn level with the floor, but when the key is
applied to rotate the pinion H, the rail G is moved from the position shewn in
Figure 8 to that shewn in Figures 9 and 10. The rollers G¹ slide on the inclined
surface F thereby elevating the track rail F. We prefer to so arrange that the
operating key can only be disengaged from the pinion H or re-engaged therewith
when the rail is at either limit of its travel so that the operator will not allow the
rail to remain in any intermediate position.
In Figures 12 to 14 we shew a modification of the device hereinabove described
for reducing the size of the openings between the lattice bars. B1, B' are bars
forming a light lattice work in front of the large open spaces between the bars B, B.
This light lattice is shewn in detail in Figure 14. The said bars B', B' are pivoted
at B2, B32 on the fronts of the pickets A, A and pivoted to each other at B³, B'.
In order that the said lattice sliall be capable of expanding and contracting when
the gate is closed and opened, the lower pivot pins B, B are arranged to move up
and down in slots B' formed in the pickets or in plates secured thereto. Obviously
such supplementary lattice work can be applied to any part of the gate.
I is a stiffening bar fixed to the front picket A' and adapted to slide in a groove
or socket formed in the wall when the gate is opened and closed. Such a
stiffening bar aids the operation of and materially strengthens the gate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination, with the lattice work of a collapsable gate, of supplementary
pickets connected to the bars of said lattice work in such a manner as not to
interfere with the collapsing of the gate while reducing the size of the openings in
the same.
2. The combination, with a collapsable gate, of a supplementary lattice work
pivoted on the pickets of said gate, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
3. The combination, with a cover plate or plates for the track rail, of means
substantially as described for automatically lifting said plate or plates when the
gate is expanded, for the purpose specified.
4. A track-rail for use with a collapsable gate and which is capable of being
raised and lowered, substantially as described with reference to Figures 7 to 10 of
the accompanying drawings, for the purpose specified.
5. A dwarf collapsable gate having a stiffening bar I at its upper end secured to
the front picket and adapted to slide in a socket, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
6. A collapsable gate constructed substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 to 6 or to Figures 12 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of May 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.