Improvements in or Appertaining to Stiles or Gates.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Stiles or Gates.
I, WILLOUGHBY BROUGHTON EVANS, B.A., Clerk in Holy Orders, of Norham-on-
Tweed, in the County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is a stile which while apparently closing the road to
animals can be at once opened wide enough for any individual to pass through but
must inevitably close again on the person passing.
I form the two cheeks of the stile of wooden posts or other materials linked or
hinged together at the bottom and provided with heels and stops so supported on
runners, chains or otherwise that they shall freely move in their vertical plane to
allow of the hinged action. As the main posts when pushed to one side are only
supported on their heels, the moment they aro let loose they fall back until the toe
or bottom of the post touches the ground as before.
In carrying out my invention 1 can do it in numerous ways. One plan which I
at present prefer is to form a frame consisting mainly of two posts, a sleeper and
two side bars the height of an ordinary step from the ground connecting the two
posts. Two triangular frames with perpendicular cheeks facing each other form the
stile. These are linked together at the hottom in the front and their heels are
suspended by chains from the posts or they can be supported on runners. A step is
placed on the two crossbars between the cheeks of the stile for the person using the
stile to tread on. The person using the stile pushes back one of the checks at the
top and this cheek being linked at the bottom to the other cheek and its heel coming
against its post causes the other chock to perform an almost precisely similar motion.
The toes of the two where they are linked together rising until the step, the back-
post or other stop is struck. Tho moment the person has passed and no longer
touches one of the two cheeks, the entire weight of the stile frames resting only on
the chains connected with the heels at their backs is unsupported in the centre and
the toes of the stile at once fall down until they strike the bed plate the two cheeks
thus again assuming a vertical position close together on opposite sides of the step.
The cheeks can if desirable be chained to the posts at the back also but this is not
necessary. Struts or ties can be used also to strengthen the framework either of
the stile frames themselves or of the enclosing framework.
In some cases it is desirable to form a gate and stile in one piece. In this case
in place of two triangular frames, two rectangular gates supported on rollers or
chains at their back extremities or heels are used. These are linked together at their
toes or bottom of the front posts by a hinge that can be easily undone, but having
side plates so as to keep the two gates in line and strengthen them. The two gates
slide each between two posts and if desirable can be arranged with stops so that they
cannot be withdrawn from the posts but can be made to slide back through the posts
till the entire gateway is clear or slid forward until the entire gateway is closed
except a few inches in the centre. The person using the gate simply presses back the
cheek as when the triangular frames are used, by this means hoth gates rise up and
separate at an angle from each other, going back as far as the top of their guide
posts or other stop will allow them. The person then using the gate steps over the
hinge.
If desirable a latch or slip link can be used to hold the two gates or triangular
stile frames together so as to prevent animals inserting their noses and pressing the
gate or stile to one side and so opening it. The rectangular or triangular frames of
these stiles I may fill up with wire netting, lattice work, or other material.
Dated this 31st August 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Stiles or Gates.
I, WILLOUGHBY BROUGHTON EVANS B.A., Clerk in Holy Orders of Norham-on-
Tweed, in, the County of Northumberland, 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 :-
The object of this invention is a stile, which, while apparently closing the road to
animals, can be at once opened wide enough for any individual to pass through but
must inevitably close again on the person passing.
I form the two cheeks of the stile of wooden posts or other materials, linked or
hinged together at the bottom-and provided with heels and stops, so supported on
runners, chains, or otherwise, that they shall freely move in their vertical plane, to
allow of a hinged action. As the main posts, when pushed to one side, are only
supported on their heels, the moment they are let loose they fall back until the toe
or bottom of the post touches the ground, as before.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
the stile is, in each Figure, shown in elevation.
Figure 1 is a view of the stile closed, and fastened, to prevent animals opening
the stile frames by thrusting their noses between the side cheeks.
Figure 2 the same stile open to admit the passage of a pedestrian.
Figure 3 a view of a stile having a raised sill, over which an individual can
step when the stile is open, but preventing the passage of small animals which
might otherwise squeeze themselves through between the side checks E.
Figure 4, the same stile open,
Figures 5 and 6 views of stiles respectively closed and half open, in which
rectangular stilo frames are employed, instead of triangular frames, as in the
preceding Figures.
Figures 7 and 8 show stiles respectively closed and open, the lower corners of the
stile frames being taken off so as to provide a wider passage when the frames are
pushed back.
In Figures 1 and 2, the frame is formed of two upright posts A A, strengthened
by double diagonal rails B B, and sleepers CC. Two triangular frames DD with
perpendicular pillars or cheeks E facing each other, and intermediate rails e (which
may be hinged, if desirable) from the stile, which works and is guided between the
diagonal rails aforesaid. is a well approximately half way between the posts A,
and is adapted to receive the projecting ends of the perpendicular pillars E. The
two triangular frames D D are linked together at G, and their heels are suspended
by chains d from the posts A or the intermediate rails e. They are also coupled to
the intermediate rails é and posts A., by chains d'. I is a step or plate on the level
of the ground which partly covers the well F.
A pedestrian using the stile, pushes back one of the cheeks E of the triangular
frames D, and this being linked at the bottom to the other cheek E of the other
frame D, causes both frames to perform an almost precisely similar motion, the toes
of the two where they are linked together rising until the intermediate rails e are
struck. This permits an individual to pass through (see Figure 2). If a greater
width of opening is desired, the intermediate rails e may be hinged, and they are
caused to fall back against the posts A, when the triangular frames are pushed against
them. The moment the person has passed and no longer touches one of the two
cheeks, the entire weight of the stile frames D then rests only on the chains d. and
are unsupported in the centre, and the frames D at once fall down until stopped
by the chains d' or until the bottom rails of said frame strike the sleepers C when
they again assume the position shewn in Figure 1. The plate I forms a step over
which a pedestrian walks when the stile is open. When the rails e are hinged the
falling down of the frames D causes them to be drawn forward into the position
shewn in said figure. Struts or ties can be used to strengthen the framework either

page_text: of the stile frames themselves or the enclosing framework. H is a latch or slip
link adapted to hold the two gates or triangular stile frames together so as to
prevent animals inserting their noses and pressing the gate or stile to one side and
so opening it. The rectangular or triangular frames of the stiles may be filled up
with wire netting, lattice work or other material.
In the example illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, no well is provided for the pro-
jecting ends of the hinged cheeks E such as is shown at F (Figures 1 and 2), but
I provide a step I, raised above the ground and supported on pillars I. Between
these latter the link J works. The operation is similar to the preceding example,
but a pedestrian in passing through, has to raise his feet over the step I. If the
frames are panelled and the step I is of sufficient height, small animals (which might
be able to squeeze themselves through the narrow space between the stile frames D)
are prevented from so doing when the stile is closed."
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another alternative construction in which two
rectangular stile frames are employed instead of triangular ones. The frames D are
supported at their back extremities or heels by chains d and also by the chains (.
They are linked together at G., and the link may be constructed so that it can easily
be undone if desired. The side posts A have openings K, through which (when the
link G is unfastened) the frames D can fall outwards so that a wide opening is
provided through which horses and cattle can easily pass.
Figure 6 shews the gateway half open.
Another modification is shown in Figures 7 and 8, in which the sharp bottom
corners of the toes of the frames D are taken off, and provide a quarter space between
the cheeks E when the stile is open for the passage of a pedestrian. The link G
is of a different shape to that illustrated in the preceding figures, and permits the
frames D to be moved back a greater distance without uncoupling.
The person using the gate simply presses back one of the cheeks E, and by this
means both frames rise up and separates at an angle from each other, going back as
far or nearly as far as their respective side posts or other stop will allow them. The
person using the stile then passes through, a plate or step I being provided for
partly covering the well F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what I
claim is
are
1. A stile or gate for closing the road to animals, but capable of being opened
wide enough to permit any individual to pass through, in which two stile frames D
guided in approximately the same vertical plane between rails such as B,
suspended at their heels by chains, and are linked or hinged together at or near the
bottom of their adjacent edges, so that the moving aside of one frame by the hand
will simultaneously move aside the other, and, on being liberated, both frames will
simultaneously fall back again into their normal positions, substantially as described.
2. In a stile or gate, the combination with posts A and diagonal supporting rails B,
of the vertical stilo frames D linked together at their adjacent toes, and suspended
at their heels by chains d, and of the intermediate rails e coupled to the posts A and
frames D by the chains di, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The improved stile or gate for closing the road to animals, but capable of being
readily opened to permit the passage of pedestrians, substantially as heroin described.
Dated this 31st day of May 1889
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.