Patent ID: 8413380

Claim:
A universal swing hinge and gate assembly comprising: a. a gravity-closing gate, wherein a portion of the gravity-closing gate comprises a hinge pin hole disposed therethrough; b. a universal swing hinge assembly configured to be selectively attached to a guardrail on a first side of a guardrail opening or a second side of the guardrail opening and allow the gravity-closing gate to open in either direction by rising from a lowest neutral position, wherein the universal swing hinge assembly comprises: (i) an upper hinge portion comprising a hinge pin thru hole; (ii) a back portion connected between the upper hinge portion and a lower hinge portion, wherein the lower hinge portion comprises a hole formed therethrough, and wherein the hole is axially aligned with the hinge pin thru hole; and (iii) a recess formed in the universal swing hinge assembly between the upper hinge portion and the lower hinge portion, wherein the recess comprises an angled hinge face sloping upwards from the guardrail opening in one or more directions, and wherein the recess is configured to open towards the guardrail opening and receive a portion of the gravity-closing gate; c. a hinge pin disposed through the hinge pin thru hole, through the hinge pin hole, and at least partially into the hole, thereby attaching the gravity-closing gate to the universal swing hinge assembly; and d. whereby the angled hinge face causes the gravity-closing gate to rise in either direction away from the lowest neutral position on the angled hinge face when the gravity-closing gate is opening, and to return in either direction towards the lowest neutral position on the angled hinge face when the gravity-closing gate is closing, thereby allowing the universal swing hinge and gate assembly to be attached to either side of the guardrail opening.