# US 10,309,154 B2 · Height actuated self-activating safety gate

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- Number: US 10,309,154 B2
- Document ID: US10309154B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/609,614
- Filed: 2017-05-31
- Published: 2018-12-06
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-31
- Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael Horn; Steven Yoell; Dale Lukas; Tsiuming Chu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309154B2

## CPC

- E06B 11/045: {exclusively for horizontally sliding gates}
- B66F 11/00: Lifting devices specially adapted for particular uses not otherwise provided for (ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting or manoeuvring the vehicle B60S9/00)
- B66F 17/006: {for working platforms}
- E04G 5/141: {with an access door or the like therefor}
- E05F 1/16: for sliding wings
- E06B 11/00: Means for allowing passage through fences, barriers or the like, e.g. stiles (general features of doors E06B1/00 - E06B9/00; {cattle grids A01K3/002; features peculiar to electrified wire fencing A01K3/005})
- E06B 11/022: {characterised by the manner of movement}
- E04G 3/28: Mobile scaffolds; Scaffolds with mobile platforms {(movable inspection or maintenance platforms for bridges E01D19/106, lifting devices for movable platforms, e.g. on vehicles B66F11/04)}
- E04G 2003/286: {mobile vertically}
- E05Y 2900/40: for gates
- E06B 2009/002: {Safety guards or gates}
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)
- E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to a self-extending/retracting gate for a platform. In one embodiment, safety gate includes a housing that extends laterally from a back support attached to the platform. The gate includes a sliding member that is operable to retract at least partially into the housing toward the back support to substantially conceal the sliding member within the housing and provide an opening beyond the housing for users to access the platform and to extend from an opening of the housing away from the back support to block access to the platform while the housing supports the sliding member. The gate includes a gate movement assembly within the housing between a rear portion of the sliding member and the back support. The gate movement assembly is operable to cause the sliding member to extend from the housing and retract into the housing according to a height of the platform.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A safety gate for preventing falls from a platform, comprising:
a housing that extends laterally from a back support attached to the platform, wherein the housing is hollow;
a sliding member that is operable to (i) retract at least partially into the to back support to substantially conceal the sliding member within the housing and provide an opening beyond the housing for users to access the platform and to (ii) extend from an opening of the housing away from the back support to block access to the platform through the opening beyond the housing; and
a gate movement assembly included at least partially within the housing between a rear portion of the sliding member and the back support, wherein the gate movement assembly is operable to cause the sliding member to extend and retract from the housing in relation to a change of height of the platform above a surface, without rotating the housing across the opening beyond the housing, and wherein the housing is statically mounted to the back support.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The safety gate of claim 1, wherein the gate movement assembly includes a spring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The safety gate of claim 2, wherein the spring causes the sliding member to extend from the housing as the platform is raised from the surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The safety gate of claim 2, wherein the sliding member compresses the spring when sliding member is retracted into the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The safety gate of claim 2, wherein the gate movement assembly further includes a connecting member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the sliding member and the second end being attached to an attachment point, wherein the connecting member exerts a retracting force on the spring by pulling the sliding member toward the back support when the platform is lowered to the surface, and
wherein the retracting force exerted by the connecting member is decreased as the platform is raised above the surface thereby permitting an extending force exerted by the spring to overcome the retracting force and extend the sliding member from the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The safety gate of claim 5, wherein the connecting member is a cable, and wherein the first end of the connecting member is attached to the sliding member within the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The safety gate of claim 5, wherein the attachment point is a pulley tensioner that maintains tension in the connecting member as the platform is raised from the surface thereby decreasing a distance between the first end and the second end.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The safety gate of claim 5, wherein the gate movement assembly further includes a guiding member at a rear of the housing that guides the connecting member toward the attachment point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The safety gate of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first bearing stop substantially near the opening of the housing and the sliding member includes a second bearing stop substantially near an end closest to the back support, and wherein the first bearing stop and the second bearing stop prevent the sliding member from exiting the housing when extended from the housing by the gate movement assembly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The safety gate of claim 1, wherein the housing, and the sliding member are comprised of one or more of: a rigid metal, and a rigid polymer, wherein the sliding member travels within the housing and from the opening of the housing a distance that is substantially equal to a width of the opening beyond the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The safety gate of claim 1, wherein the back support is part of a railing that substantially extends around a perimeter of the platform, and wherein the safety gate, the platform, and the railing at least partially form a passenger compartment of a manlift.

### Claim 12

A gate connected to a platform, comprising:
a housing that extends laterally from a back support attached to the platform, wherein the housing is hollow;
a sliding member that is operable to (i) retract at least partially into the housing toward the back support to substantially conceal the sliding member within the housing and provide an opening beyond the housing for users to access the platform and to (ii) extend from an opening of the housing away from the back support to block access to the platform through the opening beyond the housing; and
a gate movement assembly included at least partially within the housing between a rear portion of the sliding member and the back support, wherein the gate movement assembly is operable to cause the sliding member to extend and retract from the housing in relation to a change of height of the platform above a surface, without rotating the housing across the opening beyond the housing, and wherein the housing is statically mounted to the back support
wherein the gate movement assembly includes a connecting member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the sliding member and the second end being attached to an attachment point, and wherein the connecting member exerts a retracting force on the sliding member toward the back support when the platform is lowered toward the surface, and wherein the retracting force exerted by the connecting member is decreased as the platform is raised above the surface thereby permitting an extending force exerted by the gate movement assembly to extend the sliding member from the housing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The gate of claim 12, wherein the connecting member is a cable, and wherein the first end of the connecting member is attached to the sliding member within the housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The gate of claim 12, wherein the attachment point is a pulley tensioner that maintains tension in the connecting member as the platform is raised from the surface thereby decreasing a distance between the first end and the second end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The gate of claim 12, wherein the gate movement assembly further includes a guiding member at a rear of the housing that guides the connecting member toward the attachment point.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The gate of claim 12, wherein the gate movement assembly includes a spring that produces the extending force.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The gate of claim 16, wherein the spring causes the sliding member to extend from the housing as the platform is raised from the surface, and wherein the sliding member compresses the spring when the sliding member is retracted into the housing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The gate of claim 12, wherein the gate movement assembly includes a spring that applies a force to the sliding member to extend the sliding member from the housing as the platform raises from the surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The gate of claim 12, wherein the back support is part of a railing that substantially extends around a perimeter of the platform, and wherein the gate, the platform, and the railing at least partially form a passenger compartment of a manlift.

### Claim 20

A manlift, comprising:
a platform with railings connected thereto on at least three sides of the platform, the railings extending perpendicular from the platform to a railing height;
a gate to selectively obstruct a side opening in the railings when the platform is raised above a floor surface and to retract to provide access through the side opening when the platform is lowered onto the floor surface, the gate comprising:
a housing that extends laterally from a back support attached to at least one of the railings, wherein the housing is hollow;
a sliding member that is operable to retract at least partially into the housing toward the back support to substantially conceal the sliding member within the housing and to extend from the housing away from the back support to block access to the side opening of the platform while the housing supports the sliding member; and
a gate movement assembly included at least partially within the housing between a rear portion of the sliding member and the back support, wherein the gate movement assembly is operable to cause the sliding member to extend and retract from the housing in relation to a change of height of the platform above the floor surface, without rotating the housing across the opening beyond the housing, and wherein the housing is statically mounted to the back support.