Latching gate system

A latching gate system (10) for controlling the location and movement of people such as travelers passing through airports, the controlling being achieved in a safe, secure, convenient and economical manner, the system comprising, in combination:

• an open latching gate frame (14) configured in a rectangular configuration with an upper horizontal segment (16) and two laterally spaced vertical segments (18) and a lower horizontal segment (20), the upper horizontal segment and the lower horizontal segment having 45 degree chamfered lateral ends, the vertical segments having 45 degree chamfered upper ends and 45 degree chamfered lower ends, upper weldments (22) coupling the lateral ends of the upper horizontal segment to the upper ends of the vertical segments, lower weldments (24) coupling the lateral ends of the lower horizontal segment to the lower ends of the vertical segments, each segment having a generally rectangular cross sectional configuration with an interiorly facing C-shaped indentation (26) whereby the latching gate frame creates a rectangular channel (28), the indentations all having a common width and depth, the gate frame being fabricated of a clear, shatterproof, scratch resistant acrylic;
• a panel insert (32) having a rectangular configuration, the panel insert having a width and a thickness essentially equal to the width and thickness of the indentations, the panel insert having an upper edge extending into the indentation of the upper horizontal segment, the panel insert having a lower edge extending into the indentation of the lower horizontal segment, the panel insert having side edges extending into the indentations of the vertical segments, the panel insert being fabricated of a clear, shatterproof, scratch resistant acrylic for superior operational characteristics;
• a latching gate base (36) in a rectangular configuration with two parallel length edges and two parallel width edges, the latching gate base having a length greater than the length of the horizontal segments, the latching gate base adapted to be supported upon a recipient surface chosen from the class of recipient surfaces including carpets, tiles, concrete and any of a plurality of recipient floor surfaces, the gate base having an upper surface configured to form bevels (38) extending from the length edges to facilitate movement across the gate base and through the system, the latching gate base having a length and a width, the length being between 5 and 10 times the width, the gate base being fabricated of aluminum;
• a first and a second vertically oriented, laterally spaced post (42), (44), each post having a hollow rectangular configuration with an upper end (46) and a lower end (48), the lower ends being welded to the gate base and separated by a post spacing greater than the width of the gate frame, the posts being fabricated of aluminum;
• the first post defining a first inner face and the second post defining a second inner face;
• the latching gate base defining an interior base section located between the first inner face and the second inner face, a first base section on a first side of the interior base section, and a second outer base section on a second side of the interior base section, opposite the first outer base section;
• eight securement apertures extending through the gate base with eight securement screws for securement of the system to the recipient surface, wherein four of the securement apertures are located within the first outer base section and the other four of the securement apertures are located within the second outer base section;
• eight adjustment apertures extending through the gate base with eight adjustment screws to allow for exact positioning of the frame base to the recipient surface, wherein four of the adjustment apertures are located within the first outer base section interiorly of the four securement apertures located therein, and the other four of the adjustment apertures are located within the second outer base section interiorly of the four securement apertures located therein;
• three hinges (62) pivotably coupling the first post to an adjacent one of the two laterally spaced vertical segments of the gate frame and panel inset, the hinges being spring urged and functioning to reciprocate the gate frame and panel insert between open and closed orientations and to automatically close the gate frame and panel insert through spring loading;
• a central stop plate (66) and two end stop plates (68), (70), the stop plates being coupled to the vertical segment adjacent to the second post, the stop plates adapted to contact the second post when in a closed orientation, a magnetic latch (72) on the second post for being contacted by the central stop plate for automatic securement of the gate frame and panel insert;
• and
• an upper adjustment fixture (76) to facilitate initial securement and alignment of the posts with respect to each other and with respect to the gate base and the gate frame and the panel insert, the adjustment fixture being formed of a horizontal plank (78) and two downwardly extending stubs (80), each stub positionable in the upper end of one of the posts.