Hands Free Gate

A gated barrier comprising:

• a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane;
• b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane;
• and
• c) a latch between the barrier frame and gate and engaged to one of the barrier frame and gate, the latch having a latch end, the latch having an extended position relative to the gate, the latch having a retracted position relative to the gate;
• d) a latch receiver on one of the barrier frame and gate, the latch end being receivable in the latch receiver when the latch is in the extended position, the latch end being movable downwardly out of the latch receiver when the latch is in the extended position;
• and
• e) the gate being movable vertically in the barrier plane when the latch is in the extended position.

A gated barrier comprising:

• a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane;
• b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane, the gate having a gate axis on which the gate swings into and out of the barrier plane, the gate having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end confronting the gate axis, a direction running from the proximal end to the distal end defining a width direction;
• c) the gate having a gate frame, the gate frame having first and second vertically extending support members confronting each other and being spaced apart from each other, the first and second vertically extending support members defining a first width therebetween, the gate frame having first and second lower horizontally extending support members confronting each other and being spaced apart from each other;
• and
• d) a foot opening in the gate frame, the opening being between the first and second lower horizontally extending support members, the foot opening having an opening width defined by a direction running from the proximal end of the gate to the distal end of the gate, the opening being free of said first and second vertically extending support members and free of further vertical support members, the opening being free of said first and second horizontally extending support members and free of further horizontally extending support members, the opening optionally being empty space, the opening width of the foot opening being greater than the first width defined by said first and second vertically extending support members such that a foot can be inserted into said opening and pressed down on one of said first and second lower horizontally extending support members, the opening width being less than a width between the proximal and distal ends of the gate.

A gated barrier comprising:

• a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane;
• b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane, the gate having a gate axis on which the gate swings into and out of the barrier plane, the gate having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end confronting the gate axis, a direction running from the proximal end to the distal end defining a width direction;
• c) the gate having a gate frame, the gate frame forming a foot opening such that, when a foot is inserted into the foot opening and presses down on a foot portion of the gate frame forming the foot opening, a downward and vertical force is exerted upon the gate;
• d) a pivoting stop on the gate, the pivoting stop having an upper stop portion and a lower stop portion and a pivot between the upper stop portion and the lower stop portion, the pivot engaging the pivoting stop to the gate;
• e) the upper stop portion of the pivoting stop being normally in the foot opening and normally in the gate plane, the upper stop portion being pivotable out of the foot opening and out of the gate plane;
• f) the lower stop portion of the pivoting stop being disposed out of the foot opening and normally in the gate plane at a stop position between the gate and a stopping surface, the stopping surface being one of a portion of the barrier frame and an environmental surface on which the barrier frame rests, the lower stop portion being pivotable out of the gate plane;
• g) such that, when a force is imposed upon the gate to move the gate downwardly and vertically, the lower stop portion when in the gate plane in the stop position hits said stopping surface to minimize downward and vertical travel of the gate;
• h) such that, when the upper stop portion pivots out of the gate plane, the lower stop portion also pivots out of the gate plane and out of said stop position;
• h) such that, when the lower stop portion pivots out of the stop position, the gate may be moved downwardly and vertically.

A gated barrier comprising:

• a) a barrier frame, the barrier frame defining a barrier plane;
• b) a gate engaged to the barrier frame, the gate defining a gate plane, the gate movable vertically in the barrier plane, the gate swingable relative to the barrier frame on a swing axis such that the gate swings out of the barrier plane;
• c) a latch between the barrier frame and gate and on one of the barrier frame and gate, the latch having a latch end, the latch having an extended position relative to the gate, the latch having a retracted position relative to the gate;
• d) a latch receiver on one of the barrier frame and gate, the latch end being receivable in the latch receiver when the latch is in the extended position;
• e) a hinged connection between the barrier frame and the gate;
• f) the hinged connection comprising a pin engaged to the gate, the pin being coaxial with the swing axis, the pin movable vertically when the gate is movable vertically, the pin having an upper head and a lower head;
• g) the hinged connection comprising a rigid piece extending from the barrier frame and being coaxial with the pin, the pin slideable vertically through the rigid piece;
• and
• h) the hinged connection comprising a coil spring captured between the upper head of the pin and the rigid piece;
• i) such that, when the gate is movable downwardly and vertically relative to the barrier frame, the upper head of the pin is moved downwardly and compresses the coil spring against the rigid piece;
• j) such that, when the downward and vertical pressure upon the gate is released, the coil spring extends against the upper head of the pin so as to push the upper head of the pin upwardly, which draws the gate upwardly so as to align the latch end at the same elevation with the latch receiver.