Bumper actuated gate

A gate adapted for mounting between first and second upright structures, comprising in combination:

• a gate frame including a pair of upright channel-shaped end members, a plurality of mutually spaced apart longitudinal tube frame members connected between the end members, and wires connected between the end members;
• said gate frame being adapted to function as a torsional spring;
• means for connecting said gate frame at one end member thereof to the first upright structure for pivotal movement between open and closed positions about an upright hinge axis, the hinge axis being inclined toward the second structure so that said gate frame is gravitationally urged toward the closed position;
• means mounted on the second upright structure for engaging and longitudinally twisting said gate frame at the other end member thereof to store torsional spring energy in said gate frame;
• and
• means mounted on the second structure in vertically spaced relationship with said twisting means for normally latching said gate frame at the other end member thereof in the closed position and then releasing said gate frame upon reaching a predetermined amount of twist so that said gate frame swings under spring action to the open position.

A gate assembly, which comprises:

• a first upright gate post;
• a pair of spaced apart second gate posts mounted in spaced relationship with said first gate post;
• a generally rectangular gate extending between said first and second gate posts;
• said gate including a gate frame comprised of a pair of stiff upright end members interconnected by a plurality of mutually spaced apart stiff longitudinal members, the gate frame being adapted to function as a torsion spring;
• means for connecting said gate at one end to said first post for pivotal movement about a hinge axis between open and closed positions, the hinge axis being inclined toward said second gate posts so that said gate is gravitationally urged toward the closed position;
• means mounted on said second gate posts for engaging and longitudinally twisting said gate at the other end thereof to store torsional spring energy in said plate;
• means mounted on said second gate posts in vertically spaced relationship with said twisting means for normally latching said gate in the closed position and then releasing said gate at a predetermined angle of gate twist so that said gate swings to the open position under spring energy;
• and
• means connected between said gate and first gate post for releasably retaining said gate in the open position for a predetermined time interval before allowing said gate to close under the action of gravity.

A vehicle thrust operated gate hingedly supported by a gate post at one end along a first upright pivot axis for laterally swinging movements between open and closed positions, further having:

• means for urging said gate from the open position to the closed position,
• means for latching said gate in the open position for a predetermined time interval and for then releasing it for movement to its closed position;
• said latching and releasing means comprising pivoted structure connected with said gate post at a second pivot axis;
• said second pivot axis being parallel with said first pivot axis and being opposite the closed position of said gate from said first pivot axis;
• a rod pinned to said gate inward of said first pivot axis;
• said pivoted structure of the latching and releasing means defining a pair of spaced apart slots for slidably containing said rod and for aligning said pivoted structure with said rod;
• a series of teeth longitudinally spaced on said rod and defining a path of back and forth movement at the lower side of said rod;
• said rod and said teeth moving inward relative to said pivoted structure of the latching and releasing means during the opening movement of said gate and moving in the reverse direction during the closing movement of said gate;
• a detent pivoted to said pivoted structure of the latching and releasing means for movement into and out of the path of movement of said teeth;
• said detent and said teeth normally defining a slanting slidable contact when the teeth engage said detent in their inward movement and defining an interlocking contact when said teeth engage said detent in the reverse movement;
• dashpot means coupled to said detent for yieldably urging said detent into engagement with said teeth for a predetermined time during which said gate is held open by said rod, after which said detent releases said rod allowing said urging means to close the gate;
• and
• means for resiliently supporting said dashpot means on said pivoted structure of the latching and releasing means.

A vehicle thrust actuated gate, comprising:

• a frame for a generally rectangular gate, said frame including a pair of upright end members interconnected by a plurality of stiff longitudinal intermediate members;
• an upright gate post;
• means mounting said gate frame at one end member thereof on said gate post for pivotal movement about an upright hinge axis between closed and open positions;
• a first latch member mounted on the upper end portion of the other end member of said frame;
• a bumper thrust transmitting assembly extending from a remote bumper engagable terminal thereof and being engagable laterally against the lower end portion of said other end member while the gate is in its normal closed position, thereby to twist said gate frame to store torsional spring energy therein;
• upright structure mounting said bumper thrust transmitting assembly adjacent to and in operating relationship with the gate in its normal closed position;
• and
• a second latch member mounted on said upright structure in operating relationship with said first latch member and disengagable from said first latch member when said other end member is twisted to a predetermined angle.