US 6,565,069 B2Granted

Handrail gate, hinge coupling and lock

OwnerCharles H. Morrisinventor

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Abstract

A hinge coupling and a lock for connecting a stationary handrail to a gate arm for a gate. The gate in closed position retains the structural integrity and peripheral profile of the handrail. The hinge coupling consist of a fixed connector and a mobile connector, both pivotally connected to a middle link by pins. The components of the hinge coupling pivot about the pins, enabling the gate arm to pivot through a 180° angle. One hinge connector is inserted and secured into an open end of the stationary handrail. The other connector is inserted and secured into an open end of the gate arm. The lock consists of two mating active and passive components that are fastened to respective terminal ends of the handrail and gate arm. The lock components are provided with a manually releasable latch. All components in the closed position of the gate compactly fit together and are shaped to provide peripheral continuity.

Claims59

Dependent claims

For a handrail having a peripheral profile and having an open gateway between two aligned terminals of the handrail, one terminal on either side of the gateway, a gate comprising:

a pivotable gate arm having a peripheral profile that is substantially the same as the peripheral profile of the handrail, and having a hinge end and a lock end;
a hinge coupling one end of which is fastened to the hinge end of the gate arm and the other end of which is fastened to a hinge terminal of the handrail, being one said terminal of the handrail, for hingedly connecting the hinge end of the gate arm to the hinge terminal of the handrail;
a two-component lock, one lock component of which is fastened to the lock end of the gate arm, and the other lock component of which is fastened to a lock terminal of the handrail, being the other said terminal of the handrail;
a release means for releasing the two lock components from one another after they have locked together;
the two lock components matingly engaging one another as the lock end of the gate arm moves into alignment with the lock terminal of the handrail in a closed position;
the two lock components being respectively provided with mating components of a releasable latch operative by the release means that is operative to latch the lock components together and thereby lock the gate arm to the handrail when the lock end of the gate arm is aligned with the lock terminal of the handrail and the mating lock components have come into engagement with one another;
the length of the gate arm and of the hinged coupling and lock elements being selected so as to provide a substantially uninterrupted continuum of the handrail when the gate arm is locked into alignment with the handrail;
the hinge coupling and the lock elements each having a peripheral profile selected to merge with the peripheral profile of the gate arm and the handrail.

5 more elements

For use with a gate for a tubular handrail, the handrail having a peripheral profile, a hinge coupling for connecting one terminating end of a stationary handrail to a pivoting gate arm having a peripheral profile substantially the same as the peripheral profile of the handrail, the hinge coupling comprising in combination:

(a) a fixed connector having a stub portion and an exposed clevis portion comprising two opposed clevis fingers attached to a clevis web;
(b) a mobile connector having a stub portion and an exposed clevis portion comprising two opposed clevis fingers attached to a clevis web;
and
(b) a link interposed between the clevis fingers of each connector and pivotally coupled to each connector by a pin passing through the relevant clevis fingers and the link
said stub portion of the fixed connector being for attaching to the terminal ehd of said stationary handrail;
said stub portion of the mobile connector being for attaching to the end of said pivoting gate arm;
said pivoting gate arm opening and closing the access in the handrail;
and
all said components of the hinge coupling when assembled together allowing for the gate arm to pivot up to a 180° angle.

6 more elements

For use with a gate for a tubular handrail, the handrail having a peripheral profile, a two-component lock for temporarily connecting one terminating end of a stationary handrail to a pivoting gate arm having a peripheral profile substantially the same as the peripheral profile of the handrail, the lock comprising in combination:

(a) an active component having a stub portion and an exposed terminal;
(b) a passive component having a stub portion and an exposed terminal;
(c) a release means for releasing the two lock components from one another after they have locked together;
one lock component being fastened to one end of the gate arm and the other lock component being fastened to one terminal of the handrail;
the exposed terminals suitably including a proximal short solid cylindrical collar
the two lock components being respectively provided with mating components of a releasable latch operative by the release means that is operative to latch the lock components together and thereby lock the gate arm to the handrail when the lock end of the gate arm is aligned with the terminating end of the handrail to which a lock component is fastened and the lock components have come into engagement with one another;
the stub portion of the active component accommodating an axially retractable tongue protruding from and slidable within the collar of the active component;
the exposed terminal of the passive component having a recess or cavity shaped to mate with and receive the tongue, said recess being formed in the collar of said passive component.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/911,753Filed 23 Jul 2001
Priority: CA 23148392 Aug 2000
Published: US 2002/0017062 A114 Feb 2002
Granted: 20 May 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

E04F 11/1836
Balustrades: handrails of balustrades; Connections between handrail members
E06B 11/00
Means for allowing passage through fences, barriers or the like
F16C 11/10
Pivotal connections: arrangements for locking
E04F 11/1865
Balustrades; Handrails: collapsible or portable balustrades