AU2016206390B2

AU2016206390B2 - Gate

Info

Publication number: AU2016206390B2
Application number: AU2016206390A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lawrence O'toole; Mark White
Original assignee: Infrabuild Wire Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Infrabuild Wire Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-23
Filing date: 2016-07-22
Publication date: 2021-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-22
Also published as: AU2016206390A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a gate 10 formed by framework 12. The gate comprises a mounting end 14 at which the gate is mountable to a support. The gate also comprises a gusset 30 mounted to the framework at the mounting end. 5 8005006_1 (GHMatters) P99460.AU.1 0 '\ 00 C1s4ts sO C t .t5ttsss) ~' 00 -4S~ ~tC ~ ~SA lE~i~ St< W0 Coo I I (Tmm wti C) C ---- ----- 5 00t 7 S C,4~ C14~ ; --- ------- S C[\,tC. .W . ....r. 0'5 - /11 11, ---- 55Lo 5 0 5i ___ ' 5 5 5 00 55 St ,~t'C 5 -- - ---- ... 5 .... N00St 5 j 5 o 55 5'0( C,4 N ~St' So 5 5o C4 ..... .. N 55 S 00 St0 5,r C i s t S

Description

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GATE TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a gate and, in particular, to a gate that comprises a framework. The gate may be suitable for, but is not limited to, agricultural fencing, driveways, walls, etc.

BACKGROUNDART

Gates are used to provide access through a barrier such as a fence or wall. One known gate is formed of a framework comprising horizontal and vertical pipes/bars/wires/rods. In general, such gates are hinge mounted at one side to e.g. a support post of the fence or to a wall, and cantilever from the hinges so as to extend across the gap in the fence or wall.

Repeated use and general loading of such gates over time can result in sagging, deformation or deflection of the pipes/bars that form the framework of the gate. This can create misalignment of the features of the gate and surrounding support structure, and can interfere with normal use of the gate.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art or prior publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art or publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect there is disclosed a gate of the type formed by framework. The gate comprises a mounting end, at which the gate is mountable to a support, and a gusset mounted to the framework at the mounting end. The gusset may support the framework of the gate so as to restrict or inhibit deflection of the framework or a portion of the framework. In other words, the gusset may increase the durability or longevity of the gate by reducing sagging, which could otherwise cause performance issues with the gate.

The term "gusset" is to be interpreted broadly and is not intended to be limited to a triangular-shaped plate. The gusset can be formed of plate or sheet of varying thickness, and can have a variety of shapes and a variety of cut-outs therein.

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In one embodiment the gusset may be mounted to an in-use upper corner of the framework. The upper corner of the mounting end of the gate may be a critical or weak point of the gate (where there is a stress concentration or concentration of load in use). One reason for this may be that the remainder of the gate may cantilever from the mounting end (and in some cases the upper corner of the mounting end). Also, weight/load placed upon the gate can concentrate at the upper corner of the mounting end. The location of the gusset at this upper corner may help to strengthen and reinforce this weak point of the gate (i.e. to increase the durability of the gate).

The gusset comprises a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, which may thereby enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to the support. The cut-out may be shaped so as to provide clearance to the hinge, and/or may be shaped so as to support the hinge. The cut out may be sized, shaped and/or located so as not to nullify the strengthening provided by the gusset.

In one embodiment the gusset may be formed of metal, such as metal plate, to be welded to a metal side upright and a metal horizontal top bar of the framework. The type of welding employed may, for example, be stitch welding.

In one embodiment the gate may comprise a further gusset mounted to the framework at the mounting end. This gusset may further strengthen the gate, and may provide additional resistance of deflection of the framework so as to extend the working life of the gate.

In one embodiment, the further gusset may be mounted at the mounting end to an in use lower corner of the framework. Again, the lower comer may be a critical or weak point of the gate, where there can be a stress concentration in use. Also, weight/load placed upon the gate can concentrate at the lower corner of the mounting end. Thus, the further gusset may restrict deflection of the framework in the lower comer of the gate, where the framework may be cantilevered from the mounting end.

In one embodiment the further gusset may comprise a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, which may enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to the support. Again, the size, shape and/or location of this cut-out may be chosen so as not to nullify the strengthening and reinforcement provided by the gusset (or may simply by chosen to suit the location and shape of the hinges of the support).

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In one embodiment the further gusset may comprise an additional cut-out to receive therein the end of a bracing member that may form a part of the framework. Such a bracing member can extend in an N- or V-arrangement across horizontal and vertical bars/wires/rods that may form a part of the framework.

In one embodiment the further gusset may be metal (e.g. metal plate) to be welded to a metal side upright and a metal horizontal bottom bar of the framework. The type of welding employed may be stitch welding.

In one embodiment the horizontal bottom bar of the framework may be defined by a separate bar to be welded to a remainder of the framework. The bottom bar may be welded at either end to the remainder of the framework.

In one embodiment the further gusset may be welded to the end of the bracing member. This may further increase the strengthening and reinforcing provided by the gusset and ensure that the gusset is rigidly connected to the framework.

In one embodiment the side upright bar (i.e. at either end of the gate) and the horizontal top bar of the framework may be defined by a single crown bar. The bottom bar may be welded at either end to the single crown bar.

In one embodiment the gate may further comprise a mesh forming a part of the framework. The mesh may extend between the mounting end, and a gate end that is distal to the mounting end.

In one embodiment the mesh may be of wire or rod and may comprises a series of spaced horizontal wires/rods that generally extend between the mounting and distal ends, and a series of interconnected vertical wires/rods that generally extend between a top and bottom of the gate. The mesh may prevent the passage of animals across/through the gate, and/or may further strengthen and reinforce the formwork of the gate.

In one embodiment the horizontal wires may become more closely spaced together moving from the top to the bottom of the gate. This spacing together may occur gradually, or may occur in bands or groups of wires, with wires in each group having similar spacing. The vertical wires may be evenly spaced between the mounting and distal ends. This spacing may prevent smaller animals (e.g. vermin) from passing across or through the gate at the lower

17576099_1 (GHMatters) P99460.AU.1 areas of the gate (i.e. without requiring all wires to be closely spaced, so as to reduce the overall number of wires required).

In one embodiment, the gate may be an N-brace gate.

In a second aspect there is disclosed a gusset for strengthening a gate. The gusset comprises a first edge portion securable to an upright bar of the gate, and a second edge portion securable to a horizontal bar of the gate. When secured to the gate, the gusset inhibits or resists deflection of the horizontal bar. By inhibiting deflection of the horizontal bar, the gusset may inhibit sagging of the gate, which may increase the working life of the gate and may generally strengthen and reinforce the gate.

The gusset comprises a cut-out to accommodate a hinge of the gate to thereby enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to a support. The cut-out may be shaped so as to provide clearance to the hinge, and/or may be shaped so as to support the hinge. The cut-out may be shaped or located so as not to nullify the strengthening and reinforcement provided by the gusset.

In one embodiment the edge portions of the gusset may be securable to the bars by way of stitch welding.

In third aspect, there is disclosed a method of strengthening a gate of the type that is formed by a framework. The method comprises the steps of securing at least one gusset to an upright bar of the framework at a hinged end of the gate, and further securing the at least one gusset to a horizontal bar of the framework. The gusset comprises a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, to thereby enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to a support. In use, the at least one gusset resists or inhibits deflection of the horizontal bar. By inhibiting deflection of the horizontal bar, the at least one gusset may inhibit sagging of the gate, which may increase the working life of the gate and may generally strengthen the gate.

In one embodiment of the method a further gusset may be secured to the upright bar of the framework at a hinged end of the gate, and to another horizontal bar of the framework.

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In one embodiment of the method the gate may be as set forth above in the first aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Fig. 1A is a front view of an embodiment of the gate;

Fig. 1B is an enlarged view of a first gusset of the embodiment of the gate;

Fig. 1C is an enlarged view of a second gusset of the embodiment of the gate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure.

Referring to Figures 1A, 1B and IC the gate 10 is of a type formed by framework 12 comprising a plurality of tubular members, and bars or rods connected to the tubular members. The gate comprises a mounting end 14 which is mountable to a support, such as the support post of a fence or to a wall (either directly, or via a mounting post secured to the wall).

The mounting end 14 comprises a side upright 16 in the form of a generally vertical (in use) metal tube that extends generally for substantially the height of the gate 10. This side upright 16 provides an axis upon which the gate pivots when mounted to a hinge structure of the support (e.g. fence post or wall). In other embodiments the gate 10 may be mounted in a sliding relationship with the support. That is, rather than pivoting between an open and

17576099_1 (GHMatters) P99460.AU.1 closed position, the gate 10 may slide between open and closed positions. In this case, the mounting end 14 is the end at which the gate 10 is mounted to the support when in the closed position - the end at which the gate generally cantilevers from when extending across a gap in the e.g. wall or fence.

The side upright 16 generally continues on to be integral with a metal tubular horizontal top bar 18 of the framework 12 (although this is not the case with all embodiments). Together, the side upright 16, the horizontal top bar 18, and a further side upright 20 at a distal end 22 (opposite the mounting end) of the gate can form a single crown bar 24 of the framework 12. The transition between the side uprights 16, 20 (i.e. vertical bars) and the horizontal top bar 18 are rounded comers, such that the crown bar 24 essentially forms three sides of the gate framework 12.

The lower periphery of the gate 10 comprises a horizontal bottom bar 26 of metal tube that is a separate element to the crown bar 22. This bottom bar 26 extends between, and is welded at either end to, the side upright bars 16, 20 (i.e. that form part of the crown bar 24) at the mounting end 14 and the distal end 22 of the gate 10. This then defines the perimeter of the gate framework 12.

Also forming part of the framework 12 is a bracing member 28 in the form of a zigzagging (usually a so-called N-brace, or may be an inverted V-brace) of metal tube. The bracing member 28 extends diagonally upwards from a lower left corner (at the mounting end 14) of the gate 10 to a location about 1/3 along the upper horizontal bar 18 (of the crown 24), and then diagonally downwards to a location about 2/3 along the horizontal bottom bar 26, before again extending diagonally upwards to an upper right corner of the gate 10 (at the connection between the upper horizontal bar 18 and the distal side upright 20).

The gate 10 comprises a first gusset 30 of a specially shaped plate, the gusset 30 being mounted to the framework 12 at an (in use) upper corner of the mounting end 14. Specifically, the gusset 30 comprises a curved edge 32 that is stitch welded to both the upper horizontal bar 18 and the side upright bar 16 at the mounting end, at the corner transition region between these two bars 16, 18. The gusset 30 further comprises an approximately square cut-out 34 towards a lower end thereof. When the gate 10 is mounted to a support, the cut-out 34 receives therethrough (and provides clearance for) a hinge that is connected to a support (e.g. post, wall, etc). Below the cut-out 34, the bottom corner 36 of the triangular plate is truncated.

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Located on the side upright bar 16, adjacent to but immediately above the cut-out 34 in a hinge collar 37, which rests on top of the uppermost hinge in use of the gate.

A further (second) gusset 38 is mounted to the framework 12 at the mounting end 14 and, in particular, at an in-use lower corner of the mounting end 14 of the framework 12. The second gusset 38 is also a specially shaped plate, having a truncated upper right corner 40. A bottom edge 42 of the second gusset 38 is stitch welded to the horizontal bottom bar 26, and a left edge 44 of the second gusset 38 is stitch welded to the side upright bar 16 of the framework 12 at the mounting end 14.

Like the first gusset 30, the second gusset 38 comprises a generally square cut-out 46. This cut-out 46 is located in the left edge connected to the side upright 16 and, again, provides clearance for a hinge of the support which is received therethrough in use (i.e. to enable the gate10 to be mounted to the support via a hinge structure of the support).

The second gusset 38 also comprises an additional cut-out 48, which is shaped so as to receive therein (or accommodate) the end of the bracing member 28 that is attached (e.g. welded) to the side upright bar 16 at the mounting end. That is, the shape of the additional cut-out 48 corresponds to the shape of the end of the bracing member 28, so that the bracing member 28 fits snugly within the additional cut-out 48. The edges of this additional cut-out 48 can be stitch welded to the bracing member 28.

A further feature of the framework 12 is a mesh 50 extending between the mounting end 14, and distal end 22 of the gate 10. The mesh 50 is formed of wire (or rod) and, more specifically, comprises a series of spaced horizontal wires 52 that generally extend between the mounting end 14 and distal end 22, and a series of interconnected vertical wires 54 that generally extend between the upper horizontal bar 18 and bottom bar 26 of the gate 10. The horizontal wires 52 become more closely spaced together in the direction moving from top to bottom of the gate 10. The vertical wires 54 are evenly spaced between the mounting 14 and distal 26 ends.

Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the disclosure.

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For example, the gate may comprise more or less gussets (e.g. one, three, four, five gussets). For example, additional or separate gussets can be located between the bracing member 28 and the side upright bar 16, and/or between the bracing member 28 and the upper horizontal bar 18, and/or between the bracing member 28 and the horizontal bottom bar 26 at e.g. intermediate locations along the upper and bottom horizontal bars.

The gussets are not limited to being triangular or rectangular, and may take any shape that is suitable for strengthening and reinforcing the gate so as to increase rigidity of the gate and/or to reduce sagging of the gate. Similarly, the cut-outs in the gusset may vary in number or shape. This may depend on the number or shape of the hinges of the support.

The location of the gusset(s) is not limited to corners of the framework. For example, when a cross bar extends from partway up the side upright bar (at the mounting end) the gusset may also be located partway up the side upright bar rather than at an upper or lower end comer of the side upright bar.

The framework may be formed of various arrangements of tube, pipe, solid bar or other formed section and is not limited to that illustrated and described above. For example, all members may have a solid cross-section. The bars may be plastic instead of metal. The tube may be a cold formed U-section. The framework may not comprise a single crown bar, and instead the upper horizontal bar may be separate to the upright side bars.

The components of the framework, and the gussets, may be secured to one another using various attachment methods (e.g. welding, adhesives, temporary or permanent fasteners). When welded, various types of welding may be used including stitch welding, spot welding, bead welding, etc.

The mesh may be formed of components other than wires (e.g. netting, grid, etc.). The arrangement of the wires may be other than that illustrated and described above. For example, the horizontal wires may be evenly spaced.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding summary except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", that is, the features as above may be associated with further features in various embodiments.

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Claims

1. A gate of a type formed by framework, the gate comprising: a mounting end, at which the gate is mountable to a support; and a gusset mounted to the framework at the mounting end; wherein the gusset comprises a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, to thereby enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to the support.

2. A gate as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gusset is mounted to an in-use upper corner of the framework.

3. A gate as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the gusset is metal to be welded to a metal side upright and a metal horizontal top bar of the framework.

4. A gate as claimed any one of the preceding claims comprising a further gusset mounted to the framework at the mounting end.

5. A gate as claimed in claim 4 wherein the further gusset is mounted at the mounting end to an in-use lower corner of the framework.

6. A gate as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the further gusset comprises a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, to enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to the support.

7. A gate as claimed in claim 6 wherein the further gusset comprises an additional cut out to receive therein an end of a bracing member that forms a part of the framework.

8. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the further gusset is metal to be welded to a metal side upright and a metal horizontal bottom bar of the framework.

9. A gate as claimed in claim 8, wherein the horizontal bottom bar of the framework is defined by a separate bar to be welded to a remainder of the framework.

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10. A gate as claimed in claim 8 or 9, when dependent on claim 7, wherein the further gusset is welded to the end of the bracing member.

11. A gate as claimed in claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 10 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the side upright and horizontal top bar of the framework are defined by a single crown bar.

12. A gate as claimed any one of the preceding claims further comprising a mesh forming a part of the framework, the mesh extending between the mounting end, and a gate end that is distal to the mounting end.

13. A gate as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mesh is of wire and comprises a series of spaced horizontal wires that generally extend between the mounting and distal ends, and a series of interconnected vertical wires that generally extend between a top and bottom of the gate.

14. A gate as claimed in claim 13, wherein the horizontal wires become more closely spaced together moving from the top to the bottom of the gate, whereas the vertical wires are evenly spaced between the mounting and distal ends.

15. A gusset for strengthening a gate of a type that is formed by framework, the gusset comprising: a first edge portion securable to an upright bar of the gate; a second edge portion securable to a horizontal bar of the gate; and a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, to thereby enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to a support; whereby, when secured to the gate, the gusset resists or inhibits deflection of the horizontal bar.

16. A gusset as claimed in claim 15 wherein the edge portions are securable to the bars by way of stitch welding.

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17. A method of strengthening a gate of a type that is formed by framework, the method comprising the steps of: securing a gusset to an upright bar of the framework at a hinged end of the gate; further securing the gusset to a horizontal bar of the framework, the gusset comprising a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, to thereby enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to a support; whereby, in use, the gusset resists or inhibits deflection of the horizontal bar.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein a further gusset is secured to the upright bar of the framework at the hinged end of the gate, and to another horizontal bar of the framework.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the further gusset comprises a cut-out to receive a gate hinge therethrough, to enable the gate to be hinge-mounted to the support, the further gusset mounted to an in-use lower corner at the hinged end of the framework.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the gate is as claimed in any one of claims I to 14.

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