GB2288621A - Gate - Google Patents

Abstract

A gate assembly comprises a frame and a panel (9) occupying at least part of the internal area defined by the frame. The frame comprises first and second upright members (1, 3) which are spaced apart from each other and upper and lower horizontal members (5, 7) which are spaced apart from each other, the first and second upright members and at least the lower horizontal member being formed with a recess (11, 13) facing internally of the frame. The panel (9) extends between the first and second upright members (1, 3) and between the upper and lower horizontal members (5, 7), the panel being received in the recess (11, 13). Fig 5 illustrates a gate having a third upright between the members 1 and 3 and including two panels. <IMAGE>

Description

GATE ASSEMBLY The present invention is concerned with gate assemblies and, more particularly, is concerned with a gate assembly which is readily adaptable to variations in design.

Gates, particularly wooden gates, are conventionally made by interconnecting two upright stiles with a plurality, for example five, lateral bars, with the uppermost lateral bar being more substantial than the lower bars, and by securing a number of, for example two, bracing members to the lateral bars and optionally to one or more of the stiles.

The disadvantage of such gate assemblies is that they provide very little opportunity for variation in design and there is therefore a need for a gate assembly which permits the manufacturer to incorporate aesthetic variations into the design thereof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gate assembly which is more adaptable to variations in design than conventional gate assemblies.

According to the present invention there is provided a gate assembly which comprises: a frame comprising first and second upright members which are spaced apart from each other and upper and lower lateral members which are spaced apart from each other, the upper and lower lateral members being secured at opposite ends thereof to the first and second upright members, the first and second upright members and at least the lower lateral member being formed with a recess facing internally of the frame; and a panel occupying at least part of the internal area defined by the frame and extending between the first and second upright members and between the upper and lower lateral members, the panel being received in the recess.

The recess may comprise a groove formed in the first and second upright members and in at least the lower lateral member, the groove facing internally of the frame. The panel may be secured in the groove by fastening means.

Alternatively, the recess may comprise a rebate formed in the first and second upright members and in at least the lower lateral member and facing internally of the frame, the rebate being formed in the members from one side of the frame for receiving the panel. The panel may be secured in the frame by securing means adapted to substantially fill the remainder of the rebate. The securing means may be fastened to the frame and, optionally, to the panel.

A recess may additionally be provided in the upper lateral member, the recess facing internally of the frame for receiving the panel.

Alternatively, the upper lateral member may be formed in two parts with a gap therebetween, with part of the panel extending through the gap. that part of the panel extending through the gap may be formed with finials and/or spikes or the like.

The panel may be formed with cut-outs therein. Such cutouts will generally be provided for decorative purposes and permit the panel to be made in a wide variety of patterns not previously available with conventional gate assemblies.

Despite the cut-outs, the panel preferably has a border extending entirely around the periphery thereof. Such a border adds considerably to the strength of the panel and of the resulting gate assembly. The border may extend beyond recess of the frame members into the internal area bounded by the frame.

The panel and the lower lateral member may be provided with a weatherproof seal therebetween. If desired, a weatherproof seal may additionally be provided between the panel and the first and second upright members and between the panel and the upper lateral member. The weatherproof seal may be formed from a mastic material.

If desired, a plurality of panels may occupy the internal area defined by the frame, the panels being separated by third upright members extending between the upper and lower lateral members and being provided with a recess for receiving the respective panel. The third upright members may be secured to the frame.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of one embodiment of a gate assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, corresponding to the view of Figure 2, of another embodiment of a gate assembly according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, corresponding to the view of Figure 2, of a further embodiment of a gate assembly according to the present invention; and Figure 5 is an elevational view of an embodiment of a gate assembly according to the present invention incorporating two panels.

The gate assembly shown in Figure 1 comprises a frame made of first and second upright members in the form of stiles 1 and 3 and upper and lower lateral members in the form of upper and lower bars 5 and 7 respectively. It will be noted that stile 1 is wider than stile 3. This is because stile 1 is intended to carry hinges for securing the gate to a gate post (not shown), while stile 3 will be at the free end of the gate assembly and is intended carry a latch: any unnecessary weight in stile 3 will have a significant effect upon the manner in which the gate assembly hangs upon its hinges.

The stiles 1 and 3 and the bars 5 and 7 may be made of wood or, alternatively, may be made of other suitable material such as plastics material, for example PVCu. Where the components are made of wood the bars 5 and 7 are preferably secured in the stiles by way of mortice and tenon joints.

Additional securing means, such as dowels, may also be used if desired. Where the components are made of other materials any suitable securing mechanism may be provided.

Panel 9 is mounted in the frame in a manner which will be explained in more detail hereinafter. Panel 9 may be made, for example, of exterior grade or marine grade plywood having a thickness of, for example, 18 or 25 mm. A thinner material may be used if desired, for example 15 mm, and may be preferable for larger gate assemblies. Other sheet materials such as particle board (chipboard) may also be used if desired. Panel 9 is cut into a decorative pattern, although a wide variety of patterns can be used and the pattern is not restricted to that illustrated.

The gate assembly may be treated with any suitable preservative if desired or considered necessary. If painted, a wide variety of colours can be used.

One manner in which the panel 9 can be mounted in the frame is illustrated in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the frame is made of wood and is formed with a recess in the form of a groove 11 which extends along that face of the upper bar 5 which is directed towards the interior of the frame. The groove 11 extends the entire length of the upper bar 5 between the stiles 1 and 3. A corresponding groove is formed along the lower bar 7 and along the stiles 1 and 3 between the upper and lower bars. The groove is indicated by a dashed line in Figure 1. The groove 11 corresponds in width to the width of the panel 9 and may have a depth of about 35 mm so as to receive the panel securely therein. If desired, the panel 9 may be fastened to the bars and/or to the stiles by any suitable fastening means (not shown) such as star dowels or the like.

Despite the decorative cut-outs formed in the panel 9, the panel is formed with a continuous border therearound. The border contributes significantly to the rigidity and strength of the panel in addition to the overall rigidity and strength of the gate assembly.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the border may if desired protrude beyond the groove 11 into the interior of the frame, for example by about 10 mm. Protrusion of the border of the panel into the interior of the frame may have aesthetic appeal under certain circumstances.

Mastic (not shown) or other suitable weatherproofing material may be applied between the panel 9 and at least the lower bar 7. If desired, such material may additionally be applied between the panel 9 and the upper bar 5 as well as the stiles 1 and 3. This not only extends the working life of the gate assembly, but additionally conceals and minor misfits between the panel and the groove.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the groove 11 is replaced by a rebate 13 extending entirely around one face of the interior of the frame. Panel 9 is placed in the rebate 13 and securing means in the form of a wooden batten 15 in the case of a wooden gate assembly is positioned in the rebate on top of the panel 9 to substantially fill the remainder of the rebate. Batten 15 may be fastened in position by any suitable fastening means (not shown). For example, the batten may be fastened in position by means of screw or nails into the bar or stile, either directly or by way of the panel 9, or the batten may be fastened in position by means of dowels which pass through the batten and into the bar or stile, either directly or indirectly.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the groove 11 is replaced by an aperture formed between two separate portions 5a and 5b of the upper bar. The panel 9 is sandwiched between the portions 5a and 5b and may be secured thereto by any suitable fastening means (not shown), for example as described above. The panel 9 is formed with portions 17, such as spikes, finials or the like, which protrude above the portions 5a and 5b of the bar. The portions 17 can either be decorative or can be provided to deter persons from attempting to surmount the gate assembly.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, two separate panels 9a and 9b occupy the internal area defined by the stiles 1 and 3 and the bars 5 and 7 comprising the frame. A third upright member in the form of a dividing post 19 extends between the upper and lower bars and may be secured to the bars by any suitable fastening means (not shown) such as mortice and tenon joints and/or dowels. The dividing post is formed with a recess (illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 4) at each side thereof for receiving each of the panels 9a and 9b. In other respects, the gate assembly of Figure 5 corresponds to the gate assemblies of Figures 1 to 4.

Clearly, more than two separate panels can be provided if desired.

Claims (20)

1. A gate assembly which comprises: a frame comprising first and second upright members which are spaced apart from each other and upper and lower lateral members which are spaced apart from each other, the upper and lower lateral members being secured at opposite ends thereof to the first and second upright members, the first and second upright members and at least the lower lateral member being formed with a recess facing internally of the frame; and a panel occupying at least part of the internal area defined by the frame and extending between the first and second upright members and between the upper and lower lateral members, the panel being received in the recess.

2. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess comprises a groove formed in the first and second upright members and in at least the lower lateral member, the groove facing internally of the frame.

3. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel is secured in the groove by fastening means.

4. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess comprises a rebate formed in the first and second upright members and in at least the lower lateral member and facing internally of the frame, the rebate being formed in the members from one side of the frame for receiving the panel.

5. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the panel is secured in the frame by securing means adapted to substantially fill the remainder of the rebate.

6. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the securing means is fastened to the frame.

7. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the securing means is fastened to the panel.

8. A gate assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a recess is provided in the upper lateral member, the recess facing internally of the frame for receiving the panel.

9. A gate assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the upper lateral member is formed in two parts with a gap therebetween, with part of the panel extending through the gap.

10. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein that part of the panel which extends through the gap is fqrmed with finials and/or spikes or the like.

11. A gate assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel is formed with cut-outs therein.

12. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cut-outs are provided for decorative purposes.

13. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the panel has a border extending entirely around the periphery thereof.

14. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the border extends beyond recess of the frame members into the internal area bounded by the frame.

15. A gate assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel and the lower lateral member are provided with a weatherproof seal therebetween.

16. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein a weatherproof seal is provided between the panel and the first and second upright members and between the panel and the upper lateral member.

17. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the weatherproof seal is formed from a mastic material.

18. A gate assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of panels occupies the internal area defined by the frame, the panels being separated by one or more third upright members extending between the upper and lower lateral members and being provided with a recess for receiving the respective panel.

19. A gate assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the one or more third upright members are secured to the frame.

20. A gate assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.