A BARRIER ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a barrier assembly, and in particular an assembly used in agriculture.

BACKGROUND ART

In farming, races and paddocks are defined by fences or other barriers.

Gates are used as a way to allow access to within an area and to control movement along a race.

Generally, gates are pivotally mounted to a post forming part of the fence.

This normally occurs using complimentary gudgeons and hinge pins secured to the post and gate.

Often, it is necessary to have a wider access point to the area, or along the race. In this situation, two gates are mounted to fence posts opposite each other. The gates are configured such that together they provide a barrier into the area or to movement along the race.

The fact that the gates are mounted to different fence posts is awkward for farmers because the gates tend to pivot away from each other. This makes it difficult to connect the gates to each other to provide the barrier.

In addition, the fact that the gates are mounted to different posts limits the flexibility with which the gates can be manipulated in use.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a barrier assembly which is easier to use in preventing access to an area or movement along a race or through an area larger than a standard gate.

In addition, it would be advantageous to have a device which facilitates the use of barrier assemblies in a variety of different ways.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier assembly, including

a first gate,

a connector attached to the first gate,

characterised in that the barrier assembly includes a second gate pivotally attached to the first gate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a barrier assembly, including the steps of:

(a) positioning a first gate ;

(b) attaching a connector to the first gate,

the method characterised by the step of

(c) pivotally attaching a second gate to the first gate using the connector.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for use with the method described above,

characterised in that the connector can pivotally attach a second gate to a first gate,

Throughout the body of the present specification, reference to the term "barrier assembly" should be understood as meaning an assembly which prevents access to an enclosed area or movement past a point.

In one embodiment the barrier assembly may be a plurality of barrier elements connected to each other as described herein. Alternatively, the barrier assembly may be formed from several gates and fences.

Throughout the body of the present specification, reference to the term "barrier element" should be understood as meaning a component which can prevent or limit access to the area defined by the at least one fence.

In a preferred embodiment the barrier element may be a gate as known to those skilled in the art. In this embodiment, the gate has a rectangular frame formed from tubular members. Within the frame, reinforcing members provide additional strength and rigidity to the barrier element.

Reference throughout the present specification to gates should not be seen as in any way limiting.

The gates may be metric or imperial measurement gates. These are as should be understood by those skilled in the art.

Metric and imperial gates are often used on the same farm, or in combination with each other. The decision on whether to use a metric or imperial gate is often dependant on a number of factors. These may include gates available from local retail outlets, engineering firms, or the fences already on a farm. Therefore, it is important that the present invention can be used with both metric and imperial measurement gates. The aspects of the present invention which facilitate this should become clearer from the ensuing description.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the gates may be releasably attached to a structure, fence, wall, or another gate. This can occur using hinges. In this embodiment gudgeons on the gate may slip over top of hinge pins on the structure wall, or fence.

This allows greater flexibility with how the barrier assembly may be used.

Alternatively hinges other than gudgeons and hinge pins may be used.

Throughout the present specification the term "connector" should be understood as meaning a component which facilitates pivotal attachment of gates to each other.

Preferably the connector may use mountings to pivotally attach the gates to each

other.

In this embodiment, the mountings may be at least one hinge pin attached to the connector. The second gate may have at least one gudgeon, which engages the corresponding hinge pin. Reference will be made herein to mountings as hinge pins and gudgeons.

This attachment is such that a first gate can support the weight of a second gate, and allow the second gate to pivot relative to the first gate. The second gate can therefore be released from any structure to which it may be attached, and still easily moved. This should become clearer from the ensuing description.

In a particularly preferred embodiment one hinge pin may face upwards, and one hinge pin may face downwards. This is important as it allows a second gate to support the first gate should it be released from a fence.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the mountings may be movable along the length of the connector. This feature facilitates the use of the present invention with gates of different configurations and dimensions. It may therefore provide the public with greater flexibility and variations as to how they connect gates and/or form barrier assemblies.

In a preferred embodiment, the mountings may be releasably attached to the connector. This allows additional mountings to be attached to the connector should a user want to provide extra attachment points between gates. It may also provide flexibility in the types of gates with which the present invention can be used by allowing the mountings to move along the length of the connector.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second gate may be pivotally attached to a fence or another gate. Therefore, the first and second gates may be released from each other, and able to move independently of each other with respect to the

fence or gate to which they are attached.

Also, this may allow the first gate to be released from the fence to which it is attached.

A user can therefore manipulate the barrier assembly in a variety of different ways. This is useful in controlling or isolating livestock as they move along a race, or to permit a vehicle to pass through the race or entrance to a paddock.

Optionally, the hinge pins and/or gudgeons on the second gate may be provided by a connector according to the present invention.

Alternatives are envisaged including those where both hinge pins face upwards or downwards.

The connector may have a main body formed from an extrusion. Reference herein will be made to the main body as an extrusion.

In a preferred embodiment, the extrusion may have a length such that it can engage the gate at two spaced apart positions.

In one embodiment, the connector may have a length sufficient to engage the horizontal members of a gate frame.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the connector may have a length of between 1000mm - 1150mm.

Most preferably the connector may have a length of 1080mm.

This range of lengths is advantageous as it ensures that the connector can engage the horizontal portions of a gate frame without striking the ground which would impair the performance of the present invention.

However, the foregoing should not be seen as limiting and alternate embodiments

for the connector's length are envisaged.

For example it is also envisaged that the connector may have a length that it can engage the vertical member of a gate frame at spaced apart positions. This need not be done with an extrusion having a length in the range of 1000 - 1150 mm. Rather, the extrusion could have a length less than 1000 mm.

In this embodiment, the length of the extrusion provides additional reinforcing to the barrier assembly, and helps to prevent the second gate dropping relative to the first gate. This is an issue which could affect the operation of the barrier assembly.

The length of the extrusion is important as it is this feature which allows the connector to be secured to the gate. In particular, the extrusion must be long enough that it can provide fasteners which can engage the members forming the gate frame.

In addition, attaching the connector to the gate at two distally spaced points on the gate may help to ensure that the second gate does not drop or twist.

Preferably, the connector may have fasteners.

Throughout the present specification the term "fasteners" should be understood as referring to one or more components which secure the connector to a gate.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fasteners may be configured to engage the extrusion at variable points along its length.

Having the fasteners moveable along the length of the extrusion is an advantage as it allows the connector to be used with gates of different sizes and configurations (metric and imperial measurement gates).

In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners may be substantially U shaped members. In this embodiment the fasteners can surround the gate frame and extend through

apertures in the connector. At least one end of a U shaped member may have a thread which can engage a nut to hold the fastener and connector together.

Alternatively, the fasteners may extend through the gate and surround a portion of the extrusion.

It is also envisaged that the fasteners may have two portions biased towards a closed position. In this embodiment, the portions may be separated by pressure applied by the user. This allows a portion of the gate to be inserted between the portions such that the fasteners surround the gate. The user then releases the portions which are returned to a closed position thereby securing the fastener to the connector.

In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners may have physical features of shape or configuration to prevent them slipping along the length of the gate. This feature of the fasteners is important as it prevents the connector slipping along the members of the gate frame.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the connector may have a plurality of mountings.

In an alternately preferred embodiment, three or more gates may be pivotally attached to each other using connector's according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the connectors facilitate attachment of gates and movement of these relative to each other.

This provides a user with a significant amount of flexibility in how to assemble a barrier assembly using the connectors described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following

description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1A is a front view of a connector according to the present invention;

Figure 1 B is a side view of the connector of Figure 1 A;

Figure 1 C is an exploded view of the hinge pin of Figures 1 A and 1 B;

Figure 2A is a front view of an alternate embodiment;

Figure 2B is a side view of Figure 2A;

Figure 3A is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3B is a side view of an alternate embodiment of Figure 3A;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a barrier assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a close up view of a barrier assembly formed using a connector according to the present invention;

Figure 6 is an alternate configuration of a barrier assembly according to the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a further alternate embodiment of a barrier assembly according to the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Throughout the Figures like references refer to like components.

A connector (1 ) is formed from an extrusion (2).

A hinge pin (3) is welded to the extrusion (2). The hinge pin (3) forms a mounting.

The operation of which will become clearer below.

Another mounting (5) is shown in detail in Figure 1C. The mounting (5) is formed from the second hinge pin (4) secured to a plate (6). The plate has apertures (8,9).

A U shaped member (10) is used to secure the mounting (5) to the extrusion (2). The member (10) wraps around the extrusion (2) and extends through the apertures (8,9).

Nuts (not shown) engage complementary screw threads on the ends (11 , 12) to secure the mounting (5) to the extrusion (2). This allows the hinge pin (4) to be moved along the length of the extrusion (2).

Apertures (13) facilitate securing the connector (1 ) to a gate (14). The apertures (13) are spaced along the length of the extrusion (2). This provides different points at which the connector (1) can be secured to a gate (14). Fasteners (not shown) surround the gate frame and extend through the apertures. This allows the connector (1 ) to be secured to gates of different dimensions.

Figures 2A and 2B show an alternate embodiment in which hinge pins (3,4) face in different directions.

Figures 3A and 3B show yet a further embodiment of the present invention. In this, the connector (1 ) has two pairs of hinge pins indicated as (16,17). The pairs of hinge pins (16, 17) are secured on distally opposite faces (18, 19) of the extrusion (2). Again, the relative orientation of the hinge pins (16,17) can be changed, the same as for the embodiment shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

Connectors (1 ) can be used to form a barrier assembly (20) as shown in Figure 4. An area is defined by fences (21 , 22). The fences (21 , 22) may form the edges of a paddock or a race.

A first gate (14) is pivotally attached to the fence (21 ) by hinges (23, 24).

The first gate (14) has an outside frame (25) which provides two horizontal members (26, 27).

The connector (1 ) is secured to a first gate (14) by fasteners (not visible in Figure 4). The fasteners are U shaped members which can each surround a portion of the horizontal members (26,27) of the first gate (14).

A second gate (28) has gudgeons (29, 30). The gudgeons (29, 30) engage of hinge pins (3, 4) to pivotally attach the second gate (28) to the first gate (14).

The first gate (14) can be released from the fence (21 ). The first gate (14) is supported by the second gate (1 ). This is due to the relative orientation of the hinges in the embodiment shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

They first and second gates (14, 28) can be manipulated by a person to allow or prevent access to the area defined by the fences (21 , 22).

Figure 5 shows a close up view of the gates (14, 28) and connector (1 ).

Referring now to Figure 6, a barrier assembly (33) is formed by pivotally attaching gates (31 ) to each other. The gates (31 ) are pivotally attached using connectors (1 ).

As can be seen in Figure 6, the barrier assembly (33) can be moved into a variety of configurations to enclose an area (32). The number of gates (31 ) can be varied to alter the size and shape of the enclosed area (32).

Figure 7 shows an alternative barrier assembly (34) according to the present invention. The barrier assembly (35) is formed from a plurality of gates (35) pivotally attached to each other using connectors (1 ).

The present invention allows a variety of barrier assemblies to be easily constructed to define enclosed areas. These barrier assemblies can be used or assembled at different location and for different purposes.

Also, barrier assemblies constructed as herein described can be easily manipulated providing the public with flexibility in-use.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.