Patent US4227344A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4227344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic parking lot gate with four-way flex connector
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-02-15
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Granted: 1980-10-14
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Expires: 1999-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A parking lot gate is provided with a flexible connector between the elongated gate arm and the arm drive mechanism to prevent breakage of the gate arm or the arm drive mechanism. The flexible connector includes a first connection plate connected to the arm drive mechanism, a second connection plate connected to the gate arm, and first and second coil springs connected between the first and second connection plates. The first and second coil springs are positioned essentially parallel to one another and in an essentially vertical plane.
Inventors
- 👤 David Poppke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:26
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F13/00; E01F13/04; E01F13/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first connection plate connected to the arm drive means; a second connection plate connected to the gate arm; a first coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate; a second coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; first connecting means for connecting the first ends of the first and second coil springs to the first plate, wherein the first connecting means comprises first inserts which extend into and are welded to the first ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to first connection plate; and second connecting means for connecting the second ends of the first and second coil springs to the second plate, and wherein the second connecting means comprise second inserts which extend into and are welded to the second ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to the second connection plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first connection plate connected to the arm drive means; a second connection plate connected to the gate arm; a first coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate; a second coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; first connecting means for connecting the first ends of the first and second coil springs to the first plate, wherein the first connecting means comprises first inserts which extend into and are welded to the first ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to first connection plate; and second connecting means for connecting the second ends of the first and second coil springs to the second plate, and wherein the second connecting means comprise second inserts which extend into and are welded to the second ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to the second connection plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The parking lot gate of claim 1 wherein the first and second coil springs have a combined strength in the vertical plane sufficient to maintain the elongated gate arm in its essentially horizontal position, but individually do not have strength in the vertical plane sufficient to maintain the gate arm in an essentially horizontal position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The parking lot gate of claim 1 wherein the first and second connecting means further comprise: third and fourth plates attached essentially orthogonal to the first and second plates, respectively and wherein the first inserts are connected to the third plate and the second inserts are connected to the fourth plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The parking lot gate of claim 3 wherein the first and second inserts have internally threaded means, wherein the third and fourth plates have holes extending therethrough, and wherein threaded fasteners extend through the holes and engage the internally threaded means of the first and second inserts to connect the first and second inserts to the third and fourth plates respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The parking lot gate of claim 1 wherein the first and second coil springs are tightly wound coil springs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The parking lot gate of claim 5 wherein the tightly wound coil springs are torsion springs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
181 words
For use with a parking lot gate of the type having arm drive means which automatically and selectively pivots an elongated gate arm about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane from an essentially horizontal position which blocks a path of a vehicle to an upraised position out of the path, the improvement comprising: a first vertically oriented connection plate for connection to the arm drive means; a second vertically oriented connection plate for connection to the gate arm; first and second coil springs each having a first end and a second end, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; third and fourth vertically oriented plates attached essentially orthogonal to the first and second plates, respectively; first inserts which extend into and are connected to the first ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to the third plate; and second inserts which extend into and are connected to the second ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to the fourth plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
181 words
For use with a parking lot gate of the type having arm drive means which automatically and selectively pivots an elongated gate arm about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane from an essentially horizontal position which blocks a path of a vehicle to an upraised position out of the path, the improvement comprising: a first vertically oriented connection plate for connection to the arm drive means; a second vertically oriented connection plate for connection to the gate arm; first and second coil springs each having a first end and a second end, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; third and fourth vertically oriented plates attached essentially orthogonal to the first and second plates, respectively; first inserts which extend into and are connected to the first ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to the third plate; and second inserts which extend into and are connected to the second ends of the first and second coil springs and are connected to the fourth plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the first and second inserts have internally threaded means, wherein the third and fourth plates have holes extending therethrough, and wherein threaded fasteners extend through the holes and engage the internally threaded means of the first and second inserts to connect the first and second inserts to the third and fourth plates respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the first and second coil springs are tightly wound coil springs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
185 words
For use with a parking lot gate of the type having arm drive means which automatically and selectively pivots an elongated gate arm about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane from an essentially horizontal position which blocks a path of a vehicle to an upraised position out of the path, the improvement comprising: spring means connected between the arm drive means and the gate arm, the spring means having greater flexibility in the horizontal plane than in the vertical plane when the gate arm is in an essentially horizontal position, so that the gate arm is held securely in the essentially horizontal position, but is flexible in the horizontal plane to permit a vehicle to drive through the path without breaking the gate arm or the arm drive means, wherein the spring means comprises first and second tightly wound coil springs positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane and connected between the arm drive means and the gate arm, the first and second springs having central axes oriented essentially parallel to the elongated direction of the elongated gate arm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
185 words
For use with a parking lot gate of the type having arm drive means which automatically and selectively pivots an elongated gate arm about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane from an essentially horizontal position which blocks a path of a vehicle to an upraised position out of the path, the improvement comprising: spring means connected between the arm drive means and the gate arm, the spring means having greater flexibility in the horizontal plane than in the vertical plane when the gate arm is in an essentially horizontal position, so that the gate arm is held securely in the essentially horizontal position, but is flexible in the horizontal plane to permit a vehicle to drive through the path without breaking the gate arm or the arm drive means, wherein the spring means comprises first and second tightly wound coil springs positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane and connected between the arm drive means and the gate arm, the first and second springs having central axes oriented essentially parallel to the elongated direction of the elongated gate arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein the spring means further comprises a first connection plate for connection to the arm drive means, a second connection plate for connection to the gate arm, and means for connecting first ends of the first and second coil springs to the first connection plate and second ends of the first and second coil springs to the second connection plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
164 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first connection plate connected to the arm drive means; a second connection plate connected to the gate arm; a first coil spring having a first end and a second end; a second coil spring having a first end and a second end, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; first and second inserts having externally threaded portions to receive the first and second ends, respectively, of the first and second coil springs; and means for connecting the first and second inserts to the first and second plates, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first connection plate connected to the arm drive means; a second connection plate connected to the gate arm; a first coil spring having a first end and a second end; a second coil spring having a first end and a second end, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; first and second inserts having externally threaded portions to receive the first and second ends, respectively, of the first and second coil springs; and means for connecting the first and second inserts to the first and second plates, respectively.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
198 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first connection plate connected to the arm drive means; a second connection plate connected to the gate arm; a first coil spring having a first end and a second end; a second coil spring having a first end and a second end, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; first inserts which extend into and are connected to the first ends of the first and second coil springs; second inserts which extend into and are connected to the second ends of the first and second coil springs; and third and fourth plates attached essentially orthogonal to the first and second plates, and wherein the first inserts are connected to the third plate and the second inserts are connected to the fourth plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
198 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first connection plate connected to the arm drive means; a second connection plate connected to the gate arm; a first coil spring having a first end and a second end; a second coil spring having a first end and a second end, the first and second coil springs being positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane; first inserts which extend into and are connected to the first ends of the first and second coil springs; second inserts which extend into and are connected to the second ends of the first and second coil springs; and third and fourth plates attached essentially orthogonal to the first and second plates, and wherein the first inserts are connected to the third plate and the second inserts are connected to the fourth plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The parking lot gate of claim 13 wherein the first and second inserts have internally threaded means, wherein the third and fourth plates have holes extending therethrough, and wherein threaded fasteners extend through the holes and engage the internally threaded means of the first and second inserts to connect the first and second inserts to the third and fourth plates, respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
193 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal pivot axis to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first veritcally oriented connection plate connected to the arm drive means and generally parallel to the vertical plane; a second vertically oriented connection plate connected to the gate arm and generally parallel to the vertical plane; a first coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate; and a second coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate, the first and second coil springs having first and second central axes, respectively, positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane and oriented essentially in the elongated direction of the elongated gate arm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
193 words
A parking lot gate for selectively blocking a path of a vehicle, the parking lot gate comprising: an elongated gate arm for blocking the path when in an essentially horizontal position and being pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis in an essentially vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal pivot axis to an upraised position out of the path; arm drive means for selectively pivoting the gate arm about the pivot axis; a first veritcally oriented connection plate connected to the arm drive means and generally parallel to the vertical plane; a second vertically oriented connection plate connected to the gate arm and generally parallel to the vertical plane; a first coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate; and a second coil spring having a first end connected to the first connection plate and a second end connected to the second connection plate, the first and second coil springs having first and second central axes, respectively, positioned essentially parallel to one another in an essentially vertical plane and oriented essentially in the elongated direction of the elongated gate arm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-14 | 1984-04-14 | 1984-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-14 | 1988-04-14 | 1988-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-14 | 1992-04-14 | 1992-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |