Security gate

Claim 1

A security gate for a vehicular driveway consisting of two sections of pavement spaced apart by an opening, the security gate comprising: a substantially planar barrier having a straight horizontal pivot axis disposed substantially at a right angle to the direction of the driveway and at a level no higher than the surface of the pavement, the barrier pivotably supported at said pivot axis between an upper vertical postion with a side facing and for stopping approaching traffic and a lower position in which it fills the opening for providing a driving surface flush with the pavement; a substantially planar surface element disposed perpendicularly to said barrier and rigidly attached thereto along said pivot axis, the surface element substantially congruent with said opening and operating to fill the opening when said barrier is in its upper position; said barrier and said surface element providing an L-shaped structure having an open side above said surface element and in front of said barrier, so that a vehicle crashing into said barrier rests on said surface element and the weight of the vehicle counteracts the force of the vehicle crashing into the barrier; a pit below the opening for receiving the surface element when the barrier is in its lower position; means for rotating said barrier with the surface element between its upper vertical and its lower horizontal position; means for pivotably supporting the barrier with the surface element along said pivot axis.