U.S. patent application number 13/804432 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-19 for gate apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to RICHELL CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is RICHELL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yoichi MATSUDA, Satoshi URABE.
Application Number | 20140165470 13/804432 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50845264 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140165470 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MATSUDA; Yoichi ; et
al. |
June 19, 2014 |
GATE APPARATUS
Abstract
A gate apparatus includes a frame that is approximately in a
shape of a letter "U", a gate that opens forward or backward, a
rotational support device that supports the gate so that the gate
rotates and moves upward relative to the frame, a locking device
that locks the gate at a closed position, and a pedal device that
unlocks the locking device. The pedal device includes a pair of
pedals on the both sides of the gate, and a push-up member that is
linked to the pair of pedals. The push-up member includes a push-up
surface that tilts when the pedal is operated. The push-up surface
tilts so that the push-up surface moves upward and comes in contact
with the gate on the side closer to the pedal that has been
operated, and applies a push-up force and a rotation force to the
gate.
Inventors: |
MATSUDA; Yoichi; (Toyama,
JP) ; URABE; Satoshi; (Toyama, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RICHELL CORPORATION |
Toyama-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
RICHELL CORPORATION
Toyama-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
50845264 |
Appl. No.: |
13/804432 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 53/001 20130101;
E05B 65/06 20130101; E05B 65/0014 20130101; E05Y 2900/40 20130101;
E05C 19/006 20130101; E05F 11/54 20130101; E05B 65/0007 20130101;
E06B 2009/002 20130101; A01K 1/0017 20130101; E06B 9/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
49/272 |
International
Class: |
E05F 11/54 20060101
E05F011/54 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2012 |
JP |
2012-277024 |
Claims
1. A gate apparatus comprising: a frame that is approximately in a
shape of a letter "U" and includes a base section; a gate that
opens forward or backward from a closed position at which the gate
is disposed inside the frame; a rotational support device that
supports a first side of the gate so that the gate rotates and
moves upward relative to the frame; a locking device that locks the
gate at the closed position; and a pedal device that unlocks the
locking device to open the gate, the pedal device including a pair
of pedals that are provided on the base section and disposed on a
front side and a back side of the gate positioned at the closed
position, and a push-up member that is linked to the pair of
pedals, and the push-up member including a push-up surface that
tilts so that the push-up surface moves upward and comes in contact
with the gate on a side closer to one of the pair of pedals when
one of the pair of pedals is operated, and applying forces to the
gate that push-up and rotate the gate.
2. The gate apparatus as defined in claim 1, the pair of pedals
being respectively biased to move when a force equal to or larger
than 200 N has been applied.
3. The gate apparatus as defined in claim 1, the locking device
including an upper locking device that is provided in an upper area
on a second side of the gate, the upper locking device including an
upper locking pin that is biased to protrude from one of the gate
and the frame, and an upper locking recess that is provided in the
other of the gate and the frame, and an upper side of an inner
surface of the upper locking recess defining a tilted surface.
4. The gate apparatus as defined in claim 3, the locking device
including a lower locking device that is provided to a bottom of
the gate, the lower locking device including a lower locking pin
that is biased to protrude from one of the gate and the frame, and
a lower locking recess that is provided in the other of the gate
and the frame.
5. The gate apparatus as defined in claim 1, the rotational support
device including a tilted receiving surface that is provided on a
side of the frame, and a tilted sliding contact surface that is
provided on a side of the gate, the tilted sliding contact surface
being placed on the tilted receiving surface from above, and the
tilted receiving surface and the tilted sliding contact surface
coming in surface contact with each other at a downward angle
toward the gate when the gate is set to the closed position.
6. The gate apparatus as defined in claim 5, the rotational support
device further including a spring that applies a force that causes
the tilted sliding contact surface to come in contact with the
tilted receiving surface, the spring being compressed when the gate
moves upward.
7. The gate apparatus as defined in claim 1, the push-up member
being disposed between the pair of pedals, and being linked to the
pair of pedals.
Description
[0001] Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-277024 filed on Dec.
19, 2012 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a gate apparatus that can
be opened and closed without using a hand.
[0003] A gate that restricts passage of a pet, and a gate that
restricts access of a child to a dangerous area, have been known.
US-A-2001/0000556 discloses a gate that is provided with a foot
pedal that cannot be operated by a child.
[0004] However, the foot pedal disclosed in US-A-2001/0000556 is
merely used to release the locked state of the gate, and does not
open the gate forward.
[0005] JP-A-2004-57685 discloses a child safety fence that is
configured so that a knee plate is provided above a pedal, and a
gate can be opened forward with a knee while operating the
pedal.
[0006] However, the pedal disclosed in JP-A-2004-57685 is also
merely used to release the locked state of the gate.
SUMMARY
[0007] The invention may provide a gate apparatus that exhibits
excellent operability, and is configured so that the locked state
of a gate is released, and a force that opens the gate is applied
by merely operating a pedal.
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided
a gate apparatus comprising: [0009] a frame that is approximately
in a shape of a letter "U"; [0010] a gate that opens forward or
backward from a closed position at which the gate is disposed
inside the frame; [0011] a rotational support device that supports
one side of the gate so that the gate rotates and moves upward
relative to the frame; [0012] a locking device that locks the gate
at the closed position; and [0013] a pedal device that unlocks the
locking device to open the gate, [0014] the pedal device including
a pair of pedals that are disposed on a front side and a back side
of the gate, and a push-up member that is linked to the pair of
pedals, and [0015] the push-up member including a push-up surface
that tilts when one of the pair of pedals is operated, the push-up
surface tilting so that the push-up surface moves upward and comes
in contact with the gate on a side closer to one of the pair of
pedals that has been operated, and applying a push-up force and a
rotation force to the gate.
[0016] The expression "opens forward or backward" used herein means
that one side of the gate is rotatably supported, and the gate can
be opened in the direction into which the user is making his
way.
[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, when the front
pedal is operated using a foot, the push-up surface of the push-up
member tilts so that the front side of the push-up surface moves
upward. The gate is moved upward by the tilted surface (push-up
surface), and a rotation force that rotates the gate forward is
applied to the gate due to the tilted surface (push-up surface).
The locking device is released when the gate (that is supported by
the rotational support device so that the gate can move upward and
rotate) is moved upward due to the push-up force, and opened due to
the rotation force.
[0018] Since the gate apparatus according to one aspect of the
invention is configured so that the locked state is canceled when
the gate is moved upward, the locked state can also be canceled,
and the gate can be opened even when the gate is moved upward using
a hand without operating the pedal.
[0019] Since the gate apparatus according to one aspect of the
invention is configured so that the gate is opened by operating the
pedal, the pair of pedals may respectively be biased to move
downward when a force equal to or larger than 200 N has been
applied, in order to prevent a situation in which the pedal is
operated by a large dog or a child.
[0020] It is preferable to design the gate apparatus so that the
pedal moves when an operation force (biasing force) equal to 200 to
300 N has been applied (i.e., a force that is normally applied by
an adult).
[0021] An arbitrary structure may be employed for the device for
which the locked state is canceled when the gate is moved
upward.
[0022] For example, the locking device may include an upper locking
device that is provided in an upper area on the other side of the
gate, [0023] the upper locking device may include an upper locking
pin that is biased to protrude from one of the gate and the frame,
and an upper locking recess that is provided in the other of the
gate and the frame, and [0024] an upper side of an inner surface of
the upper locking recess may define a tilted surface.
[0025] In the gate apparatus, [0026] the locking device may include
a lower locking device that is provided to a bottom of the gate,
and the lower locking device may include a lower locking pin that
is biased to protrude from one of the gate and the frame, and a
lower locking recess that is provided in the other of the gate and
the frame.
[0027] In the gate apparatus, [0028] the rotational support device
may include a tilted receiving surface that is provided on a side
of the frame, and a tilted sliding contact surface that is provided
on a side of the gate, the tilted sliding contact surface may be
placed on the tilted receiving surface from above, and [0029] the
tilted receiving surface and the tilted sliding contact surface may
come in surface contact with each other at a downward angle toward
the gate when the gate is set to the closed position.
[0030] According to the above configuration, the gate does not move
downward when the gate is open since the tilted receiving surface
and the tilted sliding contact surface come in surface contact with
each other. When a force that closes the gate from the open state
is applied to the gate, the gate closes automatically to the closed
position due to the weight of the gate and surface contact between
the tilted receiving surface and the tilted sliding contact
surface.
[0031] In the gate apparatus, the rotational support device may
further include a spring that applies a force that causes the
tilted sliding contact surface to come in contact with the tilted
receiving surface, the spring may be compressed when the gate moves
upward. According to the above configuration, the downward biasing
force of the spring that has occurred when the gate has moved
upward can be used to allow the gate to close automatically in
addition to the weight of the gate.
[0032] In the gate apparatus, the push-up member may be disposed
between the pair of pedals, and may be linked to the pair of
pedals. Since the push-up member tilts so that the push-up surface
moves upward on the side of the operated pedal, the push-up force
that moves the gate upward, and the rotation force that opens the
gate forward, can be applied to the gate by utilizing the tilted
surface (push-up surface). This makes it possible to easily open
the gate forward.
[0033] When the push-up member is linked to the pair of pedals at a
position between the pair of pedals, the gate can be opened forward
and backward using a common push-up member. It is also possible to
implement a simple structure while ensuring excellent
operability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1A illustrates an example of the structure of a gate
apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 1B
is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A illustrated in
FIG. 1A.
[0035] FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating the gate apparatus in a
state in which the gate is closed, and FIG. 2B is a plan view
illustrating the gate apparatus in a state in which the gate is
opened by operating the pedal.
[0036] FIG. 3A is an enlarged view illustrating the pedal device,
and FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating the pedal
device.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a bottom view illustrating the pedal device.
[0038] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional views taken along the line B-B
in FIG. 4 illustrating a state in which the gate is closed, FIG. 5B
is a cross-sectional views taken along the line B-B in FIG. 4
illustrating a state in which the push-up member is tilted by
operating the pedal to open the gate, and FIG. 5C is a
cross-sectional views taken along the line B-B in FIG. 4
illustrating a state in which the push-up member is tilted by
operating the pedal to open the gate.
[0039] FIG. 6A is an enlarged view illustrating the rotational
support device, FIG. 6B illustrates an example of the structure of
the rotational support device on the side of the support vertical
frame, FIG. 6C illustrates the biasing pin, and FIG. 6D illustrates
an example of the structure of the rotational support device on the
side of the gate.
[0040] FIG. 7A illustrates a state in which the gate is rotatably
supported by the support vertical frame, FIG. 7B illustrates a
state when inserting the biasing pin, FIG. 7C illustrates a state
in which the biasing pin is inserted, and FIG. 7D is a view
illustrating a state in which a downward biasing force is applied
when the gate is moved upward.
[0041] FIG. 8A illustrates a state in which the gate is closed,
FIGS. 8B and 8C illustrate a state in which the gate is opened to
some extent, and FIGS. 8D and 8E illustrate a state in which the
gate is opened by 90.degree..
[0042] FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the upper locking device
illustrating the locked state, FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of the
upper locking device illustrating a state in which the gate moves
upward, and the locked state is canceled (i.e., the locking pin is
pushed backward), FIG. 9C is an enlarged view of the upper locking
device illustrating a state in which the gate is open, and FIG. 9D
is a perspective view illustrating the locking recess.
[0043] FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of the lower locking device
illustrating the locked state, FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the
lower locking device illustrating the locked state, FIG. 10C is an
enlarged view of the lower locking device illustrating a state in
which the gate moves upward so that the locked state is canceled,
and FIG. 10D is an enlarged view of the lower locking device
illustrating the motion when the gate is closed.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0044] A gate apparatus according to one embodiment of the
invention may be widely used in various fields as a hinged gate
opening/closing apparatus.
[0045] For example, the gate apparatus according to one embodiment
of the invention may be used as a gate that restricts passage of a
pet, a gate that restricts access of a child, and the like.
[0046] The gate apparatus according to one embodiment of the
invention is described below taking an example in which the gate
apparatus is used to block a passageway.
[0047] Note that the gate apparatus according to one embodiment of
the invention may also be used as an opening/closing gate of a pet
circle or the like, or a gate apparatus of a fence that is placed
in a passageway.
[0048] FIG. 1A illustrates an example of the structure of the gate
apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a frame 20 that is approximately
in the shape of the letter "U" is secured between the walls of a
passageway, and a gate 10 is disposed inside the frame 20.
[0050] The frame 20 includes a base section 21 that is disposed
along the floor surface in the direction that crosses the
passageway, and a support vertical frame 22 and a vertical frame 23
that extend upward from either side of the base section 21, and is
provided upright to form an opening (passageway) that is generally
in the shape of the letter "U".
[0051] The support vertical frame 22 is provided with an auxiliary
frame 22a, and fixtures 61 are respectively screwed into the upper
part and the lower part of the auxiliary frame 22a. The support
vertical frame 22 is secured on the wall by adjusting the number of
turns to press the fixture 61 against the wall.
[0052] An adjuster 62 that has an internal thread section into
which an external thread section 61a of the fixture 61 is screwed,
is provided to adjust the thrust amount of the fixture 61.
[0053] The vertical frame 23 is similarly provided with a fixture
61 and an adjuster 62 via an auxiliary frame 23a.
[0054] The support vertical frame 22 and the vertical frame 23 can
be secured on the walls on either side of the passageway by turning
the upper and lower adjusters 62 to adjust the thrust amount of the
fixtures 61.
[0055] Note that the frame 20 may be secured and installed by an
arbitrary method as long as the frame 20 can be disposed
approximately in the shape of the letter "U".
[0056] The gate 10 has a configuration in which the ends of an
upper crosspiece 11 and a lower crosspiece 12 are connected via a
right vertical crosspiece 13 and a left vertical crosspiece in the
shape of a frame, and a lattice is formed inside the frame using a
wire rod. Note that the gate 10 may have a panel instead of a
lattice.
[0057] The end of the upper crosspiece 11 and the end of the lower
crosspiece 12 positioned on one side of the gate 10 (left side in
FIG. 1A) are rotatably supported by the frame 20. For example, the
end of the upper crosspiece 11 is rotatably supported by the
support vertical frame 22 via a rotational support device 40. The
end of the lower crosspiece 12 is supported by the base section 21
via a rotation pin 46 (see FIGS. 1A and 3A).
[0058] The rotational support device 40 and the rotation pin 46
allow the gate 10 to move upward by a specific amount so that the
gate 10 can be moved upward using a pedal device 30, or can be
moved upward with a hand.
[0059] An upper locking device 50 is provided between the end of
the upper crosspiece 11 and the upper end of the vertical frame 23
positioned on the other side of the gate 10 (right side in FIG. 1A
(open side)). The gate 10 can have a lower locking device 60 that
is positioned between the bottom surface of the lower crosspiece 12
and the base section 21.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 1B (cross-sectional view taken along
the line A-A in FIG. 1A), the pedal device 30 is provided to extend
across the base section 21. As illustrated in FIG. 2A (plan view),
the pedal device 30 includes pedals 34 and 35 that are positioned
on the front side and the back side of the gate 10 (upper
crosspiece 11). When the pedal 34 or 35 is operated, the gate 10 is
moved upward, and the upper locking device 50 and the lower locking
device 60 are unlocked, so that the gate 10 opens.
[0061] When the pedal 35 is operated when the gate 10 is set to a
closed state in which the gate 10 (upper crosspiece 11) is
positioned inside the frame 20 (see FIG. 2A), the gate 10 (upper
crosspiece 11) opens forward to move away from the operated pedal
35 (see FIG. 2B).
[0062] FIGS. 6A to 8E illustrate an example of the structure of the
rotational support device 40.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the rotational support device 40
includes a receiving section 41 that is positioned on the side of
the support vertical frame 22, and a rotation section 42 that is
positioned on the side of the upper crosspiece 11 of the gate
10.
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the receiving section 41 includes
a pivot shaft 41b that is provided upright from the bottom of a
pivot recess 41a. The bottom of the pivot recess 41a defines a
tilted receiving surface 41d that is tilted toward the gate 10. The
upper end of the pivot recess 41a is tilted in parallel to the
tilted receiving surface 41d, and a locking recess 41c is formed in
the vicinity of the uppermost part of the upper end of the pivot
recess 41a.
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 6D, the rotation section 42 includes
a tubular section 42a that is inserted into the pivot recess 41a,
and a locking rib 42d that is provided to the tubular section 42a.
The locking rib 42d is provided on the side surface of the tubular
section 42a that is positioned on the open side of the gate 10.
[0066] The lower end face of the tubular section 42a defines a
tilted sliding contact surface 42b corresponding to the tilted
receiving surface 41d that is formed at the bottom of the pivot
recess 41a. The lowermost position of the tilted sliding contact
surface 42b is situated on the open side of the gate 10 (i.e., on
the side of the passageway).
[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the tubular section 42a of the
rotation section 42 is pivotally fitted (inserted) into the pivot
recess 41a. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, a biasing pin 43 is inserted
into the pivot shaft 41b in a state in which the pivot shaft 41b is
positioned inside a hollow section 42c of the tubular section.
[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the biasing pin 43 includes a
head 43a having a diameter larger than that of the pin section, and
an insertion groove 43b for a C-ring 45 that is formed at the end
of the pin section, and a spring 44 is fitted to the pin
section.
[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the biasing pin 43 is inserted
into the pivot shaft 41b from above so that the lower end of the
spring 44 comes in contact with the step portion of a step recess
42e. As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the C-ring 45 is inserted into the
insertion groove 43b formed at the end of the pin section.
[0070] The C-ring 45 prevents the biasing pin 43 from falling
out.
[0071] The gate 10 is biased downward by the spring 44.
[0072] The tilted receiving surface 41d of the receiving section 41
comes in sliding contact with the tilted sliding contact surface
42b of the rotation section 42. As illustrated in FIGS. 8B and 8C,
when the gate 10 is opened to some extent, the tilted sliding
contact surface 42b of the rotation section 42 rotates while coming
in sliding contact with the tilted receiving surface 41d of the
pivot recess 41a, and the gate 10 moves upward against the weight
of the gate 10 and the downward biasing force applied by the spring
44.
[0073] As illustrated in FIGS. 8D and 8E, when the gate 10 is
further opened so that the rotation angle reaches 90.degree., the
locking rib 42d of the rotation section 42 is locked by the locking
recess 41c of the receiving section 41, and the gate 10 is held in
the 90.degree. open state. In this case, the spring 44 is
compressed to a maximum extent.
[0074] When the gate 10 is closed to some extent so that the
rotation angle decreases from 90.degree., the locking rib 42d is
removed from the locking recess 41c, and the rotation force and the
weight of the gate 10 are applied to the gate 10. The downward
biasing force of the spring 44 is also applied to the gate 10.
Therefore, the gate 10 rotates and moves downward along the tilted
receiving surface 41d, and closes automatically. FIGS. 9A to 9D
illustrate an example of the structure of the upper locking device
50.
[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the upper locking device 50
includes a locking receiving section 51 and a locking section 52.
The locking section 52 that is provided at the end of the upper
crosspiece 11 includes a locking pin 52a that is biased by a spring
52b in the direction in which the locking pin 52a protrudes from
the end of the locking section 52, and the locking receiving
section 51 is provided on the upper end of the vertical frame
23.
[0076] As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9D, the locking receiving
section 51 includes a locking recess 51a, and a tilted surface 51b
that is defined by the upper side of the inner surface of the
locking recess 51a.
[0077] Therefore, when the gate 10 moves upward (see FIG. 9B), the
locking pin 52a moves along the tilted surface 51b, and the gate 10
is released from the locked state, and rotates (see FIG. 9C).
[0078] Note that the locking pin may be provided to the frame, and
the locking recess may be provided to the gate, differing from the
above example.
[0079] FIGS. 10A to 10D illustrate an example of the structure of
the lower locking device 60.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the lower locking device 60
includes a locking receiving section 61 and a locking section 62.
The locking section 62 that is provided to the bottom of the lower
crosspiece 12 includes a projection pin 62a that is biased downward
by a spring 62b.
[0081] The locking receiving section 61 that is provided to the
base section 21 includes a locking recess 61a, and slope sections
61b that are provided on the front side and the back side of the
locking recess 61a. The slope section 61b is tilted downward from
the upper opening of the locking recess 61a.
[0082] When the gate 10 moves upward from the position illustrated
in FIG. 10B, the locked state of the lower locking device 60 is
canceled (see FIG. 10C). When the gate 10 closes, the projection
pin 61a is guided upward along the slope section 61b (see FIG.
10D), and enters the locking recess 61a (see FIG. 10B).
[0083] An example of the structure of the pedal device 30 is
described below with reference to FIGS. 3A to 5C.
[0084] The pedal device 30 includes a pair of mounting plates 31
and 32 that are opposite to each other, and a connection section 33
that is approximately in the shape of an inverted letter "U", and
connects the center area of the pair of mounting plates 31 and 32.
The pedal device 30 is secured on the base section 21 using a
fixture 33a (e.g., bolt or nut) so that the base section 21 is
inserted into the connection section 33.
[0085] The pedals 34 and 35 are rotatably supported by shafts 34b
and 35b, respectively, at a position between the mounting plates 31
and 32 on the front side and the back side of the gate 10.
[0086] As illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5C (cross-sectional views
taken along the line B-B in FIG. 4), the pedals 34 and 35 are
formed approximately in the shape of the letter "L", and
respectively include stepping surfaces 34a and 35a that extend away
from the base section 21 on the front side and the back side of the
gate 10, and action sections 34d and 35d that extend downward from
the shafts 34b and 35b.
[0087] The pedal device 30 includes a push-up member 36 that is
linked to the pedals 34 and 35. The push-up member 36 is disposed
between the pedals 34 and 35, for example. The push-up member 36 is
linked to the pedals 34 and 35 via link members 34e and 35e.
[0088] More specifically, the push-up member 36 includes a push-up
surface 36a having a flat upper surface, and side elements 36b and
36c that extend downward from either side of the push-up surface
36a, and is approximately formed in the shape of an inverted letter
"U". Channel-like connection sections 236b and 236c are formed on
the lower end of the side elements 36b and 36c. One end of the link
member 34e and one end of the link member 35e are rotatably
supported by the connection sections 236b and 236c using axial
attachment sections 136b and 136c, respectively. The other end of
the link member 34e and the other end of the link member 35e are
rotatably supported by the action sections 34d and 35d of the
pedals 34 and 35 using axial attachment sections 34c and 35c,
respectively.
[0089] The stepping surfaces 34a and 35a of the pedals 34 and 35
are respectively biased by coil springs 37 and 38 so that the
stepping surfaces 34a and 35a return to the original approximately
horizontal state (see FIGS. 5A to 5C).
[0090] The coil springs 37 and 38 are provided so that one end 37a
and one end 38a respectively come in contact with the back side of
the pedal 34 and the back side of the pedal 35, and the other end
37b and the other end 38b come in contact with the connection
section 33.
[0091] The biasing force applied by the coil springs 37 and 38 is
set so that the stepping surfaces 34a and 35a of the pedals 34 and
35 move downward when a force of 200 to 300 N has been applied to
the pedals 34 and 35.
[0092] This is advantageous from the viewpoint of safety since the
pedal cannot be operated by even a large dog or a child.
[0093] The pedal device 30 is configured as described above. As
illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 5C, when the pedal 34 or 35 is
operated, the push-up surface 36a of the push-up member 36 is moved
upward on the side of the operated pedal, and is tilted
forward.
[0094] Therefore, the push-up force and the forward rotation force
are applied to the gate 10 (lower crosspiece 12) (see the arrows in
FIGS. 5B and 5C).
[0095] FIGS. 2B, 5B, and 5C illustrate a state in which the pedal
35 is operated. When the pedal 34 is operated, the gate 10 opens in
the reverse direction.
[0096] After the push-up force and the rotation force have been
applied to the gate 10 by the pedal device 30 in a state in which
the push-up surface 36a comes in contact with the gate 10 (see FIG.
5B), the gate 10 is moved upward and rotated by the rotational
support device 40 due to the inertial force of the gate 10 or an
external force that further opens the gate 10, and is opened.
[0097] Although only some embodiments of the present invention have
been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the
embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings
and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such
modifications are intended to be included within scope of this
invention.
* * * * *