Handrail gate lock

Abstract

A gate having a gate arm, lock and hinge, for use with a handrail. The gate in closed position retains the structural integrity and peripheral profile of the handrail. The hinge consists of two connectors, each pivotally connected to a link by pins. The connectors pivot about the pins, enabling the gate arms to pivot through 180°. The lock includes two mating components, one component having a plug and the other having a socket for receiving the plug. A depressable button secures the plug within the socket. For use with handrails made from tubing, the hinge and lock components includes stubs insertable into the tubing. All components in the closed position of the gate compactly fit together and are shaped to provide peripheral continuity.

1 . For use with a handrail made of tubing, in the areas where it is desirable to have a closeable access through the handrail, a two-component lock for releasably connecting one terminating end of the handrail to a pivoting gate arm made of tubing, the lock comprising in combination: 
 a) an active lock component having a plug projecting substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the active lock component;    b) a passive lock component, matingly engageable/disengageable with the active lock component and having a socket configured for receiving the plug when a gate arm is in the closed position, the socket having side walls to impede lateral movement of the plug within the socket and end walls to impede longitudinal movement of the plug within the socket such that interference between the passive and active lock components when they are engaged resists longitudinal decoupling forces; and    c) means for releasably securing the plug within the socket;    wherein, the lock acts to connect the gate arm and handrail so as to resist forces tending to move the gate arm and handrail longitudinally away from each other.    
   
   
       2 . A lock as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means for releasably securing the plug within the socket comprises; 
 a) a manually-depressable button, attached to the active lock component and biased to project from the plug; and    b) a hole through a socket side wall through which the button projects when the plug is seated within the socket;    wherein, when the plug is seated in the socket, opening movement of the gate arm is impeded by the button abutting a side of the hole, and the button may be manually depressed to permit opening movement of the gate arm.    
   
   
       3 . A lock as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the button is in a bore within the plug and a spring biases the button to project from the plug.  
   
   
       4 . A lock as defined in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 a) the button is in a sleeve in the bore;    b) the spring is a coil spring positioned between the button and the bottom of the bore;    c) the button has an annular shoulder proximate to its inner end;    d) the sleeve has an annular retainer proximate to its outer end; and    e) the spring biases the button so as to tend to cause the shoulder to abut the retainer.    
   
   
       5 . A lock as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the lock components include one or more guiding surfaces to help guide the plug and socket during movement of the lock components toward the closed position, into the required alignment for the plug to seat in the socket.  
   
   
       6 . A lock as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the guiding surfaces include a laterally-guiding surface for guiding the plug within the socket during closing such that the button is pushed against a side wall of the socket so as to depress the button.  
   
   
       7 . A lock as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the laterally-guiding surface comprises a planar surface on the side wall of the socket opposite the side wall containing the hole.  
   
   
       8 . A lock as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the guiding surfaces include one or more longitudinally-guiding surfaces for helping to guide the plug and socket into the required longitudinal alignment for the plug to seat in the socket.  
   
   
       9 . A lock as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinally-guiding surfaces include an inclined planar surface on the plug.  
   
   
       10 . A lock as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinally-guiding surfaces include an inclined planar end wall in the socket.  
   
   
       11 . A lock as defined in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) the active lock component comprises a stub for insertion into tubing so as to attach the active lock component to the tubing; and    b) passive lock component comprises a stub for insertion into tubing so as to attach the passive lock component to the tubing.