System, method and apparatus for portable gate

Abstract

A portable gate has a cattle guard with a base cattle guard and a movable cattle guard movably mounted to the base cattle guard. The movable cattle guard may be configured to be operated in a use position wherein the gate is operational, and a non-use position wherein the gate is non-operational. A gate member may be movably mounted to the cattle guard and configured to be operated in a closed position wherein the gate member blocks travel through the gate and across the cattle guard, and an open position wherein the gate member permits travel through the gate and across the cattle guard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gate, comprising:
 a drivable platform having a base and a movable component movably mounted to the base, the movable component is configured to be operated in a use position wherein the gate is operational, and a non-use position wherein the gate is non-operational; and   a gate member movably mounted to the drivable platform and configured to be operated in a closed position wherein the gate member blocks travel through the gate and across the drivable platform, and an open position wherein the gate member permits travel through the gate and across the drivable platform.   
     
     
         2 . A gate according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the non-use position, the movable component provides an additional barrier to prevent travel through the gate. 
     
     
         3 . A gate according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable component is pivotally mounted to the base, in the use position the movable component is unfolded such that the gate is operational, and in the non-use position the movable component is folded such that the gate is non-operational to facilitate transportation of the gate. 
     
     
         4 . A gate according to  claim 1 , wherein the base is planar, a lower side of the movable component is planar, and an upper side of the movable component is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the lower side. 
     
     
         5 . A gate according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable component comprises two movable components located on opposite ends of the base, and in the use position, lower sides of the movable components are substantially parallel to the base, and the two movable components each comprise a plurality of movable components, and each of the movable components is independently and pivotally mounted to the base. 
     
     
         6 . A gate according to  claim 1 , wherein the gate member is mounted to the base, the gate member extends across the base in the closed position, and the gate member is pivoted away from the base in the open position, and the gate member comprises two gate members mounted on opposite sides of the base. 
     
     
         7 . A gate according to  claim 1 , further comprising an automated control system configured to move the gate member between the closed and open positions, and the automated control system opens the gate in response to a user input device. 
     
     
         8 . A gate according to  claim 7 , wherein the user input device comprises a keypad, a magnetic sensor or a vibration sensor configured to detect an approaching vehicle, and the automated control system further comprises a safety sensor configured to detect user presence on the drivable platform and prevent movement of the gate member to the closed position in response thereto. 
     
     
         9 . A gate according to  claim 7 , wherein the automated control system is solar powered and comprises batteries for energy storage, a camera system for recording use of the gate, and the camera system comprises a license plate camera configured to record time and date stamped images of license plates of vehicles that travel through the gate. 
     
     
         10 . A system for controlling access through a fence, comprising:
 a gate having a cattle guard having a base cattle guard and a movable cattle guard movably mounted to the base cattle guard, the movable cattle guard is configured to be operated in a use position wherein the gate is operational, and a non-use position wherein the gate is non-operational;   a gate member movably mounted to the cattle guard and configured to be operated in a closed position wherein the gate member blocks travel through the gate and across the cattle guard, and an open position wherein the gate member permits travel through the gate and across the cattle guard;   an automated control system configured to move the gate member between the closed and open positions, and the automated control system is configured to open the gate in response to a user input device.   
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein, in the non-use position, the movable cattle guard provides an additional barrier to prevent travel through the gate. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein the movable cattle guard is pivotally mounted to the base cattle guard, in the use position the movable cattle guard is unfolded such that the gate is operational, and in the non-use position the movable cattle guard is folded such that the gate is non-operational to facilitate transportation of the gate. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein the base cattle guard is planar, a lower side of the movable cattle guard is planar, an upper side of the movable cattle guard is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the lower side, and the movable cattle guard further comprises a ramp on a distal end thereof opposite the base cattle guard, the ramp having an angle of inclination substantially similar to the acute angle. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein the movable cattle guard comprises two movable cattle guards located on opposite ends of the base cattle guard, in the use position, lower sides of the movable cattle guards are substantially parallel to the base cattle guard, and the two movable cattle guards each comprise a plurality of movable cattle guard portions, and each of the movable cattle guard portions is independently and pivotally mounted to the base cattle guard. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein the gate member is mounted to the base cattle guard, the gate member extends across the base cattle guard in the closed position, the gate member is pivoted away from the base cattle guard in the open position, and the gate member comprises two gate members mounted on opposite sides of the base cattle guard. 
     
     
         16 . A method of facilitating access through remote fences, comprising:
 (a) providing a gate at a first fence opening, the gate having a base, a movable component pivotally mounted to the base, and a gate member movably mounted to the base;   (b) unfolding the movable component such that gate member is operational between open and closed positions for controlling access through the gate at the first fence opening;   (c) folding the movable component such that the gate is non-operational;   (d) loading and transporting the gate to a second fence opening; and   (e) unfolding the movable component such that gate member is operable for controlling access through the gate at the second fence opening.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising operating the gate in response to users traveling through the gate. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the movable component comprises a plurality of movable components, each of which independently and pivotally mounted to the base, unfolding the movable components to make the gate operational, and folding the movable components to make the gate non-operational. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising automatically controlling the gate member between the closed and open positions in response to user input. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein user input comprises actuating a keypad, detecting an approaching vehicle with a magnetic sensor or a vibration sensor. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising detecting user presence on the base with a safety sensor and preventing movement of the gate member to the closed position in response thereto. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising recording use of the gate with digital images.