Adjustable gate support system
The adjustable gate support system with a telescopic frame and clamping mechanism addresses timber gate issues of misalignment and warping, enhancing stability and durability while allowing customization and reducing maintenance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- GB · GB
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SET6 LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-03
AI Technical Summary
Timber gates are prone to misalignment, warping, and structural weakness due to environmental changes, leading to maintenance issues and reduced durability, and existing solutions like steel corner supports are costly and inconvenient.
An adjustable gate support system with a telescopic frame, F-shaped corner joints, and a clamping mechanism that allows for easy adjustment and secure locking, ensuring stability and alignment under varying conditions.
The system provides enhanced structural integrity, reduces maintenance needs, and maintains aesthetic appeal by accommodating various gate sizes and cladding materials, addressing misalignment, warping, and sagging effectively.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gate frame construction. The present invention relates to an adjustable gate support system that provides enhanced structural stability and durability, and to prevent common issues associated with traditional gate materials, such as warping, expansion, and contraction, by utilizing a telescopic, adjustable gate frame support system that accommodates various gate sizes while allowing for easy customization through cladding. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. Timber gates are popular in residential and commercial applications for their aesthetic appeal and traditional charm. However, timber's natural properties make it prone to expansion, contraction, and warping when exposed to changing environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature. Over time, these factors can cause timber gates to become misaligned, leading to problems with opening and closing, and in some cases, warping or twisting that makes the gate unusable. Variety of solutions has been developed to address these issues. Steel corner supports have been introduced to reinforce timber gates, but these only add strength at the comers. The rest of the gate, particularly the horizontal and vertical timbers, remains susceptible to the effects of warping, sagging, and misalignment. Bespoke steel frames, manufactured to specific dimensions, offer a more durable solution but are costly, time-consuming, and inconvenient for customers who must wait for customized orders to be produced and delivered. In view of the above discussion, it is observed that timber gates, though attractive, face several problems due to their natural properties. They expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes, leading to misalignment, making gates tight or loose and difficult to open or close. Timber can warp or twist, causing gates to become distorted and hard to latch or lock. Even with steel comer supports, the rest of the gate remains structurally weak, leading to sagging. Additionally, the timber gates require regular maintenance to prevent damage, which increases long-term costs and effort. These issues limit the durability and ease of use of timber gates over time. Therefore, there is a pressing need to address the drawbacks of timber gates by introducing an adjustable gate support system. This inventive solution aims to tackle the technical issues associated with traditional timber gates, such as misalignment, warping, and structural weakness. By providing a robust and adjustable gate frame system enhances the stability and durability of the gate while accommodating natural expansion and contraction. Ultimately, this approach offers a more effective, long-lasting solution that reduces maintenance requirements and improves the overall functionality of timber gates. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION: In view of the forgoing limitations inherent in the state of the art, some of the objects of the present invention, which at least one embodiment here satisfy, are listed below. It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable gate support system along with an enhanced stability and functionality of gates at a low-cost, which is affordable. It is principal object of the present invention to provide an adjustable gate support system that improves the overall strength and stability of timber gates, minimizing issues related to warping, misalignment, and sagging. It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable gate support system that can easily accommodate a variety of gate sizes, allowing for customization and flexibility in both residential and commercial applications. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable gate support system that that minimizes the need for frequent maintenance associated with traditional timber gates, thereby lowering long-term upkeep costs and effort for users. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable gate support system that allows the integration of various cladding materials, such as timber, providing the aesthetic appeal of a traditional timber gate while leveraging the advantages of a durable steel frame. It is another object of the present invention to provide a user adjustable gate support system that can be easily installed without the need for specialized tools or extensive labor, making it accessible for homeowners and contractors alike. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention would be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a monitoring system and its structural features. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. According to the present subject disclosure, there is provided an adjustable gate support system for enhancing structural integrity and stability of gates, particularly those prone to issues such as warping and misalignment. The system is composed of a telescopic frame that can adjust in both height and width to fit various gate sizes and configurations. The frame includes a plurality of telescopic rods, which are connected to F-shaped corner joints located at each comer of the frame. These F-shaped comer joints are critical to the ability of the system, to provide maximum structural strength and stability, ensuring that the frame maintains its shape and alignment under various environmental conditions. Further, the adjustable gate support system incorporates a clamping mechanism that securely locks the telescopic frame into its adjusted height and width. This ensures that once the frame is set to the desired dimensions, it remains stable and does not shift during operation. The clamping mechanism adds an extra layer of security and precision to the system, making it highly reliable for long-term use. The unique combination of the telescopic frame, the F-shaped comer joints, and the clamping mechanism ensures that the gate support system remains square and aligned throughout its use. This design effectively prevents common gate issues such as misalignment, sagging, and warping, which are often caused by environmental factors like temperature fluctuations and humidity. By addressing these issues, the system offers a long-lasting solution that reduces maintenance and improves the functionality and aesthetic appeal of gates. This system is ideal for use with timber gates, as it provides the structural strength of a steel frame while allowing for the aesthetic flexibility of various cladding materials, including timber, making it both durable and versatile for residential and commercial applications. In an aspect, the telescopic rods are made of steel or another durable metal material to enhance the structural strength and resist corrosion. In an aspect, the F-shaped comer joints are configured with reinforcing ribs to further improve the rigidity and stability of the gate frame. In an aspect, the clamping mechanism comprises threaded bolts and locking nuts to securely fix the telescopic frame at the desired dimensions. In an aspect, the telescopic frame further comprises an attachment mechanism for mounting cladding materials, including timber, metal, or composite materials. In an aspect, the F-shaped corner joints include integrated brackets for attaching additional components such as gate hinges or locking mechanism. Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 and 2 illustrates an isometric view of an adjustable gate support system, in accordance with embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of an adjustable gate support system, demonstrating the attachment of a plurality of telescopic rod, which form a telescopic frame along with F-shaped corner joints, in accordance with embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 4 illustrates F-shaped corner joints of an adjustable gate support system, in accordance with embodiment of the present disclosure. The figure depicts the embodiment of the present invention for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the number of details provided herein are not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and / or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions / acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality / acts involved. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure. The present disclosure introduces an adjustable gate support system (100). The adjustable gate support system (100) features a telescopic frame (102) that adjusts in both height and width, adaptable to various gate sizes. The frame (102) consists of telescopic rods (104) connected to F-shaped comer joints (106), providing structural strength and stability. The clamping mechanism (108) locks the frame in place once the desired dimensions are set. This system (100) ensures that the gate remains square and aligned, preventing common issues like misalignment, warping, and sagging. The system (100) is ideal for gates exposed to environmental changes, offering enhanced durability and long-term performance while maintaining the aesthetic appeal of timber cladding. Figure 1 and 2 illustrates an isometric view of an adjustable gate support system (100), in accordance with embodiment of the present disclosure. The adjustable gate support system (100) provides structural stability and flexibility for gates. The system features a telescopic frame (102) that can adjust in both height and width, allowing it to accommodate gates of various sizes. The telescopic frame (102) consists of a plurality of telescopic rods (104), which are interconnected by F-shaped corner joints (106). These F-shaped comer joints (106) are critical to the system as they are specifically designed to offer enhanced structural strength and stability to the frame. The telescopic rods (104) allow the gate frame to expand or contract, depending on the required dimensions, while the F-shaped comer joints (106) ensure that the frame maintains its alignment and structural integrity during adjustments. Once the desired size of the gate frame is achieved, a clamping mechanism (108) is used to securely lock the frame in its adjusted position. This clamping mechanism (108) ensures that the telescopic frame (102) remains fixed at the correct height and width, preventing any further movement or shifting. The combination of the telescopic frame (102), the F-shaped corner joints (106), and the clamping mechanism (108) ensures that the gate support system (100) remains square and aligned throughout its operation, thereby preventing common problems such as misalignment, sagging, and warping that can occur with conventional gate systems. This innovative design provides long-term stability and functionality, particularly for gates that are exposed to environmental conditions like temperature and humidity fluctuations. Additionally, the clamping mechanism (108) is a key feature of the adjustable gate support system (100). The clamping mechanism (108) allows users to secure the telescopic frame (102) at the desired height and width after adjustments have been made. The clamping mechanism (108) may include threaded bolts and locking nuts, ensuring a firm hold that prevents the frame (102) from shifting during use. This locking feature is essential for maintaining the alignment of the gate, particularly in environments subject to temperature fluctuations and humidity, which can lead to warping or misalignment in traditional wooden gates. Referring to figure 3, the adjustable gate support system (100) depicts individual components and how they are assembled to form a robust, adjustable gate frame. This detailed view highlights the attachment mechanism for the various parts of the system (100), focusing on the role of the telescopic rods (104) and the F-shaped comer joints (106) in creating the adjustable frame. The central element of the system (100) is the telescopic frame (102), which is formed by a series of telescopic rods (104). These rods are designed to slide with other, enabling the frame to adjust in both height and width. This adjustment feature is crucial, as it allows the gate frame to accommodate a variety of gate sizes, making it versatile for different installations. At each comer of the telescopic frame (102), the F-shaped corner joints (106) are attached. These corner joints are essential to the structural integrity of the system (100). The F-shape design of the corner joints is engineered to provide maximum stability and strength, ensuring that the frame (102) remains square and aligned even after adjustments in size. The exploded view in Figure 3 clearly shows how the telescopic rods (104) fit into these corner joints (106), creating a sturdy, interconnected framework. The clamping mechanism (108) plays a critical role in securing the telescopic frame (102) once the desired height and width have been set. When the telescopic rods (104) have been adjusted to the correct dimensions, the clamping mechanism (108) locks the frame (102) in place, preventing any further movement or shifting. The exploded view highlights the ease of assembly and the modular nature of the adjustable gate support system (100). The telescopic rods (104) and F-shaped corner joints (106) are designed for straightforward attachment, making the system (100) simple to install and adjust. Once assembled, the adjustable gate support system (100) provides a durable and reliable framework that resists warping, misalignment, and sagging, addressing common issues found in traditional gate systems, especially those made from timber. Also, the adjustable gate support system (100) works together to create a customizable, strong, and stable gate frame that can be easily adjusted and locked into place. This structure ensures long-term performance and ease of use, making it ideal for both residential and commercial gate applications. Referring to figure 4, the F-shaped comer joints (106) are integral part of the adjustable gate support system (100). These corner joints (106) are critical components, providing the necessary strength, alignment, and stability for the gate frame. The F-shaped corner joints (106) are located at each corner of the telescopic frame (102), and their unique design is tailored to ensure maximum structural integrity. The "F" shape allows for multiple connection points where the telescopic rods (104) can be inserted and securely fastened. This design ensures that the comer joints (106) can effectively hold the telescopic frame (102) together, keeping it aligned and square, which is essential to prevent common issues such as warping, sagging, or misalignment over time. The various F-shaped comer joints (106) showed in Figure 4 highlight the following key features: Multiple Connection Points: The F-shaped design offers several surfaces and slots for the telescopic rods (104) to connect securely. This design ensures that both vertical and horizontal telescopic rods (104) can be attached to form a solid, interconnected framework that adjusts in both height and width. Structural Support: The F-shaped corner joints (106) provide enhanced structural support by evenly distributing the load and stresses across the entire frame. This feature helps maintain the gate's structural stability, even when subjected to external forces such as wind or the natural weight of the gate. Alignment Maintenance: The corner joints (106) ensure that the frame (102 remains perfectly square and aligned, which is critical for the gate to function properly. By holding the corners rigidly in place, the F-shaped corner joints (106) prevent any shifting or deformation of the frame over time, even after repeated adjustments to the height and width of the telescopic frame (102). Ease of Assembly and Disassembly: The design of the F-shaped corner joints (106) is modular, making it easy to assemble and disassemble the adjustable gate support system (100). This feature is beneficial for installation, repairs, or adjustments. The corner joints (106) are designed for quick attachment and detachment of the telescopic rods, facilitating a smooth assembly process. Material and Durability: The corner joints (106) are typically made from high-strength materials, such as steel or reinforced alloys, to ensure long-term durability and resistance to environmental factors. The design of the F-shaped corner joints (106) allows them to handle the stresses of gate operation, including frequent opening and closing, temperature changes, and exposure to humidity or moisture. In summary, the F-shaped corner joints (106) in the overall design of the adjustable gate support system (100) maintains the structural integrity, alignment, and adjustability of the gate frame, ensuring that the gate remains square and stable even under varying conditions. This illustration emphasises the modularity, strength and practical functionality of the corner joints (106), making them a key innovation in this gate support system (100). In the early stages of the gate frame design, the first version used 40mm square tubes. This design could only adjust the gate's width and to achieve this, a smaller 35mm tube was inserted into the larger one, allowing it to slide in and out like a telescope. However, the height of the frame was fixed, meaning it couldn't be adjusted. Further, the adjustable gate support system (100) introduced along with the F-shaped corner joints (106) in both height and width, solving the issue of limited height adjustment. However, using the 40mm wide tube created another challenge. With such a thick tube, you could only add wooden cladding to one side of the metal frame. If you tried to clad both sides, the gate would become too thick and bulky, which would affect its appearance and functionality? To overcome this, the design was modified. The tube size was reduced to 25mm wide and 50mm high. This new size was more standard and widely available in the market, making it easier to source materials. Importantly, this change also allowed the frame to be clad with wood on both sides, giving the gate a more aesthetically pleasing and symmetrical look. However, with the smaller tube size of 25mm x 50mm, there was no standard-sized tube available to slide inside, as the team had done before with the 35mm tube. To solve this, they switched to a U-channel design for the inner tube. This new design not only simplified manufacturing, as it could be made with standard fabrication equipment, but also provided additional benefits. With the U-channel design, when the gate is assembled, the grub screw (a small tightening screw) is driven between the two U-channels. This pushes the channels outwards, creating a strong, tight grip on the 25mm x 50mm tube, securing the frame tightly in place. This improvement resulted in a much more secure and stable frame, ensuring the gate remains solid and well-constructed. Advantages of the present invention: 1. Adjustable and Versatile: The adjustable gate support system is adjustable in both height and width, allowing it to accommodate various gate sizes and configurations, making it suitable for a wide range of residential and commercial applications. 2. Enhanced Structural Integrity: The F-shaped corner joints and telescopic rods provide excellent structural strength and stability, ensuring the gate remains square and aligned, thus preventing common issues like sagging, misalignment, and warping. 3. Simple Installation and Adjustment: The clamping mechanism allows for easy adjustment and secure locking of the frame at the desired dimensions, simplifying the installation process and making it user friendly. 4. Reduced Maintenance: By preventing issues such as warping and misalignment, the system minimizes the need for regular maintenance, reducing long-term costs and effort typically associated with traditional timber gates. 5. Aesthetic Flexibility: The frame can be clad with various materials, including timber, providing the aesthetic appeal of traditional wooden gates while retaining the strength and durability of a steel frame. This allows for customization while ensuring long-lasting performance. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will at once be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention includes advantages and features over and beyond the specific illustrated construction. Accordingly, it is indented that the scope of the invention be limited solely by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims, and not by the forgoing specification, when interpreted in light of the relevant prior art.
Claims
1. An adjustable gate support system (100) comprising:a. a telescopic frame (102) configured to adjust in both height and width, the telescopic frame (102) comprises:i. a plurality of telescopic rods (104), each connected to F-shaped comer joints (106) configured to provide structural strength and stability;ii. a clamping mechanism (108) configured to secure the telescopic frame (102) in adjusted height and width, andwherein the combination of telescopic frame (102), the F-shaped corner joints (106), and the clamping mechanism (108) ensures that the gate support system (100) remains square and aligned, thereby preventing misalignment and warping.
2. The adjustable gate support system (100) according to claim 1, in which the telescopic rods (104) are made of steel or another durable metal material to enhance the structural strength and resist corrosion.
3. The adjustable gate support system (100) according to claim 1, in which the F-shaped corner joints (106) are configured with reinforcing ribs to further improve the rigidity and stability of the gate frame.
4. The adjustable gate support system (100) according to claim 1, in which the clamping mechanism (108) comprises threaded bolts and locking nuts to securely fix the telescopic frame (102) at the desired dimensions.
5. The adjustable gate support system (100) according to claim 1, in the telescopic frame (102) further comprises an attachment mechanism for mounting cladding materials, including timber, metal, or composite materials.
6. The adjustable gate support system (100) according to claim 1, in which the F-shaped corner joints (106) include integrated brackets for attaching additional components such as gate hinges or locking mechanisms.