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  Gate panel assemblyUSPTO Application #: 20060163552Title: Gate panel assembly Abstract: A gate panel assembly comprising a pair of poles and a panel having a pair of sleeves formed on opposing ends of the panel. Each pole respectively engages one of the sleeves. An end of at least one of the sleeves is closed to engage the top portion of the pole sleeved therein and to prevent the panel from sliding vertically downward relative to the poles. (end of abstract)
Agent: Rader Fishman & Grauer PLLC - Washington, DC, US Inventor: John F. Jacobs USPTO Applicaton #: 20060163552 - Class: 256024000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fences, Panel The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060163552. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This application relates generally to the field of panel assemblies. More particularly, this application relates to apparatuses and methods for securing a panel, such as, for example, a slalom gate panel, to a pair of poles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] As discussed in the Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,659, entitled "GATE PANEL ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY", various apparatuses and methods have, over the years, been developed for securing panels or various other objects to poles or pole-type members. However, these conventional apparatuses and methods suffer from a number of drawbacks and deficiencies. [0003] For example, according to one conventional approach, a resilient cord wrapped around an object or pole is manipulated around a pin to secure the cord around the pole. However, this conventional approach fails to provide an apparatus or method for preventing the cord from moving relative to the axis of the pole, such that a force applied to either the pole or the cord wrapped around the pole may cause the cord to slide along the length of the pole. In addition, the cord and pin according to this conventional approach are not integrally formed, but are instead formed as discrete, separate elements, resulting in increased complexity in design and use. [0004] According to another conventional approach, one end of a slalom gate panel is attached to a first pole via an elastic cord fixed to an anchor internally housed in the bottom of the first pole, while a second pole is inserted in an open-ended sleeve formed on the opposing end of the gate panel. However, such an assembly is overly complex and typically difficult to assemble, attach and detach, causing the user to expend considerable time and energy in adjusting and/or securing the gate panel to the poles. [0005] According to yet another conventional approach, a loop is formed in an elastic cord by crimping the ends of the elastic cord using a metal fastener. However, as with other conventional approaches, this approach fails to provide an apparatus or method for preventing the elastic cord from sliding along the length of a pole around which the loop end of the cord may be wrapped. Such an arrangement is also difficult to manipulate, especially in cold weather, thus eliminating ease of use. [0006] A number of additional binding approaches and panel assemblies exist; however, none of these approaches provide simple, inexpensive and easy-to-use means for securing a panel or object to a pole or pole-type member. In particular, traditional approaches fail to provide means for simply and inexpensively affixing a panel to a pair of poles to prevent the panel from sliding vertically downward relative to the poles. [0007] Accordingly, there exists a need for an apparatus and method capable of simply and inexpensively affixing a panel to a pair of poles such that the panel is prevented from sliding vertically downward relative to the poles. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In at least one exemplary embodiment, a gate panel assembly comprises a panel, including a pair of sleeves on opposing ends of the panel, and a pair of poles, with each pole respectively engaging one of the sleeves. Preferably, in certain embodiments, an end of at least one of the sleeves is closed to engage the top of the pole engaged in the sleeve so as to prevent the panel from sliding vertically downward relative to the poles. The poles respectively engaged in the sleeves may also be spaced apart from one another to create tension in the panel. [0009] In certain embodiments, the gate panel assembly also includes at least one panel attachment assembly for affixing the panel to at least one pole. This panel attachment assembly may comprise a fastening member, a cord having a fixed end housed in the fastening member forming a loop in the cord, and a mounting surface affixed to the panel and adjacent to one of the sleeves. In at least one embodiment, the loop of the cord is fed through a hole defined in the mounting surface, around one of the poles engaged in one of the sleeves, and over a top of the fastening member. [0010] In certain embodiments, a grommet is formed in the hole defined in the mounting surface. The fastening member may be any number of items, including a button, a ball or a rod. The fastening member may also be formed of plastic, rubber or any number of elastomeric or polymer materials. [0011] In at least one embodiment, the loop of the cord is stretched to rest between a lower surface of the fastening member and the mounting surface. The fixed end of the cord may also be positioned opposite the loop and crimped by a fastener, which fastener may be formed of metal. [0012] According to certain embodiments, the fastening member houses the fixed end of the cord and the fastener in an inner surface thereof. The fixed end of the cord may also be positioned opposite the loop and formed integrally with the fastening member. The cord may also be formed of an elastic material that stretches around the sleeved pole to create a tension that retains the pole in the sleeve of the panel. [0013] In some embodiments, a strength member is affixed to at least the panel and the sleeve having the closed end to impart additional resistance to impact forces applied to the gate panel assembly. [0014] In at least one embodiment, a gate panel comprises a first pair of sleeves formed on opposing ends of a panel, wherein an end of at least one of the first pair of sleeves is closed. This closed end may engage a top of a pole engaged in the sleeve having the closed end to prevent the panel from sliding vertically downward relative to the pole. [0015] According to some embodiments, the gate panel further comprises a second pair of opposing sleeves, wherein each of the second pair of opposing sleeves is positioned adjacent to one of the first pair of sleeves and the diameters of the second pair of sleeves differ from the diameters of the first pair of sleeves. [0016] According to certain embodiments, a method of assembling a gate panel assembly comprises inserting each of a pair of spaced poles into one of a pair of sleeves formed on opposing ends of a gate panel such that the gate panel is prevented from sliding vertically downward relative to the poles by a closed end formed in at least one of the sleeves. [0017] In some embodiments, this method further comprises attaching at least one of the poles to the gate panel by feeding a loop end of an elastic member through a grommet formed in a mounting surface affixed to the gate panel and adjacent to one of the sleeves until a fastening member at an opposite end of the loop end of the elastic member comes into contact with the grommet, and extending the loop end of the elastic member around one of the poles inserted in the sleeve and over a top of the fastening member to rest between a bottom surface of the fastening member and the grommet. [0018] These and other exemplary embodiments will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a gate panel assembly. [0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a closed ended sleeve for affixing a panel to a pole. Continue reading... Full patent description for Gate panel assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gate panel assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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