1. A gate comprising, in combination:
a fixed member;
a panel movable relative to the fixed member between an open position allowing access between the fixed member and the panel to allow passage and a closed position preventing access between the fixed member and the panel to prevent passage;
a linkage pivotally mounted to one of the panel and the fixed member about a latch pivot axis; and
a catch pivotally mounted to the linkage about a catch pivot axis spaced from and parallel to the latch pivot axis, with the catch being movable between a latched position engaged with the other of the panel in the closed position and the fixed member to thereby prevent movement of the panel relative to the fixed member from the closed position and an unlatched position disengaged from the other of the panel and the fixed member to thereby allow movement of the panel relative to the fixed member, with the catch defining a groove for slideable receipt on the other of the panel and the fixed member, and with the catch abutting against opposite sides of the other of the panel in the closed position and the fixed member when the catch is in the latched position.
2. The gate as claimed in claim 1, with the panel and the fixed member having a spacing therebetween when the panel is in the closed position, with the catch being located in the spacing between the panel and the fixed member when the catch is in the unlatched position, with the catch including first and second latch plates parallel to and spaced from each other to define the groove for slideable receipt on the other of the panel and the fixed member, with each of the first and second latch plates including a width extending in a direction parallel to the spacing between the panel and the fixed member, with each of the first and second latch plates including a length extending in a direction perpendicular to the spacing between the panel and the fixed member and multiple times greater than the width, and with the first and second latch plates respectively abutting against the opposite sides of the other of the panel in the closed position and the fixed member when the catch is in the latched position.
3. The gate as claimed in claim 2, with the catch further including an interconnecting abutment plate connected between the first and second latch plates, forming a substantially U-shaped structure defining the groove for receiving the other of the panel and the fixed member.
4. The gate as claimed in claim 3, with each of the first and second latch plates including upper and lower ends extending along the width and defining the length therebetween, with two upper flanges respectively extending outward away from each other from the upper ends of the first and second latch plates along the width and perpendicular to the length, and with two lower flanges respectively extending outward away from each other from the lower ends of the first and second latch plates along the width and perpendicular to the length.
5. The gate as claimed in claim 2, with each of the first and second latch plates including upper and lower ends extending along the width and defining the length therebetween, and with the catch pivot axis extending at about one fourth of the length from the upper end of each of the first and second latch plates.
6. The gate as claimed in claim 1, with one of the panel and the fixed member including a post to which the linkage is pivotally connected, with the linkage including first and second arms spaced from and parallel to each other, with the post extending perpendicularly to the latch pivot axis, with each of the first and second arms including a first end pivotally connected to the catch by a pivot pin defining the catch pivot axis and a second end, with the linkage further including a first spindle extending through the first arm, the post, and the second arm, and with the first spindle defining the latch pivot axis.
7. The gate as claimed in claim 6, with the linkage further including a second spindle extending through the first and second arms and spaced from and parallel to the first spindle and the catch for holding the first and second arms in a parallel relationship to prevent the catch from being pinched by the first and second arms.
8. The gate as claimed in claim 6, with the gate further including an abutment fixed to the post, with the latch pivot axis located intermediate the first and second ends of the first and second arms, with the second ends of the first and second arms abutting against the abutment when the catch is in the latched position, and with the second ends of the first and second arms moving away from the abutment when moving the catch from the latched position to the unlatched position.
9. The gate as claimed in claim 8, with the abutment including a first aperture, with one of the second ends of the first and second arms having a second aperture aligned with the first aperture when the catch is in the latched position, and with the first and second apertures adapted to be extended through by a latch member to prevent pivoting of the linkage from the latched position.
10. The gate as claimed in claim 9, with the abutment further including a lip extending downward from a side thereof, with the lip being parallel to and spaced from the second end of the one of the first and second arms having the second aperture, and with the first aperture being defined in the lip.
11. The gate as claimed in claim 1, with the gate further including an abutment fixed to the one of the panel and the fixed member, and with the linkage abutting against and being stopped by the abutment when the catch is in the latched position, and with the catch moving away from the abutment when moving the catch from the latched position to the unlatched position.
12. The gate as claimed in claim 11, with the abutment including a first aperture, with the linkage having a second aperture aligned with the first aperture when the catch is in the latched position, and with the first and second apertures adapted to be extended through by a latch member to prevent pivoting of the linkage from the latched position.
13. A latch assembly comprising, in combination:
a linkage adapted to be pivotally mounted to one of a fixed member and a panel that is movable relative to the fixed member between an open position allowing access between the fixed member and the panel to allow passage and a closed position preventing access between the fixed member and the panel to prevent passage, with the linkage being pivotable relative to the one of the fixed member and the panel about a latch pivot axis; and a catch pivotally mounted to the linkage about a catch pivot axis spaced from and parallel to the latch pivot axis, with the catch being movable between a latched position engaged with the other of the fixed member and the panel in the closed position to thereby prevent movement of the panel relative to the fixed member from the closed position and an unlatched position disengaged from the other of the fixed member and the panel to thereby allow movement of the panel relative to the fixed member, with the catch defining a groove for slideable receipt on the other of the panel and the fixed member, and with the catch respectively abutting against opposite sides of the other of the fixed member and the panel in the closed position when the catch is in the latched position.
14. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 13, with the panel and the fixed member having a spacing therebetween when the panel is in the closed position, with the catch being located in the spacing between the panel and the fixed member when the catch is in the unlatched position, with the catch including first and second latch plates parallel to and spaced from each other to define the groove for slideable receipt on the other of the panel and the fixed member, with each of the first and second latch plates including a width extending in a direction parallel to the spacing between the panel and the fixed member, with each of the first and second latch plates including a length extending in a direction perpendicular to the spacing between the panel and the fixed member and multiple times greater than the width, and with the first and second latch plates respectively abutting against the opposite sides of the other of the panel in the closed position and the fixed member when the catch is in the latched position.
15. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 14, with the catch further including an interconnecting abutment plate connected between the first and second latch plates, forming a substantially U-shaped structure defining the groove for receiving the other of the panel and the fixed member.
16. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 15, with each of the first and second latch plates including upper and lower ends extending along the width and defining the length therebetween, with two upper flanges respectively extending outward away from each other from the upper ends of the first and second latch plates along the width and perpendicular to the length, and with two lower flanges respectively extending outward away from each other from the lower ends of the first and second latch plates along the width and perpendicular to the length.
17. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 14, with each of the first and second latch plates including upper and lower ends extending along the width and defining the length therebetween, and with the catch pivot axis extending at about one fourth of the length from the upper end of each of the first and second latch plates.
18. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 13, with one of the panel and the fixed member including a post to which the linkage is pivotally connected, with the linkage including first and second arms spaced from and parallel to each other, with the post extending perpendicularly to the latch pivot axis, with each of the first and second arms including a first end pivotally connected to the catch by a pivot pin defining the catch pivot axis and a second end, with the linkage further including a first spindle extending through the first arm, the post, and the second arm, with the first spindle defining the latch pivot axis, and with the linkage further including a second spindle extending through the first and second arms and spaced from and parallel to the first spindle and the catch for holding the first and second arms in a parallel relationship to prevent the catch from being pinched by the first and second arms.
19. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 18, with the gate further including an abutment fixed to the post, with the latch pivot axis located intermediate the first and second ends of the first and second arms, with the second ends of the first and second arms abutting against the abutment when the catch is in the latched position, with the second ends of the first and second arms moving away from the abutment when moving the catch from the latched position to the unlatched position, with the abutment further including a lip extending downward from a side thereof, with the lip being parallel to and spaced from one of the second ends of the first and second arms, with the lip including a first aperture, with the one of the second ends of the first and second arms having a second aperture aligned with the first aperture when the catch is in the latched position, and with the first and second apertures adapted to be extended through by a latch member to prevent pivoting of the linkage from the latched position.
20. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 13, with the gate further including an abutment fixed to the one of the panel and the fixed member, and with the linkage abutting against and being stopped by the abutment when the catch is in the latched position, with the catch moving away from the abutment when moving the catch from the latched position to the unlatched position, with the abutment including a first aperture, with the linkage having a second aperture aligned with the first aperture when the catch is in the latched position, with the first and second apertures adapted to be extended through by a latch member to prevent pivoting of the linkage from the latched position.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sensitivity determining method for detecting sensitivity of an pre-existing optical sensor system, comprising the steps of:
selectively disposing an attenuation filter in a projected light area of a pre-existing optical sensor system, said optical sensor system including a light receiving unit which receives a light projected from a light projection unit within the projected light area, wherein said filter is separate and independent from said optical sensor system;
receiving light transmitted through the attenuation filter in the light receiving unit; and
determining sensitivity of the optical sensor system on the basis of the light received in the light receiving unit.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of attenuation filters having an equal or different transmittances are successively disposed in a projected light area of an existing optical sensor system, and each time the number of disposed said attenuation filters increases, sensitivity of the optical sensor system is determined on the basis of the light received in the light receiving unit.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of attenuation filters having different transmittances are successively disposed in a projected light area of said existing optical sensor system, and each time the disposed attenuation filter is replaced with a new one, sensitivity of the optical sensor system is determined on the basis of light received in the light receiving unit.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the attenuation filter is disposed in one or both of a projection side area ranging from the light projection unit to a reflection object and a reflection side area ranging from the reflection object to the light receiving unit, said light projection unit being provided integrally with the light receiving unit in the existing optical sensor.
5. The method according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of attenuation filters is disposed in one or both of a projection side area ranging from the light projection unit to a reflection object and a reflection side area ranging from the reflection object to the light receiving unit, said light projection unit being provided integrally with the light receiving unit in the existing optical sensor.
6. The method according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of attenuation filters is disposed in one or both of a projection side area ranging from the light projection unit to a reflection object and a reflection side area ranging from the reflection object to the light receiving unit, said light projection unit being provided integrally with the light receiving unit in the existing optical sensor.