US394685A

US394685A - Latch

Info

Publication number: US394685A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1888-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1905-12-18

Description

(No Model.)

S. H. FETHER.

LATGH.

No. 394,685. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

QOitweooe a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON H. FETHER, OF PETTYSVILLE, OHIO.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,685, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed July 13, 1888. Serial No. 279,799- No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON H. FETHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pettysville, in the county of Fulton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches for Doors or Gates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to latches for doors or gates, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction of a latch which will automatically lock the door or gate when closed and securely hold it fastened until released by pressure on a locking lever or pawl when the door or gate may be swung open.

To the accomplishment of such objects, so generally stated, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination of parts, hereinafter particularly described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, t'orn'lingapart hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a gate and post with the latch applied thereto, Fig. 2 is an end view, with the pin in section, showing the latch in a locked position.

In the drawings, theletterA may designate the frame or posts, and B the door or gate swung or hinged thereto. The latch comprises the hook C, pivoted to a suitable supportsay to the plate or bracket Dand formed with a ratchet, E, with which will engage a pawl, F, to lock the hook over a pin or stud, G, on the frame or post A. The hook is formed with the two claws ll and ['I,which form a mouth or recess, in which the pin or stud G will lie when the door or gate is closed. The two claws also perform the function of assisting in locking and unlocking the latch,

fOljVllGll the door or gate is moved inwardly to close it the lower jaw, II, strikes against the pin or stud G, whereby the lower claw is moved backward and the hook turned on its pivot, so as to bring the upper claw forward, over, and around the pin or stud G, and thus the pin or stud is clasped by the hook between its two claws and the gate or door is latched to its frame or post. Now,when the door or gate is moved outward to open it, the pin or stud G presses against the claw H, so as to turn the hook to bring its mouth in position to leave the pin or stud as the door or gate is thrown open, which movement also brings the lower jaw into position to be struck by the pin or stud when the door or gate is again closed. As the door or gate is thrown open, the pawl F will be raised so as to be free from the ratchet E on the hook and will ride on the hook as the latter is thrown backward; but when the hook is thrown down in closing the door or gate the pawl will drop behind the ratchet and thus lock the hookin a closed position, so that the door or gate cannot be opened until the pawl is released from engagement with the ratchet on the hook.

The means employed for releasing the pawl is a crank-lever, I, which maybe formed integral with the pawl, as shown, and which passes through the right-angled extension D of the plate or bracket D, and then through a collar or journal-bearing, .I, on the bracket. \Vhen the door or gate is closed and the hook is in engagement with the pin or stud G, the handle portion of the pawl-actuated lever stands out from the door or gate, and when it is pressed backward it releases the pawl from the ratchet, so that the door or gate may be opened.

A spring, K, is employed to bear against the pawl, so as to hold it in engagement with the hook.

A recess, L, is preferably. formed in the rightangled extension of the bracket D, so as to receive the end of the pin or stud G, and a lip, M, is preferably made to project forward from the bracket, so as to set ve as a guard and as a guide in opening and closing the door or gate.

The pin or stud (l is preferably formed with a slotted plate, Or, so that by loosening the screw N the pin or stud may be adjusted up or down, as necessity may require.

The latch, constructed as described, is simple in construction and inexpensive to produce, besides being strong and efficient for the use intended, and can be easily and quickly applied to any door or gate, whether already the hook in its closed position, the spring aot..

ing on the pawl, and the lever for releasing I 5 the pawl from the ratchet to unlock the parts, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

2. The combination of the bracket, the pivoted. hook formed with the two claws and ratchet, the pawl to engage with said ratchet, 20

and the lever for releasing the pawl from the ratchet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix m y signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIMON H. FETHER.

Witnesses:

R. L. STARR, WILLIAM JOHNSTON.