P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Application Date: 6 March 2013 Applicants: Ronald George & David Edward Ovenden 87 Seaton St Armidale NSW 2350 Address for Service: Ronald George Ovenden 87 Seaton St ARMIDALE NSW 2350 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "GATE LATCH RETAINER CLAMP" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 GATE LATCH RETAINER CLAMP FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gate latch retainer clamp. In particular, the present invention relates to the provision of a method for retaining a hook shaped latch and the 5 attached chain by means of a bolt on clamp, the clamp itself attaching to the gate that is to be secured by the said latch and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. BACKGROUND There are a number of widely utilized latches used to secure hinged gates of circular o steel pipe construction (the type most commonly used in rural fencing applications) in both an open and closed position These latches used in rural gateways, for the most part consist of a length of steel chain terminating in a latch that is retained by an object whose shape and nature is such that it captures the latch, thus securing the gate. 5 Although latch designs vary in design they can be divided into two distinct groups; One group characteristically has one end of the latch secured to the post that the gate shuts against, the other end to the gate itself or passing through the gate to a retainer that is fastened to the same post. The second group is attached to the gate itself and then passes around the post (or in 20 many cases through an opposing gate, in the case of a double gate way), and is secured by means of a retaining plate that is fixed to the same gate. This second method has several distinct applications for which the former group is unsuitable. There are numerous situations where it is not possible to fix latches to the post, particularly when using steel or concrete posts. In order to fix latches to these 25 posts customized latches and, or, expensive equipment must be utilized. By making it possible to fix the latch to the gate and not to the post, this problem is overcome. Another situation where it is not possible to fix latches to the post is experienced when attempting to secure double gates together at the center of a gate way. In this application the ability to fix the latch to the one gate, pass the chain through the opposing gate, and secure the latch in a retainer on the original gate, overcomes the problem. Other benefits of this method include but are not limited to the following, ability to latch gates to posts without damage to the surface finish of either gate or post, ability to latch 5 gates to all post types without site power, ability to fit gates without expensive equipment and specialized skills, ability to remove and reuse latches without damage to gate or post, ability to fit gates without producing heat, sparks or fumes. This demonstrates the necessity to use the gate mounted style latch in many situations Gate mounted latches are presently available. Most latch types suitable for attachment o to gates utilize an assembly of bolt-together brackets that encircle the outer gate frame and provide a fixing point for both the end of the chain to which the latch is attached and the latch itself, (hereafter referred to as "gate mounted latches"). The object of the present invention is to offer features heretofore unavailable to the user of gate mounted latches. Currently available "gate mounted latches", have a number of 5 limitations. One problem with currently available gate mounted latches is that due to their shape they have sharp or pointed protrusions that present a risk to both animals and persons passing through or nearby the gate. One object of the present invention is to eliminate by design all sharp corners and pointed protrusions that are present on existing zo designs. The present invention offers the user less risk of injury than that of the most suited designs currently commercially available. All designs currently commercially available are formed from unnecessarily complex shapes and construction which results in a higher than necessary cost of manufacture to a greater or lesser degree. A further object of the current invention is to substantially 25 reduce the cost of manufacture by means of superior design without reducing strength. To reduce cost to a minimum it was necessary to form the entire gate latch clamp from one continuous piece of flat steel bar (rather than multiple pieces), in conjunction with one standard cup head bolt assembly (rather than a custom made bolt). The current invention set out to achieve both these criteria, resulting in a reduction in the cost of 30 manufacture that is not possible in the case of all designs currently commercially available.
It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the above limitations. 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is formed from a single piece of flat plate. The piece is rectangular in shape with sufficient length to enclose the pipe frame to which it clamps and extend beyond the pipe on either side sufficiently to allow a bolt to pass through a hole on either side and exert clamping pressure on the encircled pipe. The rectangular o piece is bent in the vertical plane to form a flat sided "U" shaped member, (bent just short of 1800) and of sufficient radius to allow it to enclose the pipe to which it clamps. The flat member extends some distance beyond the curved section on either side; with both legs extending sufficiently to allow a slotted hole situated in such a way that it can facilitate a bolt passing through the member on either side and not interfere with pipe 5 that the clamp is encircling. One of the two legs of the flat sided member extends some distance beyond this bolt hole in the same plane and terminates in a circular shaped extension that contains a hole of sufficient radius to retain a hook shaped latch. BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS o Embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the a perspective view of a gate latch retainer clamp from the side with the cup head bolt removed for clarity according to an embodiment of the present invention 25 Figure 2 shows the a perspective view of a gate latch retainer clamp from the opposite side with the cup head bolt removed for clarity according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 3 shows the a perspective view of a gate latch retainer clamp from the opposite side with the cup head bolt in position according to an embodiment of the present 30 invention Figure 4 shows a perspective view from the side face of the gate latch retainer clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 1-3 being used in the application of attaching a gate latch to a gate. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1-2 shows a single rectangular flat sided member bent in the vertical plane to form a flat sided "U" shape with one longer leg and one shorter leg. The member has three holes, with holes 100 and 101 being opposite each other to facilitate a cup head bolt as embodied on Figure 3-103, passing through the member on either side in such a o position so as not to interfere with a pipe, as embodied on Figure 4-105, that the clamp is encircling. Hole 101 is a rectangular shaped hole and retains the square shanked portion of the cup head bolt shank preventing the bolt from rotating during tightening. Both holes are slotted allowing the clamp to move in relation to the bolt during tightening, and when tightened the bolt exerts clamping pressure on the outer faces of 5 the flat member causing it to close around the pipe gate frame, thus securing it firmly in place. A further role of the bolt is to secure one end of the latch to the gate frame which is achieved by ensuring the bolt passes through a link in the chain as embodied on Figure 4. 2o A further hole as embodied on Figure 2-102 is located at the end of the longer leg and is of a sufficient diameter to capture the latch securely. In order to encompass a hole of this size the member increases in width as embodied on Figure 1-104 ensuring sufficient material is retained around the hole to achieve structural integrity. The present invention differs from all previous attempts to attach a gate latch to a gate 25 in that a single flat member is formed so that it performs the role of a both clamp and a capture device for the latch without using multiple parts and, or customized bolts. When the gate latch clamp is fitted to the gate as embodied on Figure 4 the longer leg containing the hole that captures the latch is parallel to the outer face of the gate and also ensures that no sharp protrusions extend beyond the face of the gate. This means 30 that the chance of an animal or person being injured by contact with the face of the gate in the open or closed positions is significantly reduced when compared to other like designs. 5 0 15 20