AU2018250471A1

AU2018250471A1 - Self latching anti-lock latch device

Info

Publication number: AU2018250471A1
Application number: AU2018250471A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Audrius Macernis
Original assignee: Capricorn Global Group Pty Ltd; Dazcorp Lty Ltd; Eleinvest Qld Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Safetech Ip Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-21
Filing date: 2018-10-18
Publication date: 2018-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-21
Also published as: AU2016201778A1; AU2016201778B2; AU2018250471B2

Abstract

A self-latching anti-lock latch device is disclosed here for latching a hinged gate to a barrier member and further preventing locking of a pin when a key is turned inside a keyhole. The self-latching anti-lock latch device includes a latch bar assembly, and a magnet bar assembly. The latch bar assembly comprises latch assembly housing fitted to one of the hinged gate and the barrier member, and an anti-lock latch bar is slidably disposed within the latch assembly housing such that. The anti-lock latch bar is axially movable from a default backward disengagement position to a forward engagement position. The anti-lock latch bar is biased towards the disengagement position and attractable by a magnet, where the anti-lock latch bar comprises a washer member distally positioned to prevent the anti-lock latch bar from locking due to the rotation of the pin due to the turning of the key inside the keyhole.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention narrates about gate latches, more predominantly to safety magnetic gate latches that are mounted on swimming pool gates and the operating methods thereof, which are out of the reach of small children, and even more predominantly related to a magnetic self-latching anti-lock gate latch device that offers additional safety by not only keeping the operating means thereof out of the proximity of small children but also by arranging the operating means such that, a user has to execute a system of operational steps in order to disengage and engage the latch, and additionally an anti-lock system which prevents the key and pin from getting jammed as compared to the gate latches known in the art.

[0002] A conventional swimming pool gate latch basically comprises a latch assembly preferably fitted to a hinged gate and a magnet assembly fitted to a fence post or in some cases another hinged gate. The magnet assembly usually is elongate in construction and is vertically fitted to the fence post. The magnet assembly comprises a release knob disposed atop thereof wherein, the release knob simply needs to be lifted in order to release or unlatch the gate. The gate latch is further designed to be a safety device as the release knob positioned is at that height that it is out of the reach of small children. However, for a determined child, the placement of release knob may not pose that big of a challenge as the release knob can be arguably easily lifted with the help of an elongate object. Further when a key is used to open the gate latch, the spring loaded pin might get jammed between the pin which is driven by the key. So there is a need to prevent the jamming of the pin with the spring loaded pin.

[0003] Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a self-latching anti-lock latch device for latching a hinged gate to a barrier member and further preventing locking of a pin when a key is turned inside a keyhole of the self-latching anti-lock latch device.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The self-latching anti-lock latch device disclosed herein is used for latching a hinged gate to a barrier member and further preventing locking of a pin when a key is turned inside a keyhole of the self-latching anti-lock latch device. The self-latching antilock latch device comprises a latch bar assembly, and a magnet bar assembly. The latch bar assembly comprises latch assembly housing and a horizontally-disposed anti-lock latch bar. The latch assembly housing is fitted to one of the hinged gate and the barrier member, and the anti-lock latch bar is slidably disposed within the latch assembly housing, such that the anti-lock latch bar is axially movable from a default backward disengagement position to a forward engagement position. The anti-lock latch bar is biased towards the disengagement position, where the anti-lock latch bar is attractable by a magnet, where the anti-lock latch bar further comprises a washer member distally positioned to the anti-lock latch bar to prevent the antilock latch bar from locking due to the rotation of the pin due to the turning of the key inside the keyhole.

[0005] The magnet bar assembly comprises an elongate magnet assembly housing and an elongate vertical magnet bar. The magnet assembly housing vertically fitted to another one of the hinged gate and the barrier member, the magnet assembly housing comprises a latch hole axially aligned with the anti-lock latch bar. The elongate vertical magnet bar comprises a magnet secured to the bottom thereof, and the magnet bar is slidably disposed within the magnet assembly housing such that, the magnet bar is manually vertically movable from a default downward engagement position to an upward disengagement position. The magnet bar is biased towards the magnet bar engagement position, where the magnet, via the latch hole, is aligned with the anti-lock latch bar, wherein the anti-lock latch bar is selectively allowed to interlock within the latch hole in the downward magnet bar engagement position.

PRO11104descriptionl80ctober2018

2018250471 18 Oct 2018 [0006] In an embodiment, the barrier member comprises a fence post. In an embodiment, the barrier member comprises another gate. In an embodiment, the magnet bar further comprises a release knob disposed on top thereof, where the hollow of the magnet bar made through the release knob, where the release knob is for enabling a user to manually lift the magnet bar towards the magnet bar disengagement position. In an embodiment, the anti-lock latch bar comprises a head portion disposed at an extremity thereof, where the head portion abuts the magnet through the latch hole. In an embodiment, the magnet assembly housing comprises an open top removably fitted with a top cap having a central hole through which, the magnet bar extends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1A exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of the self-latching antilock latch device.

[0008] FIG. IB exemplarily illustrates a partial vertical sectional view of the selflatching antilock latch device, showing a latch bar assembly, and a magnet bar assembly.

[0009] FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates a partial vertical sectional view of the latch bar assembly when the pin is in open position.

[0010] FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates a partial vertical sectional view of the latch bar assembly when the pin is in closed position.

[0011] FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the self-latching anti-lock latch device.

[0012] FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the self-latching antilock latch device.

PRO11104descriptionl80ctober2018

2018250471 18 Oct 2018 [0013] FIG. 5 exemplarily illustrates a sectional view of the self-latching anti-lock latch device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] FIG. 1A exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of the self-latching antilock latch device, and FIG. IB exemplarily illustrates a partial vertical sectional view of the selflatching anti-lock latch device 100, showing a latch bar assembly 101, and a magnet bar assembly 102. The self-latching anti-lock latch device 100 disclosed herein is for latching a hinged gate 106 to a barrier member 107 and further preventing locking of a pin 112 when a key is turned inside a keyhole 113 of the self-latching anti-lock latch device 100. The selflatching anti-lock latch device 100 comprises a latch bar assembly 101, and a magnet bar assembly 102. The latch bar assembly 101 comprises latch assembly housing 103 and a horizontally-disposed anti-lock latch bar 108 as shown in FIG. IB. The latch assembly housing 103 is fitted to one of the hinged gate 106 and the barrier member 107, and the antilock latch bar 108 is slidably disposed within the latch assembly housing 103 such that, the anti-lock latch bar 108 is axially movable from a default backward disengagement position to a forward engagement position. The antilock latch bar 108 is biased towards the disengagement position, where the anti-lock latch bar 108 is attractable by a magnet, where the anti-lock latch bar 108 further comprises a washer member 109 distally positioned to the anti-lock latch bar 108 to prevent the antilock latch bar 108 from locking due to the rotation of the pin 112 due to the turning of the key inside the keyhole 113, as further explained in FIGS. 2A-2B.

[0015] The magnet bar assembly 102 comprises an elongate magnet assembly housing 104 and an elongate vertical magnet bar 105. The magnet assembly housing 104 vertically fitted

PRO11104descriptionl80ctober2018

2018250471 18 Oct 2018 to another one of the hinged gate 106 and the barrier member 107, where the magnet assembly housing 104 further comprises a latch hole 110 axially aligned with the anti-lock latch bar. The elongate vertical magnet bar 105 comprises a magnet 111 secured to the bottom thereof, and the magnet bar 105 is slidably disposed within the magnet assembly housing 104 such that, the magnet bar 105 is manually vertically movable from a default downward magnet bar engagement position to an upward magnet bar disengagement position. The magnet bar 105 is biased towards the magnet bar engagement position, where the magnet 111, via the latch hole 110, is aligned with the anti-lock latch bar 108, wherein the anti-lock latch bar 108 is selectively allowed to interlock within the latch hole 110 in the downward magnet bar engagement position. In an embodiment, the barrier member 107 comprises, for example, a fence post, or another gate.

[0016] FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates a partial vertical sectional view of the latch bar assembly 101 when the pin 112 is in an open position, and FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates a partial vertical sectional view of the latch bar assembly 101 when the pin 112 is in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 2A, when before a user inserts a key inside the keyhole 113 of the latch bar assembly, the pin 112 is in open position. When the user inserts a key and locks the pin 112 on to the horizontally-disposed anti-lock latch bar 108, there is a high probability of the pin 112 to be jammed on to the surface of the anti-lock latch bar 108. Therefore, the antilock latch bar 108 comprises the washer member 109, as disclosed in the detailed description of FIGS. 1A-1B, which restricts the pin 112 to make contact with the anti-lock latch bar 108, thereby ensuring a smooth operation of the pin 112 and anti-lock latch bar 108 during the locking and unlocking of the self-latching anti-lock latch device 100 using a key.

[0017] FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the self-latching anti-lock latch device 100. As disclosed in the detailed description of FIGS. 1A-2B, the parts of the self5

PRO11104descriptionl80ctober2018

2018250471 18 Oct 2018 latching anti-lock latch device 100, such as latch bar assembly 101, magnet bar assembly 102, latch assembly housing 103, magnet assembly housing 104, magnet bar 105, anti-lock latch bar 108, washer member 109, latch hole 110, magnet 111, pin 112, keyhole 113 are as shown in FIG. 3. In an embodiment, the self-latching anti-lock latch device 100 further comprises mounting brackets 114 positioned at a rear section of the magnet bar assembly 102, where the mounting brackets 114 are configured to mount the magnet bar assembly 102 to either the hinged gate 106 or the barrier member 107. In an embodiment, the anti-lock latch bar 108 comprises a head portion 115 disposed at an extremity thereof, where the head portion 115 abuts the magnet 111 through the latch hole 110. In an embodiment, the magnet assembly housing 104 comprises an open top removably fitted with a top cap 116 having a central hole 117 through which the magnet bar 105 extends. In an embodiment, the magnet bar 105 further comprises a release knob 118 disposed on top thereof, where the hollow of the magnet bar

105 made through the release knob 118, where the release knob 118 is for enabling a user to manually lift the magnet bar 105 towards the magnet bar disengagement position.

[0018] In order to latch the hinged gate 106 to the barrier member 107 or the fence post, the hinged gate 106 simply needs to be aligned with the fence post 107 at which point, the magnet 111, which, by default, is aligned with the latch hole 110, attracts the anti-lock latch bar 108 towards itself. As the attraction force of the magnet 111 is configured to be stronger than the opposing force of the spring 108a coiled around the anti-lock latch bar 108, the anti-lock latch bar 108 adheres to the magnet 111 through the latch hole 110 thereby latching the hinged gate

106 to the fence post 107 as seen in FIG. IB. In order to release the hinged gate 106 from the fence post 107, initially, the release knob 118 is depressed causing the magnet bar 105 to be free. At this point, the release knob 118 is manually lifted upward (through), which causes the magnet bar 105, and thereby the magnet 111, to move upwards. The elevation of magnet 111 causes the attraction power between the anti-lock latch bar 108 and the magnet 111 to weaken

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2018250471 18 Oct 2018 resulting in the anti-lock latch bar 108 being retracted into the latch assembly housing 104, due to the spring force, thereby unlatching the hinged gate 106 from the fence post 107. The self-latching anti-lock latch device 100, is a safety device and therefore, the release knob 118 is configured to be at a height that is unreachable for small children.

[0019] FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the self-latching antilock latch device 100. The magnet bar 105 has a release knob 118 positioned upwardly, wherein the hollow of the magnet bar 105 extends through to the release knob 118. The release knob 118 is designed for enabling a user to manually lift the magnet bar 105 towards the magnet bar disengagement position whereby the user can open the selflatching anti-lock latch device 100. The mounting brackets 114 are designed in a partially rectangular and oval shape, with hook members 114a, and are positioned at a rear section of the magnet bar assembly 102. The mounting brackets 114 enable the mounting of the the magnet bar assembly 102 to either the hinged gate 106 or the barrier member 107, or any other support structure where the magnet bar assembly 102 is required to be mounted.

[0020] FIG. 5 exemplarily illustrates a sectional view of the self-latching anti-lock latch device 100. The elongate vertical magnet bar 105 includes the magnet 111 fastened to the bottom section, and the magnet bar 105 is disposed within the magnet assembly housing 104 to be in sliding communication with the magnet assembly housing 104. Therefore, the magnet bar 105 is facilitated to move from a default downward magnet bar engagement position which is set by the spring unit 105 a to an upward magnet bar disengagement position which is performed by manually releasing the magnet 111. The magnet bar 105 is substantially biased towards the magnet bar engagement position enforced by the spring unit 105a, where the magnet 111, via the latch hole 110, is aligned with the anti-lock latch bar 108 as shown in FIGS. 2A-3.

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2018250471 18 Oct 2018 [0021] The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present concept disclosed herein. While the concept has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the concept has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the concept is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the concept extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the concept in its aspects.

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Claims

I claim:

1. A self-latching anti-lock latch device for latching a hinged gate to a barrier member and further preventing locking of a pin when a key is turned inside a keyhole of the self-latching anti-lock latch device, the self-latching anti-lock latch device comprising:

a latch bar assembly comprising:

a latch assembly housing fitted to one of the hinged gate and the barrier member; and a horizontally-disposed anti-lock latch bar slidably disposed within the latch assembly housing such that, the anti-lock latch bar is axially movable from a default backward disengagement position to a forward engagement position, the anti-lock latch bar biased towards the disengagement position, wherein the anti-lock latch bar is attractable by a magnet, wherein the anti-lock latch bar further comprises a washer member distally positioned to the antilock latch bar to prevent the antilock latch bar from locking due to the rotation of the pin due to the turning of the key inside the keyhole;

a magnet bar assembly comprising:

PRO 111 04claims 18October2018

2018250471 18 Oct 2018 an elongate magnet assembly housing vertically fitted to another one of the hinged gate and the barrier member, the magnet assembly housing comprising a latch hole axially aligned with the anti-lock latch bar;

an elongate vertical magnet bar comprising a magnet secured to the bottom thereof, the magnet bar slidably disposed within the magnet assembly housing such that, the magnet bar is manually vertically movable from a default downward magnet bar engagement position to an upward magnet bar disengagement position, the magnet bar biased towards the magnet bar engagement position, where the magnet, via the latch hole, is aligned with the anti-lock latch bar, wherein the anti-lock latch bar is selectively allowed to interlock within the latch hole in the downward magnet bar engagement position.
2. The self-latching anti-lock latch device of claim 1 wherein the barrier member comprises a fence post.
3. The self-latching anti-lock latch device of claim 1 wherein the barrier member comprises another gate.
4. The self-latching anti-lock latch device of claim 3, wherein the magnet bar further comprises a release knob disposed on top thereof, the hollow of the magnet bar made through the release knob, wherein the release knob is configured for enabling a user to manually lift the magnet bar towards the magnet bar disengagement position.

PRO 111 04claims 18October2018

2018250471 18 Oct 2018
5. The self-latching anti-lock latch device of claim 1 wherein the anti-lock latch bar comprises a head portion disposed at an extremity thereof, wherein the head portion abuts the magnet through the latch hole.
6. The self-latching anti-lock latch device of claim 1, wherein the magnet assembly housing comprises an open top removably fitted with a top cap having a central hole through which, the magnet bar extends.
7. The self-latching anti-lock latch device of claim 1, further comprising mounting brackets positioned at a rear section of the magnet bar assembly, wherein the mounting brackets are configured to mount the magnet bar assembly to one of the hinged gate and the barrier member.

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FIG. IA

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FIG. IB

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FIG. 2B

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FIG. 3

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FIG. 4

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FIG. 5