AU641009B2

AU641009B2 - Improved latch

Info

Publication number: AU641009B2
Application number: AU77036/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stuart Brink
Original assignee: RMD Press Co Pty Ltd
Current assignee: RMD ELECTRONICS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-05-14
Filing date: 1991-05-14
Publication date: 1993-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-14
Also published as: AU7703691A

Description

Our Ref: 363780

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act (1990) COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FORM

(ORIGINAL)

010 Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art:

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Applicant(s): Address for Service: Mehersao's-Vimted Leve--437-Rialto- -Bui--ld-i-ng -M-LBOURNE--V-IC 0 0 0 AUSTRA-fiA-- 2, I.1b 'I hr LJ, CL~ ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

Patant Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 :Complete specification for the invention entitled ~:."Improved latch".

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-

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0 0 0 5020 0356v/AMR 1 The present invention relates to a latch assembly suitable for use on a pool gate. Whilst the invention is according to one embodiment directed towards and primarily described with reference to a latch assembly for a pool gate, it is anticipated that the latch assembly is suitable for use on other gates, doors and the like. Throughout the specification the term "gate" should be understood to cover other closure means such as doors and the like.

In one existing type of pool gate latch assembly the latch member is positioned within the hollow gate post and is movably operated by lifting an elongate member to which it is attached. The elongate member protruding from the top portion of the post. The latch member typically an angle member, is lockably engagable with a striker which is attached to the gate. As the pool gate is closed the striker enters an opening in the side of the post in the vicinity of the latcA member. In the event that a sufficient force is provided to the pool gate the striker will urge against and lift the latch member thereby allowing the latch member to lockably engage therewith. Pool gate see* assemblies of this type have a number of disadvantages.

Firstly if the force of the closing gate is not sufficient for the striker to lift the latch the pool gate may not positively be secured. Secondly if the elongate member and latch member are jammed or held up due to the configuration of the latch within the post, then the striker will not engage the latch and therefore will not close.

Thirdly when gates with such existing latch assemblies are slammed with great force, the strikers sometimes bounce back C 50 s.e 1 out of the post without being engaged because the momentum imparted to the rod/angle member assembly increases the travel of the same, and as such the angle/rod assembly does

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not return to catch the striker before it has bounced out.

Locking of the gate is a particularly important aspect in order to keep unattended children away from pools.

The present invencion seeks to ameliorate pool gate latch assemblies by providing a latch assembly with a positive locking means.

In one broad form the present invention is a latch 0356v/AMR 2 assembly for securing a gate to a hollow post, said latch assembly comprising: an elongate member adapted to be movably secured within said hollow post; and a cup fitted over and biasedly movable along one end of said elongate member, said cup engagable with a striker on said gate, said striker entering said hollow post through an opening, wherein said cup may be moved within said post by movement of said elongate member or biasedly moved along said elongate member by means of the striker.

In another form the present invention is a latch assembly for securing a gate to a hollow post, said latch assembly comprising: an elongate member adapted to be movably secured within said hollow post; and a cup fitted over and biasedly movable along one end of said elongate member, said cup adapted for the releasable retention of a striker on said gate, said striker entering said hollow post through an opening, wherein when said striker is engaged with said cup in a locked mode it is releasable by moving said elongate membei and wherein when said striker is to be placed in the locked mode it is urged against said cup which biasedly moves along said elongate member thereby allowing said striker to lockably engage with said cup.

The invention will now be described by way of non limiting examples with reference to the following drawings.

t Figs. la and Ib depict one embodiment of the latch assembly and striker of the Oresent invention.

Fig. 2 depicts a front view and a cross sectional view of a post with the latch assembly and striker of the present invention.

As depicted in Figure la the latch assembly comprises a *o rod 5 having a cylindrical cup 8 attached at one end and a knob 1 attached at the other end. The cup 8 is secured to es* the rod 5 by means of a lock nut 9 and able to be biasedly moved a short distance along the rod 5 by means of a spring T-o O

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0356v/AMR 3 6 which are held in place on the rod 5 near the cup 8.

Figures la and 2b also depict washers 7 at or near the cylindrical cup 8 and spring, however the washers are optional and not essential to the invention.

A punched knob 3 is positioned on the rod 5 between positioning nuts 2 and 4. As can be seen in Figure 2 the punched knob 3 is utilised as the top cover on post 13 through which the latch assembly protrudes.

In use the latch assembly is positioned within the post 13. In order to secure a gate to the post 13, a striker 11 on the gate protrudes into an opening 14 of the post 13.

The striker 11 being engaged with cup 8 (see Figure In order to release the striker 11 a user lifts knob 1 which raises rod 5 and cup 8. When cup 8 is raised the striker 11 may therefore be removed from the opening 14 of the post 13. The movement of the rod 5 and therefore the cup 8 is restricted due to the positioning nuts 2 and 4.

r When closing the gate the striker 11 enters the opening 14 and urges against the cup S. The striker 11 has a ramped surface 12 which as it urges against the cup 8 it also lifts it up such that the wall of the cup 8 can drop into the notch 15 on the striker 11. As the cup 8 is biasedly movable along the rod 5 by means of spring 6 and washers 7, the urging striker 11 biasedly lifts the cup 8 without having to lift the rod 5 and the other aitachments. This means that the urging force being provided to the striker 11 need not be great to ensure locking of the latch assembly.

Additionally as there is no large movement of mass due to movement only of the cup 8 and the bias means, the possibility of the striker 11 bouncing out of the post 13 when the gate is slammed with a great force, is reduced.

As the cup 8 is cylindrical and therefore symmetrical *se about its longitudinal axis it is unimportant if the cup 8 rotates about the rod 5 in use. The use of a cylindrical cup 8 also minimises the possibility of the latch assembly jamming within the post member.

In use the striker 11 may be attached to a pool gate utilising a spacer between the gate and the striker (see Fig. ib).

0356v/AMR 4 It should be noted that a variety of not shown cups, biasing means and other components can be used in the present invention.

The present invention therefore provides a latch assembly device suitable for use on gates.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications could be made to the device of the present invention as described and with re.frence to the illustrations without departing from the overall scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A latch assembly for securing a gate to a hollow post, said latch assembly comprising: an elongate member adapted to be movably secured within said hollow post; and a cup fitted over and biasedly movable along one end of said elongate member, said cup engagable with a striker on said gate, said striker entering said hollow post through an opening, wherein said cup may be moved within said post by movement of said elongate member or biasedly moved along said elongate member by means of the striker.

2. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cup is biasedly movable by means of a spring.

3. A latch assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said striker comprises a ramped surface which moves said cup along said elongate member as the striker engages said cup.

4. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said striker comprises a recess into which said cup engages to hold said striker in a locked mode.

5. A latch assembly for securing a gate to a hollow post, said latch assembly comprising; an elongate member adapted to be movably secured within S said hollow post; and a cup fitted over and biasedly movable along one end of said elongate member, said cup adapted for the releasable retention of a striker on said gate, said striker entering said hollow post through an opening, wherein when said striker is engaged with said cup in a locked mode it is releasable by moving said elongate member and wherein when said striker is to be placed in the locked mode it is urged against said cup which biasedly moves along said elongate member thereby allowing said striker to lockably engage with said cup. 0356v/AMR 6

6. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cup is biasedly movable means by means of a spring.

7. A latch assembly as claimed in claims 5 or 6 wherein said striker comprises a ramped surface which moves said cup along said elongate member by urging against a side wall free end of said cup allowing said cup to engage within a recess on the striker' thereby placing said striker in the locked mode.

8. A latch assembly for securing a gate to a hollow post as substantially herein described and with reference to the accompanying illustrations. DATED this llth day of June, 1993. RMD PRESS CO. PTY LTD By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 9* 9 6 ogr

9 U 3 .bv/ .vAvR 7 ABSTRACT A latch assembly for securing a gate, door or the like to a hollow post (13) having a rod adapted to be movably secured within the hollow post. A cylindrical cup being fitted over and biasedly movable along one end of said rod The cylindrical cup adapted for engagement with a striker (11) fitted on said gate. The striker (11) entering the hollow post (13) through opening (14). Fig. 2(b) should be used with the abstract. S.1 B S a IJ «*n I S oBS IS.