GB2280470A

GB2280470A - Quick release gate bolt

Info

Publication number: GB2280470A
Application number: GB9315491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William John Ward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-27
Filing date: 1993-07-27
Publication date: 1995-02-01
Also published as: GB9315491D0

Abstract

There is provided a quick release gate lock which can be applied to either single or double gate systems and which can be retrofitted to existing gates or fabricated during gate construction. Downward pressure against a spring 3 causes the end 5 of a slidable bolt 2 to engage a keeper below the gate and the bolt is held in the engaged position by a key-operated lock 8. The spring loaded bolt 2 is of square section and slides telescopically within a square section outer sheath 1 which carries the lock 8 at its near upper end. The bolt terminates upwardly in a pressure pad 4 to engage the device. The device is fitted to the traditional catch side of double gates so that when it locks the remaining side, the latch side, is available for pedestrian callers. <IMAGE>

Description

QUICK RELEASE GATE LOCK This invention relates to a gate lock and particularly to locks for the gates which are found at the entrance of the so-called "front drive" of domestic premises which are seldom closed or locked at night because of the awkwardness of using a binding chain and padlock.

Joyriders,or auto-thieves,have become more daring in recent times and statistics show that many cars are being stolen from the drives, and even the garages, of domestic premises. Thefts from these situations require a quick reaction capability on the part of the thief because,even when the gates of the drive are open,he has to either drive or reverse out onto the public road and do so at speed and with the minimum amount of noise. It is not surprising therefore to find that in areas where cars are kept in the drives or garages at night it is only from those houses where the gates have been left open that thiefts occur and this is presumably because the opening of gates can create noise too early on in his operations and also adds to the time spent on the premises.It is apparent therefore that the best deterrant to this type of auto-theft is to ensure that the gates of the drive are closed and locked each night but herein lies the problem because people in general do not seem to have the energy or inclination to lock the gates with the traditional binding chain and padlock. It is also apparent that they would probably lock the gates if the only operation required to do so was the closing of the gates followed by some simple means of locking and unlocking which did not require the use of either a chain or a padlock or both. There is a need for a quick release gate lock which could be applied,and retro-fitted,to the gates cf domestic and other premises which would entail the carrying of nothing heavier than a small key and such a gate lock is the subject of the present invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a quick release gate lock comprising an outer elongated member,preferably of square section, into which fits in a telescopic manner a second elongated member which is spring loaded and which terminates at its lower end in a ground penetrating solid steel bolt and in its upper end in a push-cap so that when fitted to a conventional gate the system can be locked by simple downward pressure on the push-cap and simultaneous inward pressure on an integral bolt-lock and thereafter released by key insertion into the barrel of a spring loaded bolt-lock.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 Is a perspective view of the quick release gate lock in the closed position with the ground penetrating bolt in the "down" position.

Figure 2 is a sectional inset view of the spring loading mechanism for the second elongated member.

Referring to the drawings the quick release gate lock comprises an outer elongated member 1 which houses,in a telescopic manner,a second elongaged member 2 which can move within the outer member under the influence of a spring 3 and which terminates at its upper end in a push-cap 4 and in its lower extremity in a solid steel bolt 5 which is normally held recessed within the outer member 1 by the influence of the spring 3. The system can be fitted to gates during manufacture by welding fixture or retro-fitted to existing gates by the use of conventional keepers 6 and 7 which will be familiar to those skilled in the art. The system is secured by the use of a spring loaded lever bolt lock 8 which engages in a hole drilled to suit at the proper corresponding position in the body of the second elongated member 2.

In practice the quick release lock is fitted to the gates on a member close to the edge closing member 9 of the gate and a short length of steel tube is cemented into the ground to correspond with the bolt 5 in addition to the existing ground tube which corresponds to the gate's original bolt 10. By this system therefore it is possible to lock the gate half 11 and yet permit the passage of pedestrian traffic via the other gate half 12. With the half gate 11 locked by the present device it is not possible to steal a parked car out of the drive because of width restriction and yet it is quick and simple to insert a key into the bolt lock 8 and swing open the gates so that full access width of the drive is available. At night time, or when on holiday, the gates can be closed in the conventional way but with the present device attached it is not possible for anyone to ever open the both leaves of the gate to full drive width without destruction of the device. If attempted this would be a difficult and noisy operation at night and a highly improbable one in the full view of neighbours in daylight.

Claims

l.A quick release gate lock comprises an outer elongated member ,preferrbly of square section, into which fits in a telescopic manner a second elongated member which is spring loaded and which terminates at its lower end in a ground penetrat ing solid steel bolt and in its upper end in a push-cap so that when fitted tc a conventional gate the system can be locked by simple downward pressure on the push-cap and simultaneous inward pressure on an integral bolt-lock and thereafter released by key insertion into the barrel of the spring loaded bolt-lock.
2.A quick release gate lock according to Claim 1 wherein the system can be retrofitted to existing gate systems or incorporated into gates during fabrication.
3.A quick release gate lock according to Claims 1 and 2 wherein the bolt/lock system can be either welded to the gate or fixed using traditional keepers.
4.A quick release gate lock according to any of the above Claims wherein the device is fitted to the catch side of double gate systems so that when this side is locked the latch side is still available for pedestrian traffic.
5.A quick release gate lock substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.