US1052664A - Gate-latch. - Google Patents

Description

0. EL HESTBR.

GATE LATCH. APPLIUATIONHLBD 001225, 1912.

Mente@ Feb. 11,1913.

@Dvi/tucasa s OTHO EDWARD HESTEE; F VAN METER, IOWA.

GATE-LATCH.

-a citizen of the United States, residing at Van Meter, in the county of Dallas and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andf'e'xact description of the invention,such as will ena-'ble others skilled in thel art to which it ap'p'er'tains to make and use the same.

f This invention relates to latches, and more especially to those adapted to be vused on gates; and the object pf the same is to produce an extremely simple and serviceable .latch of this kind capable of engaging the free edge of a swinging gate which is adjustable to various heights, readily opened by the operators linger, and so constructed that it is extremely diliicult and practically impossible` for stock to open it.

To this end the Vinvention consists in the,

specific details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gate,

shown as closed and latched by this improved latch. Fig. 2 is an. enlarged horizontal section through the latch post just above thelatch, showing the lat-ter and the free edge of the gate in full lines with't-he gate latch closed` and showing t-he latch and the free edge ofthe gate in two positions with the gate open. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of this latch, viewed from the inside of the latch-post, the former showing the latch as closed and the latter showing it as open. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the base plate, and Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of one of the .t-umblers.

In the drawings the letter G designates a gate hinged at H to a hinge-post P in any sultable way, and adapted to be latched or connected by my improved latch mechanism to the latch post L in a manner yet to be described.

The sizes, materials, and details of construction of the gate, its hinges, and the posts, are matters of no moment.

. Coming now to the details of the present invention, the numeral 1 designates a base lplate secured in any suitable way across the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, i913.

Application iled October 25, 1912. Serial No. 7f7,7'95.4

that the latch proper, 4, may be mounted between the lugs for horizontal movement as will-be explained. The latch is of Y-shape. Its lnner end carries an ear 5 through which and through said lugs passes an upright pin 6 on which the latch is pivoted, and the outer end of the latch is forked and the fork-arms 7 and 8 deflected outward away from each other and then in substantially parallel lines to their pointed extremities 9 as shown, the space between them being suflicient'to receive the :tree edge 10 of the gate which by preference is covered with metal as seen in Fig. 1.

Pivoted to the inner face of the, base plate 1 at opposite sides of the two lugs 2 and 3 are like but oppositely disposed tumblers or' pawls, whereof one is well illustrated in Fig. 6 and I will describe butone. .Each pawl has an ear 15 at its outer end pivoted as at 16 tothe base plate 1 beneath a pin 17 which limits the rise of the bodyl of the 'pawl, and from the ear the pawl. extends @straight inward as at 18 and forms an angle 19 so that its upright inner face 2O is adapted to rest against the shank 11 of the latch when the latter projects straight inward from the latch post L, and whose straight lower face 21 is adapted to rest upon the upper face of one of the arms of the latch when the latter is turned aside as seen in Fig. 4. T he9 body 18 of the pawl is extended upward into what might be called a tail 22, preferably having a hook 23 to give it weight and to lie over and upon the upper lug 2 as best seen in Fig. 3; and the top of the tail is rounded oli' as at y24 andyet given such coniiguration that the operators linger may be hooked behind it to raise it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3.

In use the base plate is secured to the face of the latch post L (which latter may be enlarged as shown-at L in Fig. 3 to give it greater security) and the gate-is latched ,as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Then now it is desired to unlatch the gate, the operator inserts his linger over the rounded upper edge 24 of the tail 22 of the nearest pawl, and raises the latter around its pivot 16 to the position shown in dotted lines; this raises the angle 19 and disengages the inner its free edge 10 swings the latch from its' full-lined position in Fig. 2 to the position shown near the bottom of this view, and the gate moves open as indicatedby the arrow. To close the gate and again latch it, it is only necessary to push it back to the full lined position, and as it is moved in this direction its free edge passes between the fork-arms 7 and 8 so that the latch is automatically swung back into place, and as soon as the nearer arm passes out from under the lower tace 21 of the pawl which stands elevated, the latter drops into position as shown in Fig.l 3. It is quite possi- .ble for the operator to insert his finger about as shown in Fig. 3, then push it a little farther in between the latch post L and the free edge 10 of the gate G, and lift the remote pawl, after which he can push the gate open rather than pull it' open; and in these circumstances the parts then assume the position shown in Fig. 4, and he can pass through the gate and Aslam it shut behind him. l Y

A striking feature of advantage arising from the construction above described, is the factA that it is impossible for any animal to accidentally or purposely or mischievously open this gate.l .So large an animal as a horse or cow 'could not insert his lor herv nose in the angle formed between the side of the gate and the inner face of the latch post, and a small animal could hardly reach up so high with its paw. l While I have not illustrated any particular type of hinge I-I by means of which the ate may be adjusted so as to swing at a igher or lower level, it will be clear that this improved latch coacts with the free edge 10 of the gate however the latter is adjusted.

The parts are preferably entirely of vmetal, properly treated to prevent rust; and

I do not wish to be confined to the specific details' ot construction further than as set l forth below.

at its outer extremity pivoted to said base plate, a strai upon one of t latter is swung aside, an angle at its inner corner, a straight upright'base adapted to lie against the side of `said shank when the ht lower face adapted to lie catch stands at right, anglesto the face ot the post, and an upstanding tail having a rounded face and a hook adapted to engage over the uppermost lug when the latch is closed.

2. In a gate latch, the combination with a base plate adapted to be secured to the inner face of the latch-post and having a vertically alined pair of spaced lugs, a substantially Y-shaped latch whose arms are spaced suiiiciently to receive the free edge of the 'gate and Iwhose shank extends loosely between said lugs and is perforated,'a pivot e arms of the latch when the 'fol pin passing through the' lugs and perforation, and a pair of pawls each having an ear at its outer extremity pivoted to said base plate, la straight lower ace adapted tol lie upon one of the arms of the latch whenthe latter is swung aside, an angle at itsinner corner, a straight upright face adapted to lie against the side of said shank when? the catch stands at right angles to the face of the post, and a tail at its upper end. a

3. In a gate latch, the combination with a base plate adapted to be secured to the inner face of the latch-post, and a substantially Y-shaped latch whose arms are spaced sufficiently to receive the free edge oflthe gate and whosel shank is mounted on a Ivertical pivot connecting it with said plate; ot two independent pawls mounted at their outer ends on horizontal .pivots connect-` ing them with the extremities of said plate and projecting thence inward, the pawls being of such length that their inner eXtitemities drop alongside theshank of said latch when the latter stands at right angles to the face of said plate, and means for supporting either pawl in this position independently of the other.

In testimony whereof I have `hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit-- nesses.

OTH() yEDWARD HESTER.

Witnesses:

0. V. 'WHITE, R. E. MALANDER.

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