US1057522A - Gate-latch. - Google Patents

Description

G. B. BRAGE. GATE LATCH.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912.

1,057,522. Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

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/ ATTORNEY ccLUMmA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

To all who 1m it may concern GEORGE B. BRACIE,

OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR "10 AMERICAN FARM GATE COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

GATELATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

Application filed June 24, 1912. Serial No. 705,505.

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. BRACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate- Latches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to gate latches and more particularly to latches adapted for use with gates having automatic vertical adjustment to provide against obstructions, such as snow or the like, which might accumulate beneath the gate and prevent its closing to its normal position, and thereby preventing the fastening of the gate through the medium of an ordinary non-adjustable latch.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a latch whereby a gate of that character may be fastened to a gate post when the gate is closed and within the limits of its vertical adjustability, and to provide the details of structure whereby this object may be accomplished.

In the drawings wherein the preferred. form of my invention is illustrated :-Figure I is a perspective view of a gate having a mounting adapted for affording automatic vertical adjustment and provided with a latch constructed according to my invention. Fig. H is an elevation of the gate post showing the latch bail and keeper. Fig. 111 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the bail being in the position for projection over the free stile of the gate, and located beneath the upper lip of the keeper.

Referring more in detail to the parts :1 and 2 designate gate posts, the former having ring bolts 3 through which the pivoting stile 4: of the gate is projected, and said stile having a cap 5 on its upper end for hanging on the upper ring bolt to limit the downward projection of the stile. Connecting the pivoting stile with the free stile 6 are body members, preferably comprising Wires 7 and spacing struts 8. I have also shown the stiles connected by a spring bal ancing device which is specifically described in my application for Letters Patent filed Sept. 11, 1911, and serially numbered 648,701, although this device forms no part of my present invention.

F iXed to the bottom of the post 2 and projecting inwardly therefrom is a yoke 9 which is adapted for receiving the lower end of the free stile 6 to hold same against swinging movement.

Fixed to the upper portion of the post is a keeper 10, having end ears 11 whereby it is rigidly secured to the post, and having a central portion 12 spaced from the face of the post and provided with inturned downwardly projecting lips 13 which are preferably stamped from. the plate body. The latch bail 14 preferably comprises a metal rod shaped to resemble a keystone and hung in the keeper-member on the post 2, so that it is free to move vertically in the keeper and to lift over the upper end of the free stile. When in the latter position, the end of the bail which is confined within the keeper plate is held outwardly and upwardly by the outward and upward tension of the gate, so that it is caught and held beneath one of the keeper lips 13, to hold the gate downwardly against the tension of the balancing spring and in closed position.

The post 2 may be provided with a pin 15 at its upper end for supporting the bail when the gate is open, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In using the latch, presuming the gate to be constructed as described, when the gate is open it is free of the yoke device so that the lower end of the stile is free of the confining yoke and may swing on its pivotal mounting, the latch bail being supported on pin 15 in readiness for dropping over the gate stile when the gate is closed.

When the gate is to be closed, it is moved to the closed position and its free end lowered against the tension of the spring balance, so that the lower end of the stile is projected into the yoke to hold such lower end in place. When the stile is lowered, the bail is removed from the pin 15, and moved over the top of the free stile, the lower end of the bail being caught beneath one of the keeper lips, and held in such position by the upward pull of the gate. With the parts in this position, the gate is held against vertical movement and also against swinging inwardly or upwardly from its closed position.

It is apparent that by providing a plurality of lips throughout the height of the keeper plate, the latch may be applied to the gate when the free stile is at different elevations, the adjustability of the latch being limited only by the length of the keeper plate and the number of the keeper lips.

WVith a latch of this construction should snow or ice pile up beneath the gate so thatthe gate would be raised out of its normal position, the bail could engage one of the upper keeper lips and still perform its func tion, whereas under normal conditions the bail would engage one of the lower lips, thereby insuring the latching of the gate irrespective of the unusual condition mentioned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A latch comprising a keeper-member, and a bail adapted for adjustment longitudinally within the keeper and for projection therefrom.

2. A latch comprising a keeper, and a bail adapted for adjustment within the keeper and for projection therefrom.

3. A latch comprising a keeper, and a wire bail loosely confined within the keeper and adapted for projection therefrom.

4. A. latch comprising a keeper-member, and a wire bail loosely confined within the keeper, one end of the bail being of greater width than the opposite end substantially as set forth.

5. A latch comprising a keeper-member having a plurality of stop members, and a bail loosely confined by said keeper and adapted for engagement with any of the stops, and for pivotal movement against the stops, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a support, of a keeper-member having a body portion spaced from the support and provided with stop members, and a bail confined between the keeper body and the support and adapted for engagement with the stops.

7. The combination with a support, of a keeper-member having a body portion spaced from the support and provided with a plurality of inwardly facing lips, and a bail confined within the keeper and adapted for projection beneath any of the lips, and for pivotal movement in contact therewith.

8. The combination with a support of a keeper-member comprising a metal strap having end ears whereby a body portion is spaced from the support, and wherein lips are stamped from said body portion to provide inwardly projecting stops, and a bail confined between the keeper body and the support and adapted for projection beneath any of the stops, for the purpose set forth.

9.; The combination with a support, of a keeper-member having a body portion spaced from the support to provide an elongated recess, said body member having inwardly and downwardly projected lips thereon, and a bail adapted for travel throughout the length of the recess and for projection beneath any of the lips, and for pivotal movement in contact therewith, for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with a support, of a keeper-member carried by the support, a bail adapted for vertical adjustment within the keeper, and a hanger on the support for carrying the loose end of the bail.

11. The combination with a support having a yoke at its lower end and a keeper above the yoke, of a gate adapted for swinging past the support and for vertical movement into and from the yoke, and a bail adj ustably mounted on the keeper and adapted for engagement with the gate to hold same in closed position and within the lower yoke substantially set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. BRACE. l/Vitnesses.

LEWIS L. MILLER, LETA E. COATS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissionerlof Patents, Washington, D. C.

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