US1099391A - Latch. - Google Patents

Description

G. T. NICHOLS. LATCH.

APILIOATION FILED MAR. 10, 1913.

1,099,391L Patented June 9,1914.

J7 22,3. @Nl

GewyeT/Lb/wls INVENTOR ATTORN EY UMTED `STATES PATENT FFCE.

GEORGE THOMAS NICHOLS, OF GAINESVILLE, TEXAS.

LATCH.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Geenen T. Nronons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gainesville, in the county of Cooke and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Latch, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates to improvements 1n latches.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of latches, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and eilicient latch of strong and durable construction, designed principally for use in connection with the end gate, fastener forming the subjectmatter ot my copending application., filed June 25, 1912, Serial No. 705,836.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch of this character adapted also for use on fence gates, barn doors and similar closures, and to enable the same to be securely fastened and prevent them from being opened by horses and other animals.

VW ith these and other objects in view, the invent-ion consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter 'fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being `understood that various changes in the forrn, proportion, size and minor details of construction, Within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing` from the spirit or sacrilicing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawingr-#Figure 1 is an elevation of an end gate provided with a latch, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line Q--Q et Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the end gate, the latch being nnfastened and the end gate being broken at the joint.

Like numerals ot' reference designate corresponding parts in all the igures of the drawing.

1n the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the end gate is composed of a main section 1 and a relatively small side section 2, connected to the main section by suitable hinges 3, which are adapted to per mit the end gate when unfastened to break outwardly to enable its ends to be readily disengaged from cleats 4 and 5 of sides 6 of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Serial No. 753,407.

a wagon body or bed 7. rlhe main section 1 is preferably reinforced by spaced vertical cleats S and 9, secured to the outer or rear face of the main section at opposite sides of the center of the end gate, the cleat 9`being located at and slightly overlapping the joint between the main and side sections 1 and 2,`

as clearly illustrated in Figs, 2 and 3 of the drawing. The side sectionis held rigidly in alinement with the main section by a latch comprising a horizontal arm or bar 10, constructed of suitable metal and secured at its o uter end portion 11 to the outer face of the side section 2 at t-he outer side of the vertical cleat 9 by rivets 12, or other suitable fastening devices and having its inner end portion 13, fitted against the outer face of the main section at the inner side of the said cleat 9. The bar or arm 10, which is rigidv with the sid'e section 2, is provided at an intermediate point with an outward bend 14, fitting around the cleat 9 and composed of an outer s1de 15, an inner side 1G and a connecting portion, which lits against the outer face of the cleat 9. The outer side portion 15 extends from the terminal attaching portion of the arm or bar at right angles to the said attaching portion, and the inner side portion 16 is disposed at an obtuse angle to the inner end portion 15 and to the outer connecting portion of the bend 14:, as clearly shown in Fig. Q of the drawing. l

The inner end portion 13 is detachably secured to the main section 1 of the end gate by a movable locking device or catch consisting of a horizontal pivot 17, and an outer approximately Lshaped crank portion 18 arranged in a plane transversely with respect to the pivot and having a terminal handle portion extending outwardly so as to be readily grasped. The pivot 17 pierces the main section of the end gate and is secured in a bearingopening of the same by a key 19` which is arranged in a perforation of the inner end of the said pivot, a washer 20 being preferably interposed between the key and the inner er front face of the main section 1 ot the end gate. The inner end portion 13 of the rigid arm is provided with a substantially circular opening 21 to receive the outer portion of the horizontal pivot 17, and it also has an entrance slot 22, communicating with the opening and extending upwardly and inwardly at an inclination from the said opening to the upper edge of the arm, whereby it is necessary to arrange the approximately L- shaped crank lof the locking device in an upwardly inclined position and in alinement with the angularly disposed entrance slot to release the rigid arm and permit the same to move outwardly from the main section of the end gate when the latter breaks at the joint. The entrance slot and the opening form a slot or opening with angularly arranged branches, and while the entrance slot 22 is shown extending upwardly and inwardly at an angle to the opening 21, it may be arranged in any other convenient position, but it is preferable to extend the entrance upwardly so that when the crank of the pivot is swung downwardly and extended below the rigid arm, it will ybe impossible for the latter to become accidentally unfastened, as friction and gravity will maintain the crank in its engaging position. The outer terminal 23 of the crank 18 is preferably extended outwardly to enable the pivoted catch or locking device to be readily grasped by the operator and con veniently rotated to lock and release the hinged sections of the end gate. In replacing the end gate, the outer end of the main section l is introduced between thecleats at one side of the wagon body, and the side section 2 is arranged in position between the cleats at the opposite side of the body and the horizontal arm forms a convenient handle for moving the section 2 into such engagement and for forcing the sections into alinement. After the sections of the end gate are locked in alinement, the end gate is secured to the sides of the wagon body by the end gate fastener 24, forming the subject-matter of the aforesaid application. When the latch is employed ona'barn doors, gates and similar swinging closures, the attached end of the horizontal arm is secured to the supporting post or other part to which the swinging closure is hinged, and the pivoted latch is mounted on such closure inl position for engaging the opening of the arm when the swinging door closure is in its closed position. The parts, however, may be reversed and the arm fixed to the swinging door closure vand the pivoted catch tothe supporting post. rlhe latch will operate in either position and the arrangement more suitable to the conditions of use may be employed. When the swinging closure is locked by the latch, it is securely held in rigid relation with the supporting post,- and the crank of the pivot and its projecting terminal will efl'ectually prevent a horse or other animal from operating the latch and release the gate or other closure.

What is claimed is l. A latch of the class described including an arm provided at one end with an attaching portion and having an opening at the other end and provided with an inclined entrance slot extending from the opening at an angle thereto and forming a slot or opening with angularly related branches, and a locking device consisting of a pivot, and a crank arm extending from the outer end of the pivot and having a substantially L-shaped portion arranged in a plane trans`V versely with respect to the pivot and provided with an outwardly extending terminal handle portion, the said L-shaped portion being adapted to be arranged in alinement with the angularly related branches of the said slot or opening and to pass therethrough and capable through the rotary movement of the pivot of being carried away from the inclined entrance portion of the said slot to arrange it in a position for lock-V ing the arm.

Q. The combination with an end gate including two sections hinged together at the inner face and provided at the outer face with a vertical cleat secured to one of the sections and overlapping the other, of a latch comprising a horizontal arm having one of its ends attached to one of the sections o-f the end gate and provided intermediate of its ends with a bend extending around the cleat, the other end of the arm fitting against the other section of the end gate and having an opening and provided with an entrance slot extending from the opening at an angle thereto and forming a slot or opening with angularly related branches, and a locking device consisting of a substantially L-shaped crank member having an integral pivot piercing one of the sections of the end gate in substantial horizontal alinement with the attached end of the said arm, said crank member being adapted to be arranged in alinement with and passed through the said entrance slot and capable of rotary movement to carry it away from the slot and Varrange it in position for locking the said arm. n

ln testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE THMAS NICHOLS.

Witnesses J. E. HAYwoR'rH, JNO. MGKQMGCARTHY.

opies f this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by `addressing the Commissioner ci Patents, Washington, D. C.

Images