US1241671A - Gate-latch. - Google Patents

Description

I. P. SMITH.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 25| 1915- 1,241,671.. Patented Oct. 2,1917.

UNITED sTaTns PATENT oriuon ISAAC PHILIP SMITH, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SELF CLOSING GATE (10., OF LOWPOINT, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

GATE-LATCH.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Application filed February 25, 1916. Serial No. 80,338.

0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Isaac Pnimr SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a clear and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to a latch mechanism primarily intended for use on gates which are ordinarily constructed of strips of wood bound together at their free ends and hinged ends by strips of metal and suitably braced; these gates being generally known as farm gates.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for securely holding a gate in its closed position, while at the same time permitting it to be easily operated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism which can be easily attached to the gate structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism which can be adjusted on the gate structure so as to properly position the latch or forked member with relation, to its keeper which is secured to the gate post.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch structure wherein, when the gate has been opened, the forked member will retain its proper position for the closing of the gate and cannot be accidentally disturbed from that position.

Other objects of my invention and advantages to be derived therefrom will appear and be described as the specification proceeds.

The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a gate with my improved latch in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the latch mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fi 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the keeper.

F ig. 5 is a plan view of the body of the latch mechanism showing a modification in the meansfor mounting the same on the gate structure where no opening is provided in the metal strips of the gate for the reception of a clamping-bolt.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be observed that I have shown the free end of an ordinary farm gate in which 1 represents the wood strips or boards, of which there may be any number according to the require ments of any particular service, these strips being secured together at their ends by vertical metal bars 2, there being one of these bars on each side of the boards, the bars being secured thereto by the bolts 3, passing through both bars and the strips or boards.

The latch structure consists of a body portion l, which is of a width equal to the thickness of the boards 1, and is provided with the slotted opening 5, through which, when the latch mechanism is properly positioned on the gate structure, the clamping-bolt 6, passes to secure the latch mechanism in place.

It is well known that gate posts and fence posts change their positions frequently owing to the moving action of the freezing earth or the softening action of moisture, and it will be observed that the latch body 41, may he slid into or out of any given position on the gate structure by simply loosening the clamping-bolt (S, and then shifting the position of the latch mechanism to bring the forked member 7 into proper relation with the keeper 8 which latter is secured to the )ost 9.

The swinging fork 7, is suitably journaled in the end of the body l, and as shown in Fig. 2, is provided on its under face with stops 10, one of which is shown, the other of which is directly opposite the one shown, and these stops serve, by coming in contact with the body, to limit the movement of the fork in either direction.

A tension device '11, which in its preferred form consists of a blade of spring steel, is mounted within the body t by being-passed under the cross piece 24: and resting upon the cross piece 25 in such manner that it exerts a downward pressure at its free end near the pivotal point of the swinging fork 7, and this tension device bears against the swinging fork 7, in which detents 12 consisting of the cut out portions of the upper hub of the fork 7 are provided for the reception of the tension device when the fork 7 is in any other than extreme position on either side of thecenter, the tension device, while bearing against the hub of the fork, does not resist or interfere with its movement to any appreciable extent.

It will be observed by referring to Fig. 3, that the swinging fork is cut out at 13,

forming two shoulders or abutments 14:,

which co-act with the downward extensions 15, of the fingers 16, there being one of these fingers on each side of the body 4:. The fingers 16, normally rest against the top surface of the body 4:, extend to the rear thereof and are suitably pivoted thereto as at 17, and are further provided with han dles or extensions 18, preferably perforated as at 19.

The mounting of these fingers 16, is such that they are operated manually to permit the gate to be opened and operated by gravity to lock the gate when the latter is closed. The ends of the downward extensions 15 of the fingers 16'are provided with rearwardly extending portions 20, and the body lis provided with projections 21, between the upper and lower of which the extension 20 moves when the fingers 16 are operated, the projections 21 thus becoming stops to limit the travel of the fingers 16. The projections 21 in addition to limiting the movement of the fingers prevent the body 4 from being moved to too great an extent inward between the vertical bars 2, and thereby prevent contact of the bars 2 with the fingers 16, which would prevent the operation of the fingers.

It will be observed that the fingers 16 are provided with upstanding perforated lugs 22, the purpose of which is to serve as means of connection to operate the latch from above through suitable rods or chains or in case it is desired to use two latches on a gate of extraordinary height, the two may be connected together for simultaneous operation by having a chain or wire secured either'through the openings 22 of the fingers 16 of both upper and lower latches, or through perforations 19, so that when one finger of the upper latch is operated, the corresponding finger of the lower latch will operate simultaneously to permit the gate to beopened.

Again the openings 19 may be employed for the simultaneous operation of more than one latch or for operation of the latch from a distance. 1

The modification shown in Fig. 5 consists in the provision of suitable clamps 23 apertured for the reception of .thelclampingbolti6 by means. of which and the clamps the latch body may be properly mounted on agate structure wherein no opening is provided for the clamping-bolt, and it is obvious that the clamps 23 may be varied as to, form to permit of the proper mounting of the latch body between angle irons, fiat bars or other pieces 2 constituting a part-of the gate structure. r 4 In Fig. 4 I have shown a castmetal keeper adapted to be suitably secured to a square fence post or a post with a flattened portion thoughtheform of the keeper may be varied to suit a variety of conditions.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim,

, ..1. In a gate-latch, the combinationvof a gate structure comprising in part a pair' of vertical metal bars at the free end thereof, a latch body provided with a slotted opening and mounted-on said gate structure and between said bars, a clamping-bolt passing through said bars and the slotted opening of said latch-body whereby when thejtension of said clamping-bolt is relieved said latch-body may be adjustedwithrelation to said gate-structure, stops carried by said body to limit its adjustment in one direction, a swinging fork mounted on said body,

a pair of fingers mounted on saidbody and extended to said swinging fork whereby said fork may be locked against movement 19) or when either of said fingers isoperated said fork may be swung in one direction", and a keeper attached to a gate-post adja cent said gate-structure and adapted to be engaged by said swinging-fork, 19

2. In a gate-latch,-a latch-body,a swinging-fork mounted thereon, a pairofstops on said fork and adapted to limit the movenient of said fork,a tension device for holding said fork when the latter is swung out of 11 its locked position, a pair of fingers pivoted to said latch-body and extending to and adapted to engage said swinging fork to prevent movement thereof, means for causing the disengagement of said fingers from vsaid l fork, and means foradjustably mounting said latch-structure on a gate;

3. In a gate-latch, a body-structure provided withmeans for mountinga swinging fork, a swinging .fork mounted within said W means, a tension device mounted within said body and having contact with said fork and adapted to retain said fork in either of its swung positions, stops on said fork to limit the swing thereof, pivotedfingers mounted 1:3 upon said body and operated in one direction by gravity to lock said fork against swinging, and means 'for raising the locking ends of said fingers, v. i

4. In agate-latch, an adjustable latchbody, a swinging fork mounted in said body,

tension device for said swinging fork, fingers pivotally mounted on said body and extended to engage said swinging fork to prevent movement thereof, stops on said body to limit the movement of said fingers, said stops also serving to limit the inward movement of said gate-latch when the same is adjustably mounted on a gate.

5. In a gate-latch, a hollow body structure, cross-bars connecting the opposite sides thereof, a swinging fork mounted therein, a tension device bearing against said swinging fork to retain the same in either of its swung positions said tension device lying within said body structure and being supported by said cross-bars, and means for locking and unlocking said swinging fork.

6. In a gate-latch, a hollow body structure, a slotted opening therethrough adapted to receive a clamping-bolt whereby said body structure may be adjustably mounted on a gate, a swinging fork mounted on said body structure, stops on said fork to limit the movement thereof, a tension device mounted within said body structure and bearing against said swinging fork, detents in said swinging fork co-acting with said tension device to retain said fork in either of its swung positions, locking and releasing fingers operatively mounted on said body and extended to engage said fork to lock the same in one position and adapted to be disengaged therefrom to release said fork and means whereby said fingers may be operated.

' ISAAC PHILIP SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patenta. Washington, D. 0."

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