US250091A - Gate-latch - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheet-Sheet 1.

F. N. MARTIN.

GATE LATUH.

No. 250,091. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FENTON N. MARTIN, OF VIRDEN, ILLINOIS.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,091, dated November 29, 1881, Application filed May 9, 1El8l. (No model.)

exact description of the same.

My invention is a latch or catch adapted more especially for gates, but capable of use also upon doors. It is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an end view of the gate broken away to show the parts in place; Fig. 2, a front View; Fig. 3, separate views of latch. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications.

In the drawings, A represents the gravitating catch, made preferably with a straight vertical side, a, and an inclined rounded side, b, the catch being approximately in the form of a right-angle triangle, pivoted at the base on pintles c c. It is preferably pivoted, substantially at right angles to the plane of the gate, within the iron box or case D, which may be inserted in the edge of the gate or door. This box is a more convenient mode of suspending or mounting the pivoted catch, as the catch may be pivoted therein and the completed article put upon the market, it being necessary, in order to insert it, only to form a cavity in the edge of the gate or door, and then attach the box in place; but the catch may be fastenedin place in any other convenient way withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

The gravitating catch is so mounted that it cannot be thrown up quite to a vertical position, the inner edge striking against the head of a screw, d, or any other convenient stop before reaching the vertical position. It will be understood, therefore, that when left free the latch will fall outward to a position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5.

The latch is raised by means of a small shaft, E, which passes through the front piece of the frame of the gate when used upon a gate, and also through the lower edge of the catch. This shaft has pins 8 0 upon the inner end, and a knob or handle, f, upon the other end. The pins 0 0 move in a recess, g, in the lower edge of the catch, and when the shaft is rocked the ends of the pins 0 e strike against the upper in the side of the frame or post opposite the edges of the recess when the shaft is rocked in one direction or the other, and throw the catch up into the case, thereby releasing it.

It will be understood that a recess is formed position occupied by the catch when the door or gateis shut, so that the catch can fall readily into said recess and fasten the door. When the gate or door is open the catch falls outward, and as the door or gate closes said inclined face strikes against the edge of the post or frame, and is thereby pushed inward until the door or gate is closed.

In order to prevent the edge of the post or frame from wearing, a piece of wire, rod, or strip of metal may be applied to the edge. For gates a piece of wire in the form of an ordinary bridge-tack may be sufficient.

The casing may be made in any suitable form; that shown in the drawings is composed of three lobes or circular parts, h h it. These are convenient for fitting the case to the doors, since the cavity for the case may be formed by boring three holes. So far as concerns the practical operation of the catch, any other shape of the case adapted to hold the catch would serve the same purpose.

Instead of the shaft passing at right angles to the catch and lifting it by means of the pins, for some purposes a prolongation of one of the pintles on which the catch turns, as represented in dotted lines at F, may be used. This pintle may extend toward the front and be provided with a knob, by means of which it may be directly turned by application of the hand. In the form shown, however, which is applicable to gates, the knob is out of the way, and has advantages in that respect.

The case may be held securely in the cavity by means of a screw, 75, the projecting head of 90 which may limit the inward movement of the catch and keep it always ready to fall out.

The pins 0 e limit the outward movement of the catch, and the shaft on which they are placed shouldbe allowed slight endwise move- 5 ment.

It will be observed that this catch, constructed and applied as above described, is entirely inclosed and out of sight, and can be raised only by turning the knob. It makes a very neat, 100

simple, and secure latch, certain to operate automatically, and not liable to be displaced by accident.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the device. Here the swinging latch is provided with a staple, while the spindle ofthe knob has apin,which engages with the staple and swings the latch by a rotary movement of the knob in either direction. A

In Fig. 5 another modification is shown. Here the swinging latch is pivoted in a recess in the post and drops into an opposite recess in the gate, while the end of the knob-spindle, turned up at right angles, is adapted to strike it and press it back into the gate-post when the gate is to be opened.

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

1. The combination of a gravity-latch pivoted in the edge of the gate or gate-post, at substantially right angles to the plane thereof,

with a knob-spindle connected to said gravitylatch, by means substantially as described, the rotary motion of which spindle raises said atchh 2. The combination of the gravity-catch, having an incline, b, pivoted by pintles c in bearings in an inclosing-case at right angles to the plane of the gate, and a shaft, E, having a pin adapted to operate in connection with said incline to raise the catch, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the gravitating catch, constructed as described, and the shaft E, with pins 6 e, working in a recess in the lower edge of the catch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FENTON N. MARTIN.

'Witnesses:

Grms. E. BURNETT, OHAs. H. METCALF.

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