US2671683A

US2671683A - Gate latch

Info

Publication number: US2671683A
Authority: US
Inventors: Heyman Benjamin; Francis K Read
Original assignee: Anchor Post Products Inc
Current assignee: Anchor Post Products Inc
Priority date: 1951-05-10
Filing date: 1951-05-10
Publication date: 1954-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-09

Description

March 9, 1954 B. HEYMAN ET AL GATE LATCH Filed May 10, 1951 yrrmu IN V EN TORS flan 4mm j/a BY F'ranns K g IITTORNEXS Patented Mar. 9, 1954 umrso PATENT omcs GATE LATCH Benjamin Heyman, Baltimore, and Francis K. Bead; r kesvi e; M a s t s t An hq'r ost Products, Inc'.,; a corporation of New Jersey Appli ation May 1951, Serial No- 225,592 6 Qleims- 2 2-.

This invention relates to a gravity-actuated gate latch which looks in a uniform and positive manner as the gate is closed.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a rotatively mounted gate latch of simple and economical construction With a striker which hits the latch'and lifts it up as the'gate is closed. Gravity then makes the latch fall back over the striker to lock the gate. Uniform and positive locking is insured by a cam or projection on the latch whicl'i'contacts the striker and assists gravity in closing the latch. Thiscam so accelerates locking action that the latch is closed beforthe striker can rebound and escape the latch even when the gate is slammed shut.

The nature of this invention may be readily understood. by reference to the example shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of our improved gate latch; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the camming action of the latch, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a form of gate latch as ap lied to a double-swing gate.

In the drawings, latch ill is rotatively mounted by swivel bolt I2 on a door frame or stationary gate post M. As best shown in Fig. 1, free rotation of latch ill about swivel bolt [2 is insured by spacer bushing I6 and washers l8. Bushing l6, tightly fitted in latch I0, is of somewhat greater length than the thickness of the latch and its inside diameter is greater than the diameter of bolt I2. Thus washers I8 are held away from latch l0 and bolt i2 may be drawn tight without binding the latch. The top portion of each end of latch it is flared to form a pair of

operating handles

26 and 22 provided with

stop faces

24 and 26. These stop faces make contact with post 14 and keep rotation of latch in within working limits. Latch It has most of its weight to the left of swivel bolt l2 and thus stop face 26 ordinarily makes contact with gate post M. This holds latch Ill approximately horizontal in readiness to receive striker 28 (see Fig. 2).

Striker 28 is securely mounted on gate post 30 as by bolt 32 so that it will engage notch 34 of latch It for locking the gate. In the example of our invention shown striker 28 has lateral extensions 3B and 33 on either side of gate bearing surface which grip post 30 and provide a firm support for the striker (see Fig. 1).

When the gate is closed, striker 28 hits in clined surface 42 of latch ID. This lifts latch Ill and gravity then tends to close it, to lock striker 28 in notch 34. To insure positive action of latch lil, we. provide it with a'projection or cam face 14, When latch' lilis lifted, cam 44 extends beyond the limits of post It where striker 23 hits it to ass g t f clo i g the la h se la T This prevents any tendency for the gate to bounce open because "striker 28 cannot rebound until after latchl fi i sc losed. I l

The gate may be conveniently opened from either side of the fence with handle 2i) or 2 2.

-, Hole {25in latch Hl'i'sadapted to receive apa dr lock shackle or the like which prevents lifting thelatch. H

Inthe form of our invention shown in Fig. 51 the left gate member 48' carries striker 50, similar to te i s sel cted. and th r h gate member '52 carries latch 54 corresponding to can" e e mica were 19 brackets 58 on gate member '52,i's positioned with handle 6i! immediately below latch 54 where it will not interfere with the latch. Drop bar 56 extends into a usual well 62 to hold gate member 52 closed. Latch 56 has a hole 64 corresponding to hole it to be used for locking the gate shut.

When gate member 43 is closed, the gates are locked and drop bar 56 is also looked in well 62. The drop bar cannot be turned because of gate members 48 and E2 and it cannot be lifted because it hits striker 56. As shown in dotted lines, drop bar 56, when not in use, may be conveniently placed behind projection 66 of latch 54 where it is held out of contact with the ground. If desired, the bar may be dropped at any time to hold gate 54 in an intermediate position.

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the preferred embodiment of this invention herein chosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a latch member of the type described including a post for mounting said latch member and a swinging gate with a striker thereon, the combination of a latch member adapted to cooperate with the striker for locking the gate, a notch in the lower face of said latch member near one end, said notch having a surface wall which lies in a substantially vertical plane taken through the width of the latch member when said member is in position to receive the striker, an inclined surface extending upwardly from said notch, means for rotatively mounting the latch member, said inclined surface being adapted to cooperate with the striker to lift the latch.

member whereby the striker is locked in said notch as the gate is closed and said latch member having its top portion at each end flared to form a pair of operating handles which extend outwardly from the body of the latch member at an approximate right angle for operating the latch member on either side of the gate, said handles being adapted to cooperate with the latch member mounting post to limit rotation of the latch member and keep it within working limits.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which the latch member has a cam surface associated with said notch and adapted to cooperate with the striker to assist in closing the latch member.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which the mounting means include a bushing of slightly greater length than the thickness of the latch member adapted to cooperate with a bolt for mounting the latch member whereby the bolt may be drawn tight without binding the latch member.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1 which includes a projection extending upwardly from the top of said latch member, said projection being adapted for receiving a hasp to prevent lifting the latch.

5. In a device of the type described the combination of a latch member and a drop bar adapted to cooperate with a striker for locking a pair of swinging gates, a notch in the lower face of said latch member near one end, said notch having a surface wall which lies in a substantially vertical plane taken through the width of the latch member when said member is in position to receive the striker, an inclined surface extending upwardly from said notch, means for rotatively mounting the latch member on one of the gates, at stop to limit latch rotation, means for slidably mounting the drop bar on the same gate below the latch member, said drop bar being adapted to hold the gate in a set position, means for mounting said striker on the other gate in position to cooperate with the inclined surface of the latch member to lift the latch member whereby the striker is locked in said notch when the gates are closed and said drop bar having a handle positioned adjacent to the bottom edge of the locked striker which prevents lifting the bar.

6. A structure as specified in claim 5 which includes a projection extending upwardly from the top of said latch member, said projection being adapted for receiving a hasp to prevent lifting the latch member and for carrying the bar when it is not in use below the striker.

BENJAMIN HEYMAN. FRANCIS K. READ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 46,653 Fosdick et al. Mar. 7, 1865 168,525 Peterman Oct. 5, 1875 482,246 Hagee Sept. 6, 1892 557,578 Green Apr. 7, 1896 844,907 Aikin Feb. 19, 1907 1,284,237 Carll Nov. 12, 1918 1,936,921 Strid Nov. 28, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 779,411 France Jan. 14, 1935