US2928688A

US2928688A - Latch for gates

Info

Publication number: US2928688A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johnson Grady
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-05-29
Filing date: 1959-05-29
Publication date: 1960-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 1977-03-15

Description

March 15, 1960 G. JOHNSON 2,928,688

`LATCH FOR GATES Filed May 29. 1959 INVENTOR.

GRADY JOHNSON l ATTORNEYS Sttes Patent f' 2,928,688 IC Y Patented Mar. 15, 1960 This invention relates to a latch particularly adapted for use with fence gates and the like. i

In the usual arrangement of a gate in fencing, the gate is hingedly mounted on one of two spaced guide posts, and a retaining or latching device is provided between the gate and the other post for holding the gate in closed position. One well known type of such latching device includes a spring member which is secured Vat one end, usually to the gate or its frame, and having an other or free end which is provided with a generally U- shaped, or similar, guide extending in spaced relation about the edge of the gate for limiting movement of the free end of the `spring member to a direction toward and away from the edge of the gate. The spring member is stressed so as to be biased normally away from the gate into a locking or retaining position, and in this position, when the gate is closed, the free end of the gate member is received within a notch in a retainer which 'is suitably mounted upon the adjacent gate post. Obviously, under some circumstances it may be desirable toY mount the retainer on the gate and the spring member o n the post, or each on separate parts of a double gate, but in any event theY interaction of these parts is .the same, and when the retainer and spring member are alignedY the spring member extends into the notch which prevents sidewise movement thereof and thus retains the gate against opening movementrabout its hinges. i .Y

When fencing employing a gate and latching device of the vabove described type is used, for example, toV enclose 4a yard where small childrenare at play, or for some other type ofY enclosurer in which it is desired 4tohavethe operation of the Vlatching device require more positive action than mere bending or flexing of the spring member, the usual procedure is to use a separate chain about the gate Vframe and fence post, or some other separate means for locking the gate in closed position. The present invention lrelates to an improvement in such latching devices as above described, wherein the spring member is engaged in its retaining position in such a manner that deliberate positive action is necessary to disengage the spring member from the retainer notch. Furthermore, in combination with this improved `latching device, provision .isV made for` reception of a padlock o r similar lock in the latching device which will lock the device in its engaged position to prevent unauthorized entry through the ga@ f Y Accordingly, the primary object of ,this invention is toV provide a latching device for gates and the like wherein the notched retainer member includes a pivotally mounted latch having a slotted free end which is movable partially across the retainer. Such that the slot may 'receive 0r engage with an edge. 0f the latch Spring mem 'berto hold it withinthe retainer notch, and torequire twitilg vQf the spring member along its length aswell '21S a Withdraytngfmovement thereof Yfrom thnctch t0 .releasethc .spring member from the retainen Another object of the invention is to provide VSuch.' an improved latching device wherein the latch andthe retainer are provided with cooperating apertures which are aligned when the slotted end .of the latch is aligned with apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings--v n 'Y Fig. 1 is a view of a typical sectionof fencing and gate in which latching devices of Vthe character provided by the invention are incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view Vthrough the gate frame showing in plan the spring member and its guide mounted onv the frame; n

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig;vv 2 showing a retainer and latch mounted on the fence post;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, on a substantially enlarged scale, of the latching device provided by the invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

and Y Fig. 6 is a sectional View similar to Fig. V5, showing the spring member partially engaged with its retainer.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a'preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. l shows a typical application of the invention in which chain link fabric extends from opposite sidesof stationaryfence posts lltiand Y A gate is provided between theseY ,posts including a suitable frame 15 having fencing fabric 12 to form a fence.

stretched therewithin and mountedas by hingesk 16, to swing about the post 10 relative to post 12. The gate and post 12 are provided witha latching device indicated by the general reference numeral 20 in Fig. l, and inlcluding cooperating parts on the gate frame and the Vpost which may engage, for example in the closed position of the gate, to retain the gate in adesired position.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the latchingv device includes a spring member 22 which is secured aty its lower end 23 to thegate frame 15 by a suitable fastener24, which may be for example a rivet, a self-tapping screw, or the like. As will be noted from` the drawings, spring member 22 is of substantially greater width than thick-A ness and extends away from the frame 15 and the secured lower end 23 such that the free upper end 25 of the spring member may be moved relative to the gatefrarme. The upper end 25 carries a generally U-shaped guide member 27 which is secured to the spring member in any suitable manner, and which extends around the gate frameV lthe post 12, is a retainer 30 which ts around the post andis secured thereto bya half-round bracket`31 and suitable fasteners'SZ at opposite ends thereof. The Ic tainer 36. includes ay generally rectangular notch 35 adapted for alignment/lwiththe free-end 25 ofspring member 22, and of vs11ir`1cient. fwidth to receive `the-spring member. In normal position, --with the gate closed, the spring membergZZ- extends into notch 35 and is free to move out .of-the notch only toward its open end, being retained against any substantially sidewise movement, and thus retaining the gate in its closed position. However, as will be apparent from the drawings, it is a relatively simple matter to disengage this ordinary notch and s pring relationship. Q v I In accordance with the invention the retainer carries a latch 40 in the `form of a curved arm pivotally mounted by a pin 42 on the retainer, to one side of the notch 35, and having a free end which may extend partially across the retainer notch. This free end of the latch is provided with a slot45 adapted to engage about an edge of the spring member 22 when the latter is within notch 35, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. Latch 40 Vand retainer 30 preferably include

cooperating apertures

47 and 48, re spectively, through which a suitable locking device, for example a padlock (not shown) may be inserted to lock the spring member within notch 35. The mounting pin 42 also .receives a retarding device in theQformA of a Belleville spring 50 which acts to bindagainst pivoting movement of the latch 40, and thus prevents its` being swung open beyond a position where it will re-engage with spring member 22.. Y

Assuming the partsto. be inthe position shownV in Fig. 5, with the gate closed, it is impossible to withdraw member 2,2 from notch 35, against its normal bias, with a straightforward withdrawing movement, for vexample to the left as shown in Fig. 5, since the slottedend of the latch 40 is engaged around the free end 25 of theispring member and due to its pivotal mounting the latch member will cause the parts to bind against such withdrawing movement. However, if the spring member 422, or at least a substantial portion of free end 25 thereof, is

twisted along its length, as by applying opposite forces i to the arms of guide member 27, in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6, and the spring member is at the same time moved in the withdrawing direction, it

to permit opening of the gate.

, In closing the gate, however, the spring .member is withdrawn normally either manually or by camming action with the curved outer edge of retainer and the gate moved in closing direction until the free end 25 of the spring member is aligned with notch 35. With the latch 40 moved outwardly toward the open end of notch 35, the open end of slot 45 will be in position to receive an edge of spring member 22, and when the spring member is free to move in its normally biased direction into notch it will do so with latch 40 swinging normally inward and the slotted free end thereof passing about the edge of the springmember without interference with the closing action. This follows from the fact that the latch is now pivoting inwardly toward notch 35 while'the free end 25 of the spring member is moving in the same direction, tending to decrease the binding action therebetween.` v

As an example of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, in a retainer member having a spring member 22 with the width thereof (engageable in notch 35) of approximately one inch, and the notch accordingly yof somewhat greater width to leave, `for example, oneeighth inch clearance or slightly more,rthe pivotal latch member 40 has a slot 45 of approximately one-half inch or slightly greater depth, and the` distance from the bottom of the slot to the pivot axis,v i.e., to the pin 42 is about one and one-quarter inches. Obviously, the

apertures

47 and 48 may be located wherever convenient.

The latch structure provided Aby the invention hasrbeen found most effective when the pivotal mounting Vofthe retamerearm or latch 40 is located on that side Vof 'the' renclosuresurrounded by the fence, withthe gatebeing hinged to swing inwardly or away from the latch 40. In arrangement the spring member is easily twisted as 1t 1s withdrawn to` enablev the spring member to be dis; engaged from the retainer. A On the other hand, it is con-A slderably more diicult for a person standing on the other` .Y may be freed from the retainer notch and latch member side of the gate to reach across or over the gate, and in the configuration shown the twisting of the spring metilber is much easier to accomplish from the side of the gate opposite that on which the latch 40 is located. Obviously, however, the latch member provided by this invention is effective even without this preferred arrangement, and may be located on the other side where the circumstances so require. V

Accordingly, thepresent invention provides a simple, easily constructed latching device for gates or the like which is effective to retain the gate in a predetermined position without use of additional retainers such as chains or other parts separate from the actual latching con-` struction. The-4 device provided Aby this invention is especially effective Where fencing is employed to enclose a space for animals or to define a closed play area for small children, and the improved latching device effectivelyprevents these children from opening the gate, al-

though it maybe simply and quickly opened by an adult who understands the operation of the latching construction.`

Furthermore, the latching device is easily adjusted for proper operation by Arotationfof retainer 30 on its post. In the event` that the latch .40 should not be required for regular'use, it maybe rotated inwardly until it engages the post, leaving a freely open outer end of slot 35 in which the spring member22 may engage in the usual manner.

While the form of apparatus herein described, con- 'stitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein .without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the Aappended claims.y

What is claimed is:

1. In a` latch, device forgates having an elongated relatively llatA spring member` mounted`with a portion thereofv movable for releasable engagement in a retainer to hold the gatein a desired position', the combination of a retainerhaving a notch formed therein of sufficient width to Vreceive said portion of the spring member and to preventsideways movement thereof, means on said retainer for'mounting thereof in predetermined position for Vselective reception of said spring member in said notch,a latch pivotally mountedon said retainer and having a free end movable partially across said retainer notch, and said latch having a slot insaid free end thereof adapted. to engage `withfanedge of said spring member to hold it within said notch andrequiring a twisting of said spring'member along its-.length tofree it from engagement with Vsaid notch and said slot for release of said spring member from said retainer.`

2. In alatch device for gates having an elongated rela- V notch, said latchhaving a slot in said free end thereof adapted to engagewith an edge of said spring member` to hold -t within said notch andrequiring a twisting of said spring member` along its length to free it from engagement' with said notch and said slot forrelease of said spring member from said retainer, 'and said latch and said retainer having cooperating apertures therein adapted to be aligned in theengaged position of said latch Vto receive a locking device and effective to lock latch in engaged relation with the spring member.

3. A latch for gates, 'comprising an `elongated spring i member adapted for mountingon the frame of a gate if New 5 with one end thereof free to move with respect to the gate frame and normally biased to a locking position away from the frame, guide means on said free end of said 'spring member extending in a direction to surround the gate frame in mounetd position, a retainer adapted for mounting in stationary position on a gate post adjacent the gate frame and including a notch dimensioned to receive a portion of said free end of said spr-ing member in the normal locking position thereof, a latch member pivotally mounted on said retainer to one side of 10 said notch therein and having an end extending at least partially across said notch, said latch member having a slot in the end thereof over said retainer notch for engagement with one edge of said spring member in its normal position to require a twisting movement of said spring member during withdrawal thereof from said retainer notch, and means resisting pivotal movement of said latch member to hold it adjacent said slot n the *A A:i open non-latching position thereof. Y

`406,037 l\2,455-,772. Jackie Dec. 7, 1948 2,793,893' Black et a1.l p May- 28, k1957 2,797,118 Yoder lune 25, 1957