US440919A

US440919A - S petehs co

Info

Publication number: US440919A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1907-11-18

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcn,

ADAM C. HENDRICKS, OF MARTINSBURG, VEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO ADAM FITZ, OF SAME PLACE.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFIOATION forming part of Letters 1 atent No. 440,919, dated November 18, 1890. Application filed Inne 9, 1890. Serial No. 354,742. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM O. I-IENDRIcKs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Martinsburg, in the county of Berkeley, in the State of Test Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a correct description. The invention consists in certain novel parts or combinations of parts in or in conro nection with a gate and its fastenings, as will first be particularly described, and afterward specifically indicated in the concluding` paragraphs of this specification.

In the aocompauying drawings, which constitute a part of this description, Figure 1 represents a detail front elevation of a gate and its gate-head or catch-post to which Iny improvements are applied, showing` an edge or side view of the latch-plate, its wheel, its stop, and its latch-lifting levers, and showing also a front view of the catch-plate. Fig. 2 is a detail end elevation of the gate-that is, a view at a right angle to that seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side View of the catch-plate. Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation similar to the view .seen in Fig. 2, the interior parts being exposed by lthe removal of the friction-wheel and its journal-plate. Fig. 5 represents the rear or inner face of the journal-plate. t Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the catch detached.

The gate B is here shown as composed of front and rear Vertical bars b and b' and intermediate horizontal rails bg; but it may be constructed in any other convenicnt manner. The main or base plate o, of the latch A, which is secured to the free end of the gate, preferably at about its mid-height, has near its upper extremity proj ecting wings or guideplates a' and (L2, and near its lower extremity 40 it has a fixed horizontally-arranged arm or stop (L3. Vithin the space embraced between the guide-wings (1,2 (L3 is loosely received the latch properA', which is frame-like, as shown, and consists of a top bar, cross-head, or leverplate at, side bars 0,5 and 05", and base-bar a,

which is provided with a bottoin engaginglug 0,7 and with a side stop as. The upper extrennity of the latch A' has a perforation a, which receives a lifting-rod a, which at its opposite extremity is connected to an arm Z of a pivoted level' L, which is mounted in any suitable bearing Z' upon the upper portion of the gate. Immediately below the cross-head of,4 is the segmental or D-shaped lever-head (W, the shank of which extends horizontally rearward from the end of the gate and terminates in a suitable Operating handle or lever a. Extending horizon-tally outward from the plate a immediately below the leverhead ot12 is an arm or shaft a, which at its outer extremity is threaded, and which receives the journalplate J, the projecting sleeve j of which in turn receives the antifriction Wheel VV of the latch, which is retained by nut w upon the outer extremity of the shaft. A suitable spring s, seated upon the cross-bar or base-bar af* of the latch, bears by its opposite extremity against the shaft a. 4

The catch O has a base or securing lug c, which is provided with a Vertical slot'c', by which and its securing-bolt O' the catch is made adjustable up or down, and it preferably has also a rearwardly-extending fiange or rim. 02, which enters a slot g in the catchpost or gate-head G to render the connection of the catch more firrn. The outwardly-extending body O2 of the catch has upon one of its Vertical faces at about the .mid-height thereof a horizontal supporting-way 03, which is provided above and below with one or more retaining` lugs or catches C4 to receive the lug a7 of the latch A', and it has also at its outer extremity a double incline c. The duplication of the engaging parts of the catch adapts it to be employed in connection with either right-hand or left-hand gates.

It will be observed:l that in the operation of the latch the force of the spring` s acts to press the latch AI downward, so that in closing the gate engagement with the catch 04 will be certain, and that in the upward movement of the latch the engageinent of the stop as upon the side of the latch with its coincident wing a' prevents'the latch from moving too far in that direction. It will also be noted that through the provision of the wheel XV' the engagement with the upper surface of the catch is effected without appreciable friction, even when a very heavy gate is employed, the wheel moving to its seat in unison With the movement of the lug (L7 up the incline c14 and into its seat behind its catch 04. It will IOO further be observed that the space between the Wheel W and the arm or stop as is exactly equal to the Vertical extent of the catch, so that the gate is held against upward movement and unlatching by the action of high Winds or by restless and meddlesome animals.

If the latch be applied to an ordinary yard or garden gate, the pivoted lever L may be dispensed With; but ordinarily both this and the lower lever will be provided, the upper lever being readily operated by a horseman', thus obviating the necessity for disniounting when passing from field to field.

It will be perceived that except When the gate is open its latch end is by the Wheel VV Wholly supported by the catch, so that any tendency to sag is wholly avoided.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed is-- 1. In a gate-latch, a catch, as O, having slotted base, and a double-inclined latchway provided with retaining lugs Ior notches above and below, Whereby the catch is made reversible and adapted for use in connection With either right-hand or left-hand gates, substantially as shown and described.

2. The plate a, having guide-Wings az and ars, the latch A' within the guide-Wings, and the partially-revoluble lever or handle a, having cam or segment-al head a in engagement Wit-11 the latch and operable to elevate the same, in combination, substantially as specified.

3. The vertically-movable latch A' having lug (17 and side stop as, the shaft aw, and the spring s, engaging the latch and bearing against the shaft, in combination.

4. rFhe catch O, having lugs C4, and the latch A' movable up or down upon the plate a and provided with top lifting-lever L and With partially-revoluble lever dn, in combination, substantially as described and shown.

ADAM O. HENDRIOKS.

Witnesses:

L. DE Wirr GERHARDT, ODIN P. EICHELBERGER.