USRE3751E - Improvement in gate-latches - Google Patents

Description

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RICHMOND A. LEEDS, or s rAMronn, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent-No. 58,268, dated September 25, 1666; reissue No. 3,751, fla-teal November 30, 1869.

IMPROVEMET IN GATE-LATCHES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part cf the same.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHMOND A LEEDs, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield, and State ot' Connecticut, have invented a new land useful Improvement in Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingr drawing, which forms part of this specification.

, The nature of my invention consists in the arrangement, horizontally 'across the ,face of the front stile of agate, of one or more eceentrically-hun g dogs or plates. when usedin combination with a lug or projecting piece secured to the fence-post at the front ofthe gate, whereby the gate caube opened, either toward or from the operator, by merely employing one hand to release the catch, and thereby much more easily and conveniently than hitherto, the gate closing automatically.

It further consists ina novel combination of the parts of an automatic gate-catch, whereby accuracy in operation, simplicity of construction, and cheapness are effected. i

In the drawings- Figure Lis an elevation of' a gate, showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of an improved latch, taken on the plane of the line a: as, fig. 1.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts in both figures.

A designates a gate, which is hinged to a'post, B, so as to swing in a direction either inward or out-- ward.

D D are two plates, which, in the presentinstance, are sector-shaped.

Each plate is provided with a handle or arm, E, for operating it, and both plates are hung eccentrically within a common casing, F, so that the handle of each will project upon opposite sides of the gate, the one iipon the outside and the other upon the inside; the two inner corners oi' the plates or bolts D bearing against a centre cross-bar. or partition, (lr, ol the casing F.

.H is a lug or projecting piece, secured to and projecting from the yfence-post I, in proper position for the latches l) I) to engage therewith, as plainly shown in fig. 2, the two latches, when engaged with the said catclnprevcnting the gate from being swung either inward or outward, but allowing thesame to be opened in either direction,accordingly as to which latch or plate is relieved therefrom, by pressing upon its hanrClic latches fall by their own weight or gravity, and by using two, as explained, it is plain to be seen that itis impossible for the gate to over swing through the fence, no matter whether closed l'rom the outside or inside, either one or the other of the two latches is in a position to form a stop or bearing for the catch.

I wish it to be clearly understood that my invention embraces the arrangement of a gate-catch, composed oi' one or more vertically-rising drops. or bolts, horizontally across the face of the front stile of the gate, when used in combination with a lug .or projecting piece secured to the fence-post at the front of the gate. This arrangement of the catch enables an operator to open the gate, either toward ,or from him, with one hand, and thereby very easily and convenientlv.

I will here state, that I am aware that automatic labor of applying it, to say nothing ot' its cost and' liability' to get out of order, or else it is necessary to employ both hands for opening the gate, one for releasing the catch, and the other for moving the gate, which is inconvenient and embarrassing. But by arranging thc catch horizontally across the face of the front stile of the gate, the latter can be opened with one hand, and therefore much more easily and conveniently; and moreover, suclrarrangement dispenses with devices for operating the lug or projection, and the expense of applying the same to thc gate.

' I am also-aware of a gate-catch, described in an application of (l. S. and J. G. Lucas, filled and rejected in 1857, wherein a perpeildicularly-arranged vertically-moving bolt is employed. By reference to the drawing in said application, it will be seen that tlrsaidperpendicular bolt operates, in all respects, like ancrdinary old-fashioned gate-latch, and that it is justas liable to swing past its socket, in closing the gate, as the said old-fashioned latch. Aln addition to the advantages already stated, as being possessed by my invention, it possesses the further advantage ot' liever permitting the gate to swing past the line oi' the fence when it is hurriedly closed. A materialditl erence, therefore, exists between my invention and that shown in 'the application of the Messrs. Lucas. I will, however, statethat l particularly disclaim thel arrangement of a perpendicular bolt, as shown and described in the said application ot the said C. S. and J'. G. Lucas.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` 1. The arrangement, horizontally across the face of the front stile of a gate, of one or inore eceentrieallyhung dogs or plates, provided with a. handle or handles, -when used in combination with a stationary lugor projecting piece, secured to the fence-post, substantially as herein Y specified.

2. A latch for gates, consisting of two eccentricallyhung bolts o1' plates, D, provided with handles or arms, E, and arranged Wit-hin an enclosing-ease, F, in combination with a lug or projecting piece, H, snbstantially as herein specified.

l R. A. LEEDS. Witnesses:

M. M. Lvlnesmon, JOHN R. COOPER.

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