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CA2133893C - Gate latch mechanism - Google Patents

Gate latch mechanism

Info

Publication number
CA2133893C
CA2133893C CA002133893A CA2133893A CA2133893C CA 2133893 C CA2133893 C CA 2133893C CA 002133893 A CA002133893 A CA 002133893A CA 2133893 A CA2133893 A CA 2133893A CA 2133893 C CA2133893 C CA 2133893C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
latch
gate
latch lever
post
secured
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002133893A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2133893A1 (en
Inventor
Dietmar H. Penno
Peter Charles Van Wiebe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002133893A priority Critical patent/CA2133893C/en
Publication of CA2133893A1 publication Critical patent/CA2133893A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2133893C publication Critical patent/CA2133893C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05CBOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS
    • E05C3/00Fastening devices with bolts moving pivotally or rotatively
    • E05C3/12Fastening devices with bolts moving pivotally or rotatively with latching action

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Gates (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

A gate latch of the type including a latch bar mounted for movement with a hinged gate and a latch bracket secured to a stationary gate post disposed for engagement with the latch bar when the gate is in a closed position includes an elongated wire cable having a first end secured to a pivotal latch lever mounted in the latch bracket. The pivotal latch lever includes a recess for partially surrounding the latch bar in a latched position. A second end of the cable extends through a bore in the gate post and is secured to an enlarged handle for manual tensioning of the cable to move the pivotal latch lever to an unlatched position. A pair of bushings are disposed in opposite outer end portions of the bore formed through the gate post and include exposed radially extending abutment flanges. A coil compression spring surrounds the elongated cable and includes a first end in abutment with one of the gate post bushings and a second opposite end in abutment with a crimping sleeve securing the cable to the pivotal latch lever. The coil spring biases the latch lever into a latched position. In use, an individual grasps the handle secured to the end of the cable and moves the latch lever to the unlatched position against the bias of the coil spring.

Description

GATE LATCH
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to gate latches, and more particularly pertains to gate latches of the type including a latch bar mounted for movement with a hinged gate and disposed for engagement, in a closed position, in a latch bracketwsecured to a stationary gate post. In this b1 °
conventional form of gate latch, a latch lever is pivotally mounted in the latch bracket and includes a recess for partially surrounding the latch bar in the~closed or latched position. Due to frictional forces inhibiting movement of the pivotal lever, progressively increasing with age, misalignment between the latch bracket and latch bar, and a variety of other factors, frequently the pivotal latch lever of such gate latches does not completely engage and secure the latch bar in a fully latched position. As gates including this conventional type of latch are frequently used to prevent small children and pets from leaving a particular designated fenced area, there is a substantial danger that failure of the latch can have serious consequences.
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._...._.~.~~,._....:_~~..T..~»______ ..__~_-_____ ___. .____ _ _ _ _ . . . _ _ A

~ 133 89~
2. Description of the Prior Art The above described form of gate latch is well-known and has been in common use for many years.
Previously, it has been proposed to fasten a cord or string to the end of the pivotal latch lever in order that the latch lever might be manipulated from the opposite side of the gate or fence. However, this conventional mechanism does not exert a restorative force urging the latching lever to the latched position. Accordingly, there is still a substantial danger that the latch lever will not move to the fully latched position upon release of the cord or string, due to the aforementioned frictional and misalignment factors, and also due to a slackness in the cord or string.

i SUMMARY OF T~iE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present inven-tion to provide a new and improved gate latch which includes a mechanism for allowing actuation and release of a gate latch lever from an opposite side of the gate or fence and which provides a restorative spring force which ensures that the pivotal latch lever will always move into a secure latched position surrounding the latch bar.
In order to achieve these and other objects of the invention, the present invention provides an improved gate latch of the type including a latch bar mounted for movement with a hinged gate and a latch bracket secured to a stationary gate post and disposed for engagement with the latch bar when the gate is in a closed position which includes an elongated wire cable having a first end secured to a pivotal latch lever mounted in the latch bracket. The pivotal latch lever includes a recess for partially surrounding the latch bar in a latched position. A second end of the cable extends through a bore in the gate post and is secured to an enlarged handle for manual tensioning of the cable to move the pivotal latch lever to an unlatched position. A pair of bushings are disposed in opposite outer end portions of the bore formed through the gate post and include exposed radially extending abutment flanges. A coil compression spring surrounds the elongated cable and includes a first end in abutment with the gate post bushing r and a second opposite end in abutment with a crimping sleeve securing the cable to the pivotal latch lever. The coil spring biases the latch lever into a latched position. In use, an individual grasps the handle secured to the end of the cable and moves the latch lever to the unlatched position against the bias of the coil spring.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described pre-ferred embodiments of the invention.
f.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partial perspective detail view illustrating the conventional type of gate latch to which the present invention is directed.
Figure 2 is a perspective view further illustrating a hinged gate provided with the conventional form of gate latch illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the gate latch according to the present invention disposed in a latched position.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the gate latch according to the present invention disposed in an unlatched position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like refer-ence numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the conventional form of gate latch 10 to which the present invention is directed, will now be described. The conventional form of gate latch is typically employed in connection with a stationary gate post 12 mounted adjacent the free edge of a hinged gate 13. The gate 13 is typically secured to an additional stationary fence post by a hinge 15. A latch bar mounting plate 14 is secured to the gate 13 r by a pair of conventional wood screws 16 and 18. The latch bar 20 typically includes a right angle bend portion such that the latch bar 20 is disposed in alignment for engagement in a latch bracket 26 secured to the stationary gate post 12 by a mounting bracket 22 and a plurality of conventional wood screws 24. Alternatively, the bracket 26 may be secured to the gate 13 and the latch bar 20 mounted on the post 12 without altering the salient function of the components. A pivotal latch lever 28 includes a recess 30 which partially surrounds the latch bar 20 in the latched positioned illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. An outermost free end portion 32 of the pivotal latch lever 28 is provided with an aperture 34 through which a string or cord 36 extends. A first end of the string or cord 36 is received through a staple 38 driven into the top end face of the gate post 12. The first end of the string 36 is secured by a knot or loop at 40 to an enlarged ring 42. A second opposite end of the string or cord 36 is secured by a loop or knot fastener 46 to a second enlarged ring 48. Thus, it is contemplated that by pulling one or both of the rings 42 and 48, the pivotal latch lever 28 may be moved to an unlatched position by an individual disposed on the opposite side of the gate 13. However, this remote latch actuating mechanism does not provide a positive restorative force for urging the pivotal latch lever 28 to the illustrated latched position. Thus, upon release of the rings 42 and/or 48, f ~(~~~
only gravity causes the pivotal latch lever 28 to move to the latched position. Accordingly, there is a substantial chance that due to frictional forces in the pivotal mounting of the latch lever 28, or friction of the string 36 and the staple 38 or bore 44, or the opposing counterweight forces exerted by the rings 42 and 48, that the pivotal latch lever 28 will not in fact move to a fully latched position. As such conventional gate latches 10 are frequently employed in fences enclosing yards of residential dwellings, there is a substantial chance that such failure of the latch lever 28 to move into the fully latched position can have serious consequences such as the release of small children or pets into streets with heavy traffic. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that it is desirable to provide this conventional and extremely widely utilized form of gate latch with an accessory for positively urging the pivotal latch lever 28 into a fully latched position.
Accordingly, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, a gate latch 50 according to the present invention is adapted for use with the previously described conventional form of gate latch which includes a pivotal latch lever 28 possessing a tang end portion 31 through which a transverse pivot pin 29 is disposed. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the pivotal latch lever 28 is mounted for limited reciprocal pivotal movement about the central longitudinal axis of the pivot pin 29. In Figure 3, the ~ 133 latch lever 28 is disposed in a fully latched position, in which the transverse latch bar 20 is partially surrounded within the recess 30 of the pivotal latch lever 28. A wire rope or cable 60 has a first end secured to the outer end portion 32 of the latch lever 28. Preferably, the cable 60 extends through the aperture 34 in the form of a loop which is then secured by a crimping sleeve 54. The sleeve 54 may be formed from aluminum so as to be easily crimped to secure the wire loop 52, and also includes a radially extending abutment flange 56. The wire cable 60 passes through the interior of a coil compression spring 58 and subsequently through a bore 44 formed through the gate post 12. A pair of bushings 66 and 70 are identically formed and each include respective oppositely directed radial abutment flanges 64 and 68. A washer 62 is secured to one end face of the coil compression spring 58 and is disposed in abutment with the flange 64 on the bushing 66. The opposite end of the coil compression spring 58 is disposed in abutment with the flange 56 of the crimping sleeve 54.
Accordingly, the coil spring 58 biases the crimping sleeve 54 and attached end portion 32 of the latch lever 28 away from the post 12. The free end of the wire rope or cable 60 extends through bushing 66, through bore 44, through bushing 70, and through a stem portion 78 of a plastic handle 76.
An enlarged terminal end 72 is secured, for example by crimping, on the free end portion of the wire rope or cable r ~ / :389 ~
60. The enlarged end 72 is received within an axially outwardly directed recess 74 in the outer end face of the handle 76.
The coil spring 58 preferably is formed from 0.040 inch diameter music wire with a 0.130 inch wide diameter, 75 total coils, and a free length at 4.370 inches. In the latched position illustrated in Figure 3, the coil spring 58 is preferably disposed in a slightly compressed condition such that the pivotal latch lever 28 is biased firmly to the illustrated latched position.
When it is desired to move the latch lever 28 to the unlatched position illustrated in Figure 4, an individual grasps the handle 76 and exerts a tensional force on the wire cable 60 against the bias of the spring 58.
Accordingly, the coils of the spring 58 are urged together and the axial length of the spring 58 is reduced. Upon subsequent release of the handle 76, the spring 58 urges the pivotal latch lever 28 securely into the latched position illustrated in Figure 3.
Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive latching accessory item which can be either sold in conjunction with or as an accessory attachment to the common and widely utilized pivotal gate latch.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing descriptiotz, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the inven-tion to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are ex-pressed.

Claims (10)

1. In combination with a gate latch including a hinged gate and a stationary gate post, a latch bar mounted on one of said gate and said post, a latch bracket secured on the other of said gate and said post disposed for receiving the latch bar when the gate is in a closed position, a latch lever pivotally mounted to the latch bracket and including a recess dimensioned for partially surrounding the latch bar in a latched position, the improvement comprising:
an elongated cord member possessing a first end secured to said latch lever and a second end adapted for grasping by an individual for selectively moving said latch lever between latched and unlatched positions;
and spring means biasing said latch lever to a latched position.
2. The gate latch of claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring.
3. The gate latch of claim 2, wherein said cord member extends centrally through said coil spring.
4. The gate latch of claim 1, wherein said cord member extends through an aperture in said gate post.
5. The gate latch of claim 4, further comprising a bushing in said gate post aperture.
6. The gate latch of claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a coil compression spring having a first end disposed for exerting a force on said gate post and a second end disposed for exerting an opposite force on said pivotal latch lever.
7. The gate latch of claim 6, wherein said cord member extends centrally through said coil compression spring and through a bushing disposed in said aperture in said gate post.
8. The gate latch of claim 7, wherein one end of said coil compression spring is disposed in abutment with a radial flange of said bushing.
9. The gate latch of claim 8, wherein said cord member is secured by a crimping sleeve including a radial flange to an end portion of said pivotal latch lever and said coil spring is disposed in abutment with said crimping sleeve flange.
10. The gate latch of claim 1, wherein said cord member comprises wire rope.
CA002133893A 1994-10-07 1994-10-07 Gate latch mechanism Expired - Fee Related CA2133893C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002133893A CA2133893C (en) 1994-10-07 1994-10-07 Gate latch mechanism

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002133893A CA2133893C (en) 1994-10-07 1994-10-07 Gate latch mechanism

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2133893A1 CA2133893A1 (en) 1996-04-08
CA2133893C true CA2133893C (en) 1999-10-05

Family

ID=4154488

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002133893A Expired - Fee Related CA2133893C (en) 1994-10-07 1994-10-07 Gate latch mechanism

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2133893C (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN116374775B (en) * 2023-03-08 2025-12-05 大汉科技股份有限公司 A construction hoist landing door locking device and a door including the locking device.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2133893A1 (en) 1996-04-08

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