US2577930A - Gate latch - Google Patents

Description

Dec. l, 1951 E THOMAS A 2,577,930

GATE LATCH Filed June 1.7, 1949l INVENTOR. AMUELEDGA .e 12"/-f0M/ns2 BY Y Arroz/vers Patented Dec. Il, i951 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE GATE LATCH I Samuel Edgar Thomas, Enid, Okla.

Application June'17, 1949, Serial No. 99,703

' 4 claims. (o1. 292-68) This invention relates to latching means for a swinging gate, such as a stock and yard gate which may swing to either side of the fence and which will automatically latch when moved to a closed position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved gate latch of this character for application to a cylindrical metal gate post.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate latch of the above mentioned character which is composed of few strong, durable and relatively inexpensive parts, and which cannot be opened by animals but is easily released by hand.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device that the gate latch may be easily secured in its latching position by a pad lock. Y

'Ihe above and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a conventional form of fence and gate, showing the application of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the latch in one of its gate releasing positions,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the swinging latch member, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stationary latch member.

Referring more in detail to the drawing I denotes a gate arranged between posts II and I2 in a fence I3. The gate is supported from post II by suitable hinges I4 to swing to either side of the fence. The improved latch is mounted on the gate post l2 to coact with the vertical end bar I of the gate as seen in Fig. 1 in which the gate is latched in its closed position. It is to be understood that the fence and the gate may take various forms according to the intended uses.

The gate latching means comprises a xed latch member I6 xed to post I2 and a coacting movable latch member I'I slidably and rotatably mounted on a cylindrical portion of post I2 and normally supported on the member I6 as shown in Fig. 1. The stationary member preferably comprises a cylindrical sleeve I8 and an upright locking arm I9. 'I'he sleeve may be welded or otherwise secured on the post but as shown in Fig. 5 it has diametrical openings to receive a fastening pin, bolt or the like 20. The arm I9 is in the form of a :dat plate having its lower end welded or otherwise secured to the sleeve so that the arm will be disposed radially of and close to the post I2.

The movable latch member I'I comprises an elongated body having at one end a substantially cylindrical hub portion 2| to loosely receive post I2 and at its other end a forked portion 22 to receive the end bar I5 of the gate. The intermediate portion of member I'I is formed with a vertical slot or opening 23 to loosely receive the locking arm or plate I9. The member I'I may be cast or molded in one piece or it may be formed by bending a heavy strip of metal to the desired shape and welding a cross bar 24 between its bent portions. If desired suitable handles 25 may be provided on its opposite sides.

The height of the locking arm I9 above the flat upper edge of sleeve I8 is greater than the height of the cylindrical portion 2l of the movable latch member so that when the latter rests on sleeve I8 as seen in Fig. 1 the upper end of the arm projects above said member. The projecting end of the arm is preferably formed with an opening 26 to receive the shackle of a pad lock (not shown) and thus permit the gate to be locked in its closed position.

It will be apparent that so long as the latch member I'I is in its lowered position with the,l arm I9 projecting through it, the gate cannot swing open, but when said member is slid upwardly on the post to a point above the top of the arm I9, a push on the gate in either direction will cause the member II to rotate on the post so that the gate end bar may leave the forked or bifurcated end of the latch, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 3. When the forked end 22 of the latch swings in either direction from its latching position, the member I1 will rest on and be supported by the top of the arm IS, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 3.

It is desirable that the movable latch Il remain in its angled position shown in Fig. 3 so that when the gate again swings to its closed position it will pick up the latch and swing it back to the position of Fig. 1, whereupon the latch will drop down over the locking arm and automatically latch the gate in closed position. I therefore provide coacting stop means on the post and the latch. As shown avertical stop pin 2l projects upwardly from the hub portion 2| for coaction with a pair of radial and circumferentially spaced stop pins 28 and 29 provided on post I 2. These pins may be welded to the post or may be provided with screw threaded ends 39 for engagement with tapped openings in the post.

These pins are so positioned that one or the other, will be engaged by the pin 21 according to the direction of opening movement of the gate. The pins 28 and 29 also serve as stops to limit the upwardly sliding movement of the latch I1 when the latter has been lifted slightly above the top of arm i9.

It is believed the operation of the device and many of its advantages will be apparent from the foregoing. It may be noted however that by mounting the latch on the gate post, no pivot pins or parts subject to wear are necessary, and the use of a keeper plate secured by bolts, rivets, etc. is rendered unnecessary. The parts may be applied to the post at the factory or on the job, and are strong, durable and relatively inexpensive. Even though the gate has a single ,latch which may be easily opened by hand, there is no likelihood of the gate being opened by animals. The latch is adapted for yard gates as well as for stock enclosures or industrial fencing. The constructionis also such that the gate may be quick-ly and conveniently secured closed by a pad lock.

From the foregoing. taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, itwill be seen that novel and advantageous provision has-been made for carrying out the objects of .the invention, and

while'preferences have been disclosed, attention` is invited to the possibility of making lvariations within the scope .of the .invention as claimed.

`I claim: y

l. A gate latch for .mounting on a post having a cylindrical portion, .said 4latch comprising a movable latch member A.of elongated form Yhav-- ing at one endy a fork to receive the end bar of a gate and at its other .end -a .substantiallycylindrical portion adapted to-be slidably and rotatably mounted .on the cylindrical .portion ,of .said post,4 the intermediate portionlof said member having a vertical slot, astationary latch member including a .cylindrical sleeve adapted to surround andV yto :be `fixed to said post for normally supporting said movable latch membensaid stationary latch .member .also including .a =vertically disposed locking arm .having .itslower end fixed .to said sleeve and its upper end extending @through and above said slot when said movable member is supported .on said sleeve, .the projecting .end .of said Aarmhaving an openingto receive .the shackle of a pad lock, said movable .member .being ,upwardly slidable .to a lposition above vthe top .of said ,arm whereby said movable member may be rotated while being Asupported `on said arm, and

coactlng means on said post and said movable member to limit the upward movement of the latter and its rotary movement when it rests upon the top of said arm.

2. A gate latch for mounting on a post having a cylindrical portion, said latch comprising a stationary latch member adapted to be fixed to said post, said member including a cylindrical sleeve having a nat top and a locking arm projecting upwardly from the top of said sleeve and disposed close to and parallel with `the cylindrical portion of said post. a coacting movable latch member adapted to surround the cylindrical portion of said post and to be slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, said movable member having A'at one end a forked portion to receive the end harof a gate and at its other end a substantially cylindrical hub portion to surround the post and normally -rest on the flat top of said sleeve, said movable member having in its intermediate portion a vertical lslot-to ,receive Seid locking am: :t0 prevent :rotary movement of said movable member when iis hub rests on said sleeve. said mbvable member .being vertically slidable to clear thef top of said arm and permit rotary movement .of the movable :member when the latter :is supported on the top efsaid arm and means to limitthe extent bf the `rbtary movement .of said :movable member :when-it. is supported on said arm.

`il. The structu-veof claim 2in which said means includes :an .upright stop pin on .the Vhub portion of said movable member .to `coast with circumferentially spaced radial .stop pins carried by .said post, said last mentioned .pins also limiting the upward movement nf said movable member on.

said post.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which the topo! saidlocking .arm .projects above the slotted portion of fsaid movable member when :the latter rests on fthefsleeve offsa'id stationary member,

proyecting Aportionof `saidarm having an opening to receive the shackle of a padlock.

`SAMUEL EDGAR THOMAS.

REFERENCES l CI'ITEB The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATIENTS

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