US2669473A - Gate latch - Google Patents

Description

B. F. TRUMBO Feb. 16, 1954 GATE LATCH Original Filed Sept. 20, 1950 Fig.2

Benjamin F. Tiumba IN VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GATE LATCH Benjamin F. Trnmbo, Uniontown, Ky.

Original application September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,847, now Patent No. 2,650,443, dated September 1, 1953. Divided and this application November 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,185

Glaims.

This is a division of the application for patent filed by me September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,847, and which has terminated in Letters Patent No. 2,650,443, dated September 1, 1953,

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in gates and latches therefor and more particularly to a novel swinging farm gate and latch construction.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel latch construction for holding the gate in a closed position and including a pivoted latch plate positioned at each side of the gate with spring means for holding the plates in the path of opening movement of the gate in either direction, and a handle for selectively releasing either of the latch plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Wear plate at the swinging edge of the gate to ride against the latch plate during closing movement of the gate and to reinforce and prevent wear to the gate during long periods of use.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, Which is strong and durable, eflicient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like part throughout, and in which:

Figure l. is a side elevational view of the gate;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 3--3 and 44 of Figure 2.

teferring now to the drawing in detail, Wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates the gate generally and is Of a type commonly used as a farm gate and including horizontal slats 6 rigidly connected to each other by vertical bars 1 and including X- braces 9 at each side of the gate adjacent its inner or hinged end and constructed of angle iron brace members.

The latch designated generally at l2 includes an attaching plate 13 secured to a fence post I4 at the free end of the gate, the ends of the plate rolled to form eyes IS in which vertical hinge pins l t are suitably secured for mounting a pair of pivoted latch plates ll thereon by means of eyes I8 rolled at one end of the latch plate.

The latch plate I 1 are held in an inwardly inclined position in front of the attaching plate l3 and with the free edges of the latch plate spaced from each other by means of rods l9 suitably secured at one end to the inner surface of the latch plate and slidabl in crossbars 20 suitably secured to post I 4. Coil springs 2| are positioned on the rods I9 between the attaching plate I 3 and the latch plates 1 l to hold the latch plates in an inclined position outwardly from the attaching plate it as shown more clearly in Figure 2 in the drawings. A substantially V-shaped handle 22 is pivoted in a horizontal position at its central portion to the rear of gate post I4 by means of a bracket 23 and pin 24, and a chain 25 or other flexibl member connects each end of the handle 22 to one of the latch plates 11.

Th free or outer end of the "gate 5 is swingable into a position between the free edges of latch plates I! to hold the gate in its closed position and a channel shaped wear plate 26 is suitably secured in a vertical position to the free end of one or more of the slats 6 of the gate for riding against the latch plate I! to prevent wear or damage to the slats of the gate during the closing movement thereof. The opposite sides of the wear plate 26 are bevelled or tapered toward the outer edge thereof to facilitate riding of the wear plate along the latch plate during closing movement of the gate.

In the operation of the device, thesprings 2| normally hold the pivoted latch plates IT in an outwardly incline-d position in front of attaching plate [3 and with the opposed or free edges of the latch plates spaced apart to receive wear plate 26 and the free end of gate 5 therebetween, the latch plates thus holding the gate in its'closed position.

Either of the latch plates I! may be released for opening the gate by moving the adjacent'end of handle 22 outwardly causingchain. 25 to pull latch plate ll inwardly against the tension of spring 2| to free the gate.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of th device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including an attaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of the latter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge to the attaching plate for horizontal pivotal movement toward and away from the attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclined from one face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of the latch plates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of the gate therebetween, in. a locking position, and manually operated means mounted on the gate post at its side remote from the gate and projecting transversely'with respect to the gate opening in directions. toward opposite sides of the gate for manipulation at either side of the gate and connected to the latch plates for moving a selected latch plate into a releasing position. inwardly against the attaching plate and independently of the other of said latch plates,

2. A latch for gates comprising. a fixed latch member including an attaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the, side of the latter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one ed e to the attaching plate forhorizontal pivotal movement, toward and away from the attaching plate, spring means. holding the latch plates inclined from one face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of the latch plates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of the gate there'oetween, in a locking position, and a lever pivoted to. a side of the gate post. remote from the gate. and projecting transversely with respect to the gate openingv in directions toward opposite sides of the gate for manipulation at either side of the gate and connected to the latch plates for moving a selected latch plateinto a releasing position inwardly against the attaching plate and independently of theother of said latch plates.

, .3. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including an attaching plateadapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of the latter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge to the attaching plate for horizontal pivotal movement,'toward and away from the attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclined from one face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of th latch plates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of the gate therebetween' in a looking position, spring means holding the latch plates inthe path of opening movement of the gate, and double ended handle pivoted at its central portion to the gate post at the side of the latter remote from the gate and projecting transversely with respect to the gate opening toward opposite sides of the gate and connected at each end to the respective latch plates for mov..- ing a selected latch plate into a releasing position 4 inwardly against the attaching plate and inde pendently of the other of said latch plates.

4. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including an attaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of the latter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge to the attachin plate for horizontal pivotal movement toward and away from the attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclined from one face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of the latch plates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of the gate therebetween in a locking position, spring means holding the latch plates in the path of opening movement of the gate, and a v shaped handle pivoted at its center to the gate post at a side of the latter remote from the gate and projecting transversely outwardly at opposite sides of the gate, and connected at each end to the respective latch plate for moving a selected latch plate into a releasing position inwardly against the attaching plate and independently of the other of said latch plates.

5. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including an attaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of the latter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge to the attaching plate for horizontal pivotal movementtoward and away from the attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclined from one face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of the latch plates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of the gate therebetween in a locking position, spring means holding the latch plates in the path of opening movement of the gate, a V-shaped handle pivoted at its center to the gate post at a side of the latter remote from the gate and projecting transversely outwardly at opposite sides of the gate, and flexible members connecting each end of the handle to the respective latch plates for moving a selected latch plate into a releasing position inwardly against the attachingplate and independently of the other of said latch plates.

BENJAMIN F. TRUMBO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENIS Number Name Date 180,754 Currie Aug. 8, 1876 895,445 Finch Aug. 11, 1908 1,071,480 Tyler "a"- Aug. 26, 1913 1,194,636 Joy Aug. 15, 1916 1,264,244 Woiwod Apr. 30, 1913 1,510,993 Houser Oct. '7, 1924 1,548,154 Mechem Aug. 4, 1925 1,924,806 Saunders Aug. 29, 1933 2,159,315 Blue May 23, 1939 2,245,855 Fletcher June 1'7, 1941 2,366,392 Endter Jan. 2, 1945

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