Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"GATE LATCH ASSEMB~Y"
BACKGROVND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful
improvements in gate latches which are often actuated
either from one side only or may be operable through a
lever extending through the gate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention consists of a cross shaft
journalled for rotation through the gate adjacent the
free edge thereof and having a combination latch handle
assembly on each end of the cross shaft which are identi-
cal with one another and which are easily engaged or
di~engaged from a cross latch plate secured to the fixed
gate post with the latch remaining in the closed position
by gravity and which iB easily manipulated from either
side of the gate.
One aspect of the invention consists of a gate
latch assembly for u~e with gates having a free vertical
edye and engaging with a fixed vertical support when in
~losed position, comprising in combination a cross shaft
rotatably engageable transversely through said gate
adjacent the free vertical edge thereof, means to mount
said cross shaft to said gate for rotation therein, a
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combination handle ana latch engaging assembly on each
end of said shaft and a latch plate mounted transversely
across said fixed support engageable by said combination
handle and latch engaging members when in the closed
position, either of said combination handle and latch
engaging members actuating said latch assembly from the
closed position t~ the open position and vice versa.
Anot~er advantage of the invention is to pro-
vide a device of the character herewithin de8cribed which
is easily closed by a padlock on either side thereof when
it is desired to lock the gate in the closed position.
Another advantage of the invention is to pro-
vide a device of the character herewithin described in
which the mounting means of the cross shaft can either be
at right angles to the plane of the mounting plate or
spaced and parallel therewith depending upon the gate
construction.
A still further advantage of the invention is
to provide a device of the character herewithin described
which is simple in construction, economical in manufac-
ture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which
it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advan-
tages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art
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to which this invention relates as this specification
proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference
to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which
includes a descript~n of the best mode known to the
applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the
principles of the present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of the
device assembled to a wide style gate and shown in the
closed posi~ion.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of the
device assembled to a narrow style gate and shown in the
closed position.
Figure 3 is an isometric exploded view of the
movable portion of the wide style assembly per se.
Figure 4 is an isometric exploded view of the
movable portion of the narrow style assembly per se.
In the drawings like characters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention
in detail reference should first be made to Figures 1 and
4 which show a side style gate in fragmentary form col-
lectively designated 10 and including a vertical free
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edge portion 11, and a fixed gate support post 12 with
the gate latch assembly collectively designated 13
mounted therebetween.
The gate latch assem~ly includes the movable
portion collectively designated 14 and the fixed latch
portion collectively designated 15 shown in Figure 3, it
being understo~d that the portion 14 is secured to the
free vertical edge 11 of the gate and the fixed latch
portion to the fixed gate post 12.
In detail, the portion 14 includes a cross
shaft collectively designated 16 and comprising an outer
tubular portion 17 and an inner portion 18 slidably
engageable axially within the outer portion 17.
These portions extend through an aperture 19
extending transversely through the free vertlcal edge
portion 11 of the gate and at least one portion, namely
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~; portion 17, is provided with a mounting plate 20 which is
securea to one side of the vertical free edge portion 11
of the gate with a spring pin 21 connecting the portions
17 and 18 together when in~talled. A bearing sleeve 20A
extends from the inner side of plate 20 and supports
portion 18 for rotation with the inner end of tubular
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portion I7 abutting the outer end of the sleeve.
Combination handle and latch engaging members
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collectively designated 22 are formed or secured on the
distal ends of the portlons 17 and 18 and are identical
in construction. Each member, is in the form of an
elongated loop and includes a substantially re~tangular
mounting plate 23 secured to the distal end of the
porti~n 17 or 18 towards the inner ends 24 of the
members, w~îch also include an outer end 2~ and a sub-
stantially rectangular handle portion 26 spaced and
parallel from the mounting plate portion 23. By mounting
the members to the portion 17 or 1~ towards ~he inner
ends 24, the as~embly is moved to the closed position by
turning the handles down after contact with lock plate is
made.
A lock plate 27 extends between the mounting
plate 23 and the handle portion and is apertured as at
28. These combination handle and latch engaging members
may be cast or preferably formed from one strip as clear-
ly shown in Figure 1 terminating with the aforementioned
apertured lock bar or plate 27.
The latch plate collectively designated 15
includes a rectangular mounting plate 29 attachable to
the fixed vertical support 12 and having an outstanding
portion 30 extending upon each side thereof. An upturned
latch retainer 31 is formed on the outer ends of the
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outstanding portion 30 and these are preferably curved at
the upper ends as clearly shown in Figure 3 to facilitate
engagement by the aforementioned combination handle and
latch engaging ~e~e~ 2~.
When the gate is in the closed position, the
latc~ retainers 31 are engaged by the members 22 with the
retainers 31 engaging between the ends 25 and the lock
bars or plates 27 with the retainers being adjacent to
the lock bars 27. The retainers are also apertured as at
32 so that, when in the c~osed position, a padlock or the
like (not illustrated3 may be engaged between the lock
bars or plates 27 and the retainers 31 thus maintaining
the gate in a locked, closed position.
operation of the latch assembly is by grasping
either of the combination handle and latch engaging
members 22 and rotating same to raise the ends 25. The
gate may then be closed and the components 22 turned down
to the closed position whereupon they stay in the closed
position by gravity w~th the ~atch retainers 31 extending
upwardly between the ends 25 and the lock plates 27.
The unlatching of the gate is a reverse pro-
cedure with the components 22 being rotated to clear the
latch retainers 31 whereupon the gate may be opened in
either direction as desired.
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The spring fin 21 extends on one side as shown
and is designed to hold the handles in the open position
slightly off centre by about 33 with the extending end
of the ~pring fi~ against small vertical plate 20B.
Figures 2 and 4 show an alternative mounting
for a gate narrower than that illustrated in Figures 1
and 3 and which includes a main panel 33 and a vertical
tran~versely situated member or post 34. In this embodi-
ment, a mounting plate 35 i6 secured to the inner surface
of the member 34 parallel to the cross shaft 16 which in
turn is supported within a bearing sleeve 36 on the face
of the mounting plate 35. The ~leeve 17 abuts one end of
the sleeve 36 and the 61eeve 36 supports portion 18 for
rotation with spring pin 20 securing 17 and 18 together.
In this embodiment, the spring pin 21 rests against plate
35 when in the open position.
Advantages of the invention include the following:
1. Designed primarily to fit gates constructed from
1 x 6 fence boards and 2 x 4 in narrow or wide style
frames but is readily adapted for use with other types of
gates.
2. Floating handle with adjustable latch plate.
3. In~ide and outside hand sized handle with padlock
holes.
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4. Reversible for right or left swing.
5. One handle can be reversed with latch plate on
corner of wall with padlock to ~eep handle closed.
6. Handles can be used to assist in opening and closing
sagged gates by turning handles against latch plate, to
keep gate from rubbing when opening or closing.
7. A ficrew can be added at end of gate to slide at
bottom of latch plate. And latch plate bend away from
gate to further assist closing of sagged gates.
8. Optional stop and lift bars (not illustrated) can be
used for those twisted and sagged gates, which will
support gates when closed.
Since various modifications can be made in my
invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently
widely different embodiments of same made within the
spirit and scope of the claims without departing from
such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter
contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting
sense.
