GRAVITY LATCH

• US 20170152682A1
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nationwide Industries Incorporated (PrimeSource Building Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aaron M. Mizner
• Inventors: Timothy, E. Erik, Mizner, Aaron M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,590,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/025 the striker being movable by a screw/nut
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/5292 Gravity - or orientation sensitive mechanisms, e.g. to prevent opening when wrongside-up
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/383 Staples or the like for padlocks; Lock slings; Arrangements on locks to cooperate with padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 9/08 Fastening locks or fasteners or parts thereof, e.g. the casings of latch-bolt locks or cylinder locks to the wing on glass wings E05B65/0025
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/06 with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/165 the handle or member moving substantially parallel to the wing or frame E05C3/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1063 Gravity actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/107 Lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7147 Connected by flexible tie

Abstract

A top pull gravity latch device to selectively secure a gate in a closed position to block the opening or portal in a fence, wall or other barrier comprising a latch assembly including a latch actuator assembly, intermediate pull actuator assembly and pivotal latch member each movable between a first and second position and a keeper assembly including a striker pin to selectively engage the pivotal latch member to move the pivotal latch member from the first to second position when the keeper assembly is moved from the second to first position and back to the first position wherein the gate is securely closed when the latch actuator assembly, intermediate pull actuator assembly, pivot latch member of the latch assembly and the striker pin of the keeper assembly are all in the first position and wherein the intermediate pull actuator assembly is moved from the first to second position to move the pivotal latch member from the first to second position clearing the striker pin of the keeper assembly to be moved from the first to second position to allow the gate to be opened.

Claims

1. A gravity latch to selectively secure a gate in a closed position to block the opening or portal in a fence, wall or other barrier comprising a latch assembly including a latch actuator assembly and a keeper latch assembly including pivotal latch member each movable between a first position and second position, and a keeper assembly movable between a first or closed position and a second or opened position including a striker pin wherein said latch actuator assembly is disposed to selectively engage said pivotal latch member such that when said latch actuator assembly is moved from said first position to said second position said pivotal latch member is moved from said first position to said second position clearing said striker pin from said keep latch assembly allowing said keeper assembly to be moved from said first or closed position to said second or open position to open the gate and when said latch actuator assembly and said pivot latch member are each in said second position to secure said keeper assembly in said first or closed position to lock the gate in the closed position.

2. The gravity latch of claim 1 wherein said latch actuator assembly is at least partially disposed within a latch assembly housing comprising a hollow sleeve having a cap formed on an upper portion of said hollow sleeve and including a centrally disposed hole to receive an upper portion of said latch actuator assembly therethrough.

3. The gravity latch of claim 2 wherein said latch actuator assembly compromises an elongated member having a pull knob formed on an upper end portion thereof disposed above said cap and a latch engaging member including a pivot actuator surface formed on a lower end portion thereof and said pivotal latch member comprises an inner member or knob including a latch actuator surface such that when said latch actuator assembly moves from said first position to said second position said pivot actuator surface engages said latch actuator surface to move said pivotal latch member from said first position to said second position.

4. The gravity latch of claim 3 wherein said elongated member includes a latch slot to receive a portion of said pivotal latch member therethrough, said pivot actuator surface being formed on a lower surface of said latch slot and said pivot latch member comprises an inner lever arm including a hole formed therethrough to receive a pivot pin having an outer member formed on an outer end portion thereof including a convex striker pin cam surface, an inner concave striker pin retainer surface and an inner member extending downwardly from a midportion thereof including said latch actuator surface to form a striker pin recess therebetween to receive said striker pin therein when said pivot latch member is in said first position and said keeper assembly is in said first or closed position.

5. The gravity latch of claim 2 wherein said latch actuator assembly comprises an interconnecting member having to a pull knob attached to an upper portion thereof disposed above said cap and an elongated member coupled to said interconnecting member having a latch engaging member including a pivot actuator surface formed on a lower end portion thereof and said pivotal latch member comprises an inner member or knob including a latch actuator surface such that when said latch actuator assembly moves from said first position to said second position said pivot actuator surface engages said latch actuator surface to move said pivotal latch member from said first position to said second position.

6. The gravity latch of claim 5 wherein said elongated member includes a latch slot to receive a portion of said pivotal latch member therethrough, said pivot actuator surface being formed on a lower surface of said latch slot and said pivot latch member comprises an inner lever arm including a hole formed therethrough to receive a pivot pin having an outer member formed on an outer end portion thereof including a convex striker pin cam surface, an inner concave striker pin retainer surface and an inner member extending downwardly from a midportion thereof including said latch actuator surface to form a striker pin recess therebetween to receive said striker pin therein when said pivot latch member is in said first position or closed position.

7. The gravity latch of claim 5 wherein an upper portion of said elongated member is coupled to a lower portion of said interconnecting member by an inverted cup including a retainer ledge formed on said interconnecting member to support a disk on said elongated member.

8. The gravity latch of claim 3 further including a latch locking assembly comprising a first lock member affixed to said latch assembly housing and a hollow shroud including an aperture formed in an upper portion thereof to receive an upper portion of said elongated member therethrough and having a second lock member mounted on said upper portion of said latch actuator housing, said hollow shroud movable between a first or unlocked position and a second or locked position such that when said hollow shroud is in said first or unlocked position said pull knob is disposed above said hollow shroud to permit access to said pull knob and when said hollow shroud is in said second or locked position, said pull knob is disposed with said hollow shroud to prohibit access to said pull knob.

9. The gravity latch of claim 8 wherein said first lock member comprises a flange extending outwardly from said latch assembly housing including a first lock receiving aperture and said second lock member comprises at least one flange extending outwardly from said hollow shroud including a second lock receiving aperture such that when said hollow shroud is in said second or locked position said pull knob is disposed within said hollow shroud to prevent access to said pull knob and said first locking receiving aperture and said second lock aperture are axially aligned relative to each other to receive a lock to secure said hollow shroud to said latch assembly housing in said second or locked position to maintain said latch locking assembly in a locked position.

10. The gravity latch of claim 9 wherein said second lock member comprises a pair of substantially parallel flanges cooperatively forming a slot to receive said first lock member therethrough.

11. The gravity latch of claim 3 further including a latch locking assembly comprising a first lock member affixed to said latch assembly housing and a hollow shroud including an aperture formed in an upper portion thereof to receive an upper portion of said interconnecting member therethrough and having a second lock member mounted on said upper portion of said latch actuator housing said hollow shroud movable between a first or unlocked position ad a second or locked position such that when said hollow shroud is in said first or unlocked position said pull knob is disposed above said hollow shroud to permit access to said pull knob and when said hollow shroud is in said second or locked position, said pull knob is disposed with said hollow shroud to prohibit access to said pull knob.

12. The gravity latch of claim 11 wherein said first lock member comprises a flange extending outwardly from said latch assembly housing including a first lock receiving aperture and said second lock member comprises at least one flange extending outwardly from said hollow shroud including a second lock receiving aperture such that when said hollow shroud is in said second or locked position said pull knob is disposed within said hollow shroud to prevent access to said pull knob, and said first locking receiving aperture and said second lock aperture are axially aligned relative to each other to receive a lock to secure said hollow shroud to said latch assembly housing in said second or locked position to maintain said latch locking assembly in a locked position.

13. The gravity latch of claim 12 wherein said second lock member comprises a pair of substantially parallel flanges cooperatively forming a slot to receive said first lock member therethrough.

14. The gravity latch of claim 2 further including at least one latch mount assembly to couple said latch assembly to the fence post and a striker pin mount assembly to couple said keeper assembly to the gate.

15. The gravity latch of claim 14 wherein said latch mount assembly and said striker pin mount assembly each includes a concave base having a radius of curvature equal to or less than the radius of the fence post and gate post respectively.

16. The gravity latch of claim 15 wherein said latch mount assembly and said striker pin mount assembly are affixed to the fence post and the gate post respectively by a corresponding fastener.

17. The gravity latch of claim 15 wherein said latch mount assembly and said striker pin mount assembly are secured to the fence post and the gate post respectively by a flexible tie element secured to the fence post and the gate post.

18. The gravity latch of claim 15 further including an upper latch mount assembly and a lower latch mount assembly to couple said latch assembly to the fence post and a striker pin mount assembly to couple said keeper assembly to the gate.

19. The gravity latch of claim 18 wherein each said latch mount assembly and said striker pin mount assembly includes a concave base having a radius of curvature equal to or less than the radius of the fence post and gate post respectively.

20. The gravity latch of claim 19 wherein each said latch mount assembly and said keeper mount assembly are affixed to the fence post and the gate post respectively by a corresponding fastener.

21. The gravity latch of claim 19 wherein each said latch mount assembly and said keeper mount assembly are secured to the fence post and the gate post respectively by a flexible tie element secured to the fence post and the gate post.

22. The gravity latch of claim 3 wherein said keeper assembly comprises said keeper and a striker pin coupling assembly mounted to the gate post by a keeper mount assembly.

23. The gravity latch of claim 22 wherein said striker pin coupling assembly comprises a bracket having a connector including a striker pin alignment key extending outwardly therefrom to engage said keeper mount assembly to operatively align said striker pin coupling assembly relative to said keeper latch assembly.

24. The gate latch of claim 22 wherein said striker pin alignment key includes a plurality of threads formed on the surface thereof to engage an externally threaded adjustment member coupled to said keeper mount assembly to selectively adjust the horizontal distance between said striker pin and the gate post.

27. The gate latch of claim 3 wherein said latch actuator surface of said inner member or knob is disposed beneath and in spaced relationship relative to said pivot actuator surface when said latch actuator assembly is in said first position such that the pivotal latch member is operable independent of said latch actuator assembly.

28. The gate latch of claim 4 wherein said latch actuator surface of said inner member or knob is disposed beneath and in spaced relationship relative to said pivot actuator surface when said latch actuator assembly is in said first position such that the pivotal latch member is operable independent of said latch actuator assembly.

29. The gate latch of claim 5 wherein said latch actuator surface of said inner member or knob is disposed beneath and in spaced relationship relative to said pivot actuator surface when said latch actuator assembly is in said first position such that the pivotal latch member is operable independent of said latch actuator assembly.

30. The gate latch of claim 6 wherein said latch actuator surface of said inner member or knob is disposed beneath and in spaced relationship relative to said pivot actuator surface when said latch actuator assembly is in said first position such that the pivotal latch member is operable independent of said latch actuator assembly.

25. A gate latch to selectively secure a gate in a closed position to block the opening or portal in a fence, wall or other barrier comprising a latch assembly including a latch actuator assembly and a keeper latch assembly including a latch member each movable between a first position and second position, and a keeper assembly movable between a first or closed position and a second or opened position including a striker wherein said latch actuator assembly is disposed to selectively engage said latch member such that when said latch actuator assembly is moved from said first position to said second position said latch member is moved from said first position to said second position clearing said striker from said keeper latch assembly allowing said keeper assembly to be moved from said first or closed position to said second or open position to open the gate and when said latch actuator assembly and said latch member are each in said second position to secure said keeper assembly in said first or closed position to lock the gate in the closed position and further including a first lock member affixed to a latch assembly housing and a hollow shroud including an aperture formed in an upper portion thereof to receive an upper portion of an elongated member therethrough and having a second lock member mounted on said upper portion of said latch actuator housing, said hollow shroud movable between a first or unlocked position and a second or locked position such that when said hollow shroud is in said first or unlocked position said pull knob is disposed above said hollow shroud to permit access to said pull knob and when said hollow shroud is in said second or locked position, said pull knob is disposed with said hollow shroud to prohibit access to said pull knob.

26. A gate latch to selectively secure a gate in a closed position to block the opening or portal in a fence, wall or other barrier comprising a latch assembly including a latch actuator assembly and a keeper latch assembly including a latch member each movable between a first position and second position, and a keeper assembly movable between a first or closed position and a second or opened position including a striker wherein said latch actuator assembly is disposed to selectively engage said latch member such that when said latch actuator assembly is moved from said first position to said second position said latch member is moved from said first position to said second position clearing said striker from said keeper latch assembly allowing said keeper assembly to be moved from said first or closed position to said second or open position to open the gate and when said latch actuator assembly and said pivot latch member are each in said second position to secure said keeper assembly in said first or closed position to lock the gate in the closed position and further including at least one latch mount assembly to couple said latch assembly to the fence post and a keeper mount assembly to couple said keeper assembly to the gate, said latch mount assembly and said keeper mount assembly are secured to the fence post and the gate post respectively by a flexible tie element secured to the fence post and the gate post.