Gate latch

• US 4,451,072 A
• Filed: 03/22/1982
• Issued: 05/29/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William E. Petty Sr
• Original Assignee: William E. Petty Sr
• Inventors: Petty, William E. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US06/360,578
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 292/128, 292/104, 292/108, 292/31, 292/125, 292/205, 292/210, 292/24
• US Class Current: 292/128
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/14 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch E05C3/122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0833 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0934 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0954 Padlock or seal catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0959 Swinging catch

Abstract

A gate latch is provided for a stockade type fence. The latch may be opened from either side of the gate. Provisions are made whereby a padlock may be applied to the latch on either side of the gate. Means are provided for positively captivating the latch post carried by the gate to prevent the gate from being opened by merely forcing the latch post out of its associated slot in the latch.

Claims

1. A latch for a fence gate of the type pivoted between a pair of spaced posts for movement about a vertical axis and having a latch post carried thereon, comprising

a bracket for attachment to one of the fence posts;

a first lever pivoted to the bracket and having a reentrant slot for receiving the latch post in a latched position of the latch;

means carried by the bracket for closing the reentrant slot of the lever in the latched position of the latch for locking the latch post in the reentrant slot, the closing means comprising a second lever pivoted for movement relative to the first lever and including means for closing the reentrant slot of the first lever in the latched position of the latch for locking the latch post in the reentrant slot;

means in opposite ends of the second lever for manipulating and disabling the closing means for releasing the latch post for movement from the reentrant slot; and

means on the first and second levers for selectively preventing the first and second levers from moving independently of each other including aligned first apertures in the first and second levers on a first side of the bracket for receiving the hasp of a padlock and a third lever pivoted to the bracket and providing an aperture aligned with the first apertures.

2. The latch of claim 1 wherein the second lever is pivotally mounted on the first lever.

3. The latch of claim 1 further comprising means biasing the first and second levers toward the latched position.

4. The latch of claim 3 wherein the biasing means comprises a first spring connected between the first lever and the bracket for biasing the first lever toward the latched position and a second spring connected between the second lever and the bracket for biasing the second lever toward the latched position.

5. The latch of claim 1 wherein the bracket comprises a first generally planar section generally parallel to the plane of pivotal movement of the lever and a second section transverse to the first section providing a slot for receiving the lever, the lever and the second section providing the closing means in the latched position of the latch.

6. The latch of claim 1 wherein the lever is pivotally mounted on the bracket for movement in a generally vertical plane perpendicular to the gate.

7. The latch of claim 1 wherein the first and second levers comprise aligned second apertures on the second side of the bracket.

8. A latch for a fence gate of the type pivoted between a pair of spaced posts for movement about a vertical axis and having a latch post carried thereon, comprising

a bracket for attachment to one of the fence posts;

a first lever pivoted to the bracket and having a reentrant slot for receiving the latch post in a latched position of the latch;

means carried by the bracket for closing the reentrant slot of the lever in the latched position of the latch for locking the latch post in the reentrant slot;

a second lever pivoted for movement relative to the first lever and including means for closing the reentrant slot of the first lever in the latched position of the latch for locking the latch post in the reentrant slot;

means for manipulating and disabling the closing means for releasing the latch post for movement from the entrant slot; and

means on the first and second levers for selectively preventing the first and second levers from moving independently of each other including aligned apertures in the first and second levers on a first side of the bracket for receiving the hasp of a padlock.

9. A latch for a fence gate of the type pivoted between a pair of spaced posts for movement about a vertical axis and having a latch post carried thereon, comprising

a bracket for attachment to one of the fence posts;

a first lever pivoted to the bracket and having a reentrant slot for receiving the latch post in a latched position of the latch;

means carried by the bracket for closing the reentrant slot of the first lever in the latched position of the latch for locking the latch post in the reentrant slot;

means on opposite ends of the first lever releasing the latch post for movement out of the reentrant slot; and

means carried by the bracket for selectively preventing movement of the lever and thereby preventing release of the latch post from the reentrant slot;

the preventing means including a second lever pivoted relative to the bracket and aligned apertures in the first and second levers on a first side of the bracket for receiving the hasp of a padlock.