Gate support latch

• US 4,887,854 A
• Filed: 04/19/1988
• Issued: 12/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fence Hardware Specialties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fence Hardware Specialties, Inc.
• Inventors: Bulten, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric
• Application Number:
  US07/183,070
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 292/238, 292/231, 292/230, 292/198, 292/205, 292/207, 292/136, 292/120, 292/218, 292/244, 292/245, 292/DIG. 12, 292/DIG. 30, 292/DIG. 13, 292/213, 292/215 , 292/104
• US Class Current: 292/238
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/04 for alternative use on the right-hand or left-hand side of wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/383 Staples or the like for padlocks; Lock slings; Arrangements on locks to cooperate with padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/14 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch E05C3/122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0954 Padlock or seal catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1072 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1086 Padlock or seal catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1098 Cam and lever operating means

Abstract

A gate latch structure is provided for use with either right-handed or left-handed gates. The latch includes a symmetrical main frame and keeper. The main frame has a striker receiving opening with two opposite cam surfaces flaring outwardly into a "Vee". A retainer stub is fixed to the main frame at a mid location at the inner end of the opening. A substantially flat keeper having a longitudinal axis has two opposite symmetrical striker receiving notches positioned at one end. The other end is pivotally connected at only one point to the main frame. The keeper may be sprung over the stub. While on one side of the retainer stub the keeper is for right handed gate and when it is on the other side it is for a left-handed gate. There are no springs and the weight of the keeper bar causes it to close over the striker.

Claims

1. A gate latch structure for receiving a striker bar which comprises:

a longitudinal main frame having a striker receiving notch at a forward end with an inner end;

two opposite cam surfaces flaring outwardly from said notch;

a retainer stub fixed to said main frame at said inner end of said notch;

a substantially flat keeper parallel with said main frame having a longitudinal axis and a V-shaped head forming an upper and lower striker receiving cam surfaces with upper and lower lock notches positioned near a forward end of said keeper;

a single pivot connecting said keeper to said main frame at a rearward end so that said keeper can pivot from a first position where one of said lock notches closes said striker receiving notch and a second position where the lock notch is clear of said striker receiving notch permitting a striker bar to enter the leave said notch.

2. A gate latch structure as defined in claim 1 including a first and second raised spacer section attached to and extending from said main frame and a first and second alignment stub extending from each said spacer and a hole in each said spacer said keeper positioned within said raised spacer section.

3. A gate latch structure as defined in claim 2 in which the keeper has a head with a lock hole therein and said main frame adjacent said notch has a lock hole so that when said keeper is in its closed position said lock holes align so that a padlock may be placed therein.

4. A gate latch structure for receiving a striker bar which comprises:

a main frame having a striker receiving notch with an inner end;

two opposite cam surfaces flaring outwardly from said notch;

a retainer stub fixed to said main frame at said inner end of said notch;

a substantially flat keeper having a longitudinal axis and a head with two striker receiving lock notches positioned near one end of said keeper;

a single pivot connecting said keeper to said main frame so that said keeper can pivot from a first position where one of said lock notches closes said striker receiving notch and a second position where the lock notch is clear of said striker receiving notch permitting a striker bar to enter or leave said notch; and

one end of said keeper opposite said striker receiving notches being provided with a locking cutout including a base hole with two sloping locking slots extending therefrom and in which the end of said main frame opposite the entrance cam surfaces is provided with a locking hole which when the keeper is in a closed position mates with the base hole of said keeper.

5. A gate latch structure as defined in claim 4 including a slip lock ring having a rectangular configuration and with a rectangular cross section and inserted through said base hole of said keeper and said padlock hole of said main frame.

6. A gate latch structure for receiving a striker bar which comprises:

a longitudinal main frame having at its forward end a strike receiving notch with outwardly and forardly flaring entrance cam surfaces;

a keeper retaining stub at the rearward end of said notch;

a pivot hole at the rearward end of said main frame,

said main frame being symmetrical about a forward-rearward line drawn through the center of said pivot hole and said striker receiving notch;

a longitudinal keeper having an outwardly and rearwardly V-shaped head at its forward end and a pivot hole at its rearward end, said keeper being symmetrically constructed about a forward-rearward line passing through said pivot hole and the apex of said V-shaped head, said keeper further having upper and lower receiving notches at the rearward end of said V-shaped head; and

a pivot means extending through said respective pivot holes of said main frame and said keeper.

7. A structure of claim 6 wherein said main frame includes first and second raised spacer sections and first and second alignment stubs creating a space for the pivotal movement of said keeper between said keeper retaining stub and one of said first and second alignment stubs.

8. A gate latch structure of claim 7 wherein said keeper has a lock hold in said head and wherein said main frame has an aligned corresponding hole when said keeper is in its closed position about said striker bar.

9. A gate latch structure as defined in claim 8 in which the rearward end of said keeper is provided with a locking cutout including a base hole with two sloping locking slots extending therefrom and in which the end of said main frame opposite the entrance cam surfaces is provided with a locking hole which when the keeper is in a closed position mates with the base hole of said keeper.

10. A gate latch structure as defined in claim 9 including a slip lock ring having a rectangular configuration and with a rectangular cross section and inserted through said base hole of said keeper and said padlock hole of said main frame.