Childproof gate latch

• US 7,520,542 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ECP Family Properties LLC
• Original Assignee: ECP Family Properties LLC
• Inventors: Price, Elvin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US11/856,445
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 292/130, 292/131, 292/136, 292/183, 292/184, 292/189, 292/DIG.29, 292/DIG.68, 292/137, 292/230, 292/231, 292/238, 292/341.15, 292/341.17, 70/97, 70/98, 493/94, 256/65.13, 403/25, 403/49, 403/321, 403/324
• US Class Current: 292/183
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0093 Weight arrangements in locks; gravity activated lock parts E05B65/5292, E05B77/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 53/001 Foot-operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0052 Locks mounted on the "frame" cooperating with means on the "wing" E05B47/0046, E05B65/0829, E05B65/0847, E05B65/0882 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/20 released automatically when the wing is closed for panic door locks of the vertical rod type E05B65/1013
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/04 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/06 with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/29 End gate fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/68 Locker latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0937 Gravity actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1006 Gravity actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1007 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1013 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1063 Gravity actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1064 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/696 With movable dog, catch or striker

Abstract

A childproof gate latch for an enclosure such as a fence is provided with a latching member attached to a gate. The latching member is received through a lock opening in a fence support as the gate is closed. A latching sleeve is moveable into engagement with the latching member as the latching member enters the lock opening. Thereafter, as the latching sleeve is raised and the latching member released from engagement, a pawl moves to a lowered position supporting the latching sleeve in a ready to engage arrangement.

Claims

1. A latch assembly for gates, comprising:

an outer post;

a latching member received within said outer post;

a latching sleeve slidable along an internal channel of said outer post and adapted to engage said latching member for securing the gate to the outer post, said latching sleeve having a weight sufficient to provide a desired resistance to movement to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said latching sleeve from said latching member;

a pawl pivotable from a raised, non-engaging position when engaged by said latching member into a lowered position for supporting said latching sleeve in an unlocked, ready to engage position after release of said latching member from engagement therewith, wherein said pawl has a weight sufficient to urge said pawl toward its lowered position upon release of said latching sleeve from engagement with said latching member; and

a cap mounted to an upper end of said outer post for supporting said latching sleeve within said outer post, and moving said latching sleeve to a raised, unlocking position out of engagement with said latching member.

2. A gate assembly for a fence enclosure, comprising:

a gate having a frame;

at least one hinge attached to said frame and to a first fence support;

a latching member attached to said frame and sized to be received within a latch opening formed in a second fence support; and

said second fence support comprising;

a hollow post having an elongated inner channel defined therealong;

a latching sleeve slideably received within said inner channel and having an upper end, and a lower end adapted to engage and secure said latching member within said latch opening when in a lowered, locking position;

a cap positioned adjacent an upper end of said post and adapted to engage said latching sleeve for moving said latching sleeve to a raised, unlocking position out of engagement with said latching member; and

a pawl pivotally mounted within said post, said pawl having a forwardly projecting portion adapted to engage said post when said pawl is in a lowered position so as to support said latching sleeve in its raised, unlocking position, wherein said pawl is formed with a weight sufficient to urge said pawl toward its lowered position, and when said pawl is in said lowered position, said latching member is introduced and is adapted to engage said pawl in order to move said pawl from supporting said sleeve and allow said latching sleeve to engage said latching member, wherein said pawl is formed with a weight sufficient to urge said pawl toward its lowered position upon release of said latching sleeve from engagement with latching member.