Magnetic gate latch device

• US 8,376,421 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nationwide Industries Incorporated (PrimeSource Building Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nationwide Industries Incorporated (PrimeSource Building Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Simmonds, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas A
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US12/658,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 292/251.5, 292/276, 292/137, 292/177, 292/179, 292/DIG.29, 292/174, 292145-146
• US Class Current: 292/251.5
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/002 locking the handle E05B13/10, E05B47/0657 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/025 the striker being movable by a screw/nut
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/101 Spring-retracted bolts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 53/00 Operation or control of locks by mechanical transmissions, e.g. from a distance
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0014 to prevent opening by children E05B13/00 takes precedence; child-proof container closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/04 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/163 a movable bolt being held in the striker by a permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/705 Adjustable

Abstract

A magnetic gate latch device to secure a gate in a locked position to a fence or other barrier to close or block a portal formed therein comprising a latch assembly including a lower latch pin coupled to an upper latch pin actuator by an intermediate interconnecting element mounted to the fence or other barrier adjacent the portal wherein the lower latch pin is normally biased in upper or unlocked position and a keeper assembly including a keeper base affixed to the gate and a keeper arm extending outwardly therefrom having a latch pin recess formed therein with a latch pin positioner comprising a vertically disposed magnet disposed adjacent the latch pin recess such that when the gate is closed the vertically disposed magnet of the latch pin positioner moves the lower latch pin, intermediate interconnecting element and upper latch pin from the normally biased upper or unlocked position to a lower or locked position drawing the latch pin into the latch pin recess against the force of the bias and when as the upper latch pin actuator is moved upwardly the intermediate interconnecting element and the lower latch pin are moved upwardly withdrawing the lower latch pin from the latch pin recess to permit the gate to be opened as the bias maintains the lower latch pin in upper or unlocked position.

Claims

1. A gate latch device to secure a gate in a locked position to a fence or other barrier to close or block a portal formed therein comprising:

a latch assembly including an upper latch actuator assembly at least partially disposed within an upper lock housing affixed to a lower latch assembly at least partially disposed with a lower latch housing by an intermediate interconnecting assembly disposed with an intermediate cable housing;

a keeper assembly including a latch base affixed to the gate;

a lower latch pin movable between an upper or unlocked position and a lower or locked position coupled to an upper latch pin actuator by an intermediate interconnecting element mounted to the fence or other barrier adjacent the portal wherein said lower latch pin is normally biased in said upper or unlocked position by a bias;

a latch arm extending outwardly from a latch base having a latch pin recess formed therein;

a latch pin positioner disposed adjacent said latch pin recess to selectively move said lower latch pin from said upper or unlocked position to said lower or locked position;

a latch position indicator disposed on said upper lock housing to provide a visual indication of the position of said lower latch pin relative to said keeper assembly to indicate when said latch assembly is in said upper or unlocked position and

said bias disposed to engage said lower latch pin to apply an upward force against said lower latch pin, said interconnecting element and said upper latch pin actuator such that when the gate is closed said latch pin positioner moves said lower latch pin, said intermediate interconnecting element and said upper latch pin actuator from said normally biased upper or unlocked position to said lower or locked position drawing said lower latch pin into said latch pin recess against the force of said bias and when as said upper latch pin actuator is moved upwardly said intermediate interconnecting element and said lower latch pin are moved upwardly withdrawing said lower latch pin from said latch pin recess to permit the gate to be opened as said bias holds said upper latch pin actuator, said intermediate interconnecting element, said lower latch pin in upper or unlocked position in spaced relationship relative to said latch pin recess to provide a visual indication of the position of said lower latch pin relative to said keeper assembly to indicate when said latch assembly is in the upper or unlocked position.

2. The gate latch device of claim 1 wherein the latch position indicator comprises a colored sleeve extending upwardly from said upper lock housing such that said colored sleeve is disposed entirely within a recess formed in said upper latch pin actuator to indicate that said lower latch pin is in the lower or locked position when the lower periphery of said upper latch pin actuator engages a portion of said upper lock housing.

3. The gate latch device of claim 2 wherein said upper latch pin actuator comprises an actuator pull knob having an arcuate outer surface coupled to the upper portion of said intermediate interconnecting assembly.

4. The gate latch device of claim 1 wherein said lower latch housing comprises a lower latch base including an outer recess configured to receive the outer position of said keeper assembly when the gate is in the locked position.

5. The gate latch device of claim 1 wherein said keeper assembly comprises a latch base attached to the gate having a latch arm extending outwardly therefrom.

6. The gate latch device of claim 5 wherein said latch arm comprises a latch pin receptacle including a latch pin recess formed therein to receive said lower latch pin when in the lower or locked position.

7. The gate latch device of claim 6 wherein said latch pin positioner comprises a magnet disposed adjacent said latch pin.

8. The gate latch device of claim 7 wherein said magnet is disposed laterally relative to said latch pin recess.

9. The gate latch device of claim 8 wherein the upper peripheral edge of the latch pin receptacle is slanted inwardly to form a moisture run-off surface below said intermediate latch housing.

10. The gate latch device of claim 9 further including at least one drain aperture formed in said latch pin receptacle.

11. The gate latch device of claim 8 further including at least one drain aperture formed in said latch pin receptacle.

12. The gate latch device of claim 5 wherein said latch base and said latch arm are laterally adjustable relative to each other.

13. The gate latch device of claim 12 wherein said latch base and said latch arm are laterally adjustable relative to each other by an externally threaded member that engages corresponding threads formed on said latch base and said latch arm.

14. The gate latch device of claim 5 wherein said latch base includes a handle formed on the front portion thereof.

15. The gate latch device of claim 14 wherein said latch base further includes a mounting bracket having a substantially L-shaped configuration to affix said keeper assembly to the gate.

16. The gate latch device of claim 5 wherein said latch base includes a mounting bracket having a substantially L-shaped configuration to affix said keeper assembly to the gate.

17. The gate latch device of claim 16 wherein said latch base and said latch arm are laterally adjustable relative to each other.

18. The gate latch device of claim 17 wherein said latch base and said latch arm are laterally adjustable relative to each other by an externally threaded member that engages corresponding threads formed on said latch base and said latch arm.