T-post gate keeper

• US 9,376,840 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Lankford
• Original Assignee: Mark Lankford
• Inventors: Lankford, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US13/948,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 292/341.19, 292/341.18, 292/340, 292/DIG.13, 292/DIG.29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0056 Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts adjustable strikers E05B15/024; adjustable to different keys E05B35/083; adjustable bolt or backset E05B63/06; adjustable coupling means for bars, rods, cables E05C9/20
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/10 Hook fastenings; Fastenings in which a link engages a fixed hook-like member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/707 Vertically

Abstract

A gate keeper is provided for attachment of a gate latch to a T-post. In an embodiment, a gate keeper comprises a connector and a gate latch. The gate latch is constructed of a rigid length of material having a latching region, a base region, an extending region, and a u-shaped region. The latching region extends approximately perpendicular to the base region in a first plane. The base region extends approximately perpendicular to the extending region in the first plane. The extending region extends approximately perpendicular with the u-shaped region in a second plane. The connector circumposes the T-post, between a pair of studs. The height of the connector is adjusted by arrangement of the connector between differing pair of studs along the T-post. The gate latch axially rotates about the base region, allowing the u-shaped region to secure a gate rail attached to a movable gate.

Claims

1. A gate keeper for latching a movable gate, the gate keeper comprising:

a gate latch constructed of a rigid length of material, the rigid length of material being bent such that the gate latch has a base region, an extending region, and a u-shaped region; and

a connector which circumposes a T-post, wherein the connector retains the gate latch on the T-post between an adjacent pair of a plurality of studs arranged along an outer surface of the T-post, thereby permitting a relative position of the gate latch on the T-post to be varied, and the connector permits the gate latch to pivot on an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the T-post, thereby allowing the gate latch to latch around a horizontal rail of the movable gate.

2. The gate keeper of claim 1, wherein the relative position of the gate latch is varied without removal of the gate latch from the connector.

3. The gate keeper of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a spring assembly.

4. The gate keeper of claim 1, wherein the spring assembly is attached to a base region of the gate latch.

5. The gate keeper of claim 1, wherein the spring assembly comprises first and second springs.