Safety, self-latching, magnetic gate latch device

• US 9,523,219 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Latch Advantage LLC
• Original Assignee: Audrius Macernis
• Inventors: Macernis, Audrius
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Kristina
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills, Christine M
• Application Number:
  US14/285,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20150337575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 292/251.5, 292/57, 292/60, 292/138, 292/145, 292/163, 292/175, 292/347, 292/336.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/004 the magnets acting directly on the bolt
• 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 19/16 Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction E05C17/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1014 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-latching gate latch device. The device comprises a latch and a magnet bar housing assembly wherein, the latch assembly comprises a horizontal latch bar that is horizontally movable between a forward latch bar engagement position and a backward default latch bar disengagement position and wherein, the magnet assembly comprises a magnet bar that is vertically movable between a default downward magnet bar engagement position and an upward magnet bar disengagement position. The bottom end of the magnet bar is secured with a magnet. When the magnet bar is in the default position thereof, the attraction force between the magnet and the latch bar causes the latch bar to move to the latch bar engagement position at which point, the latch bar engages the magnet assembly. A twist knob that operates a guide and track mechanism is provided wherein, twisting and lifting the twist knob causes the magnet bar to move to the magnet bar disengagement position, which, in turn, causes the latch bar to move to its default position.

Claims

1. A self-latching magnetic gate latch device for latching a hinged gate to a barrier member, the self-latching device comprising:

(a) a latch bar housing assembly comprising;

(i) a latch bar housing fitted to either a hinged gate or a barrier member; and

(ii) a horizontally-disposed latch bar slidably disposed within the latch bar housing such that, the horizontally-disposed latch bar is axially movable from a default backward latch bar disengagement position to a forward latch bar engagement position, the horizontally-disposed latch bar biased towards the default backward latch bar disengagement position, the horizontally-disposed latch bar attractable by a magnet; and

(b) a magnet bar housing assembly comprising;

(i) an elongate magnet bar housing vertically fitted to one of the hinged gate or the barrier member whereon the latch bar housing is not fitted, the elongate magnet bar housing comprising a vertical, cylindrical cap sleeve comprising a first vertical track extending upwardly from a bottom circular rim thereof and a stopper extending downwardly from the bottom circular rim thereof, the elongate magnet bar housing further comprising a latch hole axially aligned with the latch bar; and

(ii) an elongate vertical magnet bar assembly extending through the vertical, cylindrical cap sleeve, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly comprising a magnet disposed at a bottom end thereof, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly disposed within the elongate magnet bar housing such that, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly is axially vertically movable, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly further comprising a guide extending perpendicular to an axis of the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly, the guide, in a horizontal plane, manually angularly movable between a default first guide position, where the guide abuts the stopper, and a second guide position, at which point, the guide is at the point of entry of the first vertical track, the guide is biased towards the default first guide position, the angular movement of the guide restricted beyond the stopper and the point of entry of the first vertical track, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly, at the second guide position, by virtue of the guide being adapted to slide within the first vertical track, manually vertically movable between a default downward engagement position and an upward disengagement position, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly biased towards the default downward engagement position, where the magnet is aligned with the latch hole;

wherein, as the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly is in the default downward engagement position, regardless of the position of the guide, and as the hinged gate and the barrier member are juxtaposed, the horizontally-disposed latch bar, which is longitudinally aligned with the magnet in the forward latch bar engagement position, as a result of an attraction force of the magnet, arrives to the forward latch bar engagement position, where the horizontally-disposed latch bar abuts the magnet through the latch hole thereby latching the hinged gate and the barrier member together and wherein, as the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly moved to the upward disengagement position, an increase in a distance between the magnet and the horizontally-disposed latch bar as a result of the upward displacement of the magnet causes the attraction force between the magnet and the horizontally-disposed latch bar to weaken resulting in the horizontally-disposed latch bar being retracted into the default backward latch bar disengagement position thereby unlatching the hinged gate from the barrier member.

2. The self-latching device of claim 1 wherein, the barrier member comprises a fence post.

3. The self-latching device of claim 1 wherein, the barrier member comprises another gate.

4. The self-latching device of claim 1 wherein, the horizontally-disposed latch bar comprises a head portion disposed at an extremity thereof, the head portion to abut the magnet through the latch hole.

5. The self-latching device of claim 1 wherein, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly comprises:

(a) an elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar, one end of which terminating in the magnet, while the other end terminating in a pull knob, the movement of the guide within the first vertical track caused by the vertical movement of the elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar, the movement of the elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar operated by the pull knob;

(b) a cylindrical guide sleeve for receiving the elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar therethrough, one end of the cylindrical guide sleeve terminating in a twist knob that is adapted to abut and to be disposed below the pull knob, the cylindrical guide sleeve comprising the guide extending perpendicularly from the exterior surface thereof; and

(c) a cylindrical track sleeve for receiving the cylindrical guide sleeve, the cylindrical track sleeve comprising an angular horizontal track disposed thereon, the angular horizontal track for slidably receiving the guide therewithin, one extremity of the angular horizontal track terminates at the default first guide position, while the other extremity terminates at the second guide position, the angular movement of the guide within the angular horizontal track, by virtue of a rotation of the cylindrical guide sleeve, caused by twisting the twist knob, the cylindrical track sleeve fixedly received within the elongate magnet bar housing such that rotation thereof is inhibited.

6. The self-latching device of claim 5 wherein, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly further comprises a torsion spring functionally disposed between the cylindrical guide sleeve and the cylindrical track sleeve so as to bias the guide towards the default first guide position.

7. The self-latching device of claim 1 wherein, the elongate magnet bar housing comprises an open top removably fitted with a top cap comprising a central hole wherein, the vertical, cylindrical cap sleeve descends from a circumference of the central hole.

8. The self latching device of claim 7 wherein, the elongate magnet bar housing assembly further comprises a thrust washer secured to the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly and a compression spring disposed between the top cap and the thrust washer;

the compression spring for biasing the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly towards the default downward engagement position towards the downward engagement position.

9. A self-latching magnetic gate latch device for latching a hinged gate to a barrier member, the self-latching device comprising:

(a) a latch bar housing assembly comprising;

(i) a latch bar housing fitted to either a hinged gate or a barrier member; and

(ii) a horizontally-disposed latch bar slidably disposed within the latch bar housing such that, the horizontally-disposed latch bar is axially movable from a default backward latch bar disengagement position to a forward latch bar engagement position, the horizontally-disposed latch bar biased towards the default backward latch bar disengagement position, the horizontally-disposed latch bar attractable by a magnet; and

(b) a magnet bar housing assembly comprising;

(i) an elongate magnet bar housing vertically fitted to one of the hinged gate or the barrier member whereon the latch bar housing is not fitted, the elongate magnet bar housing comprising a vertical, cylindrical cap sleeve comprising a vertical track extending upwardly from a bottom circular rim thereof and a stopper extending downwardly from the bottom circular rim thereof, the elongate magnet bar housing further comprising a latch hole axially aligned with the latch bar; and

(ii) an elongate vertical magnet bar assembly extending through the vertical, cylindrical cap sleeve, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly comprising a magnet disposed at a bottom end thereof, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly disposed within the elongate magnet assembly housing such that, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly is axially vertically movable, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly further comprising a guide extending perpendicular to an axis of the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly, the guide, in a horizontal plane, manually angularly movable between a default first guide position, where the guide abuts the stopper while abutting the bottom circular rim, and a second guide position, at which point, the guide is at the point of entry of position, the angular movement of the guide restricted beyond the stopper and the point of entry of the vertical track, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly, at the second guide position, by virtue of the guide being adapted to slide within the vertical track, manually vertically movable between a default downward engagement position and an upward disengagement position, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly biased towards the default downward engagement position, where the magnet is aligned with the latch hole, the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly comprising;

(1) an elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar, one end of which terminating in the magnet, while the other end terminating in a pull knob, the movement of the guide within the vertical track caused by the vertical movement of the elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar, the movement of the elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar operated by the pull knob;

(2) a cylindrical guide sleeve for receiving the elongate, vertically-disposed magnet bar therethrough, one end of the cylindrical guide sleeve terminating in a twist knob that is adapted to abut and to be disposed below the pull knob, the cylindrical guide sleeve comprising the guide extending perpendicularly from the exterior surface thereof; and

(3) a cylindrical track sleeve for receiving the cylindrical guide sleeve, the cylindrical track sleeve comprising an angular horizontal track disposed thereon, the angular horizontal track for slidably receiving the guide therewithin, one extremity of the angular horizontal track terminates at the default first guide position, while the other extremity terminates at the second guide position, the angular movement of the guide within the angular horizontal track, by virtue of a rotation of the cylindrical guide sleeve, caused by twisting the twist knob, the cylindrical track sleeve fixedly received within the elongate magnet bar housing such that rotation thereof is inhibited;

wherein, as the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly is in the default downward engagement position, regardless of the position of the guide, and as the hinged gate and the barrier member are juxtaposed, the horizontally-disposed latch bar, which is longitudinally aligned with the magnet in the forward latch bar engagement position, as a result of an attraction force of the magnet, arrives to the forward latch bar engagement position, where the horizontally-disposed latch bar abuts the magnet through the latch hole thereby latching the hinged gate and the barrier member together and wherein, as the elongate vertical magnet bar assembly moved to the upward disengagement position, an increase in a distance between the magnet and the horizontally-disposed latch bar as a result of the upward displacement of the magnet causes the attraction force between the magnet and the horizontally-disposed latch bar to weaken resulting in the horizontally-disposed latch bar being retracted into the default backward latch bar disengagement position thereby unlatching the hinged gate from the barrier member.