US1347991A - Gate-latch or the like - Google Patents

Description

I. B.'CLAY.

GATE LATCH OR THE LIKE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. I. I916- 1,347,991 Patented July 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

12 15 I'III v I IIIIIIIIIIIIH 1214.. Jam o6 .5. C737 @dhw 1 J. B. CLAY.

GATE LATCH OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED my. i. new.

1,347,99 1 Patented July 27 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 'umiiiiiilli? I 4 UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFlca;

JOSEPH B. CLAY, or CEDAR. FALLS, IowA.

GATE-LATCH on THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d Ji l 27 1926 Application filed April 1, "1916. Serial No. as 220.

Latches or the like, of which the following is a description.

My inventionbelongs to that general class of devices known as gate latches, and relates particularly to a device adapted for locking a swinging gate, and especially that type of gate that may be swung in either dire ion. The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, convenient, durable,

efficient and satisfactory, that may be used wherever found applicable. The invention particularly has among its objects the production of a device that will securely lock the gate, whether the rigid or tiltingtype, whether tilted or not, at different points at the free or swinging end of the gate, but which device may be easily controlled to release the gate. lVith the latch herein described stock willnot be accidentally injured by the same. The latch mechanism is also protected from the weather in a It; also has among its objects the production of a device,

which, when the gate is pushed or thrown shut, will automatically lock the gate shut by the closing movement of the gate. 7

Tothis end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described. and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure. 1 is a view in elevation of a gate having my latch applied thereto;

2 is a front elevation and partial sectional view of a portion of the preferred form of latch;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of a portion of the same;

Fig. 4' is a sectional view taken substan-.

tially on line 4;, 4 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing the latchmember thrown to one side, as indicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6, 6 of Fig. 4:, showing the complete device, and

g Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantlally on line 7, 7 of Fig. 2. r

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred form of my device is shown, 1 and 2 represent any style of the fenceor gate posts, between which is arranged the gate of any suitable type. The gate shown consists of the end bars 3 and 4, and connecting bars 0, o, the same bemg pfvotally connected together in the gate shown, at points 6, 6, etc. The gate may be covered with any suitable wire, ,wire netting, or fabric, this depending to a large extent upon the particular use to which the gate is to be put. In the gate shown end bar 3 is pivotally secured to the post 1 by hinge members 7 7, it being understood that the particular manner of hanging the gate forms no part of the present invention. It may also be mentioned that the gate illustrated is of the tilting ad' j ustable type, so that the free end of the gate may be raised. or lowered, this being part cularly mentioned because the latch or locking device herein described-is applicable for this type of adjustable gate, regardless of its adjustment.

The particular latch or locking device shown consists substantially of two or' more latch or locking devices arranged to be actuated or controlled as one; either one, however, being adapted to be used alone should only one be desired. A. description ofone will sufliee' for both, as they are substantially identical. As shown, 8 is a base plate arranged to be secured to the fence post 2 by bolts or screws 9, the particular design or shape of the same and method of fastening the plate 8 to the post depending upon the style of post to which it is to be attached.

Plate 8 is provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extending flanges 10 and 11, and is preferably cut away or recessed as at 13 between the flanges on each side thereof (seeFigs. 6 and 7). The same isqalso formed with extending lugs 12, the purpose of the same being more fully explained hereafter. I flanges 10 and 11 is a latch member .14, formed with extending or forked arms 15, 15, the latch member being substantially U- shaped in'the preferred construction. The latch member is preferably enlarged at the ends of the forked arms, as shown, so that the stock will not be injured in case they should accidentally strike the latch member Arranged between the spaced referred to.

the same, as previously mentioned.

in passing through the gateway. The latch member is pivotally secured in place by a pin or bolt 16 extending through the flanges and latch member, and is formed with shoulders 17, 17 at each side, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7. In the preferred construction I provide suitable means for yieldingly opposing the movement of the latch members. In the construction shown I employ spring washers 25, which are'substantially brakes, and prevent the latch members from turning too far or rebounding when thrown to the open position.

The upper flange 10 is formed with openings 10 therethrough at each side, through which project the stops or pins 18. The pins shown are formed with heads 19 elongated, which preient their dropping through the openings through the flange, and the same may be offset or formed with lips at the lower ends, as indicated at 20 (see Figs. 5 and 7 or in an equivalent manner, to prevent their being raised and withdrawn en tirely from the flange. This is most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. The openings in the pins are preferably elongated, the purpose of this being more fully explained hereafter. countersunk on the lower side about the openings, so that the pins may be raised or withdrawn to .a point where they do not project below the flange. They are of a length to project into the path of the latch member 14:, and when the same is in closed position, the shoulders 17 of the latch abut against the-pins, thereby preventing the pivotal movement of the latch member about the bolt 16. They are preferably of sufficient length to project below the latch memher and bear against the lugs 12 previously This aiiords a very rigid construction, as when the pins are dropped in f stopping position, thepins have a bearing by the latch member. v V

The two pins are connected preferably at each end, between which they are engaged ,loosely by a link 21, which in the construction shown is formed with hooked ends arranged to extend through eyes 19, or elongated, openings in the pins. The preceding description covers both of the latch members, which, as shown in the drawings, are The links 21 of each latch member are connected by an actuating rod 23, projecting through the upper flanges, to the upper link 21. By making openings through the headset the pins elongated, the link connecting the pins is prevented from tipping back on the rod, this applying particularly to the upper link, which might lock the parts about the link tipped back. Movement of the rod upward releases the latches, or that is, raises the pins, so that the latch .members and gate I have shown the flange slightly tom cannot spring the same.

ing that the rod 23 is raised and the gate swung as indicated 1n Fig. 4, by the dotted lines, the pins belng raised the latch mem bers are free to swing with the gate, and

permit the same to be opened. Owing to the brakes, however, tlldiTlS the spring washers 25, or their equivalents, the latches will. i

. cated in Fig. 5, so that they are in engaging position. When the gate is swung back to closed positlon, the same enters between the forks 15, 15 and moves the same back to the position indicated in the full lines in Fig. 4, or F 1g. 7, the pins 1n engaging sitrons stopping the gate and latches, and the pins that were supported by the latch members then drop into engaging positions, locking the gate shut.

,I have shown the two latches described protected by a housing 26. The housing shown is formed with the ends 27 and with an extension 28, which is secured to the flange 10 bythe bolt 16. Any equivalent housing may, of course, be employed, or the manner of securing the housing shown in place may be modified. The housing prevents snow or rain settling on the links and pins and other parts-of the latch covered thereby, and freezing, and possibly impairing the efficiency of the device.

It will be obvious that with this construction the gate is securely engaged or locked shut at more than one point, so that stock bearing against it at the top or bot- One of the important advantages oi the construction f herein shown and described isthat ii the gate engages only one latch where'two are employed, owing to the tilting o1 the gate or Sagging'of the gate post, the device is entirely operative, the same as if both latches were engaged. The construction also permits the gate to be swung in either direction and automaticallylocks it wnen turned to closed positionf The latches are conveniently controlled in one operation'by means of the rod 23, and it may'be noted that while only two latch devices areshown connected by the rod, any number may be employed by arranging them intermediate the two devices shown, or at either side, and eX- tending the rod so as to engage the additional link. If desired any suitable means may beiemployed for drawing the rod down.

7 While two devices are shown as the preferred construction, itis, of course, obvious that one will work equally as well, and in the same manner, when only one device is desired, the advantage of the two being merely locking of the gate near the top and bottom for the purposes set forth. lVhere only one of the devices is employed instead of the plurality shown, the connecting link 21 might be emitted, although the construction would not be as convenient. Owing to the elongated openings through the heads of the pins 19, some play is permitted,'so that the latches are independently operable. In other words, when either the top or bottom latch member is closed, the pin for locking the same may engage the closed latchVmember, although the other latch member may still remain open, and its corresponding locking pin shown remains raised. It is also obvious that the results and operation would be the same if the latches were mounted on the gate post at instead of on the fence post 2 at the gate opening or if a wooden gate was employed in place of the steel gate shown. 5

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that Various immaterial modifications may be made in the same within the scope ofthe appended :claims without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses men tioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A gate latch of the kind described comprising a base plate provided with a projecting horizontal flange, a substantially U-shaped latch member arranged below and pivotally carried by said flange, a pair of pins arranged at each side of said flange and movable downwardly therethrough in the path of said latch member, means on said pins for limiting the upward movement thereof, said U-shaped member having shoulders arranged to normally abut against the projecting ends of said pins below the base plate flange.

2. A gate latch of the kind described,

' comprising a base plate provided with a projecting horizontal flange, a substantially U-shaped latch member pivotally carried by said flange, a pair of pins arranged one at each side of said flange and movable therethrough, said pins oflset at their lower ends arranged to limit upward movement thereof, said U-shaped member having shoulders arranged to normally abut against said pins, and a link loosely connecting said pins, and means for raising said link.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, aplate provided with a pair of projecting horizontal flanges, a U- shaped member positioned between said flanges, and pivotally secured therebetween on a vertical axis,-a pair of pins arranged to project through the upper flange, and movable into the path of said U-shaped member, said U-shaped member provided with shoulders arranged to abut against said pins, a link connecting said pins, and means, for controlling said link.

4. In a gate latch of the kind described, the combination oi? a pair of plates, each plate provided with a pair of spaced horizontal flanges, a U-shaped latch member for each plate arranged between said flanges, means for pivotally securing said latch members in position, a pair of pins for each plate, said pins vertically adjustable and of a length to extend below the upper flange in the path of said latch members, a link for and connecting each pair of pins, and a rod connecting said links.

5. In a gate latch of the kind described, the combination of a pair of plates, each plate provided with a pair of spaced horizontal flanges, a U-shaped latch member for each plate arranged betweensaid flanges,

means for pivotally securing said latch members in position,a pair of pins for each plate, said pins ertically adjustable and of a length to extend below the'upper. flange in the path of said latch members, abutments for the lower ends of said pins, said abut- 'ments integrally formed with said plates and disposed below said latch member, a,

link for and connecting each pair of pins, and a rod pivotally connecting said links.

6. In a gate latch of the kind described and in combination, a base having aipair of projecting horizontal flanges spaced from each other,a U-shaped latch memberpivoted on a vertical axis between said flanges, said plate recessed below the upper flange on each side, said recesses of a size to receive the edge of said latch member when moved openings, and alink connecting said stops.

In a locking device of the kind de scribed and in combination, a plurality of latches, each comprising a base having a pair of projecting horizontal flanges spaced from each other, a U-shaped latch member pivoted on a vertical axis between said flanges,.said upper flange provided with an opening therethrough, at each side adjacent the rear end ofsaid latch member, a vertically movable stop projectingthrough each opening, said stops provided with means for limiting the vertical movement thereof through said openings, and of a length to cut away between said flanges ronreach side, thereof, vert cally movable pins extending through the upper flange in the path of said latchmember and arranged to engage the same when in central position, means for limiting the vertical movement of said pins, said plate provided with an abutment formed integral therewith in the plane of the lower flange, and of a length to engage the lower ends of said pins when dropped to operatlve engaging positions, a link loosely connecting said pins, and a rod pivotally connected to the lower link, and projecting through the flanges of the upper base plate,

and pivotally connected to the upper link, whereby the movement of said rod will control all of said pins.

9.- In a gate latch of the kind described and in combination, a base plate provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extending flanges, a suitably shaped latch member pivotally supported between said flanges, resilient means for yieldingly opposing any .movement of the latch member within its limit of travel, and means carried by one of said flanges and movable into the path of said latch member for normally engaging the latch member and preventing pivotal movement thereof.

l0. In a gate latch of the kind described and ln combination, a base plate provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extend I ing flanges, a suitably shaped latch member pivotally supported between said flanges, resilient means arranged between one flange and the latch member for'yieldingly opposing any movement of the latch member within its limit of travel, and means carried'by one of said flanges and movable into the path of said latch member for-normally engaging the latch member and preventing pivotal movement thereof.

11. In a gate latch of the kind described andin combination, a base plate provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extending flanges, a suitably shaped latch member pivotally supported between said flanges, resilient means for yieldingly opposing any movement of the latch member within the limits. of its travel, means carried by one of said flanges and movable into the path of said latchmember for normally engaging the latch member and preventing pivotal movement thereof, and a housing carried by the upper flange for substantially inclosing said latch engaging means.

12. A gate latch of the kind described, comprising a base plate provided with a projecting flange, a substantially U-shaped latch member pivotally carried by said flanges, a pair of pins arranged at each side of said flange, and movable into the path of said U-shaped latch member, a link loosely connecting the said pins, and a vertically movable support for said link, said link loosely carried by said support.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSE-PH B. CLAY.

Gno. F. W001).

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