Automatic latch

Claim 1

A LATCH FOR HOLDING A HINGED GATE IN CLOSED POSITION WHERE ITS FREE EDGE IS ADJACENT A GATE POST, SAID LATCH COMPRISING: (A) A LATCH BAR; (B) CONNECTED MEANS ADAPTED TO CONNECT SAID LATCH BAR TO SAID GATE SO THAT SAID LATCH BAR PROJECTS BEYOND SAID FREE EDGE; (C) A KEEPER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO SAID GATE POST AND ENGAGED BY SAID LATCH BAR WHEN SAID GATE IS IN CLOSED POSITION; (D) SAID KEEPER HAVING A LATCHING SLOT THEREIN INTO WHICH SAID LATCH BAR IS RECEIVED WHEN SAID GATE IS MOVED TO CLOSED POSITION; (E) SAID KEEPER ALSO HAVING AT LEAST ONE UPWARDLY INCLINED CAM PORTION AT SAID LATCHING SLOT AND EFFECTIVE TO ENGAGE SAID LATCH BAR WHEN SAID BAR IS POSITIONED BELOW SAID LATCHING SLOT AS SAID GATE SWINGS ABOUT ITS HINGED TOWARD ITS CLOSED POSITION AND TO PIVOT SAID LATCH BAR IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID GATE UNTIL SAID LATCH BAR IS RECEIVED INTO SAID LATCHING SLOT; (F) SAID CONNECTING MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO THAT SAID LATCH BAR CAN EFFECT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON SAID GATE IN RESPONSE TO ENGAGEMENT OF SAID LATCH BAR WITH SAID INCLINED CAM PORTION OF SAID KEEPER AS SAID GATE SWINGS INTO CLOSED POSITION; (G) SAID KEEPER INCLUDING A LATCH DOG MOVABLE THEREON FROM A FIRST POSITION BLOCKING SAID LATCHING SLOT AND PREVENTING SAID LATCHING BAR FROM MOVING OUT OF SAID LATCHING SLOT WHEN IT IS RECEIVED THEREIN FOR HOLDING SAID GATE IN CLOSED POSITION, TO A SECOND POSITION UNBLOCKING SAID LATCHING SLOT AND PERMITTING ENTRY OR EGRESS OF SAID LATCH BAR RELATIVE TO SAID SLOT FOR PERMITTING SAID GATE TO MOVE TO OR FROM CLOSED POSITION; (H) SAID LATCH DOG, WHEN IN ITS SECOND POSITION, HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE BY SAID LATCH BAR WHEN THE GATE SWINGS TO CLOSED POSITION FOR CAUSING SAID LATCH DOG TO MOVE TO ITS FIRST POSITION.