US4592578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lockable gate latch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-08-14
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Granted: 1986-06-03
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Expires: 2004-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A positive gate latch having a striker bar and two vertical catch members held in place by two sleeves secured to a base. When the catch members are down, the striker bar (often referred to as a gate tongue) cannot move in either direction. The catch members are attached to an operating bar, allowing passage when activated from either direction. The gate latch may be locked in three separate positions, allowing passage in only one direction or may be locked allowing no passage in either direction. The latch is designed primarily for use on tubular structures, such as chain link fence.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman R. Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:40
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B65/00; E05B65/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/13; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0801; Y10T292/0834; Y10T292/0836; Y10T292/0844; Y10T292/0846; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/1014; Y10T292/1022; Y10T292/1025; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
423 words
A lockable gate latch assembly for use on a gate that closes to a gate post comprising: a strike; means for mounting the strike to one of the gate or gate post; a catch assembly comprising: means for mounting the catch assembly to the other of the gate or gate post; a pair of catch members; means for mounting the catch members so as to be movable from a home position, to which they tend to return when moved, to an open position, said members when in the home position defining a gap for, when operationally installed on a gate, receiving the strike and preventing its exit; and means for selectively locking one or both of the catch members so as to prevent its movement to the open position said catch assembly includes a handle member operationally connected to said catch members for moving one or the other of said catch members from its home position to its open position, if not locked against such movement, in response to manual operation of the handle member; said catch assembly mounting means includes a base, and said base is provided with means for receiving a locking member such that the locking member when received therein restrains said handle member as well as the operationally connected catch members from substantial movement so as to prevent each catch member from moving to its open position; each of said catch members is mounted for generally vertical limited movement, returns to its home position by gravity, and includes an opening defined through it into which a shackle may be inserted; said assembly includes a locking member that is sized and shaped so as to be able to enter said receiving means of said base and includes means for receiving said shackle mounted such that said locking member may enter said receiving means of said base and have said shackle of a padlock received in its shackle receiving means and also passed through the opening through one of said catch members; and said catch members are of elongated metal plate configuration and are vertically mounted with a base fit into sleeves which are secured to said base, said catch members each having a vertical slot formed in them and being held in place by means of a guide member affixed to the sleeve which passes through the slot, said slot having an area exposed below said sleeve when the catch member is in its home position and that exposed slot area also serving as the opening for receiving said shackle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
423 words
A lockable gate latch assembly for use on a gate that closes to a gate post comprising: a strike; means for mounting the strike to one of the gate or gate post; a catch assembly comprising: means for mounting the catch assembly to the other of the gate or gate post; a pair of catch members; means for mounting the catch members so as to be movable from a home position, to which they tend to return when moved, to an open position, said members when in the home position defining a gap for, when operationally installed on a gate, receiving the strike and preventing its exit; and means for selectively locking one or both of the catch members so as to prevent its movement to the open position said catch assembly includes a handle member operationally connected to said catch members for moving one or the other of said catch members from its home position to its open position, if not locked against such movement, in response to manual operation of the handle member; said catch assembly mounting means includes a base, and said base is provided with means for receiving a locking member such that the locking member when received therein restrains said handle member as well as the operationally connected catch members from substantial movement so as to prevent each catch member from moving to its open position; each of said catch members is mounted for generally vertical limited movement, returns to its home position by gravity, and includes an opening defined through it into which a shackle may be inserted; said assembly includes a locking member that is sized and shaped so as to be able to enter said receiving means of said base and includes means for receiving said shackle mounted such that said locking member may enter said receiving means of said base and have said shackle of a padlock received in its shackle receiving means and also passed through the opening through one of said catch members; and said catch members are of elongated metal plate configuration and are vertically mounted with a base fit into sleeves which are secured to said base, said catch members each having a vertical slot formed in them and being held in place by means of a guide member affixed to the sleeve which passes through the slot, said slot having an area exposed below said sleeve when the catch member is in its home position and that exposed slot area also serving as the opening for receiving said shackle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
401 words
A catch assembly for a lockable gate latch comprising: means for mounting the catch assembly; a pair of catch members; means for mounting the catch members, so as to be movable from a home position to which they tend to return to an open position, said members when in the home position defining a gap for receiving a strike and preventing its exit when operationally installed on a gate, and means for selectively locking one or both of the catch members so as to prevent its movement to the open position said catch assembly includes a handle member operationally connected to said catch members for moving one or the other of said catch members from the home position to their open position, if not locked against such movement, in respose to manual operation of the handle member; said catch assembly mounting means includes a base, and said base is provided with means for receiving a locking member such that the locking member when received therein restrains said handle member as well as the operationally connected catch members from substantial movement so as to prevent each catch member from moving to its open position; said catch members are mounted for generally vertical limited movement and return to the home position by gravity, and include an opening into which a shackle may be inserted; said assembly includes a locking member that is sized and shaped so as to be able to enter said receiving means of said base and includes means for receiving said shackle mounted such that said locking member may enter said receiving means of said base and have said shackle of a padlock received in its shackle receiving means and also passed through the opening through one of said catch members; and said catch members are each of elongated flat plate configuration and are vertically mounted with a loose fit into sleeves which are secured to said base, said sleeves mounting said catch members so that they are in a spaced apart adjacent array in approximately the same vertical plane, said catch members each having a vertical slot and are held in place by means of a guide member affixed to the sleeve which passes through the slot, said slot having an area exposed below said sleeve when the catch member is in its home position and that exposed slot area also serves as the opening for receiving said shackle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
401 words
A catch assembly for a lockable gate latch comprising: means for mounting the catch assembly; a pair of catch members; means for mounting the catch members, so as to be movable from a home position to which they tend to return to an open position, said members when in the home position defining a gap for receiving a strike and preventing its exit when operationally installed on a gate, and means for selectively locking one or both of the catch members so as to prevent its movement to the open position said catch assembly includes a handle member operationally connected to said catch members for moving one or the other of said catch members from the home position to their open position, if not locked against such movement, in respose to manual operation of the handle member; said catch assembly mounting means includes a base, and said base is provided with means for receiving a locking member such that the locking member when received therein restrains said handle member as well as the operationally connected catch members from substantial movement so as to prevent each catch member from moving to its open position; said catch members are mounted for generally vertical limited movement and return to the home position by gravity, and include an opening into which a shackle may be inserted; said assembly includes a locking member that is sized and shaped so as to be able to enter said receiving means of said base and includes means for receiving said shackle mounted such that said locking member may enter said receiving means of said base and have said shackle of a padlock received in its shackle receiving means and also passed through the opening through one of said catch members; and said catch members are each of elongated flat plate configuration and are vertically mounted with a loose fit into sleeves which are secured to said base, said sleeves mounting said catch members so that they are in a spaced apart adjacent array in approximately the same vertical plane, said catch members each having a vertical slot and are held in place by means of a guide member affixed to the sleeve which passes through the slot, said slot having an area exposed below said sleeve when the catch member is in its home position and that exposed slot area also serves as the opening for receiving said shackle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-02 | 1989-12-02 | 1990-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-02 | 1993-12-02 | 1994-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-02 | 1997-12-02 | 1998-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |