Patent ID: 11920380
Assignee: CARLSON PET PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E  Y | IPC E

Claim 0:
1. A method for engaging a gate to a first barrier section in a gated barrier, the gate and the first barrier section engagable to each other by a latch apparatus, the latch apparatus including a swinging piece, the swinging piece pivotally engaged to one of the gate and the first barrier section, the latch apparatus including a keeper, the keeper being on the other of the gate and the first barrier section, the swinging piece releasably engaged to the keeper, the swinging piece having an open position where the swinging piece is disengaged from the keeper to permit the gate to be swung open, the swinging piece having a closed position where the swinging piece is engaged to the keeper to keep the gate from being swung, one of the gate and the first barrier section including a support member, the swinging piece being swingably engaged to the support member, the support member including an extension having an upper oblique surface and a lower oblique surface, the upper and lower oblique surfaces forming a tip, the swinging piece having a slot and a slider slideable in the slot, the slider having a slider portion, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
a) swinging the gate to be aligned in a plane with the first barrier section;
b) letting the swinging piece fall by gravity such that the slider portion makes contact with the upper oblique surface of the extension;
c) letting the slider portion slide or roll down the upper oblique surface;
d) letting the slider portion clear the tip formed by the upper and lower oblique surfaces of the extension; and
e) letting the slider portion slide down the slot and adjacent to the lower oblique surface of the extension such that the swinging piece engages the keeper to engage the gate to the first barrier section.