Patent ID: 9631406
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: E05B,E05C,Y10T

Claim:
1. A gate latch assembly, comprising: a housing; a handle coupled to the housing; a retractor disposed within the housing such that the retractor is slidable forward and backward within the housing; a latching mechanism operatively coupled with the retractor such that, when the retractor slides backward, the latching mechanism is engaged by the retractor, drawing a portion of the latching mechanism into the housing; an actuator assembly having a neutral position, wherein the actuator assembly includes a portion disposed in relation to the latching mechanism such that the latching mechanism is magnetically attracted to the portion as the actuator assembly is rotated by the handle from the neutral position; and a biasing mechanism, wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled with the actuator assembly, the retractor or both the actuator assembly and the retractor such that the biasing mechanism applies a mechanical force to the actuator assembly, tending to return the actuator assembly to the neutral position, when the handle is released, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a pin operatively coupled with the retractor such that, as the retractor slides backward, the pin is pulled by the retractor into an unlatched position, and as the retractor returns forward, the pin is capable of being retained in the unlatched position and, wherein the pin includes a magnet providing a magnetic force for retaining the pin in contact with the portion of the actuator assembly disposed in relation to the latching mechanism such that the latching mechanism is magnetically attracted to the portion as the actuator assembly is rotated in either direction by the handle from the neutral position, the portion of the actuator comprising a ferromagnetic material.