Patent ID: 6017068
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10T

Abstract:
A gate latch adapted to secure a hinged item in a closed position, comprising:a support adapted to be mounted on a fixed surface in close proximity to a hinged item,a plate extending horizontally from said support and having two generally parallel sides,a frame member depending from said plate and having generally parallel sides, said parallel sides each having two ends, said parallel sides of said frame member joined to each other at both of said ends,a pair of pin means extending between said parallel sides of said frame member,a pair of rings positioned between said parallel sides of said frame, each ring near one of said ends of said parallel sides of said frame member, and encircling said pin means to allow each ring to rotate away from said end nearer said ring and to prevent each ring from rotating toward said end, nearer said ring,a latch bar mountable on a hinged item to engage said rings to allow said latch bar to move from an open hinged item unlatched position away from said rings to engage one of said rings to rotate said ring about one of said pins to allow said latch bar to pass under said ring to engage other of said rings, allowing said one of said rings to drop into latching position, whereby said latch bar is latched between said rings to close and latch said hinged item,a lock member mounted so as to be moveable on said plate along it's parallel sides from a first position engagable with said rings to prevent movement of said rings to a second position clear of said rings to allow movement of said rings to allow said latch to pass either of said rings, andsaid rings each individually manually displacable while said lock member is in said second position, to allow said latch bar to move from a latched closed hinged item position between said rings past the displaced ring to an unlatched position to open a hinged item.