Abstract:
An improved gate lock provides for easy engagement and allows for a high degree of variability of the orientation and position of the mating portions of the lock. The lock includes a lock pin movably retained in a base. The pin coordinates with, and engages, a latch in a separate receiver to provide a physical lock. The latch is spring-mounted in a locked position to allow it to slide laterally within the receiver to receive and capture the pin during the locking function. The receiver includes a pin slot or opening having an angled surface for directing the pin into the latch for easier movement and engagement. The latch has an angled or curved strike surface on which the pin slides during locking. A solenoid is mounted to the receiver and is connected to the latch to provide for automatic withdrawal of the latch for unlocking functions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention pertains to door and gate latches and locks. In particular, the present invention regards latches and locks for large outdoor security gates typically having powered operators.  
         [0002]     Agricultural and livestock operations, personal residences, and commercial businesses often have perimeter security fences or walls with access gates. Particularly where access gates are designed to provide passage of vehicles, security gates are generally large and heavy. Also, for a variety of reasons, such gates are often unmanned and automatically controlled. Operation of such gates is typically by a powered operator, most generally electrically powered. Security gates must include locking elements and where operation is unmanned and automatic, locking functions should be reliable and integrated into gate opening and closing operations.  
         [0003]     Due to both the size and weight and loose manufacturing tolerances of typical outdoor security gate structures, and the weathering by the surrounding environment, precise alignment of coordinating latch and lock elements may be difficult to obtain. As a consequence, latch and lock designs applicable to smaller doors or building interior equipment may be unreliable for outdoor security gates. For reliable use, outdoor gate latch and lock elements should be ruggedly designed and built and allow for a degree of misalignment or variability of the gate structures.  
         [0004]     There are many prior designs of latches and locks for doors and gates. However, none fully address the problems outlined above, nor provide an adequate solution.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is a gate lock that provides for easy engagement of the locking elements while accommodating a high degree of variability of the mating portions of the fixed and movable elements of an associated gate.  
         [0006]     The inventive lock includes a lock pin movably retained in a base. The pin coordinates with, and engages, a latch to provide a physical lock. The latch is spring-mounted in a locked position while allowing it to slide within a hollow receiver to receive and capture the pin during the locking function. The receiver includes a transverse slot or opening having an angled surface for directing the pin into the latch for easier movement and engagement. The latch has an angled or curved strike surface on which the pin slides during locking. A latch motive device is mounted to the receiver and is connected to the latch to provide for automatic withdrawal of the latch for unlocking functions.  
         [0007]     The combination of the moveable pin, the enlarged pin opening and the angled guide surface in the receiver and the latch strike surface geometry allow for an easy and reliable automatic locking function while accommodating variability of the relative orientations and positions of the pin and receiver.  
         [0008]     In use, the pin base and pin are preferably mounted in a fixed location on a gate frame bollard or the equivalent, while the latch receiver is mounted on a moveable swing-type gate. In this manner, when the gate is closed, the latch receiver approaches the pin such that the pin is forced transversely into the receiver to slide the latch momentarily away to allow the pin to pass and there be automatically captured in a locked position. However, alternatively in a reversed orientation, the pin base and pin may be mounted on the moveable gate and the receiver mounted in the fixed location.  
         [0009]     The invention includes an automatic powered gate including a remotely operable lock of the present design. When used in conjunction with an automatic gate operator, the inventive lock preferably is automatically unlocked by operation of the lock solenoid prior to powered gate opening function.  
         [0010]     A preferred embodiment of the inventive lock includes: a pin mount having an upper and lower flange retaining an elongated pin in slots that are longer than the diameter of the pin and a rectangular cross-section receiver body with a transverse slot including an angled guide surface for receiving the pin. A latch located within the receiver body is configured to slide within the receiver in locking and unlocking functions. The latch is spring loaded to maintain a locked position until withdrawn by activation of a connected solenoid. The latch has a latch arm that closes the receiver slot to retain the pin when locked. The latch arm has an angled or curved strike surface on which the pin bears when forced transversely into the receiver slot. The strike surface is configured such that when the pin is forced into the receiver slot it moves the latch away from the receiver slot, into the receiver.  
         [0011]     Other aspects and advantages of the invention are illustrated and made apparent by the following discussion and accompanying figures of exemplary embodiments.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the latch element of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a locked condition.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are section views of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a  showing the internal details of the lock receiver and latch with the latch in locked and withdrawn positions.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are detail plan views of various alternative geometries of the inventive latch.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective illustration of the inventive lock on an associated automated gate.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]      FIGS. 1   a, b  and  FIG. 2  are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 1   a , a pin mounting base  12  including a locking pin  14  is shown separated from a lock receiver  20  that includes a lock latch  24 . In use, when unlocked and partially opened to allow an associated gate to move and open, the elements are oriented as shown.  FIG. 2  depicts the same elements in a locked condition, where the pin  14  is held within the receiver  20  and retained there by the latch  24 .  FIG. 1   b  shows the geometry of the latch  24  separate from the remaining lock elements. Preferably, the receiver is mounted horizontally, as shown, on the moveable portion of a swinging gate, while the pin  14  is mounted with its long axis C 1  vertical. However, other orientations that maintain the relative coordination and function of these components are possible and contemplated.  
         [0019]     The pin mounting base  12  illustrated is formed of a rigid “C” shaped bracket having upper and lower horizontal flanges  15  extending, one distanced above the other, from a vertical mounting flange  16 . The function of the pin base  12  is to hold and retain the locking pin  14  vertically at a determined location and orientation to ensure proper coordination with the receiver  20  during locking functions. Herein, the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” and like terms are intended to have only relative meaning; apply only in respect to the relative positions and orientations of the associated structures as shown in the figures; and no limitation on the placement, orientation, and use of the inventive lock as a whole is intended. The horizontal flanges  15  each have a generally centrally located pin slot  17 . Each pin slot  17  preferably has a length dimension L 1  approximately twice the diameter of the pin  14  and a respectively orthogonal width dimension slightly greater than the pin diameter. The pin  14  should move freely within the pin slots  17  to the extents of the pin slot  17 . The pin  14  however, has enlarged ends or other means of retaining the pin  14  with the pin base  16 . Each pin slot  17  is preferably oriented parallel to the mounting flange  16  such that the pin  14  is allowed to move in a direction perpendicular to the line of action or engagement between the pin  14  and the latch  24  when these elements engage. The purpose of this pin movement is discussed in a following section.  
         [0020]     The latch  24  is retained in a rigid hollow receiver body  21  that, in the embodiment shown, is formed from a length of hollow rectangular section.  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  provide illustration of the relative placement of the latch  24  and other elements of the receiver  20  within the receiver body  21 . The receiver body  21  includes a generally vertical receiver slot  22  oriented and configured to allow the pin  14  to enter, transversely, into the receiver body  21  to engage the latch  24  as shown in  FIG. 1   a . Herein, the term “transverse” and forms thereof mean directions and movement perpendicular to the associated longitudinal axis of the pin or receiver. The mouth of the receiver slot  22  is widened by an angled guide surface  28  formed in the top and bottom and extending through a side wall of the receiver body  21 . The guide surface  28  preferably has an included angle A 1  less than 90 degrees and preferably about 45 degrees relative to the centerline C 2  of the receiver body  21 . The receiver slot  22  has a preferred minimum width dimension equal to about 1.5 times the diameter of the pin  14  and a maximum width W 1  at the outer extent of the guide surface  28 , of about 2.5 times the diameter of the pin  14 .  
         [0021]     The latch  24  consists of a generally rectangular base  50 , a latch arm  52  extending from one side of the base  50 , and a bearing surface  54  on a parallel side opposite the latch arm  52 . Opposite the latch arm  52 , a lip  56  extends in the same direction as the latch arm  52  to provide guidance with a manual lock operator as will be discussed below. The latch arm  52  is curved at least over a distal portion to engage the pin  14  during a locking function, as will be detailed below, and is sufficiently long to extend across the receiver slot  22 . The bearing surface  54  is configured to bear on the inside surface of the receiver body  21 . The base  50  is sized and shaped to slide within the receiver body  21 , with only sufficient gap on each side to allow sliding, so as to limit lateral movement of the latch  24  within the receiver  20 . In this manner, if the receiver  20  contacts the pin with great velocity, the force transmitted to the latch  24  will be resisted by the bearing surface with little damage. Minimizing the gap between the latch base  50  and receiver body  21  will reduce dynamic effects of impacts. A relatively large bearing surface area will distribute impact forces to reduce sliding resistance and reduce damage.  
         [0022]     The latch  24  is supported on a solenoid shaft  25  such that the latch  24  is positioned generally equidistantly from the inside surfaces of the hollow receiver body  21  to allow the latch to move freely along the length of the inside of the receiver body  21 . A solenoid  26  is rigidly mounted to the receiver body  21  such that the operable solenoid shaft  25  is aligned approximately collinear with the receiver body centerline C 2 . The latch  24  is rigidly secured to the distal end of the shaft  25 .  
         [0023]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate the position of the elements of the receiver  20  and the relative location and orientation of the operable elements of the inventive lock in use conditions. In  FIG. 3   a , the latch  24  is in a neutral locked condition; the solenoid  26  is not energized and the latch arm  52  is located crossing and blocking the receiver slot  22 . A circular spring  27  located functionally between the latch  24  and the solenoid  26  biases the latch  24  away from the solenoid  26  to maintain this condition. The spring  27  is mounted in this manner for convenience and, in alternative configurations, the spring may be mounted between the latch  24  and other points rigid with the receiver body  21  to produce the same function.  
         [0024]     During a closing function, an associated gate is closed such that the receiver  20  and pin  14  are forced together along the line of action shown in FIG.  1   a . As shown in  FIG. 3   a , the pin  14  contacts the latch arm  52  on a curved latch strike surface  30 , or contacts the angled slot guide surface  28 . The force of the pin  14  on the strike surface  30  forces the latch  24  back against the spring  27  to provide an opening in the receiver slot  22  for the pin  14  to enter. After the pin  14  passes the latch arm  52 , the latch  24  is automatically biased closed again by the spring  27  to capture the pin in the receiver slot  22  in the locked condition. For this reason, the latch arm  52  is thin at its distal end to minimize the movement of the pin into the slot  22  before it passes, and it captured by, the latch arm  52 . At the same time the latch arm  52  should me both rigid and strong enough to endure repeated striking by the pin.  
         [0025]     If the pin  14  initially contacts the guide surface  28  ( FIG. 3   a ), rather than the latch  24 , the angle of the guide surface  28  directs the pin  14  to and against the latch arm  52 . The angle of the guide surface  28 , and hence the movement of the pin  14  on the guide surface  28 , includes a component in the direction parallel to the solenoid shaft  25 —and therefore in the direction of latch movement. In this way, the guide surface  28  allows the pin  14  to be directed into the slot  22  at the same time as the latch  24  is easily displaced. This lateral movement of the pin  14  is made possible by the length and orientation of the pin slot  17 . This coordinated orientation and movement of the lock elements allow a greater tolerance in the pin&#39;s and receiver&#39;s relative locations that are effective in the desired locking functions. A pin that is slightly displaced from the receiver slot centerline will still easily enter the receiver and complete engagement for locking with the inventive device.  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 3   b , in an unlocking function, the solenoid  26  is energized to withdraw the shaft  25  and the latch  24  against the bias of the spring force. This opens the receiver slot  22  to allow the pin to be released and allow the pin  14  and receiver  20  to separate, and the associated gate to be opened.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show exemplary latch configurations. Each is shown in cross-section; constant cross-section is presumed. However, constant cross-section is not necessary, only a convenience of manufacture. In each configuration, a latch arm  52  includes an outward facing strike surface  30  that at the latch arm distal end has an included angle A 2  with respect to the line of movement of the latch (hence parallel to the receiver body centerline C 2  when assembled). This produces a force component parallel to the direction of movement of the latch and that induces withdrawal of the latch  24  when a pin is forced against the latch arm  52  and bears on the strike surface  30 . The strike surface  30  is angled over the entire extent exposed through receiver slot  22 . Preferably, the strike surface included angle A 2  is about 45 degrees.  FIG. 4   a  shows the preferred embodiment of the latch  24  shown in  FIG. 1   b  and having a latch arm  52  having a curved strike surface  30 . The strike surface included angle A 2  at the distal end of the curved latch arm  52  is about 45 degrees. Due to the curve, the angle of the strike surface  30  varies over the length of the latch arm and has a maximum at its distal end. In  FIG. 4   b , the latch arm strike surface  30  has a constant included angle of 45 degrees. The interior surface  57  of the latch arm of both configurations is flat or generally convex to ensure that outward force on a captured pin does not induce the latch  24  to withdraw. The bearing surface  54  is also shown.  
         [0028]     To accommodate situations where there is a loss of power to the solenoid  26 , or other situations requiring manual unlocking, the receiver  20  includes a manual key operator  40 . The key operator includes an internally mounted operator arm  42  that, upon turning of a key in the key operator, rotates to bear against the latch base  50  to drive the latch into the open position. In this manner, the pin  14  may be released, and the associated gate opened, without operation of the solenoid. The operator arm  42  is positioned to contact the latch base  50  inside the latch lip  56  to ensure the operator arm  42  does not become jammed and interfere with the latch movement.  
         [0029]     When the pin base  12  and receiver  20  are initially mounted to their respective gate elements, they are oriented with the pin  14  vertical to the respectively horizontal receiver. The pin longitudinal axis C 1 , when centered in the pin slots  17 , should ideally fall on the center of the receiver slot  22  when the pin approaches the receiver. As discussed above, some variation in relative positioning will be tolerated with full functionality.  FIG. 5  depicts a typical installation of the inventive lock assembly  100  on an exterior gate. The pin base  12  is mounted on a permanent gate bollard or post  90 . The receiver  20  is mounted on a horizontally swinging gate  91  such that when swung closed, lock elements engage. In the figure, the gate is operated by a powered arm  92 . The electrical power and control elements for the lock assembly are not shown, and will be specific to the particular components.  
         [0030]     The pin base  12  may be mounted in any of a variety of commonly known methods such as welding or with threaded fasteners. The receiver  20  may be similarly mounted. In the embodiment shown, the receiver  20  includes a permanently attached receiver mounting plate  32  having mounting slots  34  to accept threaded, fasteners.  
         [0031]     In alternative configurations, the receiver body  21  may have other cross-section shapes, such as, for example but not limited to: circular or square. Although a substantially closed section is preferred, open cross-section configurations that also provide the desired functions may be used. Environmental protection for operable elements mounted on an open configured receiver may be provided by other structures and means, such as separate coverings. Preferably, the open ends of the receiver body  21  shown are closed by temporary caps to increase protection from the environment.  
         [0032]     Preferably, both the pin base  12  and receiver  20  are formed from thick walled structural steel or the equivalent to provide durability in outdoor use. Similarly, the pin  14  and latch  24  are preferably formed of corrosion resistant steel or equivalents.  
         [0033]     Movement of the latch is preferably provided by a solenoid  26  as shown in the figures. Preferably, a low voltage, direct-current solenoid is provided. Alternatively, other devices and structures for providing the same latch movement and locking and unlocking functions may be used. These movement or drive means include an electric motor driven screw shaft, pneumatic or hydraulic driven shafts or linkage mechanisms and equivalent devices. The selection and design of the particular control and power elements required for the specific components will be known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0034]     The preceding discussion is provided for example only. Other variations of the claimed inventive concepts will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Adaptation or incorporation of known alternative devices and materials, present and future, is also contemplated. The intended scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.