Abstract:
Method and apparatus for a heavy duty lock designed for manual gates which is designed to be tamper proof, for universal mounting, for left and right hand applications and for use on swing gates and slide gates. The lock has a housing having a lock release mechanism having a release arm thereon which is suitable for use with a key which release arm manually contacts and slides a latch release slide upwardly and downwardly which then contacts a removable latch plate which in an open position allows the latch bar to be removed from the latch bar guide and cover so that the gate can be opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to locks and, more particularly, is concerned with an improved gate lock. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Devices relevant to the present invention have been described in the related art, however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,736 dated Dec. 7, 1999, Stankiewicz disclosed a ladder locking device. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,965 dated Feb. 25, 1986, Le Roux disclosed a bicycle lock. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,302 dated May 16, 1950, Stue disclosed a portable clamp lock. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,222 dated Sep. 8, 1992, Meyer disclosed a device for locking tractor trailer and sea rail container doors. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,490 dated Feb. 13, 1990, Jokel disclosed a window intrusion barrier. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,395,970 dated Nov. 1, 1921, Nidermaier disclosed an automobile locking device. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,164 dated May 23, 1972, Zaidener disclosed a locking mechanism. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. As will be shown by way of explanation and drawings, the present invention works in a novel manner and differently from the related art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a heavy duty lock designed for manual gates which is designed to be tamper proof, for universal mounting, for left and right hand applications and for use on swing gates and slide gates. The present invention comprises a housing having a lock release mechanism having a release arm thereon which is suitable for use with a key which release arm manually contacts and slides a latch release slide upwardly and downwardly which then contacts a removable latch plate which in an open position allows the latch bar to be removed from the latch bar guide so that the gate can be opened. Single and double gate versions are also provided. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved lock for a manual gate. A further object of the present invention is to provide an extremely heavy duty lock for remote locations where the risk of a break-in is greater. A further object of the present invention is to provide a universally mountable lock which is tamper proof and has left hand or right hand applications. A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved lock which can be used on swing gates or sliding gates. A further object of the present invention is to provide a lock which can be relatively easily and inexpensively manufactured. A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved lock which can be relatively easily operated by a user. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a single gate embodiment of a right hand version of the present invention in operative connection. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a double gate embodiment of a right hand version of the present invention in operative connection. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an internal portion of a right hand version of a single gate version of the present invention taken from the right side. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an internal portion of a right hand version of a single gate version of the present invention taken from the left side. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of portions of a double gate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of an internal portion of the present invention showing components for a left and right hand version. 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a sliding gate embodiment of a right hand version of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  gate post     14  gate     15  rail of fence     16  gate upright frame member     17  picket of fence     18  hook of latch bar     20  latch bar     22  gate post     24  hinges of gate     26  left gate     28  right gate     30  left gate upright frame member     31  right gate upright frame member     32  housing     33  back plate     34  base plate     36  lock release assembly     37  key     38  release arm for latch release slide     40  latch release slide     42  left latch release slide guide     44  right latch release slide guide     46  left trigger for latch plate release     48  right trigger for latch plate release     50  reversible latch plate     52  axle     54  tip of latch plate     56  notch     58  face of wall of notch     60  mounting hole     62  right cover lock     64  left cover lock     66  notch of cover lock     68  cover     69  upper cover lock     70  left latch bar guide     72  right latch bar guide     74  left latch release slide spring     76  right latch release slide spring     78  attachment point for hook     80  attachment point for hook of spring     82  reversible latch plate spring     84  lug     86  tab     88  lock cylinder     90  lock nut     92  lock face plate     94  back hook     96  apertures     98  gate post     100  sliding gate portion     102  upright frame member     104  gate post     106  rails     108  roller     110  roller     112  supporting surface     14  rails     116  metal portion       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 7  illustrate the present invention wherein an improved gate lock is disclosed and which is generally indicated by reference number  10 . 
     Throughout this specification, references to either “left” or “right” hand sides refer to left and right sides which would be seen by the reader looking into the page in the conventional manner. Arrows may also be shown to indicate motion of a part 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown a single gate version of a right hand version (with a left hand version shown in phantom lines) of the present invention  10  in operative connection on a gate post  12  wherein a swinging gate portion  14  having an upright frame member  16  around which the hook  18  of the latch bar  20  of the present invention  10  is partially encircled. Also shown is an opposing gate post  22  having a pair of hinges  22  mounted thereon upon which the gate  14  swings in a conventional manner. The remaining portion of the fence, e.g., rails  15  and pickets  17  or the equivalent metal portions or the like, would be constructed in the standard manner as would be done by one skilled in the art. A left hand version of the present invention  10  is shown in phantom lines attached to the gate post  22 ; of course, with this left hand version the hinges  24  would be moved to the opposite side of the gate  14  as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. The single gate version shown in  FIG. 1  is expected to be manufactured in a right and left hand version of the present invention  10 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown a double gate version of a right hand version of the present invention  10  having a left swinging gate portion  26  and a right swinging gate portion  28  upon which the present invention  10  is mounted on the right gate so that the hook  18  of the latch bar  20  hooks around the left upright frame member  30 . The present invention  10  is mounted on a right upright frame member  31  of the double gate and also includes a back hook (not shown, see item  94  on  FIG. 5 ) which connects the housing of the present invention  10  to the right upright member  31  of the double gate. The double gate version shown in  FIG. 2  is expected to only be manufactured as a right hand version. Other items similar to that disclosed in  FIG. 1  are also shown as would be adapted for use with a double gate by one skilled in the art. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3-7 , therein are shown additional details of the present invention  10 . Turning to  FIG. 3  initially, therein is shown a perspective view of internal portions of a right hand version of the present invention  10  showing the back plate  33  of back portion of housing  32  along with a bottom base plate  34  through which a lock release assembly  36  is disposed for receiving a key (not shown, see item  37  in  FIG. 6 ) in the conventional manner having a rotatable release arm  38  wherein the release arm contacts the angled face of a latch release slide  40  which moves up and down vertically in a left  42  and right  44  latch release slide guide having disposed on its upper end a left trigger arm  46  for a latch plate release and a right trigger arm  48  for a latch plate release  50  which trigger arm  48 , for the right hand version shown in  FIG. 3 , contacts the reversible latch plate  50  which is swingably disposed on an axle  52  and is reversible for left and right hand operation wherein the tip  54  of the latch plate  50  fits into one of a plurality of side-by-side notches  56  on a straight portion of the latch bar  20  having the hook member  18  of the latch bar thereon. Each notch has a face  58  thereon which face is contacted by the tip  54  of the latch plate  50  and which locks the substantially horizontally disposed latch bar  20  in place. 
     Also shown as part of the housing  32  are multiple mounting holes  60  placed near the corners of the back plate  33  in a conventional manner having a right cover lock  62  and left cover lock  64  each having a notch  66  therein for receiving a lug  84  disposed on the inside of the cover (not shown, see Item  68  in  FIG. 5 ). Also shown on an upper end of the back plate  33  of housing  32  is an upper cover lock  69  which functions in the conventional manner by receiving a mating tab  86  mounted on the inside of the cover  68 . The latch bar  20  slides horizontally in a left latch bar guide  70  and a right guide  72  and is user selectively adjustable so that the user can fix or tighten the hook  18  about the appropriate gate member. Note the plurality of springs each having first and second ends with hooks thereon wherein a pair of springs  74 ,  76  extend from an attachment point eye  78  on the housing base plate  34  and the left  46  and right  48  trigger latch plate release and are referred to as a left latch release slide spring  74  and the right latch release slide spring  76 . An optional third spring  82  also extends from its attachment point eye  80  to the upper reversible latch plate  50  and is referred to as the reversible latch plate spring  82 . 
     Also shown on  FIG. 3  is the lock cylinder  88  secured on the inside of base plate  34  using a lock nut  90 .  FIG. 6  shows a lock face plate  92  and key  37  for insertion and operation, in the conventional manner, with the lock release mechanism/assembly  36  which includes the lock cylinder  88  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 5  shows back hook  94  mounted onto the rear outer surface of back plate  33  for use with a double gate version as shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5  also shows cover  68  being removably attachable to the housing portion  32  by placing lugs  84  into mating lower left and right notches  66  and placing tab  86  onto and behind upper cover lock  69  so that the cover  68  is secured to the rear portion  32  of the housing by the latch bar  20  passing through opposing left and right apertures  96  on the outer or lateral side or edge portions of cover  68  and by the latch bar also passing through co-aligned left and right latch bar guides  70 ,  72  as best shown in  FIG. 3 , which, taken together, provides a very strong and secure lock which is difficult to be broken into. Reference to housing  32 , in general, of the present invention  10  includes cover  68  being attached to back plate portion  33  as would be required in operative connection as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the reversible latch plate  50  rotated toward the right side for use with the right hand version of the lock as shown in  FIG. 1 , while also showing the reversible latch plate  50  on the left side by using phantom lines which position would also necessitate using the left optional spring  82  (shown in phantom lines) and disconnecting the right spring  82  so that the reversible latch plate  50  would be biased downwardly against latch bar  20 . Also, note that notches  56  are disposed on latch bar  20  so as to be oriented for right hand use on a right portion of the latch bar and oriented for left hand use on a left portion of the latch bar. This allows a single latch bar  20  to be used with both left and right hand versions of the present invention  10 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a sliding gate version of a right hand version of the present invention  10  in operative connection on a gate post  98  wherein a sliding gate portion  100  having an upright frame member  102  around which the hook  18  of the latch bar  20  of the present invention  10  can be partially encircled. Also shown is an opposing gate post  104  having a pair of rails  106  mounted thereon upon which rollers  108  can roll back and forth with the gate  100  in a conventional manner. An additional roller  110  supports a lower end of gate  100  on a supporting surface such as the ground or a paved surface. The remaining portion of the fence, e.g., rails  114  and pickets or equivalent metal portions  116  or the like, would be constructed in the standard manner as would be done by one skilled in the art. The sliding gate version shown in  FIG. 7  is expected to be manufactured in a right and left hand version of the present invention  10  similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In summary of the unlocking operation of the present invention  10 , and with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , a user would insert a key  37  into the lock release assembly  36  and turn the key clockwise so that the release arm for latch release slide  38  rotates clockwise thereby contacting and causing latch release slide  40  to move upwardly in the left and right latch release slide guides  42 ,  44  causing left and right triggers for latch plate release  46 ,  48  to lift tip  54  of reversible latch plate  50  away from face  58  of notch  56  of latch bar  20  so that the latch bar  20  can be slidably removed from the left and right latch bar guides  70 ,  72  and the apertures  96  of housing  32  which allows the gate  14 ,  26 ,  28  to be opened. Also, cover  68  can be removed if desired as previously described. 
     Exemplary dimensions and materials of construction of the present invention  10  follow: The housing  32  with cover  68  is approximately 6 inches high, 4.5 inches wide and 2.25 inches in depth and is expected to be made of 0.25 inch tempered steel. The latch bar  20  and hook  18  is approximately 0.75 inches in diameter and about 1 foot and 10 inches long and is expected to be made of tempered steel and may be chrome plated. One skilled in the art would recognize that the present invention  10  is a heavy duty lock intended for use in isolated locations where the risk of a break-in is higher. 
     By way of additional summary and with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , the present invention  10  discloses a gate lock for locking a movable gate member  14 ,  26 ,  28 ,  100  to an upright gate post  12 ,  22 ,  98  and includes a) mounting a housing  32 ,  33 ,  68  onto the upright gate post, the housing having left and right apertures  96  therein so that the left aperture is disposed on a first side portion of the housing and the right aperture is disposed on a second side portion of the housing; b) providing a key  37  operated lock mechanism  36  inside the housing; c) disposing a latch plate  50  inside the housing, wherein the latch plate moves between first and second positions in response to operation of the lock mechanism; d) providing a latch bar  20  having first and second opposing ends and a plurality of spaced apart notches  56  thereon, and disposing a hook  18  on the first end thereof wherein the hook is capable of partially encircling and thereby capturing a first movable gate member; and, e) wherein the latch bar is slidably disposed in the left and right apertures  96  of the housing  96  so that the latch plate contacts the notches when the latch plate is in the first position and the latch plate is spaced away from the notches when the latch plate is in the second position, wherein the latch bar is thereby secured to the housing so that the first movable gate member is selectively locked to and unlocked from the upright gate post. Further, the latch bar is capable of being inserted into and through the housing from either the first or the second side portion so that the gate lock is capable of securing either a right hand or a left hand gate (see  FIG. 1 ). Also, further comprising the step of providing a removable cover  68  on the housing  32 ,  33  so that the left aperture is disposed on a first side portion of the cover and the right aperture is disposed on a second side portion of the cover and further comprising the step of disposing first and second latch bar guides  70 ,  72  inside the housing, wherein the first and second latch bar guides are co-aligned with the left and right apertures on the cover, wherein the latch bar is slidable through the first and second latch bar guides so that the notches are capable of contacting the latch plate to permit the latch bar to be secured to the housing. Also, further comprising the step of providing a latch release slide  40  having a latch plate release  46 ,  48  thereon, wherein the latch release slide  40  moves in response to operation of the lock mechanism and the latch plate  50  moves in response to movement of the latch release slide  40  and the latch plate is pivotally mounted on an axle  52  so as to be reversible for use with either a right hand or a left hand gate and wherein a first set of the notches are disposed on a first surface of the latch bar and a second set of the notches are disposed on a second surface of the latch bar so that the latch bar is capable of operating with either a right hand or a left hand gate as shown in  FIG. 6 . Also, further comprising the step of disposing a second hook  94  on the housing for attachment to a second movable gate member  30  so that the housing is mounted onto the second movable gate member thereby allowing the gate lock to operate with a double gate having first and second movable gate members  26 ,  28  and wherein the gate lock is adapted for use with a sliding gate  100  or a swinging gate  14 ,  26 ,  28 .