Abstract:
Devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods related to animal enclosure latches. Specifically, the disclosed devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods relate to animal enclosure latches having an internal latch receptacle and an external latch receptacle, where the internal latch receptacle has a top downward-sloping portion to prevent animal collars and the like from becoming hooked, snagged and/or caught on the internal latch receptacle.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     It is desired that animal enclosure latch systems not cause a hazard to the enclosed animals or human caretakers. Specifically, available animal enclosure latch systems have been known to cause harm to animals. Such harm includes hanging and/or killing of animals. 
     Further, it is desired that animal enclosures include internal and external mechanisms to engage a latch to restrict enclosed animals from exiting the animal enclosure. Internal and external mechanisms to engage a latch may also allow a human caretaker to easily latch and/or unlatch an animal enclosure gate while the human caretaker is inside the animal enclosure. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have an animal enclosure latching device that is safe for animals and humans by minimizing the possibility of snagging animal collars, clothing and/or body parts, and that includes an internal and external latching mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure is drawn to devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods related to animal enclosure latches. Specifically, the disclosed devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods relate to animal enclosure latches having an internal latch receptacle and an external latch receptacle, where the internal latch receptacle has a top downward-sloping portion to prevent animal collars and the like from becoming hooked, snagged and/or caught on the internal latch receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram depicting an example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting another example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram depicting yet another example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting a further example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram depicting even yet another example embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as generally depicted in  FIG. 1 , an animal enclosure latching device includes a strike plate  10  for engaging a latch  14 . The strike plate  10  may include an internal latch slot  12  for receiving the latch when the latch is on the inside of the animal enclosure, and an external latch catch  18  for receiving the latch when the latch is on the outside of the animal enclosure. The strike plate  10  also may include a slanted segment  22  atop the internal latch slot  12 . The slanted segment  22  may generally slant downward (e.g., toward the animal enclosure floor) from the strike plate  10  toward the inside of the animal enclosure. 
     Some embodiments may be configured such that the internal latch slot  12  and the external latch catch  18  may be located at differing heights on the strike plate  10 . For example, the internal latch slot  12  may be located higher than the external latch catch  18 .  FIGS. 1-5  depict such embodiments. Another example provides that the internal latch slot  12  may be located lower than the external latch catch  18 . Some examples may provide that the internal latch slot  12  may be located at substantially the same height as the external latch catch  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the animal enclosure latching device may also include an external latch lock  24  for restricting movement of the latch when the latch is received and/or engaged by the external latch catch  18 . The external latch lock  24  may be attached to the strike plate  10  at a pivot point  26  to allow the external latch lock  24  to pivot around to restrict or allow the latch from moving to and/or from the external latch catch  18 . In some examples, the strike plate  10  may also include one or more strike plate lock holes to receive one or more locks (e.g., padlock, combination lock and the like). The external latch lock  24  may also include one or more latch lock holes  28  to receive a lock. In this manner, the same lock may couple the latch lock hole(s)  28  and the strike plate hole(s) together. This may provide for a more permanent and/or more effective locking mechanism to prevent an enclosed animal from getting out of the animal enclosure. 
     In some embodiments, the strike plate  10  may also include one or more fastener hole  30  for receiving fastener(s)  32 . Fastener(s)  32  may be inserted into the fastener hole(s)  30  to couple the strike plate  10  to the animal enclosure. Example fasteners  32  may include nails, screws, and other similar fasteners. 
     While the strike plate  10  may be comprised of any metal material, exemplary embodiments provide that the strike plate  10  is comprised of stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum alloy and/or cast iron. 
     In some embodiments, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , an animal enclosure latching device may include a strike plate  50 . The strike plate  50  may include a coupling portion  52  for coupling the strike plate  50  to an animal enclosure  56 , an internal flange  54  protruding from the coupling portion  52  toward the inside  16  of an animal enclosure, and an external flange  58  protruding from the coupling portion  52  toward the outside  20  of the animal enclosure  56 . In such embodiments, the internal flange  54  may include a latch opening  60  adapted to receive a latch. The internal flange  54  may also include a downward-slanted portion  62  above the latch opening. The external flange  58  may include an external latch catch  64  for receiving the latch when the latch is on the outside  20  of the animal enclosure  56 . 
     In some embodiments, the downward-slanted portion  62  above the latch opening  60  may be configured to prevent articles (e.g., animal collars and/or body parts) from becoming snagged or caught on the internal flange  54 . In some examples, the downward-slanted portion  62  above the latch opening  60  may slant downward from the strike plate  50  toward the inside  16  of the animal enclosure. 
     Some examples may also include an external latch lock  66  for restricting movement of the latch when the latch is received by and/or engaged with the external latch catch.  64  The external latch lock  66  may be pivotally coupled to the strike plate  50 . 
     In some embodiments, an animal enclosure latching system may include an animal enclosure gate  80  pivotally coupled to an animal enclosure, a latch  14  pivotally coupled to the animal enclosure gate  80 , and a strike plate  82  coupled to the animal enclosure  84 . The strike plate  82  may engage the latch  14  to substantially restrict the animal enclosure gate  80  from moving (e.g., pivoting). The strike plate  82  may include an internal latch slot for receiving the latch  14  on the inside of the animal enclosure  84 , an external latch catch for receiving the latch  14  on the outside of the animal enclosure  84 , and an external latch lock for restricting movement of the latch  14  when the latch  14  is received by the external latch catch. The strike plate  82  may also include a slanted segment atop the internal latch slot. The slanted segment may slant downward from the strike plate  82  toward the inside of the animal enclosure  84 . Some examples may also include a latch guide  86  coupled to the animal enclosure gate  80 . The latch guide  86  may guide the latch  14  as the latch  14  pivots about a latch pivot point  88 . 
     Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the inventions contained herein are not limited to the above precise embodiment and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of the invention, since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.