Patent Publication Number: US-10329803-B1

Title: Gate latch

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority based upon U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/274,100 filed Dec. 31, 2015 and based upon U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/307,851 filed Mar. 14, 2016, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a gate latch, and more particularly relates to a gate latch apparatus having a substantially linear and inherently animal-resistant structure which can be opened and closed via single-handed manipulation by a pedestrian or equestrian ranch-hand or like practitioner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As is well known by practitioners in the art, fence enclosures on a farm or ranch must be adequately latched to prevent livestock or other domestic animals from escaping safe confinement causing potential damage to property, to others and to themselves. Furthermore, gate latches must not only adequately secure fences and the like, but also must be configured to prevent such livestock and other domestic animals from releasing latch mechanisms and immediately thereafter opening gates. 
     While there have been attempts in the art to incorporate gate latches that satisfy these and other prerequisites, none have been characterized by simple structure and being inexpensive, while enabling an rancher or farmhand to expeditiously and safely open and close a latched gate simultaneously with both enabling the equestrian to safely come into close proximity with the gate latch and sustain contact with the horse while manipulating the latch. 
     Thus, the present invention teaches a gate latch that enables one-hand maneuvering by an equestrian or other ranch hand or farmhand thereby enabling the other hand to concentrate on controlling a horse or other domestic animal, and also preventing opening of a fence gate by livestock or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention teaches a gate latch apparatus configured with a streamline structure that enables an equestrian to maneuver in close proximity to a fence gate to conveniently reach the gate latch and also to open and close a fence gate with only one hand wherein the horse reins may be simultaneously and continuously controlled with the other hand without interruption thereof. Embodiments of the present invention are structured to routinely accommodate recurring problems associated with fences and concomitant fence gates, wherein settling tends to cause misalignment and undue separation thereof, effecting consequent malfunction of commonly-used latching and unlatching mechanisms. Hence, unlike the prior art, embodiments of the present invention are configured with a latch assembly having sufficiently sized breadth to be inherently capable of securably performing normal fence-gate-latching functionality due to affording more gate-to-fence holding power than has heretofore been achievable in the art. 
     As will be hereinafter described, embodiments of the present invention comprise an integrated housing with an internal slide that is caused to move from a first position at one end of a slide sleeve member to a second position at an opposite end thereof, functionally related to corresponding pivotable movement of a preferably horseshoe-shaped fork member. When the fork member is disposed in a first, horizontal position the latch is closed and when the fork member is disposed in a second, linear position the latch is open. It will become apparent to those concersant in the art that embodiments hereof utilize a gravity-biased locking bolt member that provides “catch-latch” functionality attributable to cooperation between internal interlocked tongue and lip members. 
     As will also be appreciated by practitioners in the art, embodiments of the present invention are also configured with sufficient clearance to enable an equestrian to easily insert a finger, typically a thumb, into the slide bolt sleeve member in order to raise the concomitant slide member release lever that activates the catch-latch methodology taught herein. Notwithstanding, it will be understood that this clearance must not be so large as to enable a farm or ranch animal to penetrate the slide bolt sleeve to activate gate-unlatching as contemplated hereunder. 
     It is an object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention to provide a convenient and inexpensive gate latch for opening and closing with only one-hand, while the other hand is controlling movement of a horse or other farm or ranch animal. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a gate latch that may be opened and closed by an equestrian while sustaining one-handed contact with the horse and one-handed manipulation of the latch. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a gate latch apparatus that enables an equestrian ranch-hand or farm-hand to position the horse proximal to the gate whereupon one-handed opening and closing of the gate latch may be effectuated. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a frontal perspective view of a gate latch embodiment of the present invention disposed in an open position. 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a frontal view of the gate latch embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , mounted on a fence post. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts a left side view of the gate latch embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  depicts a frontal perspective view of the gate latch embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , disposed in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a left side view of the gate latch embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , mounted on a fence post and closing a gate. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a right side view of the open latch embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B  with the corresponding closed latch position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  depicted with dotted lines. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a left side view of the open latch embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B  with the corresponding closed latch position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  depicted with dotted lines. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a rear view of the open latch embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B  with the corresponding closed latch position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  depicted with dotted lines. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a front view of the open latch embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B , with the corresponding closed latch position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  depicted with dotted lines. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a top view of the open latch embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B , with the corresponding closed latch position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  depicted with dotted lines. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a bottom view of the open latch embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B , with the corresponding closed latch disposition illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  depicted with dotted lines 
         FIG. 9  depicts a left side view of a gate latch embodiment of the present invention mounted on a fence post disposed in a closed position, as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 2A , attached to a fence post even though being significantly separated from each other. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is made herein to the figures in the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like components. Referring collectively to  FIGS. 1-9 , there are depicted various views of preferred animal-resistant gate latch embodiments of the present invention. As will be elucidated hereinafter,  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B  depict instant gate latch embodiments disposed in an open unlatched position. On the other hand,  FIGS. 2, 2A and 9  depict instant gate latch embodiments disposed in a closed latched position. More particularly, focusing on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is depicted gate latch embodiment  10  comprising housing member  15  having a longitudinal axis bounded by a pair of parallel spaced-apart preferably congruent side wall members  20 A and  20 B fixedly disposed on opposite side of slide sleeve member  40 , respectively, of housing member  15 . Slide retainer member  50  is fixedly disposed substantially orthogonally of slide sleeve member  40  at remote end thereof  42 . It will be seen that slide sleeve member  40  is preferably configured in a contiguous relationship with pair of housing side wall members  20 A and  20 B, and also configured in a contiguous relationship with planar mounting plate member  30 . Fork assembly  80  is pivotally engaged with pair of housing side wall members  20 A and  20 B by substantially vertical rotational movement of fork member  85  about pivot pin member  55 , i.e., pivoting substantially in a vertical plane, facilitated by cooperation between slide member release lever  65  at one end of housing member  15  and lip member  95  in conjunction with paired tongue member  90  as will be hereinafter described. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 9 , there are depicted frontal and side views of instant gate latch embodiment  10  mounted in situ on a simplified and truncated gate-fence-post assembly  100  typically located at a ranch or farm.  FIGS. 1B, 2A and 9  illustrate instant gate latch apparatus  10  in situ affixed to fence post  115  for being latched and unlatched, as appropriate, with respect to fence assembly  120 . Accordingly, mounting plate member  30  of gate latch embodiment  10  is affixed to an appropriate portion  117  on a vertical edge of fence post  115  via plurality of bolts  37 A-D secured to fence post  115  through corresponding plurality of suitably-sized bolt holes  35 A-D. As shown, each of plurality of bolt holes  35 A-D is preferably disposed in each corner of mounting plate member  30  to assure a secure connection of mounting plate member  30  to a facing surface of fence post  115  or the like. 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that gate latch apparatus  10  contemplated hereunder would typically be fixedly mounted upon a suitably situated substantially planar surface of conventional fence post  115  essentially disposed opposite and adjacent corresponding proximal vertical edge  110  of mated gate member  105 . The simplified views depicted herein illustrate gate-fence post assembly  100  comprising proximal edge  110  of fence gate member  105  disposed opposite and adjacent fence portion  125  of fence post  115  and, in turn, affixed to fence assembly  120 . 
     As contemplated by the present invention, preferably horseshoe-shaped fork member  85  of fork assembly  80  would be releasably secured to fence post  115  and then, in turn, would conveniently be manually manipulated about pivot pin member  55  by a free hand of an equestrian or pedestrian ranch-hand or the like (not shown) to be latched to, or to be unlatched from, fence gate  105 —at its proximal vertical edge  110 . In particular,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict fence gate  105  in an open position, wherein fork member  85  is disposed in a linear orientation, i.e., fork member  85  and housing member  15  are linearly aligned. Similarly, as depicted in  FIG. 1B , fork member  85  is shown hanging downwardly under the influence of gravitational forces, i.e., via a gravity bias, and disengaged from fence gate member  105 . 
     On the other hand, referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 9 , fence gate  105  is now depicted in a closed position, i.e., with fork member  85  engaged substantially orthogonally with proximal vertical edge portion  110  of fence gate  105 . For example, in  FIG. 2A , fork member  85  is shown engaged substantially orthogonally with vertical edge portion  110  of fence gate  105  at portion  125  thereof. It will be appreciated that fence gate  105  is pivotably mounted upon a proximate edge  117  of gate post  110  (not shown) and configured for fork member  85  to be received at vertical edge portion  125  thereof. Alternatively, when this fence-post-gate assembly  100  is disposed with fence gate  105  in an open position, fork member  85  is pivoted downwardly from mated fence gate latch member  105  and thereby released therefrom. Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 9 , fence gate  105  is now depicted in a closed position, i.e., with fork member  85  engaged substantially orthogonally with vertical edge portion  125  of fence gate member  105 . It will be appreciated that fence gate member  105  is pivotably mounted upon a proximate edge of gate post  110  (not shown) and configured for fork member  85  to be received at and securely enclosing vertical edge portion  125  thereof. Accordingly, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the length of fork member  85  should be long enough to substantially horizontally enclose proximal vertical edge member of fence gate  105  in order to sustain closure thereof. Contrariwise, when fence gate assembly  80  is disposed in an open position, fork member  85  is pivoted vertically downwards from mated fence gate latch member  105  and thereby released therefrom. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 2A and 9 , it is illustrated that gate latch embodiment  10  readily accommodates fence-gate configurations that have a wide range of distances therebetween. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the distance between fence post  115  and proximal edge  110  of fence gate  105  is typically relatively small and represented herein as “D 1 .” Contrariwise, as shown in  FIG. 9 , there is a greater distance between fence post  115 ′ and proximal edge  110 ′ of fence gate  105 ′ represented herein as “D 2 ” which would nevertheless be accommodated by the functionality taught hereunder, manifest by fork member  85  within fork assembly  80  engaging gate  105 ′, so long as distance D 2  is essentially less than the length of fork member  85 , whereupon fork member  85  may still securably engage proximal edge  110 ′ of fence gate  105 ′. 
     Again collectively referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , there is seen housing member  15  having opposing substantially parallel and preferably congruent pair of side wall members  20 A and  20 B affixed perpendicularly to mounting plate member  30  with wall members  20 A-B being spaced apart sufficiently to fixedly receive slide sleeve member  40  therebetween. Slide sleeve member  40  is disposed in a parallel relationship with pair of side wall members  20 A-B and is configured to accommodate bolt slide member  60  which slides from a first position while being engagedly interlocked with lip member  95  of fork assembly  80 —lip member  95  being locked in position with tongue member  90 —to a second position while tongue member  90  of bolt slide member  60  is disengaged from lip member  95  of fork assembly  80 , and thus disposed in an unlocked position relative to associated tongue member  90 . It will be appreciated that bolt slide member  60  comprises release lever  65  at one end and tongue member  90  at the other opposite end thereof. 
     Now focusing on  FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B , with the instant gate latch  10  open as a consequence of fork assembly  80  disposed in a linear relationship with the axis of housing member  15 , numeral  60 A illustrates slide bolt member  60  being in a disengaged position resting upon slide sleeve retainer member  50 , and numeral  90 A similarly illustrates the end of disengaged slide bolt member  60 . Next, it will be understood that, once slide bolt member  60  slides toward fork assembly  80 , and as illustrated by numeral  60 B, slide bolt member  60  is now engaged wherein it has become interlocked with lip member  95  at end  90 B, To clarify how the structure disclosed herein is functionally related to this engagement and disengagement relationship, the long dashes depicted throughout the figures represent the disengaged “A” position, i.e., numerals  60 A and  90 A, while the dotted lines depicted throughout represent the engaged “B” position, i.e., numerals  60 B and  90 B. Similarly,  FIGS. 2A, 3, 4 , illustrate the instant gate latch  10  closed as a consequence of fork assembly  80  disposed in an orthogonal relationship with the axis of housing member  15 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  depict top and bottom views, respectively, of the relative positioning of these implicated components when the gate latch embodiment is disposed in an open or closed latch configuration. 
     For an equestrian to emplace latch assembly  10  into an open position (see  FIG. 1A ) from a closed position (see  FIG. 2A ) and thus unlatch gate latch  10  in situ on fence gate  105 , the equestrian would urge the horse being ridden to stand proximal to fence gate  105 , then with one hand uninterruptedly controlling the horse reins, the equestrian would reach out toward the gate latch and apply slight thumb pressure to lift or press slide lever member  65  toward end portion  42  of slide sleeve  40 , thereby causing tongue member  90  to be released from being interlocked with mated lip member  95 , wherein bolt slide member  60  is caused by gravity-bias to drop into a vertically downward position, in turn, consequently causing fork member  85  to likewise hang vertically downward from pivot pin member  55  due to gravitational force, wherein fence gate  105  becomes disposed in an open position. Simultaneously with slide lever member  65  being lifted within slide sleeve member  40 —with its upward movement being delimited by slide retainer member  25 —lip member  95  of tongue member  90  disposed immediately thereabove, is, in turn, displaced from slide member  60 . It should be evident to those conversant in the art that this displacement causes fork member  85  to be released from its substantially horizontal, closed position to a substantially vertical, open position. Hence, once slide member  60  is no longer inhibited by interlocked tongue member  90  and lip member  95 , the force of gravity urges slide member  60  to slide downwardly within slot member  40  delimited therebelow being within slot member  45 . This, in turn, causes fork member  85  of fork assembly  80  to likewise be freely hanging downwards while fence gate  105  remains open. 
     It will be appreciated that, in order to close fence gate  105 , an equestrian would similarly urge the horse being ridden to be positioned proximal thereto. Then, with one hand controlling the horse reins, the free hand would be invoked to impose slight lift pressure upon fork member  85  until it is raised sufficiently to become locked into a substantially horizontal position, essentially being emplaced and secured upon fence gate proximal edge  110 . This secure horizontally positioning of fork member  85  enclosing fence gate edge  110  is attributable to tongue member  90  simultaneously being interlocked with matched lip member  95 , which, in turn, causes slide release member  65  of slide member  60  to be locked into its neutral position within slot member  45 . 
     As should be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the rotational movement of fork member  85  from a horizontal-fence gate locked-disposition to a vertical-fence gate open-disposition, and vice versa, is achieved through pivot pin member  55 . It has been elucidated that, in order to open locked fence gate member  10 , slide sleeve slot member  45  accommodates the thumb of an equestrian or any other farm-hand or ranch-hand or like personnel to easily be positioned to raise slide release lever member  65  to achieve the hereinbefore described functional relationship involving downward movement of bolt slide member  60  within slide sleeve member  40 , while fork member assembly  80  correspondingly freely hangs vertically downwards subject to gravity-bias. Those skilled in the art will, of course, appreciate that the slide sleeve slot member should nevertheless be judiciously configured so that it&#39;s unlikely if not impossible for a farm or ranch animal or the like to urge the slide release lever member upwards and thereby open the fence gate. Obviously, it&#39;s imperative that the gate latch only be unlatched and the fence gate opened by authorized personnel. 
     It should be evident to those skilled in the art that simultaneously slide member  60  is released, since tongue member  90  and lip member  95  cease being interlocked, wherein bolt slide member  60  is caused to slide into a locked position as it travels upwards within slide sleeve member  40  until being delimited atop by slide sleeve retainer member  50 . 
     It should also be evident that, once gate member  105  is latched into a closed position, that this closure may be further secured using a padlock or like locking device (not shown) by a farm-hand or ranch-hand emplacing such locking device through pair of padlock holes  70 A-B. It should also be clear to those skilled in the art that, while embodiments of the present invention are conducive for use by equestrian ranch-hands or farm personnel, such embodiments may also, of course, be readily used by pedestrian personnel and the like. 
     The following is a tabulation of the components depicted in the drawings: 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Component Listing 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Numeral 
                 Component 
                 Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 Gate latch apparatus 
                 Substantially linear 
               
               
                   
                   
                 configuration when  
               
               
                   
                   
                 gate unlatched 
               
               
                 15 
                 Housing member 
                   
               
               
                 20A-B 
                 Housing Side wall members, 
                 Parallel; preferably 
               
               
                   
                 pair 
                 congruent 
               
               
                 30 
                 Mounting plate member 
                 Mounting gate latch upon 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fence post 
               
               
                 35A-D 
                 Bolt holes for mounting latch 
                 disposed at each corner of  
               
               
                   
                 to fence post 
                 mounting plate 
               
               
                 37A-D 
                 Bolts 
                 corresponding to bolt  
               
               
                   
                   
                 holes 35A-D 
               
               
                 40 
                 Slide Bolt Sleeve member 
                   
               
               
                 42 
                 Remote end of sleeve member 
                 Slide sleeve retainer  
               
               
                   
                   
                 adjacent thereto 
               
               
                 45 
                 Slide Bolt Sleeve Slot member 
                   
               
               
                 50 
                 Retainer member atop Slide 
                 Keeper for slide sleeve 
               
               
                   
                 Sleeve member 
                   
               
               
                 55 
                 Pivot pin member 
                 Enables rotation of fork 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assembly 
               
               
                 60 
                 Slide Bolt Member 
                 Gravity bias when lip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 member released; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Slides downward via  
               
               
                   
                   
                 gravity, when released 
               
               
                 60A 
                 Disengaged position 
                   
               
               
                 60B 
                 Engaged position 
                   
               
               
                 65 
                 Slide Member Release Lever 
                 Typically thumb-activated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parallel to Slide  
               
               
                   
                   
                 member retainer 
               
               
                 70A-B 
                 Padlock holes 
                 enable padlock to secure 
               
               
                   
                   
                 closed gate 
               
               
                 80 
                 Fork Assembly 
                   
               
               
                 85 
                 Fork member 
                 Horseshoe shape 
               
               
                 90 
                 Tongue member, remote end 
                 Pivots along with pivot pin  
               
               
                   
                 of slide bolt member 
                 (55), causing lip member  
               
               
                   
                   
                 to engage or disengage 
               
               
                 90A 
                 Position of tongue member on 
                   
               
               
                   
                 slide bolt prior to being engaged 
                   
               
               
                   
                 with lip member 95 
                   
               
               
                 90B 
                 Position of tongue member on 
                   
               
               
                   
                 slide bolt engaged with lip 
                   
               
               
                   
                 member 95 
                   
               
               
                 95 
                 Lip member, remote 
                 Keeps slide member in  
               
               
                   
                 end of fork 
                 locked position until 
               
               
                   
                 assembly, opposite end  
                 released, opening latch; 
               
               
                   
                 of fork member 
                 when positioned below  
               
               
                   
                   
                 gravity locking bolt 
               
               
                   
                   
                 member, prevents  
               
               
                   
                   
                 sliding downwards 
               
               
                   
                   
                 under force of gravity 
               
               
                 100 
                 Gate-Fence-Post Assembly 
                   
               
               
                 105 
                 Fence Gate 
                   
               
               
                 110 
                 Gate vertical edge 
                 Proximal to fence post 
               
               
                 115 
                 Fence Post 
                   
               
               
                 117 
                 Vertical edge where latch 
                   
               
               
                   
                 apparatus attached to 
                   
               
               
                   
                 fence post 
                   
               
               
                 120 
                 Fence Assembly 
                   
               
               
                 125 
                 Vertical edge where 
                   
               
               
                   
                 fork member engaged 
                   
               
               
                   
                 with fence gate 
                   
               
               
                 D1 
                 Normal distance between 
                   
               
               
                   
                 fence post &amp; gate 
                   
               
               
                 D2 
                 Greater distance between 
                 D2 &gt; D1 
               
               
                   
                 fence post &amp; gate 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Other variations and modifications will, of course, become apparent from a consideration of the structures and techniques hereinbefore described and depicted. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the particular features and structures hereinbefore described and depicted in the accompanying drawings, but that the present invention is to be measured by the scope of the appended claims.