Year: 1887

page_text: 1, THEODORE MARTIN of Wallaceburg, in the county of Kent and Province of
Ontario, Canada, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to certain new and useful Improvements in the construction
of gate-latches, as fully described hereinafter, and shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which,-
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detached perspective views of the different parts
composing my gate-latch, as hereinafter specifically referred to, and indicated by letters
of reference. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a gate-post provided with the keeper.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a gate provided with my improved latch. Fig. 10
is a perspective view of a part of the gate-frame, showing the part hereinafter
referred to as "latch-guide" in position thereon. Figs. 11 and 12 are detached views
of parts in modified form, and specifically referred to hereinafter.
The part A, shown detached in Fig. 1, is a bar of spring-steel secured to the insido
of the perpendicular piece of the gate-frame, near its lower end, by screws as at a in
Fig. 9 and near its upper end by a metal band with screws or a staple, as at c in the
same figure. This metal band or staple, which is shown in detached perspective in
Figs. 7 and 3, straddles the spring A and allows it a limited amount of play, for the
purpose hereinafter described.
The upper end of the plate A is provided with a vertical notch or slot, A', to receive
the latch B in Fig. 4. This latch is provided upon its sides with the two corre-
sponding series of notches, de f., which permit of adjustably engaging the latch into
the slot of the bar A, as shown in Fig. 9, a suitable aperture being cut through the
frame of the gate to permit the free end of the latch to engage into the keeper on the
gate-post. This keeper is shown in Fig. 2, and is of known construction, g being
the oblong recess into which the latch engages, and h is the usual incline to force the
latch back in closing the gate.
The slotted plate D, shown in Fig. 5, is a latch-guide, and is secured to the gate, as
shown in Fig. 10, to permit the free end of the latch to project through the slot into
the keeper on the gate-post.

page_text: The plate E, shown detached in Fig. 6, is a locking-plate to be secured to the gate
above the latch to prevent the latter from being disengaged from the bar A. By
securing this locking-plate in the manner shown in Fig. 9 one of the screws may be
removed and the plate swung aside to permit a readjustment of the latch at any time
it should become necessary, after which this plate is then again permanently secured
to lock the latch in position.
In practice it will be seen that by taking hold of the inner end of the latch and
pulling it, it can be readily disengaged from the keeper on the post, if it is desired to
open the gate, and to this end the latch is provided, for convenient operation, with a
suitable handle or eye (
The closing of the gate is perfectly made by simply pushing the gate to a closed
position, when the latch B, (which is beveled at the front end in the usual manner)
will spring back and then snap into the keeper.
Should the latch at any time from various causes become too long or too short for
holding the gate properly, it may be easily readjusted by changing the engagement of
the latch with the bar A to a more appropriate set of notches, so as to project the latch
more or less, as required for proper operation, there being a suitable number of
adjusting-notches provided on the latch. The operation of the locking-plate in
connection with this adjustment of the latch has been explained heretofore.
Instead of the notches def on the latch B, the latter may be provided with adjusting-
holes klm, as shown in Fig. 11, and in connection therewith the bar A is to be
provided with a pin, O, to engage therewith, as shown in Fig. 12.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a gate-latch of the kind described, the combination of a latch slidingly
secured to the gate-frame, a vertical spring-bar carrying the said latch, and adjustable
connection between the latch and spring, substantially as described.
2. In a gate-latch, the combination, with the laich B, slidingly secured to the gate,
of the spring-bar A, secured upon the inside of the frame of the gate, and adjustable
connection between the free end of the spring and the rear end of the latch,
substantially as described.
3. In a gate-latch, the combination, with the sliding latch B, having adjusting-
notches def, of the spring A, notched upon its free end to adjustably engage there-
with, and a locking-plate removably attached to the gate above the latch, substantially
as described.
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