Patent ID: 7798544

Claim:
A latch assembly for securing a door or gate to a doorframe or gate post, comprising: a keeper mounted to one of the door or gate and the doorframe or gate post; a latch mounted to the other of the door or gate and the doorframe or gate post, the latch comprising: a base member having mounting means; first and second extension guides, each extending upwardly from the ends of the base member and having a guide hole; first and second extension locks, each extending from one side of the base member and having a lock hole; a sliding bolt received within the guide holes to move between a latch position, secured to the keeper and an unlatch position away from the keeper and allowing the door or gate to move; a handle member comprising: a handle base having a first portion with one side attached to the sliding bolt and a wide tapering portion extending away from the opposite side of the handle base, the wide tapering portion defining an elongated slot therein adapted to receive a respective extension lock; a horseshoe shaped grip member having one end attached to the wide tapering portion and an opposite grip portion; the handle base and the wide tapering portion being sized and shaped so as to provide the grip portion closed to the sliding bolt to assure a smooth sliding movement of the sliding bolt; wherein, when the sliding bolt is secured to the keeper, the elongated slot receives the extension lock closed to the keeper, maintaining the sliding bolt in the latched position; upward rotation of the handle member in the latched position allows the elongated slot to be free from the extension lock, in this position, movement of the handle member away from the keeper will move the sliding bolt toward the unlatch position, the handle member is then rotated down so that the elongated slot can engage the other extension lock and secure the handle member in the unlatch position.