Patent ID: 8376421

Claim:
A gate latch device to secure a gate in a locked position to a fence or other barrier to close or block a portal formed therein comprising: a latch assembly including an upper latch actuator assembly at least partially disposed within an upper lock housing affixed to a lower latch assembly at least partially disposed with a lower latch housing by an intermediate interconnecting assembly disposed with an intermediate cable housing; a keeper assembly including a latch base affixed to the gate; a lower latch pin movable between an upper or unlocked position and a lower or locked position coupled to an upper latch pin actuator by an intermediate interconnecting element mounted to the fence or other barrier adjacent the portal wherein said lower latch pin is normally biased in said upper or unlocked position by a bias; a latch arm extending outwardly from a latch base having a latch pin recess formed therein; a latch pin positioner disposed adjacent said latch pin recess to selectively move said lower latch pin from said upper or unlocked position to said lower or locked position; a latch position indicator disposed on said upper lock housing to provide a visual indication of the position of said lower latch pin relative to said keeper assembly to indicate when said latch assembly is in said upper or unlocked position and said bias disposed to engage said lower latch pin to apply an upward force against said lower latch pin, said interconnecting element and said upper latch pin actuator such that when the gate is closed said latch pin positioner moves said lower latch pin, said intermediate interconnecting element and said upper latch pin actuator from said normally biased upper or unlocked position to said lower or locked position drawing said lower latch pin into said latch pin recess against the force of said bias and when as said upper latch pin actuator is moved upwardly said intermediate interconnecting element and said lower latch pin are moved upwardly withdrawing said lower latch pin from said latch pin recess to permit the gate to be opened as said bias holds said upper latch pin actuator, said intermediate interconnecting element, said lower latch pin in upper or unlocked position in spaced relationship relative to said latch pin recess to provide a visual indication of the position of said lower latch pin relative to said keeper assembly to indicate when said latch assembly is in the upper or unlocked position.