Patent ID: 7172222

Claim:
A latch for releasably securing a gate in a closed position along a wall, said latch comprising an elongated barrel having an open mouth end and a covered end opposite said mouth end, said barrel adapted to be carried by said gate, an elongated channel opening along said barrel and extending to said covered end forming an opening in the top portion of said covered end, a bolt slidably carried within said barrel and being shiftable between a retracted position inside said barrel and an extended position projecting from said barrel, a spring carried within said barrel between said bolt and said covered end, said spring urging said bolt toward its said extended position, a bolt receiver adapted to be carried by said wall, said bolt when in its said extended position protruding into said bolt receiver, a handle carried by said bolt and extending outwardly of said elongated channel, an elongated bayonet projection extending axially from one end of said bolt aligned with said elongated channel, said bayonet projection covering only a top portion of said spring, directly below said elongated channel, said bayonet projection extending through said opening when said bolt is in its said retracted position.