Patent ID: 7334624

Claim:
A safety gate comprising: a stationary frame having adjustment means, to selectively close an opening by abutting a structure defining the opening, and an opening defined within the stationary frame; a gate movably mounted within said stationary frame opening; a latching mechanism comprising a first housing having a movable latching member movable relative to said first housing and extending through an opening in said first housing, said first housing being movably mounted on said gate, said movable latching member selectively engaging a fixed latching member provided in a second housing arranged along said frame opening when said gate is in a closed position; and an operating lever pivotally mounted to said second housing and projecting from said first housing for moving the movable latching member away from said fixed member when the operating lever is pressed in a first direction; said movable first housing being movable between a latched and an unlatched position and having a projecting portion; said fixed latching member being adjacent to a recess in said second housing; wherein said projecting portion is positioned in said recess and said movable latching member engages said fixed latching member when the gate is closed and latched and said projecting portion is withdrawn from said recess when the gate is in the closed position and the movable latching member is displaced from the fixed latching member, enabling the movable housing portion to move to the unlatched position.