Patent ID: 7325842

Claim:
An automatic gate closer for use with a gate member to provide automatic latching when the gate member is pressed into its closed position and automatic unlatching when the gate member is pressed either inwardly or outwardly away from the closed position, the gate closer comprising: a mounting bracket for retaining the elements of the gate closer as a subassembly for mounting adjacent to the free edge of a swinging gate member, the mounting bracket including at least three flanges generally perpendicular to a vertical main body of the mounting bracket, an integral gate catcher element mounted to a first of mounting bracket flange to pivot about a vertical axis defined by a swivel bolt, the gate catcher including a generally U-shaped latch portion having two extended arms cantilevered in a generally radial direction in a plane that is perpendicular to the pivot axis, the arms being opened towards and configured for catching the gate member therebetween in a gate latched position, the gate catcher also having two extended pressure fingers in the same plane as the arms and cantilevered in a generally radial direction on a side that is opposite of the pivot axis with respect to the arms, the pressure fingers being configured and arranged to provide for a secure and automatic latching of the gate catcher with the gate member in a closed position, a sliding bearing tensioner bolt assembly aligned for generally linear movement along an axis parallel to the pivot axis and having a bearing configured to be movably positioned between the pressure fingers in the latched position, the bearing being pressed downwardly by a coil spring assembly aligned parallel to the pivot axis, the spring assembly including a spring surrounding a bolt that is adjustably mounted through a second and third flanges of the mounting bracket so as to provide for stable movement of the bolt and adjustability of the compressive spring force used to bias the bearing towards the pressure fingers whereby a position of the bearing between the pressure fingers defines a secure latched position of the gate closer when the gate member is closed, and when the gate member is opened, the bearing rides up onto a one or the other pressure finger forcing the spring to further compress.