Patent ID: 7044511

Claim:
A magnetic latch system adapted to secure a movable gate relative to a fixed post, said system comprising a latch assembly adapted for mounting on said gate and a keeper assembly adapted for mounting on said fixed post; said keeper assembly comprising a keeper back plate, a keeper housing mounted on said back plate, a magnetically attractable keeper pin movably mounted on said keeper housing, a coil spring for biasing said keeper pin in a normally upward position; said latch assembly comprising a base mountable on said movable gate, a spindle rotatably mounted on said base, a handle mounted on said spindle for manual rotation of said spindle, an internal lever mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith, said internal lever having an outward end spaced from said spindle, said outward end being movable in an upward and downward direction, a permanent magnet mounted on said base; said latch assembly being adapted to be cooperatively arranged with said keeper assembly so that said permanent magnet attracts said keeper pin in a downward direction when the keeper pin is adjacent said magnet, the outward end of said internal lever being arranged to engage said keeper pin and move it in an upward direction away from the magnetic attraction between the keeper pin and said permanent magnet; said base being movable into a position where said keeper pin engages said base when said keeper pin is in its downward position and disengages from said base when said keeper pin is moved in an upward direction by said outer end of said internal lever.