Patent ID: 7520542

Claim:
A latch assembly for gates, comprising: an outer post; a latching member received within said outer post; a latching sleeve slidable along an internal channel of said outer post and adapted to engage said latching member for securing the gate to the outer post, said latching sleeve having a weight sufficient to provide a desired resistance to movement to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said latching sleeve from said latching member; a pawl pivotable from a raised, non-engaging position when engaged by said latching member into a lowered position for supporting said latching sleeve in an unlocked, ready to engage position after release of said latching member from engagement therewith, wherein said pawl has a weight sufficient to urge said pawl toward its lowered position upon release of said latching sleeve from engagement with said latching member; and a cap mounted to an upper end of said outer post for supporting said latching sleeve within said outer post, and moving said latching sleeve to a raised, unlocking position out of engagement with said latching member.