Claims
- 1. Latch apparatus for use in securing a gate or the like in a closed position, comprising: frame means including a pair of parallel, generally rectangular plate members; a pair of spacer members engaged between said plate members for holding said plate members a fixed distance apart, said spacer members each having a horizontal central axis, the said horizontal axes of said spacer members being located in the same horizontal plane; ring means pivotally carried on one of said spacer members, the other of said spacer members normally engaging the outer periphery of said ring means to provide a stop that prevents swinging movement of said ring means toward said other spacer member; latch bar means having a vertical dimension not substantially less than the mean radius dimension of said ring means; support means cooperable with said latch bar means for supporting the said latch bar means in said closed position, said support means having an upper surface that is located below the uppermost surface of said one spacer member a distance that is substantially equal to the mean diameter of said ring means; and means on said frame means for limiting movement of said latch bar means away from said ring means in said closed position.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises an elongated member having a horizontal portion and an outer inclined portion, said inclined portion providing a ramp for aiding in lifting said latch bar means up onto said horizontal portion in the event of gate sag.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said latch bar means is constructed of angle iron having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, said vertical portion being dimensioned to provide a height to work with said ring means, and said horizontal portion having a sufficient width to provide strength against bending and to prevent significant lateral play in the closed position.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said angle iron is adapted to be attached to a gate with the horizontal portion thereof above the vertical portion thereof.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said latch bar means and said support means are provided with apertures through which the shackle of a padlock can be inserted in the closed position to lock the gate closed.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including bracket means cooperatively associated with said frame means and adapted to secure said frame means to a gate post.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said limiting means includes a stop member having an outwardly directed abutment face located inwardly of said one spacer member and at a location such that the clearance between said stop member face and the adjacent outer periphery of said ring means is not substantially greater than the horizontal dimension of said latch bar means, whereby said latch apparatus permits opening of a gate only in the outward direction.
- 8. Latch apparatus for use in securing a gate or the like in a closed position, comprising: frame means including a pair of parallel, generally rectangular plate members; first and second pairs of spacer members engaged between said plate members for holding said plate members a fixed distance apart, each of said spacer members having a horizontal central axis, the respective horizontal axes of each of said spacer members being located in the same horizontal plane; first and second ring members respectively pivotally mounted between said plate members on the inner one of said first and second pairs of spacer members, the outer one of each pair of spacer members providing stop means normally engaging the outer periphery of an adjacent ring member for limiting swinging movement thereof toward said outer spacer member; means adapted to mount said frame means on a gate post; latch bar means having a vertical dimension not substantially less than the mean radius dimensions of said ring members and being positioned between said ring members to secure a gate in said closed position; and support means having an upper surface that is located below the uppermost surfaces of said upper pair of spacer members a vertical distance that is substantially equal to the mean diameter of at least one of said ring members and cooperable with said latch bar means for supporting the said latch bar means in said closed position.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said support means comprises an elongated member having a horizontal central portion and outer inclined portions extending in opposite directions, each of said inclined portions providing a ramp function for aiding in lifting said latch bar means up onto said horizontal central portion in the event of sag of the gate.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said support means is rigidly attached to said frame means.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said latch bar means is sized and arranged to provide a height to work with said ring members, and a width that is not substantially less than the horizontal separation of said ring members on a line passing through their respective centers, said latch bar means having strength against bending and being sized to prevent substantial play in the closed position.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said latch bar means is constructed of angle iron having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, said bar means being adapted to be attached to a gate in a manner such that its said horizontal portion is above the said vertical portion thereof.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 8 further including means enabling said latch bar means to be locked to said frame means.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said enabling means includes apertures in said latch bar means and said support means arranged to receive the shackle of a padlock.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means adapted to mount said frame means comprises a bracket having a concave recess in the rear thereof to permit said frame means to be securely mounted to a post having a circular cross-section.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mounting means comprises aligned apertures in said plate members arranged to receive lag screws or the like to permit said frame means to be securely mounted to a post having a polyagonal cross-section.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 768,237, filed 8/22/85 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
768237 |
Aug 1985 |
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