Locking gate latches

Abstract

A gate latch is adapted to be installed on a gate post and a complementary striker arm is secured typically to a gate so that, upon closure of the gate, the striker arm engages a displaceable latching element mounted in a housing of the latch to displace the latching element. The latching element is biased towards its open position but when the striker arm engages with the latching element it is displaced, thereby releasing an interference portion of a biased locking element, whereby the locking element is released to move under its biasing into a locking position so that self-locking is provided for the latch. A rotary release mechanism may be actuated to return the locking element so that they latching element can be released to release the striker bar and the gate may be opened.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a front unit for a latch embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a complementary latching arm intended to be fitting to a gate;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a cartridge assembly for the lock unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a rear access unit for use with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view through the front unit showing the tongue in a latching position but prior to engagement with a striker bar;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the front unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding with FIG. 5 showing engagement by a striker bar;

FIG. 8 is a part sectional view on an enlarged scale taken in a plane at right angles to the axis of the cylinder lock and rotor showing inter engagement between the tongue and the rotor prior to engagement of the striker bar, the rotor being held displaced from its final locking position; and

FIG. 9 corresponds with FIG. 7 but shows the components when in the locked position.

Claims

1. A latch for holding closed a gate (or door) wherein the latch is adapted to co operate with a striker arm, the latch comprising: (a) a housing in which(b) a displaceable latching element is mounted to be displaceable from a latching position towards an open position in which the striker arm is released for gate opening, and(c) the latching element having a latching shoulder to retain the striker arm when engaged behind the latching shoulder and having an engagement surface adapted to be engaged by the striker arm when the gate is moved towards a closed position to displace the latching element and for permitting relative movement of the striker arm to adopt a position behind the latching shoulder,(d) a locking element for locking the latching element and adapted to be displaced between a locking position, in which the latching element is restrained from moving, and a displaced position in which the latching element is free to be moved,(e) the locking element being biased towards the locking position,(f) the latching element being biased towards an open position,(g) the latching element having an interference portion which operates when the latching element has been displaced away from the latching position to prevent the locking element returning to its locking position, and(h) the arrangement being such that when a striker arm engages the latching element upon closure of an associated gate, the latching element is displaced thereby releasing the interference portion from the locking element whereby the locking element is released to move into the locking position so that a self locking arrangement is provided.

2. A latch as defined in claim 1, where the latch mounts a lock having key actuation to displace the locking element in a rotary sense.

3. A latch as defined in claim 2, wherein the lock is a cylinder lock and the locking element is in the form of a rotor which is rotatable and mounted coaxially with the axis of the cylinder lock.

4. A latch as defined in claim 3, wherein the rotor is rotatable through about 20° between its locking position and its displaced position.

5. A latch as defined in claim 4, wherein the rotor has first and second radially extending projections, the rearward of the projections having a side free for engaging the interference portion of the latching element, the side face being in a radial plane displaced around the axis of the rotor compared with a central radial plane around which the forward of the projections extends. An aperture being defined between the projections for accommodating a projecting tab of the latching element, whereby in the closed position of the latching element is retained by the projecting tab in the aperture.

6. A latch as defined in claim 1, wherein the latching element is in the form of a generally planar element substantially wholly enclosed in the housing for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis within the housing, a spring being provided for biasing the planar element towards the open position.

7. A latch as defined in claim 1, wherein the latch is adapted for co operation with an optional rear actuator unit to be mounted on the opposite side of a gate post to that of the latch, and the locking element is structured so that it can move relative to a base portion of the housing and the base portion of the housing is adapted to receive therethrough an actuating element associated with the rear actuator unit for operating the mechanism and moving the locking element from the locking position and a displaced position.

8. Apparatus comprising a latch as defined in claim 1, in combination with a remote actuator for mounting on the opposite side of a gate to the latch and for actuating the locking element.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the remote actuator has a cylinder lock arranged to drive a coupling bar which is in engagement with the locking element to rotate it from the locking position to the displaced position.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the remote actuator has a manual operating actuator which in use moves in a guide towards the associated gate post, its motion being translated to provide drive to move the locking element so that latching is achieved and the gate may be opened, despite a lock provided in the latch housing being in a position to lock the latching element.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the latch has no key-actuated lock but has a manual opening actuator movable in use towards the associated gate post to provide drive to move the locking element so that unlatching is achieved and the gate may be opened despite the remote actuator having a lock which may be locked.