Field-handable gate latch

A latch comprising:

• a housing having a first side and a second side;
• a bolt assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the bolt assembly including a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to at least one of the first and second sides of the housing, the bolt being biased toward at least one of the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the bolt is positionable so as to selectively extend from either the first side or the second side of the housing in the extended position;
• a bolt retention assembly including a first body and a projection, wherein the first body has an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein, when in the engaged position, the projection of the bolt retention assembly prevents movement of the bolt toward the retracted position, and when in the disengaged position, the projection allows movement of the bolt toward the retracted position, the first body being biased toward at least one of the engaged position and the disengaged position, the first body including a lip exposed through an aperture defined in the housing;
• and
• a bolt movement assembly including a spindle and first and second lever arms, the first and second lever arms being selectively in communication with the bolt to move the bolt between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein the spindle is in contact with the first body of the bolt retention assembly where, upon movement of the spindle, the first body is moved between the engaged and disengaged positions.

A method of assigning a handing to a gate latch, comprising:

• providing a housing having a first side and a second side;
• providing a bolt assembly in communication with a bolt, the bolt at least partially positioned within the housing, the bolt being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein, when in the extended position, the bolt extends from the first side of the housing, wherein the bolt is biased via the bolt assembly toward the retracted position;
• providing a bolt retention assembly including a trigger body positioned within the housing, the trigger body including a lip being accessible through an aperture defined in the housing and the trigger body having an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein, when in the engaged position, the bolt retention assembly interfaces with the bolt to prevent movement of the bolt toward the retracted position, and when in the disengaged position, the bolt retention assembly is disengaged from the bolt, and wherein the bolt retention assembly is biased toward the engaged position;
• providing a bolt movement assembly including a spindle and first and second lever arms, the first and second lever arms being selectively in communication with the bolt to move the bolt between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein the spindle is in contact with the trigger body of the bolt retention assembly;
• disengaging the bolt from the bolt assembly;
• orienting the bolt within the housing so that the bolt extends from the second side of the housing when in the extended position;
• engaging the bolt with the bolt assembly;
• and
• moving the trigger body via the lip to disengage the bolt retention assembly from the bolt.