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US 2005/0199025 A1Published application
Latching devices for gates and doors
AssigneeD&D Group Party Limited
InventorJames West
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AssigneeD&D Group Party Limited
InventorJames West
Estimating the term…
A latching device (1) particularly for installation such as swimming pool gates may have an automatic magnetic latch with a child resistant device to control access. The child resistant device may include an operating handle (10) at an elevated location to be out of the reach of the child and an alternative operating device (11) is provided at a lower location with child resistance provided typically by a push button arrangement (12) acting through a cam and cam follower to raise a latching arm (3) against the biasing to the latching position. A simple pronged key (16) for a pushing action can be provided, but another aspect consists in a mechanically actuatable key pad (20) which can readily be operated by an adult even in a wheelchair, but which is resistant to child actuation. For example, a selected two of eight buttons may be required to be depressed to permit the key to actuate the push button.
The present invention in one embodiment provides a latching device for latching, in a predetermined position, two members which are otherwise moveable relative to one another, the latching device having (a) a retaining element adapted to be mounted to a first of the members, (b) a mounting structure arranged to be mounted on a second of the members (c) a latch arm mounted on the mounting structure and arranged in use, when in an engaged position, to engage with the retaining element to prevent relative movement of the members, (d) the latch arm being displaceable to a disengaged position so that the members may be moved apart, the latching device further comprising (e) a first operating mechanism for displacing the latch arm to the disengaged position, the first operating mechanism including a first actuator manipulatable by a user to displace the latch arm to the disengaged position, the first actuator being positionable in use at a first height accessible by a standing adult user, and (f) a second operating mechanism for displacing the latch arm to the disengaged position, the second operating mechanism including a second actuator manipulatable by an adult user to displace the latch arm to the disengaged position, the second actuator being positionable in use at a second height, lower than the first height, and accessible by a seated adult, such as a disabled person in a wheelchair.
A latching device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch arm in use extends vertically and is arranged to be displaced in a vertical direction, and wherein the push button is arranged to be pushed inwardly in a horizontal direction, the second operating mechanism including a cam operated by the push button, and a cam follower which responds to operation of the cam to displace the latch arm to raise it to the disengaged position.
A latching device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second operating mechanism includes a further actuator, arranged to be positioned on the opposite side of the second member to that on which the second actuator is provided, whereby the second operating mechanism can be operated from either side of the second member.
A latching device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting structure provides a housing and the latch arm is vertically displaceable against a downwardly directed force to the disengaged position, the first actuator being a grippable member.
A latching device in accordance with any one of claims 14, wherein the second operating mechanism includes a further actuator, arranged to be positioned on the opposite side of the second member to that on which the second actuator is provided, whereby the second operating mechanism can be operated from either side of the second member, and the latch arm permits locking of one or more of (a) the first operating mechanism, (b) the first actuator and (c) the second actuator, and any unlocked operating mechanism can be used by an adult to disengage the latching device.
A latching device for latching in a predetermined position, two members which are otherwise moveable relative to one another, the latching device having (a) a retaining element adapted to be mounted to a first of the members, (b) a mounting structure arranged to be mounted on the second of the members, (c) the mounting structure having a latch arm arranged to be mounted in a housing for engagement when in use in an engaged position with the retaining element to prevent relative movement of the members, (d) the latch arm being displaceable to a disengaged position so that the members may be moved apart, (e) an operating mechanism including a push button actuator having an axis of actuation along which it is adapted to be pushed against biasing means to displace the latch arm substantially at right angles to the axis of actuation to the disengaged position, and characterised by (f) the operating mechanism including a cam element operated by the push button actuator, and a cam follower connected to the latching arm to displace it responsive to movement of the cam.
A key for operating a locking mechanism, wherein the key is arranged to be normally set to a disabled state where it cannot be used and capable of adult manipulation to an enabled state where it can be used, the key including a security means, operation of which by adult manipulation sets the key to the enabled state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.