Gravity Gate Latch Lockable and Unlockable by a Padlock from Both Sides of a Gate

A gate latch having a lateral front side and a lateral back side, said gate latch comprising:

• a) a first side plate and a second side plate, each said side plate comprising a latch mouth defined therein at said front side of said gate latch;
• b) a hook plate between said first side plate and said second side plate, said hook plate comprising a hook member at said front side of said gate latch, and a latch hook;
• d) a lock receiving member engaged with said latch hook;
• e) at least one lever arm between said first side plate and said second side plate;
• and
• f) a plurality of spacers, each said spacer between, and fixedly engaged with, said first side plate and said second side plate.

A gate system comprising:

• a) a gate having a first side having strike member engaged therewith and a back side;
• b) a latch post, wherein a gap is defined between said gate and said latch post;
• c) a lock having a shackle;
• and
• c) a gate latch positioned in said gap, said gate latch comprising
• (1) a first side plate and a second side plate, each said side plate having a latch mouth defined therein for receiving a portion of said strike member when said gate has a closed position;
• (2) a hook plate between said first side plate and said second side plate, said hook plate comprising a hook member and a latch hook, said hook member positioned for capturing said strike member in said latch mouth of each of said side plate when said gate has a closed position;
• (3) a first lever arm and a second lever arm, wherein a distal end of said first lever arm protrudes from said first side of said gate and a distal end of said second lever arm protrudes from said second side of said gate, wherein each said lever arm is pivotally engaged to each of said first side plate and said second side plate, and engaged at a proximal end with said hook plate;
• and
• (4) a lock receiving member engaged with said latch hook and positioned in said gap between said gate and said latch post, said lock receiving member comprising an aperture receiving said shackle of said lock.

A method of opening a gate from a back side thereof, said gate having front side with a strike member thereon captured in a latch mouth of a gate latch by a hook member, wherein said gate latch is positioned in a gap between said gate and a latch post, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) pressing down on a distal end of a lever arm protruding from said gap on said back side of said gate;
• b) pivoting said lever arm around a spacer engaged between a first side plate and a second side plate of said gate latch;
• c) raising, with a proximal end of said lever arm, a hook plate engaged with said hook member and positioned between said first side plate and said second side plate;
• and
• d) raising a lock receiving member engaged with a bottom portion of said hook plate.