Fence lock
OwnerWilliam Rowaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A security bar that can be retrofitted onto a gate used in a typical fence construction to prevent unauthorized tampering with or opening of the gate. The device includes a rigid locking bar that is firmly mounted to the gate, a T-shaped strike plate, and a key-actuated latchbolt mechanism mounted within the inside of the rigid locking bar so that the latchbolt and strike plate cannot be accessed for tampering. The strike plate is mounted to a conventional fence post with fasteners that are not accessible when the gate is closed. Using the present device, which can be retrofitted to any type of outdoor gate, a positive locking action insures that the gate is locked at all times and cannot be jimmied or pulled upward to a position that would allow it to be opened. The locking mechanism allows access from either side of the gate for actuation.
Claims7
A positive locking latchbolt mechanism for a movable closure such as a gate for a chain link fence of the type having at least one rigid fence support, comprising:
- a rigid, hollow bar, said bar sized in length to fit substantially laterally from one side of the gate to the other;
- means for attaching said rigid bar to the gate;
- a rigid support bar slidely mounted inside said hollow bar;
- a latchbolt mounted within said hollow rigid bar on said slidely mounted rigid support bar at a predetermined position, said hollow rigid bar having a locking aperture functionally disposed relative to said latchbolt;
- means for unlocking said latchbolt mounted, through an elongated aperture in said hollow rigid bar, to said rigid support bar and connected to said latchbolt, wherein said means for unlocking, said latchbolt, and said slidely mounted rigid support bar are movable from a first position to a second position;
- a removable end cap disposed in an end of said rigid bar, said end cap having means for positioning said slidely mounted rigid support bar in said first position;
- means for removal of said means for unlocking accessible only when said means for unlocking is in said second position;
- and
- a strike plate capable of being attached to the rigid fence support at a predetermined location, said strike plate including at least one protruding portion having a latchbolt receiving aperture therein, said strike plate protruding portion including being sized to fit into the rigid bar locking aperture, said latchbolt being engagable within and retractable from the latchbolt receiving aperture when the gate is in a closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.