US 7,021,678 B1Granted

Four position gate latch assembly

OwnerPhilippe P. Raoultinventor

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Abstract

A four position gate latch (20) that is used to fasten and lock a gate. The gate latch includes a self fastening gravity gate latch (22) that is fastened to one face of the gate. A gate latch bracket (28) is fastened to the gate on an opposed face, mating with said gate latch. A latch striker bar slideably extends from the bracket such that the striker bar interfaces with the gate latch and links the gate portions together. A locking bolt (60) slideably extends though the bracket, allowing it to interface with the gate latch and provide positive locking capabilities. The gate latch is capable of being placed in a self fastening gravity gate latch conventional position, a locked position with the locking bolt penetrating a padlock hole, an unlatched position that permits the gate to swing inward on the gate latch side without interference, and a free-swinging position that permits the gate to pivot in both directions.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A four position gate latch assembly for use with a gate comprising:

a) a self fastening gravity gate latch having a padlock hole therethrough, said gate latch for fastening to one face of said gate,
b) a gate latch bracket having a pair of opposed outward-extending vertical flanges and an outward-extending bottom flange for fastening to said gate on a separate face mating said gate latch,
c) each vertical flange having a striker bar hole and a locking bolt hole, with each analogous hole in horizontal parallel alignment with the other,
d) said bottom flange having a locked slot on a first side, an unlocked slot on a second opposed side and an intermediate notched indentation therebetween,
e) a latch striker bar slideably extending though said pair of striker bar holes such that the striker bar interfaces with the gate latch and links the gate faces together, and
f) a locking bolt slideably extending though said pair of locking bolt holes and interfacing with said gate latch in said padlock hole, wherein said gate latch being capable of being placed in a self fastening gravity gate latch conventional position, a locked position with the locking bolt penetrating said padlock hole, a unlatched position that permits the gate to swing inward on the gate latch side without interference, and a free-swinging position that permits the gate to pivot in both directions.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.