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US 9,957,739 B1Granted
Safety gate latch
OwnerScott Shafferinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bonded or slide on sleeve and cover devices, and replacement gate latches and methods for preventing injury with oar, fork and U-shaped gate latches that are pivotally attached to fixed support post next to an opening in a fence. The sleeves and covers and replacement oar, fork and U-shaped gate latches have enlarged blunt tips that can include bulbous, dome and ball shapes that prevent injury from children or adults that come into contact with the gate latches.
Claims18
A replacement pivotable U-shaped gate latch, comprising:
- a first curved metal arm with an outer end and a rear end;
- at least one of a first groove and a first opening formed into and adjacent to the outer end of the first curved metal arm;
- a first solid poured non-metal sleeve cover solid poured about the outer end of the first curved arm, the first solid poured non-metal sleeve cover having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the outer end of the first curved metal arm, wherein the at least one of the first groove and the first opening enhances a bond between the first solid poured non-metal sleeve cover and the first curved metal arm;
- a second curved metal arm with an exposed outer end and a rear end,
- at least one of a second groove and a second opening formed into and adjacent to the outer end of the second curved metal arm;
- a second solid poured non-metal sleeve cover solid poured about the outer end of the second curved arm, the second solid poured non-metal sleeve cover having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the outer end of the second curved metal arm, wherein the at least one of the second groove and the second opening enhances a bond between the second solid poured non-metal sleeve cover and the second curved metal arm;
- and
- a pivotable mid portion attached to the rear end of the first curved arm and the rear end of the second curved arm for allowing the first arm and second arm to pivot together in a U-shaped configuration about a gate edge.
5 more elements
A replacement pivotable U-shaped gate latch, comprising:
- a first curved arm with an outer end and a rear end;
- at least one of a first groove and a first opening formed into and adjacent to the outer end of the first curved arm;
- a first non-metal sleeve cover casted about the outer end of the first curved arm, the first non-metal sleeve cover having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the outer end of the first curved arm, wherein the at least one of the first groove and the first opening enhances a bond between the first solid poured non-metal sleeve cover and the first curved arm;
- a second curved arm with an exposed outer end and a rear end,
- at least one of a second groove and a second opening formed into and adjacent to the outer end of the second curved arm;
- a second non-metal sleeve cover casted about the outer end of the second curved arm, the second non-metal sleeve cover having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the outer end of the second curved arm;
- and
- a pivotable mid portion attached to the rear end of the first curved arm and the rear end of the second curved arm for allowing the first arm and second arm to pivot together in a U-shaped configuration about a gate edge.
5 more elements
A method of making a replacement pivotable U-shaped gate latch, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first curved metal arm with an outer end and a rear end;
- forming at least one of a first groove and a first opening into and adjacent to the outer end of the first curved metal arm;
- solid pouring a first non-metal sleeve cover solid about the outer end of the first curved arm, the first solid poured non-metal sleeve cover having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the outer end of the first curved metal arm, wherein the at least one of the first groove and the first opening enhances a bond between the first solid poured non-metal sleeve cover and the first curved metal arm;
- providing a second curved metal arm with an exposed outer end and a rear end,
- forming at least one of a second groove and a second opening into and adjacent to the outer end of the second curved metal arm;
- solid pouring a second non-metal sleeve cover about the outer end of the second curved arm, the second solid poured non-metal sleeve cover having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the outer end of the second curved metal arm, wherein the at least one of the second groove and the second opening enhances a bond between the second solid poured non-metal sleeve cover and the second curved metal arm;
- and
- providing a pivotable mid portion attached to the rear end of the first curved arm and the rear end of the second curved arm for allowing the first arm and second arm to pivot together in a U-shaped configuration about a gate edge.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.