AU673165B2 - Improved latch assembly - Google Patents

Description

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IMPROVED LATCH ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a latch assembly for use in relation to a gate or similar member for controlling movement through a fence or like into a particular area.

The invention is particularly suitable for applications in restricting access to swimming pools and other facilities which are potentially hazardous, particularly to small children.

Swimming pool regulations require the access gate to self close from any position. This requires either an exceptionally light latching mechanism or considerable force to operate the latch.

Obviously the latter is unreliable and potentially dangerous.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple latching device that offers almost no resistance, which is more reliable in -o 15a operation and in particular provides enhanced safety.

While some previous latch assemblies have proved to operate :.-effectively, they require a large number of parts, proving expensive and exposing them to a higher potential for failure.

The consideration of economy, simplicity and safety are essential aspects of this Improved Latch Assembly which is similar in workings to the simple D'Latch but designed so that upon entering a round ape ture in a hollow latch post, the pivotal latch drops down into the cavity of the post, utilising the wall of the post as the striker and preventing withdrawal of the latch assembly until the pivotal latch is raised by the manual lifter, thus releasing the latch assembly and allowing its withdrawal when required.

The present invention provides a latch assembly comprising a mounting member to be attached to or part thereof a first of two members movable relative to one another between a latched and a delatched S 30 relation, a latch member pivotally attached to the mounting member and arranged to interengage with a striker on the second of said two members are in the latched relation, a non-elongate preferably generally circular aperture in said pivotal latch and a stop member.attached to the mounting member and projecting into said aperture, said stop member S 35 and aperture being located respectively relative to the pivot'axis of ii the pivotal latch to permit the extent of pivotal movement of the 7: I. i i IL 2.

latch member between the engaged and disengaged relation of the pivotal latch with the striker.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a latch assembly comprising a mounting member to be attached to or part of a first of two members movable relative to one another between a latched and a delatched relation, a latch member pivotally attached to the mounting member and arranged to interengage with a striker on the second of said two members when the two members are in the latched relation. The pivotal latch projecting through an aperture in the second of said two members to interengage with the striker, said mounting member including a portion to extend into said aperture when the latch member interengages with the striker, and said portion of the mounting member being configured relative to the aperture to limit relative movement between said two members in a direction parallel to the plane of the pivotal movement of the latch member to a degree less than that which would permit withdrawal of the latch member from the aperture when in latching relationship with the striker.

In each of the above embodiments, the latch member may be of a 2.Q general shape of a having an arcuate peripheral portion which rides over the striker as the two members are brought together and then pivots about its axis downwardly so as to engage a portion of the striker located at approximately right angles to the arcuate surface.

The above alternate forms of the invention may be incorporated together or any sub-combination thereof in a single latch mechanism.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of one practical arrangement of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section view of a gate post with the latch mechanism incorporated therein; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the latch in the release position; Figure 3 is a'side view of the latch mounting plate; and Figure 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 in Figure 1.

fri Referring now to the drawings, the post 6 is of a hollow tubular construction, preferably of a square cross-section as seen in Figure 4.

The mounting plate 8 is attached to the gate frame 15 by the bolts 17 which pass through holes 16 in the mounting plate 8.

One face of the post 6 has a circular aperture 18 therein, the lower portion 18a of which forms the striker. The aperture may be of other configurations. The latch mechanism comprises two laterally spaced plates 9 and 14 which are welded or otherwise secured to the mounting plate 8 to project laterally therefrom to enter the aperture 18 in the post 6. Between the plates 9 and 14 is located the latch member 11 which is pivotally connected thereto at 13, adjacent the ends of the plates 9 and 14 further most from the mounting plate 8. The latch member has an arcuate edge 19 concentric with the pivot 13 and a downwardly inclined edge 20 extending from the lower end of the .:2oarcuate edge 19.

.,aThe lifter member 12 is located within the cavity of the tubular ::post 6 to have limited vertical movement. The lifter member has a lower portion 12a which in use is located below the level of the latch **:member 11 with the opposite portion 21 of the lifter member 12 attached to an actuating rod 7 which extends through the closure cap 5 of the S:post 6 to terminate in the hand grip 1. When the actuator member 7 is :in its lower position with the shoulder 2 abutting the top face of the cap 5, the lifter member 12 is spaced downwardly from the latch member :11 so that the latter can occupy its lock position as seen in Figure 1.

SWhen the actuator member 7 is raised so that the stop 4 engages the underside of the cap 5, then the lower portion 12a of the lifter member 12 engages the latch member 11 and pivotally moves it to the position as seen in Figure 2, wherein it is aligned with the aperture 18, thereby permitting withdrawal of the latch member from the post to release the gate.

In order to limit the extent of pivotal movement of the latch oember 20 about its pivot axis 13 there is provided in the latch member

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a circular aperature 21 through which a pin 10 passes.

(1i The pin is fixably mounted in the plates 9 and 14.

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The relative position of the pin 10 and the aperture 21 with respect to the. pivot axis 13 is selected so that when the lift member is in its lower position as shown in Figure 1, the latch member 11 will pivot about the pin 13 under gravity to the position as shown in Figure 1 with the arcuate surface 19 of the latch member engaging the edge 18a of the aperture 18 in the post. Thus the position of locking engagement between the latch member 11 and the wall of the post 6 is determined by the position of the pin 10 and the aperture 21 and the configuration of the latter.

In addition, the plate 9 projects upwardly beyond the upper extremity of the latch member 11 when the latter is in its locked position as can be seen in Figure 1 so that the clearance 22 between the edge 23 of the plate 9 and the wall of the aperture 18 immediately 'thereabove will limit the extent that the gate and the mounting plate i attached thereto may be lifted relative to the post 6. This extent movement is selected so that it is insufficient to raise the lower :extremity of the latch member 11 above the lower edge 18a of the aperture thereby preventing release of the latch mechanism by lifting of the 2b"complete gate 15 and mounting plate 18 assembly.

In the operation of the latch assembly as above described, as the gate 15 is moving towards the closed position the latched assembly ill initially commence to pass through the circular aperture 18 in the wall of the post 16 with the end of the assembly adjacent the pin 13 first entering the aperture. As the latch assembly advances through the aperture the downwardly inclined lower surface the latch 11 will engage the lower portion 18a, thereby causing latch member 11 to pivot upwardly as seen in the drawings until it reaches a position similar to that seen in Figure 2. Upon the junction of the inclined lower face 20 and the upwardly extending arcuate face of the latch member passing over the edge 18a of the aperture 18, Sgravity wil promote the downward pivotal movement of the latch member 11 so that when the gate is fully closed as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the latch member 11 occupies the position as seen in Figure 1 preventing movement of the gate relative to the post in a direction to open the gate.

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j A -k Also when in this position, lifting of the gate relative to the post to an extent which could permit release of the latch is prevented by the close proximity of the upper edge 9a of the plate 9 to the upper edge of the aperture 18. Thus the latch assembly positively secures the gate in the closed position so that release of the gate can only be effected by raising of the lift member 12 by use of the actuator member 7. Thus the mechanism as provided by the present invention has improved security against unauthorised opening of the gate, such as by small children.

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Claims (6)

1. A latch assembly comprising a mounting member to be attached to or forming part of a first of two members movable relative to one another between a latched and a delatched relation, a latch member pivotally attached to the mounting member and arranged to interengage with a striker attached to or forming part of the second of said two members when the two members are in the latched relation with the pivotal latch projecting through an aperture in the second of said two members to interengage with the striker, said mounting member including a portion to extend into said aperture when the latch member interengages with the striker, and said portion of the mounting member being configured relative to the aperture to limit relative movement between said two members in a direction paraliel to the plane of said pivotal movement of the latch member to a degree less than that which would permit withdrawal of the aEnwi i latch member from the aperture when the latch member is in latching relationship with the striker.

2. A !atch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first member is a gate t or the like mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and the second member is a post or the like.

3. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second member is of a hollow form having said aperture in the wall thereof positioned and shaped to receive the latch therein with the lower edge of the aperture forming the striker. t

4. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the portion of said mounting member is shaped to be received with the latch in said aperture in the hollow second member, said portion of the mounting member and the aperture be relatively shaped to prevent upward movement of said portion of the mounting member in the aperture to an extent to permit the latch to pass I outwardly through the aperture.

I R44 ;A a i o ~I1 i: ~crm i .7 A latch assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the latch has an aperture therein which is located within the hollow portion of the second member when the latch is in the latching relation with the striker, and said portion of the mounting member has a projection that extends into said aperture in the latch, said aperture and the portion extending thereinto are dimensioned to limit the extent of pivotal movement of the latch independent of the mounting member.

6. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 having release means including a member extends from above the upper end of the hollow second member for external manual operation, said member being adapted at the lower end to operably engage the latch and pivotal move it to a positior: to release the latch from the striker, by manual upward movement of the release member. DATED this 2nd day of February, 1996. KEVIN GRAY *0 00 0 o o ooeoa L 6o oo r D on o r n o o e* o a so e r .~rih:Y~- .S~cxr I ABSTRACT This swimming pool gate latch assembly has two holders (9,14) which are fixed to a plate which is in turn fastened to a gate with bolts (17) A latch member (11) which pivots between the 2 holders (9,14) will drop into the cavity of the latch post as it passes through an aperture (18) into the closed position using the latch post as it passes through an aperture (18) into the closed position using the latch post wall as the striker. The gate may only be opened by manually raising the lifter (12) which lifts the pivotal latch (11) clear of the post wall a« 1