T-Shaped Lever Gate Latch Pull System and Kit

Abstract

A lever gate latch pull system with a pivoting T-shaped lever has two aligned first and second arms affixed to a swinging base foaming a T with a pivot hole proximate the junction of the aligned first and second arms and the swinging base. The T-shaped lever is pivotally affixed to a fence post to pivot the arms up and down as the swinging base correspondingly moves in a side to side upward arc. Affixed to the end of the swinging base is a weighted chain extending to and secured via a fastener to the free end portion of the pivotal latch lever of the gate latch in the resting position. The weighted chain provides pressure on the pivotal latch lever to stay in the latched position until lifted by the T-shaped lever. In operation, when the T-shaped lever handle first or second arms are positioned just beneath the top of the fence and depressed, they pivot the swinging base in an upward arc to pull the chain up to unlatch the gate latch to open the gate from either side.

Claims

1. A lever gate latch pull system for a swinging gate comprising: (a) a gate latch affixed to a fence post with an openable lifting keeper, (b) a latch affixed to an edge of a swinging gate edge positioned and aligned with the keeper to latch and unlatch to open or close the swinging gate, (c) a pivoting T shaped lever having two aligned first and, second arms structured as lever handles joined to a base having a top end and a swinging bottom with an attachment end at the top end forming a T-shaped lever with a center pivot at the top end structured to pivotally affix to fence structure or a post to pivot the swinging bottom in an up and down arc as the arms move up and down, and (d) a weighted chain with a first chain end affixed to the swinging bottom attachment end and a second chain end affixed to the pivotal latch of a length to hang and provide pressure on the pivotal latch to stay in a latched position until raised up to lift and open the keeper to release the latch as the lever handle is activated to lift the chain to open the gate latch.

2. A lever gate latch pull system according to claim 1, wherein the center pivot is structured as a pivot hole, through which a fastener extends with one end structured to secure to the fence structure or post, and the other end is flanged larger than the pivot hole to prevent the pivoting T shaped lever from removal as the T shaped lever is pivoted up and down.

3. A lever gate latch pull system according to claim 1, wherein the lever handles are positioned just below the top of the fence so that it is invisible from the outside, but allows a user to depress it from both sides of the latched gate to raise the chain to unlatch the gate latch.

4. A lever gate latch pull system kit for a swinging gate having a gate latch affixed to a fence post with an openable lifting keeper, and a latch affixed to an edge of the swinging gate edge positioned and aligned with the keeper to latch and unlatch to open or close the swinging gate, comprising: a pivoting T shaped lever having: two aligned first and second arms structured as lever handles joined to a base having a top end and a swinging bottom with an attachment end at the top end forming a T-shaped lever with a center pivot at the top end structured to pivotally affix to fence structure or a post to pivot the swinging bottom in an up and down arc as the arms move up and down, and a weighted chain with a first chain end affixed to the swinging end and a second chain end with a fastener to affix to the pivotal latch of a length to hang and provide pressure on the keeper to stay in a latched position until raised up to lift and open the keeper to release the latch as the lever handle is activated to lift the chain to open the gate latch,

5. A lever gate latch pull system kit, according to claim 4, wherein the first chain end includes a fastener to affix to the chain to the swinging bottom.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the prior art of a conventional gate latch.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the T-shaped lever gate latch pull system in locked position.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the lever gate latch pull system of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the T-shaped lever of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the T-shaped lever of FIG. 1 showing how it is mounted on a fence post.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the prior art of a conventional gate latch.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the T-shaped lever gate latch pull system of the present invention in locked position, but with the gate keeper 26 free. It comprises a pivoting T-shaped lever 10 with aligned first and second arms 12, 14 shaped as paddle handles. A swinging base 16 is affixed at a midpoint of the aligned first and second arms, 12, 14, forming the T-shaped lever 10. A pivot hole 18 shown in FIG. 5 is positioned proximate the midpoint of the first and second arms 12, 14, when affixed to a fence post via a screw 20 and washer 22, to pivot the aims 12, 14 in an up and down arc via the pivot hole 18. Below the aligned first and second arm 12, 14 is a swinging base 16, which swings its swinging attachment end 17 in an upward arc as the arms 12, 14 lift up and down. Affixed to the swinging attachment end 17 of the swinging base 16 is a weighted chain 24 extending to and secured via a fastener to a gate latch 26 in the resting position. When either lever arm 12, 14 is depressed, the swinging base 16 is lifted in an upward arc to pull the chain 24 up to unlatch the gate latch 28 to release the gate keeper 26 to open the gate.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the lever gate latch pull system of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the T-shaped lever of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the T-shaped lever of FIG. 4 showing how it is mounted on a fence post.

[0027] The T-shaped lever 10 has opposite aligned arms 12, 14. The T-shaped lever 10 pivot hole 18 is pivotably attached to a fence post usually via a wood screw 20 and washer 22. The T-shaped lever arms 12, 14 are positioned usually proximate the top of the fence, allowing a user to depress them from both sides of the latched gate to raise the chain 24 to unlatch the gate latch 28 releasing the keeper 26; thereby enabling one to unlatch a locked gate without having to go around to unlatch the gate.

[0028] The dimensions of one example of the T-shaped lever 10 has aligned lever handles 12, 14 of a length 5 inches, and a base 16 of a length of 3 inches. In another example, the base has a length of 1 inches long to prevent hitting the gate upon opening.

[0029] Note that the chain 26 is usually installed with some slack to provide the full weight of the chain on the pivotal latch 28 to secure the same in the latched position until pulled up by the upwardly swinging base 16.

[0030] Although a chain 24 is shown, other similarly weighted lines, cables, and ropes may be used, provided they are weather resistant. They will all be referred to hereafter as chains 24.

[0031] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive.