Abstract
A magnetic gate latch comprises magnetic materials and a latching mechanism attracted into a keeper when the gate latch is closed by a first magnetic force and retained in a unlatched position by a second magnetic force. For example, the latching mechanism comprises a pin without a spring or other biasing mechanism biasing the spring in a direction opposite of a magnet in the keeper assembly. In one example, the pin comprises a magnet on an end of the pin opposite from the keeper assembly, which is attracted toward a ferromagnetic material when the pin is retracted into the housing.
Claims
1. A gate latch assembly, comprising: a housing; a handle coupled to the housing; a retractor disposed within the housing such that the retractor is slidable forward and backward within the housing; a latching mechanism operatively coupled with the retractor such that, when the retractor slides backward, the latching mechanism is engaged by the retractor, drawing a portion of the latching mechanism into the housing; an actuator assembly having a neutral position, wherein the actuator assembly includes a portion disposed in relation to the latching mechanism such that the latching mechanism is magnetically attracted to the portion as the actuator assembly is rotated by the handle from the neutral position; and a biasing mechanism, wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled with the actuator assembly, the retractor or both the actuator assembly and the retractor such that the biasing mechanism applies a mechanical force to the actuator assembly, tending to return the actuator assembly to the neutral position, when the handle is released, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a pin operatively coupled with the retractor such that, as the retractor slides backward, the pin is pulled by the retractor into an unlatched position, and as the retractor returns forward, the pin is capable of being retained in the unlatched position and, wherein the pin includes a magnet providing a magnetic force for retaining the pin in contact with the portion of the actuator assembly disposed in relation to the latching mechanism such that the latching mechanism is magnetically attracted to the portion as the actuator assembly is rotated in either direction by the handle from the neutral position, the portion of the actuator comprising a ferromagnetic material.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the portion disposed in relation to the latching mechanism comprises an arcuate strip.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the arcuate strip comprises steel.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the arcuate strip is a composite material comprised of a ferromagnetic material and a non-ferromagnetic material.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material is a dielectric.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein a first portion of the arcuate strip is formed of the dielectric, and the first portion of the arcuate strip is disposed such that the first portion is in contact with the second magnet, when the actuator mechanism is disposed in a neutral position.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the arcuate strip is disposed between a second portion and a third portion, the second portion and the third portion being comprised of the ferromagnetic material, such that, as the actuator is displaced from the neutral position, the second magnet comes into direct contact with either the second portion or the third portion of the arcuate strip, increasing the force of magnetic attraction between the second magnet and the arcuate strip.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the pin is not biased in any direction by a spring.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the pin is not biased in any direction by a spring.
10. A method of using the device of claim 1, comprising: turning the handle, such that the latching mechanism is magnetically attracted to the portion of the actuator assembly as the actuator assembly is rotated by the handle from the neutral position, wherein the retractor moves backward in the housing, and the pin is pulled by the retractor into the unlatched position and is retained in the unlatched position by a magnetic attraction between the magnet of the pin and the ferromagnetic material of the portion of the actuator assembly as the handle is turned in either direction; pulling or pushing on the handle to open a structure on which the device is mounted; releasing the handle, sliding the retractor forward in the housing, automatically, when the handle is released, while the pin remains magnetically attracted to the ferromagnetic material by the magnet of the pin, retaining the magnet in contact with the ferromagnetic material, as the retractor moves forward; and returning the actuator assembly to the neutral position, while the pin remains in the unlatched position.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: closing the structure, such that the pin becomes disposed over a keeper, the keeper comprising a magnet, such that the pin is pulled automatically into a latched position by the magnetic attraction between the pin and the magnet of the keeper, when the pin is aligned over the keeper.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded, perspective view of an example of a magnetic gate latch.
(2) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded, perspective view of another example of a housing of a magnetic gate latch.
(3) FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate an example of an assembled magnetic gate latch.
(4) FIGS. 3A-4B illustrate an example of a keeper assembly.
(5) FIGS. 5A-6B illustrate a housing for a handle on an opposite side of a gate from the housing including the latching mechanism and the retractor mechanism.
(6) FIGS. 7A-8B illustrate an example of components of a retractor mechanism.
(7) FIGS. 9A-10C illustrate an example of additional components of a magnetic gate latch.
(8) FIGS. 11A-K (letter I intentionally omitted) illustrates an example of a sliding mechanism of the retractor mechanism.
(9) FIG. 12A-B illustrate an example of component of a housing far the latching mechanism and the retractor mechanism, which may be operatively arranged to retain and guide the sliding mechanism of the retractor during retraction of the latching mechanism.
(10) FIG. 13 illustrates another example of a magnetic gate latch.
(11) FIGS. 14A-B illustrate a housing.
(12) FIG. 15 illustrates a partially exploded view of the example of FIG. 13.
(13) FIGS. 16A-B illustrates a portion the example of FIG. 13.
(14) FIGS. 17A-D illustrate a latch pin contained within the portion illustrated in FIGS. 16A-B; FIGS. 17A-D illustrate (A) a perspective rear view, (B) a perspective front view, (C) an exploded view and (D) a cross sectional view along the cylindrical axis.
(15) FIG. 18 illustrates an exploded, perspective view of the portion illustrated in FIGS. 16A-B
(16) FIGS. 19A-C illustrate a keeper.
(17) FIGS. 20A-B illustrate a bade plate for the housing in FIGS. 14A-B.
(18) FIGS. 21A-G illustrate views of a sliding mechanism (A) a perspective view, (B) a top view, (C) a left side view, (D) a front view, (E) a right side view, (F) an opposite perspective view, and (Q) a bottom view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(19) The examples described and the drawings rendered are illustrative and are not to be read as limiting the scope of the invention as it is defined by the claims.
(20) In one example, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, a gate latch 10 includes a magnetic latching mechanism. For example, a rear latch housing 101 and mounting plate 103 may be mounted on one side of a gate, and a front latch housing 102 and mounting plate 108 may be mounted on the opposite side of the gate. A plurality of fasteners 130 may be used to join the housings 101,102 and the mounting plates 103,108, such as a screw 130 and screw stud 132 combination.
(21) Handles 104, 118 may be coupled to the housings 101, 102, such as by plastic retainer rings 106, 116, for example. Locks 110, 114, may be coupled one to the other by a spline passing through a transfer sleeve 112, such that the operation of one locking mechanism 110, 114 is capable of locking or unlocking the other.
(22) Within the housing of FIG. 1, a latching mechanism comprises a pin retractor 149 that operatively engages a latch pin 150 for retracting the latch pin 150 when the pin retractor 149 is retracted by operation of one of the handles 104, 118. For example, a cam actuator 140 may provide dual cams for engaging a portion of the pin retractor 149 when either handle 104, 118 is rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise.
(23) The cam actuator 140 may be coupled to the kindles 104, 118 by the transfer sleeve 112. A pawl actuating cam 146 and a locking pawl 148 may be provided to couple the locking splines, for example. A Miming mechanism, such as a helical coil spring 144 disposed between the front housing 102 and a wall of the pin retractor 149, such that the pin retractor is biased towards direction of the latch pin 150.
(24) Alternatively or in addition to a spring in contact with the pin retractor 149, a biasing mechanism may be applied to the cam actuator 140, for example, such as torsion spring (not shown but a well known biasing mechanism for returning a handle to a neutral position).
(25) For example, a keeper 120 may comprise a keeper housing containing a permanent magnet 122 and may be mounted to a keeper bracket 124. The keeper provides an indentation, hollow or recess for accommodating the latch pin 150, latching the latch pin when the gate is closed. The latch pin comprises a ferromagnetic material, such as steel, which is attracted to the magnet 122 within the keeper 120.
(26) In FIG. 1, the latch pin 150 comprises a dielectric shielded permanent magnet 152 embedded in an end of the latch pin 150 opposite of the keeper. A steel strip 142 is joined to a surface of the cam actuator 140, such as by fusing or by an adhesive. The dielectric shielded permanent magnet 152 provides an attractive force operative for retaining the pin 150 in contact with the strip 142, until the pin 150 is aligned with the keeper 120. When the pin 150 is aligned with the keeper 129, then the magnetic attraction between the magnet 122 and the pin 150 is stronger than the magnetic attraction between the strip 142 and the dielectrically shielded magnet 152 embedded in the opposite end of the pin 150.
(27) Alternatively, the strip 142 may be a magnetic strip and the pin may comprise a ferromagnetic material such as a ferromagnetic steel, and the dielectric coated magnet may be omitted. In either alternative, the magnetic force of attraction between the magnet 122 and the pin 150 may be selected to be much stronger than the magnetic force of attraction between the strip and the pin in the housing.
(28) The pin retractor 149 and/or the cam actuator 140 is biased by a biasing mechanism that returns the cam actuator 140 and the pin retractor 149 to a first position, after operation of one of the handles displaces the pin retractor to a second position that displaces the pin into the housing and into dose proximity or contact with a the strip 142. The pin is retained in the second position by a magnetic attraction between the pin and the strip while the gate is open, even though the pin retractor returns to the first position due to the biasing mechanism when the handles are released or returned to a neutral position.
(29) In FIG. 2, another example of a magnetic gate latch is shown with similar components labeled with the same identification number. The mounting plate 108, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 12A and 12B, includes a guide rail 1082 for engaging with recessed portions in the pin retractor 149 and a spring retainer 1086 for engaging with a torsion spring 109 that returns the handle 118 to a neutral position when the user releases the handle 118. In this example, the torsion spring 109 engages the spring retainer 1086 and the cam actuator 140. The cam actuator 140 is operatively engaged by the handle 104 attached to the housing 101 and operatively engages the transfer sleeve 112, which operatively engages the handle 118 on the opposite side of the gate. The torsion spring 109 is capable of returning the cam actuator 140 and both handles 104,118 to the neutral position. Optionally, a biasing mechanism, which may be a helical coil spring 144 retained on a spring retaining plug 175, is arranged to operatively engage the pin retractor 149 to return the pin retractor 149 to a neutral position when the handles 114,118 are released. The spring retaining plug 175 has a flange 174 that matingly engages a Recess in the housing 102 and may be retained ferae mechanically or by an adhesive. The neutral position for the pin retractor 149 is forward, such feat the pin retractor 149 does not engage the retainer 159, which is operatively engaged at a groove in the pin 150. When in the neutral position, the pin retractor 149 does not hold the pin 150 in its retracted position, freeing the pin 150, which is then retained by the force of magnetic attraction between the magnet 152 and the strip 142. For example, the pin 150 may be retained within the housing 161 by this force of magnetic attraction, at least during the return of the pin retractor 159 and the handles 104,118 to their respective neutral positions. Also, bumpers 179 are provided feat engage retaining holes in the housing 101 where a portion of the housing overlaps a portion of keeper 120, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, for example.
(30) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a mount 128 of a keeper 120 that includes a flange 1282, which is used for attaching the mount 128 on a structure, such as to a gate or a gate post A slider bracket 1281 engages a magnet housing 1283, which is adjustable along the slider bracket 1281 using a screw 1284, as illustrated in FIG. 3C. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the magnet housing includes a screw retainer 1287, which defines a slot for insertion of the head of the screw 1284, and a hole for insertion of a tool to adjust the screw, positioning the magnet housing 1283 on the slide bracket 1281. The channel in magnet housing 1283 as illustrated in FIG. 4B accommodates the slide bracket 1281 within the channel of the magnet housing 1283. As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the magnet 122 is retained in the magnet housing 1283 by a magnet retainer 1221, which fits into a recessed portion 1288 of the magnet housing 1283. A pin keeper recess 1289 is defined in the magnet housing 1283 and is positioned by the screw 1284 such feat the pin 150 is retained within the recess 1289 when the gate is closed and the pin is drawn by magnetic force into the recess 1289 of the magnet housing 1283.
(31) FIGS. 5A-6B illustrate detailed views of features of a housing 101 and a mounting plate 103 for mounting on the side of a gate opposite of the housing 102 that contains the mechanism for engaging the pin 150. A lockable handle 104 includes a locking mechanism 110 and is mounted to the housing 101 by a C-retainer 106. A spline 1121 operatively couples the locking mechanism 110 with a locking mechanism 114 in the opposite handle 118, allowing a user to lock or unlock the magnetic gate latch from either side of the gate. A pawl actuating cam 146 and a locking pawl 148, as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9A-10C, may be provided to couple the locking splines of the locking mechanisms 110,114, for example.
(32) FIG. 7A is a proportional view of an arcuate strip 142. FIG. 7B illustrates an example of a cross section of a composite arcuate strip 142, having the form of the arcuate strip illustrated in FIG. 7A, which may be monolithic, a particle-filled or fiber-filled composite or a layered composite. In this example, the cross-hatched portions are a ferroelectric metal or metal-filled portion, such as steel strip, steel wool composite, steel-fiber composite or steel-particle composite, which attracts the magnet 152 of the pin 150 toward the strip 142. An optional backing strip 1423 may be provided that provides for a force of attraction between the backing strip 1423 and the magnet 152, even when the cam actuator 140 returns to its neutral position, such feat the magnet 152 is contacting an electrically insulating portion 1429 (i.e. dielectric) of the strip 142. Magnetically attractive portions 1425,1427 are disposed on the surface of the strip 142 to provide a stronger force of magnetic attraction between the pin 150 and the actuator 140, when the handle is turned by the user in either direction. The actuator 140 has a strip retaining portion 1401 for retaining the strip 142 on a surface of the retaining portion 1401.
(33) FIGS. 11A-K (letter I intentionally omitted) illustrates views of a pin retractor 149. FIGS. 11A-B illustrate perspective view of opposite sides of the pin retractor 149. Cross sectional views are illustrated in FIGS. 11H, 11J and 11K. FIG. 11C illustrates a top view of the retractor 149. Opposite ends of the retractor are illustrated in FIGS. 11E and 11F. A side view is illustrated in FIG. 11D and a bottom view is illustrated in FIG. 11G. The form and materials of the pin retractor 149 is formed to slide operatively when engaged in the housing 102 on the mounting plate 108 or a portion thereof.
(34) FIG. 13 illustrates another example of a magnetic gate latch 10 that provides for a magnetic latching mechanism. FIGS. 14A-B illustrate a housing 102 having a structure 1020 for retaining a latching pin within the housing. FIG. 15 illustrates a partially exploded view of the example of a magnetic gate latch showing fasteners 1021, 1022 and the keeper assembly 120 aligned with the housing 102. FIGS. 16A-B illustrate a perspective view of one portion of a magnetic gate latch showing bumpers 179 made of a material such as an elastic or foam material a bade plate 108, a housing 1020, a handle 118 and a latch pin 150. FIG. 17A-D illustrates a detail view of the latch pin 150, which may comprise a pin housing with a collar 1511, a ferromagnetic pin 1509 (such as a core made of a ferromagnetic material, e.g. a zinc plated steel core), and magnetic core 1507 as illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 17C. FIG. 17D illustrates a cross section of the pin housing along the cylindrical axis of the pin housing having a bore hole with a length A extending nearly the entire length of the pin housing, a length B having a largo: diameter C than smaller diameter D of the remainder of the length A. The smaller diameter D is sized to accommodate the diameter and length of the magnetic core 1507, such as a neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnetic core having a diameter of one quarter inch and a length of one-half inch. The larger diameter may be sized for press fit of the ferromagnetic pin of a diameter 0.312 inches and a length B of about 1.075 inches.
(35) FIG. 18 illustrates an exploded view of a portion 102 of a magnetic gate latch showing how the components of the portion are assembled. The sliding mechanism 149 has a pin 1495 for retaining a torsion spring 1494 that engages a protrusion 1087 extending from the back plate 108 as illustrated in FIGS. 20A-B. The back plate of FIGS. 20A-B has a second structure 1082 that may engage the ends of a second torsion spring 109 that provides a bias for returning the handle 118 to a neutral position. As illustrated in FIG. 18, a portion of the handle 118 extends through the housing 102 and is retained by a retaining C-clip 106. FIGS. 19A-C illustrate perspective views and an exploded view of the keeper 120 having a mounting plate 128 and a keeper housing and retainer 1221 enclosing a magnet 122, such as a one inch diameter and one inch length of a neodymium-iron-boron. A recessed portion provides a retainer for the pin ISO of the magnetic gate latch that extends from the housing 102 when aligned with the magnet 122 of the keeper 120. FIGS. 20A-B and 21A-G illustrate detail views of a back plate 108 and a sliding mechanism 149. The pin is retained between an arcuate portion 1497 of the sliding mechanism, such as illustrated in FIGS. 21 A, E-G and an arcuate portion 1020 of the housing, such as illustrated in FIG. 14B. The opposite side of the sliding mechanism faces the backing plate 108. The protruding portion 1087 engages a torsion spring 1494 retained on a pin 1495 of the sliding mechanism 149. Spacers 1499 are provided to reduce friction between the sliding mechanism and both the back plate and the housing. Protrusions 1491 are spacers that provide the appropriate distance between the housing and the sliding mechanism. When assembled with the housing, the portion of the magnetic latch illustrated in FIGS. 16A-B provide a pin that extends when aligned with a magnet in the keeper, and is withdrawn from the keeper by turning the handle. The handle turns the cam actuator 140, which slides the sliding mechanism 108, engaging the collar 1511 of the pin and withdrawing the pin. The torsion spring 1494 does not withdraw the pin from the retaining portion of the keeper. Instead, the torsion spring is capable of moving the sliding mechanism a short distance, such that the pin is retained within the keeper. The sliding mechanism and pin are positioned by the torsion spring 1494 close enough to the arcuate plate 142 in the cam actuator 140 such that the magnetic force of a magnet in the pin is sufficiently strong to retract the pin and to retain the pin within the housing due to the force of magnetism between the magnet 1507 and the arcuate metal strip 142 of the cam actuator 140, for example. Thus, the mechanism for disengaging the pin from the keeper is the turning of the handle, but the magnetic force between the pin and the actuator cam retains the pin within the housing until the pin is returned into alignment with the keeper. Then, when the pin is aligned with the keeper, the pin is drawn from the housing by the magnetic force between the magnet of the keeper and the pin and the gate is latched.
(36) Alternative combinations and variations of the examples provided will become apparent based CHI this disclosure. It is not possible to provide specific examples for all of the many possible combinations and variations of the embodiments described, but such combinations and variations may be claims that eventually issue. Although the claims and the examples in the detailed description refer to a gate, the term gate is meant to be interpreted broadly as a door or other device that may be hingedly opened and closed by a user, and the invention is not limited to gates used in fencing and the like.
