Fence latch mechanism

Abstract

A fence latch includes a base member, a fastener, and a hook member. The base member includes mounting member and a flange. The post mounting member straddles the post and includes mounting openings for receiving the fastener, which extends through said mounting openings for mounting the post mounting member around the post. The flange extends from the post mounting member and has a lateral extent extending transversely with respect to the post mounting member and with respect to the post. The hook member includes a gate mounting member for mounting to a gate. The hook member engages the flange for latching the gate to the post. The hook member includes first and second tines, which depend from the gate mounting member. The flange has a first opening for receiving and retaining one of tines in the flange and a second slotted opening for receiving the other tine wherein the slotted opening permits the gate to swing about the post in a first direction while limiting swinging of the gate in a second direction opposed from the first direction, and wherein the first opening prevents pivoting of the gate about the other tine.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fence latch mechanism: 
 a base member for mounting to a post, said base member having a post mounting member and a flange, said post mounting member for straddling the post and having mounting openings;    a fastener extending through said mounting openings for mounting said post mounting member to the post;    said flange extending from said post mounting member and having a lateral extent extending transversely with respect to said post mounting member and for extending transversely with respect to the post; and    a hook member having a gate mounting member for mounting to a gate, said hook member engaging said flange of said base member for latching the gate to the post, said hook member including first and second tines depending from said gate mounting member, said flange of said base member having a first opening for receiving and retaining one of said first and second tines in said flange and a second slotted opening for receiving the other one of said first and second tines wherein said slotted opening permits the gate to swing about the post in a first direction about said slotted opening while the first opening limits swinging of the gate in a second direction opposed from the first direction and said first opening prevents swinging of the gate about said other of said first and second tines.    
     
     
         2 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein said post mounting member comprises a c-shaped member.  
     
     
         3 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein said c-shaped member includes a pair of arms, each of said arms having one of said mounting openings.  
     
     
         4 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said mounting openings comprises a non-circular opening.  
     
     
         5 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein said fastener comprises a bolt.  
     
     
         6 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said mounting openings comprises a square opening.  
     
     
         7 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein said gate mounting member comprises a c-shaped member.  
     
     
         8 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein said c-shaped member includes a pair of arms, each of said arms having a mounting opening for receiving a fastener for securing said hook member to the gate.  
     
     
         9 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said mounting openings of said gate mounting member comprises a non-circular opening.  
     
     
         10 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said mounting openings of said gate mounting member comprises a square opening.  
     
     
         11 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein said hook member further includes a c-shaped member, said first and second tines depending from said c-shaped member.  
     
     
         12 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second tines depend upwardly from said c-shaped member.  
     
     
         13 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein said base member and said hook member comprise metal members.  
     
     
         14 . A fence latch mechanism: 
 a base member for mounting to a post, said base member having a post mounting member and a flange, said post mounting member for mounting said base member to the post, and said post mounting member having a central axis;    said flange extending from said post mounting member and having a lateral extent extending transversely with respect to said post mounting member and outwardly from said central axis;    a hook member for mounting to a gate, said hook member engaging said flange for latching the gate to the post, said hook member pivotal about a generally horizontal fixed pivot axis in said flange, said fixed pivot axis offset from said central axis wherein the gate can swing about the post in a first direction from a first position about said pivot axis but cannot swing about the post from said first position in a second direction opposed from the first direction.    
     
     
         15 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein said base member comprises a c-shaped member.  
     
     
         16 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 15 , further comprising a fastener, said c-shaped member including a pair of arms, each of said arms having a mounting opening, and said fastener extending through said mounting openings for mounting said base member to the post.  
     
     
         17 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 16 , wherein said fastener comprises a bolt.  
     
     
         18 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein said hook portion includes a gate mounting member, said gate mounting member comprising a c-shaped member.  
     
     
         19 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein said hook member includes a c-shaped member and first and second tines depending from said c-shaped member, one of said tines pivotally mounting said hook portion to said flange at said fixed pivot axis.  
     
     
         20 . The fence latch mechanism according to  claim 19 , wherein said first and second tines depend upwardly from said c-shaped member.