Gate Lifter Latch Pivoting Lift Arm Corrects Gate Sag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gate sag occurs over time due to the weight of the gate, making it difficult to close and latch, especially with heavy or elongated gates, as the free end drops or sags, requiring manual lifting to align the striker pin with the catch, which can be labor-intensive and unsightly solutions like struts are often ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A gate lifter latch with a pivoting lift arm that adjusts to raise the free end of the gate to its proper height upon closure, ensuring easy and effortless operation, featuring a striker assembly and catch lifting assembly that cooperate to maintain the gate in a closed position, with optional manual or automatic locking systems and universal application for various gate types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an inclined ramp surface is provided on the catch to address gate sag, then the latch can accommodate small amounts of sag, but the operation becomes difficult for heavy gates and excessive sag requires significant manual lifting effort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the static inclined ramp surface with a dynamic pivoting lift arm that can change its angle during gate closure. The lift arm pivots about a horizontal axis, allowing it to automatically adjust its position to match the degree of gate sag, thereby maintaining ease of operation across varying sag conditions without requiring significant manual lifting effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter of the latch mechanism from a fixed ramp angle to a variable angle achieved through pivoting motion. The lift arm's angle of inclination is no longer fixed but changes dynamically as the gate closes, allowing the system to adapt to different amounts of gate sag while maintaining consistent operational ease.
2Stability of the object's composition
If diagonal struts are attached to reinforce the gate and prevent sag, then structural support is provided, but the attachments are unsightly and often ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the gate reinforcement function from the gate structure itself and relocates it to the latch mechanism. Instead of adding struts to the gate to prevent sag, the latch's pivoting lift arm compensates for sag effects, thereby eliminating the need for additional structural attachments to the gate while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting lift arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the gate and the catch. Rather than directly reinforcing the gate structure with struts, the lift arm mediates the effect of gate sag by adjusting its angle to accommodate the sagged position, thereby preventing the need for direct structural modifications to the gate.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lift arm is made adjustable to account for increases in gate sag over time, then the latch adapts to increasing sag, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements adjustability through a simple pivoting mechanism that allows the lift arm to dynamically change its angle. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the latch to adapt to increasing gate sag over time without requiring complex adjustable components, as the pivoting action itself provides the necessary adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The gate lifter latch effectively corrects gate sag, allowing for easy and effortless closure with reduced effort, maintaining the gate at the correct height and providing secure locking options, while maintaining a clean appearance and versatility across different gate orientations.
Implementation Method 1
the weight of the gate results in the non-attached end of the gate opposite to the hinged side dropping or sagging
Implementation Method 2
A pivoting lift arm, angularly adjustable to account for the increases in gate sag over time
Data Source
AI summary
A gate lifter latch having a striker assembly having a striker pin, the striker assembly mounted to the free end of a gate, and a catch lifting assembly mounted to a latch post, the catch lifting assembly having a pivoting lift arm that receives a striker pin, such that during closure of the gate the pivoting lift arm pivots upward and raises the striker pin and free end of the gate. The gate lifter latch may further have a manual or automatic gate latch assembly for securement of the gate in the closed position. The components of the gate lifter latch are preferably structured such that the gate lifter latch may be disassembled and reassembled for use with either a left or right inswing or outswing gate.