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1. A gate latch system comprising:
a latch line operating sub-assembly comprising;
an elongated tube of a first length greater than a thickness of a gatepost, the elongated tube having a tube outside diameter and external male threads the full first length, the elongated tube extending through a hole in the gatepost with a bore diameter greater than the tube diameter;a first tubular cap element having a cap length with a female thread from a flanged open end, the flange diameter greater than the hole bore diameter, the female thread matching the thread of the elongated tube, and a substantially closed opposite end having a central hole of a diameter to freely accommodate a latch line, the first cap element threaded onto the elongated tube with the flange bearing on a first side of the gatepost;a second tubular cap identical to the first tubular cap element, the second cap element threaded onto the elongated tube with the flange bearing on a second side of the gate post opposite the first side, such that the cap elements securely contain the elongated tube through the gatepost;a latch line having a first end and a second end, passing through the central hole in the first cap element, the elongated tube and the second cap element;a coil spring having a spring length, the coil spring surrounding the latch line within the elongated tube with a first end of the coil spring bearing on the closed end of the first cap element and a second end of the coil spring bearing on a crimp element crimped to the latch line; anda pull knob affixed to the first end of the latch line such that the pull knob bears on the closed end of the first cap element with the coil spring extended; a gravity latch mechanism comprising:
a body presenting a mounting flange to the second side of the gatepost, the mounting flange having two side-by-side vertically oriented slots allowing the body to be adjustably mounted to the second side of the gatepost at a point on a vertical centerline below the mounting of the latch line operating sub-assembly, and angled entrance for receiving a latch bar, and a slot for restraining a latch plate;a gravity-operated latch plate mounted at a pivot point in the body, with a groove for receiving and latching the latch bar by rotating around the pivot point, the latch plate having an operating arm extending about two inches upward from the pivot point at an outward angle from the gatepost, the operating arm having a planar portion facing the gatepost with a vertically-oriented slot receiving the second end of the latch line, terminated by a crimp element wider than the slot crimped to the second end, and ending in a separate planar portion oriented for a operating the latch plate manually, such that withdrawing the latch line against the coil spring lifts the latch plate; and a latch bar comprising:
a horizontally-oriented mounting base having slots for adjustably mounting the latch bar by screw fasteners to a gate adjacent the gatepost at a height to engage the latch bar with the gravity latch mechanism, a bar extension extending first outward and then parallel to the gate an extent to engage the latch plate in the gravity latch mechanism with the gate in a closed position, and a handle knob joined to the latch bar by one of the fasteners; wherein pulling on the pull knob at the first end of the latch line on one side of the gate lifts the gravity latch on the other side of the gate, allowing the gate to swing open, and the spring in the latch line sub-assembly extends the latch line when the pull knob is released, allowing the gravity latch mechanism to reposition to latch the latch bar when the gate closes again. |
