View Single Post
  #10  
Old 17-02-2017, 03:05 PM
Larryp's Avatar
Larryp (Laurie)
Registered User

Larryp is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 5,244
We installed a pool back in the '80s, and had a pool fence with 2 gates erected around it. The latch consisted of a round tapered arrow head on the gate which passed through a hole in the gate post, and there was a spring loaded plate which sprung down behind the arrow head to lock the gate. Opening the gate meant pulling up on a knob on top of the gate post-pretty much the standard latch at that time.
My 2 year old son could easily open the gate by bouncing up and down on the bottom of the gate frame. The spring closing hinges had enough vertical play when he did this, that the arrow head would momentarily push the spring loaded plate up enough for the gate to open.
We called the fence installers and they worked out that by fitting right angle brackets to the gate posts just under the gate frame, it would prevent enough vertical movement to open the gate.
We also called the local council to inform them of this dangerous problem, and they could not even be bothered to come and look at it!
Reply With Quote