01
Spring bias
At rest, a stainless compression spring pushes the bolt outward into the strike. With no input, the latch sits in one state only — closed.
- Component
- compression spring, stainless
- Default state
- bolt extended, pin trapped
Mechanism
A latch that thinks one step ahead.
Sequential triple-action with auto-reset. Patent-protected mechanism in seven markets.
US Patent 10,934,749 · Protected in 7 markets
The problem
Conventional latches were never designed for this.
Standard latches were never designed to outwit a curious horse, a nudging cow, or the vibration of a trailer at 70 mph. Animals open them. Vibrations loosen them. Accidents happen.
The "animal-proof" latches that do exist tend to require two hands and a fight every time you want through a gate. They frustrate humans long before they stop the animals.
[CONFIRM: replace with hi-res 3D render]
The triple action
Three motions. One of them is a gate.
Every opening — and every closing — runs the same three actions: PUSH, ROTATE, OPEN. Skip the middle one and the spring drives the bolt straight home.
ACTION 01
PUSH
GATE ACTION 02
ROTATE
ACTION 03
OPEN / CLOSE
NO ROTATION
RESET
spring drives bolt
back to locked
Human hand
open · PUSH → ROTATE → OPEN
close · PUSH → ROTATE → CLOSE
Three actions, one motion. The L-handle is the only thing that can hold the push while delivering the rotation. Without that grip, action 02 never happens.
Animal · accident · vibration
reset · PUSH → RESET
A nose, a paw, a leaned shoulder, a bumped object — anything that can push but can't switch grip to twist. The pin gets as far as the gate, finds no rotation, and the spring sends it home. Every time.
The mechanism
Five steps, one sequence.
Each step is a discrete mechanical event. Complete the sequence with one motion and the gate opens. Interrupt the sequence at any point and the spring returns the pin to its trap.
02
Trapped pin
The pin sits inside a closed pocket at the end of the channel. Pulling, tugging or biting on the bolt does nothing — the pocket walls block any lateral retraction.
- Geometry
- closed channel terminus
- Retraction
- blocked at rest
03
The test
Push the bolt in. Now what? With the pin at the release zone, the bolt has to rotate to continue. Only a hand on the L-handle can do that — a mouth, a paw, leaned weight, a bumped object cannot grip and twist. Without rotation, the spring drives the bolt straight back through 02 to 01. The latch never half-stays open.
- User input
- push, then rotate
- → step 04
- only if the bolt rotates
- ↩ step 01
- any other input, every time
04
Release zone
On the human path. With a hand twisting the L-handle, the bolt rotates and the pin lifts out of the channel. The bolt is now free to slide and the gate can swing.
- User input
- rotate, same hand
- Pin status
- cleared, free to exit
05
Open or reset
Every cycle ends here. Whether you finished the sequence and the gate opened, or you stopped halfway and let go, the spring drives the bolt back into the strike and the pin back into the trap. The latch returns to fully locked on its own — no second step, no re-engaging, no thinking about it.
- Open
- complete sequence, bolt retracts
- Reset
- interrupt, pin returns to trap
- Decision
- continuous intent vs. interrupted
Why it's different
Side-by-side with the alternatives.
| Feature | Standard latch | "Animal-proof" | BrazLatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal-resistant | No | Yes | Yes |
| One-handed operation | Yes | No | Yes |
| Vibration-resistant | No | Varies | Yes |
| Self-resetting | No | No | Yes |
| Patent-protected mechanism | — | Varies | Yes · US10934749B2 |
Patent details
US Patent 10,934,749 B2
Sliding Bolt Latch and Use Thereof. Inventor: Alik Alexander Braz.
- · Issued and protected in the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, and India
- · Mechanism claim covers trapped-pin sequential release and auto-reset
- · International counterparts active in all seven markets
[CONFIRM: provide patent PDF for download link]
Patent coverage
Protected in 7 markets.
US10934749B2
Licensed · 2
- US United States Licensed to National Hardware
- IL Israel Inventor's home market
Open for licensing · 5
- CA Canada Recruiting partners
- AU Australia Recruiting partners
- GB United Kingdom Recruiting partners
- EU European Union Recruiting partners
- IN India Recruiting partners