Gate Latching solution
The client has use of one arm and one leg, and uses a mobility scooter to leave the house. They needed to open and close a side-passage gate but could not operate the latch from the scooter seat. An adaptation was made to the latch so that the gate could be opened and shut from the scooter seat. This has greatly increased the client’s ability to go out and enjoy the outdoors.
The Challenge
The client wants to leave their house on their mobility scooter, which is housed outdoors in a covered side passage. The difficulty is that the exit gate for the passage is fitted with a ring operated latch, which could not be reached and turned from the scooter seat. The client could not get off the seat to open the gate due to restricted space and mobility. The gate would also have to be closed by the client after passing through. A commercial solution might be found in an electric operated gate but the cost would be very high and the fact that the house is local authority owned would cause complications and delays.
The solution
To open the gate, the solution was to attach a horizontal aluminium paddle to the existing gate latch arm, which could be reached and lifted by the tip of a walking stick held by the client while seated on his scooter. The paddle was cut and shaped from an aluminium L section and bolted to the steel latch arm via holes drilled and tapped. A shallow overhanging hook feature was added to the paddle so the gate could be pulled open with the stick tip once unlatched. After driving through, the client reverses the walking stick and hooks the top of the gate to pull it closed. The latch is a self-closing type so needs only a gentle slam to shut the gate. To enable re-opening of the gate from the outside, the standard ring handle was replaced with a second lever and paddle assembly. This is tapped downward to release the catch, and the gate is then pushed open with the walking stick. The solution solves the problem albeit with less convenience than a full electric system but at much lower cost. It will require follow up visits to check for loosening and general condition, because the gate is very heavily used by carers and health visitors and is made from cheap softwood which will deteriorate.
The benefit
The client is now able to leave the house far more easily to go out into the neighbourhood and enjoy being outdoors. He was very pleased with the solution which increased his mobility.
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