This invention relates to door latches and is particularly directed to improved sliding door latches for use by handicapped people.
Sliding doors are often found in residences, motor homes, boats and the like, especially on closets, bathrooms and the like, and many of these doors are provided with latches for privacy, security or other reasons. However, many of the prior art sliding door latches have required that large holes or cutouts be made in the door or jamb to permit installation of the latch. Thus, these prior art sliding door latches have been difficult to install, especially as retrofits to existing doors. Consequently, none of the prior art sliding door latches have been entirely satisfactory.
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and an improved sliding door latch is provided which can be installed quickly and easily on virtually any sliding door without requiring drilling holes or making cutouts and which can easily be operated by persons of limited mobility or those confined to wheel chairs and the like.
These advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing an improved sliding door latch comprising a latch plate attached to the leading edge of the door and projecting outwardly on either side of the door to enable a person to grasp the latch plate to slide the door open or closed, and a latch arm pivotally secured to the door jamb and movable between a first unlocked position which permits the door to be opened or closed and a latched position engaging the latch plate and preventing movement of the door.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved door latch.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch for sliding doors.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved sliding door latch which can be installed quickly and easily.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved sliding door latch which can be installed quickly and easily without requiring drilling holes or making cutouts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sliding door latch which can be installed quickly and easily without requiring drilling holes or making cutouts and which can be operated by persons of limited mobility or those confined to wheel chairs and the like.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved sliding door latch comprising a latch plate attached to the leading edge of the door and projecting outwardly on either side of the door to enable a person to grasp the latch plate to slide the door open or closed, and a latch arm pivotally secured to the door jamb and movable between a first unlocked position which permits the door to be opened or closed and a latched position engaging the latch plate and preventing movement of the door.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.
In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration,
In use, to enter the room 10, the person opens the sliding door 12 by grasping access panel 28 and sliding the door 12 open. The person is then free to enter the room 10. Once in the room 10, the person grasps access panel 30 and slides the door 12 closed. If they desire to lock the door 12, they simply grasp the latch handle 48 and pull it downward, causing the latching portion 50 to engage the access panel 30 and, thus, locking the door. To open the door 12, the person simply raises latch handle 48, causing the latch portion 50 to release the access panel 30. Thereafter, the person can grasp the access panel 30 and use it to slide the door 12 open.
Obviously, numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the form of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
This invention is described in my copending Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/539,262, filed Jan. 27, 2004.
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1459812 | Zeman | Jun 1923 | A |
2749164 | Kitzelman | Jun 1956 | A |
3907344 | Newlon et al. | Sep 1975 | A |
4248461 | Stevens | Feb 1981 | A |
4461500 | van der Horst | Jul 1984 | A |
4500122 | Douglas | Feb 1985 | A |
5653483 | Grover | Aug 1997 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60539262 | Jan 2004 | US |