Sliding door latch with self-retracting finger pull

Abstract

A sliding door deadbolt assembly containing a self-retracting finger pull mechanism is described. Provided is a latch assembly having a self-latching deadbolt assembly for mounting to a sliding door and latching with a strike plate mounted in a door frame and a self-retracting finger pull mechanism for accessing the sliding door from within a surrounding framework. Specified are a housing for fitting within the sliding door, a self-latching deadbolt for engaging with the strike plate means, a mechanism for sliding the self-latching deadbolt between a nonengaging position and an engaging position for latching with the strike plate, and a self-retracting finger pull mechanism comprising a finger pull member having first and second ends, a finger grasping recess proximate the finger pull member first end, a self-retracting finger pull mechanism within the self-latching deadbolt for providing access to the finger pull member and for retracting the finger pull member, and a finger pull attachment located proximate the finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to the self-retracting finger pull mechanism.

1. A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:
 a) housing for fitting within the sliding door;  
 b) deadbolt means associated with said housing for engaging with the strike plate means; and  
 c) self-retracting finger pull means associated with said deadbolt means for accessing the sliding door from within a surrounding framework, wherein said selfretracting finger pull means comprises: 
 i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;  
 ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;  
 iii) self-retraction means within said deadbolt means for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member, wherein said self-retraction means comprises: 
 a plunger member fitted within a receiving aperture formed in said deadbolt means;  
 plunger biasing means coupled between said plunger member and said receiving aperture;  
 a continuous channel formed in said plunger member; and  
 channel following means for locking said plunger in a retracted position and for retaining said plunger in an extended position, and  
 
 iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means.  
 
 
     
     
       2. A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:
 a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;  
 b) self-latching deadbolt means associated with said housing for engaging with the strike plate means;  
 c) self-retracting finger pull means associated with said self-latching deadbolt means for accessing the sliding door from within a surrounding framework, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises: 
 i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;  
 ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;  
 iii) self-retraction means within said self-latching deadbolt means for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member, wherein said self-retraction means comprises: 
 a plunger member fitted within a receiving aperture formed in said self-latching deadbolt means;  
 plunger biasing means coupled between said plunger member and said receiving aperture;  
 a continuous channel formed in said plunger member; and  
 channel following means for locking said plunger in a retracted position and for retaining said plunger in an extended position; and  
 
 iv) finger pull attachment means proximate and finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means; and  
 
 d) deadbolt extension means associated with said housing for sliding said self-latching deadbolt means between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means.  
 
     
     
       3. A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:
 a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;  
 b) a deadbolt assembly comprising: 
 i) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;  
 ii) a lever having first and second ends;  
 iii) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means;  
 iv) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;  
 v) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadlock member; and  
 vi) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end;  
 
 c) self-retracting finger pull means associated with said self-latching deadbolt means for accessing the sliding door from within a surrounding framework; wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises: 
 i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;  
 ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;  
 iii) self-retraction means within said self-latching deadbolt means for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member; and  
 iv) finger pull attaching means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means; and  
 
 d) deadbolt extension means for sliding and deadbolt assembly between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means.  
 
     
     
       4. A latch assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said self-retraction means comprises:
 a) a plunger member fitted within a receiving aperture formed in said self-latching deadbolt means;  
 b) plunger biasing means coupled between said plunger member and said receiving aperture;  
 c) a continuous channel formed in said plunger member; and  
 d) channel following means for locking said plunger in a retracted position and for retaining said plunger in an extended position.  
 
     
     
       5. A self-latching deadbolt assembly for mounting in a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:
 a) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;  
 b) a lever having first and second ends;  
 c) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means, wherein said hooking means comprises a hook formed in said lever proximate said lever first end;  
 d) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;  
 e) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadbolt member;  
 f) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring fitted within said channel the cooperates with said pivoting means;  
 g) guide means for aiding in directing the motion of said lever; and  
 h) self-retracting finger pull means for accessing said sliding door from within a surrounding framework, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises: 
 i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;  
 ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;  
 iii) self-retraction means within said self-latching deadbolt means for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member; and  
 iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means.  
 
 
     
     
       6. A self-latching deadbolt assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said self-retracting means comprises:
 a) a plunger member fitted within a receiving aperture formed in said self-latching deadbolt means;  
 b) plunger biasing means coupled between said plunger member and said receiving aperture;  
 c) a continuous channel formed in said plunger member; and  
 d) channel following means for locking said in a retracted position and for retaining said plunger in an extended position.  
 
     
     
       7. A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:
 a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;  
 b) self-latching deadbolt means associated with said housing for engaging with the strike plate means comprising a deadbolt assembly comprising: 
 i) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;  
 ii) a lever having first and second ends;  
 iii) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means;  
 iv) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;  
 v) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadbolt member;  
 vi) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end; and  
 vii) guide means for aiding in directing the motion of said lever;  
 
 c) deadbolt extension means associated with said housing for sliding said self-latching deadbolt means between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means; and  
 d) self-retracting finger pull means for accessing said sliding door, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises: 
 i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;  
 ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;  
 iii) self-retraction means within said sliding deadbolt member for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member, and  
 iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retracting means.  
 
 
     
     
       8. A self-latching deadbolt assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said self-retraction means comprises:
 a) a plunger member fitted within a receiving aperture formed in said sliding deadbolt member;  
 b) plunger biasing means coupled between said plunger member and said receiving aperture;  
 c) a continuous channel formed in said plunger member; and  
 d) a channel following means for locking said plunger in a retracted position and for retaining said plunger in an extended position.  
 
     
     
       9. A latch assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said channel following means comprises:
 a) an elongated channel following member having first and second ends;  
 b) a channel following finger formed at said first elongated channel following member end;  
 c) elongated channel following member biasing means associated with said second elongated channel following member end; and  
 d) anchoring means for securing said elongated channel following member biasing means and said second elongated channel following member end proximate said receiving aperture formed in said sliding deadblock member.  
 
     
     
       10. A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike-late means, comprising:
 a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;  
 b) self-latching deadbolt means associated with said housing for engaging with the strike plate means comprising a deadbolt assembly comprising: 
 i) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;  
 ii) a lever having first and second ends;  
 iii) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means, wherein said hooking means comprises a hook formed in said lever proximate said lever first end;  
 iv) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;  
 v) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadbolt member;  
 vi) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring fitted within said channel that cooperates with said pivoting means; and  
 vii) guide means for aiding in directing the motion of said lever, wherein said guide means comprises: 
 a guide aperture formed in said lever;  
 a guide pin that fits within said guide aperture;  
 a guide pin receiving aperture formed in said deadbolt member which secures said guide pin within said guide aperture;  
 
 
 c) deadbolt extension means associated with said housing for sliding said self-latching deadbolt means between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means; and  
 d) self-retracting finger pull means for accessing said sliding door from within a surrounding framework, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises: 
 i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;  
 ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;  
 iii) self-retraction means within said sliding deadbolt member for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member; and  
 iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means.  
 
 
     
     
       11. A self-latching deadbolt assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said self-retraction means comprises:
 a) a plunger member fitted within a received aperture formed in said sliding deadbolt member;  
 b) plunger biasing means coupled between said plunger member and said receiving aperture;  
 c) a continuous channel formed in said plunger member; and  
 d) channel following means for locking said plunger in a retracted position and for retaining said plunger in an extended position.  
 
     
     
       12. A latch assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said channel following means comprises:
 a) an elongated channel following member having first and second ends;  
 b) a channel following finger formed at said first elongated channel following member end;  
 c) elongated channel following member biasing means associated with said second elongated channel following member end; and  
 d) anchoring means for securing said elongated channel following member biasing means and said second elongated channel following member end proximate said receiving aperture formed in said sliding deadbolt member.  
 
     
     
       13. A latch assembly comprising:
   a latch housing;        a deadbolt slideably positionable in the latch housing; and        a pull, coupled to a distal end of the deadbolt and positionable relative to the deadbolt, including a finger pull member and a self retraction mechanism,        wherein the self - retraction mechanism includes:      a plunger member coupled to the finger pull member and fitted within a receiving aperture formed in the deadbolt;        a biasing member coupled between the plunger member and the receiving aperture;        a continuous channel formed in the plunger member; and        a channel follower coupled to the plunger member for locking the plunger member in a retracted position and for retaining the plunger member in an extended position.       
     
     
       14. The latch assembly of  claim 13  wherein the pull includes a finger pull member pivotally coupled to the distal end of the deadbolt and rotatably positionable between a stowed position and a use position. 
     
     
       15. The latch assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the finger pull member includes a tab extending therefrom which is received within a slot formed in the distal end of the deadbolt when the finger pull member is in the stowed position. 
     
     
       16. The latch assembly of  claim 13  wherein the finger pull member is coupled to the plunger member for reciprocating movement relative to the deadbolt. 
     
     
       17. The latch assembly of  claim 16  wherein the finger pull member is pivotally coupled to a distal end of the plunger member and rotatably positionable between a stowed position and a use position. 
     
     
       18. The latch assembly of  claim 17  wherein the finger pull member includes a tab extending therefrom which is received within a slot formed in the distal end of the deadbolt when the finger pull member is in the stowed position and the plunger member is in the retracted position. 
     
     
       19. A latch assembly comprising:
   a latch housing;        a deadbolt slideably positionable in the latch housing; and        a pull, coupled to a distal end of the deadbolt and positionable relative to the deadbolt, including a finger pull member and a self retraction mechanism,        wherein the self - retraction mechanism includes:      a plunger member coupled to the finger pull member and fitted within a receiving aperture formed in the deadbolt; and        a channel follower coupled to the plunger member for locking the plunger member in a retracted position and for retaining the plunger member in an extended position.       
     
     
       20. The latch assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the self- retraction mechanism further comprises a biasing member, coupled between the plunger member and the receiving aperture, for biasing the plunger member towards the extended position.   
     
     
       21. The latch assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the self- retraction mechanism further comprises a continuous channel formed in the plunger member.   
     
     
       22. The latch assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the finger pull member is coupled to the plunger member for reciprocating movement relative to the deadbolt. 
     
     
       23. The latch assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the finger pull member is pivotally coupled to a distal end of the plunger member and rotatably positionable between a stowed position and a use position. 
     
     
       24. The latch assembly of  claim 23  wherein the finger pull member includes a tab extending therefrom which is received within a slot formed in the distal end of the deadbolt when the finger pull member is in the stowed position and the plunger member is in the retracted position.