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US 11,401,735 B2Granted
Sliding door latch systems and method
OwnerJack Schonbergerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sliding door latch system and method is disclosed herein. The sliding door latch system is used to prevent movement of a sliding door between a closed position and an open position relative to a fixed door frame. The device may be installed as a secondary safety latch on a sliding door having a primary latch that is located at an elevation within the reach of the child. The device may be installed at an elevation above the reach of the child, but readily within the reach of an adult user. The sliding door latch includes a latch arm located outside the sliding door to simplify installation. The latch arm is user-locatable in a latched position, a momentarily released position, and a held-in-release position.
Claims14
A sliding door latch system comprising:
- a safety-latch housing;
- a latch arm located outside the sliding door, the latch arm including
- a first end pivotally connected to an interior of the housing and configured to rotate about a pivot axis,
- an intermediate portion extending out from the first end, and
- a second end including a latch hook that rotates with the latch arm about the pivot axis between a latched position, a momentarily-released position, and a held-in-release position,
- a first actuator knob operationally coupled with the latch arm, the first actuator knob configured to enable rotation of the hook about the pivot axis between the latched position, the momentarily-released position, and the held-in-release position;
- a rotational biaser coupled to the latch arm and configured to rotationally bias the hook toward the latched position;
- a latch-arm retainer configured to retain the latch arm in the held-in-release position, wherein the latch-arm retainer comprises a latch-arm retaining wall formed within a button, the retaining wall retains the latch arm in the held-in-release position when the button is in an initial position and the wall releases the latch arm from the held-in-release position when the button is depressed;
- a latch-arm release configured to enable release of the latch arm from the held-in-release position to the latched position, wherein the latch-arm release comprises the button movable from the initial position to a depressed position that releases the latch arm the latch arm when the button is moved to the depressed position, wherein the button comprises an axial spring configured to bias the button toward the initial position and the button comprises a guide surface configured to guide the latch arm to a retained engagement position with the wall as the latch arm is rotated from the latched position to the held-in-release position;
- and
- a fixed catch member including
- a latch-hook receiver configured to receive the hook in the latched position, wherein the latch-hook receiver prevents translational movement of the latch arm and sliding movement of the door between a closed position and an open position, and
- a frame mount configured for mounting the latch-hook receiver to a fixed door frame,
- wherein
- the guide surface comprises a ramped plane oriented non-orthogonally to the pivot axis,
- the ramped plane moves the button toward the depressed position when the latch arm rotates from the latched position toward the held-in-release position;
- and
- the button moves toward the initial position when the latch arm engages with the wall at the held-in-release position.
15 more elements
A sliding door latch system for selectively preventing sliding movement of a sliding door having a primary latch the system comprising:
- a safety-latch housing;
- a latch arm located outside the door and including
- a first end pivotally connected to an interior of the housing and configured to rotate about a pivot axis,
- an intermediate portion extending out from the first end, and
- a second end including a latch hook that rotates with the latch arm about the pivot axis between a latched position, a momentarily-released position, and a held-in-release position;
- a first actuator knob coupled with the latch arm, the first actuator knob configured to enable rotation of the hook about the pivot axis between the latched position, the momentarily-released position, and the held-in-release position;
- a second actuator knob coupled with the latch arm and configured to enable rotation of the hook about the pivot axis between the latched position, the momentarily-released position, and the held-in-release position;
- a rotational biaser coupled to the latch arm and configured to rotationally bias the hook toward the latched position;
- a latch-arm retainer configured to releasably-retain the latch arm in the held-in-release position;
- a latch-arm release configured to enable release of the latch arm from the held-in-release position to the latched position;
- and
- a fixed catch member including
- a latch-hook receiver configured to receive the hook in the latched position, wherein the receiver prevents translational movement of the latch arm and sliding movement of the door when the hook is in the latched position, and
- a frame mount configured to assist mounting of the receiver to a fixed door frame;
- an outer housing plate configured to support the second actuator knob adjacent an exterior side of the door;
- a spindle shaft positioned coaxially with the pivot axis, the spindle shaft configured to rotationally couple the first actuator knob, the latch arm, and the second actuator knob;
- threaded fasteners extending through the door connected to the outer housing plate and the safety-latch housing;
- threaded anchors configured to anchor the frame mount to the fixed door frame;
- and
- the door including the primary latch,
- wherein the first actuator knob is located on an interior side of the door;
- wherein the second actuator knob is located on an exterior side;
- wherein the release comprises a button movable between an initial position and a depressed position;
- wherein the button is configured to release the latch arm from the held-in-release position when the button is moved to the depressed position;
- wherein the button comprises an axial spring configured to bias the button toward the initial position;
- wherein the retainer comprises a latch-arm retaining wall formed within the button, the wall configured to retain the latch arm in the held-in-release position when the button is located in the initial position;
- wherein the wall is configured to release the latch arm from the held-in-release position when the button is moved to the depressed position;
- wherein the button comprises a guide surface configured to guide the latch arm to a position of retained engagement with the wall as the latch arm rotates from the latched position to the held-in-release position;
- wherein the guide surface comprises a ramped plane oriented non-orthogonally to the pivot axis, the ramped plane configured move the button toward the depressed position as the latch arm rotates from the latched position toward the held-in-release position;
- wherein the button is configured to move toward the initial position when the latch arm interacts to form such retained engagement with the wall at the held-in-release position;
- wherein the latch-hook receiver comprises a U-shaped bar projecting outwardly from the frame mount;
- wherein the U-shaped bar and the latch hook and are aligned at a common elevation relative to the sliding door;
- wherein the latch hook comprises an arm-pivoting strike configured to pivot the latch arm to a position allowing the latch hook to pass over the U-shaped bar during sliding movement of the door between an open and the closed position;
- wherein the system is constructed from a material comprising any one or any combination rigid plastic, aluminum, and stainless steel;
- wherein the rotational biaser comprises a torsion spring configured to engage the latch arm and the safety-latch housing;
- wherein the latch-arm release is located on the interior side;
- and
- wherein the system is located above the primary latch.
35 more elements
A method of using a sliding door latch system on a sliding door (including a primary latch) comprising the step of preventing sliding movement of the door between a closed and an open position comprising:
- providing
- a sliding door latch system comprising
- a safety-latch housing;
- a latch arm located outside the sliding door, the latch arm including
- a first end pivotally connected to an interior of the housing and configured to rotate about a pivot axis,
- an intermediate portion extending out from the first end, and
- a second end including a latch hook that rotates with the latch arm about the pivot axis between a latched position, a momentarily-released position, and a held-in-release position,
- a first actuator knob operationally coupled with the latch arm, the first actuator knob configured to enable rotation of the hook about the pivot axis between the latched position, the momentarily-released position, and the held-in-release position;
- a rotational biaser coupled to the latch arm and configured to rotationally bias the hook toward the latched position;
- a latch-arm retainer configured to retain the latch arm in the held-in-release position, wherein the latch-arm retainer comprises a latch-arm retaining wall formed within a button, the retaining wall retains the latch arm in the held-in-release position when the button is in an initial position and the wall releases the latch arm from the held-in-release position when the button is depressed;
- a latch-arm release configured to enable release of the latch arm from the held-in-release position to the latched position, wherein the latch-arm release comprises the button movable from the initial position to a depressed position that releases the latch arm when the button is moved to the depressed position, wherein the button comprises an axial spring configured to bias the button toward the initial position and the button comprises a guide surface configured to guide the latch arm to a retained engagement position with the wall as the latch arm is rotated from the latched position to the held-in-release position;
- and
- a fixed catch member including
- a latch-hook receiver configured to receive the hook in the latched position, wherein the latch-hook receiver prevents translational movement of the latch arm and sliding movement of the door between a closed position and an open position, and
- a frame mount configured for mounting the latch-hook receiver to a fixed door frame,
- wherein
- the guide surface comprises a ramped plane oriented non-orthogonally to the pivot axis,
- the ramped plane moves the button toward the depressed position when the latch arm rotates from the latched position toward the held-in-release position;
- and
- the button moves toward the initial position when the latch arm engages with the wall at the held-in-release position;
- selecting a mounting position for mounting the system to the door;
- modifying the door to provide a passage for the spindle shaft;
- and
- mounting the system to the door including mounting the fixed catch member to a fixed door frame.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.