Squeeze trigger latch

A latch assembly adapted for mounting on an associated closure of the type that can be shifted between an open position and a closed position, the latch assembly comprising:

• a latch operably connected with the door, wherein the latch has a latched position and an unlatched position and a resilient member operably coupled with the latch and urging the latch to the latched position;
• a handle actuator assembly comprising an exterior housing having an inner face and an outer face, the handle actuator assembly being mounted to an exterior surface of a center mullion extending along a medial portion of a marginal frame of closure;
• and
• an external lever pivotally mounted within a recess on the outer face of the exterior housing for rotation between an external lever latched position and an external lever unlatched position, the external lever comprising a first leg, a second leg disposed at an angle relative to the first leg, and a pivot mount disposed between the first leg and the second leg, the second leg of the external lever being operably coupled with the latch via an actuator;
• wherein the latch is maintained in the latched position by the resilient member when the external lever is in the external lever latched position, whereby the closure cannot be unintentionally shifted from the closed position, and wherein the latch is displaced from the latched position to the unlatched position by the second leg of the external lever when the external lever is rotated from the external lever latched position to the external lever unlatched position, whereby the closure is free to be shifted from the closed position to the open position;
• wherein the exterior housing further comprises one or more drainage channels extending from a lower end of the recess to a lower end of the outer face;
• wherein the exterior housing further comprises a fixed external handle and the first leg of the external lever is disposed proximate the fixed external handle;
• wherein the fixed external handle is fixedly mounted to the exterior housing;
• and
• wherein the fixed external handle comprises a first end and a second end attached as a separate component to the outer face of the exterior housing, and wherein the first end comprises a slot adapted to engage a protuberance formed on the outer face of the exterior housing proximate the first end of the fixed external handle to secure the first end of the fixed external handle to the exterior housing.

A latch assembly adapted for mounting on a dropdown door assembly of the type that can be shifted between an open position and a closed position, the latch assembly comprising:

• an exterior housing having an inner face and an outer face, the latch assembly being mounted to an exterior surface of a center mullion extending along a medial portion of a marginal frame of a door opening;
• a plunger slidingly received within a plunger recess disposed on the inner face of the closure, wherein the plunger has a plunger latched position and a plunger unlatched position within the plunger recess;
• a resilient member operably coupled with the plunger and urging the plunger to the plunger latched position;
• and
• an external lever pivotally mounted within a recess on the outer face of the exterior housing for rotation between an external lever latched position and an external lever unlatched position, the external lever comprising a first leg, a second leg disposed substantially orthogonally relative to the first leg, and a pivot mount disposed between the first leg and the second leg, the second leg of the external lever being operably coupled with the plunger via an actuator rod and a connector disposed between the plunger and the actuator rod;
• wherein the plunger is maintained in the plunger latched position when the external lever is in the external lever latched position by the resilient member, whereby the closure cannot be unintentionally shifted from the closed position, and the plunger is displaced from the plunger latched position to the plunger unlatched position when the external lever is displaced from the external lever latched position to the external lever unlatched position by the second leg of the external lever bearing against the plunger, whereby the closure is free to be shifted from the closed position to the open position;
• wherein the exterior housing further comprises one or more drainage channels extending from a lower end of the recess to a lower end of the outer face;
• wherein the exterior housing further comprises a fixed external handle and the first leg of the external lever is disposed proximate the fixed external handle;
• wherein the fixed external handle is fixedly mounted to the exterior housing;
• and
• wherein the fixed external handle comprises a first end and a second end attached as a separate component to the outer face of the exterior housing, and wherein the first end comprises a slot adapted to engage a protuberance formed on the outer face of the exterior housing proximate the first end of the fixed external handle to secure the first end of the fixed external handle to the exterior housing.