Self-latching and self-locking latch system for sliding door panels

A latch assembly comprising:

• a) a support member mounted in a sliding door body, wherein the sliding door body is mounted on a door frame for movement in an interior space defined by the door frame, into and between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position;
• b) a latching arm, including:
• i) a proximal end pivotally mounted to the support member and configured to be biased toward a starting position;
• ii) an intermediate section extending through an aperture in the movable body to a position adjacent to the periphery of the sliding door body;
• iii) a distal end adjacent to the periphery of the movable body including an engagement facilitating portion extending in a substantially transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the intermediate section, the engagement facilitating portion having a sloped outer surface, wherein the engagement facilitating portion and intermediate section define a receiving space adjacent thereto;
• c) an interlocking member extending in an opposing direction with respect to the engagement facilitating portion,
• wherein movement of the sliding door body into the closed position causes the interlocking member to contact the sloped outer surface of the engagement facilitating portion, the latching arm being responsive to the contact between the sloped outer surface of the engagement facilitating portion and the interlocking member by pivoting from the starting position and returning to the starting position upon the interlocking member being received by the receiving space;
• and
• d) at least one handle extending adjacent to the exterior of the sliding door body operatively associated with the latching arm, wherein the latching arm pivots from the starting position in response to pivotal movement of the handle.