Sliding door latch systems and method

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 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 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 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 arm and configured to rotationally bias the hook toward the latched position;
• a latch-arm retainer configured to releasably-retain the arm in the held-in-release position;
• a latch-arm release configured to enable release of the 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 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 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 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 arm in the held-in-release position when the button is located in the initial position;
• wherein the wall is configured to release the 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 arm to a position of retained engagement with the wall as the 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 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 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 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 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.