Locking device for sliding panels

A locking device for a sliding panel comprising:

• a lock assembly received in a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in an edge of the sliding panel for contact with a closure member, and
• a latch member adapted to be mounted in said closure member;
• said lock assembly including:
• a lock bolt having a first end and a second end and being slidable within said housing and biassed by spring means in a first direction towards said closure member, and
• abutment means fixed in said housing and having a first cam surface and a second cam surface,
• said first end of said lock bolt and said abutment means defining a space therebetween;
• said latch member including first and second cam surfaces and being pivotedly mounted so as to be resiliently urged from an inoperative first position towards an operative second position;
• wherein sliding said panel towards a closed position against said closure member causes said first cam surface of said abutment means to initially slidably engage said first cam surface of said latch member to move said latch member to said first position, said latch member in said first position abutting said first end of said lock bolt to force said latch member in a second direction opposite to said first direction, thereby giving said latch member access to said space and enabling said latch member to pivot towards its operative position, said second cam surface of said latch member sliding against said second cam surface of said abutment means, said latch member in the operative position within said space releasing said lock bolt to be spring biassed in said first direction to positively prevent pivoting of said latch member towards the first position, thereby retaining said second cam surface of said latch member in engagement with said second cam surface of said abutment means.