Sliding door latch with self-retracting finger pull

A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:

• a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;
• b) self-latching deadbolt means associated with said housing for engaging with the strike plate means:
• c) self-retracting finger pull means associated with said self-latching deadbolt means for accessing the sliding door from within a surrounding framework, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises:
• i) a finger pull member having first and second ends:
• ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;
• iii) self-retraction means within said self-latching deadbolt means for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member, wherein said self-retraction means comprises:
• a plunger member fitted within a receiving aperture formed in said self-latching deadbolt means;
• plunger biasing means coupled between said plunger member and said receiving aperture;
• a continuous channel formed in said plunger member;
• and
• channel following means for locking said plunger in a retracted position and for retaining said plunger in an extended position;
• and
• iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means;
• and
• d) deadbolt extension means associated with said housing for sliding said self-latching deadbolt means between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means.

A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:

• a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;
• b) a deadbolt assembly comprising:
• i) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;
• ii) a lever having first and second ends;
• iii) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means;
• iv) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;
• v) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadbolt member;
• and
• vi) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end;
• c) self-retracting finger pull means associated with said self-latching deadbolt means for accessing the sliding door from within a surrounding framework;
• wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises:
• i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;
• ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;
• iii) self-retraction means within said self-latching deadbolt means for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member;
• and
• iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means;
• and
• d) deadbolt extension means for sliding said deadbolt assembly between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means.

A self-latching deadbolt assembly for mounting in a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:

• a) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;
• b) a lever having first and second ends;
• c) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means, wherein said hooking means comprises a hook formed in said lever proximate said lever first end;
• d) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;
• e) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadbolt member;
• f) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring fitted within said channel that cooperates with said pivoting means;
• g) guide means for aiding in directing the motion of said lever;
• and
• h) self-retracting finger pull means for accessing said sliding door from within a surrounding framework, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises:
• i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;
• ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;
• iii) self-retraction means within said self-latching deadbolt means for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member;
• and
• iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means.

A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:

• a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;
• b) self-latching deadbolt means associated with said housing for engaging with the strike plate means comprising a deadbolt assembly comprising:
• i) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;
• ii) a lever having first and second ends;
• iii) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means;
• iv) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;
• v) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadbolt member;
• vi) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end;
• and
• vii) guide means for aiding in directing the motion of said lever;
• c) deadbolt extension means associated with said housing for sliding said self-latching deadbolt means between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means;
• and
• d) self-retracting finger pull means for accessing said sliding door, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises:
• i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;
• ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;
• iii) self-retraction means within said sliding deadbolt member for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member;
• and
• iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means.

A latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and engaging with a strike plate means, comprising:

• a) a housing for fitting within the sliding door;
• b) self-latching deadbolt means associated with said housing for engaging with the strike plate means comprising a deadbolt assembly comprising:
• i) a sliding deadbolt member having first and second ends;
• ii) a lever having first and second ends;
• iii) hooking means associated with said lever first end for engaging the strike plate means, wherein said hooking means comprises a hook formed in said lever proximate said lever first end;
• iv) a channel formed within said lever extending from proximate said lever second end towards said lever first end;
• v) pivoting means for connecting said lever by said channel to said deadbolt member;
• vi) biasing means for providing a variable point of pivoting within said channel whereby said pivoting varies from proximate said lever second end toward said lever first end and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring fitted within said channel that cooperates with said pivoting means;
• and
• vii) guide means for aiding in directing the motion of said lever, wherein said guide means comprises:
• a guide aperture formed in said lever;
• a guide pin that fits within said guide aperture;
• a guide pin receiving aperture formed in said deadbolt member which secures said guide pin within said guide aperture;
• c) deadbolt extension means associated with said housing for sliding said self-latching deadbolt means between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike plate means;
• and
• d) self-retracting finger pull means for accessing said sliding door from within a surrounding framework,, wherein said self-retracting finger pull means comprises:
• i) a finger pull member having first and second ends;
• ii) finger grasping means proximate said finger pull member first end;
• iii) self-retraction means within said sliding deadbolt member for providing access to said finger pull member and for retracting said finger pull member;
• and
• iv) finger pull attachment means proximate said finger pull member second end for providing a hinged connection to said self-retraction means.