Latch assembly for movable closure element

A latch assembly for a movable closure element having first and second sides, the latch assembly comprising:

• a housing,
• a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position,
• the first rotor engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position,
• the first rotor biased towards the release position;
• and
• an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position,
• the operating assembly comprising a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the first rotor is maintained in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position,
• the catch block assembly comprising a portion that moves as one piece substantially along a first line as the catch block assembly is changed from the engaged position into the disengaged position,
• the operating assembly further comprising a first actuating assembly for mounting on the first side of the movable closure,
• the first actuating assembly having a first normal state and a first release state,
• the first actuating assembly having a first element directly engaging the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from the first normal state into the first release state,
• the operating assembly further comprising a second actuating assembly for mounting on the second side of the movable closure element, the second actuating assembly having a second normal state and a second release state,
• the second actuating assembly having a second element separate from the first element directly engaging the portion of the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the second actuating assembly changing from the second normal state into the second release state,
• the portion of the catch block assembly acting against the first rotor to maintain the first rotor in its latched position with the catch block assembly in the engaged position,
• wherein the first rotor is movable between the latched position and release position around a first axis,
• wherein the operating assembly comprises a catch arm that is pivotable relative to the housing about a second axis between first and second positions and the catch block assembly is mounted to the catch arm and is movable pivotably relative to the catch arm around a third axis.

A latch assembly for a movable closure element having first and second sides, the latch assembly comprising:

• a housing,
• a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position,
• the first rotor engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position,
• the first rotor biased towards the release position;
• and
• an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position,
• the operating assembly comprising a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the first rotor is maintained in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position,
• the catch block assembly comprising a portion that moves as one piece substantially along a first line as the catch block assembly is changed from the engaged position into the disengaged position,
• the operating assembly further comprising a first actuating assembly for mounting on the first side of the movable closure,
• the first actuating assembly having a first normal state and a first release state,
• the first actuating assembly having a first element directly engaging the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from the first normal state into the first release state,
• the operating assembly further comprising a second actuating assembly for mounting on the second side of the movable closure element, the second actuating assembly having a second normal state and a second release state,
• the second actuating assembly having a second element separate from the first element directly engaging the portion of the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the second actuating assembly changing from the second normal state into the second release state,
• the portion of the catch block assembly acting against the first rotor to maintain the first rotor in its latched position with the catch block assembly in the engaged position,
• wherein the first actuating assembly comprises a flat mounting surface to abut to the first side of the movable closure element and a cantilevered connecting element which projects past the mounting surface and engages the catch block assembly.

A latch assembly for a movable closure element having first and second sides, the latch assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position,
• the first rotor engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position,
• the first rotor biased towards the release position;
• and
• an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position,
• the operating assembly comprising a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the catch block assembly engages the first rotor to thereby maintain the first rotor in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the first rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position,
• the catch block assembly comprising a portion that moves as one piece substantially along a first line and acts against the first rotor as the catch block assembly is changed from the engaged position into the disengaged position,
• the operating assembly comprising a first actuating assembly for mounting on the first side of the movable closure,
• the first actuating assembly having a first normal state and a first release state,
• the first actuating assembly comprising a mounting surface to abut to the first side of the movable closure and a projecting element which projects past the mounting surface and engages the portion of the catch block assembly,
• wherein the first actuating assembly comprises a mounting base which defines the mounting surface and a first actuating handle which is pivotably attached to the base for movement about a first axis between normal and release positions,
• wherein the first actuating handle is U-shaped and defined by a graspable base and spaced first and second legs,
• wherein the first leg is pivotably attached to the mounting base and the projecting element is in a fixed position on the second leg so that as the actuating handle is pivoted from the normal position into the release position the projecting element moves substantially parallel to the first line as one piece with the second leg and cause the rotor to be changed from the latched position into the release position.

A latch assembly for a movable closure element having first and second sides, the latch assembly comprising:

• a housing,
• a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position,
• the first rotor engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position,
• the first rotor biased towards the release position;
• and
• an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position,
• the operating assembly comprising a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the catch block assembly engages the first rotor to thereby maintain the first rotor in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the first rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position,
• the catch block assembly comprising a portion that moves as one piece substantially along a first line and acts against the rotor as the catch block assembly is changed from the engaged position into the disengaged position,
• the operating assembly further comprising a first actuating assembly for mounting on the first side of the movable closure,
• the first actuating assembly having a first normal state and a first release state,
• the first actuating assembly having a first element directly engaging the portion of the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from the first normal state into the first release state.

In combination:

• a) a latch assembly for a movable closure element having first and second sides, the latch assembly comprising:
• a housing,
• a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position,
• the first rotor engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position,
• the first rotor biased towards the release position;
• and
• an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position,
• the operating assembly comprising a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the first rotor is maintained in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position,
• the catch block assembly comprising a portion that moves as one piece substantially along a first line and acts against the first rotor as the catch block assembly is changed from the engaged position into the disengaged position,
• the operating assembly further comprising a first actuating assembly for mounting on the first side of the movable closure,
• the first actuating assembly having a first normal state and a first release state,
• the first actuating assembly having a first element directly engaging the portion of the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from the first normal state into the first release state;
• and
• b) a movable closure element having first and second sides,
• one of the first and second sides defined by a flat surface to which the first actuating assembly is mounted,
• wherein the first line is substantially perpendicular to a plane containing the flat surface.