Access door with inside latch release

A method of latching and unlatching a walled enclosure access door for quick release from within the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:

• pivotably mounting a door on a door frame for swinging between open and closed positions;
• mounting a yoke onto the door;
• providing a latch handle inside the enclosure, the latch handle having a pistol-type grip at one end and a forked cam at the other end with a catch pin mounted therein;
• providing a striker with a latching hook at one end;
• inserting the latching hook end into the enclosure;
• positioning the latch handle with the pistol-type grip end abutting the inside of the enclosure wall and the catch pin engaging the latching hook;
• pushing the door to its closed position for engagement with the other end of the striker;
• applying inward pressure to the exterior of the door while the door is in the closed position;
• and
• if necessary, unlatching the door from within the enclosure by rotating the latch handle away from the enclosure wall thereby causing the catch pin to disengage itself from the latching hook with the latching hook being removed from the enclosure as the door is pushed open.

A quick-release latch mechanism for use with an access door for a walled enclosure, the door having inner and outer sides and being pivotably mounted on a door frame for swinging between open and closed positions, the latch comprising:

• a striker having a proximal end located on the outer side of the door and a distal end slidably extending into the enclosure through a corresponding slot formed in the door frame, wherein the proximal end of the striker includes a threaded member pivotably mounted thereon;
• a keeper located within the enclosure adjacent the inner side of the door and adapted to releasably engage and be captively held by the striker when the door is in the closed position, the keeper being manually operable from within the enclosure if necessary to unlatch the door and cause removal of the striker from the slot as the door is pushed open;
• and
• a turning handle threadably engaged with the threaded member of the striker to apply inward pressure to the exterior of the door while the door is in the closed position.

A method of latching and unlatching a walled enclosure access door for quick release from within the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:

• pivotably mounting the door on a door frame for swinging between open and closed positions;
• mounting a yoke onto the door;
• providing a latch handle inside the enclosure, the latch handle having a pistol-type grip at one end and a forked cam at the other end with a catch pin mounted therein;
• providing a striker with a latching hook at one end;
• inserting the latching hook end into the enclosure;
• positioning the latch handle with the pistol-type grip end abutting the inside of the enclosure wall and the catch pin engaging the latching hook;
• pushing the door to its closed position for engagement with the other end of the striker;
• applying inward pressure to the exterior of the door while the door is in the closed position, wherein the step of applying inward pressure to the exterior of the door includes meshing the yoke with the striker;
• and
• if necessary, unlatching the door from within the enclosure by rotating the latch handle away from the enclosure wall thereby causing the catch pin to disengage itself from the latching hook with the latching hook being removed from the enclosure as the door is pushed open.