Rotary lock providing positive latching indicia

A rotary lock comprising:

• a housing having first and second strike channels positioned on opposite sides of said housing and shaped respectively to receive first and second strike components;
• a latch member comprising opposing first and second strike engaging members adapted to releasably engage respectively the first and second strike components, wherein said latch member is rotatable about a rotation axis between an unlatched position, a secondary latch position and a primary latch position;
• a keeper member moveable between a disengaged position wherein said keeper member is disengaged from said latch member such that said latch member is rotatable between said primary and unlatched positions, a secondary keeper position wherein said keeper member is engaged with said latch member when said latch member is in said secondary latch position, and a primary keeper position wherein said keeper member is engaged with said latch member when said latch member is in said primary latch position;
• a lock member moveable between a lock position and an unlock position, wherein said lock member is engaged with and prevents rotation of said latch member when said latch member is in said primary latch position and said lock member is in said lock position, wherein said lock member is disengaged from said latch member when said lock member is in said unlock position;
• and
• a lock blocker rotatable about said rotation axis between an engaged position, wherein said lock blocker engages said lock member and prevents said lock member from being moved to said lock position when said latch member is in said secondary latch position, and a disengaged position, wherein said lock blocker does not impede the movement of said lock member to said lock position.

A method of locking a sliding door in an open or closed position comprising:

• moving a sliding door comprising a rotary latch relative to a door opening having first and second strike members;
• disposing one of said first and second strike elements through one of a first and second strike channel formed in said rotary latch and thereby rotating a latch member with said one of said first and second strike elements from an unlatched position to a secondary latch position;
• engaging a keeper member with said latch member as said latch member is rotated to said secondary latch position disengaging said keeper member from said latch member such that said latch member is rotatable between said primary and unlatched positions;
• preventing a lock member from moving to a lock position when said latch member is in said secondary latch position and thereby providing indicia that said latch member is not in a primary latch position, wherein said preventing said lock member from moving to said lock position when said secondary latch position comprises engaging said lock member with a lock blocker, and wherein said moving said lock member to said lock position comprises disengaging said lock blocker from said lock member;
• rotating said latch member with said one of said first and second strike elements from said secondary latch position to said primary latch position;
• engaging said keeper member with said latch member as said latch member is rotated from said secondary latch position to said primary latch position;
• and
• moving said lock member to a lock position and thereby engaging said latch member with said lock member when said latch member is in said primary latch position.

A rotary lock comprising:

• a housing having a strike channel shaped to receive a strike component;
• a latch member comprising at least one strike engaging member adapted to releasably engage the strike component, wherein said latch member is rotatable about a rotation axis between an unlatched position, a secondary latch position and a primary latch position;
• a keeper member moveable between a disengaged position wherein said keeper member is disengaged from said latch member, a secondary keeper position wherein said keeper member is engaged with said latch member when said latch member is in said secondary latch position, and a primary keeper position wherein said keeper member is engaged with said latch member when said latch member is in said primary latch position
• a lock member moveable between a lock position and an unlock position, wherein said lock member is engaged with and prevents rotation of said latch member when said latch member is in said primary latch position and said lock member is in said lock position, wherein said lock member is disengaged from said latch member when said lock member is in said unlock position;
• an exterior lock actuator moveable between a neutral position and a lock position, wherein said lock member is moveable to said lock position in response to said exterior lock actuator being moved to said lock position, and wherein said exterior lock actuator is non-moveable to said lock position when said latch member is in said secondary latch position;
• and
• a lock blocker moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said lock blocker engages said lock member and prevents said lock member from being moved to said lock position when said latch member is in said secondary latch position and said lock blocker is in said engaged position, and wherein said lock blocker does not impede the movement of said lock member to said lock position when said lock blocker is in said disengaged position.