Patent ID: 6485069
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A door latch assembly including a latch bolt, internally mountable within a door having an outer edge through which the latch bolt can be extended and an adjacent cutout in which the latch assembly is mounted, comprising:i) a generally tubular casing having an inner and outer surface, a longitudinal axis, open on one longitudinal end and on the opposite longitudinal end is formed an attachment plate, the attachment plate further defining lateral recessed prongs aligned with the longitudinal axis of the casing, the casing further having grooves defined on its open end, which grooves are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the casing and the recessed prongs, the inner surface of the casing defining a guide bore for receipt and movement of a latch bolt therein; ii) a latch bolt of single piece construction, with a latch head formed at one end and a grasp formed at the other end, the latch bolt being slidably mounted through the open end of the tubular casing with sufficient travel for the latch head to be moved to an extended position, with the latch head protruding through the attachment plate for latching engagement with an associated striker plate, the grasp being accessible through the door cutout for manually retracting the latch bolt into the casing; iii) and elastic means attached to the recessed prongs, and extending around the casing, through the grooves into engagement with the grasp end of the latch bolt to bias the latch bolt into its extended position, yet permitting manual retraction of the latch bolt within the casing.