Patent ID: 6802546
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A convertible door latch assembly convertible between a non-locking configuration and a locking configuration, the convertible door latch assembly comprising:a bolt housing; a bolt slidably positioned within the bolt housing, the bolt having a first slot and a second slot; a dead latch stop slidably positioned in the first slot and moveable relative to the bolt when the convertible door latch is in the locking configuration, the dead latch stop being removeable when the convertible door latch is in the non-locking configuration; a drawbar slidably captured within the first slot of the bolt by the dead latch stop, the drawbar being moveable between a first retracted position, in which the drawbar and the bolt are substantially within the bolt housing, and a first extended position, in which a substantial portion of the drawbar and the bolt extend out of the bolt housing; a spring positioned in the bolt housing, the spring biasing the drawbar toward the first extended position; a plunger slidably positionable within the second slot and moveable relative to the bolt between a second extended position and a second retracted position when the convertible door latch is in the locking configuration, the plunger being removeable when the convertible door latch is in the non-locking configuration; and a pull slidably positionable within the first slot and moveable relative to the bolt when the convertible door latch is in the non-locking configuration, the pull being removeable when the convertible door latch is in the locking configuration; wherein when the convertible door latch assembly is in the locking configuration and the plunger is in the second retracted position, the dead latch stop engages the bolt housing, preventing the bolt from moving toward the bolt housing and when the plunger is in the second extended position the bolt is movable with respect to the bolt housing.