Patent ID: 8177266

Claim:
A door latch assembly for engagement in a mounted position to a side edge of a door operatively engaged to close into a surrounding doorjamb, comprising: a latch member, said latch member having a first end and a distal end; a casing, said first end of said latch member engaged with said casing; a slot, said slot being formed into a sidewall of said casing; said slot providing means for engagement of said first end of said latch member upon or immediately adjacent to said side edge of a door in an engaged position, said slot sized for a frictional engagement over said side surface, said frictional engagement sufficient to maintain said latch member in said engaged position; said latch member in said engaged position, extending at an angle away from said door edge and toward said doorjamb for a distance positioning said distal end to continuously contact said doorjamb as said door moves from an open position toward a closed position surrounded by said doorjamb; a curved portion on said distal end of said latch member extending generally traverse to the direction of said latch member, said curved portion providing a contact surface for said distal end of said latch member with said doorjamb; said contact surface of said curved portion providing a first means to deflect said distal end toward said side edge of said door and over a door frame stop projecting above a surface of said doorjamb as said door is rotated toward said closed position; a hook portion of said curved portion, said hook portion providing means to engage said latch member against a first side surface of said door frame, said first side surface being on a side opposite from the direction of said door moving toward said closed position; said hook portion engaged against said first side surface providing a lock to maintain said door in a secured position by preventing rotation of said door toward said open position; said casing having an exterior perimeter edge; said edge in a contact with said doorjamb when said door is in said secured position; said contact with said doorjamb preventing rotation of said door toward said closed position thereby defining a gap between said door side edge, and said doorjamb; and said gap providing means for ventilation and sound transmission through said doorjamb.