Patent ID: 8186189

Claim:
A latching structure for use with a door having a door frame, the latching structure comprising: a primary latch assembly integrated with the door frame, the primary latch assembly comprising, a latch rotatable between a locked position in which the latch is in an extended position configured to engage the door frame and an unlocked position in which the latch is in a retracted position configured to be disengaged from the door frame; a pivoting backing plate operably coupled to the latch such that pivoting of the backing plate causes the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, the backing plate having a T-shaped slot formed by a crossing portion and a line portion intersecting the crossing portion; a rotatable actuator operably coupled to a pivoting backing plate such that rotation of the actuator causes the backing plate to pivot, thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position; a key cylinder having a cylinder which rotates about a cylinder axis; and a cam coupled to the cylinder and offset from the cylinder axis, the cam disposed within the T-shaped slot of the backing plate such that rotation of the cam via rotation of the cylinder causes the backing plate to pivot thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the cam pushes the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the line portion of the T-shaped slot and the cam does not push the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the crossing portion of the T-shaped slot; a secondary latch assembly integrated with the door frame; and a linkage including a flat bar portion and projections extending from respective one of each of two longitudinal sides of the flat bar portion, wherein the linkage operably connects the primary and secondary latch assemblies such that the latch assemblies operate substantially in unison wherein each projection includes an ear extending perpendicularly therefrom, wherein the ears are attached to the secondary latch assembly and configured to urge the link away from the secondary latch assembly and towards the door frame.