Patent ID: 7097216

Claim:
A latch assembly for a movable closure element having first and second sides, the latch assembly comprising: a housing, a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position, the first rotor engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position, the first rotor biased towards the release position; and an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position, the operating assembly comprising a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the catch block assembly engages the first rotor to thereby maintain the first rotor in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the first rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position, the catch block assembly comprising a portion that moves as one piece substantially along a first line and acts against the first rotor as the catch block assembly is changed from the engaged position into the disengaged position, the operating assembly further comprising a first actuating assembly for mounting on the first side of the movable closure element, the first actuating assembly having a first normal state and a first release state the first actuating assembly having a first element directly engaging the portion of the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from the first normal state into the first release state, the operating assembly further comprising a second actuating assembly for mounting on the second side of the movable closure element, the second actuating assembly having a second normal state and a second release state, the second actuating assembly having a second element separate from the first element directly engaging the portion of the catch block assembly, moving substantially parallel to the first line, and causing the catch block assembly to change from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the second actuating assembly changing from the second normal state into the second release state, the portion of the catch block assembly acting against the first rotor to maintain the first rotor in its latched position with the catch block assembly in the engaged position.