Patent ID: 6962374

Claim:
A lockable sliding door assembly comprising: a sliding door movable between an open position and a closed position; and a lock system mounted in the sliding door, the lock system comprising: a lock operator movable between an unlocked position and a locked position by a handle, the lock operator comprising at least one gear portion coupled to the handle by a shaft; a lock inhibitor mechanism comprising a member engaged with the lock operator in a first extended position on when the sliding door is open to prevent movement of the lock operator into a locked position, and disengaged from the lock operator in a second retracted position when the sliding door is closed, such that the lock operator can move between the unlocked and the locked position only when the member is in the second retracted position and rotation of the handle moves the lock operator into the locked position when the sliding door is closed; a biasing mechanism that biases the member to engage the lock inhibitor mechanism with the lock operator, whenever the sliding door is open, to retain the lock operator in the unlocked position; and a movable switch on the sliding door assembly that selectively engages the member to provide first and second modes of operation wherein the member is moveable between the first and the second positions in the first mode of operation, and the member is retained in the second position in the second mode of operation by the switch.