Patent ID: 8491022

Claim:
A sliding door latch for use with a sliding door including a first sash having a front surface, the sliding door configured to be opened and closed by opening and closing the first sash relative to a door jamb, the sliding door latch comprising: a handle having a gripping portion and a pivotally secured portion defining a handle pivot axis, the handle pivot axis being substantially parallel to and spaced a distance from the front surface of the first sash; a housing operatively connected to the handle; a coupling mechanism secured to the handle; a mortise mechanism operatively coupled to the coupling mechanism, the mortise mechanism including at least one member configured to engage a portion of the door jamb to releasably lock the first sash to the door jamb; and the handle being pivotable about the handle pivot axis from a first position in a direction away from the front surface of the first sash and toward the door jamb to a second position, the handle engaging the coupling mechanism to operatively disengage the at least one member of the mortise mechanism from the door jamb when the handle is moved from the first position to the second position; wherein unlocking the door by pivoting the handle from the first position to the second position is substantially accomplished by rotating the handle about the handle pivot axis toward the door jamb that disengages the at least one member of the mortise mechanism from the door jamb and opening the sliding door is substantially accomplished by pushing the handle in the direction to move the first sash from closed to open in a direction away from the door jamb; wherein the handle is further configured to receive a force in the direction to move the first sash from open to closed in order to close the sliding door and then to be pivoted from the second position to the first position by applying a force to the handle that includes a vector component toward the front surface of the first sash and a vector component in the direction opposite the direction to move the first sash from open to closed in order to lock the sliding door latch.