AU2014218405A1 - Folding door latch and lock assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification discloses a latch assembly (10) for a panel of a movable door or window construction, the latch assembly (10) being intended to be mounted substantially within a hollow frame member (11) of the panel door or window construction, the latch assembly (10) having a latch body (20), a first connector member (52), and a second connector member (53), each of the first and the second connector members (52, 53) being, in use, connectible with a latching bar extending along the hollow frame member (11) such that a distal end of the latching bar is engageable in or removable from a latching location, the first and the second connector members (52, 53) further being interconnected for relative movement in opposite directions, the latch assembly (10) also including a first spring means (60) to urge at least one of the first or the second connector members (52), 53) in a first direction relative to the latch body (20), an externally grippable member (14) mounted, in use, for movement parallel to the first direction and connectible to one of the first or the second connector members (52, 53) such that the one of the first or the second connector members (52, 53) is movable against forces applied by said spring means (60), and releasable catch means (80) operable to retain the externally grippable member (14) in a position moved against the urging forces applied by said spring means (60).

Description

1 FOLDING DOOR LATCH AND LOCK ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to improvements in latching and locking mechanisms for folding panel door or windows. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Folding panel door and window assemblies comprise typically a plurality of panel members hinged together along adjacent vertical edges of the panel members whereby the panel members can move relative to one another about the hinge lines from an essentially extended position adapted to close a window or door space to a folded position where the panel members are positioned essentially overlying one another to open the window or door space. To achieve convenient movement of the panel members, roller assemblies are fixed to the top and bottom edges of the panel members and are adapted to be retained in and roll along stationary guide tracks positioned below and above the panel members, the roller assemblies being such as to not obstruct folding movements about the vertical hinge lines. A gripping handle is mounted to one or more of the panel members to facilitate manual folding movement to either the closed or open positions. In one known configuration the handle may be part of a hinge structure between two adjacent panels. [0003] To latch and/or lock such a folding door or window assembly in the closed position, it is known to provide a latch operating mechanism associated with an upright frame member of one panel member that is adapted to extend elongate rods or bars upwardly and downwardly through an upper or a lower edge of the panel member to be engaged in a retainer position to prevent that panel member directly and the other panel members indirectly from being able to move relative to the stationary guide tracks. In larger constructions with larger 2 numbers of folding panel members, multiple latch operating mechanisms might be provided at spaced locations along the construction. [0004] Australian patent specification no. 2011101573 discloses a bifold door arrangement lock assembly mounted in an intermediate region of an upright frame member of a panel of the bifold door arrangement. In this lock assembly, the lock body is mounted through an opening in a side edge wall of the frame member and secured to the side edge wall by fasteners. The assembly has upwardly and downwardly extending connectors that are adapted, in use, to connect with rods that have distal ends engageable with retainer zones in the upper and lower bifold door mounting tracks, and to be disengaged from such retainer zones. The lock assembly has a pair of inner and outer operating lever handles that rotate to move the connectors upwardly and downwardly or in the reverse direction depending on the rotational direction of the lever handles. Movement of the locking or latching rod connectors is achieved solely by rotation of the lever handles. The lock assembly further includes a manual snib element located on the inner face of the bifold door arrangement that can lock the rod connectors in the extended latching position or free them for movement under control of the lever handles. In addition a double ended key operated cylinder can be provided, again to lock the rod connectors in the extended latching position or release same for movement under control of the lever handles. The lock assembly of this prior art disclosure is intended to be mounted to the end most panel of a multipanel bifold door arrangement although it is possible to mount such lock assemblies in any panel in multipanel constructions. [0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide improvements in latch and/or locking configurations for bifold panel constructions of the above discussed type.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latch assembly for a panel of a movable panel door or window construction, said latch assembly having a latch body, a first connector member, and a second connector member, each of said first and said second connector members, in use, being interconnected for movement in relatively opposite directions, first spring means being provided to urge at least one of said first or said second connector members in a first direction relative to said latch body, an externally grippable member mounted for movement parallel to said first direction and connectible to one of said first or said second connector members whereby the one of said first or said second connector members is movable in a direction opposite to said first direction against forces applied by said first spring means. The latch assembly, in use is intended to be mounted in a hollow upright frame member of a panel of a bifold or folding door or window construction although to those skilled in the art, other types of moving panel door and window constructions might also find the disclosed latch assembly useful. [0007] In a preferred arrangement, the latch assembly may further include catch means operable to retain said externally grippable member in a first operable position after moving the one of said first or said second connector members opposite to said first direction. Preferably, the catch means includes a first catch element engageable with or disengageable from a second catch element on said externally grippable member, said first catch element being located on a catch member having at least a portion urged by second spring means to a catch position where said first and said second catch elements are engageable. The catch member may be at least partially accessible to be moved to a release position against said second spring means to release said second catch element from said first catch element. [0008] Conveniently the first direction is an outward sliding direction relative to the latch body but will be recognized by those skilled in this art that the first 4 direction might also be an inward sliding direction relative to the latch body. In one embodiment, the first spring means might be a single spring element engaged between the latch body and one of said first or said second connector means. In an alternative embodiment, the first spring means may be a pair of separate spring elements, each of the spring elements engaging a separate one of said first or said second connector members. [0009] In a further preferred embodiment, the grippable member may include a laterally extending bar element having a distal end slidably engageable in a receiving recess carried by one of said first or said second connector members. Conveniently the relative sliding movement of the distal end of the bar element relative to the receiving recess allows the assembly to adjust for differing sized frame members. Conveniently the first connector element is identical to the second connector element. [0010] The latch assembly may include a latch body including a first housing structure having a base housing part and a cover housing part, said first housing structure containing said first and said second connector members and said first spring means. Conveniently, each of the first and the second connector members are slidably mounted in said latch body for movement coincident with or parallel to said first direction. Preferably stop means is provided to limit sliding movement of said first connector means and said second connector means within predefined limits. Conveniently, each of said first and said second connector members includes a linear sprocket teeth section engageable with a freely rotatable pinion wheel whereby movement of one of said first or said second connector members in said first direction causes a corresponding and opposite direction of movement to the other of said first or said second connector members. [0011] The latch body may include a third housing part including a recessed zone mounting said externally grippable member, said externally grippable member being slidably mounted in said recessed zone for movement parallel to 5 said first direction. Conveniently, the catch member may be mounted in said recessed zone for movement transverse to the sliding movement of said externally grippable member. [0012] The latch body may further include a cover plate member closing an open face of said recessed zone, said third housing part and said cover plate being mounted, in use, to a hollow frame member of a panel of a movable panel door, the recessed zone passing through an opening in a front wall of said hollow frame member with at least one threaded fastener passing through a side edge wall of the hollow frame member engaging with both said cover plate member and said third housing part. [0013] The latch assembly may further include a blocking arm member mounted to said latch body for movement in a transverse direction, said blocking arm member being urged in a first transverse direction where the blocking arm member prevents movement of said first and said second connector members in said first direction, said blocking arm member having an extending portion engageable, in use, with an adjacent said movable door or window panels whereby such engagement when adjacent said movable door or window panels are in a closed configuration, moves the blocking arm member to a position allowing movement of said first and said second connector members in said first direction. In this manner, the latch assembly may be prevented from being inadvertently actuated when the door or window panels are located in an open or partially open condition such that ends of the latching rods or bars may cause damage to floor areas other than where latching retention is intended to occur. [0014] In a further aspect of this invention, a latch assembly is provided having a latch body including a first housing structure with a base housing part and a cover housing part, said first housing structure containing first and second connector members and operating means whereby one of said first or said second connector members is extendible, in use, upwardly to a first latching position and the other of said first or said second connector members is 6 extendible downwardly to a second latching position, said operating means being also capable of withdrawing said first and said second members from said first or said second latching positions, said latch body further including a third housing part including a recessed zone mounting an externally grippable member operably connected to said operating means to effect movement of said first and said second connector means to or from said first and said second latching positions, and at least one spacer element located between said recessed zone of said third housing part and the cover housing part of said first housing structure. In this manner, the latch assembly can be made to fit many and varied dimensions of hollow internal zones of frame members of moving panel doors including bifold and folding doors. The only part that needs to be varied in dimension is the spacer element or elements. The entire structure is easy to fit largely within the hollow space of the door frame with fixing means hidden from view. [0015] The aforesaid latch assembly may further include a cover member closing an open face of the recessed zone in said third housing part, said cover plate member and said third housing part being held together by fastener means passing through a side or end wall of said recessed zone. The third housing part may include a peripheral flange part with said recessed zone extending, in use through an aperture in a front face of a hollow upright frame member of a panel of a movable panel door or window construction, said peripheral face flange sitting on an outer surface of said front face of the hollow frame member, and said fastener means also passing through and engaging with at least one side edge wall of the hollow frame member. [0016] Further preferred aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description given in relation to the accompanying drawings.

7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] Referring to the drawings, Fig 1 is an external front perspective view of part of an upright frame member of a panel of a folding door or window construction showing external features of the latch mechanism; [0018] Fig 2 is a front elevation view of Fig 1; [0019] Fig 3 is a side elevation view of Fig 1; [0020] Fig 4 is an exploded front perspective view of the latch mechanism of Fig 1 omitting the frame member of the panel; [0021] Fig 5 is an exploded front perspective view similar to Fig 4 taken from a different angle and omitting certain parts shown in Fig 4; [0022] Fig 6 is an exploded side elevation view of the parts shown in "Fig 4; [0023] Figs 7, 8 are assembled side elevation views illustrating movement of the release button to its release position; [0024] Fig 9, 10 and 11 are perspective, front elevation and end elevation views of the connector positions for the latch operating rods or bars (not shown); [0025] Fig 12 is an external front perspective view of part of an upright tubular frame member showing external features of a second embodiment of a latch mechanism, at least partially mounted in the upright frame member; [0026] Fig 13 is a rear exploded perspective view of housing parts of the latch mechanism having the external mounting plates shown in Fig 12; 8 [0027] Fig 14 is a forward exploded perspective view of the housing parts of the latch mechanism shown in Fig 13 together with further parts of the latch mechanism; [0028] Fig 15 is a rear exploded perspective view of the parts of the latch mechanism shown in Fig 14; [0029] Fig 16 is a detailed forward perspective view showing a method of attachment of the operable grip member to the actuating shaft; [0030] Fig 17 is a front elevation view of the installed second embodiment of Fig 12 further including an anti-slam bar preventing the connecting members from extending to a locking or latching position unless the door or window panel structure is in a fully closed position; [0031] Fig 18 is a partially exploded perspective view of parts of the second embodiment of the latch mechanism mounted, in use, within the upright tubular frame member, further including the anti-slam bar of Fig 17; [0032] Figs 19 and 20 show the internal latch mechanism parts in front elevation view showing respectively, the anti-slam bar in an operative position where the connecting members are prevented from extending and in a non operative position where the connecting member can be extended to a locking or latching position; [0033] Figs 21 and 22 are detailed front elevation views similar to Figs 19 and 20; [0034] Fig 23 is an exploded perspective view of the lower end region of the latch mechanism illustrating the lock part moved by a key operated locking cylinder, when included, to lock or unlock the latch mechanism; and 9 [0035] Figs 24 and 25 are detailed front elevation views showing the lock part in a locking position and in an unlocked position. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0036] Referring to Figs 1 to 3, the externally viewable features of a latch mechanism 10 according to a preferred embodiment of this invention are shown mounted in an upright hollow frame member 11 that, in use, will form part of an outer frame structure of a folding door or window panel. In practice the width and thickness of the frame member 11 might vary thereby changing the dimensions of the hollow space 12 within the frame member 11. The latch mechanism 10 therefore needs to be able to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the hollow space 12. The external features of the latch mechanism 10 includes a face plate 13, a gripping member 14 that is moveable in an up and down direction within an opening 16 formed through the face plate 13. A latch release push button 15 also extends through an opening 18 in the face plate 13 and can be pushed inwardly to release the latch mechanism. If desired, a key operated latch lock barrel can extend through the face plate 13 to allow the latch mechanism 10 to be locked in a latching position. Further operative features of the latch mechanism 10 will be described hereafter with reference to later drawings. Finally, threaded fasteners 17 extend through a side wall 19 of the frame member 11 to retain the latch mechanism 10 in its operative position as will also be further described hereafter. [0037] Reference will now be made to Figs 4 and 5 which illustrate the internal as well as the external features of the latch mechanism 10. The internal features of the latch mechanism 10 include a first housing structure 20 comprised of a rear part 21 and a forward cover plate 22 held together, in use by fasteners passing through apertures 23, and a second housing member 24 spaced forwardly from the first housing structure 20 by spacer members 25, 26. The size of the spacer members 25, 26 may be required to vary for variable sized hollow 10 spaces 12 in the frame member 11 but the remaining parts of the latch mechanism structure would remain the same. [0038] The second housing part 24 includes a front peripheral plate 44 and a rearwardly extending wall structure 45 defining a forwardly facing recessed zone 46 adapted, in use, to receive the facia plate 13. In use, the second housing part 24 sits within a recess formed in the front wall 47 of the frame member 11 such that the wall structure 45 is located within the hollow interior 12 and the front peripheral plate 44 sits on the outer surface of the front wall 47. The second housing member 24 may be secured to the first housing structure 20 by fasteners (not shown). The threaded fasteners 17 pass through apertures in the side wall 19 of the frame member 11 into apertures 27, 28 in the second housing member 24 and through apertures 29, 30 in protuberances 31, 32 extending rearwardly from the facia plate 13. As shown in Figs 5 and 6, an outer facia plate 48 with apertures 49, 50 corresponding to apertures 16, 18 in facia plate 13 can be provided to clip over the front peripheral plate 44. In this manner, no visual fastening means can be seen on the outer face of the installed latch mechanism 10. If an opening 81 is provided for a key operated lock barrel cylinder (not shown) in the front peripheral plate 44 of the second housing part 24, then a corresponding opening would be provided in the outer facia plate 48. [0039] The latch assembly 10 includes a catch means 80 forming part of a sub assembly 33 including the gripping member 14 and the release push button 15 of the latch assembly 10. The gripping member 14 forms part of a first member 34 which includes a plate 35 and a latch element 36 at the lower regions of the plate 35. The gripping member 14 extends forwardly from a forward face 37 of the plate 35 and is connected thereto by a connector section 38. The width of the connector section 38 provides up and down sliding fit in the opening 16 and is significantly smaller in dimension than the width of the gripping member 14. To connect the first member 34 to the face plate 13, the parts 13, 34 need to be relatively oriented to allow the gripping member 14 to pass through the opening 16 and then reoriented to the operative position with the gripping member 14 11 extending transversely across the opening 16. The latch element 36 comprises a rearwardly positioned plate 39 with a rearwardly extending ledge element 40. Conveniently the upwardly and downwardly extend of the forward face 37 of the plate 35 has a sufficient dimension to ensure plate 36 covers the opening 16 over the entire possible up and down movement of the gripping member 14. Further a bar element 41 extends rearwardly from a rear face 42 of the plate 35. The bar element 41 is illustrated as having a square cross-section but other shapes could be used including rectangular and round. The release button 15 forms part of a second member 43 forming part of the catch means 80 of the sub assembly 33. The second member includes wall extensions 61, 62 on either side of the release push button 15 to restrict how far the push button 15 can move forwardly through the opening 18. Further a lateral wall part 63 extends rearwardly from a lower edge of the rear face of the push button 15 to connect with a vertical wall part 64 carrying a ledge catch 65 cooperable in use with the ledge 40 (see Figs 7, 8). [0040] In use, the second member 43 sits in the recessed space defined at 66 within the recessed zone 46 and is urged outwardly thereof by a spring 67. The plate 35 of the first member 34 sits within the recessed space defined at 68 within the recessed zone 46 such that the plate 35 can slide in an upwards or downwards direction. The bar element 41 passes through a vertical slot 69 in the wall structure 45 and through a similarly formed slot 70 in the cover plate 22. [0041] The rear part 21 of the first housing structure 20 includes a pair of identically formed slidably movable connector members 52, 53. The outermost upper and lower ends 54, 55 are configured to allow rod or bar members (not shown) to be connected thereto and extend internally along the frame member 11 to extend from the upper or lower edges of the panel to be received in a retaining formation (to latch the panel) or be released therefrom (to delatch the panel). Conveniently, the configuration of the ends 54, 55 allow round, rectangular or square bars to be connected thereto. The slidably movable connector members 52, 53, each have a linear length of ratchet teeth 56, 57 cooperable with a pinion wheel 58 rotatably mounted on a bearing projection 59. The arrangement further 12 includes a compression spring 60 mounted to urge one of the connector members 52, 53 in an outer direction, i.e. towards the latching condition. A projection 73 helps to locate the spring 60 in the correct position. If desired, two springs 60 could be provided, each engaging a separate one of the connector members 52, 53. In the illustrated embodiment, it is the upper connector member 52 that is so urged, however, because of the linkage through the pinion wheel 58, effectively both connector members 52, 53 are urged in the outward or latching direction. The bar element 41 has a free end 71 that is received within a similarly shaped recess 72 carried on the connector member 52 or 53 whereby physical movement of the gripping member 14 upwardly or downwardly will cause a direct similar movement of the connector member 52 or 53 to which it is connected. Because of the construction illustrated and described above, this indirectly also causes a similar movement of the other of the connector members 52, 53. [0042] In operation, the spring 60 spring loads the latch mechanism 10 to be urged towards the latching position. The latch release button 15, if engaged with the latch of the first member 34 restrains the latch mechanism 10 from being able to move to the latching position. In this condition, the panel members of the folding door or window construction, can be moved by an operator to the closed position (of the panels) and the button 15 can be pushed to allow the latch to be engaged, i.e. the connecting members 52, 53 moved outwardly under forces applied by the spring 60. In the closed latched position, if the panels are to be delatched, the gripping member 14 is simply moved downwardly which correspondingly moves the connecting members 52, 53 inwardly, until the latch ledges 40, 65 engage to hold the gripping member 14 in the lower position and thereby the connecting members 52, 53 in the delatched inner position. [0043] If it is desired to provide a key actuated lock with the latch arrangement described in the foregoing, a housing 80 for a key actuated lock cylinder (not shown) could be provided, the lock cylinder being accessible through opening 81 in the peripheral plate or flange 44 and cover plate 48. The lock cylinder would effectively lock one of the connector members 52, 53 against sliding movement or 13 free it for sliding movement when desired. Fig 4 represents the outer side of the latch assembly. If it is desired to provide a key operated lock cylinder on the inner side of the latch assembly, a second lock cylinder would be provided in that side. [0044] Reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in Figs 12 to 27. Like features shown in these drawings with similar features shown in Figs 1 to 11 have been given the same reference numbers and the description in the foregoing relating thereto equally applies to these further embodiments. Referring initially to Figs 12 to 16, the latch mechanism 90 is shown mounted in an opening in a forward facing front wall 47 of an upright hollow frame member 11, most of the latch mechanism 90 being positioned within the hollow interior zone 12 of the frame member 11. The externally mounted housing parts 91 include a first housing part 92 having a mounting flange 93 and a recesses housing section 94 open at the front and covered by a plate member 95 secured by fasteners (not shown) through bores 96, 97 in the recessed housing section 94 and the mounting flanges 98, 99 of the plate member 95. The first housing part 92 includes bores 100 to allow threaded fasteners 101 to secure the first housing part 92 partially in the opening in the front wall 47 of the tubular frame member 11. The plate member 95 includes a slot opening 16 to operationally receive the grip member 14 so that the grip member 14 can, in use, be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the tubular frame member 11. Further, the plate member 95 includes a general square or rectangular opening 18 to enable a push button 15 to move inwardly and outwardly, in use. The plate member 95 fits neatly in and covers the upper face 102 (Fig 14) of the recessed zone 103 of the recessed housing section 94. Within the back wall of recessed housing section 94, a vertical slot 104 is provided through which a connecting shaft 105 extends. The connecting shaft 105 is conveniently circular except for the section that is engaged with the vertical slot 104. This section has two opposed flat surfaces that engage with the walls of the vertical slot 104 to prevent the connecting shaft 105 rotating, in use, about its own axis. The connecting shaft 105 has a forward section 106 of smaller diameter that fits through a bore 107 of complementary size in the plate 35 of the first member 34. The smaller diameter section 106 of 14 the connecting shaft 105 fits within a bore 108 of the mounting protuberance 109 on the rear side of the gripping member 14. The smaller diameter forward shaft section 106 has a threaded transverse bore 110 such that a grub screw 111 connectible through a transverse bore 112 of the mounting protuberance 109 enables the connecting shaft 105 to be secured to the gripping member 14 such that the gripping member 14 and the connecting shaft 105 can move upwardly and downwardly with the connecting shaft 105 extending through the vertical slot 104. [0045] Figs 17 to 22 illustrate a latch mechanism 90 including an anti-slam bar 120. Fig 17 is a front elevation of the latch mechanism 90 in front elevation view shown installed in the upright hollow frame member 11. An outer fascia plate 121 covers the mounting flange 93 and plate member 95 leaving only openings coinciding with the slot 16 and the opening 18. A feeler tip part 122 of the anti slam bar 120 projects outwardly from a side face of the frame member 11 and, in use, is adapted to engage a side face of an adjacent upright frame member of an adjacent door or window panel. A part 134 is slidably mounted on the feeler tip part 122. When the adjacent upright frame members of adjacent door panels / windows are positioned next to one another in essentially the same plane, i.e. the closed position, the anti-slam bar 120 is pushed inwardly as far as possible (Fig 20). The anti-slam bar 120 is, however, urged by spring means (not shown in the drawings) to urge the bar 120 to the position illustrated in Fig 19 in the absence of forces pushing the bar 120 in the opposite direction. Accordingly, in the open position of adjacent door or window panels, the anti-slam bar 120 will be located as represented in Fig 19. The anti-slam bar 120 has a bar with a general J configuration having two parallel legs 123, 124 joined by a section 125. [0046] The latch mechanism 90 includes a pair of connector members 52, 53, the outermost (upper and lower) ends 54, 55 are configured to allow rod or bar members (not shown) to be connected thereto and extend internally along the frame member 11 to be received in a retaining formation (to latch the panel) or be released therefrom (to delatch the panel). In this embodiment the connector 15 members 52, 53 are not identical but they are similar including gear teeth 56, 57 cooperable with a pinion wheel 58 rotatable on a bearing projection 59. The arrangement is such that movement of one of the connector members 52, 53 in an outward or an inward direction causes a corresponding movement in the other of the members 52, 53. In this embodiment, a compression spring (not shown) is located in the region 126 fitting over pin 127 at the lower end of connector member 52 to urge the connector member 52 in an upward or outward direction. If the connector member 52 moves, then the connector member 53 has a corresponding and opposite movement. The connector member 52 has a bore 128 to receive and hold the shaft 105. Of course a second compression spring could be provided acting on the connector member 53 if desired. As is apparent from Figs 19 to 22, the leg 124 of the anti-slam bar 120 engages with the abutment 129 surrounding bore 128 to hold the connector member 52 in the lowered or withdrawn position until the anti-slam bar 120 is moved to the left (in the drawings). (Fig 20, 22). This movement of the anti-slam bar 120 is possible only when the adjacent panels approach the same plane, i.e. the closed position. The feeler tip part 122 is provided as an interference push fit on the free end of the leg 123. Further, if necessary, the length of the leg 123 can be adjusted to achieve proper operation of any particular door / window installation. Conveniently, the feeler tip part 122 is made of hard wearing but elastomeric material that has some degree of resilience in the direction of the leg 123. The connector members 52, 53 are slidably mounted in a housing part 130 with a cover part 131 connected thereto by fasteners (not shown) passing through openings 132. The shaft 105 passes through a vertical slot 133 in the cover part 131 before entering the bore 128. [0047] Figs 23, 24 and 25 illustrate the locking part 140 cooperable with a key operated lock cylinder (not shown) mounted in the housing 80. The lock part 140 is mounted in the open zone 141 in the cover part 131. The body zone 142 of the lock part 140 includes ribs 143 on its upper and lower surfaces creating grooves 144 between the ribs 143 and the upper wall 145 of the lock part 140. The body zone 142 is pressed into the larger sized region 146 of the open zone 141 and then moved to the left (Fig 23) to engage the ribs 143 below the edge portions 16 147 of the open zone 141. Thus, in use, the lock part 140 is retained in the open zone 41 and is movable to the left or right. An actuating member of the lock cylinder (not shown) engages in the opening 148 in the lock part 140 so that the key via the lock cylinder, drives the lock part 140 to the left (Figs 23, 24) to a locked position where the lock part 140 blocks rib 150 on the connector member 53 to retain same in the lowered extended latching position. The key also may, via the lock cylinder, move the lock part 140 to the right to not obstruct the rib 150 to allow the connector member to move upwardly away from the latched position. A spring loaded detent ball (not shown) is positioned in the underlying surface 149 of the lock part 140 that is located in a groove 151 or recess 152, depending on the position of the lock part 140 and the connecting member 53, the spring loaded detent providing "feel" for movement of the lock part 140. [0048] It will of course be appreciated that other modifications are possible within the scope of the annexed claims.

Claims (19)

1. A latch assembly for a panel of a movable panel door or window construction, said latch assembly having a latch body, a first connector member, and a second connector member, each of said first and said second connector members, in use, being interconnected for movement in relatively opposite directions, first spring means being provided to urge at least one of said first or said second connector members in a first direction relative to said latch body, an externally grippable member mounted for movement parallel to said first direction and connectible to one of said first or said second connector members whereby the one of said first or said second connector members is movable in a direction opposite to said first direction against forces applied by said first spring means.

2. A latch assembly according to claim 1 further including catch means operable to retain said externally grippable member in a first operable position after moving the one of said first or said second connector members opposite to said first direction.

3. A latch assembly according to claim 2 wherein said catch means includes a first catch element engageable with or disengageable from a second catch element on said externally grippable member, said first catch element being located on a catch member having at least a portion urged by second spring means to a catch position where said first and said second catch elements are engageable.

4. A latch assembly according to claim 3 wherein said catch member is at least partially accessible to be moved to a release position against said second spring means to release said second catch element from said first catch element.

5. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said first direction is an outward sliding direction relative to said latch body. 18

6. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said first spring means is a single spring element engaged between said latch body and one of said first or said second connector means.

7. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said first spring means is a pair of separate spring elements, each said spring element engaging a separate one of said first or said second connector members.

8. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the externally grippable member includes a laterally extending bar element having a distal end slidably engageable in a receiving recess carried by one of said first or said second connector members.

9. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the first connector element is identical to the second connector element.

10. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said latch body includes a first housing structure having a base housing part and a cover housing part, said first housing structure containing said first and said second connector members and said first spring means.

11. A latch assembly according to claim 10 wherein stop means is provided to limit movement of said first connector means and said second connector means relative to said first housing structure within predefined limits.

12. A latch assembly according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein each of said first and said second connector members includes a linear sprocket teeth section engageable with a freely rotatable pinion wheel whereby movement of one of said first or said second connector members in said first direction causes a corresponding and opposite direction of movement to the other of said first or said second connector members. 19

13. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein said latch body includes a third housing part including a recessed zone mounting said externally grippable member, said externally grippable member being slidably mounted in said recessed zone for movement parallel to said first direction.

14. A latch assembly according to claim 13 when appended through claim 3 further including said catch member mounted in said recessed zone for movement transverse to the sliding movement of said externally grippable member.

15. A latch assembly according to claim 13 or claim 14 further including a cover plate member closing an open face of said recessed zone of said third housing part, said third housing part and said cover plate being mounted, in use, to a hollow frame member of a panel of a movable panel door, the recessed zone passing through an opening in a front wall of said hollow frame member with at least one threaded fastener passing through a side edge wall of the hollow frame member engaging with both said cover plate member and said third housing part.

16. A latch assembly having a latch body including a first housing structure with a base housing part and a cover housing part, said first housing structure containing first and second connector members and operating means whereby one of said first or said second connector members is extendible, in use, upwardly to a first latching position and the other of said first or said second connector members is extendible downwardly to a second latching position, said operating means being also capable of withdrawing said first and said second connector members from said first or said second latching positions, said latch body further including a third housing part including a recessed zone mounting an externally grippable member operably connected to said operating means to effect movement of said first and said second connector means to or from said first and said second latching positions, and at least one spacer element located between said recessed zone of said third housing part and the cover housing part of said first housing structure. 20

17. A latch assembly according to claim 16 further including a cover plate member closing an open face of the recessed zone in said third housing part, said cover plate member and said third housing part being held together by fastener means passing through a side or end wall of said recessed zone.

18. A latch assembly according to claim 17 wherein said third housing part includes a peripheral face flange part with said recessed zone extending, in use through an aperture in a front face of a hollow upright frame member of a panel of a movable panel door or window construction, said peripheral face flange sitting on an outer surface of said front face of the hollow frame member, and said fastener means also passing through and engaging with at least one side edge wall of the hollow frame member.

19. A latch assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15 further including a blocking arm member mounted to said latch body for movement in a transverse direction, said blocking arm member being urged in a first transverse direction where the blocking arm member prevents movement of said first and said second connector members in said first direction, said blocking arm member having an extending portion engageable, in use, with an adjacent said movable door or window panels whereby such engagement when adjacent said movable door or window panels are in a closed configuration, moves the blocking arm member to a position allowing movement of said first and said second connector members in said first direction. Lock Focus Pty Ltd WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS P37889AU00