Trimark Corporation

Ken L McConnell

Marvin L Larsen

Kevin P Eschweiler

Chris J Wildeboer

Theresa M Glaser

A latch system for a closure element that is slidable relative to a mounting frame between first and second positions. The mounting frame has a strike element to be engaged to releasably maintain the closure element in a first position. The latch system has a first frame part, a first handle that is mounted to the first frame part for movement between first and second positions, and a first latch assembly having a latched state and a released state. The first latch assembly in the latched state is capable of cooperating with the strike element to selectively prevent the closure element from moving from the first position for the closure element into the second position for the closure element. The first latch assembly in the released state permits the closure element to move from the second position for the closure element into the first position for the closure element and from the first position for the closure element into the second position for the closure element. As the first handle is moved from the first position for the first handle into the second position for the first handle, the first handle causes the first latch assembly to change from the latched state into the released state. The first handle is movable from the first position for the first handle into the second position for the first handle by exerting a force on the first handle in a first direction. The first frame part, first handle, and first latch assembly are capable of being mounted in an operative position on the closure element so that a force exerted on the first handle in the first direction to move the first handle from the first position for the first handle into the second position for the first handle has at least a component thereof tending to move the closure element from the first position for the closure element toward the second position for the closure element. With the first frame part, first handle, and first latch assembly in the operative position on the closure element with the closure in the first position for the closure element and the latch assembly in the latched state, a user can exert a force on the first handle in the first direction that both a) changes the first latch assembly from the latched state into the released state and b) urges the closure element from the first position for the closure element towards the second position for the closure element.

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Warrensburg, MO, United States of America

Ken L McConnell