Sliding door lock

Abstract

A lock or latch for a sliding or rolling type door includes front and rear housing members that clampingly engage opposite sides of a door panel adjacent an opening that is formed through the door panel. Aligned cavities are formed in the front and rear housing members that cooperate with the door panel opening to define a compartment within which a latch bolt member is housed for forward and rearward movement. The latch bolt member has a rearwardly extending formation that projects through a hole formed in the rear housing member for selectively engaging structure located behind the door to releasably latch the door in its closed position. An operating mechanism connects with the latch bolt member and includes components that extend forwardly and rearwardly through aligned openings formed through the front and rear housing members to provide means (1) for moving the latch bolt member forwardly and rearwardly relative to the housing members between unlatched and latched positions, and (2) for releasably retaining the latch bolt member its unlatched and latched positions. The operating mechanism preferably includes a forwardly facing key operated lock cylinder that is housed in a forwardly facing push button, and a foldable handle that faces rearwardly. The push button and the key cylinder are accessible from the front side of the lock for operating the latch bolt member. The foldable handle is accessible from the rear side of the lock for operating the latch bolt member.