TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to latch assemblies; in particular, this disclosure relates to dead locking latch assemblies for selectively holding residential and/or commercial doors in a closed and/or locked position.

BACKGROUND

A latch assembly is used for maintaining a door in a closed position using a bolt that moves between extended and retracted positions. In existing latches, the bolt is actively pushed and pulled between its extended and retracted positions. A dead locking latch is an elaboration of a latch bolt which includes an auxiliary bolt that prevents undesired shimming or jimmying of the latch bolt. For example, when a door is closed, the latch bolt and auxiliary bolt are retracted together. The door closes normally, with the latch bolt entering a strike box and extending into a projected position in the strike box; however, a strike plate surrounding the strike box holds the auxiliary bolt in a depressed position.

A mechanism within the latch assembly retains the latch bolt in the projected position. Because the auxiliary bolt is retained in a depressed position, the latch assembly prevents the latch bolt from being depressed through use of a credit card or some other tool, which could lead to unauthorized entry through the door.

A challenge with existing dead locking latch assemblies is that incorporation of the auxiliary bolt, or the assembly to operate the auxiliary bolt (or the dead latching function), requires additional components that must be manufactured and assembled into the latch assembly and properly aligned with other components within the latch assembly. This increases the cost and complexity of a latch assembly.

Similarly, another challenge is that the dead locking latch assembly includes more components that are susceptible to malfunction. Another challenge with existing latches is adjustability. The more complex a latch assembly is, the more likely it will be limited in adjustability for installation in various doors or entryways.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present disclosure, assemblies, components and methodologies are provided for providing a dead locking feature for a latch assembly without having an auxiliary bolt. In illustrative embodiments, a latch assembly is provided with a housing and a bolt movable between an extended position with the bolt extending out of the housing and a retracted position in which the bolt moves and/or pivots inside the housing. A dead locking assembly is configured within the housing and includes a blocking cartridge coupled to the bolt and a locking bar assembly that is configured to block or unblock movement of the blocking cartridge along a longitudinal axis of the housing, thereby blocking or unblocking movement of the bolt from the extended position to the retracted position. The locking bar assembly includes one or more locking bars that are movable by rotation of a handle of the latch assembly from a first position that abuts against the blocking cartridge to prevent movement and a second position that permits movement of the blocking cartridge within the locking bar assembly.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

