Latch assembly

1. A latching structure for use with a door having a door frame, the latching structure comprising:

a primary latch assembly integrated with the door frame, the primary latch assembly comprising,

a latch rotatable between a locked position in which the latch is in an extended position configured to engage the door frame and an unlocked position in which the latch is in a retracted position configured to be disengaged from the door frame;

a pivoting backing plate operably coupled to the latch such that pivoting of the backing plate causes the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, the backing plate having a T-shaped slot formed by a crossing portion and a line portion intersecting the crossing portion;

a rotatable actuator operably coupled to a pivoting backing plate such that rotation of the actuator causes the backing plate to pivot, thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position;

a key cylinder having a cylinder which rotates about a cylinder axis; and

a cam coupled to the cylinder and offset from the cylinder axis, the cam disposed within the T-shaped slot of the backing plate such that rotation of the cam via rotation of the cylinder causes the backing plate to pivot thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the cam pushes the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the line portion of the T-shaped slot and the cam does not push the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the crossing portion of the T-shaped slot;

a secondary latch assembly integrated with the door frame; and

a linkage including a flat bar portion and projections extending from respective one of each of two longitudinal sides of the flat bar portion,

wherein the linkage operably connects the primary and secondary latch assemblies such that the latch assemblies operate substantially in unison wherein each projection includes an ear extending perpendicularly therefrom, wherein the ears are attached to the secondary latch assembly and configured to urge the link away from the secondary latch assembly and towards the door frame.

2. A latch assembly for securing a door to a door frame, the latch assembly comprising:

a latch rotatable between a locked position in which the latch is in an extended position configured to engage the door frame and an unlocked position in which the latch is in a retracted position configured to be disengaged from the door frame;

a pivoting backing plate operably coupled to the latch such that pivoting of the backing plate causes the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, the backing plate having a T-shaped slot formed by a crossing portion and a line portion intersecting the crossing portion;

a rotatable actuator operably coupled to a pivoting backing plate such that rotation of the actuator causes the backing plate to pivot, thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position;

a key cylinder having a cylinder which rotates about a cylinder axis; and

a cam coupled to the cylinder and offset from the cylinder axis, the cam disposed within the T-shaped slot of the backing plate such that rotation of the cam via rotation of the cylinder causes the backing plate to pivot thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the cam pushes the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the line portion of the T-shaped slot and the cam does not push the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the crossing portion of the T-shaped slot.

3. The latch assembly of claim 2 , further comprising an actuating arm coupled to both the latch and the actuator for transferring the force of the rotating actuator to the latch.

4. The latch assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a pocket configured to be substantially flush-mounted with one side of the door, and wherein the actuator is disposed within the pocket.

5. The latch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the key cylinder is configured to mount substantially flush with one side of the door.

6. The latch assembly of claim 5 further comprising two hand pulls configured to mount substantially flush with each side of the door.

7. The latch assembly of claim 6 , wherein the hand pulls mount to each side of the door in an offset, interlocking relationship.

8. A latch assembly for securing a door to a door frame, the latch assembly comprising:

a housing;

a latch rotatably coupled to the housing, the latch rotatable between a locked position in which the latch is in an extended position configured to engage the door frame and an unlocked position in which the latch is in a retracted position configured to be disengaged from the door frame;

a pivoting backing plate operably coupled to the latch such that pivoting of the backing plate causes the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, the backing plate having a T-shaped slot formed by a crossing portion and a line portion intersecting the crossing portion;

an actuator rotatably coupled to the housing, the actuator operably coupled to a pivoting backing plate such that rotation of the actuator causes the backing plate to pivot, thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, the pivoting backing plate rotatably coupled to the housing;

a key cylinder attached to the housing, the key cylinder having a cylinder which rotates about a cylinder axis; and

a cam coupled to the cylinder and offset from the cylinder axis, the cam disposed within the T-shaped slot of the backing plate such that rotation of the cam via rotation of the cylinder causes the backing plate to pivot thereby causing the latch to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the cam pushes the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the line portion of the T-shaped slot and the cam does not push the backing plate when the cam is positioned within the crossing portion of the T-shaped slot.

9. The latch assembly of claim 8 , further comprising an actuating arm coupled to both the latch and the actuator for transferring the force of the rotating actuator to the latch.

10. The latch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuating arm is rotatably coupled to the frame.

11. The latch assembly of claim 10 , further comprising at least one spring configured to bias the actuating arm into a detent position in which the latch is fixed in at least one of the locked position or the unlocked position.

12. The latch assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a pocket configured to be substantially flush-mounted with one side of the door, and wherein the actuator is disposed within the pocket.

13. The latch assembly of claim 8 , wherein the key cylinder is configured to mount substantially flush with one side of the door.

14. The latch assembly of claim 8 , further comprising two hand pulls configured to mount substantially flush with each side of the door.

15. The latch assembly of claim 8 , wherein the hand pulls mount to each side of the door in an offset, interlocking relationship.