Abstract: A latch mechanism for a sliding door or window. The latch includes a striker (normally mounted on the door or window frame); a housing aligned with the striker (and normally mounted on the sliding door or window panel) and with walls forming an interior chamber; one opening in the front of the chamber and a second opening at least partially in the back of the chamber; and a spindle and a pivot pin disposed transversely within the chamber; an elongated latch bar pivotally mounted on the spindle, with its front end projecting out of the first opening and its back end projecting out of the second opening. Its front end can be releasably latched to the striker in response to motion of its back end.

Abstract: The invention described is a device or apparatus for automatically returning a sliding door or window to a predetermined position within a stationary frame, which incorporates a cable anchor on the frame; a hollow housing on the sliding closure having axially aligned elongated compartments in the housing, the more distant of which from the anchor is fluid-tight; a traveling block axially movably disposed in the closer compartment; a cable from the anchor reeved through sheaves in the traveling block; a tensioner connecting the traveling block with a partition between the compartments and biasing the traveling block away from the anchor to prevent shock in the system when slack is introduced into the cable by manual movement of the closure; the more distant compartment being divided into two fluid-tight chambers communicating at their adjacent ends; a rod longitudinally movably disposed through the traveling block and one chamber; a resilient compression device biasing the rod and the traveling block away from