- Sliding glass doors are often used to grant access to an outdoor patio or porch area. They latch from the inside of the house, using a mechanism that's located on the door. Sliding glass door frames are double-sided cradles made of metal. The inset portion of the frame, where the door slides into, contains a metal plate that has two raised metal bars running through the center. This metal plate is part of the latch mechanism.
- The door itself is a thick piece of glass that's framed in metal. The other part of the latch mechanism is inset in the door's metal frame. A metal hook connected to a pivoting screw is set in this area. The hook is connected to a lever located on the outer part of the door, near the handle. When the lever is turned or shifted, the hook is raised.
- After the door is closed, the lever on the door is turned and the hook is raised. When raised, the hook catches on the metal bars located in the center of the door frame. This latches the sliding glass door shut. After the door is latched, the majority of sliding glass doors contain locking mechanisms that, when turned, prevent the door from being forced open.
