Window sash lock configured for screwless snap-in installation onto a meeting rail

A sash lock housing, said sash lock housing configured for screwless installation of a portion thereof with respect to an opening in a meeting rail of a sash window, said sash lock housing comprising:

• a top wall;
• at least a portion of said top wall comprising a flat bottom surface;
• a front wall, said front wall comprising an opening;
• a rear wall, a first end of said rear wall comprising a first cantilevered portion, and a second end of said rear wall comprising a second cantilevered portion;
• said rear wall comprising:
• a lip;
• said lip comprising:
• a flat top surface being parallel and adjacent to said flat bottom surface of said top wall;
• wherein said lip and said flat bottom surface of said top wall are spaced apart a distance configured to cause respective engagement with a top surface and a bottom surface of a top wall of the meeting rail;
• and
• wherein said first and second cantilevered portions of said rear wall are configured to respectively engage an inside surface of first and second portions of the meeting rail, to maintain said engagement between the top wall of the meeting rail and each of:
• said lip and said flat bottom surface of said top wall of said housing.

A method of securing a sash lock housing to a meeting rail of a sash window without using fasteners, said method comprising:

• forming a first opening in a front surface of a front wall of the meeting rail;
• forming a second opening in a top surface of a top wall of the meeting rail;
• forming a housing with a top wall having a flat bottom surface, a front wall with an opening, and a rear wall with a first cantilevered portion at a first end and a second cantilevered portion at a second end and a lip having a flat top surface being parallel and adjacent to the flat bottom surface;
• forming the lip and the flat bottom surface of the top wall spaced apart a distance;
• inserting the housing through the first opening in the front wall of the meeting rail and nesting the top wall of the meeting rail between the lip and the flat bottom surface of the top wall of the housing, until the first cantilevered portion and the second cantilevered portion respectively engage an inside surface of first and second portions of the front wall of the meeting rail, thereby securing the sash lock housing to the meeting rail of the sash window.