Casement Window Operator with Folding Handle

An operator for a casement window, the operator being coupled to a rotatable spindle, the operator comprising:

• a hub including an opening for frictionally receiving the spindle, the hub being pivotally connected to a proximal end of a handle;
• the proximal end of the handle including a cavity that extends towards a distal end of the handle and terminates at a back wall, the cavity accommodating a housing having a closed distal end that abuts the back wall and an open proximal end for receiving an actuator, the housing accommodating a biasing element;
• the actuator including a distal end that faces the biasing element and a proximal end that faces the hub, the biasing element being disposed between the back wall of the cavity and the distal end of the actuator for biasing the actuator towards engagement with the hub;
• the handle being pivotable between open and closed positions, the hub including an open position recess, an open position protrusion, a closed position recess and a closed position protrusion, the proximal end of the actuator including a protrusion and a recess;
• the protrusion of the actuator being received in the open position recess of the hub and the recess of the actuator receiving the open position protrusion of the hub when the handle is pivoted to the open position while the actuator is biased into engagement with the hub;
• and
• the protrusion of the actuator being received in the closed position recess of the hub and the recess of the actuator receiving the closed position protrusion of the hub when the handle is pivoted to the closed position while the actuator is biased into engagement with the hub.