# US 2014/0196376 A1 · Low profile high performance casement and awning window keeper

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- Number: US 2014/0196376 A1
- Document ID: US20140196376A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/157,882
- Filed: 2014-01-17
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-17
- Assignees: Truth Hardware Corporation
- Applicants: Truth Hardware Corporation
- Inventors: Nghi Christopher Nguyen; Michael Neff; Lee Bauman; Loren Rysavy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196376A1

## CPC

- E06B 3/44: Vertically-sliding wings
- E05C 9/1808: {Keepers}
- E05B 63/04: for alternative use on the right-hand or left-hand side of wings
- E05B 2015/1671: {for strikers (E05B15/022 takes precedence)}
- E05C 9/1858: {of the roller bolt type}
- Y10T 292/696: With movable dog, catch or striker
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- E05C: BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS (latching means for sideboard or tailgate structures for vehicles B62D, {B62D33/02}; fastening devices for constructional or engineering elements E04, F16B; locks, fastening devices structurally or operatively combined or having significant cooperation with locks E05B; means for operating or controlling wing fasteners in conjunction with mechanisms for moving the wing E05F)
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A locking mechanism for use with a window having a hinge coupling a sash to a frame includes a keeper and a locking lug. The keeper includes a generally planar base plate that is abutable to a surface of either the sash or the frame and two wings extending upwardly from the base, each of the wings having an upwardly and inwardly extending portion extending from the base plate and an inwardly extending portion extending inwardly substantially parallel to the base plate from the upwardly and inwardly extending portion. The two inwardly extending portions define a gap therebetween. The planar base further includes at least one self locating leg extending outward and coplanar with the base. The self locating leg adapted to abut a portion of the sash or the frame. Thus, the keeper is positionable without a fixture.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A locking device for use in a window having a frame defining an opening and a sash hinged to the frame and selectively shiftable to close the opening, the locking device comprising:
a keeper including a base plate with a pair of spaced apart wings extending upwardly therefrom, the wings defining a gap therebetween; and
a locking lug, wherein the keeper is attached to one of the sash or the frame and the locking lug is coupled to a locking mechanism on the other of the sash or the frame, and wherein the locking lug is selectively shiftable with the locking mechanism between a first position wherein the locking lug is received in the gap between the spaced apart wings of the keeper to secure the sash to the frame, and a second position wherein the locking lug is clear of the keeper to enable the sash to be shifted away from the frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the base plate includes a central portion, a first peripheral portion, and a second peripheral portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the first peripheral portion defines a mounting hole therethrough and presents a first self-locating leg and a first short leg, wherein the first self-locating leg extends outwardly a distance appropriate to position the keeper relative to a fixed structure which the first self-locating leg abuts, and is separated from the central portion by a first leg notch, and the first short leg extends in a direction generally opposed to the first self-locating leg and is separated from the central portion by a third leg notch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the second peripheral portion defines a mounting hole therethrough and presents a second self-locating leg and a second short leg, wherein the second self-locating leg extends outwardly a distance appropriate to position the keeper relative to a fixed structure which the second self-locating leg abuts, and is separated from the central portion by a second leg notch, and the second short leg extends in a direction generally opposed to the second self-locating leg and is separated from the central portion by a fourth leg notch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the upwardly extending wings include a first wing and a second wing, wherein a distal portion of each wing extends inwardly into the gap at an angle of from 50° to 70°, thereby defining a C-Shaped channel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the first wing and second wing include a first and second entrance ramp, and a third and fourth entrance ramp respectively, wherein each of the entrance ramps presents a curved structure presenting a ramp angle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the first entrance ramp, second entrance ramp, third entrance ramp, and fourth entrance ramp have a rise to run ratio of from three (3) to four (4).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, the locking lug has a head and a shaft, a width dimension of the head being greater than a width dimension of the shaft, the width dimension of the head being greater than a width dimension of the gap, and a width dimension of the shaft being equal to or less than the width dimension of the gap.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the shaft is surrounded by a sleeve, and wherein the sleeve is rotatably received on the shaft so as to function as a roller.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a tie bar, the locking lug being attached to the tie bar.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the keeper is a unitary structure comprised of polymer material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the keeper has a ratio of height to width of three (3) to seven (7) respectively.

### Claim 13

A window comprising:
a frame defining an opening;
a sash operably coupled to the frame with at least one hinge, the sash selectively receivable in the opening of the frame to close the opening;
a locking device attached to the frame, said locking device having at least one selectively shiftable locking lug; and
a keeper attached to the frame for receiving the locking lug, the keeper comprising a base plate with a pair of spaced apart wings extending upwardly therefrom, the wings defining a gap therebetween, the locking lug being receivable between the wings to secure the sash to the frame.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The window of claim 13, wherein the base plate of the keeper includes a central portion, a first peripheral portion, and a second peripheral portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The window of claim 14, wherein the first peripheral portion defines a mounting hole therethrough and presents a first self-locating leg and a first short leg, wherein the first self-locating leg extends outwardly a distance appropriate to position the keeper relative to a surface of the frame which the first self-locating leg abuts, and is separated from the central portion by a first leg notch, and the first short leg extends in a direction generally opposed to the first self-locating leg and is separated from the central portion by a third leg notch.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The window of claim 14, wherein the second peripheral portion defines a mounting hole therethrough and presents a second self-locating leg and a second short leg, wherein the second self-locating leg extends outwardly a distance appropriate to position the keeper relative to a surface of the frame which the second self-locating leg abuts, and is separated from the central portion by a second leg notch, and the second short leg extends in a direction generally opposed to the second self-locating leg and is separated from the central portion by a fourth leg notch.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The window of claim 13, wherein the upwardly extending wings include a first wing and a second wing, wherein a distal portion of each wing extends inwardly into the gap at an angle of from 50° to 70°, thereby defining a C-Shaped channel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The window of claim 17, wherein the first wing and second wing include a first and second entrance ramp, and a third and fourth entrance ramp respectively, wherein each of the entrance ramps presents a curved structure presenting a ramp angle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The window of claim 18, wherein the first entrance ramp, second entrance ramp, third entrance ramp, and fourth entrance ramp have a rise to run ratio of from three (3) to four (4).