Window latch

A window latch for acting between a pair of first and second meeting stiles of a pair of first and second window sashes, respectively, movable in a window frame, said first window sash having means for engaging the window frame to shift the first and second window sashes sideways against the window frame for an increased degree of sealing, said window latch comprising:

• (a) a base plate adapted to be mounted on the first stile;
• (b) a cam keeper adapted to be attached to the second stile;
• (c) latch cam means adapted to be rotatably mounted on the first stile for locking engagement with said cam keeper;
• (d) a slide plate movably mounted on said base plate and having first engaging means;
• (e) joint members coupled with said slide plate for actuating the window sash engaging means in response to movement of said slide plate;
• (f) means operatively connected to said latch cam means and said slide plate for moving said slide plate in a first direction in response to turning of said latch cam means;
• and
• (g) locking means supported on said base plate and having second engaging means normally engaging said first engaging means for preventing movement of said slide plate and turning of said latch cam means, said locking means being movable in a second direction transverse to said first direction in response to the engagement thereof with the second stile, for allowing said second engaging means to disengage from said first engaging means.

A window latch for locking together a pair of slidable window sashes in closed position, comprising:

• (a) a cam keeper adapted to be secured to a first of said sashes;
• (b) a latch assembly adpated to be secured to a second of said sashes and including a manually movable cam interengageable with said keeper;
• and
• (c) means slidably supported on said latch assembly, and disposed to be automatically responsive to the absence of the first of said sashes, for inhibiting manual movement of said cam when the sashes are not closed, said inhibiting means including
• (d) a slide plate arranged to move linearly in a first direction in response to rotational movement of said cam, said slide plate having an elongated slot with a recess opening into it in a direction away from the first of said sashes, and
• (e) a feeler having an end normally disposed in the path of the first of said sashes with a remote portion of said feeler disposed in said recess to block its movement, said feeler being movable out of said path and out of said recess in response to the closing of the sashes.

A window latch for locking together a pair of slidable window sashes in closed position, comprising:

• (a) a cam keeper adapted to be secured to a first of said sashes;
• (b) a latch assembly adapted to be secured to a second of said sashes and including a manually movable cam interengageable with said keeper;
• and
• (c) means slidably supported on said latch assembly, and disposed to be automatically responsive to the absence of the first of said sashes, for inhibiting manual movement of said cam when the sashes are not closed, said inhibiting means including
• (d) a slide plate arranged to move linearly in a first direction in response to rotational movement of said cam, said slide plate having an elongated slot with a recess opening into it, and
• (e) a feeler having a remote portion positionable in said recess for identifying the position that said slide plate should be in when said cam is in a position disengaged from said cam keeper.