Retractable, self-locking window latch

A retractable, self-locking window latch for securing together a pair of windows having interlocking meeting rails, comprising:

• a latch body that is attachable to a frame of a first window of the pair of windows, the latch body having a faceplate with a slot disposed therein;
• an extendible bolt disposed in the latch body, the extendible bolt having a groove disposed at an outer end of the bolt;
• a handle coupled to the extendible bolt for retracting the extendible bolt into the latch body such that the groove on the bolt engages the slot in the faceplate;
• biasing means disposed between the extendible bolt and the latch body for extending the extendible bolt through the slot in the faceplate and for causing the groove on the extendible bolt to remain engaged to the slot in the faceplate when the pair of windows are open;
• and
• release means that engage an interlocking meeting rail of a second window of the pair of windows to cause the groove on the extendible bolt to disengage the slot in the faceplate.

A retractable, self-locking window latch for locking together a first and a second window having interlocking meeting rails comprising:

• a latch body that is attachable to the first window, the latch body having a faceplate with a slot disposed therein, the faceplate for lying substantially flush with a first meeting rail of the first window;
• an extendible bolt disposed in the latch body;
• a handle for retracting the extendible bolt into the latch body;
• means for retaining the extendible bolt in the latch body until the first meeting rail of the first window engages a second interlocking meeting rail of the second window when the first and second windows are closed and said means comprising
• a groove disposed at an outer end of the extendible bolt;
• a flexible release disposed behind the faceplate and underneath the extendible bolt, wherein the flexible release is engaged by the second meeting rail to lift the groove of the extendible bolt off the slot when the first and second windows are closed.