Window latch system
OwnerGordon W. Elliottinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sliding latch and locking mechanism, for windows and doors, whereby the latching mechanism provides a means for discrete position retention of a sliding window or door and provides an increased measure of security. The latching system combines four modes of operation i.e. lock, close only, raise (free sliding), and tilt to provide angular pivoting of window sash, that allow three levels of security, i.e. fully locked, close only with discrete positions maintained, and raise or lower without discrete positions maintained (free sliding). The latching system security levels are accomplished by means of a selector knob positioned to the desired mode of operation. Also, a mechanism is integrated to provide interlocking in the fully closed position with the upper or adjacent window or door sash.
Claims31
A latch mechanism for a horizontally or vertically sliding window having a window frame, the window frame including guide rails defining a guide rail slot extending in reciprocal sliding movement directions, a first sash and a second sash, the first sash is slidable with respect to the frame in the movement directions, each of the sashes having a meeting cross-member, the meeting cross-members transverse to the reciprocal sliding movement directions and adapted to lie alongside one another when the sashes are in a closed position;
- the latch mechanism comprising:
- a transverse crosspiece selected from the group consisting of the meeting cross-member of the first sash and a supplemental crosspiece attached to the meeting cross-member of the first sash, the transverse cross-piece having opposed first and second walls;
- a rotatable stem protruding through the first wall of the transverse crosspiece, the first wall being an outer wall accessible during sliding;
- a rotatable hub, wherein a portion of the stem engages the hub such that rotating the stem rotates the hub;
- a compressible member;
- a locking plate;
- the compressible member biasing the hub and locking plate together, the compressible member located between the hub and a wall selected from the group consisting of the first wall of the transverse crosspiece and the second wall of the transverse crosspiece;
- male protrusions protruding from a member of the group consisting of the hub and the locking plate, female indentations located in the other member of the group consisting of the hub and the locking plate, wherein the male protrusions mate with respective of the female indentations in at least a first position in which the sash is slidable in the movement directions and a second position in which the sash is locked to prevent sliding in at least one of the movement directions;
- and
- two rods, each rod having a first end pivotally attached to opposed sides of the rotatable hub, and each rod having a second end functionally attached to a spring biased window movement control mechanism.
A latch mechanism for a horizontally or vertically sliding window having a window frame, the window frame including guide rails defining a guide rail slot extending in reciprocal sliding movement directions, a first sash and a second sash, the first sash is slidable with respect to the frame in the movement directions, each of the sashes having a meeting cross-member, the meeting cross-members transverse to the reciprocal sliding movement directions and adapted to lie alongside one another when the sashes are in a closed position;
- the latch mechanism comprising:
- a transverse crosspiece selected from the group consisting of the meeting cross-member of the first sash and a supplemental crosspiece attached to the meeting cross-member of the first sash, the transverse cross-piece having opposed first and second walls;
- a rotatable stem protruding through the first wall of the transverse crosspiece, the first wall being an outer wall accessible during sliding;
- a rotatable hub, wherein a portion of the stem engages the hub such that rotating the stem rotates the hub;
- the hub being movable from at least a first position in which the sash is slidable in the movement directions to a second position in which the sash is locked to prevent sliding in one of the movement directions and permit sliding in another movement direction towards a sash closed position;
- and
- two rods, each rod having a first end pivotally attached to opposed sides of the rotating hub member, and each rod having a second end which is functionally attached to a spring biased window movement control mechanism,
- wherein the spring biased window movement control mechanism comprises:
- a latch pin having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion relative to the stem,
- an attachment linkage attached to or integral with each rod second end, respectively, and having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion relative to the stem;
- a compression member biasing the latch pin distally relative to the stem,
- a first transverse opening defined by the distal end portion of the attachment linkage;
- a second transverse opening defined by the proximal end portion of the latch pin, the first and second transverse openings being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the attachment linkage;
- a transverse linkage pin located within the first and second transverse openings, the transverse linkage pin attaching the attachment linkage and the latch pin;
- wherein at least one member of the group consisting of the first transverse opening and the second transverse opening is a longitudinally elongated slot having a length in the longitudinal direction greater than its width,
- wherein the linkage pin is longitudinally slidable within the longitudinally elongated slot, when male protrusions mate with female indentations in the second position, to extend the latch pin into the guide rail slot, permit reciprocal movement of the latch pin relative to the attachment member, and permit sliding in one of the movement directions.
The latch mechanism of 29, wherein the rod second end is threaded, further comprising two nuts screwed onto the rod threaded second end and the first catch is held onto the rod between the two nuts, wherein the male protrusions and respective of the female indentations mate in the second position wherein the first sash is slidable along the guide rail slot in only one movement direction towards a sash closed position, and wherein the male protrusions further mate with respective of the female indentations in a third position in which the sash is locked to prevent sliding in the movement directions.
A latch mechanism for a horizontally or vertically sliding window having a window frame, the window frame including guide rails defining a guide rail slot extending in reciprocal sliding movement directions, a first sash and a second sash, the first sash is slidable with respect to the frame in the movement directions, each of the sashes having a meeting cross-member, the meeting cross-members transverse to the reciprocal sliding movement directions and adapted to lie alongside one another when the sashes are in a closed position;
- the latch mechanism comprising:
- the meeting cross-member of the first sash having opposed first and second walls;
- a rotatable stem protruding through the first wall of the meeting cross-member of the first sash, the first wall being an outer wall accessible during sliding;
- a rotatable hub, wherein a portion of the stem engages the hub such that rotating the stem rotates the hub;
- the hub being movable from at least a sliding position in which the sash is slidable in the movement directions to a locking position in which the sash is locked to prevent sliding in the movement directions;
- and
- two rods, each rod having a first end pivotally attached to opposed sides of the rotating hub member, and each rod having a second end which is functionally attached to a window movement control mechanism,
- wherein the window movement control assembly comprises:
- a respective latch pin having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion relative to the stem and functionally attached to or integral with each rod second end, respectively, and having a distal end portion relative to the stem and a proximal end portion relative to the stem,
- further comprising a first catch held onto the rod, a second catch protruding from the second sash and having an end for inserting into a hole in the first sash meeting cross-member to engage the first catch when protrusions mate with female indentations in the locking position, wherein in the locking position the sash is locked to prevent sliding in the movement directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.