Window sash latch

A window latch handle for use in a window latch mechanism to provide a locking function, said window latch handle comprising:

• a handle, said handle comprising a stem and a manually graspable portion extending transverse to said stem, said manually graspable portion having a cavity formed therein;
• a sliding member, said sliding member being disposed within said handle cavity and being adapted to move therein between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said sliding member being biased toward said engaged position;
• and
• wherein when said handle stem is pivotally mounted in a latch housing and said sliding member is in said engaged position, said sliding member engages a recess in said latch housing, said engagement of said sliding member providing a signal to indicate whether said latch handle is in a locked or an unlocked position, said engagement of said sliding member being in a direction transverse to said mounting of said stem, said engaged sliding member providing resistance to forced unlocking of a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a first cam and a delay cam;
• said delay cam being fixed to said stem;
• said first cam being adapted for movement relative to said stem;
• and
• wherein when said latch handle is in said unlocked position, rotation of said handle causes said delay cam to rotate and cause rotation of said first cam from said unlocked position to a position where at least a portion of said first cam protrudes out from said housing, said protruding portion of said first cam comprising an arcuate groove;
• and wherein further rotation of said shaft causes said delay cam to cause movement of said first cam into a locked position in which a recess in said first cam engages a housing protrusion.

A latch that is securable to a window to provide a locking function to at least one sliding sash, said latch comprising:

• a handle said handle comprising a stem and a manually graspable portion extending from said stem, said manually graspable portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and with a cavity formed therein by said inner surface;
• a sliding member, said sliding member being slidably mounted within said cavity and being therein biased relative to said handle to move from a disengaged position to an engaged position;
• a housing, said housing comprising a raised portion extending above a top surface of said housing, said raised portion surrounding an opening in said housing, said opening accommodating pivotal mounting of said handle stem, said raised portion having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface of said raised portion having at least one recess therein for receiving at least a portion of said sliding member, said sliding member engaging in said recess serving to signal whether said latch is in a locked or an unlocked position, said sliding member engaging said recess in said raised portion of said housing in a direction transverse to said mounting of said stem, said engaged sliding member providing resistance to forced unlocking of said latch;
• a locking mechanism comprising a first cam and a delay cam;
• and
• wherein when said latch is in an unlocked position, rotation of said handle causes said delay cam to drive said first cam from said unlocked position to a position where at least a portion of said first cam protrudes out from said housing cavity, said protruding portion of said first cam comprising an arcuate groove;
• and wherein further rotation of said shaft causes said delay cam to drive said first cam into a locked position, said locked position comprising a recess in said cam engaging a protrusion of said housing.

A window latch securable to a window that provides a locking function to at least one sliding sash of said window, said latch comprising:

• a handle, said handle comprising a stem and a manually graspable portion, said manually graspable portion extending transverse from said stem, a bottom surface of said manually graspable portion having an opening into a cavity;
• a sliding member, said sliding member being slidably disposed within said handle cavity and biased to move from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said sliding member having a first end and a second end, said first end receiving a spring that contacts said cavity of said manually graspable portion to provide said biasing;
• a housing, said housing comprising one or more walls to create a housing cavity;
• a top surface of said one or more walls having a raised ring protruding upward with an orifice into said housing cavity, said orifice providing for pivotal mounting therein of said handle stem, said raised ring having at least one recess for receiving at least a tip of said sliding member, and wherein said sliding member moving to said engaged position in said recess signals whether said latch is in a locked or an unlocked position, said sliding member engaging said housing recess in a direction transverse to said mounting of said stem;
• a delay cam;
• said delay cam being fixed to said stem in said housing cavity;
• a first cam, said first cam being adapted for movement relative to said stem;
• and
• wherein when said latch is in an unlocked position, rotation of said handle causes said delay cam to drive said first cam from said unlocked position to a position where at least a portion of said first cam protrudes out from said housing cavity, said protruding portion of said first cam comprising an arcuate groove;
• and wherein further rotation of said shaft causes said delay cam to drive said first cam into a locked position, said locked position comprising a recess in said cam engaging a protrusion on said housing.

A window latch securable to a window that provides a locking function to at least one sliding sash, said latch comprising:

• a handle, said handle comprising a stem and a manually graspable portion extending transverse to said stem and with a cavity formed in said manually graspable portion, said cavity having a sliding member disposed therein that is adapted to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said sliding member having a first end and a second end;
• a housing with a locking mechanism, said housing having a raised portion extending above a top surface of said housing, said raised portion having an opening to receive said stem for pivotal mounting of said handle, said sliding member being biased to contact a side of said raised portion, said raised portion having at least one recess for receiving at least a portion of said sliding member;
• and wherein when said handle moves to have said at least a portion of said sliding member engaged in said recess, said engagement serving as a detent to signal whether the latch is in a locked or an unlocked position, said sliding member engaging said recess in a direction transverse to said stem, said detent providing resistance to forced unlocking of said locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a delay cam and a first cam;
• and
• wherein when said latch is in an unlocked position, rotation of said handle causes said delay cam to drive said first cam from said unlocked position to a position where at least a portion of said first cam protrudes out from said housing cavity, said protruding portion of said first cam comprising an engagement means;
• and wherein further rotation of said shaft causes said delay cam to drive said first cam into a locked position.

A window latch, said latch being securable to a window to provide a locking function for at least one sliding sash, said window latch comprising:

• a housing, said housing comprising one or more walls to create a cavity, at least a portion of said one or more walls having an opening into said cavity, said housing further comprising an orifice and a raised ring concentric to said orifice, said raised ring comprising a first recess and a second recess;
• a handle, said handle comprising a shaft and an arm extending laterally from said shaft, said shaft being pivotally mounted in said housing orifice, said handle further comprising a spring-biased bar that is slidably mounted to said handle;
• a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a first cam and a delay cam;
• said delay cam being fixedly mounted to said shaft within said housing cavity, to thereby permit said delay cam to pivot concurrent with said handle;
• said first cam comprising an oblong opening, said oblong opening permitting said first cam to be mounted upon said shaft to selectively achieve pivotal movement and lateral sliding movement relative to said shaft;
• said delay cam and said first cam selectively interacting therebetween according to a position of said locking mechanism;
• and
• wherein when said locking mechanism is in an unlocked position, rotation of said handle causes said delay cam to drive said first cam, with said first cam rotating from said unlocked position to an engaged position, said engaged position being a position in which at least a portion of said first cam protrudes out from said opening in said housing, said protruding portion of said first cam comprising a slot;
• and wherein further rotation of said handle toward a closed position causes said delay cam to drive said first cam to move laterally, said lateral movement causing a groove in said first cam to engage a protrusion in said housing, with said first recess being engaged by said bar when said handle is in said unlocked position, and said second recess being engaged by said bar when said handle is in said closed position.

A latch comprising:

• a housing, said housing comprising:
• a cavity, an orifice, and a protrusion extending inward into said cavity;
• said housing further comprising a raised ring concentric to said orifice, said ring comprising a first and a second recess;
• a shaft, said shaft being pivotally mounted to said housing and being actuable therein by a handle portion extending laterally from said shaft, said handle portion comprising a slidable bar being spring biased toward said shaft;
• a first cam and a delay cam;
• said delay cam being fixed to said shaft;
• said first cam being adapted for movement relative to said shaft, said relative movement selectively comprising pivotal movement and sliding movement;
• and
• wherein when said latch is in an unlocked position, rotation of said shaft by actuating said handle portion causes said delay cam to rotate and to thereby cause rotation of said first cam from said unlocked position to a position where at least a portion of said first cam protrudes out from said housing cavity, said protruding portion of said first cam comprising a slot;
• and wherein further rotation of said shaft causes said delay cam to cause sliding movement of said first cam into a locked position in which said first cam engages said housing protrusion, said first recess of said raised ring being engaged by said spring-biased bar when said handle is in said unlocked position, and said second recess being engaged by said bar when said handle is in said locked position.

A latch comprising:

• a housing, said housing comprising:
• a cavity, and a protrusion extending inwardly into said cavity, said housing further comprising an orifice into said cavity, and a raised ring being concentric to said orifice, said raised ring comprising a first recess and a second recess,
• a shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted to said housing orifice and being rotatable therein using a handle portion extending laterally from said shaft, said handle portion comprising a spring-biased bar being slidably mounted within said handle portion, said first and second recesses in said housing ring being configured to be engaged by a first end of spring-biased bar,
• a delay cam;
• said delay cam being fixedly mounted to said shaft within said cavity;
• a first cam, said first cam comprising an orifice for mounting said cam onto said shaft;
• and
• wherein when said latch is in an unlocked position, rotation of said shaft causes said delay cam to co-rotate and drive said first cam from said unlocked position to an engaged position, said engaged position comprising engagement of a recess in said first cam with said housing protrusion, and comprising a portion of said first cam protruding out said housing with said protruding portion of said first cam comprising an engagement means;
• and wherein continued rotation of said shaft causes a portion of said delay cam to secure said engagement of said housing protrusion in said recess of said first cam;
• wherein when said first cam is in said engaged position, continued rotation of said shaft causes said latch to rotate into a handle-securing closed position;
• said first recess in said housing ring being engaged by said first end of said spring-biased bar when said handle is in said unlocked position, and said second recess being engaged by said bar when said handle is in said handle-securing closed position.