초록

An apparatus for a tilt lock latch mechanism to be incorporated in double hung windows. In one embodiment, the tilt lock latch mechanism includes a rotatable element which rotates serially from a locked position, to an open position, to a tilt position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A window tilt lock latch mechanism comprising:(a) a housing;(b) a rotatable element including a keeper coupled to the rotatable element, such that rotation of the rotatable element rotates the keeper, the rotatable element mounted to the housing;(c) at least one retractable element disposable rem

1. A window tilt lock latch mechanism comprising:(a) a housing;(b) a rotatable element including a keeper coupled to the rotatable element, such that rotation of the rotatable element rotates the keeper, the rotatable element mounted to the housing;(c) at least one retractable element disposable remote from the housing; and(d) a transmission connecting the rotatable element with the retractable element, wherein:when the window tilt lock latch is mounted in a first window sash and the rotatable element is at a first angular position, the rotatable element keeper is received in a receiver in a second window sash to prevent relative movement of the first window sash and the second window sash;when the rotatable element is at a second angular position, the rotatable element keeper is removed from the receiver in the second window sash; andwhen the rotatable element is at a third angular position, the rotatable element retracts the retractable element to permit the first window sash to be tilted away from the second window sash, wherein, the rotatable element rotates serially from the first angular position to the second angular position to the third angular position. 2. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claims 1 wherein the first angular position of the rotatable element relative to the housing comprises an angular range of up to about 155 degrees. 3. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the second angular position of the rotatable element relative to the housing comprises an angular range of up to about 130 degrees. 4. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the third angular position of the rotatable element relative to the housing comprises an angular range of up to about 155 degrees. 5. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the transmission comprises a ligament. 6. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the retractable element is biased in an extended position. 7. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claims 1 , wherein the rotatable element further comprises a lever for manual actuation. 8. A tilt lock latch mechanism for use in a window assembly, the window assembly including a window frame having a pair of window frame slots, a first window sash, and a second window sash, the tilt lock latch mechanism comprising:a housing adapted to be mounted on the first window sash;a rotatable element including a keeper mounted on the housing, the keeper coupled to the rotatable element, such that a rotation of the rotatable element rotates the keeper;a receiver adapted to be mounted on the second window sash to accept the rotatable element keeper to prevent relative movement between the first window sash and the second window sash when the rotatable element is moved to a locked position, and to permit relative sliding movement between the first window sash and the second window sash when the rotatable element is moved to an open position;a pair of retractable tilt latches adapted to be disposed on opposite ends of the first window sash in communication with respective window frame slots for supporting the first window sash in sliding relation; anda transmission interdisposed between the rotatable element and the pair of retractable tilt latches, wherein the pair of retractable tilt latches are retracted from the window frame slots into the first window sash when the rotatable element is moved beyond the open position to a tilt position permitting the first window sash to be tilted relative to the window frame, wherein the rotatable element rotates serially from the lock position to the open position to the tilt position. 9. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8 wherein the transmission comprises:a gear meshing with a toothed portion of the rotatable element; anda ligament interdisposed between the gear and the retractable tilt latches, wherein when the rotatable element is turned from the open position to the tilt position, the gear is turned and tension is applied to the ligament to a ctuate the retractable tilt latches. 10. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the gear further comprises a contoured surface upon which the ligament wraps when the gear is turned. 11. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8 wherein a single lever is attached to the rotatable element to enable locking and tilting of the first window sash. 12. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the locked position corresponds to an angular position of the rotatable element relative to the housing in an angular range of up to about 155 degrees. 13. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the open position corresponds to an angular position of the rotatable element relative to the housing in an angular range of up to about 130 degrees. 14. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the tilt position corresponds to an angular position of the rotatable element relative to the housing in an angular range of up to about 155 degrees. 15. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8 wherein the pair of retractable tilt latches are biased toward the window frame slots when in use in the window assembly. 16. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claim 8 further comprising a detent between the open position and the tilt position. 17. The tilt lock latch mechanism of claim 8 wherein at least one of the pair of retractable tilt latches further comprises an adjustment mechanism for modifying relative position of the ligament to at least one of the retractable tilt latches. 18. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8 further comprising a release button to permit rotation of the rotatable element past the open position to the tilt position. 19. The tilt lock latch mechanism according to claim 8 further comprising a stop at end of rotation of the rotatable element at the tilt position. 20. A method of operating a tilt in window having a first sash and a second sash slidably engaged with at least one window frame slot, and a tilt lock latch mechanism having a lever for manual actuation, the tilt lock latch mechanism being attached to the first sash and including a retractable element coupled to the lever, the retractable element engaging the window frame slot, the tilt lock latch mechanism being attached to the first sash, the method comprising the steps of:moving the lever to a first angular position to lock the first sash relative to the second sash and prevent relative sliding movement therebetween;moving the lever to a second angular position to permit relative sliding movement of the first window sash and the second window sash; andmoving the lever to a third angular position to retract the retractable element from the window frame slot to permit tilting of the first window sash relative to the second window sash.