Abstract: An adjustable stop is adapted to limit travel of a sliding sash window/door, and can be installed upon the window/door master frame during initial manufacturing of the product, or may be an after-market option added at some time after manufacturing was completed. The stop may even be installed upon sash windows/doors currently in service in a building. The stop is intended to limit sash travel between a closed position and a safe position, where the safe position is a position significantly less than a full-open position. The safety stop may be comprised of a housing and a tumbler being pivotally mounted within a cavity in the housing, with a spring to bias the tumbler out of an opening in the housing. Mounting is by a flange extending from the housing, with spacers of varying thickness that are capable of removably attaching thereon to accommodate sash to master frame height differences.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need of the industry for a simple and comfortable latch mechanism that automatically latches a window when the window is returned to a closed position. A latch mechanism for a window includes a housing defining an opening therein, a latch bolt slidably disposed in the housing and selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position wherein such latch bolt is adapted to be actuated by an actuating mechanism from the retracted position to the extended position, and a stopping mechanism adapted to automatically engaged and retain the latch bolt in the retracted position as the latch bolt is positioned from the extended to the retracted position.

Abstract: A clip assembly may safely secure sliding sashes of a window or door during transportation, and, in one embodiment, be comprised of a strap member and a pawl member. The strap member may be comprised of a bumper portion, and a strap portion extending therefrom, where the strap portion may have a plurality of teeth formed within the thickness of the strap. The pawl member may have a pair of sidewalls supported by a top wall and an intermediate wall. The top wall may have a protrusion which includes a plurality of pawl teeth formed to complement the strap teeth, and be located proximate to the intermediate wall. The strap may be introduced through the gap between the top rail of an upper sash and bottom rail of the second sash, to then be inserted into the pawl, and thereby be retained by the respective teeth to secure the sashes.

Abstract: An auto cam lock is disclosed here. The disclosed auto cam lock comprises a lock housing assembled with a cam and an actuator; a cam adapted to rotate between an extending position and a retracted position, the cam being adapted to be engaged with and retained by the lock housing when the cam is in the retracted position; a cam resilient means for giving the cam a resilient force adapted to drive the cam to rotate from the retracted position to the extending position; an actuator operatively coupled with the cam, said actuator being adapted to move between an extending position and a retracted position, and said the actuator being adapted to release the cam from the cam's retracted position retained by the lock housing when the actuator moves from the actuator's extending position to the actuator's retracted position; and an actuator resilient means for giving the actuator a resilient force adapted to drive the actuator to move from the retracted position to the extending position.

Abstract: An improved window sash latch which has a locking mechanism and a keeper is provided with a handle that rotates from a “locked” to an “unlocked” position. An inner cavity of the handle has a spring assembly having a sliding part that can be forced into a detent as the handle slides around a cylindrical extension of an outer surface of the latch. The detents correspond to a “locked” and an “unlocked” position of the latch. The latch also provides two cams where both cams revolve relative to each other; one cam is activated by the handle through the handle's shaft, the other cam engages the keeper, and both cams engage each other.

Abstract: A latch is adapted to accommodate its installation into any one of several sash window frames, having different cross-sectional frame arrangements and setback distances. The latch includes a housing, spring and latch bolt. The housing includes a top plate, a side wall, and a bottom wall, which form a cavity, with the latch bolt being slidably received therein. The spring biasing the latch bolt to protrude out from a housing opening. The bottom wall includes a contoured peripheral opening configured to form a first flexible platform and a second flexible platform, each having one or more tabs thereon, formed by first and second surfaces converging to form an apex. The first surface of each tab accommodates latch installation for varying sash window frame set-back distances, with the second surface being configured to cause the platform to deflect into said cavity when being engaged during the installation into the sash frame.

Abstract: An automatic sash lock is disclosed having a housing with a top surface and a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces extending from said top surface. The housing has a front face at least a portion of which is open to the interior of the housing. The housing has a tongue movably secured thereto. The tongue has a retracted position and an extended position wherein the tongue extends from the open area of the front face of the housing. The tongue moves from a retracted position to an extended position when a portion of said housing contacts a keeper.

Abstract: A vent stop is installed into a window/door to limit travel therein of a sash member, and being particularly adapted to permit ease of its installation, especially into a wooden door/window. The stop incorporates multiple retention features to inhibit the stop's removal, once properly installed. The retention features include a wedge-shaped protrusion located at a distal end of the stop housing, which engages the wood of the window opening when pivotally installed therein, to secure a first end of the stop. The opposite end of the stop may be redundantly secured. A first feature for securing the opposite end may comprise one or more arcuate flanges on housing side walls, flanges being adapted to unidirectional movement so as to permit its movement relative to the window opening during installation, but thereafter deterring counter-pivotal motion that would allow removal of the vent stop. A second feature comprises a deformable spring clip.

Abstract: A latch is provided for use on a pivotable sash window of a single-hung or double-hung sash window assembly to releasably secure the window to the master frame. The latch comprises a latch-bolt slidably mounted within, and biased relative to a housing. The housing is adapted to be installed into the top rail of the sash window through an opening in the stile and top rail, which has a periphery contoured to match the housing end profile. The latch bolt, while maintaining an aesthetically appealing external appearance, is configured to incorporate a cantilevered member which only becomes visible when biased to an angled position where it maintains engagement of the latch housing with the edge of the top wall of the rail during window deformation resulting from high wind loading. The cantilevered member ensures integrity of the latch installation under high wind load conditions typically experienced during extreme weather phenomena.

Abstract: An improved window sash latch which has a locking mechanism and a keeper is provided with a handle that rotates from a “locked” to an “unlocked” position. An inner cavity of the handle has a spring assembly having a sliding part that can be forced into a detent as the handle slides around a cylindrical extension of an outer surface of the latch. The detents correspond to a “locked” and an “unlocked” position of the latch. The latch also provides two cams where both cams revolve relative to each other; one cam is activated by the handle through the handle's shaft, the other cam engages the keeper, and both cams engage each other.

Abstract: An improved forced entry resistant sash lock comprises a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted thereto, a locking cam and a delay cam rotatably and fixedly mounted to the shaft, respectively, and a locking spring. The delay cam selectively engages and drives the locking cam between a locked position and an unlocked position. Locking spring biasing causes engagement with a locking earn opening to lock the cam when in the latch-locked position, with engagement to a depth permitting releasable detent engagement in a delay cam recess. Selective engagement and driving of the locking cam comprises a first portion of delay cam rotation being without driven locking cam rotation, and a second portion causing driven locking cam rotation from a retracted position into a protruding position. Selective engagement is by contact between corresponding protrusions on the delay and locking cams. Shaft/delay cam counter-rotation to unlock the latch proceeds in a reverse manner.

Abstract: An improved forced entry resistant sash lock comprises a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted thereto, a locking spring, and a locking cam and a delay cam rotatably and fixedly mounted to the shaft, respectively. The delay cam selectively engages and drives the locking cam between a locked position and an unlocked position. Locking spring biasing causes engagement with a locking cam opening to lock the cam when in the latch-locked position, with engagement to a depth permitting releasable detent engagement in a delay cam recess. Selective engagement and driving of the locking cam comprises a first portion of delay cam rotation being without driven locking cam rotation, and a second portion causing driven locking cam rotation from a retracted position into a protruding position. Selective engagement is by contact between corresponding protrusions on the delay and locking cams. Shaft/delay cam counter-rotation to unlock the latch proceeds in a reverse manner.

Abstract: A lock adapted for attachment to a sash window/door without screws comprises: a shaft with a cam secured thereon is rotatably secured to a housing, with the cam disposed within a housing cavity and rotatable therefrom out of an opening, into an extended position. The housing may be a single integrally formed wall that preferably has a flat bottom surface. A first attachment leg protrudes out from the housing cavity to extend beyond the bottom surface, with a foot thereon extending beyond a first end of the housing. A second attachment leg protrudes out the housing cavity second end, with a foot thereon oriented toward the housing first end, and a locking tab extends from the housing bottom surface. Installation of the screwless sash lock is by receiving the first foot, second foot, and locking tab within correspondingly positioned openings in the window/door rail, through sequenced rotational and sliding motion.

Abstract: A window vent stop for use in a sliding sash window assembly or a sliding door assembly. The vent stop has a housing adapted to be disposed in a recess in the non-movable sash member. This housing includes a cavity with a bottom plate therein. The tumbler has at least one pivot for pivotally securing the tumbler to the housing for movement between an extended position, to prevent movement of the sliding member and a retracted position, to allow movement of the sliding member. Also within the housing is a spring for biasing the tumbler. The housing has one or more flexible members extending from the end walls of the housing that secure the housing to an opening in a window sash when a portion of the window sash is positioned between the underside of a lip on said housing and the flexible member.

Abstract: A latch is provided for use principally on a pivotal sash window of a double-hung sash window assembly. The latch comprises a latch-bolt slidably mounted within and biased relative to a housing, where the housing is mounted to the top rail of the sash window. The latch bolt is connected to a button for manual actuation of the latch bolt. The latch bolt, while maintaining the convenience and utility of a standard short throw latch, is contoured and designed to maintain engagement with the jam after the window has been deformed under high sustained wind loading typically experienced during extreme weather phenomena such as hurricanes and tornados. The engagement is assured in spite of twisting of the latch bolt within the corresponding opening in the jam.

Abstract: A balance assembly for a sliding sash window, where a spring-loaded pulley arrangement is interconnected between the window frame and the window, to counter the weight of the window, and permit ease of opening and closing the window. The spring-loaded pulley arrangement is located within a housing, which also facilitates attachment of the shoe. The shoe of this balance assembly being rotatable between a first and a second position to permit fitting the assembly into the side of the window frame, when the shoe is in the first position, and to permit final installation of the assembly when the shoe in the second position. The shoe is retained in the first and second positions by detents. This rotatable shoe feature permitting installation, of the Balance Assembly of this invention, into a window frame at later stages of the window assembly sequence.

Abstract: An auto cam lock is disclosed here. The disclosed auto cam lock comprises a lock housing assembled with a cam and an actuator; a cam adapted to rotate between an extending position and a retracted position, the cam being adapted to be engaged with and retained by the lock housing when the cam is in the retracted position; a cam resilient means for giving the cam a resilient force adapted to drive the cam to rotate from the retracted position to the extending position; an actuator operatively coupled with the cam, said actuator being adapted to move between an extending position and a retracted position, and said the actuator being adapted to release the cam from the cam's retracted position retained by the lock housing when the actuator moves from the actuator's extending position to the actuator's retracted position; and an actuator resilient means for giving the actuator a resilient force adapted to drive the actuator to move from the retracted position to the extending position.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need of the industry for a simple and comfortable latch mechanism that automatically latches a window when the window is returned to a closed position. A latch mechanism for a window includes a housing defining an opening therein, a latch bolt slidably disposed in the housing and selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position wherein such latch bolt is adapted to be actuated by an actuating mechanism from the retracted position to the extended position, and a stopping mechanism adapted to automatically engaged and retain the latch bolt in the retracted position as the latch bolt is positioned from the extended to the retracted position.

Abstract: A sash lock comprises a housing, latch member, activator arm, and trigger. The latch member is spring biased to slide from an unlocked position towards a locked position. The activator arm and trigger are pivotally mounted within the housing, with a torsion spring biasing the trigger relative to the activator arm, to cause the activator arm to pivot and contact the latch member. When the latch member is moved to the unlocked position, the biased activator arm engages the latch member to retain it in the unlocked position, while the biased trigger member pivots to have a portion protrude out of the housing. Upon closing the sash member, an angled surface of a keeper contacts a curved surface of the protruding trigger to cause it to counter-rotate and drive the activator arm to disengage from the latch member and automatically permit biasing of the latch member into the locked position.

Abstract: A hinge for casement windows is disclosed. The said hinge includes a track and a shoe that is adapted to travel along the track. There is a sash arm that is pivotally connected and extending from the shoe and a support arm. The support arm has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally connected to the sash arm and said second end of the support arm is pivotally connected to the track. The support arm has an orifice for receiving a pin extending from the track. The support arm has a clip for securing the support arm to the track. The clip has a grip extending therefrom to assist in moving the clip from a first position to a second position.