Tilt-latch for a sash window

• US 20040074146A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ashland Hardware LLC (Tyman Plc)
• Original Assignee: Newell Operating Company (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Eenigenburg, Mark B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/183
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/087 the bolts sliding parallel to the wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/10 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/22 allowing an additional movement E05D15/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/148 Windows

Abstract

A tilt-latch (10) for a sash window (12) disposed within opposed guide rails (16) on a master frame (14) is provided. The sash window (12) comprises a top rail (18), a base (22) and two stiles (24, 26) connected together at their extremities. The tilt-latch (10) is adapted for releaseably securing the sash window (12) to the master frame (14). The tilt-latch (10) includes a housing (30) adapted to be supported by the top rail (18), the housing (30) having an outward end opening (54). The tilt-latch (10) further includes a latch bolt (32) disposed within the housing (30) and having a nose (56) adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails (16). The latch bolt (32) has structure wherein the latch bolt (32) is capable of being operably positioned in the housing (30) in one of a first position for a right-hand tilt-latch (10) and second position for a left-hand tilt-latch (10).

Claims

1. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening; and

a latch bolt disposed within the housing and having a nose adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails, the latch bolt having structure wherein the latch bolt is capable of being operably positioned in the housing in one of a first position for a right-hand tilt-latch and second position for a left-hand tilt-latch.

2. The tilt-latch of claim 1 further comprising an actuator connected to the latch bolt when the latch bolt is positioned in one of the first position and the second position.

3. The tilt-latch of claim 1 wherein the latch bolt is substantially symmetrical about a plane occupying a longitudinal axis of the latch bolt.

4. The tilt-latch of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a latch bolt body that is substantially symmetrical about a plane occupying a longitudinal axis of the latch bolt.

5. The tilt-latch of claim 4 wherein the latch bolt has a height and the plane is generally proximate a midpoint of the height.

6. The tilt-latch of claim 4 wherein the plane is generally parallel to a second plane generally defined by a cover of the housing.

7. The tilt-latch of claim 4 wherein the plane is generally perpendicular to a second plane generally defined by a cover of the housing.

8. The tilt-latch of claim 1 wherein the nose has an incline surface.

9. The tilt-latch of claim 8 wherein the orientation of the incline surface of the latch bolt when in the first position is generally opposite to the orientation of the incline surface of the latch bolt when in the second position.

10. The tilt-latch of claim 8 wherein the latch bolt is orientated in the first position for a right-hand latch, wherein the tilt-latch is adapted to be supported proximate a right-hand side of the top rail wherein the incline surface is adapted to impact the guide rail.

11. The tilt-latch of claim 8 wherein the latch bolt is orientated in the second position for a left-hand latch, wherein the tilt-latch is adapted to be supported proximate a left-hand side of the top rail wherein the incline surface is adapted to impact the guide rail.

12. The tilt-latch of claim 1 further comprising means for biasing the latch bolt through the outward end opening

13. The tilt-latch of claim 12 wherein the biasing means comprises a spring having one end engaging the housing and another end engaging the latch bolt.

14. The tilt-latch of claim 13 wherein the latch bolt further comprises a spring post generally opposed to the nose, the spring being mounted to the spring post.

15. The tilt-latch of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a bottom wall defining a fastener hole adapted for receiving a fastener for securing the bottom wall to the top rail and wherein a slot of the latch bolt is generally aligned with the fastener hole.

16. The tilt-latch of claim 2 wherein the latch bolt has a height and further comprises actuator connecting structure proximate a midpoint of the height and the actuator comprises a depending post for releasably engaging the connecting structure.

17. The tilt-latch of claim 16 wherein the actuator connecting structure comprises a rail and the depending post comprises a lip for engaging the rail.

18. The tilt-latch of claim 16 wherein the actuator connecting structure comprises a pair of opposed rails and the post comprises a pair of lips for engaging a respective rail.

19. The tilt-latch of claim 18 wherein the actuator connecting structure further comprises a pair of opposed fingers and the post comprises pair of recesses for engaging a respective finger.

20. The tilt-latch of claim 16 wherein the actuator connecting structure comprises a protrusion and the post comprises a depression for releasably engaging the protrusion.

21. The tilt-latch of claim 1 wherein a tab extends from the housing, the tab engaging the latch bolt in an extended position.

22. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening; and

a latch bolt disposed within the housing and having a nose adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails, the latch bolt having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being symmetrical to the second portion wherein the latch bolt is capable of being operable in the housing in a first position wherein the tilt-latch is a right-hand tilt-latch and a second position wherein the tilt-latch is a left-hand tilt-latch.

23. The tilt-latch of claim 22 further comprising an actuator connected to the latch bolt when the latch bolt is positioned in one of the first position and the second position.

24. The tilt-latch of claim 22 wherein the first portion and the second portion are symmetrical in the direction of a height of the latch bolt.

25. The tilt-latch of claim 22 wherein the latch bolt body is laterally symmetrical.

26. The tilt-latch of claim 22 wherein the nose has an incline surface.

27. The tilt-latch of claim 26 wherein the incline surface is generally normal to a plane generally defined by a cover of the housing.

28. The tilt-latch of claim 26 wherein the orientation of the incline surface of the latch bolt when in the first position is generally opposite to the orientation of the incline surface of the latch bolt when in the second position.

29. The tilt-latch of claim 26 wherein the latch bolt is orientated in the first position for a right-hand latch, wherein the tilt-latch is adapted to be supported proximate a right-hand side of the top rail wherein the incline surface is adapted to impact the guide rail.

30. The tilt-latch of claim 26 wherein the latch bolt is orientated in the second position for a left-hand latch, wherein the tilt-latch is adapted to be supported proximate a left-hand side of the top rail wherein the incline surface is adapted to impact the guide rail.

31. The tilt-latch of claim 22 further comprising means for biasing the latch bolt through the outward end opening

32. The tilt-latch of claim 31 wherein the biasing means comprises a spring having one end engaging the housing and another end engaging the latch bolt.

33. The tilt-latch of claim 32 wherein the latch bolt further comprises a spring post generally opposite the nose, the spring being mounted to the spring post.

34. The tilt-latch of claim 22 wherein the housing further comprises a bottom wall defining a fastener hole adapted for receiving a fastener for securing the bottom wall to the top rail and wherein a slot of latch bolt is generally aligned with the fastener hole.

35. The tilt-latch of claim 23 wherein the latch bolt has a height and further comprises actuator connecting structure proximate a midpoint of the height and the actuator comprises a depending post for releasably engaging the connecting structure.

36. The tilt-latch of claim 35 wherein the actuator connecting structure comprises a rail and the post comprises a lip for engaging the rail.

37. The tilt-latch of claim 35 wherein the actuator connecting structure comprises a pair of opposed rails and the post comprises a pair of lips for engaging a respective rail.

38. The tilt-latch of claim 37 wherein the actuator connecting structure further comprises a pair of opposed fingers and the post comprises a pair of recesses for engaging a respective finger.

39. The tilt-latch of claim 35 wherein the actuator connecting structure comprises a protrusion and the post comprises a depression for engaging the protrusion.

40. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening; and

a latch bolt disposed within the housing and having a nose having an inclined surface, the nose adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails, the latch bolt adapted to occupy one of a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the incline surface is adapted to impact a respective guide rail when the housing is supported near a right-hand side of the top rail and wherein in the second position the incline surface is adapted to impact a respective guide rail when the housing is supported near a left-hand side of the top rail.

41. The tilt-latch of claim 40 further comprising an actuator connected to the latch bolt when the latch bolt is positioned in one of the first position and the second positions.

42. The tilt-latch of claim 40 wherein the incline surface is adapted to impact a respective guide rail when the window is rotated to a position secured within the master frame.

43. The tilt-latch of claim 40 wherein the latch bolt has a height and is symmetrical about a plane located generally at a midpoint of the height.

44. The tilt-latch of claim 41 wherein the latch bolt has a height and further comprises actuator connecting structure at a midpoint of the height and the actuator comprises a depending post for releasably engaging the connecting structure.

45. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening; and

a latch bolt disposed within the housing having an incline surface at a nose wherein the latch bolt is capable of being operably positioned in the housing in one of a first position and a second position wherein the latch bolt in the second position is rotated generally 180 degrees from the latch bolt in the first position about a longitudinal axis of the latch bolt.

46. The tilt-latch of claim 45 further comprising an actuator connected to the latch bolt when the latch bolt is positioned in one of the first position and the second position.

47. The latch bolt of claim 45 wherein the latch bolt has a height and is substantially symmetrical about a plane proximate a midpoint of the height.

48. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening; and

a latch bolt disposed within the housing and having a nose adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails, the latch bolt having connecting structure located on a plane through a longitudinal axis of the latch bolt, the plane being generally parallel to a cover plane defined by the cover.

49. The tilt-latch of claim 48 further comprising an actuator releaseably engaging the connecting structure.

50. The tilt-latch of claim 48 wherein the latch bolt has a height and is symmetrical about a plane generally at a midpoint of the height.

51. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening and a cover;

a latch bolt operably disposed within the housing and having a nose adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails, the latch bolt having a longitudinal axis and a slot defined by a bolt surface facing the nose, the surface being laterally symmetrical about a plane through the longitudinal axis; and

an actuator connected to the latch bolt, the actuator having a depending post;

wherein the post substantially abuts the bolt surface when the actuator is connected to the latch bolt.

52. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening;

a latch bolt disposed within the housing having an aperture and a rail located proximate a midpoint of a height of the latch bolt; and

an actuator with a depending post;

wherein the post is received by the aperture and engages the rail to connect the actuator to the latch bolt in one of a first position and a second position, wherein the second position, the latch bolt is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the latch bolt generally 180 degrees from the first position.

53. A latch bolt for a tilt-latch comprising a housing with an outward end opening, an actuator having a depending post for connecting to the latch bolt and a spring for biasing the latch bolt through the outward end opening, the tilt-latch being adapted for use with a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releasably securing the sash window to the master frame, the latch bolt comprising:

a body adapted to be disposed within the housing;

a nose for engaging a respective one of the guide rails; and

a slot defined by a bolt surface facing the nose;

wherein the bolt surface is generally laterally symmetrical about a plane through a longitudinal axis of the latch bolt.

54. The latch bolt of claim 53 wherein the latch bolt has a height and the bolt is generally symmetrical about a plane through the longitudinal axis in the direction of the height.

55. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening;

a latch bolt disposed within the housing and having a nose adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails, the latch bolt having an aperture and a pair of fingers and a protrusion located proximate a midpoint of a height of the latch bolt; and

an actuator having a first depending post and a second depending post spaced along a length of the actuator, the first depending post having a pair of recesses and the second depending post having a depression, the actuator being connected to the latch bolt;

wherein the aperture receives the first depending post and the second depending post, each recess receives a respective finger and the depression receives the protrusion.

56. A tilt-latch for a sash window disposed within opposed guide rails on a master frame, the sash window comprises a top rail, a base and two stiles connected together at their extremities, the tilt-latch adapted for releaseably securing the sash window to the master frame, the tilt-latch comprising:

a housing adapted to be supported by the top rail, the housing having an outward end opening; and

a latch bolt disposed within the housing and having a nose adapted for engaging a respective one of the guide rails, the latch bolt having an aperture and a pair of rails located proximate a midpoint of a height of the latch bolt; and

an actuator having a depending post having a pair of lips;

wherein the aperture receives the depending post and each lip releasably engages a respective rail to connect the actuator to the latch bolt.