Sash lock

Abstract

An improved structure is provided for a window sash lock having a catch mounted to a face of a window frame to grasp and release a keeper reciprocally mounted to a face of a window sash. A housing (12) is mounted against the frame face (13) that has an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis perpendicular to the frame face (13). An operator (52) for the catch (32) comprises a cylindrical pivotal portion (56) which is receivable within the housing cylindrical portion and is adapted to pivot about the axis. The operator also includes a handle portion (54) secured at one end to the operator pivotal portion (56). The operator further comprises an actuator portion having a button (60) at one end for engaging the catch to control movement thereof. The actuator portion is secured at the other end to the operator pivotal portion. A part of the actuator portion is trapped between the housing and the frame face to prevent removal of the operator from the mounted housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a lock including a keeper on a window sash and a catch reciprocally mounted to a face of a window frame for grasping and releasing the keeper, an improved structure for operating said catch comprising: a housing for mounting against the frame face, said housing including an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and an operator including   a cylindrical pivotal portion secured by the housing cylindrical portion for pivoting within said cylindrical portion about said axis,   a handle portion secured at one end to the operator pivotal portion, and   an actuator portion having a button at one end for engaging the catch to control movement thereof, said actuator portion being secured at the other end to the operator pivotal portion, whereby a part of said actuator portion is trapped between said housing and said frame face to prevent removal of said operator from the mounted housing.   
     
     
       2. The lock catch operating structure of claim 1 further comprising a shoulder on said actuator portion capable of being engaged by the catch to assist in maintaining the operator within the housing. 
     
     
       3. The lock catch operating structure of claim 1 wherein said pivotal portion has a shoulder adjacent said actuator portion for maintaining said pivotal portion securely within the opening in said housing. 
     
     
       4. The lock of claim 1 further comprising detents on said catch to secure said operator between two limit positions. 
     
     
       5. In a lock including a keeper on a window sash and a catch having flexible forked sections, said catch being reciprocally mounted to a face of a window frame for grasping and releasing the keeper, an improved structure for operating said catch comprising: a housing for mounting against the frame face, said housing including an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and   an operator including a cylindrical pivotal portion receivable within the housing cylindrical portion and adapted to pivot about said axis,   a handle portion secured at one end to the operator pivotal portion, and   an actuator portion having a button at one end for engaging the catch to control movement thereof, said button being generally circular and capable of moving between said catch forked sections and said actuator portion being secured at the other end to the operator pivotal portion, whereby a part of said actuator portion is trapped between said housing and said frame face to prevent removal of said operator from the mounted housing.     
     
     
       6. The lock of claim 5 wherein said forked sections have ends that protrude inward at a distance apart slightly less than the diameter of said button. 
     
     
       7. A method of assembling a lock catch operating structure for a lock including a keeper on a window sash and a catch reciprocally mounted to a face of a window frame for grasping and releasing the keeper, said lock catch operating structure including a housing for mounting against the frame face, said housing including an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and   an operator including a cylindrical pivotal portion receivable within the housing cylindrical portion and adapted to pivot about said axis,     a handle portion secured at one end to the operator pivotal portion, and   an actuator portion having a button at one end for engaging the catch to control movement thereof, said actuator portion being secured at the other end to the operator pivotal portion, whereby a part of said actuator portion is trapped between said housing and said frame face to prevent removal of said operator from the mounted housing,   said method comprising the steps of:   extending said operator actuator portion through said housing opening;   pivoting said operator and housing relative to one another about an axis substantially perpendicular to said housing cylindrical portion axis to dispose said operator pivotal portion within said housing cylindrical portion; snapping said operator into engagement with said catch; and   mounting said housing against the window frame face.   
     
     
       8. A lock for a window frame including a catch capable of grasping and releasing a keeper mounted on a window sash so as to releasably maintain the frame adjacent the sash, said lock comprising: a housing for mounting against an interior face of the frame, said housing having a cavity and an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and   an operator having a portion receivable within said housing cylindrical portion and adapted to pivot about said axis, a handle portion secured at one end to the pivotal portion and extending outward from said housing when said pivotal portion is within said housing, and an actuator portion having a button at one end for engaging said catch to control movement thereof and being secured at the other end to the operator pivotal portion, said actuator portion capable of being inserted through said housing opening whereby said actuator portion is trapped between said housing and the frame when said housing is mounted against the frame to prevent removal of said operator from the mounted housing.   
     
     
       9. The lock of claim 8 further comprising guides in said housing for controlling the movement of the catch. 
     
     
       10. The lock of claim 8 further comprising a shoulder on said catch which is engageable with an operator pivotal portion shoulder. 
     
     
       11. The lock of claim 10 wherein said catch shoulder is flexible and ramped relative said operator pivotal portion shoulder and said operator pivotal portion shoulder is ramped relative said catch shoulder. 
     
     
       12. A method of assembling a lock for releasably maintaining a window frame adjacent a window sash, said lock including a catch, an operator, and a housing, said method comprising the steps of: inserting an actuator portion of the operator through a housing opening which is generally cylindrical about an axis;   pivoting said operator and housing relative to one another about a second axis substantially perpendicular to said housing opening axis to dispose a cylindrical portion of the operator within the housing opening; and   mounting said housing against an interior face of the window frame with the operator actuator portion substantially adjacent said interior face whereby said interior face blocks said operator against reverse pivoting of said operator about said second axis which would displace said cylindrical portion from the housing opening.   
     
     
       13. In a lock including a keeper on a window sash and a catch reciprocally mounted to a face of a window frame for grasping and releasing the keeper, an improved structure for operating said catch comprising: a housing for mounting against the frame face, said housing defining an interior open to the frame face when mounted thereagainst and including an opening through said house with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and   an operator including   a cylindrical pivotal portion secured by the housing cylindrical portion for pivoting within said cylindrical portion about said axis,   a handle portion secured at one end to the operator pivotal portion, and   an actuator portion connected to the operator pivotal portion and supporting an engaging member for engaging the catch to control movement thereof, said actuator portion being disposed in the housing interior and adjacent said frame face when said housing is mounted thereagainst to prevent removal of the operator cylindrical pivotal portion from the housing cylindrical .[.pivotal portion from the housing cylindrical.]. portion.   
     
     
       14. A method of assembling the lock catch operating structure recited in claim 13, comprising the steps of: extending said operator actuator portion through said housing opening;   pivoting said operator and housing relative to one another about an axis substantially perpendicular to said housing cylindrical portion axis to dispose said operator pivotal portion within said housing cylindrical portion; and   mounting said housing against the window frame face. .Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  A lock for a window frame including a catch capable of grasping and releasing a keeper mounted on a window sash so as to releasably maintain the frame adjacent the sash, said lock comprising: a housing for mounting against an interior face of the frame, said housing having a cavity and an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and   an operator having a portion receivable within said housing cylindrical portion and adapted to pivot about said axis,   a handle portion extending from the pivotal portion, and   an actuator portion extending from the pivotal portion and having a button at one end for engaging said catch to control movement thereof;     whereby said frame interior face secures the receivable operator portion in the housing cylindrical portion when said housing is mounted against the frame by preventing substantial movement of the operator other than pivoting about said axis. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       16.  A method of assembling a lock catch operating structure for a lock including a keeper on a window sash and a catch reciprocally mounted to a face of a window frame for grasping and releasing the keeper, said lock catch operating structure including a housing for mounting against the frame face, said housing including an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and   an operator including a cylindrical pivotal portion receivable within the housing cylindrical portion and adapted to pivot about said axis,   a handle portion extending radially from the operator pivotal portion, and   an actuator portion extending radially from the operator pivotal portion and having a button at its end for engaging the catch to control movement thereof, whereby a part of one of said radially extending portions is disposed between said housing and said frame face,     said method comprising the steps of:   extending said operator actuator portion through said housing opening;   pivoting said operator and housing relative to one another about a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis to dispose said operator pivotal portion within said housing cylindrical portion;   snapping said operator into engagement with said catch; and   mounting said housing against the window frame face to prevent removal of said operator from the housing by preventing pivoting of said operator and housing relative to the second axis. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       17.  In a lock including a keeper on a window sash and a catch reciprocally mounted to a face of a window frame for grasping and releasing the keeper, an improved structure for operating said catch comprising: a housing for mounting against the frame face, said housing including an opening therethrough with a portion substantially cylindrical about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame face; and   an operator including a cylindrical pivotal portion secured by the housing cylindrical portion for pivoting within said cylindrical portion about said axis,   a handle portion secured at one end to the operator pivotal portion and extending therefrom, and   an actuator portion having a button at one end for engaging the catch to control movement thereof, said actuator portion being secured at the other end to the operator pivotal portion and extending therefrom, whereby a part of one of said extending portions is trapped between said housing and said frame face to prevent removal of said operator from the mounted housing. .Iaddend.