Patent ID: 8899632

Claim:
A window and latch comprising: a sliding sash; a latch plate; a housing secured to the sliding sash, the housing including an engagement element, the engagement element movable from a locked position operatively engaged with the latch plate to an unlocked position disengaged from the latch plate; and a handle operatively coupled to the engagement element and being movable from a first position to a second position in the same direction the sliding sash moves to an open position, the handle operatively moving the engagement element from the locked position to the unlocked position as the handle is moved from the first position toward the second position; wherein the handle is biased toward the first position only when the sliding sash is in a closed position; and wherein the handle is biased toward and retained in the second position only when the sliding sash is in the open position; wherein the engagement element is biased to the locked position by a first spring, the engagement element automatically moves from the unlocked position to the locked position when the sliding sash is moved to the closed position, the handle being operatively biased to the first position as the engagement element moves from the unlocked to the locked position; the latch plate being secured to a second sash, the handle having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion being closer to the second sash than the front portion, the handle pivoting about its rear portion as the handle is moved from the first position to the second position; and the engagement element including a channel formed therein, the channel including a first wall and an opposing second wall, a second spring being located within the channel between the first wall and the second wall, the handle having an arm portion extending therefrom into the channel between the second spring and the second wall, the handle being operatively held in the second position by the second spring when the sliding sash is in the open position and the engagement element is in the unlocked position, the handle automatically returning to the first position when the sliding sash is in the closed position and the engagement element is in the locked position.