Patent ID: 7069694

Claim:
A latch mechanism adapted for being coupled to a window sash, which travels within a window frame, said latch mechanism comprising: a main housing having a sidewall including one or more sidewall sections which extends around at least a portion of the housing and define an interior space, an opening in said sidewall at one end of said housing, said sidewall forming a channel within the interior space having an end that coincides with said opening; a bolt substantially located within said housing and traveling along said channel, said bolt having a first end which is adapted for extending through the opening of said housing and extending into the side jamb of the window frame, said first end having a protrusion, relative to a bottom of the bolt, which projects in the direction of travel of the window sash, while in a non-tilt position, within the window frame; a tension device coupled between the bolt and the main housing for biasing the bolt toward an extended position where the bolt extends at least partially through the opening; and wherein, as the window sash travels within the window frame, while in the non-tilt position relative to the window frame and the bolt is extended into the side jamb, the protrusion at the first end of said bolt moves between an engaged position, which restricts the bolt from being moved against the bias of the tension device to a non-extended position, and a disengaged position, which allows the bolt to be moved against the bias of the tension device to the non-extended position, relative to the window frame.