Patent ID: 8657347

Claim:
A latch mechanism for a window comprising: a housing, a latch bolt, a first resilient element, an actuator, and a second resilient element; the housing defining at least one opening into a cavity therein; the latch bolt slidably disposed in the housing and selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein such latch bolt is biased by the first resilient element toward the extended position; a ridge configured to protrude into the housing cavity; a stopping mechanism adapted to automatically engage and retain the latch bolt in the retracted position as the latch bolt is actuated from the extended position to the retracted position; and the actuator slidably disposed in the housing and including a contactor adapted to slide along the ridge; wherein the actuator is biased from a retracted position, by the second resilient element, to extend outwardly from the housing without actuating the stopping mechanism, as the contactor slides along one portion of the ridge; and the actuator configured, when actuated to retract inwardly into the housing, to disengage the stopping mechanism, as the contractor slides along another portion of the ridge.