Patent ID: 7976077

Claim:
An integrated sash lock and tilt-latch assembly for a sash window assembly, the sash window assembly having a lower sash window having a top rail, a bottom rail, and a pair of stiles and an upper sash window having a keeper, the integrated assembly comprising: a sash lock mechanism adapted to be supported by the top rail; a tilt-latch mechanism adapted to be supported by the lower sash window and comprising a tilt latch housing having a latch bolt opening at an end thereof and a latch bolt, the latch bolt slidably supported by the tilt latch housing and moveable between an extended position, where a portion of the latch bolt extends through the latch bolt opening, and a retracted position, the tilt latch housing further having a flange around at least a portion of the latch bolt opening and a flexible tab located inwardly of the flange, the tab and the flange defining a gap therebetween being adapted to receive a portion of one of the stiles such that the tab is adapted to engage an inner surface of the stile and the flange is adapted to engage an outer surface of the stile, and wherein at least a portion of the tilt latch housing located inwardly from the flange has a generally circular cross-section; and a connector having a first end operably connected to the sash lock mechanism and a second end operably connected to the latch bolt, wherein the integrated assembly is moveable among a locked position, an unlocked position and a tiltable position, wherein the sash lock mechanism is adapted to engage the keeper in the locked position, and wherein the sash lock mechanism is adapted to be disengaged from the keeper in the unlocked position, and wherein the latch bolt is placed in the retracted position in the tiltable position, wherein the sash lock mechanism comprises an actuator coupled to a rotor, wherein the sash lock mechanism further comprises a pawl having an appending member connected to the first end of the connector, wherein the actuator is moveable among a first position wherein the rotor does not abuttingly engage the pawl and the assembly is in the locked position, a second position wherein the assembly is in the unlocked position, and a third position wherein the rotor abuttingly engages the pawl and the assembly is in the tiltable position, and wherein the pawl is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the rotor, and wherein the pawl rotates simultaneously with the rotor over at least a portion of a range of rotation of the rotor.