Patent ID: 6871885

Claim:
A combination self contained lock/latch for a window assembly for installation on a moveable sash adjacent a track jamb of the window assembly, said combination lock/latch comprising: i) a housing for said lock/latch having an opening extending therewith; ii) a rotatable camlock disposed in the housing, a spindle or alternatively a tab connected to said camlock and extending therefrom through the opening of said housing and having a user accessible part or handle; said camlock having an engaging portion for rotatable engagement/disengagement with a keeper or slot affixed to or disposed with a framing part or an outside sash of said window assembly, said camlock having a first detent provided therewith for rotatable engagement with a second detent of a one piece biased tilt latch provided within the housing, only after the engaging portion has disengaged the slot or keeper; iii) the one piece biased tilt latch being entirely disposed within said housing and being moveable in said housing on the surface of said sash, said tilt latch having two ends and being biased to a latched position, said tilt latch having a nose portion proximate one end thereof and a detent portion proximate the other end thereof, said tilt latch for engaging a track proximate the nose portion thereof, and in one embodiment in a latch block proximate said track having at least one pocket for receiving said nose portion of the latch, and in another embodiment said nose extending further into said track or block so as to provide the sash with a higher wind pressure loading capability, said latch also for engagement with the detent of the camlock proximate the detent of said tilt latch proximate the other end thereof, said latch being biased to the track, or block, engaging position prior to being released by rotation of the camlock when the engaging portion has disengaged the keeper, wherein said lock/latch combination is fully contained within said housing and may be easily mounted on the moveable sash without further operating requirements and which obviates the need for a separate cam-lock and a separate tilt latch.