US2452377A

US2452377A - Window latch

Info

Publication number: US2452377A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Houseman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-02-13
Filing date: 1947-02-13
Publication date: 1948-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1965-10-26

Description

23. I M H 11 '27 g J6 L,

Oct. 26, 1948. HQUSEMAN 2,452,377

WINDOW LATCH Filed Feb. 13, 1947 QR gaea ihmentor Egg/ye U Haws/115w a Gnome Patented Oct. 26, 1948 ,UNI TED. PTENT' OFFICE.

WINDOW LATCH GeorgeltanHouseman; Phoenix, Aria: Appmaaontamm 13, 1947, Serial No. teaser (01. aze-1);;

Glaims;

My invention relates-tolatches, but -more particularly to tamper proof latchesforuseon screen doors and screen windows.

An obj ectof my invention is toprovide. a burglarl proof; spring actuated; clam-ping typelatch,

so constructed that it cannot beoperated means of a wire or like implement pushed through the screen mesh. of a doonor Wind'ow on which the latch is mounted.

Another" objectof' my invention to provide: a latch which incorporates a longitudinallyextem sibl'ezarm arranged to work againsta spring in order that the latch inthe latched'position will: serve as a means tor holdingia -doorvor window screen, on which it is mounted, tight up against the door frame or wmdearmme, as the case may be, to prevent the door or window screen from rattling when the wind blows'or when vibrated. by some other cause.

Other objects and advantages of my invention against which the lower edge of the window screen contacts.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of a portion of the latch illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded View of parts of the latch.

Figure 4 is an isometric elevational View of the keeper illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the latch and the keeper which illustrates an operation of a latch, and,

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 5 taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

In the drawings numeral l0 designates a base plate shown screwed to the lower edge of the frame of the window screen s by means of screws l l. The base plate [0 is provided with an internally threaded socket l2 adapted to receive a spring retaining shell I3 in which is housed a helical compression spring 14. The compression spring l4 urges the plunger If: to its retracted position shown by the solid lines of Figure 2, a position in which it contacts the base plate 10. The plunger l5, however, may be moved outwardly to an extended position, such as indicated 2; by i tsdottediine position of Figure-- 2; against the force of thespringl tlto enable thelatch to mak'e contact with the keeper 28. r

The plungershaftl'fi formingan integraltpar-t of the plunger 8 5 is-slidably: mounted in the shell l3 and terminates in a transversely perforated slotted end IT. By:meansof a pivot pin t8 the perforated flattened endotthe latch arm l9 is pivotably connected to the: plunger: shaft 1 I6? portion 2! retains the clamp-.23: on the-rounded;

portion 2!.

The clampv 23 comprises a pair; of: perforated I clamping arms 24" throughwhich the rounded portion: 2i of .the: latchrarmcl' 9 is extended: The: perforatedgclamping arms; :24"; are. joined; toegether, by means oil-a4 c.-spring-2&; vThe c-lamping;i

arms 24 terminata:iminwanflyj: curved.cooperate ing-clampinggjawswlfii adapted-rte gripvtheukeener 28. The clamping arms 24 terminate in outwardly curved handles 21 adapted to be gripped by the fingers of the hand in opening the clamping jaws 25 and for pulling the clamp 23 and latch arm l9 assembly outwardly in opposition to the compression spring Ill. The keeper 28 is comprised of a base portion 29 which is adapted to be fastened to a window ledge L by means of screws 38 or the like. An upright portion 3| integrally joined to the base portion 29 carrying a pair of parallel rearwardly extending ears 32 is extended upwardly at right angles from the base portion 29. Between the ears 32 a rod 33 is extended. The rod 33 has a diameter less than the diameter of the cars 32. Due to this construction of the keeper the ears 32 serve as stops to prevent the clamp 23 from being slid off the rod 33 by means of a tool inserted through the screen mesh of a window screen or door screen the latch is mounted on.

It is pointed out here that .this latch cannot be 'unfastened from the outside of a window screen or screen door by means of any tool that could be worked through screen mesh. In order to remove the latch from the latch keeper 28 the handles 2'! and the clamp 23 must be squeezed together and then the clamp 23, in spread condition, must be pulled back from the rod 33 in opposition to the compression spring It.

The compression spring M, by holding the screen S tightly up against the window ledge L, prevents the screen S from rattling during a Windstorm. It is pointed out also that the compression spring l4 and the 0 spring 26 Working together hold all of the movable par-ts of the latch under spring tensionand thus prevent its parts from rattling.

The above described invention in a latch embodyingthe compression spring l4 and the 0 spring 25 constitutes a'fiexible latch, an ideal latch foiuse on" window screens. The clamp 23 is operated in a very simple manner by the thumb and forefinger of the hand. When the clamp 23 is opened and while it is still gripped between the thumb and forefinger of the hand it can be feasily pulled backwards into clamping position with the rod 33. No difliculty will arise in fastening the clamp 23 to the rod 33 because of any mall angular misalignment of the keeper 28 because the clamp 23 is pivotably mounted on the rounded portion 2i of the latch arm 19 permitting the turning of the clamp 23 into exact alignment with the rod 33. All of these operations,

stated above, are carried out simply and naturallyby a person using only one hand and without changing his grip on the handles 21.

It'is to be understood that various changes in the size and arrangements of parts of the screen latch and the accompanying keeper, illustrated in my drawings and described in my specification, may be'resorted to within the scope of my invention. While my specification illustrates my invention in'a latch employed on a window'screen it is to be understood that its use is not tov belimited to window screens, doors, or thei-lika for it may be used in many other constructions whereinlatches are needed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. A device of the class described, comprising a base member adapted for attachment to a winsaid elongated latch arm terminates in a rounded portion extended in a substantially right angular direction with respect to the major axis of said elongated latch arm, and wherein said spring clamp is rotatably mounted on said rounded portion of said latch arm.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said latch arm terminates in a portion extended at a substantial right angle to the major axis of said latch arm, and wherein said means for engaging said latch keeper: consists in a spring clamp comprising a pair of complementary curved jaws extending from said right angular portion of said latch arm in a direction toward said base member. Y V [-1 5., A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said complementary curved jaws are each provided with a rearwardly extending, outwardly curved handle, said handles being opposed to one another and adapted to be squeezed by fingers of the hand in the opening movement of said curved jaws and the sliding movement of said latch arm with respect to said base member.

GEORGE A. HOUSEMAN.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references arebf record in the file of this patentz FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 3, 1395 Number Sweden Sept. 19, 1901