Double hung sash lock with tilt lock release buttons

1. A combination tilt/sash lock for mounting to a sash rail of a slideable and tiltable sash window, the combination comprising:

(a) a first tilt lock mechanism having a tilt lock and a release button, the tilt lock being movable by the release button from a latched position to an unlatched position; the latched position including the first tilt lock mechanism preventing the sash from tilting; the unlatched position permitting the sash to tilt; and

(b) a sash lock mechanism having a rotatable cam and a locking lever, the rotatable cam being movable by the locking lever between a locked position and an unlocked position; the locked position including the sash lock mechanism preventing the sash from sliding; the unlatched position permitting the sash to slide;

(c) the locking lever and the release button being arranged in a superimposed linear relationship when the locking lever is in the locked position such that the locking lever blocks the tilt lock release button from being moved to the unlatched position.

2. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 1 further comprising a biasing spring, the biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button and providing a biasing force for holding the tilt lock mechanism in the locked position.

3. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 2 wherein the tilt lock has a cammed end, the cammed end being constructed and arranged to permit the tilt lock to automatically retract when the window is moved from a tilted position to an upright position.

4. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 1 wherein the tilt lock release mechanism is constructed and configured to operate in a linear direction.

5. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) a second tilt lock mechanism having a tilt lock, the tilt lock being movable by a tilt lock release button between a latched position and an unlatched position.

6. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 5 further comprising:

(a) a first biasing spring, the first biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button of the first tilt lock mechanism and providing a biasing force for holding the tilt lock mechanism in the locked position; and

(b) a second biasing spring, the second biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button of the second tilt lock mechanism and providing a biasing force for holding the tilt lock mechanism in the locked position.

7. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 6 wherein the tilt lock release mechanism is constructed and configured to operate in a linear direction.

8. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 6 wherein the tilt locks of the first and second tilt lock mechanisms each have a cammed end for allowing the tilt locks to automatically retract when the window is moved from a tilted position to an upright position.

9. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 6 wherein the tilt lock of the first tilt lock mechanism has a length that is equal to a length of the tilt lock of the second tilt lock mechanism.

10. A double-hung window assembly comprising:

(a) an upper sash having a first and second stiles, a bottom check rail located at the bottom of the upper sash and a first lock keeper located on the bottom check rail;

(b) a lower sash having first and second stiles and a top check rail located at the top of the lower sash; and

(c) a first combination tilt/sash lock mounted to the lower sash check rail, the combination comprising:

(i) a first tilt lock mechanism having a tilt lock and a tilt lock release button, the tilt lock being movable by the release button from a latched position to an unlatched position; the latched position including the first tilt lock mechanism preventing the sash from tilting; the unlatched position permitting the sash to tilt; and

(ii) a sash lock mechanism having a rotatable cam and a locking lever, the rotatable cam being movable by the locking lever between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position including the rotatable cam being engaged with the first lock keeper on the upper sash thereby preventing the sash from sliding; the unlatched position permitting the sash to slide;

(iii) the locking lever and the tilt lock release button being arranged in a superimposed linear relationship when the locking lever is in the locked position such that the locking lever blocks the tilt lock release button from being moved to the unlatched position.

11. The double-hung window assembly of claim 10 further comprising a biasing spring, the biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button and providing a biasing force for holding the tilt lock mechanism in the locked position.

12. The double-hung window assembly of claim 11 wherein the tilt lock has a cammed end, the cammed end being constructed and arranged to permit the tilt lock to automatically retract when the window is moved from a tilted position to an upright position.

13. The double-hung window assembly of claim 10 wherein the tilt lock release mechanism is constructed and configured to operate in a linear direction.

14. The double-hung window assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:

(a) a second tilt lock mechanism having a tilt lock and a tilt lock release button, the tilt lock being movable by the release button from a latched position to an unlatched position; the latched position including the first tilt lock mechanism preventing the sash from tilting; the unlatched position permitting the sash to tilt.

15. The double-hung window assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

(a) a first biasing spring, the first biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button of the first tilt lock mechanism and providing a biasing force for holding the first tilt lock mechanism in the locked position; and

(b) a second biasing spring, the second biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button of the second tilt lock mechanism and providing a biasing force for holding the second tilt lock mechanism in the locked position.

16. The combination tilt/sash lock of claim 15 wherein the tilt locks of the first and second tilt lock mechanisms each have a cammed end, each cammed end being constructed and arranged to permit the tilt lock to automatically retract when the window is moved from a tilted position to an upright position.

17. The double-hung window assembly of claim 14 wherein the tilt lock release mechanisms are constructed and configured to operate in a linear direction.

18. The double-hung window assembly of claim 14 wherein the tilt lock of the first tilt lock mechanism has a length that is equal to a length of the tilt lock of the second tilt lock mechanism.

19. The double hung window assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:

(a) a second lock keeper located on the upper sash bottom check rail; and

(b) a second combination tilt/sash lock mounted to the lower sash check rail, the combination comprising:

(i) a second tilt lock mechanism having a tilt lock and a tilt lock release button, the tilt lock being movable by the release button from a latched position to an unlatched position; the latched position including the first tilt lock mechanism preventing the sash from tilting; the unlatched position permitting the sash to tilt; and

(ii) a second sash lock mechanism having a rotatable cam and a locking lever, the rotatable cam being movable by the locking lever between a locked position and an unlocked position; the locked position including the rotatable cam being engaged with the first lock keeper on the upper sash thereby preventing the sash from sliding; the unlatched position permitting the sash to slide;

(iii) the locking lever and the tilt lock release button being arranged in a superimposed linear relationship when the locking lever is in the locked position such that the locking lever blocks the tilt lock release button from being moved to the unlatched position.

20. The double-hung window assembly of claim 19 further comprising:

(a) a first biasing spring, the first biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button of the first tilt lock mechanism and providing a biasing force for holding the first tilt lock mechanism in the locked position; and

(b) a second biasing spring, the second biasing spring being in contact with the tilt lock release button of the second tilt lock mechanism and providing a biasing force for holding the second tilt lock mechanism in the locked position.

21. The double-hung window assembly of claim 20 wherein the tilt lock of the first and second tilt lock mechanisms each have a cammed end, each cammed end being constructed and arranged to permit the tilt lock to automatically retract when the window is moved from a tilted position to an upright position.

22. The double-hung window assembly of claim 19 wherein the tilt lock release mechanisms are constructed and configured to operate in a linear direction.

23. A combination tilt/sash lock for mounting to a sash rail of a slideable and tiltable sash window, the combination comprising:

(a) first tilt lock mechanism having a tilt lock and a tilt lock release button, the tilt lock being movable by the release button from a latched position to an unlatched position; the latched position including the first tilt lock mechanism preventing the sash from tilting; the unlatched position permitting the sash to tilt;

(a) a second tilt lock mechanism having a tilt lock and a tilt lock release button, the tilt lock being movable by the release button from a latched position to an unlatched position; the latched position including the second tilt lock mechanism preventing the sash from tilting; the unlatched position permitting the sash to tilt;

(c) a sash lock mechanism having a rotatable cam and a locking lever, the rotatable cam being movable by the locking lever between a locked position and an unlocked position; the locked position including the sash lock mechanism preventing the sash from sliding; the unlatched position permitting the sash to slide; and

(d) a lock housing, the lock housing being connected to and receiving the first tilt lock mechanism, the second tilt lock mechanism, and the sash lock mechanism;

(e) wherein the combination tilt/sash lock is constructed and configured to prevent the window from tilting out of a window frame unless both release buttons are simultaneously depressed in a linear direction to the unlatched position;

(f) wherein the locking lever and the tilt lock release button of the first or second tilt lock mechanism are arranged in a superimposed linear relationship when the locking lever is in the locked position such that the locking lever blocks the tilt lock release button from being moved to the unlatched position.