Lock mechanism for a casement window

1. A lock mechanism for a casement window, comprising:

a keeper adapted to be attached to a sash;

a lockbar adapted to be attached to a frame for engaging with said keeper to lock the casement window;

an actuator for actuating said lockbar to engage with said keeper;

said actuator includes a fork having a V shaped groove, said V shaped groove includes a first leg and a second leg;

said actuator includes a switch having a channel for placement of a drive pin; and

said switch being rotatably mounted at a juncture of said first and second legs so that said channel generally aligns with either said first leg or said second leg for facilitating alignment of said drive pin within said V shaped groove.

2. The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein said actuator further includes a back case having an S shaped notch;

said switch further includes a post on a side of said switch opposite said channel, said post being placed within said S shaped notch;

wherein said drive pin moves within said V shaped groove and said channel contemporaneously as said post moves within said S shaped notch; and

wherein a location of said post within said S shaped notch determines a rotation of said switch and a general alignment of said channel with said first leg and said second leg.

3. The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide having an aperture through which said lockbar passes for facilitating engagement of said lockbar with said keeper;

said guide having a hole through which a fastener passes to fasten said guide to the frame; and

said guide also having a longitudinal axis that is spaced apart from a center of said hole.

4. The lock mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein said guide further comprises at least one stabilizer extending from said hole for inhibiting rotation of said guide.

5. The lock mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein said aperture further comprises at least one bump for engaging said lockbar.

6. The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein said keeper has at least one ramp for engaging with said lockbar.

7. A lock mechanism for a casement window, comprising:

a keeper adapted to be attached to a sash;

a lockbar adapted to be attached to a frame for engaging with said keeper to lock the casement window;

a guide having an aperture through which said lockbar passes for facilitating engagement of said lockbar with said keeper;

said guide having at least one hole through which a fastener passes to fasten said guide to the frame, said guide also having a longitudinal axis that is offset from a center of each of said at least one holes such that said guide is not symmetrical about any of said at least one holes and said guide is adapted to be installed on a window frame, including on either side of a mullion window frame, whereby when two of said guides are installed on opposite sides of a mullion window frame with the longitudinal axes of the two guides aligned, the respective centers of said at least one holes of the two of said guides are offset in opposite directions to prevent interference between fasteners installed in all of said at least one holes of the two of said guides;

an actuator for actuating said lockbar to engage with said keeper;

said actuator includes a fork, a switch, and a drive pin;

said fork has a V shaped groove, said V shaped groove includes a first leg and a second leg;

said switch includes a channel for placement of said drive pin; and

said switch being rotatably mounted at a juncture of said first and second legs so that said channel generally aligns with either said first leg or said second leg depending upon a rotation of said switch.

8. The lock mechanism according to claim 7 , wherein said actuator also includes a back case having an S shaped notch;

said switch further includes a post on a side of said switch opposite said channel, said post being placed within said S shaped notch;

wherein said drive pin moves within said first leg, second leg, and channel contemporaneously as said post moves within said S shaped notch; and

wherein a location of said post within said S shaped notch determines a rotation of said switch and a general alignment of said channel with said first leg and said second leg.

9. The lock mechanism according to claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of covers for covering at least said actuator, and wherein each cover is interchangeable with a next cover.

10. A lock mechanism for a casement window, comprising:

a keeper adapted to be attached to a sash;

a lockbar adapted to be attached to a frame for engaging with said keeper to lock the casement window;

a guide for facilitating engagement of said lockbar with said keeper and having a hole through which a fastener passes to fasten said guide to the frame;

said guide also having a longitudinal axis that is spaced apart from a center of said hole;

an actuator for actuating said lockbar to engage with said keeper;

said actuator includes a fork having a V shaped groove, said V shaped groove includes a first leg and a second leg;

said actuator includes a switch having a channel for placement of a drive pin;

said switch being rotatably mounted at a juncture of said first and second legs so that said channel generally aligns with either said first leg or said second leg depending upon a rotation of said switch;

said actuator includes an S shaped notch;

said switch further includes a post on a side of said switch opposite said channel, said post being placed within said S shaped notch;

wherein said drive pin moves within said first leg, second leg, and channel contemporaneously as said post moves within said S shaped notch; and

wherein a location of said post within said S shaped notch determines a rotation of said switch and a general alignment of said channel with said first leg and said second leg.

11. The lock mechanism according to claim 10 , wherein guide is secured with a single fastener.

12. The lock mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein the window frame includes a recess in which a part of said guide is placed and wherein said single fastener secures another part of said guide.

13. The lock mechanism according to claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of covers, each being interchangeable with a next for covering said actuator and each having a varying physical characteristic than a next cover.

14. The lock mechanism according to claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of handles, each being interchangeable with a next for actuating said actuator and each having a varying physical characteristic than a next handle.