Lock for sliding door or window

Claim 2

A lock for use between an abutment member and a slidable member of the type movable along a path between an open position and a closed position comprising: a first link having inner and outer end portions; a first end element; adhesive means for mounting said first end element to one of said members; means for mounting said first link adjacent the outer end portion thereof on said first end element for pivotal movement in a predetermined plane about a first pivotal axis; a second link having inner and outer end portions; a second end element; adhesive means for attaching the second end element to the other of said members; means for mounting the second link on the second end element adjacent the outer end portion thereof for pivotal movement in said plane about a second pivotal axis; means for pivotally interconnecting said links adjacent the inner end portions thereof for pivotal movement in said plane about a third pivotal axis; said links being movable to an overcenter position; stop means for limiting the amount of overcenter movement of said links whereby said links and said stop means define an overcenter mechanism, said links being movable to the overcenter position when the sliding member is in the closed position; and means for adjusting the length of at least one of said links.

Claim 3

A lock as defined in claim 1 wherein said first link includes a first channel and said second link includes second and third channels, said means for adjusting the length including means for mounting said second and third channels in telescoping relationship and means for retaining said second and third channels in any one of a plurality of relative axial positions.

Claim 4

A lock as defined in claim 2 wherein said first channel is partially received in said second channel and is pivotally connected thereto by said means for interconnecting, said third link being slidably receivable in said second channel, said means for retaining includes a threaded member engageable with said second and third channels to provide infinite length adjustment.

Claim 5

A lock as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said end elements is channel-shaped and includes a pair of legs joined by a web, said legs of said first and second end elements being pivotally attached to said first and second links, respectively.

Claim 6

A lock as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting includes first and second threaded elements forming at least a portion of one of said links and sleeve means to conceal the threads of said threaded elements during normal use of the lock and even when the adjusting means is extended.

Claim 7

A lock for use between an abutment member and a slidable member of the type movable along a path between an open position and a closed position comprising: an end element of generally channel-shaped cross section and including a pair of legs and a web joining said legs; adhesive means on said web for mounting said end element of one of Said members; an elongated structure of sufficient length to extend between said members, said elongated structure having first and second end portions; means for mounting said elongated structure on said legs of said end element adjacent said first end portion for pivotal movement between an extended position in which the sliding member is in said closed position and said second end portion lies closely adjacent an abutment on said other member and a retracted position; said elongated structure including first and second channels mounted in telescoping relationship to thereby permit varying the overall length of said lock; means including a threaded member for retaining said channels in any one of an infinite of different positions whereby the overall length of the lock can be varied; said elongated structure being longitudinally rigid at least in said extended position to thereby hold the sliding member in the closed position; and said elongated structure being pivotable relative to the end element to the retracted position whereby the sliding member is movable to the open position.

Claim 8

A lock for use between an abutment member and a slidable member of the type movable along a path between an open position and a closed position comprising: an end element of generally channel-shaped cross section and including a pair of legs and a web joining said legs; adhesive means on said web for mounting said end element of one of Said members; an elongated structure of sufficient length to extend between said members, said elongated structure having first and second end portions; means for mounting said elongated structure on said legs of said end element adjacent said first end portion for pivotal movement between an extended position in which the sliding member is in said closed position and said second end portion lies closely adjacent an abutment on said other member and a retracted position; said elongated structure including first and second channels mounted in telescoping relationship to thereby permit varying the overall length of said lock; means including a threaded member for retaining said channels in any one of an infinite of different positions whereby the overall length of the lock can be varied; said elongated structure being longitudinally rigid at least in said extended position to thereby hold the sliding member in the closed position; and said elongated structure being pivotable relative to the end element to the retracted position whereby the sliding member is movable to the open position.

Claim 9

A lock for use between an abutment member and a slidable member of the type movable along a path from a closed position through a partially open position to an open position comprising: an elongated structure of sufficient length to extend between said members; means for mounting said one end of the elongated structure on one of said members for pivotal movement, said elongated structure being pitotable so that it extends between said members when the slidable member is in the closed position to prevent opening thereof, said elongated structure being pivotable to allow movement of said slidable member to said open position; said elongated structure including a first element and a second element and means for mounting said first element on said second element for generally axial telescoping movement relative to said second element between an extended position and a retracted position to thereby vary the length of said elongated structure; a latch mounted on said first element, said latch including a resilient finger and a shoulder; and said second element including a shoulder, said finger being engageable with the shoulder on the second element to define said extended position whereby the lock can hold the slidable member in the closed position and said finger being movable to allow said sliding member to open until said shoulders engage to thereby define said retracted position whereby said lock can hold the slidable member in the partially open position.

Claim 10

A lock for use between an abutment member and a slidable member of the type movable along a path from a closed position through a partially open position to an open position comprising: an elongated structure of sufficient length to extend between said members; means for mounting said one end of the elongated structure on one of said members for pivotal movement, said elongated structure being pitotable so that it extends between said members when the slidable member is in the closed position to prevent opening thereof, said elongated structure being pivotable to allow movement of said slidable member to said open position; said elongated structure including a first element and a second element and means for mounting said first element on said second element for generally axial telescoping movement relative to said second element between an extended position and a retracted position to thereby vary the length of said elongated structure; a latch mounted on said first element, said latch including a resilient finger and a shoulder; and said second element including a shoulder, said finger being engageable with the shoulder on the second element to define said extended position whereby the lock can hold the slidable member in the closed position and said finger being movable to allow said sliding member to open until said shoulders engage to thereby define said retracted position whereby said lock can hold the slidable member in the partially open position.

Claim 11

A lock as defined in claim 6 wherein said elongated structure includes first and second links, said second link including first and second elements, means for pivotally connecting said links adjacent the inner ends thereof.