It's a Breeze Lock

The Bortz Double Hung Sash Window Breezeway Lock

When we build our new home and fitted stylish low profile aluminium sash windows  we were troubled to find that we could only lock them in the closed position and if we wanted to leave them slightly open in a "beezeway" position, we had no security.

After numerous family, friends and clients making the same complaint to me and then my in-laws building a new home where this problem again reared its head, I decided to solve this problem. Researching on the web, visiting hardware stores and approaching window suppliers confirmed that although there are many locks on the market for locking sash windows in a totally closed position and some that will lock the window in either a fully closed or slightly open, breezeway position, they were mostly for timber windows or aluminium windows, with wide sash frames.
 
Modern extruded sash windows can have very low profile frames, with almost no vertical sash member exposed from the main frame and therefore locks cannot be mounted correctly or their locking pin cannot be inserted without interfering with either the window pane, guide mechanisms or seals.
 
In addition to this, if they were able to be used, they would only lock one of the sashes allowing the second to move freely.

The Bortz Window lock solves this by mounting to the top rail of the inner sash and locking into the vertical frame of the outer sash in an orientation perpendicular to the window pane. This locks the 2 sashes together such that they can be either locked in a slightly open breezeway position or a fully closed position.  When unlocked it allows the 2 sashes to pass each other unhindered.

This  innovative patent pending solution has been prototyped and put through its paces over the past year.  It was easy to install and has been simple to use. The results are good.

​We are now looking for expressions of interest from manufacturers or distributors to take on this design.
 
If you are interested in licencing or purchasing this solution, please contact us at [email protected] or give us a call.