IMPROVED DEVICES OR MEANS FOR SUPPORTING, BALANCING, AND ADJUSTING WINDOW SASHES, AND ENSURING THE PROPER WORKING OF THE SAME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVED DEVICES OR MEANS FOR SUPPORTING, BALANCING, AND
ADJUSTING WINDOW SASHES, AND ENSURING THE PROPER WORKING OF
THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Philip William Blythe, of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake and Co., Patent
Agents Southampton Buildings London. IMPROVED DEVICES OR MEANS FOR
SUPPORTING BALANCING AND ADJUSTING WINDOW SASHES AND ENSURING THE
PROPER WORKING OF THE SAME." [A communication from abroad by Philip
William Blythe, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to means designed chiefly for raising and lowering
window sashes and holding the same in place; and it consists in the construction
and combination of parts hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I groove the side edges of each sash
longitudinally to cause them to fit about tubes which are secured to the sides of
the window frame by means of brads or screws passed through the tubes and into
the sash frame. These tubes are usually of the same length as the sash and are
designed to enclose a spiral or equivalent spring which is provided for facilitating
the raising or lowering of the sash with which it is connected. The top sash is
raised and the bottom one lowered by these springs. The tubes protect and shield
the springs from injury and also serve as guides for the sash, and they may be
lined or japanned so as to deaden sound and protect the springs from rust. The
said springs are preferably coiled, and although one spring might be made strong
enough to serve the purpose, yet I prefer to have two springs one inside the other.
The spring is held by a pin passed through the same and into the sash at one end
and into the tube or window frame at the other end so that when the sash is

page_text: moved from off the tube the spring will be expanded and drawn along with the
sash the portion drawn out of the tube fitting within the groove in the edge of the
sash.
Any other spring that will operate in a similar manner will answer the same
purpose. The strength of the springs is such that when the fastening of the sash
is released the sash can be easily removed and will nevertheless be held at any
desired point by frictional contact with the beads hereinafter described. The
lower sash is provided with a spring lock catch which can be pressed in and forced
from a hook extending up from the window frame sill. This catch also serves as a
knob by which to raise the sash and when free from the hook the spring will draw
easily on the sash so as to permit it to be raised with great ease and yet not with
too much force to prevent it from being checked and held by friction at any point
desired.
The same may be said of the upper sash which is provided with a spring catch
pin passing through the sash and fitting into an aperture or depression in the sash
frame. But, if desired, the spring to the upper sash (and also that to the lower
sash) may be strong enough to move the sash unless held by a spring catch pin
fitting into the recess formed in the sash frame.
Between the two sashes along the length of the window frame are placed
dividing beads which are secured by means of screws to the frame and are covered
with india rubber, or felt, or other suitable material to serve both as a weather
strip and as a good frictional contact strip to hold the sashes snugly to their places
and thus aid in regulating their adjustment as herein before set forth and prevent
rattling.
The outer beads are held to the window frame by screws or pins which are
passed through elastic cushions formed in the beads so that the beads will yield
to lateral pressure. By so constructing and securing the beads the sash against
which they bear will not be-jammed-when they swell in wet weather and will not
Tattle when they contract in warm dry weather, and the lateral pressure on the
Bush will always be such as to permit it to be moved vertically and held at the
point desired.
If desired felt or india rubber may be placed on the top of the upper sash
and on the bottom of the lower sash so as to ensure a close connection with the
frame.
The construction of the sash and frame as above described while dispensing S
with the use of weights and cords facilitates the raising and lowering of the sash
and has the advantage of lessening the cost of manufacture and of fitting the
windows, moreover it prevents the jamming and rattling of the sash from wet and
dry weather.
The strips, and also the springs, can be attached with slight expense and trouble 4
to windows already constructed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the. Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robort Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th July
1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED DEVICES OR MEANS FOR
SUPPORTING, BALANCING, AND ADJUSTING WINDOW-SASHES, AND ENSURING THE
PROPER WORKING OF THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Philip
William Blythe, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to means for supporting, balancing, and raising or
facilitating the raising of window sashes, and for holding the same in any desired
position; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter
described.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window-frame and sashes with tho said
Invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1, showing the tubes and
the springs therein, and,
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line y, y, Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
A indicates the window frame, and B, C, the upper and lower sashes; the side
edges of each sash are grooved longitudinally to cause them to fit about the tubes D,
which are secured to the sides of the window-frame by means of brads or screws
passed through the tubes and into the said frame. The tubes D are preferably.of
the same length as the aash, and each tube encloses a spiral spring E which is
provided for facilitating the raising of the sash with which it is connected. The
tubes protect and shield the springs from injury and also serve as guides for the
sash, and they may be lined and japanned so as to deaden sound and protect the
springs from rust. In some cases, however, I may dispense with the said tubes.
The springs are preferably coiled, and although one spring might be made strong
enough to serve the purpose, yet I prefer to employ two springs one inside the
other, as represented in the Drawing.
The springs are held by the pins 6, 61, passed through the same into the sash at
one end, and by the pins c, c', passed through them into the tube or window-frame
at the other end, so that, when the sash is moved down so as to slide off the tube,
the spring will be expanded and drawn along with the sash, the portion drawn
out of the tube fitting within the groove in the edge of the sash as illustrated in
Figure 2. Any spring that will tend to raise the sash may be employed and will
answer the same purpose. The strength of the springs is such, that, when the
fastening of the sash is released, the sash can be easily moved, but will never-
theless be held at any desired point by frictional contact with the strips of beading
hereinafter described. The lower sash C is provided with a spring locking catch F,
which can be pressed in and forced from the hook a extending up from the sill of
the window frame. This catch F also serves as a knob by which to raise the sash.
The upper sash B is provided with a spring catch-pin G passing through the sash
and fitting into an aperture or depression in the window-frame. But, if desired,
the spring of the lower sash may be strong enough to raise the sash unless held by
the said spring locking catch, and the upper sash may be arranged to fall a certain
distance before it is held by the spring and the frictional contact of the strips.
Between the two sashes along the length of the window frame are placed the
dividing strips of beading H which are secured by means of screws to the frame

page_text: and are covered with india-rubber, felt, or other suitable material, to serve both as
weather strips and as good frictional contact strips to hold the sashes snugly to
their places, and thus aid in regulating their adjustment and prevent rattling.
The strips of beading I are held to the window frame by screws or pins which
are passed through elastic cushions J provided in the said strips, so that they will
yield to lateral pressure. By so constructing and securing these strips of beading,
the sash against which they bear will not be jammed when it expands in wet
weather, and will not rattle when it contracts in warm dry weather; and the lateral
pressure on the sash may be such as to permit it to be moved vertically and held
at the point desired, or the sash may be raised by the elastic force of the spring
and held at the desired point by any suitable means.
Felt or india-rubber may be placed on the top of the upper sash and on the
bottom of the lower sash so as to ensure close connections with the frame.
The construction of the sash and frame as above described enables me to dispense
with the use of weights and cords, and facilitates the raising of the sash, and also
has the advantage of lessening the cost of manufacture and of fitting the windows;
moreover it prevents the jamming and rattling of the sash.
The strips of beading H, I, and also the springs, can be applied, with slight
expense and trouble, to windows already constructed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim.
First. The spring or springs attached at one end to the sash and at the other
end to the window-frame to counterbalance the weight of the said sash, or to raiso
the same, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination of the window frame, the sash, the tube between the
frame and the sash, and a spring within the tube, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Third. The combination, with a window frame and its sashes, of the elastic
faced strips of beading interposed between the sashes, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Fourth. The combination, with a window frame and its sashes, of laterally
yielding strips of beading, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. The combination of the window frame, the sashes, the elastic faced strips
of beading between the sashes, the laterally yielding strips of beading outside the
same, and the springs, with or without the tubes, all substantially as, and for tho
purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.