IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW SASH FASTENINGS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Daniel Sprague of Beulah Hill Upper Norwood, in
the County of Surrey, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW SASH
FASTENINGS"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Daniel Sprague at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1882.
JOHN DANIEL SPRAGUE of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey
IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW SASH FASTENINGS
"
This invention has for its object the construction of window sash fastenings,
which on the window being closed will lock the same automatically and prevent it
from being opened except from the inside. A modification of the invention admits
of the window being opened a certain distance, when the locking apparatus comes
into operation and prevents the window from being opened further.
The invention consists of two principal parts, which may be called the latch and
the hasp, and may be made of brass, iron, or other suitable metal. The latch
consists of a base plate from which rise two vertical cheeks, the base plate extending
beyond the cheeks serving as flanges by which the latch is fixed to the upper sash
by means of ordinary screws. Between the cheeks and pivotted to them, is the
latch, made of metal and in form somewhat resembling a semicircle the semicircular
part when at rest hanging downwards. On the upper part of the latch and on each
side of it, and on each side of the part pivotted notches are cut. The hasp consists
of a base plate forming flanges for fastening it to the lower sash, and having cheeks
covered at top but open in front to receive the latch, which it partially covers when
the window is fastened.
The latch and hasp being attached as described, the window will be locked and
will effectually resist any ordinary attempt to open it on the outside, as on the
insertion of a wire or knife blade, the wire or knife will catch in the notches of the
latch, and any force applied to the wire or knife will only cause them to stick fast
and the attempt to open the window will be frustrated. But from the inside the
operator has only to place his finger on one end of the latch and draw the semi-
circular part out of the hasp and over the cheeks when the window may be opened
as easily as if no fastening were there. On drawing down the bottom sash, or on
raising the upper sash the latch will fall into the hasp and the window will be
automatically and securely fastened.
The foregoing description refers more particularly to fastenings placed in the
middle of the window, but by simply modifying the position of the flanges they
may be adapted for placing at the sides of the sashes, for locking the window when
closed, or when partially open, as may be desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Daniel Sprague in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd June 1883.
JOHN DANIEL SPRAGUE of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW SASH FASTENINGS
"
This invention has for its object the construction of window sash fastenings,
which on the window being closed will lock the same automatically and prevent it
from being opened, except from the inside A modification of the invention admits
of the window being opened a certain distance when the locking apparatus comes
into operation and prevents the window from being opened further.
The invention consists of two principal parts which may be called the latch and
the hasp, and may be made of brass, iron, or other suitable metal. The latch consists
of a base plate, from which rise two vertical cheeks, the base plate extending beyond
the cheeks, serving as flanges by which the latch is fixed to the upper sash by means
of ordinary screws. Between the cheeks and pivotted to them, is the latch, made
of metal and in form somewhat resembling a semicircle, the semicircular part when
at rest hanging downwards. On the upper part of the latch, and on each side of it,
and on each side of the part pivotted notches are cut.
The hasp consists of a base plate forming flanges for fastening it to the lower sash,
and having cheeks covered at top, but open in front to receive the latch, which it
partially covers when the window is fastened.
The latch and hasp being attached as described, the window will be locked and
will effectually resist any ordinary attempt to open it on the outside, as on the
insertion of a wire or knife blade, the wire or knife will catch in the notches of the
latch and any force applied to the wire or knife will only cause them to stick fast,
and the attempt to open the window will be frustrated. But from the inside the
operator has only to place his finger on one end of the latch, and draw the semi-
circular part out of the hasp and over the cheeks, when the window may be opened
as easily as if no fastening were there. On drawing down the bottom sash or on
raising the upper sash the latch will fall into the hasp and the window will be
automatically and securely fastened.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood drawings are attached
hereto of which the following is a description. Fig 1 is a side elevation of the
combined latch and hasp forming the fastening; Fig 2 is a front elevation; Fig 3 is
a back elevation, Fig 4 is a plan, and Figs 5 and 6 are perspective views of the
appliance. Fig 7 is a side elevation showing the latch drawn over the hasp ready
for the window to be opened. Fig 8 is a section through Y, Z, Fig 2. Fig 9 is a
sectional elevation of the hasp and Fig 10 is a perspective view of the fastening
adapted for fixing to the sides of the window frames. In each of the Figs similar
letters refer to the same parts. A is the base plate B, B, the cheeks, C the latch,
D the pivot and E the hasp.
The foregoing description refers more particularly to fastenings placed in the
middle of the window, but by simply modifying the position of the flanges, as in
Fig 10, they may be adapted for placing at the sides of the sashes for locking the
window when closed, or when partially open, as may be desired.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my invention,

page_text: but what consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-The construction
of window sash fastenings as herein described and shown on the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Daniel Sprague have hereunto.set my
hand and seal this second day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
J. D. SPRAGUE (L.S.)