AN AUTOMATIC SASH
Year: 1884

page_text: I FREDERICK HOWCROFT of Covent Garden London in the County of Middlesex
"Seedsman" do hereby declare the nature of iny Invention for AN AUTOMATIC SASH
Lock a communication from Eber C. Byam Inventor, Rochester, New York USA
to be as follows:-
The Invention consists of the peculiar construction of the Lock which is self
closing when the rails of the sashes are brought together & locks by gravity.
It consists of a bearing or frame which is attached to the centre rail of the upper
or outer Sash; with a centre slot or opening in which the locking catch plays, the
two sides being united only by a cross pin at top forming the axis for the catch to
turn on.
The catch which is cast in a single piece consists of a hook which hooks over the
axis in frame and turns thereon, and a counterweight which causes the catch to
gravitate and throw the point out over the lower rail, it has a shoulder in the rear
which strikes a shoulder on the frame and preventing the catch throwing forward
too far, a body portion which rests between the sides of the bearing and has side
lugs which.ride under the concentric shoulders of the, Frame to prevent the catch.
from rising and an angular point which stands out over the lower rail to lock the
same and prevent the lower sash from rising or the upper from falling.
There is also a right angled piece of metal forming a stop to the back swinging
movement of the catch which rests loosely between the sides of the frame and is
held down by it and has projections which fit into notches in the bottom of the
bearing or frame.

page_text: FREDERICK HOWCROFT Seedsman 11 Hart St Covent Garden do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for AN AUTOMATIC SASH LOCK, a communication from
E. C. Byam and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of an Automatic Sash Lock, locking by gravity and is
composed of four pieces of cast metal viz:-a-hook or catch A fig. I (shewn in
outline by dotted lines) working upon a pinion D cast in the frame B fig. 2. The
frame B is fastened by two screws upon the upper Sash and when both Sashes are
closed the hook A remains in position shewn in Fig. I the point E projecting over
and holding down the lower Sash. To open the Window it is necessary to press
upon the extreme point E when the hook A makes a half revolution upon the
pinion D and retires within the frame B allowing the sashes to open, upon releasing
the hook it returns of its own weight into the first position. The Hook is
prevented from revolving too far and being thrown off the centre of gravity by a
stop C which is simply a piece of right angual metal, cast with two small legs or
projections upon the base these fit into recesses cast in the frame B and once the
frame B is screwed down is held firmly in position. The Hook A is cast with
shoulders which fit into and is held in position by the projections F, F, upon the
frame B shewn in Fig. 2. Upon the lower Sash is screwed a square metal striking
plate having the four sides side under the hook or catch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
1st That on account of its simplicity (it having no springs or rivets) it is
impossible to get out of order.
2nd That it cannot be opened from the outside except by breaking the window.
3rd All parts being cast it can be produced at an extremely low price.
F. HOWCROFT.