IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW SCREENS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lafayette Reynolds, of Oakland, County of
Alameda, State of California one of the United States of America, Gentleman
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lafayette Reynolds
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th May 1882.
GEORGE LAFAYETTE REYNOLDS, of Oakland, County of Alameda, State of
California, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WINDOW SCREENS"
My Invention relates to certain improvements in window screens, of that class
in which upper and lower wire or other screens or curtains are attached at one end
directly to the sashes so that when the latter are raised or lowered to open them,
the screens or curtains will be extended over the opening and thus exclude flies,
mosquitos and other insects without excluding the air.
The Invention consists in journaling a screen or curtain rollers upon the top of
the upper and the bottom of the lower sashes respectively, and in attaching one
balance weight cord to the journal of the roller and the other to the sash, the rollers
being protected by grooves in the sashes and by enclosing plates which project
beyond the sashes.
The Invention further consists in a means for attaching the screens or curtains
at the top or bottom of the window so that they may be easily detached, a means
for keeping the edges of the screens tight, and also the space between the lower
bar of the upper sash, and the glass of the lower one, and a construction of the
screen weight which allows it to pass the pulley at the top and thus have more
distance through which to move,-
In carrying out my Invention I fix the screens, which may be of any suitable
material, by one edge to the top or bottom of the window casing, and by the other
edge to a roller fixed to turn upon the top or bottom edge of the upper or lower
sash rail as the case may be. These sash rails are slightly grooved to partially admit
the screen roller, but not so as to cut away too much of the material, and thin metal
plates are secured to the sides of the rails projecting far enough to enclose the
screens and rollers and protect them.
Springs or guides project just inside the edges of the outer plates so that the
edges of the screens pass between the spurs and the outer plates and are kept in
place by them.

page_text: The upper and lower edges respectively of the screens are made fast to bars so
that when drawn up to the top in one case [and drawn to the sill in the other they
may be fastened there by means of buttons, and these hold them so that when
the window sashes are open the screens will unroll and close the space above or
below the sash.
When it is desired to leave an open space at these points, the buttons are turned
and the screens are allowed to roll up against the sash, thus leaving the window in
its ordinary condition.
The sashes are balanced by a single weight connected with one side by a cord
passing over a pulley in the usual manner. Weights upon the opposite side are
connected with drums or spools which are secured to the ends of the rollers, so that
as the sashes are moved, the screens will be rolled or unrolled.
A cord connecting the drum and weights of the window sash winds up as the
sash is lowered, and unwinds when the sash is pushed up and this causes the weight
to move over double the distance which it would to simply counterbalance the sash
in its movements. In order to allow the weight to move the full distance necessary
it is cut away with a deep channel on the inside extending to the bottom, and the
cord passes down in a groove which slopes backward from a nearly central point to
the top, to a hole where it passes out at the back near the bottom, and thence it is
carried through a hole at the bottom and into the channel where a knot in the cord
retains it.
The weight hung in this manner keeps its upright position as the top inclines
towards the cord, and when it arrives at the pulley at the top, the channel
fits over the pulley and allows the upper part of the weight to pass above the
pulley.
In order to keep the screen edges pressed against the strips between the sashes,
so that they will not spring away and leave an opening through which insects may
have ingress; I fix one end of a thin flat curved spring to the inner side of one of
the strips between which the window sash moves.
When this sash is closed it forces the springs back straightening them out against
the strip to which they are secured, but when the sash is opened the free end of
the springs curve forward and press against the edges of the screens, and thus hold
them against the strips.
In order to make a tight joint between the netting or screen and one of the
strips from the side opposite to the springs, I make a groove or slot diagonally in
the edge of this strip and insert a thin strip of rubber or other elastic material, so
that its edge projects a short distance.
This edge may be straight, wavy, or scolloped and when the window is closed the
edge rests against the vertical part of the sash.
When the window is opened the angle at which the elastic piece is fixed in the
window strip, causes it to press against the screen as it is enrolled and thus keep a
close joint.
I have heretofore described my improved devices as applicable to window screens
but it will be manifest that they may also be used with curtains or any other
flexible fabric where a close joint is desired.
For convenience I have described the screens as fixed to the edges of the sash,
but in case the windows are arched at the top the upper one may be fixed above
the arch in the casing, and the lower edge of the screen have a curved bar or
plate, which will just fit the curved top of the window and may be secured to it in
the same manner as described for securing the straight ones to the window sill or
top of casing that is by buttons.
A strip of elastic material is fixed across the lower rail of the upper sash and it
projects so as to touch the glass of the lower sash and close the opening which
would otherwise be made when the windows are opened.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Lafayette Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st November 1882.
GEORGE LAFAYETTE REYNOLDS, of Oakland County of Alameda, State of
California, one of the United States of America Gentleman, IMPROVEMENTS IN
WINDOW SCREENS
"
66
My invention relates to certain improvements in window screens, of that class
in which upper and lower wire or other screens or curtains are attached at one
end directly to the sashes so that when the latter are raised or lowered to open
them, the screen's or curtains will be extended over the opening and thus exclude
flies, mosquitos and other insects without excluding the air. The invention
consists in journaling a screen or curtain rollers upon the top of the upper and the
bottom of the lower sashes respectively, and in attaching one balance weight cord
to the journal of the roller and the other to the sash, the rollers being protected
by grooves in the sashes and by enclosing plates which project beyond the sashes.
The invention further consists in a means for attaching the screens or curtains
at the top or bottom of the window so that they may be easily detached, a means
for keeping the edges of the screens tight, and also the space between the lower
bar of the upper sash, and the glass of the lower one, and a construction of the
screen weight which allows it to pass the pulley at the top and thus have more
distance through which to move, which with the details of construction will be
more fully explained by reference to the accompanying Drawings in which
fig. 1. is a view of the window with the lower sash raised, showing the screen
and the side springs to keep its edge close.
fig. 2. is a view showing both sashes partly open.
"
3 is a vertical section taken transversely across the sashes and screens.
fig. 4, is a front view showing both sashes open and the balance weights cords
and pulleys.
fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a screen roller and cord drum.
fig. 6, is an enlarged view of a section of window sash, frame screen, and means
for forming a tight joint with the screen edges.
fig. 7. is a transverse section showing the manner of encasing the roller,
fig. 8, is a section of weight showing the manner of hanging it so that it may
pass partly above the pulley.
A is a window casing, B and B¹ the upper and lower sashes glazed in the
usual manner and C, C¹, are screens of any suitable material having one edge fixed
to the top or bottom of the window casing, and the other edge to a roller D, which
is fixed to turn upon the top or bottom edge of the upper or lower sash rail as the
case may be. These sash rails are slightly grooved to partially admit the screen
roller, but not so as to cut away too much of the material, and thin metal plates E,
are secured to the sides of the rails projecting far enough to enclose the screens and
rollers and protect them.
Springs or guides a project just inside the edges of the outer plates so that the
edges of the screens pass between the spurs and the outer plates E and are kept in
place by them.
The upper and lower edges respectively of the screens are made fast to bars F so
hat when drawn up to the top in one case and drawn to the sill in the other they
may be fastened there by means of buttons G, and these hold them so that when
he window sashes are open the screens will unroll and close the space above or
below the sash.

page_text: When it is desired to leave an open space at these points, the buttons are
turned and the screens are allowed to roll up against the sash, thus leaving the
window in its ordinary condition.
The sashes are balanced by a single weight connected with one side by a cord
passing over a pulley in the usual manner. The weights H, H', upon the opposite
side are connected with drums or spools I which are secured to the ends of the
rollers, so that as the sashes are moved, the screens will be rolled or unrolled.
The cord J, which connects the drum I and weights H, of the window sash
winds up as the sash is lowered, and unwinds when the sash is pushed up and this
causes the weight to move over double the distance which it would to simply
counter balance the sash in its movements. In order to allow the weight to move
the full distance necessary it is cut away with a deep channel on the inside
extending to the bottom as shown in fig. 7, and the cord passes down in a groove
which slopes backward from a nearly central point at the top, to a hole where it
passes out at the back near the bottom, and thence it is carried through a hole at
the bottom and into the channel where a knot in the end retains it.
The weight hung in this manner keeps its upright position as the top inclines
towards the cord, and when it arrives at the pulley at the top, the channel fits
over the pulley as shown in the dotted lines, and allows the upper part of the
weight to pass above the pulley.
In order to keep the screen edges pressed against the strips between the sashes,
so that they will not spring.away and leave an opening through which insects may
have ingress
I fix one end of a thin flat curved spring K to the inner side of the strips L,
between which and the strip L' the window sash moves.
When this sash is closed it forces the springs back straightening them out
against the strip to which they are secured, but when the sash is opened the free
end of the springs curve forward and press against the edges of the screens, and
thus hold them against the strips L'.
In order to make a tight joint between the netting or screen and the strip L¹
from the side opposite to the springs K, I make a groove or slot M diagonally in
the edge of the strip L', and insert a thin strip of rubber or other elastic material N,
so that its edge projects a short distance,
This edge may be straight wavy or scalloped as shown and when the window is
closed the edge rests against the vertical part of the sash.
When the window is opened the angle at which the elastic piece is fixed in the
window strip L¹ causes it to press against the screen as it is enrolled and thus keep
a close joint.
I have heretofore described my improved devices as applicable to window screens
but it will be manifest that they may also be used with curtains or any other
flexible fabric where a close joint is desired.
For convenience I have described the screens as fixed to the edges of the sash,
but in case the windows are arched at the top the upper one may be fixed above
the arch in, the casing, and the lower edge of the screen have a curved bar or
plate F, which will just fit the curved tops of the window and may be secured to it
in the same manner as described for securing the straight ones to the window sill
or top of casing-that is by buttons G.
A strip of elastic material O is fixed across the lower rail of the upper sash and
it projects so as to touch the glass of the lower sash and close the opening which
would otherwise be made when the windows are opened.
Having thus described my Invention what I Claim as new and as secured to me
by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :
1st In a window sash and in combination with the transverse or meeting rail,
the enclosing plates or casing E, within which a screen or curtain roller D may be
journaled and protected, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
2nd In a window sash, the transverse or meeting rail with its plates or casing E,
and the screen or curtain roller D journaled within it, and connected by a cord

page_text: from the drum I, to a balance weight by which the screen or curtain is rolled or
unrolled as the sash is closed or opened, substantially as described.
3rd In a window sash, the transverse or meeting rail or rails having the rollers D
journalled to them with screens or curtains attached as shown, the free edges of
said screens or curtains having plates F fixed to them and adapted to be secured
by buttons G, substantially as herein described.
4th In a window and in combination with the screens or curtains C, the elastic
curved strips K, fixed at one end so that the free end is held back when the
window is closed, and springs forward to press against the edge of the screen or
curtain when the window is opened, substantially as described.
5th In a window and in combination with the screen or curtain C, the elastic
strip N fixed in the window strip so as to press upon the edge of the screen or
curtain when the sash is opened, substantially as herein described.
6th In a window and in combination with a sash having a rolling screen or
curtain journalled upon its edge and operated by a balance weight, the weight H
channelled upon the side next to the pulley and having the suspending cord J
passing down through the channel and secured at the bottom, substantially as
herein described
7th In a window sash having a screen or curtain roller journalled on the
transverse or meeting rail with the enclosing plates or case E, the spurs or guides a,
between which and the outer plate E, the edges of the screen pass and are kept in
place, substantially as herein described.
In Witness whereof I the said George Lafayette Reynolds have hereunto
set my hand and seal this sixth day of August A.D. one thousand eight
hundred and eighty two
Witnesses,
GEO. W. EMERSON
S. H NOURSE.
GEORGE LAFAYETTE REYNOLDS (LS.)