IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WINDOW FASTENERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to. William Henry Ashworth, of Baxenden, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WINDOW FASTENERS.”
Sealed the 18th January 1878, and dated the 8th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Ashworth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY ASHWORTH, of Baxenden, in the County of Lancaster. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WINDOW FASTENERS.'
"
This Invention relates to the construction of a fastening for sash windows, so
arranged that it fastens itself on the window being closed, and is readily unfastened
from the inside by sliding a knob or projection, but cannot be unfastened from the
outside.
To the upper bar of the lower or inside sash of the window I fix the principal
part of the fastener, which consists of a box containing a spring catch or bolt, one
end of which projects and is bevilled on the under side, a projection or knob being
provided outside the top of the box, by means of which the catch can be withdrawn
when required to open the window.
To the lower bar of the upper sash of the window is fixed a corresponding box
staple, so formed and arranged that when the two sashes are closed the spring latch
is projected into the box staple, a bevilled edge on the upper part of the staple
forcing back the spring catch as it passes.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said William Henry Ashworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
May 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY ASHWORTH, of Baxenden, in the County of Lancaster.
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WINDOW FASTENERS.”
IM-
The Invention relates to the construction of a fastening for sash windows, so
arranged that it fastens itself on the window, being closed, and is readily unfastened
from the inside by sliding a knob or projection, but cannot be unfastened from the
outside.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood I
have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof:-
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is a side elevation of my improved window
fastener, showing the sash bars in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the fastener;
and Fig. 3, a plan view of the same. These three views show the window closed
and fastened.
Fig. 4 is a section of a slight modification, herein-after described, showing the two.
sashes slightly separated, the window being not quite closed.
To the upper bar a, a, of the lower or inside sash of the window I fix the principal
part of the fastener, which consists of a box b, b, containing a spring latch or bolt c, c,
one end of which projects and is bevilled on the under side, a projection or knob d, d,
being provided outside the top of the box b, b, by means of which the latch c, c, can
be withdrawn when required to open the window.
To the lower bar e, e, of the upper sash of the window is fixed a corresponding box
staple ff, so formed and arranged that when the two sashes a and e are closed
the spring latch c, c, is projected into the box staple f, f; a bevilled edge.*, *, on the
upper part of the staple forcing back the spring latch c, c, as it passes.
It will be seen that when the latch c, c, is projected forward into the staple f, f,
the bevilled part of the latch could not be reached by a knife or other similar instru-
ment passed upwards between the two sashes, which would come against the flat
part of the latch underneath; but in order to afford still greater security I provide a
projecting wedge g, g, on each side of the box staple (see Fig. 4) acting against an
inclined lip h, h, on each side of the latch, which, when the window is closed, draws
the two sash bars firmly together, and makes a perfectly close joint.
In order to leave both hands free to open the window I also sometimes add a
small sliding catch i, i, (see Fig. 4) which, when the knob d, d, is drawn back, falls
down in front of the sliding latch c, c; and holds it back. When the window is
closed the bevilled part *, *, of the box staple f, f, lifts this catch i, i, out of the
way, and allows the spring latch e, c, to shoot forwards into the box staple f, f.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention, the peculiar con-
struction of window fastener, as herein-before described, and illustrated by the
Drawings annexed; and more particularly I claim the use of the inclined surfaces g

page_text: and h for drawing the two sash bars together so as to make a perfectly close joint,
and to prevent the fastener from being tampered with from the outside.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Ashworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. HY. ASHWORTH. (L.S.)