A New or Improved Fastener for Windows, Doors, Portmanteaux, Bags, and various other Articles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Fastener for Windows, Doors, Portmanteaux,
Bags, and various other Articles.
I, CHRISTOPHER NUGENT NIXON, of No. 57, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved fastener for windows, doors, port-
manteaux, bags, and various other articles, and has for its object to obtain a simple
device universally applicable where two parts or articles are required to be fastened
or locked together.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement, I employ a ring which is cut
through and divided at one part of its circumference and transversely thereof.
This ring, which is secured to one part of the article, I form of spring metal so
that the meeting parts, which are preferably bevelled or rounded, will have a
tendency to spring together at this split, and, if desired, this action may be assisted
by a separate spring, whilst, at a suitable point or points in the circumference of
the ring approximately diametrically opposite the split, I form upon the ring two
projections adapted to be acted upon by the finger and thumb in order to expand or
open the ring and afford sufficient room at the split for it to engage or to
facilitate its removal from the other part of the fastening, hereinafter more fully
referred to.
Or, in some cases, I divide the ring into two parts or jaws formed of cast or
forged metal and independently pivotally mounted in any suitable manner, or, in
such cases, the jaws are mounted upon a common axis and are geared together after
the manner of tongs, a spring or springs being employed in both of these arrange-
ments to normally hold the jaws closed, whilst the jaws are provided with tails or
thumb pieces adapted to be pressed together in order to open the jaws for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
The other part of the fastening, which is secured to the second part of the article,
consists of a bar or fitting provided with a hole to receive the meeting ends of the
ring or jaws, or, with a groove or slot to be encompassed or engaged thereby, or, in
some cases, the other part of the fitting might consist of a button, head or loop to
be similarly engaged and the ring may be snapped on to the other part of the
fastening, or, it may be expanded by the aid of the thumb pieces or projections for
that purpose.
When employing the invention as a window fastener, and in some other cases, a
spring or springs may be arranged in connection with the bar in order to auto-
inatically raise the same to a more or less vertical position when not held or engaged
by the ring.
When desired, a bolt or pawl or other suitable lock actuated by a key, or other-
wise, may be employed to securely hold the fastener in its closed position.
By these means, I obtain a fastener which is simple in construction and both easy
and inexpensive to manufacture, and is of a convenient form for application to a
variety of uses.
Dated this Twentieth day of October 1902
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A New or Improved Fastener for Windows, Doors, Portmanteaux,
Bags, and various other Articles.
I, CHRISTOPHER NUGENT NIXON, of No. 57, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My said invention relates to a new or improved fastener for windows, doors,
portmanteaux, bags, and various other articles, and has for its object to obtain a
simple device universally applicable where two parts or articles are required to be
fastened or locked together.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement, I employ a ring which is cut
through and divided at one part of its circumference and transversely thereof.
This ring, which is secured to one part of the article, I form of spring metal so
that the meeting parts, which are preferably bevelled or rounded, will have a
tendency to spring together at this split, and, if desired, this action may be assisted
by a separate spring, whilst, at a suitable point or points in the circumference of
the ring approximately diametrically opposite the split, I form upon the ring two
projections adapted to be acted upon by the finger and thumb in order to expand or
open the ring and afford sufficient room at the split for it to engage or to facilitate
its removal from the other part of the fastening hereinafter more fully
referred to.
Or, in some cases, I divide the ring into two parts or jaws formed of cast or
forged metal and independently pivotally mounted in any suitable manner, or, in
such cases, the jaws are mounted upon a common axis and are geared together after
the manner of tongs, a spring or springs being employed in both of these arrange-
ments to normally hold the jaws closed, whilst the jaws are provided with tails or
thumb pieces adapted to be pressed together in order to open the jaws for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
The other part of the fastening which is secured to the second part of the article
consists of a bar or fitting provided with a hole to receive the meeting ends of the
ring or jaws, or, with a groove or slot to be encompassed or engaged thereby, or, in
some cases, the other part of the fitting might consist of a button head or loop to
be similarly engaged and the ring may be snapped on to the other part of the
fastening, or, it may be expanded by the aid of the thumb pieces or projections for
that purpose.
When employing the invention as a window fastener, and, in some other cases, a
spring or springs may be arranged in connection with the bar in order to auto-
matically raise the same to a more or less vertical position when not held or
engaged by the ring.
When desired, a bolt or pawl or other suitable lock actuated by a key, or
otherwise, may be employed to securely hold the fastener in its closed position.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings,
more fully to describe the same.

page_text: Figure 6. is a side view partly in section of the other part or hasp of the fastener
and showing it in its raised or unlocked position, and,
Figure 7. is a plan thereof.
Figure 8. is a side view of a portion of the frame of a bag having applied thereto
a fastener constructed according to the present invention.
Figure 9. is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 8,
and,
Figure 10. is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 9.
Figure 11. is a similar view to Figure 1, but representing a slightly modified
form of fastener, and,
Figure 12. is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 13. is an elevation representing the two parts of a French window or the
like having a modified form of the invention applied thereto.
Figure 14. is a plan thereof, and,
Figure 15. is a side view thereof.
Figure 16. represents a portion of a door and its shutting post or frame furnished
with a lock constructed according to the present invention.
Figure 17. is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 16.
Figure 18. is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 16.
Figure 19. is a front view of the lock or fastener with the cover and some other
parts removed.
Figure 20. is a side view of the key employed in connection with the lock or
fastener.
Figure 21. is an end view thereof, and,
Figure 22. is a similar view to Figure 19. representing a slightly modified form
of door lock.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7. a. and a' represent respectively the meeting rails of
the window sash, b. represents the base plate of one part of the fastener which is
fixed to the rail a. and upon this base plate b. is mounted a ring 6* which is cut
through and divided at one part of its circumference 65* and transversely thereof.
This ring is secured to the base plate b. by the ends passing loosely through
slots or openings formed in lugs rising vertically from the base plate b. and by
overhanging clips 62 located at another part of the base plate b. and upon the
interior of the ring thus preventing the accidental disconnection of the ring b*
from the base plate b. whilst at the same time permitting of the necessary freedom
of movement thereof as hereinafter described.
The ring is formed of spring metal so that the meeting parts or ends ³ which
are bevelled or rounded for the purpose hereinafter explained will have a tendency
to spring together at the split 6**.
The ring is thinned or reduced in thickness towards the rear of the fastener
and at suitable points in its circumference and approximately diametrically opposite
the split the ring has formed thereon two tails or projections 6 adapted to be
acted upon by the finger and thumb in order to expand or open the ring at the
split * and afford sufficient room thereat for the bevelled ends to engage
or to facilitate their disconnection from the other part of the fastening hereinafter
described.
In order to assist the closing action of the ring a spring & mounted between
the tails or thumb pieces is sometimes employed to force those pieces apart and
consequently the ends & together.
The other part of the fastener which is secured to the other meeting rail a'
consists of a base plate c. furnished with vertical lugs c' formed with bearings to
receive the projecting ends of a shaft & forming trunnions or an axis upon which a
bar or hasp c³ is pivotally mounted.
The bar or hasp ³ is furnished with an opening or openings & therein adapted
to receive the bevelled ends 65 of the other part of the fastener, whilst at c it is

page_text: bevelled or pointed so that when turned down into its locking position it will
force apart the two bevelled ends of the ring until they snap into the
opening c¹.
The bar or hasp c³ has coiled around its axis c³ a spring 2* which acts to auto-
matically raise the bar or hasp into a vertical position as represented at
Figures 6. and 7. upon being released from the other part of the fastening & so
that it will be out of the way when raising or lowering the sashes, and in order to
facilitate the lowering of the bar or hasp into engagement with the ends 65 of the
ring 6 the bar is furnished with a button head c.
In the example given at Figures 8, 9, and 10. a. represents one part of the frame
of a bag and a represents the other part thereof.
In this example, the part of the lock or fastener is enclosed within a box 6*
and is made of spring metal bent into the required shape and bevelled at the
meeting ends 6 as hereinbefore described whilst the hasp or bar c³ is similar to
that described with respect to Figures 1. to 7. except that in the present case it is
fixed at right angles with its base plate c. whilst the bevelled or inclined nose c³ is
formed upon the end thereof, but these modifications are a necessity of the
application of the device to an article of the character of a bag.
The ring or part 6 of the fastener instead of terminating in thumb pieces b* is
continued in the form of a flattened loop 6 terminating in a part ring engaging a
pin fixed to the case and within the loop 6 is arranged an oval cam 68 fitted
with a square to receive a key, so that when it is desired to disengage the hasp or
bar 3 from the part 6 of the fastener the cam 18 is turned a part of a revolution by
means of the key, when the jaws of the part of the ring 64 will be distended and the
bar or hasp 63 will be released.
Although in this example the lock is arranged to be actuated by a key only it
will be evident that the key may be dispensed with and a thumb piece fixed with
the cam may be substituted for the key and square or a similar arrangement of
such parts to that hereinafter described with respect to Figure 22. might be
employed.
In the example given at Figures 11. and 12. the device is similar in character to
that described with respect to Figures 1. to 7. except that in lieu of forming the
ring in one piece as therein described it is divided into two parts or jaws b* formed
of cast or forged metal, and independently pivotally mounted at 4* upon the base
plate b. the thumb pieces being formed in continuation of the jaws 64 whilst in
this example a follower spring is employed to act upon the thumb pieces 66 in
lieu of the coiled spring described with respect to Figures 1. to 7. in order to close
the jaws b*.
This arrangement as applied to a window fastener is perhaps stronger and more
practical than that herein before described, added to which the cost of construction
is considerably less.
In some cases, it may be desirable to form each of the inner faces of the jaws b*
at their junction with the tails or thumb pieces 6 with a semi-circle of teeth inter-
locking so that the two parts &* may be caused to work in unison.
In the example given at Figures 13., 14. and 15., a. and a' represent the two parts
of a French window or a. might represent a door and a¹ the shutting post or frame
of the doorway.
In this example the ring is formed in two parts in a somewhat similar manner to
that described with respect to Figures 11. and 12., but in this case the two jaws b
of the ring are mounted on an axis 6* common to both, a spring of a slightly
different shape being employed to force the tails or thumb pieces 66 apart and
consequently the jaws 6 together.
The other part or hasp of the fastening consists of a button headed stud c³ fixed
to the base plate c. the reduced diameter of which is embraced by the bevelled
meeting ends of the jaws 6 the rounded formation of the button head enabling
the jaws 6 to snap onto the stud c³ in the closing of the door a., or the jaws 6 might
be expanded by the aid of the tails or thumb pieces 6 for that purpose.

page_text: In the example given at Figures 16. to 21., a. represents a door, and a² represents
the shutting post or frame of the doorway.
In this case, one part of the device is arranged in the form of a lock arranged
within a box 6* which is fixed to the door a. in a somewhat similar manner to the
bag lock described with respect to Figures 8. to 11, and the hasp or bar c³ is similar
in form and is fixed to the shutting post or door frame a¹.
In this case however the two parts or jaws 64 are formed with central lugs 6***
through which passes the stud or axis 6* upon which the jaws 6 turn and in order
to distend the jaws & to release the hasp or bar c3 from the outside of the door, a
square block 68 is mounted with capability of revolving upon a pin or pipe shaft b
and the block 68 is slotted at 68* to receive the ward d' of a key d. such as that
represented at Figures 20. and 21, so that by turning the key d. the block 68 will
be revolved upon its axis 6 thus separating the jaws 6 and releasing the hasp c³
whilst upon returning the block 68 to its normal position so as to withdraw the key
the spring will again close the jaws 64 in readiness to engage the hasp c
In order to actuate the jaws 6 from the inside of the door, thumb pieces 6º located
upon the outside of the cover *1 of the box in a convenient position for use are
provided and are mounted upon studs passing through slots in the cover 6*1 of the
box and fixed with the tails of the jaws b.
It may sometimes be desirable to secure the lock or fastener in its locked position
so as to prevent its being opened from the outside of the door by means of the
key d. and for this purpose a latch bolt 10 is employed which bolt is provided with
a knob 610 located upon the exterior of the box * such bolt being adapted to slide
between the tail ends of the jaws 64 as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 19, so
as to hold such tail ends or parts distended, and to retain the jaws 6* in their locked
position.
In the example given at Figure 22., in lieu of the internal and overlapping central
lugs through which is passed a stud or axis 64* common to both, the
continuations of the jaws 64 are mounted upon independent axes or studs 61* and
instead of a fixed pin or pipe shaft to receive a key the block 6" is formed with a
square hole through which is passed a corresponding spindle 68** fitted in the ordinary
manner of door furniture with handles upon the interior and exterior of the door by
the aid of which the block 68 may be rotated to separate the jaws 6* as hereinbefore
described with respect to Figure 19.
In order to lock the jaws b in their closed or locked position when desired a latch
bolt 610 similar to that described with respect to Figures 16. to 19. is provided but
instead of actuating the same by means of an external knob or handle 610* the
bolt 60 is furnished with a notched plate 610* the notch of which engages the
ward d¹ of a key d. which fits upon a pipe shaft 6°.
In the arrangement shown, the lock is arranged to receive the key from the inside
of the door only but it will be evident that the lock may readily be modified so as
to receive the key from either the outside or inside of the door or both.
By the means hereinbefore described a fastener or lock is obtained which is simple
in construction, both easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be made
up in a convenient form for application to a variety of uses.
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
1. In a fastener, the combination of a split ring or two jaws sprung together and
adapted to be fixed to one part or article, a headed stud, a recessed bar or the like
formed to engage the meeting faces of the ring or jaws and adapted to be fixed to
the other part or article, and means for separating the meeting faces of the ring in
order to disengage the same from the headed stud or bar, substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. In a fastener, the combination of a split ring or two jaws sprung together and
adapted to be fixed to one part or article, a recessed bar or the like mounted upon

page_text: an axis carried by the other part or article and normally held erect by means of a
spring with capability of being turned down to engage the meeting faces of the
ring or jaws and thumb pieces or the like for separating the meeting faces of the
ring or jaws in order to disengage the same from the bar, substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. In a fastener, the combination of a split ring or two jaws sprung together and
adapted to be fixed to one part or article, a headed stud, a recessed bar or the like
formed to engage the meeting faces of the ring or jaws and adapted to be fixed to
the other part or article, means for separating the meeting faces of the ring in order
to disengage the same from the headed stud or bar and a latch or lock actuated by
a key or otherwise for holding the meeting ends of the ring or jaws in engagement
with the stud or bar, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
This woth f T... 1001
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.