An Improved Window Sash Lift and Fastener.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Window Sash Lift and Fastener.
I, WILLIAM KOUNTZ SEWARD, Manufacturer, of Butte City, in the County of
Silverbow, and State of Montana, United States of America, 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 invention relates to improvements in that class of spring sash lifts which
are adapted to serve the additional function of sash fasteners; and its novelty and
many advantages will be fully understood from the following description and
claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of a window casing and sashes equipped with my
improvements.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged detail elevation of one of the lifts and fasteners and a
portion of its rack, the latter and the sash to which it is connected being in section.
Fig. 3, is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line y, y,
of Fig. 2, and:
Fig. 4, comprises disconnected perspective views of the several parts comprised
in one of my improved lifts and fasteners.
In the said drawings, similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of
the several views, referring to which:
A, indicates a window casing; B, C, indicate the lower and upper sashes
arranged therein; 1), indicates rack bars connected to the inner sides of the side
stiles of the casing and adapted to be engaged by the lifts and fasteners of the
lower sash B; E, indicates rack bars connected to the inner sides of the side stiles of
the casing and adapted to be engaged by the lifts and fasteners of the upper
sash C, and F, indicates my improved sash lifts and fasteners of which preferably
four are employed, those of the lower sash being connected to the face of the same
at its lower corners by screws or the like, while those of the upper sash are arranged
at the upper corners thereof. These lifts and fasteners are similar in construction
and therefore a description of the one shown in detail will suffice for all.
The casing of the lift F, may be of any suitable construction, but I prefer to
have it comprise a body plate a, which is designed to be connected to the face of
a sash and is provided with an annular flange b, and a cover plate c, which has
a flange d, connected to the body plate a, by screws or other suitable means and
also has a portion of said flange cut away to afford an opening e, In these
plates a, e, is journaled a central arbor f, and between them are arranged a coiled
spring g, a wheel h, a ratchet wheel i, and a flat disk j, all of which are shown
in detail in Fig. 4. The coiled spring g, is nested within the annular flange b, of
plate a, and has its outer end connected to said flange and its inner end connected
to the arbor f, whereby it will be seen that when the arbor is rotated in one
direction to wind the spring and is then released, the spring will operate to rotate
said arbor in the opposite direction. The arbor f, has a collar flange k, on which
the wheel h, is mounted, and it also has the angular portion m, to receive the
ratchet wheel i, and the circular portion n, which latter extends loosely through
the disk j, and cover plate c, and terminates in a square end p, designed to seat
winding key (not illustrated) for a purpose presently described.

page_text: The wheel h, is provided with an inwardly directed marginal flanger, which
snugly receives the flange b, of plate a, and has teeth s, on its outer side to engage
the teeth of the rack, and said wheel also has the outwardly directed flange t, as
shown. To this flange t, is connected one end of a spring, which bears at its
opposite end against a pawl v, which is pivoted on the wheel h, and is designed
to engage the ratchet wheel i, as will be presently described. The disk j. in inter-
posed between the cover plate c, and the ratchet wheel, which is greater in
thickness than the width of flange t, and it is designed to be engaged and pressed
against the ratchet wheel i, by the screw w, which extends through a threaded
aperture in plate c, for a purpose presently pointed out.
After the lifters F, are placed on the upper and lower sashes, a key (not shown),
is applied to their arbors and the same are turned in the proper direction to wind
the springs g. This being done, the screws w, are turned inwardly so as to press
the disk j, against the ratchet wheel i, and thereby hold said ratchet wheel and
the gear wheel against rotation and through the medium of the latter fasten the
sash against movement in either direction. Now if it be desired to raise the lower
sash, the screws w, of the lifters thereon are loosened, when the springs of said
lifters will rotate the gear wheels and thereby raise the sash. When the sash
reaches the desired elevation, it may be fastened at such a point by simply tighten-
ing the screws to. It follows from the foregoing that when the sash is lowered,
the springs of its lifters will be rewound and made ready to again lift the sash.
The lifters on the upper sash C, operate in the same manner as those on the
lower sash B, and in order to enable a person standing on the floor of an apartment
to conveniently turn the screws w, of said lifters to release or lock the gear wheels
of the same, said screws are provided with oppositely directed, lateral arms,
(see Fig. 1 and dotted lines in Fig. 2), to the ends of which depending cords y,
are connected as illustrated. By drawing down on one of these cords y, the operator
is enabled to turn the screw, in such direction as to relieve pressure against the
disk j. and release the ratchet wheel, and gear wheel j, so as to permit of
the sash being raised or lowered, and by drawing down on the other cord Y, the
operator is enabled, through the medium of screw, to bind the disk j, against
ratchet wheel i, and thereby fix said ratchet wheel and the gear wheel h, against
rotation, and through the medium of the latter fasten the sash against movement
in either direction.
It is obvious that when desired, but one lift and rack bar may be employed in
conjunction with each sash. I would also have it understood that the wheel h,
may be provided with a friction surface on its periphery in lieu of teeth in which
case the rack bar would be dispensed with.
The disk, and screw, are desirable for fixing the wheel, against rotation
and thereby fastening the shaft but when desired other suitable means may be
employed in conjunction with the lift for such purpose.
It will be seen from the foregoing that my improvements are compact and neat
in appearance and that, aside from the useful purposes which they serve, they
enhance rather than detract from the appearance of the sashes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1 The combination of a suitable casing having the annular flange ou the
inner side of one of its side plates, an arbor journaled in the side plates of the
casing and arranged concentric with said flange, a spring nested within the annular
flange and secured at one end to the flange, and at its opposite end to the arbor, a
wheel loosely mounted upon said arbor and having a lateral flange of a slightly
greater diameter than the annular flange of the casing and surrounding the same,
and a ratchet and pawl connection between the arbor and the said wheel, sub-
stantially as specified.
2-In a sash lift and fastener, the combination of a window casing, a rack

page_text: connected thereto, a sliding sash, a suitable casing connected to the sash and
having an annular flange on the inner side of one of its side plates, an arbor journaled
in the side plates of the casing and arranged concentric with said flange, a spring
nested within the annular flange and secured at one end to the flange, and at
the opposite end to the arbor, a gear wheel meshing with the rack and loosely
mounted on the arbor and having a lateral flange of a slightly greater diameter
than the annular flange of the casing and surrounding the same, and a ratchet
and pawl connection between the arbor and the said wheel, and means for fasten-
ing the sash, substantially as specified.
3-In a sash lift and fastener, the combination of a suitable casing, an arbor
journaled therein, a coiled spring surrounding the arbor and connected at one end
to the same and at its opposite end to the casing, a wheel loosely mounted on the
arbor, a ratchet and pawl connection between the arber and said wheel, a disk
loosely mounted on the arbor between the ratchet and pawl connection and one
of the side walls of the casing, and a screw extending through a threaded aperture
in the casing and adapted to impinge against said disk, substantially as specified.
4 In a sash lift and fastener, the combination of a suitable casing, an arbor
journaled therein, a coiled spring surrounding the arbor and connected at one end
to the same and at its opposite end to the casing, a wheel loosely mounted on the
arbor, a ratchet and paw! connection between the arbor and said wheel,
a disk loosely mounted on the arbor between said ratchet and pawl
connection and one of the side walls of the casing, a screw extending through
a threaded aperture in the casing and adapted to impinge against said disk and
having the oppositely directed lateral arms, and depending cords connected with
said arms a, substantially as specified.
Dated this 11th day of January 18OS.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
Agents, 40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.