Improvements in Sash Fasteners.
Year: 1894

page_text: Improvements in Sash Fasteners.
1, LEWIS CASS MILLER, of St Louis, in the City of St. Louis, State of
Missouri, United States of America, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
lescribed and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to sash fasteners, and it has for its object to provide means
of automatically locking both the top and the bottom sashes of a window in
ifferent positions of adjustment so that when the top sash is lowered and the
bottom sash raised to allow ventilation, they are automatically locked in their
position so that neither can be moved until one sash is released by means which
annot be reached from outside the window, and which serve also to lock the two
sashes in their closed positions.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation through a portion of u
window showing the top and bottom sashes with parts in section to illustrate the
ock applied.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of a window with parts broken away
howing portions of the lock in section
Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the locking bolt.
Fig 4 detail perspective of the face plate or cover to the locking bolt
holl.
Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the locking pawl shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6a perspective of the dog shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 a side view of a portion of the ratchet bar and locking Catu.
Fig 8 is a view simula to part of Fig 1 showing a modification.
Fig. 9 a view similar to Fig. 8 showing another modification.
Fig. 10 a perspective of the locking bolt shown in Fig. 9
Fig 1 a detail view of the swinging plate or wing shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 12 a detail of the pawl shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 13 a detail of a modified form of gravity dog, shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 14 a similar view to Fig. 9, showing another modification.
Fig. 15 a detail perspective of locking bolt and modified gravity dog, shown in
Fig. 14, and
Fig. 16 a detail perspective of modified form of pawl, shewn in Fig. 14.
Refer ng to the drawings 1 is the locking bolt enclosed in a casing 2 which 19
ot into the window frame transversely to the mecting rails of the lower and upper
ashes, and is preferably provided with a removeable face 3 having ears 4 for screws
o secure the face plate and hold the bolt and its case in the window frame. The
ace plate 3 has a slot 5 for the passage of a pin 6 which projects from the locking
olt. This bolt 18 formed with a V-tooth 7 which can engage with any one of a
umber of seirations 8 extending along the rear edge of one of the stiles of the
pper rash 9, these serrations being preferably formed in a metal plate 10 fixed
long the stile of the sash. The other end of the bolt 1 is formed with a projecting
houlder 11 against which acts a cam hereinafter described for moving the bolt
nto its locking position. In the forward end of one of the stilos of the lower
ash 12 is set what may be termed a cam 13, having a face inclined to the plate 14
hich is set into the stile of the sash, and has a straight edge 15 extending some
Istance above the cam. The cam 13 18 designed to bear against the shoulder 11
f the bolt 1 when the lower sash is pulled down so as to move the bolt to the left
nd cause its tooth 7 to enter one of the serratious 8 of the upper sash and thus
ock that sash. The straight portion 15 bearing against the shoulder 11 serves to

page_text: hold the bolt in its locked position. The straight edge also allows the lower gaslı
to be raised a certain distance without unlocking the upper sash. The real portion
of the stite of the lower sash which carries the cam 13 has a cam 16 preferably
formed by cutting out the rear of the stile along the parting bead 17, with an
ucline to form the cam 16 preferably faced with metal 46 The cut out portion
forms a groove 18 mto which projects the pin 6 of the locking bolt 1 The pin 6
moves into this groove from the rear when the bolt is moved into its locking
position and 18 moved out of the groove when the cam 16 bears against it and so
slufts the bolt into its unlocking position. The cam 13 moves the bolt into locking
position when the lower sash is pushed down, and the cam 16 moves it into its
unlocking position when the lower sash 18 1aised Also the straight portion of the
groove 18 above the cam 16 like the straight edge of the plate 14 above the cam 13
allows of a certain up and down movement of the lower sash without unlocking
the upper sash, the two cams 13 and 16 being so arranged that in raising the lower
sash the cam 13 comes into position relatively to the shoulder 11 of the bolt in
time to release the bolt so that the cam 16 may act on the pin 6 to move the bolt
into its unlocking position, and in lowering the sash the cam 16 comos opposite the
pin 6 in time to free the bolt so that the cam 13 can act upon the shoulder 11 to
throw the bolt into its locking position. Thus when the lower sash is lifted ini
enough to unlock the upper sash, the latter can bo lowered and the lower sash can
then be lowered so as to lock the upper sash in position.
Moreover the straight portion of the groove 18 above the cam 16 and the
stinight portion of the plate 14 above the cam face 13 allow a certain upward
movement of the lower bash without unlocking the upper sash. The lower sash
can thus be raised for ventilation. In order to lock the lower sash in its raised
and also in its lowered position, a ratchet bar 19 is attached to a stile of the lower
sash preferably as part of the plate 14. A pan 20 attached to a stationary part
of the window frame engages with the ratchet bar 19 so as to lock the lower sash
in various positions
The pawl 20 is preferably pivotted in a casing 21 let into the
window frame behind the bead 22. The pawl 20 13 noimally in engagement with
one of the teeth of the ratchet bar 19 so as to keep the bottom sash locked, and
may be held so engaged by gravity causing it to engage with the ratchet bar, or it
may be pressed into engagement by a sping Fig 5 shows a pawl so formed as to
nct by gravity, a spring actuated pawl is shewn in Fig 1, the spring being
marked 23. When the lower sash is to be raised the pawl 20 15 thrown out of
engagement with the intchet bar 19. This may be done as shewn in Fig. 1 by
pushing in a button 24 which beats against the heel 25 of the pawl thus disengaging
the lower end of the pawl from the ratchet. In order to hold the pawl out of
engagement with the hatchet while the sash is being raised I omploy a dog 26
(Fig. 1) pivotted to the window frame and formed with a heel 27 and a nose 28.
The nose 28 rests upon the boss of the pawl 20 and when the pawl is in disengaged
position the nose drops down upon a squared portion 29 of the boss thus holding
the pawl out of engagement with the hatchet. The heel 27 of the dog lies in the
path of travel of the bolt 1 so that when the bolt is moved into its unlocking
position a shoulder 30 on the bolt stakes the heel of the dog and raises the dog
from the square portion of the boss of the pawl, whereupon the pawl is thrown by
the spring 23 into position to engage the ratchet bai 19. The movement of the
bolt so as to lift the dog from the pawl is so timed that the lower sash is raised
high enough to carry the ratchet bar 19 above the paul before the pawl is released
from the dog, the lower sash being thus allowed to be raised to any height
soon as the pawl 18 released from the dog it assumes its normal position and
then as the lower sash 18 lowered the ratchet teeth slip past the end of the
pawl which engages with the teeth of the intchet so that the bottom sash
cannot be lifted until the pan is thrown out of engagement with the teeth
Thus it will be seen the lower sash can be locked in any position and is
automatically locked as it is lowered. By the aitangement described both the
upper and the lower sash can be locked in various positions and can be opened at
As

page_text: Top and bottom foi ventilation and locked so that no one can move them 80 us to
enter from the outside.
Instead of the push button 24 a flat key having two points adapted to enter
holes 31 n the boss of the pawl can be introduced through an escutcheou_us
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 showing 32 the key and 38 the escutcheon. By
substituting the key for the push button the lock is particularly adapted for use
in places where it is desuable to place the windows under the control of an
official
Fig. 8 shows a different form of pawl engaging the ratchet bar 19, and a
different form of dog to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet bai.
The pawl 33 is in the form of a segment so shaped that it swings by gravity into
cugagement with the ratchet bai. It has a heel 26 against which the push
button 24 acts so as to move it out of engagement with the ratchet bar 19 and
into a position such that the nose 34 of the dog 35 engages behind the heel 26 aud
holds the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet bar. The dog 35 has on its
under face a projection or heel 36 against which bears a shoulder 37 of the locking
bolt I so that when the bolt is thrown into its unlocking position, the dog .35 is
lifted and the pawl 33 is released so nз to swing into engagement with the latchet
bai 19. The lock illustrated in Fig. 8 operates generally as described in reference
to Fig. 1 differing only in the modified forms of the pawl and dog The pawl 33
in Fig 8 may obviously be operated by a key like the pawl shown in Fig. 1.
The dog for holding the pawl out of engagement with the locking bar may be
omitted, but in that case the button 24 must be pressed until the bottom sash 1
1aised to the height desired or at least beyond the position in which the pawl
engages.
When it is
Fig. 9 shows a modification in which gravity operates to throw the pawl into
engagement with the ratchet bar of the lower sasli. 38 is the pawl pivotted in
the casing 21 and pressed by a weight 39 which is pivotted in a case 40 let into
the stile of the lower sash and is formed with a nose 41 and heel 42. The nosc
bears against the heel of the pawl 38 and holds its toe in engagement with the
matchet bar 19 when the low ei sash is locked The pawl 38 has a groove 43
(Fig. 12) so that the cam plate 14 having the straight edge 15 and incline 13 may
move through it during the up and down movements of the sash
desired to throw the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet bar, tho push
button 24 is pushed inward against a swinging plate 44 which benis against the
heel of the pawl, the heel being thus pressed inwards and the toe outwards from
the ratchet bai This movement throws backward the weight 39 (see Fig. 13)
and brings the top of the pawl under the shoulder 41 of the weight thus holding
the pawl away from the lack bar At the same time the nose 41 18 brought in
fiont of and just above the point of a pin 45 depending from the bolt 1 so that
when the incline or cam 16 of the lower sash presses against the pin 6 to throw
the bolt into its locking position, the pin 45 bears against the nose of the
weight 39 and moves it back and pievents it from dropping down upon the pawl
thus freeing the pawl so that it may drop to its position to lock the lower sash.
When the lower sash is lowered and the cam 13 presses the bolt 1 into its locking
position, the pin 45 18 moved away from the weight 39 which then falls by gravity
against the pawl 38 loading it and thus preventing accidental disengagement of
the pawl from the rack bar which securely locks the lower sash and with it the
upper sash. Instead of a push button 24, a key inay be employed for throwing
the pawl 38 out of engagement with the ratchet bun 19 as described with reference
to Fig. 1
In Fig. 14 of the diawing is illustrated another modification. The pawl 47 has
bearing against it a weight 48 pivotted on the locking bolt 1. In this inodification
the forward cam plate 14 is dispensed with and a shell 49 is employed having two
opposite cam faces 50 and 51 so placed that the lower sash can have a limited up
and down movement before the cams can actuate the locking bolt. Thus the lowe
sash, as well as the upper, can be locked in various positions as described with

page_text: reference to Fig. 1. The shell 49 18 let into the rear edge of one of the stiles of
the lower Bash, and when this sash is raised after disengagement of the pawl 47
from the ratchet bar 19, the cam 50 comes in contact with the pin 6 of the bolt 1
and moves the bolt so as to unlock the upper sash. This movement also moves
back the weight 48 from the pawl 47 allowing it to swing into position to engage
the ratchet bar 19 and lock the lower sash when lowered. In lowering the lower
sash the incline 51 comes in contact with one side of the pin 6 and presses it forward
Eo as to throw the bolt 1 into locking engagement with the upper sash, the lower
sash being at the same time locked by the pawl 47 engaging the ratchet bar 19.
To unlock the lower sash the push button 24 is pushed in causing the swinging
plate 44 to press against the heel of the pawl 47 and thus release the toe of tho
pawl from the ratchet bar. This movement also throws partially back the weight 48
until its nose 52 (Figs. 15 and 16) catches over the upper edge of the heel of the
pawl and thus holds the pawl 47 away from engagement with the ratchet har 19.
This allows the bottom sash to be raised and when the cam 50 comes in contact
with the pin 6 and throws back the bolt 1 the bolt carries with it the weight 48 s0
as to release the pawl 47 and leave it in position to engage the ratchet bar 19, on
throwing the bolt in the opposite direction the weight 48 bears against the heel of
the pawl 47 and loads the pawl so as to ensure the continued engagement of its loo
with the ratchet bar.
The operation just described for the weight 48 applies also to that shown in Fig. 9,
except that the weight of 39 in Fig. 9 is not permitted to press upon the pawl until
the bolt 1 is thrown back into its locking position so that the pawl hangs practically
vertical nutil it is thrown into position to engage the ratchet bar 19 by the weight
of 39 acting on it.
In each form of the invention shown a pawl and ratchet or rack bar are employed
for looking the lower sash; also a weighted dog is used for holding the pawl out
of engagement with the rack bar for a certain time, and this weighted dog is
caused to release its hold upon the pawl by the movement of the locking bolt;
also the weighted dog bears upon a portion of the pawl when it is in engagement
with the rack bar thus holding the pawl against accidental disengagement from the
rack bar. Moreover the locking bolt is moved in both directions by means of
separate cams acting positively upon the bolt in the up and down movements of the
lower sash and these cams and other parts of the lock are entirely concealed from
View except the push button for releasing the pawl from the rack bai, this button
however being omitted and a key employed if desired in any of the forms illustrated,
in which case all the parts are concealed beyond the control of any person except
the poison in possession of the key.
As sash stiles differ in thickness the cam plate 14 has to be adjusted to allow for
this by forming an oblique slot 53 (Figs. 3 and 7) in the upper part of the plate 14
to receive a pin 54 that projects from a aut 55 which can slide up and down in a
cavity or recess 56 formed in the top of the rack bar 19, the adjustment of the nut
being effected by a screw 57. As the nut is drawn up by the screw, the pin 54
pressing against the sides of the oblique slot 53 diaws the cam plate inwards, when
the nut is lowered the cam plato is pushed outwards to compensate for the difference
in the thickness of the sash stile from the standard on ordinary size. To allow of
this side adjustment the cam plate is pivotted by a pin 58 to the rack bar 19. A
guide pin 59 attached to the rack bar passes through a slot 60 formed in the
cam plato 14, this slot having bevelled side walls so that the head of the guide
pin 59 does not project beyond the surface of the cam plate Countersunk holes 61
are formed in the cam plate 14 such that the screws which secure the ack bai to
the stile can pass freely through these holes and have the heads u countersunk
holes in the lack bar clear of the inner face of the cam plate and not interfering
with its to and fro swinging movement. As the adjustment of the cam plate need
be only the fractional part of an inch only very slight play is required for the
guide pin 59 between the sides of its slot.
When the cam plate 14 is on the front edge of tho stile and the cain shell 46 ou

page_text: the rear edge it is preferred to connect the two parts together by cars 62
(Figs. 1, 8 and 9) projecting from each of these parts and having a slot 63 so
that they can be adjusted relatively to each other and held together by a
BCLEW 64.
In order to adjust the locking bolt 1 so as to accommodate it to different
thicknesses of window frames or sashes, 1 prefer to form it in sections which can
be adjusted upon each other to determine the length of the bolt. One construction
for this pin pose is illustrated in Figs 3 and 9 where the bolt is shown made in
three parts a, b, c, then meeting ends overlapping and secured together by screws Go
piessel through one on other ot the sets of holes. Fig 15 shows the bolt made in
two sections, the one having an elongated slot 66 through which pass screws 67 into
the other section
The case or shell which contains the locking bolt is also made in two parts,
the adjacent ends of the two parts being formed with lateral ears 68 (Fig. 8)
and the top plate or cover 3 is made in three parts (Fig. 4) the ends of two of
the parts having eats 69 fitting over the eats 68 of the shell. The middle
portion of the cover 18 a separato plate 70 adapted to straddle the space
between the adjacent ends of the shell and cover and to rest upon the adjacent
ends of the cover 3, and it has a series of screw or bolt holes adapted to register
with corresponding holes in the ears of the shell and the cover The elongated
slot 5 for the play of the pin 6 is formed in the central portion 70.
All parts of the lock are concealed in the window frame or sashes out of view,
and both the upper and lower sashes are looked practically in an automatic
manner by simply lowering the lower sash, which is locked in various positions
during its downward movement by the engagement of the pawl with the rack bai
and when so locked it cannot be inised until the pawl is thrown out of engagement
with the ratchet bar, which can only be done by pressing in the push button or by
using a key. The lock thus affords practically absolute safety against movement
of either sash from outside and even from inside when a key is employed instead of
the push button. This locking 19 so contrived as to allow either sash or both
to be partly opened for ventilation remaining still locked in the partly opened
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same 18 to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim 18.
1. In a sash lock or fastener, in combination with a sliding bolt placed trans-
versely to the meeting rails of the two sashes and engaging serrations of the upper
sash, a iack bar attached to the lower sash and engaged by a pawl, also cains attached
to the lower sash and arranged to act on the sliding bolt, arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a sush lock or fastener such as 18 above referred to forming and ananging
the pawl to be disengaged from the rack bar by a key substantially as and for the
purposes described.
3 Forming the cams which act on the sliding bolt with inclined parts to move it
and parallel parts to hold it substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. In combination with the pawl above referred to a dog to hold it out of engage-
ment with the rack bar and a provision on the sliding bolt to engage for actuating
the dog to release the pawl substantially as described.
5 Constructing and fixing the rack bars, the cams and the sliding bolts with
means of adjustment to sunt different dimensions of frames and sashes substantially
as described.
Dated thin 07th day of December 1901
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for Applicant.