Year: 1898

page_text: NICHOLAS JOSEPH BUTLER, Physician and Surgeon, 74, Chester Terrace, Brighton,
England, Tom MINTY, Financier, 130, Springfield Road, Brighton, England, de
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention is more intended to take the place of the wedge in preventing
shaking or rattling of the window sash than to supersede the use of the ordinary
or any other fastner, when used alone however it forms a most efficient and
powerful fastner impossible to tamper with from the outside without first breaking
the glass.
The invention consists of a small frame or cradle and a screw provided with a
loosely attached button or disc at its distal extremity. It may be made of brass,
metal wood or other suitable material. The frame or cradle is composed of a
horizontal piece or floor and two upright sides which may be strengthened in
position either by a small block placed between then about the centre of the frame
or by two small upright supports placed between them near their ends.
At an equal distance from the ends of each side piece and about the third of the
distance from the top is a hole provided with a thread through which the screw
works. The horizontal portion of the frame or floor is made a little longer than
the sides and through the projecting ends pass two screws by means of which it
is attached to the window frame. It is placed in juxtaposition to the upper portion
of the lower sash near the upper cross bar and when "in situ" the disc or button
carried on the end of the screw is directed towards the sash and is placed about
the fourth of an inch in front of it. Directly opposite the disc or button and
sunk into the side bar of the sash is a cupshaped receptacle made of brass or other
suitable material into which the button or disc accurately fits when screwed home.
When it is desired to apply the fastner it is merely necessary to give a turn
or two to the screw which is provided with a knob for the purpose.
The button or disc is then projected forwards into the cupshaped cavity already
described and pressing forcibly against the upper portion of the lower sash again
presses it against the cross bar of the upper one and so firmly fixes both sashes
that not the least shaking or rattling is permitted. As it is impossible to raise the
lower or pull down the upper sash while the disc or button is screwed home it is
apparent the fastner will afford a large measure of security against the entrance
of burglars by the window without first breaking the glass. It may also be used
to fix the lower sash at any height to which it may be raised.
With large heavy sashes it may be necessary to place a fastner on both sides.
Dated this 8th day of December 1898.

page_text: An Improved Form of Sliding Window Sash Fastener.
We, Dr. NICHOLAS JOSEPH BUTLER, Physician, of 74, Chester Terrace, Brighton,
in the County of Sussex, and TOM MINTY, Financier, of 130, Springfield Road,
Brighton, in the County of Sussex, 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:-
Our invention relates to an improved sash fastener, adapted for use with windows
having sashes sliding in vertical grooves, and counterbalanced in the usual manner.
Windows of this description as commonly constructed in this country have the
great disadvantage that the sashes fit loosely in their respective grooves, for
convenience of opening and shutting, and consequently they not only allow
draughts to enter both between the sashes and around the edges of the same in the
grooves, but also they not only do not exclude the noise of the street, but they
add to it by rattling or shaking when the wind is blowing or under other circumi-
stances. This rattling of the windows is a very serious annoyance to nervous
persons. Another drawback of the ordinary fastening, which is fixed to one of
the sashes and interlocks with a clasp or holder on the other, is that this fastening
is extremely insecure and can be readily operated or cut from the outside.
Our invention obviates all these drawbacks and provides a simple apparatus
which will securely lock the sashes in any desired position, either open or shut,
and will moreover press them together and against the outer edges of their grooves,
so that they become practically airtight (if properly constructed) and all noise
or rattling caused by the vibration of the sashes is entirely prevented. Moreover,
the construction of the sash fastener is such that whilst it can be operated from
the inside by a child, requiring neither skill nor strength for its manipulation, it
is impossible to actuate it from the outside, and it would be necessary to break
the window and to unfasten the device by means of a key before the sash could
be moved from its place by anyone from the outside. Owing to the fact that the
apparatus is preferably operated by means of a loose key and securely fastens both
sashes in any desired position, either open or shut, its use is especially advantageous
for nurseries, asylums and other places where there is any danger of persons falling
from the window. It is, however, applicable for sash windows in every position,
being cheap, sightly and easily applied and manipulated.
In describing our invention, reference will be made to the accompanying draw-
ing, in which
Figure 1 shews a section of part of a sash window secured by the device.
Figure 2 shews a slightly modified form of the screw bolt apparatus, and
Figure 3 shews a front view of the locking device and upper sash shewn in
Figure 1, the key being supposed to be removed.
Figure 4 is a section of a duplex modification.
In these drawings A represents the side casing of the window. B the upper
sash and C the lower sash respectively. The bolt holder D is a metal casting
screwed to the casing A in the manner shewn in Figures 1 and 3, or secured
thereto in any other convenient manner. This piece D possesses a hollow projec-
tion in which is located the locking bolt E consisting of a threaded spindle
having at one end a square or angular projection to fit the key F and at its other
or outer end a loosely attached cap G provided with an elastic buffer or washer H
This bolt E has moreover a weak spiral spring I coiled around it which serves to
prevent it from bolting the window except whem actually screwed down in the
manner hereinafter described. The end G of the bolt fits into an aperture L' of a
metal plate L of any convenient shape, this may as shewn in the drawings be a

page_text: small angle piece of brass or the like provided with a countersunk and reinforced
opening corresponding to the diameter of G.
In Figure 2a slight modification of the design is illustrated, in which there
is substituted for the key F a milled button F; the constructions preferred are
those illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The material of the apparatus is prefer-
ably a suitable metal such as brass, and the apparatus may be constructed plain
or ornamented or with modifications of outward form without departing from
the principle of the invention.
The operation of the device will be obvious from the drawings. The key F
having been inserted in the projection D', the bolt E can be thereby screwed down
forcing the elastic washer H of the loosely secured cap G into the aperture L' of
the angle plate L. As soon as H presses against the end of the aperture L' the
sash B is forced into contact with the sash Cand also pressed against the outside
of its groove. This pressure prevents the sashes from being moved until the bolt
is released, and also prevents draughts and rattling as aforesaid. The apparatus
is preferably attached on each side of the inner casing of the window, but a single
apparatus may be used if desired and applied elsewhere, as for instance at the centre
of the upper rim of the top sash or at the centre of the lower rim of the bottom
sash or otherwise; the duplex mechanism shewn in Fig. 4 is especially suited for
windows in which the beading interferes with the pressure of the lower sash
against the upper one. In this case the apparatus is secured to operate on the
lower sash as shewn in Fig. 1, but the plate L is prolonged over the top of the
lower sash C and bears the sliding bolt F3 having at the one end a felt-covered
buffer H placed so as to pass the intervening beading and abut against the sash B,
and its other end bent upwards to form a handle. The bolt slides freely in a
slot, and can be locked in place by a vertical screw E or equivalent device. When
this top bolt 12 has once been properly adjusted it requires no further alteration,
because the turning of the key applies the buffer H to the lower sash, and
the buffer H to the upper sash simultaneously. If desired a hook or holder may
be provided on the piece D at each side of the window for supporting the blind rod.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The improved locking bolt mechanism for sash windows, consisting essentially
of a holder secured to the inner casing of the window frame, a plate recessed to
receive the locking bolt and secured to the sash, a screw bolt adjustable in the
said holder and means for actuating the said bolt and supporting it out of contact
with the window sash when not in use, substantially as described.
2. The improved locking bolt mechanism for sash windows constructed and
operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the accom-
panying drawing in one modification, and in Fig. 2 in another modification and in
Fig. 4 in a third modification respectively.
Dated the 9th day of February 1899