IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WINDOW SASHES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hay and George Robertson both of Glasgow in
the County of Lanark North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hay and George
Robertson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February
1883.
JOHN HAY and GEORGE ROBERTSON, both of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark,
North Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WINDOW SASHES,"
This Invention, which relates to improvements in or connected with window
sashes, has for its object to facilitate the disconnecting and the withdrawal of the
sashes from the window frames at one or both edges, in dwelling houses and other
buildings for cleaning or for other purposes in the inside of the apartment.
In the ordinary mode of fitting window sashes into their frames, the sashes are
hung or supported by cords provided with counterbalancing weights, and the ends
of these cords pass into grooves in each side of the sash, and are fixed to the sash
by nails or similar fastenings which do not admit of the cord being disconnected
from the sash, and of the sash being removed from the window frame. According
to the present Invention, the sash and cords are connected together by means of
bolts, studs, bushes, or similar portable devices to which the cords are attached,
while the bolts or studs are fitted into the sides of the sash, so that they can be
readily removed to free the sash from the suspending cords and allow it to be
removed. Each bolt or stud is fitted horizontally into a hole or recess bored or
cut in the side of the sash at or near the lower end of the groove in which the cord
lies, and its outer end is made to fit flush with the edge of the sash. A vertical
hole is pierced or bored through the stud or bolt, through which the suspending
cord is passed, and has a knot formed on the underside to sustain the weight of
the sash. The sash is fitted in the run or slide of the fixed window frame, and is
retained as usual by fixed and movable wooden guide strips or bars. The movable
wooden guide strip for retaining the outer sash of a window is however by

page_text: preference cut about mid-length, so that it is only necessary to remove one half of
the central strip to remove the sash. When the sashes are taken out of the fixed
framing, the movable bolts or studs attached to the suspending cords are with-
drawn, and may be held by any suitable catch device. The sash may be entirely
removed, or the bolt at one side only may be freed, and the sash swung round
inside the house while suspended by the cord at the opposite side.
The bolts or devices by which the cords are connected to the sash, may be made
in various forms in addition to that described. In a simple form, a strong pin with
an eye at its outer end, may be screwed or otherwise fitted into each side of the
sash and the cord passed through the eye and knotted beneath. In another form,
the stud or bolt is inade cylindrical, or semi-cylindrical, and the cord passed through
a hole in the shell, while the knot formed at the end of the cord is hid and
protected within or below the hollow bolt, and in some cases, pins are passed
through from the inside of the sash, to prevent the bolts or studs slipping out
accidentally when the sash is withdrawn. The holes or recesses in which the bolts
or studs are fitted may be lined with brass or other metal to prevent wear.
When
chains are used to hang the window sashes (instead of the usual cords described)
the end of each chain would have an eye in it to be secured to the stud or bush
piece (portably inserted or secured to the sash) by a pin or ring inside. Otherwise
the eye on the chain might be large enough to ship portably on to or from a fixed
stud or recess piece secured in the edge of the sash.
A further improvement consists in the use of a small portable bracket mounted
on vertical stems in lower and upper staple bearings secured to the window shutter
or its frame, over the outer edge of the window sashes when pulled down and
swivelled inside the apartment up against the shutter, so that when this bracket is
inserted, it will hold one or both sashes in position for cleaning the outside of the
glass; when the sashes may again be replaced by coupling the cords at the one
edge of each sash only.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Hay and George Robertson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th August 1883.
JOHN HAY and GEORGE ROBERTSON, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North-Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WINDOW SASHES."
Our said Invention which relates to improvements in or connected with window
sashes, has for its object to facilitate the disconnecting and the withdrawal of the
sashes from the window frames at one or both edges in dwelling houses and all
other buildings for cleaning, glazing, painting, or other purposes.
In the ordinary mode of fitting window sashes into their frames, the sashes are
hung or supported by cords provided with counterbalancing weights, and the ends
of these cords pass into grooves in each side of the sash, and are fixed to the sash
by. nails or similar fastenings which do not admit of the cord being disconnected'

page_text: from the sash, and of the sash being removed from the window frame. According
to our Invention, the sash and cords are connected together by means of bolts, studs,
bushes, or similar portable devices to which the cords are attached, while the bolts
or studs are fitted into the sides of the sash, so that they can be readily removed to
free the sash from the suspending cords.
Our Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1
is an elevation of a window frame, as seen from the interior of an apartment, the
lower window sash being shown partly swung round out of the frame, in which
position it may be supported on a chair or other rest. Figure 2 is a transverse
vertical section of the same, showing one side of the window frame with the lower
sash swung round, and the upper sash removed; and Figure 3 is a similar view
showing the opposite side of the window frame with both sashes swung round into
the apartment. Figures 4, 5, and 6, are respectively an outside elevation, a vertical
section, and an elevation from the inside, of one modification of the improved devices
used for securing the window sashes to the supporting cords.
The window frame A is formed in the ordinary way, and the sashes B, B¹, are
fitted to slide in the usual runs or slides A', A². Each sash B, B1, is suspended at
one side by the counter-weighted cords C, which are nailed or otherwise fixed
within the groove b in the side of the sash in the usual way, but at the other side
of the sash the suspending cords C' are connected to the sash by bolts or studs or
bushes D, D, attached to the ends of the cords. Each bolt or stud D, D is fitted
horizontally into a hole or recess E, bored or cut in the side of the sash B or B¹ at
or near the lower end of the groove b in which the cord C¹ lies, and its outer end D'
is made to fit flush with the edge of the sash. A vertical hole d is pierced or bored
through the stud or bolt D, through which the suspending cord C₁ is passed, and has
a knot c¹ formed on the underside to sustain the weight of the sash. Each
sash B, B¹, is fitted in the run or slide A1, A2, of the fixed window frame A, and is
retained as usual by fixed and movable wooden guide strips or bars a, a', a². The
central movable wooden guide strip or parting bead a' for retaining the outer
sash of a window, is however by preference cut about mid-length, so that it is
only necessary to remove one half of the central strip a¹ to remove the sash. The
lower half of the central strip or parting bead a¹ is made movable, and is formed
with a bevilled or a V like joint at all, the lower end being secured in a recess or
check in the bottom of the window frame. The upper window sash B is drawn
down to almost the full extent before the retaining strip or parting bead a' can be
removed, and after the lower sash B has been taken out by removing the inner
retaining strip or batten rod a² in the usual way. The retaining strip or batten
rod a² is secured by screws passed through bushes a³ inserted in the strip. When
the sashes B, B', are taken out of the fixed framing A, the movable bolts, studs, or
bushes D attached to the suspending cords Care withdrawn from the holes or
recesses in the sides of the sashes, and they may be held by any suitable catch
devices, such as the hooks F, fixed to the window frame or shutter. The sash may
be entirely removed when the movable bolts are provided at each side of the sash
or the bolt D at one side only may be freed, and the sash swung round inside the
apartment while suspended by the cord C at the opposite side, as indicated in the
Drawings. For convenience of swinging round the sashes, a pin g is fitted in the
bottom of the lower sash B, and a hole is formed in the bottom of the
sash into which this pin fits to admit of the sash being swung on it as
on a pivot. The bolts or devices by which the cords C are connected to each
sash, may be made in various forms. In a simple form, a strong pin with an eye
at its outer end, may be screwed or otherwise fitted into each side of the sash, and
the cord C or C passed through the eye and knotted beneath, or a knot on the end
of the cord inay be fitted into the recess or hole E, formed in the sash. In another
form, the stud, bolt, or bush D is made cylindrical or semi-cylindrical, as shown in
figures 4, 5, and 6, and the cord C is passed through a hole & in the shell, while
the knot c forined at the end of the cord is hid and protected within or below the
hollow bolt, stud, or bush D. In some cases, pins are passed through from the

page_text: inside of the sash B, B¹, and enter behind a catch D' formed on the inner end of
the bolt D, to prevent the bolts or studs slipping out accidentally when the sash is
withdrawn. The holes or recesses E in which the bolts or studs D are fitted in the
sashes, may be lined with brass or other metal to prevent wear. When chains are
used to hang the window sashes (instead of the usual cords described) the end of
each chain may have an eye in it to be secured to the stud or bush piece by a pin
or ring inside. Otherwise the eye on the chain might be large enough to ship
portably on to or from a fixed stud or recess piece secured in the edge of the sash.
A further improvement consists in the use of a small portable bracket which is
mounted on vertical stems in lower and upper staple bearings secured to the window
shutter or its frame at a point over the outer edge of the window sashes when
pulled down and swivelled inside the apartment, so that when this bracket is
inserted it will hold one or both sashes in position for cleaning the outside of the
glass. The sashes may again be replaced by inserting the bushes D into their
recesses E and so reconnecting the cords to their sashes and replacing the parting
bead and batten rod.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim as our Invention is:-
First. The combination of devices for suspending and securing window sashes in
their frames, so that they can be readily withdrawn for cleaning or for other
purposes, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. As means for securing window sashes to the cords by which they are
suspended in window frames, the bolts studs, bushes, or equivalent devices (D)
attached to the ends of such suspending cords, and formed to fit into holes or
recesses in the side of the sashes, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Third. A window sash having formed or fitted in one or both sides, a hole or eye
adapted to receive a bolt, stud, bush or equivalent device attached to or formed on
the cord or chain used for suspending the sash, substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
Fourth. As means for facilitating the withdrawal of window sashes from their
frames, for cleauing or other purposes the dividing strip or parting bead (a') formed
in two lengths or pieces, the lower of which is made movable, substantially as
herein described and illustrated.
In Witness Whereof, we the said John Hay, and the said George Robertson,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this sixth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
JOHN HAY
(1.5.)
GEORGE ROBERTSON (L.S.)