IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings,
and State of New York, in the United States of America, but at present of
23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 22nd March 1878, and dated the 7th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1878.
NATHAN THOMPSON, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR
DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention has for its object the production of a simple, effective, and cheap
contrivance for fastening or connecting together two articles or parts of articles,
and is applicable to sashes, French windows, doors, machinery, and other articles.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood, I will describe its
application to a pair of window sashes.
The fastening consists of two plates provided each with a stud or projection,
preferably of equal height and width. These studs or projections are provided
with either plain or irregular faces fitting closely together. To one of these studs
or projections I pin-joint a lever which is provided with an opening or recess to
pass over and embrace the two studs or projections, and lock them together. The
sides of the opening or recess in the lever, or the sides of the stud or projection on
the other plate may be bevilled to allow for play of the parts, and the top of the
latter stud or projection is slightly inclined from the front edge towards the back
thereof, and the back is slightly inclined or undercut from the top to the bottom
thereof. The front edge of the recess or opening in the lever is rounded or bevilled
to facilitate the action of the parts, and the inner front face of the recess or opening
is slightly curved or undercut for a like purpose. The action of the parts is such

page_text: that should the sashes not quite meet, the lever will in its motion adjust their
position and draw the two firmly together. One plate may slightly overlap the
other, or slits may be formed in the lever to prevent the fastening being undone
from the outside.
As a modification of my Invention I may form the lever without the recess, and
with a bar in lieu thereof to work in a space formed in the centre of the studs or
projections.
The lever handle will be adjusted in position as may be required to suit the
article to which the fastening is applied.
In applying my Invention to ordinary window sashes I suitably weight or spring
the locking lever to prevent its accidentally falling forward when the sashes are
unlocked; and, if desired, the said lever may be secured in its locked position by
means of a bolt or other suitable means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
July 1878.
NATHAN THOMPSON, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR
DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention has for its object the production of a simple, effective, and cheap
contrivance for fastening or connecting together two articles or parts of articles,
and is applicable to sashes, French windows, doors, machinery, and other articles.
And in order that my said Invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed,
aided by the accompanying Drawings, fully to describe the same.
In the various views like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations, and Figure 3 is a plan view of a fastener
constructed according to my Invention, and shown applied to a pair of sliding
sashes; Figure 4 is an elevation, and Figures 5 and 6 are plan views of a similar
fastening shown applied to a pair of French windows.
In the above Figures the fastening consists of two plates a, b, provided each with
a stud or projection a¹, 61, of equal width and height, or nearly so. These studs or
projections are provided with plain faces, as shown in the above-mentioned Figures,
or with irregular faces, as shown at Figure 7, fitting closely together. To the stud
or projection a' I pin-joint a lever c, which is provided with an opening or recess to
pass over and embrace closely the two studs or projections a¹, b', and lock them
together. The sides of the opening or recess in the lover c at their lower parts, or
the sides of the stud or projection 6' at their upper parts may be bevilled to allow
for play and wear of the parts; and the top of the stud or projection b¹ is slightly
inclined from the front edge b² towards the back edge 6s thereof, and the back is

page_text: slightly inclined or undercut from the top edge bs to the bottom 6 thereof. The
front edge c' of the recess or opening in the lever or the back edge 63 of the
projection 61 may be slightly rounded or bevilled to facilitate the action of the
parts, and the inner front face c', c², of the opening or recess is slightly curved or
undercut for a like purpose.
A modification of my Invention is represented in side elevation at Figures 8 and
9, and in plan at Figure 10, as applied to a pair of sliding sashes. In this case tho
lever c is formed without the recess, but with a central bar c³ in lieu thereof to
work in a space or slot formed in the centre of double or forked studs or
projections a', 6'. The lever c is increased in width at c beyond the bar c³ to
enable it to take a bearing against the backs 63, 64, of the double or forked stud or
projection 61; and the faces of the parts care formed in a similar manner to the
inner front face c', c, of the opening or recoss in the lever c.
At Figures 11 and 12 I have represented two front views; and at Figure 13 I
have represented an edge or plan view of another modified form of my improved
fastener applied to a pair of doors or French windows.
At Figures 14 and 15 I have represented two plans, and at Figure 16 a part
elevation of a slight modification of the last-described arrangement represented at
Figures 11, 12, and 13, in order to render it suitable to be used as a sash fastener.
In this case I fix the plate a to the lower sash, and the plate b to the upper sash;
and I slightly incline the under side of the projection b', as shown at Figure 16, in
order to secure the full closing of the sashes when the locking lever c is in its
locking position. It will be seen that in this last-described arrangement the locking
lever c is caused to move in a horizontal direction instead of in a vertical direction,
as in the other described sash fasteners.
At Figures 17 and 18 I have represented two elevations, and at Figure 19 I have
represented a plan of another modification of my improved fastener applied to the
exterior of a railway carriage or other door.
At Figure 20 I have represented an clevation, and at Figure 21 I have
represented a plan of my improved fastener applied to a carriage door and morticed
therein.
In the arrangement represented at Figures 11, 12, and 13, the projections a¹, b',
are carried by plates a, b, parallel thereto, and the lever c is arranged to stand in a
vertical position when the two parts of the fastening are locked together. In the
arrangement shown at Figures 17, 18, and 19 the lever c is arranged to stand in a
horizontal position, or nearly so, when the two parts of the fastening are locked
together. And in the arrangement shown at Figures 20 and 21 the axis of the
locking lever c passes entirely through the carriage door, and is provided with a
handle ce at each end thereof.
At Figure 22 I have represented an elevation, and at Figure 23 a plan of a
modification of my Invention suitable for locking down the lower sash of a window.
In this case the plate a carrying the stud or projection a' is fixed to the window
frame, and the plate b carrying the stud or projection 6¹ is fixed to the lower sash.
At Figures 24 and 25 I have shown two elevations, and at Figure 26 a plan,
edge, or top view of another slight modification of my Invention. In this case I
form the front plate c' of the locking lever c somewhat extended beyond the other
or locking parts thereof; and I pivot to the centre of such front plate a drop
handle instead of fixing a rigid handle to the axis thereof.
In applying my Invention to ordinary window sashes, I apply a spring a tothe
locking lever c, as shown at Figures 1 and 2, and by dotted lines at Figure 3, to
prevent its accidentally falling forward when the sashes are unlocked.
By the aid of my Invention I am not only enabled to lock the two parts of the
fastener together, but if a door or a window has dropped a short distance, or is not
completely closed, I am enabled to bring the parts up to and secure them in their
required position; and, if desired, the parts of the fastener may be so fixed as to
enable a window to be opened to a certain distance, and there fixed, whilst my
Invention is applicable to other articles than those herein-before referred to; and I

page_text: would further remark that the handle of the lever c may be placed in any direction
in relation to such lever for convenience or otherwise; and the said lever may be
secured in its locking position by means of a bolt or other suitable means, as will
be well understood.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and various modes in
which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,
Firstly. Constructing fasteners of two plates a, b, carrying studs or projec-
tions a¹, 61, in combination with a locking lever c pivotted to one of such projections,
and formed with a slot embracing and locking both of them closely together when
the lever c is in its locking position, the various parts being constructed, arranged,
and operating in manner substantially as herein shown and described.
Secondly. I claim the combination of plates a, b, double or forked studs a', b¹,
and locking lever c, provided with a bar c³ in lieu of a slot, such bar passing
between the two parts of the double or forked studs a', 6', and the enlarged part c
of the lever c locking the studs or projections a¹, b¹, together, all in manner
substantially as herein shown and described.
Thirdly. I claim arranging the studs or projections a¹, b', at right angles to or
parallel with the plates a, b, to enable the fastener to be applied to various purposes,
substantially as herein shown and described, and
Fourthly: I claim constructing a mortice lock or fastening of plates a, b, studs or
projections a, b, and locking lever c, mounted on an axis provided with a handle
at either or both ends thereof, in manner substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 28th day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
NATHAN THOMPSON. (L.S.)