Improvements in Sash-fasteners.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
Improvements in Sash-fasteners.
We, FRANK BOGART TOWNSEND, and HORACE RANDALL WHEELER, both of
Penn Yan, in the County of Yates, and State of New York, United States of
America, Gentlemen, 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:-
This invention relates to an improvement in sash-fasteners and has for its object
to simplify and improve the construction of devices of the character referred to,
with a view to producing one which may be applied with greater ease and facility
to a window sash, which will operate with greater freedom and reliability and in
which the clamping finger levers will yield longitudinally to compensate for any
bend or deflection in the supporting rod in connection with which they co-operate.
A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient lock for
engaging the clamping finger levers and holding the same inoperative when
required. The invention also has other objects and advantages which will appear
in the course of the subjoined description.
The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and
arrangement of parts whereby advantages in point of simplicity and efficiency are
attained, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings and finally
embodied in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a sufficient portion of a window sash and casing
to illustrate the application of the present improvements thereto.
in
Fig. 2 is an inside end elevation of the sash fastener showing the locking plate
engagement with the finger grip levers.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same with the adjacent casing plate removed.
Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the inner casing plate.
Fig. 5 is a similar view of the outer casing plate.
Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the locking plate.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the swinging rod support and the retaining
plate by which said rod is secured between the beads of the window casing.
Similar numerals of reference desiguate corresponding parts in the several
figures of the drawings.
Referring to the drawings, designates a pendent supporting rod which is
disposed between the beads of the window casing at one side and is provided at its
upper extremity with an inwardly projecting stud which passes through a perforated
retaining plate 2, secured to the window casing so as to be flush with the inner
surface thereof. This stud is headed upon the inside of the retaining plate 2,
which prevents the rod 1 from escaping and at the same time permits said rod to
swing forward upon the removal of the front bead or strip of the casing for a
purpose that will hereinafter appear. The sash fastener proper comprises a metal
casing which is seated in a mortise cut in the inner adjacent face of that side of
the window sash next to the side of the casing to which the rod 1 is secured, and
within said casing is pivotally mounted a pair of finger levers 3 which are perforated
at their outer ends to permit the passage of the supporting rod 1 and project at
their inner ends sufficiently inside of the sash rail to admit of the same being grasped
by the fingers and manipulated for throwing the outer ends thereof out of engage-
ment with said rod. These fingers are pivotally mounted within the rear member 4
D

page_text: of the casing; the latter being formed from a single sheet of metal blank comprising
the rear plate proper of the casing, and an oppositely disposed pair of integral
flanges 5, projecting forwardly therefrom at right angles. 6 desiguates a
forwardly-projecting cross flange which is formed by cutting the central
portion of the blank and bending the same forward at right angles, said
Hange extending vertically across between the flanges 5 and being formed
with a pair of horizontal slots 7 in which the finger levers 3 are received
and pivotally supported. By means of this construction it will be seen that
the finger levers are adapted to inove longitudinally and accommodate them-
selves to any bends or deflections in the suppporting rod 1, at the same time
admitting also of a slight variation in the location of said rod. Inside of the
flange 6 the finger levers are formed with aligning perforations for the reception of
a pin 8 which passes through both and is headed at each extremity to prevent its
escape. A spiral spring 9 is disposed around the pin 8 between the levers 3 and
serves by its tension to normally press the inner ends thereof apart and force the
outer perforated ends thereof into engagement with the supporting rod. By means
of this construction the finger levers even when removed from the casing are held
together and the spring prevented from escaping and becoming lost. 10 designates
a locking plate which constitutes one of the most important points of the present
improvement. This plate is formed from a single piece of sheet metal and provided
in the process of manufacture with cud trunnions 11, which engage perforations in
the flanges 5 of the rear casing plate close up to the rear wall thereof. The
plate 10 is rocked upon these trunnions by means of an outwardly projecting
finger 12 having a pendent stop 12, for limiting the inward throw of the plate and
the latter is further provided with a pair of lugs or catches 13 adapted to engage
with the finger levers when rocked forward and spaced apart a distance which will
adapt them to hold the inner ends of the levers 3 sufficiently near together to
throw the outer ends of said levers out of engagement with the supporting rod.
This locking plate may be manipulated with perfect ease, is reliable in action an!
will be found very useful and convenient when it is desired to remove a window
sash from the casing or where counter-balance weights are employed. The front
casing plate 14 is perforated in alignment with a corresponding perforation in the
inner casing plate, through which is passed a retaining screw which serves to hold
the entire fastener in place. This plate is also provided with inwardly-projecting
spurs 16 which are adapted to rest between the Hanges 5 of the inner plate and is
further provided with a centrally located integral extension 17 which projects at
right angles therefrom across the inner end of the casing, and enters an aperture 18
in the inner casing plate. This extension 17 lies between the finger levers 3 and
serves as a support for said levers in the act of lifting the window sash, thus
adding materially to the strength and durability of the fastening device as a
whole.
From the foregoing description it will be apparent that by pressing the finger
levers towards each other, they will be disengaged from the supporting rod 1, thus
allowing the sash to be lifted or lowered and retained at any desired elevation upon
releasing said fingers, the spiral spring interposed between said levers causing the
perforated outer ends thereof to grip the supporting bar in a manner that will be
readily understood. By reason of the particular construction of the casing it will
be seen that the same may be seated entirely within a mortise in the front face of
the window sash, and by reason of said casing being flush therewith, it is practicable
to apply the securing device to either the upper or lower sash, there being uo
projection to interfere with the sashes passing each other. In order to accommodate
the supporting rod 1, the edge of the window sash is vertically grooved and the
perforated ends of the finger levers are arranged in the plane of said groove in the
manner illustrated. By mounting the finger levers in the casing as described,
the same are capable of longitudinal movement and are adapted thereby to adjust
themselves to any crooks or bends in the supporting rod. When it is desired to
remove a window sash for any purpose it will be apparent that after the beading

page_text: has been taken out in the usual manner, the sash may be swung outwardly, this
being permitted by the pivotal connection of the supporting rod 1 with the window
casing. It is now only necessary to manipulate the finger levers when the sash
may be slid off the rod 1. The device will thus be seen to possess numerous
advantages over articles of a similar character, heretofore devised.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An improved sash fastener comprising a suitable casing, a cross flange or web
disposed within the same and provided with transverse slots or notches a pair of
finger levers extending through and slidably mounted and fulcrumed in said slots.
or notches and having their outer ends perforated to engage a supporting rod, a
pin passing through aligning perforations in said levers and headed at its
extremities, and a spiral spring surrounding said pin and interposed between
said levers, all combined and arranged, substantially as and for the purpose-
specified.
2. In a sash fastener, a suitable casing, a pair of levers fulcrumed therein and
perforated to engage a supporting rod, a spring for holding said levers in engage-
ment with the supporting rod, and a locking plate pivotally mounted within the
casing at or near one end thereof and provided with shoulders or catches for
engaging said levers and holding the same out of engagement with the supporting
rod, the same being combined and arranged substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of June 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.