Improvements in Apparatus for Holding up or Sustaining Sliding Window Sashes in any Desired Position.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Holding up or Sustaining Sliding
Window Sashes in any Desired Position.
We, CHARLES HIGGIN MAXSTED, of Westholme, Lancaster in the County of
Lancaster, Silk Spinner, and ANTHONY BELL, of 36 Derwent Road, in the same
town, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide apparatus for holding up or sustaining
in any desired position a sliding window sash, the said apparatus being arranged to
admit of the window sash being readily raised and lowered and also of the
automatic adjustment of the apparatus as required through wear and tear or other
causes.
In a groove on each of the vertical outside edges of the window sash (hereinafter
termed the "sash") we arrange a sliding piece preferably of wood of T section
slightly longer than the sash. Near to the inner upper end of each sliding piece is
attached a recessed or hollow sheet metal jaw formed with a projecting part or ear
pointing inwardly. Within a recess in the upper bar of the sash we arrange
horizontally a straight flat rod or spring whose extremities rest against the under-
side of the two projecting parts or ears of the jaws. The said rod or spring when
in position is slightly bent in a downward direction and its tendency is to press the
two sliding pieces outwardly against the side framing (within which the sash slides
up and down) and so to cause the pressure or friction required to sustain the sash
in any desired position. If the sash be raised the rod or spring will give way and
by bending downwardly will thereby contract the distance between its two
extremities thus partially withdrawing its outward pressure upon the sliding pieces.
On the other hand if the lifting pressure be withdrawn or the sash be pressed
downwardly the rod or spring will be free to expand and so to press tightly against
the sliding pieces. In order to prevent the jamming which would otherwise obtain
between the sash and its side framing we form each sliding piece with an opening
or notch and the sash with a stop standing within the notch the relative positions of
the stop and notch determining the amount of upward lift of the sliding pieces
and therefore the amount of expansion to be exercised by the rod or spring.
To compensate for any wear and tear between the sash the sliding pieces and the
side framing we cause the extremities of the rod or spring to rest against the edges
of flat metal tapered pieces or wedges placed point downwards one into each of the
two recessed or hollow sheet metal jaws on the sliding pieces. The edges of the
tapered pieces in contact with the rod or spring are formed with a series of slight
indentations to give the extremities of the rod or spring a better hold thereon. As
before stated the sliding pieces are made somewhat longer than the sash their extra
length projecting above the sash. Thus whenever the sash is shot up to the top
the sliding pieces are pressed downwardly level or flush with the upper edge of the
sash thereby depressing the ends of the rod or spring and shortening the distances
between its two extremities and thus allowing the tapered pieces or wedges to drop
down between the ends of the spring and the back of the jaws and so cause any
slack between the window frame and the sliding pieces to be taken up.
In order that the pressure of the sliding pieces against the side framing of the
window may be distributed as nearly as practicable equally over the entire length
of the sliding pieces from top to bottom we employ a flat heel or slightly projecting
part placed or formed on the back of each sliding piece at a suitable distance above
the point at which the end of the rod or spring presses outwardly upon the sliding

page_text: piece the said heel acting as a fulcrum and causing outward. pressure upon the
lower portion of the sliding piece.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1891.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Holding up or Sustaining Sliding
Window Sashes in any Desired Position.
We, CHARLES HIGGIN MAXSTED, of Westholme, Lancaster in the County of
Lancaster, Silk Spinner, and ANTHONY BELL, of 36 Derwent Road, in the same
town, Ironmonger, 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 has for its object to provide apparatus for holding up or sustaining
in any desired position a sliding window sash, the said apparatus being arranged to
admit of the window sash being readily raised and lowered and also of the
automatic adjustment of the apparatus as required through wear and tear or other
causes.
In a groove on each of the vertical outside edges of the window sash.(hereinafter
termed the "sash") we arrange a sliding piece preferably of wood of T.. section
slightly longer than the sash. Near to the inner upper end of each sliding piece
is attached a recessed or hollow sheet metal jaw formed with a projecting part or
ear pointing inwardly. Within a recess in the upper bar of the sash we arrange
horizontally a straight-flat rod or spring whose extremities rest against the under-
side of the two projecting parts or ears of the jaws. The said rod or spring when in
position is slightly bent in a downward direction and its tendency is to press the two
sliding pieces outwardly against the side framing (within which the sash.slides up
and dwn)and so to cause the pressure or friction required to sustain the sash in any
desired position. If the sash be raised the rod or spring will give way,and by bending,
downwardly will thereby contract the distance between its, two extremities, thus
partially withdrawing its outward pressure upon the sliding pieces. On the other
hand if the lifting pressure be withdrawn, or the sash be pressed downwardly, the
rod or spring will be free to expand and so to press tightly against the sliding
pieces. In order to prevent the jamming which would otherwise obtain.between
the sash and its side framing we form each sliding piece, with, an opening or notch
and the sash with a stop standing within the notch the relative positions, of the
stop and notch determining, the amount of upward lift of the sliding, pieces and
therefore the amount of expansion to be exercised by the rod or spring.
To compensate for any wear and tear between the sash the sliding pieces and the
side framing we cause the extremities of the rod or spring, to rest against the edges
of flat métal tapered pieces or wedges placed point downwards one into each of the
two recessed or hollow sheet metal jaws on, the sliding pieces. The edges of the
tapered pieces in contact with the rod or spring are formed with a series. of slight
indentations to give the extremities of the rod or spring a better hold thereon. As
before stated the sliding pieces are made somewhat longer than, the sash their extra
length projecting above the sash. Thus whenever the sash, is, shot, up. to, the top
the sliding pieces are pressed downwardly. level or flush with the upper edge of the
sash thereby depressing the ends of the rod or spring and shortening the distances
between its two extremities and thus allowing the tapered pieces or wedges, to,drop.
down between the ends of the spring and the back of, the jaws and so, cause any
Black between the window frame and the sliding pieces to be taken up.
In order that the pressure of the sliding pieces against the side framing of the

page_text: window may be distributed as nearly as practicable equally over the entire length
of the sliding pieces from top to bottom we employ a flat heel or slightly projecting
part placed or formed on the back of each sliding piece at a suitable distance above
the point at which the end of the rod or spring presses outwardly upon the sliding
piece the said heel acting as a fulcrum and causing outward pressure upon the
lower portion of the sliding piece.
In the accompanying drawings,
:
Fig. 1, illustrates a sliding window sash (in section) fitted with our improved
holding up or sustaining apparatus as above described.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views drawn to a larger scale shewing the details
and action of the said apparatus (at one side only of the sash the apparatus on the
other side of the sash corresponding therewith as shewn at Fig. 1).
Fig. 6 is a plan view (partly in section) of the apparatus shewn at Figs. 2, 3, 4
and 5.
a is the groove in the side of the sash b within which is arranged the rib of the
Tsliding piece c whose upper end projects somewhat above the top of the sash as
shewn at Figs. 12 3 and 4. d: is the .hollow sheet metal jaw attached to the
sliding piece c and having a projecting part or ear e pointing towards the sash b.
fis the recess in the upper part of the sash within which is arranged the flat spring g
which is straight when originally introduced within, the recess but bent down at each
end (see Fig. 1) so that each of its extremities rests in a notch on the underside of
the ears ee of the jaws d d its tendency being to press outwardly the two sliding
pieces cc against the side framing h. The spring g is held in position centrally
by means of the strip or bar i inserted in the upper part of the recess or hollowed
out part f. is the stop or projection on the sash b against which a corresponding
projection on the sliding piece c comes in contact when the sash is depressed
(see Fig. 2) the said sliding piece being thereby pushed downwardly along with
the sash and thus preventing the spring 9 from pressing against the said sliding
pieces too tightly and so causing the jamming of the sash in its side framing as
hereinbefore mentioned. The stop (although shewn in the drawings in one piece
with the sash) is in practice a separate piece screwed or fastened to the sash in
such manner as to be capable of being adjusted vertically thereon so that the
required amount of expansion and therefore of pressure of the spring 9 on the
sliding pieces c c may be regulated. At Fig. 3 the parts are shewn in the position
which obtains when the sash is raised or lifted the stop j and projection k leaving
each other somewhat as shewn, the raising of the sash tending to bend the ends of
the spring g downwardly thus relieving the pressure of the spring end wise—whilst
the lowering of the sash tends to straighten or expand (as far as allowable by the
relative positions of the stops j and k) the spring g as before stated.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the method whereby wear and tear between the sash b
the sliding pieces cc and the side framing is compensated or taken up. I are flat
tapered pieces or wedges within the hollow sheet metal jaws d d (shewn in section)
placed point downwards as shewn. Fig. 4 shews the relative position of parts
before the wear and tear has commenced the wedge being in its highest position
and the end of the spring g resting against the notch in the jaw d and Fig. 5
shews the altered relative position of parts after wear and tear has taken place and
the wedge has been thereby enabled to drop to its lowest position so that the
spring g rests against its upper or widest part. Fig. 5 also illustrates the altered
position of parts when the sash has been shot up to the top and the upper projecting
extremity of the sliding piece c has met the under side of the top framing and the
sliding piece c has been forced down so as to be flush or level with the top of
the sash b for the purpose hereinbefore stated.
m is the heel behind the sliding piece c which forms the rubbing surface of the
said sliding piece at its upper end against the side framing h and acts as a fulcrum
for causing the lower part of the sliding piece to be pressed against the side framing
as hereinbefore mentioned.
n is a stop formed across the hollow jaw d and o a heel on the lower end of the

page_text: wedge piece for the purpose of preventing the wedge 1 jumping or getting out of
place in the jaw through the jolting or sudden impact of the sash b against the
upper framing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
The use or employment with sliding window sashes of apparatus consisting of
sliding pieces one on each side of the sash the said sliding pieces being acted
upon or distended by the extremities of a horizontally arranged flat spring and
having each a jaw containing a tapered piece for taking up slack the said apparatus
being arranged and operating substantially as hereinabove described for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 5th day of September 1892
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.