IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH SASHES FOR WINDOWS AND OTHER LIGHT FRAMES."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Collins, of Winchester, in the County of
Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH SASHES
FOR WINDOWS AND OTHER LIGHT FRAMES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Collins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1878.
THOMAS HENRY COLLINS, of Winchester, in the County of Hants. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH SASHES FOR WINDOWS AND OTHER LIGHT FRAMES."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the means or operation of cleaning
windows without going outside same, and thereby doing away with the danger
usually attending the cleaning of windows when fitted in sliding sashes in the
ordinary way. For this purpose I mount the sash frames on spindles which are
capable of being revolved on their bearings, the latter being free to slide in a slot or
groove, or slots or grooves, in the frame. I prefer to form these slots in length to
correspond with the distance the sashes are required to travel up or down, the base
of the slot to form a stop for the bearings and spindle of the sliding frame. The
cords are connected to the sliding bearing or bearings, and they pass up over pulley
or pulleys with counterweight, so that the sashes may be suspended or returned in
position as required.
The beading inside is arranged so as to be capable of removal to allow the sashes
when in position to swing, and provision is made for getting at the working parts,
such as the bearings, weights, pulleys, cords, and slots.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Henry Collins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th May 1879.
"IMPROVE-
THOMAS HENRY COLLINS, of Winchester, in the County of Hants.
MENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH SASHES FOR WINDOWS AND OTHER LIGHT FRAMES."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the means or operation of cleaning
windows without going outside same, and thereby doing away with the danger
usually attending the cleaning of windows when fitted in sliding sashes in the
ordinary way.
For this purpose I mount the sash frames on spindles which are capable of being
revolved on their bearings, the latter being free to slide in a slot or groove, or slots
or grooves in the frame. I prefer to form these slots in length to correspond with
the distance the sashes are required to travel up or down the base of the slot to
form a stop for the bearings and spindle of the sliding frame. The cords are
connected to the sliding bearing or bearings and they pass up over pulleys
with counterweights so that the sashes may be suspended or retained in position as
required.
The beading is arranged so as to be capable of removal to allow the sashes when
in position to swing, and provision is made for getting at the working parts, such
as the beadings, weights, pulleys, cords, and slots.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the manner in which the Invention is
carried into effect:-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sash frame fitted according to
my Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of one side of same showing the
lower sash window frame swung open to be cleaned according to my Invention;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the same side showing the upper window sash
frame swung open for cleaning; and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the
line x, y, of Figure 1; Figures 5 and 6 are views in longitudinal section, drawn
on a larger scale than the preceding Figures, of the sliding bearing, and in each case
of a portion of the frame; Figure 7 shows in horizontal section a portion of the
sash and frame shown at Figures 1 and 4 illustrating how the beading may be
locked in position to keep the sash frame steady according to one arrangement;
Figure 8 is a similar view showing the same beadings drawn back to allow the
sash frames to swing.
Figure 9 is a front elevation, and Figure 10 is a horizontal section through the
line x, y, of same showing arrangements for removing the beadings and for getting
at the weights; Figure 11 is an enlarged view in horizontal section of the arrange-
ment shown on the left hand side of Figures 9 and 10; Figure 12 is an enlarged
view in horizontal section of the arrangements shown on the right hand side of
Figures 9 and 10; Figure 13 is a front view of a portion of sash frame with portion
of framework removed to show the interior of another arrangement for withdrawing
the beadings; Figure 14 is a horizontal section of same showing the leading back
and held in that position by pins; and Figure 15 shows the same with the beading
in normal position or when window is closed.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
a, a¹, are the sash frames; b, b, the spindles whereby the frames are revolved;
c, c, are the spindle bearings; d, d, the slots in which the bearings slide; e, e, are
the cords; ff, the pulleys round which the cords pass; g, g, are the weights on
the cords e, e; h, h, are the beadings of the window sashes which must be with-
drawn in order to enable the window sashes to be swung ; several arrangements are
for this purpose shown, as well as for opening and exposing the weights to view for
fitting new cords and for other repairing purposes. At Figure 9 for example the
inner beading (inside the room) formed on the left hand side hinged to the frame
and may be secured thereto by hooks or other convenient fastenings. The middle
beading is made to slip in and out, and is secured in position by means of pin i,

page_text: Figure 11. When required to swing the sash it is only necessary to undo the
fastenings of the inner beadings and turn over the beadings on their hinges; the
inner beadings are thus removed and the weights and boxes at the same time
exposed to view; then take out the pins i and slip the inside beadings flush with
the frame. Sometimes I only hinge the beadings to just above the lower sash
frame.
Another arrangement is shown at Figures 13, 14, and 15, where the beadings are
kept out by springs, and when it is required to swing the windows, the beadings are
pushed back and retained back in position by pins; i, i, are the pins, and j, j, are the
springs; any convenient description of spring may be used. The positions of the
beadings h, h, are regulated by stops, say a fillet of wood h', screwed on the beading
just to the distance the beadings are required to project, the spring or springs
keeping them in position; to get at the inner weights it is only necessary to
unscrew the fillet and remove the beading.
Another arrangement is shown at Figures 7 and 8; here the beadings are locked
in position by the cam shaped lever k, which is operated by a key, so that by
turning the key in one direction the beadings h are projected into the position shown
at Figure 7, and by turning the key in the other direction the beadings are with-
drawn and brought into the position shown at Figure 8; in this way the beadings,
whether out or in, are firmly held in position and are locked, but any other suitable
locking arrangement may be applied if preferred.
Ventilation to a room can be obtained with facility with sashes fitted according
to my Invention by opening or withdrawing the lower beadings and then slightly
swinging the sasli frame, not sufficiently to admit air at bottom, but only at top;
then open or lower the top sash a couple of inches or less; fresh air is by this
means admitted half way up the window, and the foul air expelled at top, and all
without a draught being caused; or of course it may be only necessary to slightly
swing the lower sash and not to open the top at all. The sashes when so opened
are capable of being locked in the positions required.
The operation of cleaning windows fitted with sashes according to my Invention
is most simple and safe; it is only necessary to lower the sash to be cleaned and
raise the other. Next push and keep back the beadings h, h, the window can then be
turned inwards so that the outside thereof can be cleaned from the apartment itself
without any danger whatever; this done the cleaned side is reversed, the sash thrown
up and the other brought down, when the same or a similar operation of turning takes
place. The cords may of course be connected if desired to the top of the sashes, although
the result is not so satisfactory. As a modification however of this arrangement the
cord may be connected according to this Invention to a part of the sash frame
which is hinged to the main sash frame at or about its centre, so that when the
window is swung the portion to which the cord is connected remains with it.
Figure 16 shews sufficient of a sash frame to explain this arrangement; here the
sash frame a is divided as shown and hinged together at a²; when brought together
the sash frame is completed, and the operation is precisely the same as in the
previous arrangements before described.
By my Invention I am enable to swivel both sashes in the lower part of the
frame, which is a great advantage, as the windows can be cleaned from the ground
without ladders, and in many cases generally without steps.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I am aware that many attempts have been
made to open windows by turning same on a pivot, but I lay no claim to such as
my Invention, neither do I claim the employment of grooves in the frames or styles
when taken alone or separately, but I claim as ny Improvements in or connected
with Sashes for Windows and other Light Frames,'
First. The employment of movable and adjustable bearings supporting or carrying
the sashes, said bearings being free to slide up and down in slots or grooves in the
frames, the base of slots forming stops for the sliding bearings, all substantially in

page_text: manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second. The particular arrangements and combinations for adjusting the beadings
of sash frames so as to facilitate the operation of reversing and turning the sashes
sliding and adjustable in slots or grooves, all constructed, arranged, and acting
substantially in manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, together with any mere modification or modifica-
tions thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Henry Collins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
THOMAS HENRY COLLINS. (L.S.)