IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR HANGING AND SUPPORTING WINDOWS, DOORS, SHUTTERS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE MOVEABLE FITTINGS IN HOUSES, VEHICLES, STEAMBOATS, AND OTHER PLACES OR STRUCTURES IN WHICH SUCH FITTINGS ARE USED
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Craig, of No. 15, Serle's Place, Lincoln's
Inn, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR HANGING AND SUPPORTING WINDOWS,
DOORS, SHUTTERS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE MOVEABLE FITTINGS IN HOUSES,
VEHICLES, STEAMBOATS, AND OTHER PLACES OR STRUCTURES IN WHICH SUCH
FITTINGS ARE USED."
Scaled the 22nd May 1869, and dated the 25th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Craig at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th November 1868..
I, THOMAS CRAIG, of No. 15, Serle's Place, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR HANGING AND SUPPORTING
WINDOWS, DOORS, SHUTTERS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE MOVEABLE FITTINGS IN HOUSES,
VEHICLES, STEAMBOATS, AND OTHER PLACES OR STRUCTURES IN WHICH SUCH FITTINGS
ARE USED," to be as follows:-
The improvements consist in cutting a groove in one or both sides
of either the sash or frame of the window or other fittings to any.

page_text: required depth or width, and inserting therein one or more loose or
detached rollers or wheels of india-rubber or any other elastic substance
or compound, of any required dimensions which when the window is
put and fixed in its place are to a certain extent compressed, and form
a kind of flat wedge when at rest capable of maintaining the sash in
any position to which it may be proved. In the process of moving the
sashes up or down the roller or wheel revolves and travels within the
groove a distance proportioned to that traversed by the sash, and
regains its original position when the sash is shut either up or down,
as the case may
be.
To facilitate the Drawing up of the windows when they are of any
considerable weight it is intended to affix cords working in pulleys
inserted in the top of the frames, one for each sash, similar to the
cords in Venetian blinds. This can also be adapted to the windows of
railway carriages or those of any other structure.
For very heavy windows which are also of large size the cords working
in pulleys can be attached to both sashes, so as to move them up and
down simultaneously on the counterbalancing principle, being steadied
and kept in position by the rollers. The improvements can be adapted
to existing windows, doors, shutters, without further alteration than
detaching the cord from the sash and cutting the groove as in a new
window.
The object of this Invention is to supersede all other methods by its
and durability
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said Thomas Craig in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
CRAIG, of No. 15, Serle's Place, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Craig, Her special licence
that I, the said Thomas Craig, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Craig, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR HANGING AND SUPPORTING WINDOWS, DOORS,
SHUTTERS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE MOVEABLE FITTINGS IN HOUSES, VEHICLES,
STEAMBOATS, AND OTHER PLACES OR STRUCTURES IN WHICH SUCH FITTINGS ARE
USED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Craig, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Craig, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The improvements consist in cutting a groove in one or both sides
of either the sash or frame of the window or other fittings to any
required depth or width and inserting therein one or more loose or
detached rollers or wheels of india-rubber or other suitable elastic
substance or compound of any required dimensions, which rollers when
the window sash is in its place in the frame are to a certain extent
compressed; thereby creating sufficient friction to maintain the said
sash in any position to which it may be adjusted, while at the same
time the said rollers are free to roll in either direction to allow the
sash to be easily moved. In raising or lowering the sashes the rollers
or wheels revolve and travel within the groove for a distance
proportioned to that traversed by the sash, and regain their original
position when the sash is shut either up or down, as the case may be.
To facilitate the raising of the windows when they are of any
considerable weight it is intended to affix cords working in pulleys

page_text: inserted in the top of the frames, one for each sash, similar to the cords
of Venetian blinds. These rollers can be adapted to the windows of
railway carriages or of any other structure.
For very heavy windows which are also of large size cords working
over pulleys can be attached to both sashes, so as to move them up t
and down simultaneously, the two sashes counterbalancing each other
while they are steadied and kept in position by the rollers.
My improvements can be adapted to existing windows, doors, and
shutters without further alteration than the detaching of the cord
from the sash, and cutting the groove in the sash or frame as herein-
before described.
The object of this Invention is to supersede by its extreme simplicity,
cheapness, and durability other methods of hanging and supporting
window sashes and other movable fittings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is an interior elevation of a window provided with my
improved means of support. Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of
portions of the said window drawn to an enlarged scale. Like letters
indicate the same parts in all of the Figures.
-A is the window frame, and B, B, are the sashes. The grooves a are
made of suitable depth and width to receive the rollers whose
dimensions will vary according to the size and weight of the sashes to
be supported. The said rollers are formed of moderately hard india-
rubber or other suitable substance, but the same must not be so hard
as to prevent the required flattening of the said rollers. As shewn in
Figure 1, I prefer to employ four of these rollers to each sash of the
window, and they should be placed in the position represented so that
as the sashes are moved up or down each end will be properly supported
in all positions to which it may be adjusted. It is preferable to
arrange the rollers to bear against the edges of the sash, as shown in
the Drawing, but if desired the said rollers may run between the
front or back of the sashes and grooves and one, two, or more of such
rollers may be placed on each side of the sash.
I am aware that india-rubber rollers or pulleys for supporting
windows have been made to turn upon studs or pins fixed to either
the frame or sash and running in contact with one or the other, but

page_text: rollers so arranged will not effect the desired purpose, as they cannot
then be compressed or flattened on both sides and thus bind the sash
in the frame securely while leaving the required freedom to the sash,
whereas in my Invention the rollers are simple circular pieces which
are placed loosely in the guiding grooves to whose depth their diameter
is so proportioned that they are flattened between the sash and frame
to the extent required to support the sash, but not so much as to
prevent its easy adjustment in either direction.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Iuvention,
I wish it understood that I claim a loose roller or number of loose
rollers of india-rubber or other suitable elastic substance or compound,
placed between the sash and frame and fitted to move freely in a groove
or grooves in either the sash or frame, the said roller or rollers being
of such a diameter that they will be compressed or flattened between
the frame and sash, so that the latter while capable of easy adjustment
will yet remain in any desired position, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Craig, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.