CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR WINDOWS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Andrew, of Hyde, in the County
of Chester, Clerk, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
FASTENINGS FOR WINDOWS."
Scaled the 30th March 1853, and dated the 21st January 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Andrew
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st January 1858.
I, MATTHEW ANDREW, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Clerk, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR WINDOWS " to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a peculiar application of two projections
from one sash or part of a window over a portion of the opposite sash or
part, one of which projections acting as a loop or staple when in the act
of closing the window falls on a projection or inclined plane fixed on
the other sash or part of the window, and thus brings the two parts of
the window into close contact with each other. The other projection
acting as a bolt under a catch fixed on the opposite sash or part of the

page_text: window immediately on the window being closed effectually pre-
vents the opening of the window until this projection is freed from the
above catch. The two projections are so constructed as to pass and re-
pass the opposite sash or part of the window without obstructing the
movement of either sash or part of the window in opening or closing the
same.
I desire to claim the bringing together and keeping in close contact
the two parts or sashes of windows by self-acting means, that is, without
the use of the hand, except for the purpose of closing.the.window, and
also of the projection from one part of a window over a portion of the
other part, so constructed as to pass and repass the prominent portions of
the opposite part without obstructing the movement of either part of
the window in opening and closing the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Matthew Andrew in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st July 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
MATTHEW ANDREW, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Clerk, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Matthew Andrew, Her especial license that I, the
said Matthew Andrew, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as 1, the said Matthew Andrew, my executors, administrators,
or 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, excrcise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS
FOR WINDOWS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Matthew Andrew, by an instrument in writing under my band and seal,

page_text: should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 Matthew Andrew, do hereby le-
clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner it is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:
My Invention of improvements in fastenings for windows relate
principally for fastenings for what are commonly called " sash windows,"
constructed with one, two, or more "sliding sashes," two being the
ordinary number. My Invention consists in the application to such
windows of certain self-acting mechanical apparatus, which upon the
closing of the said window draws the two sashes of the same into close.
contact, and effectually secures them, thereby simultaneously preventing
draft and shaking of the sashes, and also keeping the same closed until.
released by hand. The said self-acting mechanical apparatus may be
constructed in a variety of forms, but that which I consider the most
simple and economical is arranged as follows:-One part or sash of the
window is furnished with an inclined plane or projection, over which an
inclined loop or staple falls upon the closing of the window, the action
of these two inclined planes bringing the two sashes of the window into
close contact. The staple is provided with a small spring bolt that
shoots into a catch or notch formed upon or in the inclined projection.
thus securing the two sashes until the said bolt is withdrawn by hand, or
(if preferred) the spring bolt may be attached to the inclined projection.
and the catch or notch be in or upon the staple. This is all the appa-
ratus that is necessary, provided that the sashes have no transverse sash
bars or other similar transverse projection. Where the reverse is the
case it is necessary that the projecting staple and its appendages should
be mounted upon slides, being so constructed and acted upon by a spring
as to slide back out of the way upon passing any of these said sash bars
or projections, but return to its original position immediately after
having passed the same. In order more clearly to illustrate the method
of carrying my Invention into practical effect I have annexed here-

page_text: unto a Sheet of Drawings representing three separate modifications of
my Invention, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following description thereof.
The Drawings are made full size; Fig. 1, and 2, represent side view
and section of what I consider the most simple arrangement of the
apparatus for windows having no transverse sash bars or other similar
transverse projections. a, a, represents in section the lower frame or
bar of the upper sash of a window, atid b, b, is a section of the upper
franc or bar of the lower sash of the same. Upon the frame or bar a,
the inclined plane or projection c, is fixed by screws or otherwise. Upon
the frame or bar b, the inclified loop or staple d, is also fixed by screws
or otherwise. This inclined loop or staple d, projects over the inclined
plane c, (see Fig. 1, which represents the sash partly open.) Upon
referring to the sectional view, Fig. 2, which represents the sash closed,
it will be seen that the staple d, is furnished with a box e, containing
a bolt f, which is pressed forward by means of a spring g, but which may
be withdrawn by means of the projecting finger piece h. The inclined
projection is also furnished with a notch, into which the bolt f, pro-
jects. Upon closing the window the action of the two inclined planes
c, and d, draws the sashes into close contact with each other, the spring
bolt f, shooting into the recess i, and permanently retaining them in that
position until released by hand. When it is desired to open the window
it is merely necessary to withdraw the small bolt f, and it will be found
that the upper sash can then be lowered or the lower sash raised.
Figs. 3, and 4, represent similar views of a modification of the above.
The same description and letters of reference will answer for the prin-
cipal parts of this arrangement as for the preceding. It will be seen,
however, that the projecting staple or loop d, is not in this instance a
fixture, but is capable of moving in slides e, (see also Fig. 5, which is a
front elevation of the apparatus, being pressed forward by the same
spring 9, which acts upon the bolt f. This arrangenient and the double
incline or curved form of the face of the said staple cause it to be moved
backward by any transverse projection with which it may meet, and to
return into its original position immediately after passing the same.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, represent similar views of another modification of my

page_text: Invention, the principal feature in which consists in a spring catch f,
which is substituted for the bolt, and which projects over the top of the
staple d, when the window is closed.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark, in conclusion, that I desire to claim as my Invention the
bringing together and keeping in close contact of the two parts or sashes
of windows, and securing the same by self-acting means or apparatus,
as above described and shewn, that is, without the use of the hand,
except for the purpose of closing the window.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Andrew, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year
of our One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
MATT. ANDREW. (L.S.)