IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND FASTENING CERTAIN KINDS OF WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Skerrett, of 6, Whitby Road, Sparkbrook, near
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND
FASTENING CERTAIN KINDS OF WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Skerrett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1881.
HENRY SKERRETT, of 6, Whitby Road, Sparkbrook, near Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND FASTENING CERTAIN. KINDS OF WINDOWS AND
SKYLIGHTS."
My Invention has reference to the opening, closing, and fastening of windows
and skylights hung or centerd upon pivots, situated preferably at the bottom or
lower part thereof, and turning in a vertical plane about the said pivots; but my
Invention is also applicable to windows or skylights pivoted either at the upper
or at the middle part of the said windows or skylights.
I will describe my Invention in connection with a window pivoted or turning
upon centers at the bottom or lower part thereof.
Situated at the top of the window frame is affixed a metal plate having knuckles
upon its face; between these knuckles the end of a quadrant bar is jointed. Upon
the upper part of the window sash a bracket is situated carrying an upright plate
having a forked or divided top; the said plate has a rectangular hole through
which the quadrant bar passes. Between the forked terminal part of the upright
described, and at a point a little above the top of the quadrant bar, a cranked lever
is jointed, the cranked or short arm turning downwards and taking into notches
formed on the upper edge of the quadrant bar; the longer end of the jointed lever
hangs vertically below the said quadrant bar; a coiled spring connects the long arm
of the lever described to the plate of the bracket, which is affixed to the window

page_text: sash. A cord is also connected to the end of the depending arm of the lever for
raising the short cranked arm out of the notches in the quadrant bar, and for
pulling open the window; the other end of the cord passes over a pulley and is
connected to the bracket on the sash for closing the window, so that to open the
window the long arm of the cranked lever is pulled by the cord from the direction
of the window, turning the said lever upon its joint or centre, elongating the spring,
and raising the short cranked arm out of the notch on the upper edge of the
quadrant bar, and at the same time pulling forward the window to the desired
position. On loosing the cord the coiled spring draws the long lever into its
normal position, and the end of the cranked arm falls into another notch on the
bar, and so affixes the window in that position. To close the window the cord
connected to the window or bracket is pulled at the same time as the short arm of
the lever is raised from out of the notch in the bar.
Instead of a coiled spring as described, a weight may be used.
Or the lever may be jointed below the quadrant bar; the short arm of the lever
takes into the end of a bolt sliding vertically in the bracket; the said bolt has a
rectangular opening in it through which the quadrant bar passes; the inner upper
edge of the said slot falls into the notches in the quadrant bar, so that on turning
the lever upon its pin or centre from the window, the short arm raises the bolt out
of a notch in the upper edge of the quadrant bar.
Or instead of the lever moving in the direction, as before described, it may move
in a direction at right angles thereto, that is to say, the axis of the lever is
coincident with the direction of the quadrant bar, and is situated under the said
bar, so that on pulling the long end of the lever it moves the short end of the said
lever laterally out of a notch on the under side of the quadrant bar, and allows the
bracket attached to the window to slide upon the quadrant bar so as to open or
close the window. On liberating the end of the lever its weighted end causes the.
short arm to fall laterally into a notch on the underside of the bar when it comes
opposite the said notch, and so affixes the window in that position.
Holes in the face of the bar may be substituted for the notches described.
The last described arrangement may be modified by jointing a short arm with a
hooked end to move at right angles to and in front of the face of the quadrant bar, "
and pivoting a long depending lever above the said bar, so that by pulling the
lever forward it acts upon the tail end of the short lever, and raises its hooked
end out of a notch or hole in the face of the quadrant bar described.
My Invention consists also in dispensing with the use of a separate lever or bolt,
for fastening and unfastening the window from the quadrant bar.
The bracket attached to the window sash has in its upper part a rectangular slot
through which the quadrant bar passes; a coiled or other spring is affixed to the
said bracket, the free end of which spring presses upon the under edge of the
quadrant bar, and forces the said bar upwards against the upper inner edge of
the rectangular slot described; the said upper inner edge forms the stop which falls
into either of the notches on the upper edge of the quadrant bar. In order to open
or close the window the end of the jointed quadrant bar is depressed, compressing
the spring on its lower edge, and at the same time withdrawing the notch on its
upper edge from off the stop on the upper part of the rectangular slot in the
bracket; the window is now free to move on the bar described, and by pulling one
or other of the cords attached to the bracket or window, the window can be either
opened or closed, as desired. The bar as before described may be raised by the
intervention of a lever acting between the bar and the spring or weight, as
described.
My Invention consists further in affixing the window to be opened or closed in
any desired position upon the quadrant bar without notches on the said bar.
A depending lever is jointed a little above the quadrant bar and hanging
vertically some distance below it; the upper part of the hanging lever has around
its joint or centre a cam or eccentric, which when the lever is in a vertical position

page_text: grips the edge of the quadrant bar and holds it in that position; the bottom edge
of the quadrant bar rests upon the bracket; the gripping of the cam or eccentric is
assisted by a spring or weight, so that on pulling the end of the lever outwards
into an inclined position, the grip on the cam or eccentric is taken from off the top
of the bar, and so allowing the bracket attached to the window to slide on the
before described bar. On loosing the lever it returns to its normal position,
gripping the quadrant bar between the cam and the bracket, and holds the window
on the bar in that position.
The lever as last described may have two jointed pressing plates, one below and
the other above the edges of the bar to grip both at top and bottom of the said bar
when the lever is in its normal or nearly vertical position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Skerett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st July
1881.
HENRY SKERRETT, of 6, Whitby Road, Sparkbrook, near Birmingham, in the
APPARATUS
County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND FASTENING CERTAIN KINDS OF WINDOWS AND
SKYLIGHTS."
My Invention has reference to the opening, closing, and fastening of windows
and skylights hung or centered upon pivots, situated preferably at the bottom or
lower part thereof, and turning in a vertical plane about the said pivots; but my
Invention is also applicable to windows and skylights pivoted either at the upper
or at the middle part of the said windows and skylights.
I will describe my Invention principally in connection with a window pivoted
or turning upon centres at the bottom or lower part thereof.
At the top of the window frame is affixed a metal plate having knuckles upon
its face, between which knuckles the end of a quadrant bar is jointed.
Upon the upper part of the window sash a bracket is situated carrying an
upright plate having a forked or divided top, in which said divided part or top the
quadrant bar passes.
.
Between the terminal forked or divided upright described a depending lever is
jointed a little above the quadrant bar, and hanging vertically some distance below
it. The upper part of the hanging lever has about its joint or centre a cam or
excentric, which when the lever is in a nearly vertical position grips the edge of
the quadrant bar; the bottom edge of the quadrant bar rests upon the bracket:
The gripping action of the cam or excentric is assisted by a spring or weight.
On pulling the end of the lever from the window into an inclined position the grip
of the cam or eccentric is taken from off the top of the quadrant bar, thereby
allowing the bracket attached to the window to slide on the quadrant bar. On

page_text: loosing the lever it returns to its normal position, gripping the quadrant bar
between the cam and the bracket, and holding the window on the bar in the
gripped position.
The lever last described may have two jointed pressing plates, one below and
the other above the edges of the bar, to grip both at top and bottom of the said bar
when the lever is in its normal or nearly vertical position.
Or the depending lever may be jointed below a notched quadrant bar, the short
arm of the lever taking into the end of a bolt sliding vertically in the bracket.
The said bolt has a rectangular slot or opening in it, through which the quadrant
bar passes.
The inner upper edge of the said slot falls into notches on the
quadrant bar, so that on turning the long arm of the lever upon its pin or centre
from the window the short arm raises the bolt out of a notch in the upper edge of
the quadrant bar.
Or instead of the lever moving in a direction parallel to the quadrant bar it
may move in a direction at right angles thereto, that is to say, the axis of the lever
is coincident with the direction of the quadrant bar, and is situated under the said
bar, so that on pulling the long end of the lever it moves the short end of the said
lever laterally out of a notch on the underside of the quadrant bar, and allows
the bracket attached to the window to slide upon the quadrant bar so as to open
or close the window. On liberating the end of the lever its weighted end causes
the short arm to fall laterally into a notch on the underside of the bar, when it
comes opposite the said notch and affixes the window in that position.
Holes in the face of the bar may be substituted for the notches described.
The last described arrangement may be modified by jointing a short arm with a
hooked end to move at right angles to and in front of the face of the quadrant bar,
and pivotting a long depending lever above the said bar, so that by pulling the
lever forward it acts upon the tail end of the short lever and raises its hooked end
out of a notch or hole in the face of the quadrant bar described.
My Invention consists also in dispensing with the use of a separate lever or bolt
for fastening the window to, and unfastening it from, the quadrant bar.
The bracket attached to the window sash has in its upper part a rectangular slot
through which the quadrant bar passes; a coiled or other spring is affixed on the
said bracket, the free end of which spring presses upon the under edge of the
quadrant bar, and forces the said bar upwards against the upper inner edge of
the rectangular slot described; the said upper inner edge forms the stop which falls
into any one of the notches on the upper edge of the quadrant bar. In order to
open or close the window the end of the jointed quadrant bar is depressed, com-
pressing the spring on its lower edge, and at the same time withdrawing the notch
on its upper edge from off the stop on the upper part of the rectangular slot in the
bracket; the window is now free to move on the bar described, and by pulling one
or other of the cords attached to the bracket or window, the window can be either
open or closed as desired.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, Figure 2 in front elevation, and Figure 3
in plan apparatus for opening, closing, and fastening windows and skylights, con-
structed according to the first described part of my Invention; Figure 4 represents
a side elevation partly in section of the apparatus, with the gripping parts in their
non-acting positions, and the window ready to be opened; and Figure 5 represents
the same with the window partly opened and the gripping parts in their acting
positions.
The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
a is the frame of the window, and 6 the window sash, jointed at its bottom end
to the said frame; c is the plain or unnotched quadrant bar jointed to the window
frame a; d is the bracket fixed to the top of the window sash b, and supporting
the opening, closing, and fastening mechanism.

page_text: The bracket d carries a forked or divided upright e between which the quadrant
bar c passes; fis the depending lever jointed at fa to the upper part of the forked
upright e, a portion of the said depending lever being situated between the said
forked upright. The upper part of the depending lever f is forked and embraces
the quadrant bar c in the manner best seen in Figure 2. The head of the depending
lever carries a cam or eccentric g arranged about the centre or axis f³ on
which the said lever turns. The said head of the lever is also furnished with a
weight which tends to preserve it in its acting or gripping position. An extension
of the axis f of the depending lever f carries a pulley and the bearing of the
jointed quadrant bar c also carries a pulley k.
The free end of the depending
lever has a cross bar f³ with holes near its ends; 1, 12, is the cord by which the
depending lever f is moved into its releasing or non-acting position, and by.
which the sash b is opened and closed. One end of the cord is connected to one
end of the cross bar f³ of the depending lever f. The cord after making a loop of
the required length passes through the eye at the other end of the bar f³, over the
pulley on the depending lever, and over the pulley k on the fixed bearing of the
quadrant bar c, and is fastened to the bracket & on the window sash.
The action of the parts is as follows:-When the depending lever f is in its
normal position it takes the nearly vertical position represented in Figures 1 and 2
by the action of the weight h, and the cam or eccentric g on the said lever bears
forcibly upon the upper edge of the quadrant bar c and presses the latter down,
and causes it to be gripped securely between the said cam or eccentric, and the
upper face of the bracket d, thereby holding the window sash b in its closed position.
In order to open the sash the side of the looped cord 1, 2 is pulled in the direction
of the arrow, Figure 1, so as to lift the depending lever into the inclined position
represented in Figure 4. The acting part or "rise" of the cam or eccentric g is
thereby lifted from the upper edge of the quadrant bar c, and the window sash is
released from the said bar, and may be opened by further pulling the side of the
looped cord as represented in Figure 5.
During the opening of the window sash the forked bracket d, e, travels upon the
quadrant bar c, and the depending lever is maintained in the position, Figure 4, the
other side 2 of the looped cord running freely over its pulley, as shown in Figure 5.
As soon as the window sash has been opened to the required extent the side of
the cord is loosed when the gripping mechanism again takes the position repre-
sented in Figure 5, that is, the depending lever takes a nearly vertical position,
causing its cam or excentric g to again bear upon the quadrant bar c and grip it
between itself and the bracket d, so as thereby to hold the window on the said bar
in the position to which the said window has been brought. The gripping action
of the cam or eccentric g upon the bar c is increased by the weight of the window
sash, tending to force it along the bar, the frictional contact of the said bar c causing.
the part of the cam of greater radius to be drawn in the direction of the arrow so
as thereby to increase its gripping action. In order to close or adjust the position
of the window sash the side of the looped cord is raised, as described with respect
to the side l, so as to remove the grip of the lever from off the bar c, when by
pulling the side of the loop the sash may be partly or fully closed, the loosing of
the cord putting the gripping mechanism into action in the manner before described
so as to fix the window on the bar c in the position to which it has been brought.
Thus the window is affixed in any desired position on the quadrant bar without the
use of notches on the said bar.
In order to fix the window more securely in its closed position, a concavity or
depression may be made near the joint end of the quadrant bar c, as shown at m,
Figure 6, into which concavity m the gripping cam or excentric g drops when the
window sash reaches its closed position.
For the purpose of increasing the gripping surface of the cam its sides may be
extended downwards so as to embrace a portion of the sides of the quadrant bar c,
as well as its top edge. This modification is represented in Figure 7, where the

page_text: extended sides of the gripping cam are marked g², those parts of the sides of the
quadrant bar c against which the cam bears being bevilled.
In place of the weight h a spring situated between the free end of the lever f
and the bracket d may be used, but I prefer to use a weight, as shown in the
Drawings.
Figure 8 represents another arrangement of my Invention, in which two jointed
pressing plates are used instead of the cam or eccentric g; fis the depending lever
weighted at its upper part and turning on the centre f², and n, n, are the jointed
pressing plates on the upper arm of the said lever and situated between the upper
and lower edges of the quadrant bar c. When the lever f is pulled in the direction
of the arrow the acting faces of the gripping plates n, n, are slightly removed from
the upper and lower edges of the bar c, and the lever is free to move upon the said
bar, and the window may be opened, closed, and adjusted by operating the cords 1, 12,
as before described. When the lever f is allowed to take its normal position the
pressing plates n, n, grip the bar c forcibly between them and hold the window on
the said bar.
The gripping mechanism may be carried by the window frame and be made to
operate on the underside of the quadrant bar fixed to the window sash.
This modification of my Invention applied to a sash jointed at its upper end is
represented in side elevation in Figure 9 and partly in section in Figure 10, the said
sash closing by its own weight.
In this arrangement the cam of the depending lever acts on the under edge of the
quadrant bar.
p is the quadrant bar fixed to the window sash b, and is the depending lever
carrying the cam or excentric r. The bracket carrying the said lever and the eye s
through which the quadrant bar p works is fixed to the window frame a.
A single
cord t is used instead of a double or looped cord. The end of the cord t is fastened
to the end of the quadrant bar p, as represented, and is passed over the pulley and
through an eye on the lever q. When the lever q is in its normal position its
cam raises the bar p and grips it between itself and the top of the eye 8, as
represented in Figure 10. By pulling the cord t in the direction of the arrow, the
grip of the cam r on the bar p is relaxed, when the sash may be fully opened by
pulling in the cord t, or closed by paying out the said cord t.
The cord t may pass over a pulley on the free end of the quadrant bar and be
fastened to the bracket. Or the cam r may grip the upper edge of the quadrant bar
instead of the lower edge, as represented.
Instead of a plain quadrant bar as last described a notched quadrant bar may be
used, as shewn at Figure 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
pl is the notched quadrant bar; q₁ is the jointed depending lever; q² is the
short arm of the said lever taking into notches on the quadrant bar; q³ is the
lever stop, and t' is a single cord for opening and closing the window; one end is
connected to the bracket carrying the jointed lever and passes over a pulley on the
end of the quadrant bar.
Figure 11 represents in section my arrangement in which a notched quadrant
bar is used in combination with a sliding bolt worked by a lever jointed below the
said quadrant bar.
u is the notched quadrant bar jointed to the window frame a; b is the sash
carrying the fastening mechanism; vis the bolt sliding vertically in the bracket
on the sash b. In the said bolt is an oblong opening 2 through which the
quadrant bar u passes; y is the lever turning on the centre y² and pressed into its
normal position by the coiled spring y³. The short upper cranked arın of the
lever y takes into a hole in the bottom of the sliding bolt v. When the parts are
in the positions represented, the inner upper edge of the slot in the bolt v falls
into the notch in the quadrant bar u, opposite to which it has been brought, and
fixes the position of the sash. By pulling the lever y in the direction of the arrow,
it lifts the bolt v out of the notch in which it was engaged, and the sash may be

page_text: opened, closed, or adjusted by acting upon the looped cord 1, 2, in the way before
described with respect to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Figure 12 represents an arrangement in which the bolt engages with notches in
the underedge of the quadrant bar; v is the sliding bolt raised into its fixing
position by the weighted lever z, and depressed so as to withdraw it from the
notch in the quadrant bar u by moving the lower arm of the lever in the direction
of the arrow, as will be understood by an examination of the Drawing.
Figures 13, 14, and 15 represent my arrangement in which the weighted lever
has a side motion, or, moves in a plane at right angles to the notched quadrant
bar.
1 is the weighted lever turning on the centre 1ª.
When the lever is in its normal position, as represented in Figures 13 and 14,
its upper short arm crosses the lower edge of the quadrant bar u and enters one of
the notches in the said bar, as represented. By pulling the long arm of the lever 1
its short arm is moved laterally from out the notch in the quadrant bar u, and
the sash is released and may be opened or closed.
Holes in the face of the bar u may be used instead of notches for the lever 1 to
engage with.
Figure 16 represents in side elevation partly in section, and Figure 17 in section,
my arrangement in which a short lever at the face of the quadrant bar is worked
by a depending weighted lever. In the said Figures 16 and 17, the quadrant bar u
has holes in its face in which the hooked end i of the nearly horizontal lever i, i²,
engages.
The lever is situated at the face of the quadrant bar u; k is the long depending
weighted lever crossing the fastening lever i, 22, on the outside thereof, and turning
on the centre ². The two levers i, 3, and k are carried by the bracket on the
sash b, the said bracket having a fork between which the bar u works. By
turning aside the depending lever k in the direction of the arrow, it acts upon the
tail end of the fastening lever i, 2, and withdraws its hooked end i from the
hole in the quadrant bar u. As the lever k returns to its normal position, it acts
upon the fastening lever i, 2, and presses its hooked end i into the hole in the
quadrant bar, as represented in the Drawing.
Figure 18 represents ny arrangement in which a separate bolt and lever for
working it are dispensed with.
The bracket m on the window sash has a rectangular slot n in it through which
the notched quadrant bar u passes, and the said bracket carries a seat for the coiled
spring p, the said spring acting on the underedge of the quadrant bar u, and
forcing the said bar upwards so as to cause one of its notches to engage with the
upper inner edge of the slot of the bracket, which constitutes a stop n² as
represented. The quadrant bar u is depressed to release its notch from the stop n²,
and the sash opened or closed by the arrangement represented of the looped cord
1, 12. One end of the cord after passing over the double pulley q on the free end
of the quadrant bar u is fastened to the bracket m on the sash. The other end
of the cord passes over the double pulley q and over the pulleys & and t, and is
fastened to the upper side of the bracket in. By pulling down either of the.cords
or , the notch in the quadrant bar u is disengaged from the stop n², and by
drawing in either the cord / or the cord ², the sash may be closed or opened, the
other cord being at same time payed out.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish to be understood that I claim as my Invention of
"Improvements in Apparatus for Opening, Closing, and Fastening certain Kinds
of Windows and Skylights,"-
Firstly. The construction and combination of the parts of the said apparatus
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the combination with a plain or unnotched
quadrant bar of a depending lever actuated by a weight or spring, the said
depending lever having about its joint or axis a cam or excentric, between which

page_text: cam or excentric and the bracket on the window or skylight sash the quadrant bar
is gripped, the releasing of the depending gripping lever and the opening or closing
of the window or skylight sash being effected by a looped cord or by two separate
cords connected with the said lever and the bracket on the window or skylight
sash, the several parts being combined and operating substantially as described
and illustrated.
Secondly. The modifications described and illustrated in Figures 9, 10, and 10A
of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the combination with a plain or
notched quadrant bar (attached to the window sash) of a depending lever jointed
on a fixed bracket attached to the window frame, and carrying about its joint or
centre a cam, excentric, or short arm, which said cam or eccentric grips between
itself and the bracket the plain edge of an unnotched quadrant bar; or the short
arm takes into notches on notched quadrant bar, the opening and closing of the
window being effected by a single cord, the several parts being combined and
operating substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The combination of a weighted or spring depending lever with jointed
gripping plates for gripping the opposite edges of the plain quadrant bar, as
herein before described and illustrated in Figure 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination of the sliding bolt worked by a lever with a notched
quadrant bar, as-herein before described and illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of
the accompanying Drawings.
.
Fifthly. The lever arrangement herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 13, 14, and 15 for fastening the sash to and releasing it from the quadrant
bar, either notched on its edge or having holes in its face.
Sixthly. The double or crossing lever arrangement herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying Drawings for the same
purpose.
Lastly. The arrangement or combination of the parts herein before described
and illustrated in Figure 18 of the accompanying Drawings for fastening the sash
to and releasing it from the notched quadrant bar, and for opening and closing the
sash.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Skerrett, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundaad and richtu
Witness,
SAMUEL JACOBS,
Birmingham.
HENRY SKERRETT. (L.S.)