IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOWS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Speirs Simpson, of Battersea Park Road,
London, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOWS."
Sealed the 7th May 1880, and dated the 17th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Speirs Simpson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1879.
WILLIAM SPEIRS SIMPSON, of Battersea Park Road, London, in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOWS."
My Invention relates to a very simple arrangement by means of which windows
are necessarily fastened when closed, and which at the same time secures either the
top or bottom sash when placed in any position from being raised or lowered from
the outside.
I propose to effect these objects by fixing on one of the sides of the sash, parallel
with one of the vertical parts of the window frame, a beveled rack, into which will
gear a pawl or catch set in the window frame, and kept in the teeth of the rack by
any suitable spring. By means of a small handle on the inner face of the window
frame the spring may be pushed back, bringing the pawl or catch out of gear with
the rack when it is desired to raise or lower the sash.
A separate rack and pawl will be fitted to each sash, top and bottom, and it will
be evident that when the pawl is in gear with the rack the sash is firmly secured,
and can only be moved up or down from the inside of the apartment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Speirs Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
May 1880.
WILLIAM SPEIRS SIMPSON, of Battersea Park Road, London, in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOWS."
My Invention relates to a very simple arrangement by means of which windows
are necessarily fastened when closed, and which at the same time secures the
bottom sash when placed in any position from being raised from the outside or the
top sash from being lowered.
I effect these objects by fixing on one of the sides of the sash, parallel with one
of the vertical parts of the window-frame, a bevelled rack or ratchet, into which
gears a pawl or catch set in the window frame, and kept in the teeth of the ratchet
by any suitable spring. By means of a small knob or handle on the inner face of
the window frame the spring may be pushed back, bringing the pawl or catch out
of gear with the ratchet when it is desired to raise or lower the sash.
A separate rack or ratchet and pawl is fitted to each sash, (top and bottom sash,)
and separate catches take into each ratchet.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing,-
Figure 1 represents an elevation of a window fitted with my improvements, the
sashes being shown partly open.
Figure 2 is an end view of the window frame, the sashes being removed, and
Figure 3 is an end view of the sashes.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 show drawn to an enlarged scale the general construction
and arrangement of the spring catches, and
Figure 8 is a front and side view of the ratchet plate.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts where such parts appear in each
of the Figures respectively.
A indicates the window frame.
B, the lower sash.
C, the upper sash.
D, D¹, ratchet plates.
E, catch for lower sash B.
F, stud or knob for releasing same.
G, catch for upper sash C.
H, stud or knob for releasing same.
I, I, (I, I) springs bearing against catches E and G.
Before sash B can be raised it is necessary to push back the stud or knob F,
whereby the spring I of catch E is compressed, and the catch comes out of
ratchet or rack D, leaving this sash free to be moved up and down to any position;
upon releasing the knob F the spring I causes the catch E to take again into one
of the teeth of the ratchet, and the sash B is then again securely fixed against
being raised from the outside.
The upper sash C can only be moved down when by the movement of the
knob H its safety catch G is drawn out of gear with the ratchet D' by the com-
pression of the spring I; when the knob H is released, the spring again places
the catch G in gear with the ratchet D¹, and this sash is securely fastened, so that
it cannot be lowered from the outside.
The teeth of the ratchets D, D', are inclined in opposite directions to suit the
catches E, G.
The catches E and G may be set in the same box, and I prefer to place them in
the centre of the window frame, as shown, but they may be carried in separate
boxes, and be placed on other parts of the window frame.

page_text: Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that I
do not confine myself to the use of the particular form of catch shown on the
Drawing, as such may be varied while retaining the essential characteristic of my
Invention, which I declare to be, and
I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,-
The use of a ratchet and catch arranged to operate, substantially as hereinbefore
described, for the purpose of securing windows, as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Speirs Simpson, have hereunto set
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. S. SIMPSON. (LS.)