AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FASTENING WINDOW SASHES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas William Helliwell, of Brighouse, in the County
of York, Architect, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR FASTENING WINDOW SASHES."
Sealed the 17th April 1877, and dated the 20th October 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas William Helliwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th October 1876.
THOMAS WILLIAM HELLIWELL, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Architect.
"AN IMPROVED Method of AND APPARATUS FOR FASTENING WINDOW SASHES."
This Invention relates to the fasteners of sliding window sashes, the object being
to render such fasteners self acting or otherwise, as desired.
Firstly. Such fasteners may consist of a bolt capable of sliding in a barrel
attached to the lower sash through which it passes, and enters a recess in the upper
sash, or in a small block attached thereto. The bolt is acted upon by a spring which
keeps it in position, the block above mentioned having an incline on the top thereof
which when the window is closed presses the bolt back until it is opposite the hole
or recess into which the spring forces it. By screwing the end of the bolt and a
portion of the hole into which it enters, the two sashes may be drawn together,
whilst by screwing the other end of the bolt and also the barrel the sashes may be
forced apart.
Secondly. I fix a rack or racks into the top sheet, and fix in the lower sheet a bell
crank worked by a spring, one arm of which crank catches a projection of the rack,
and thereby fastens the window when closed or at any height required when partly
opened, according to the length of the rack.
Thirdly. I rebate or chamfer the meeting rails of the sashes the reverse way
to which they are usually rebated or chamfered, and when the sheets are closed
I force the lower sash against the upper one, or visa versa, by means of an eccentric
shaped lever arm or spring, which forces the two rebates or chamfers to lock, and
thereby fastens the window.
Fourthly. I cut a piece out of the parting bead, and fix in its place a metal piece
the same thickness as the parting bead, such piece of metal being any length desired,
and is fixed to a centre pin worked in a plate, and I cause a spring fixed to the upper

page_text: sash or to the said pin or to the plate when the windows are closed or partly closed
to move the said metal, and force one end into the rack fixed into the upper sashes
and the other on to the top of the lower sash, so that when the windows are closed
they are secured, or they may be secured from being opened further than any height
desired by means of the rack.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Thomas William Helliwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
April 1877.
THOMAS WILLIAM HELLIWELL, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Architect.
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FASTENING WINDOW SASHES."
This Invention relates to the fasteners of sliding window sashes, the object being
to render such fasteners self acting or otherwise, as desired.
Firstly. Such fasteners may consist of a bolt capable of sliding in a barrel
attached to the lower sash, through which it passes and enters a recess in the upper
sash, or in a small block attached thereto. The bolt is acted upon by a spring
which keeps it in position, the block above mentioned having an incline on the top
thereof, which when the window is closed presses the bolt back until it is opposite
the hole or recess into which the spring forces it. By screwing the end of the bolt
and a portion of the hole into which it enters, the two sashes may be drawn together,
whilst by screwing the other end of the bolt and also the barrel the sashes may be
forced apart.
Secondly. I fix a rack or racks into the top sheet, and fix in the lower sheet a
bell crank worked by a spring, one arm of which crank catches a projection of the
rack, and thereby fastens the window when closed or at any height required when
partly open, according to the length of the rack.
Thirdly. I rebate or chamfer the meeting rails of the sashes the reverse way to
which they are usually rebated or chamfered, and when the sheets are closed I force
the lower sash against the upper one, or vice versa, by means of an eccentric shaped
lever arm or spring, which forces the two rebates or chamfers to lock, and thereby
fastens the window.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent the first part of my Invention; A is a bolt capable of
sliding in a barrel B attached to the lower sash C. This bolt enters the recess D in
the block E (which is attached to the upper sash), being pressed therein by a spiral
or other spring. The end of the bolt may if desired be screwed as shewn in Fig. 1,
by which means the two sashes may be drawn together, or it may be screwed or
threaded, as shewn in Fig. 2, so that the sashes will be kept apart and rattling of
the windows prevented. The incline G presses the bolt back when the window is
closed, and so renders it self fastening. Modifications of this part of my Invention
are shewn in Figs. 5 and 6. Where the bolt A is cranked to suit the position of
the block or catch E, Fig. 7 shews another modification in which the barrel B
turns on a centre. When the bolt A is withdrawn from the block E the barrel is
turned on its centre, and the bolt held in position until released by the sashes
being drawn apart, when the spring e pushes the barrel into its original position.
ready for action.
The second part of my Invention is shewn in Fig. 3, where H is a rack fixed to
the top sheet, and J a bell-crank lever fixed to the bottom sheet. The nose of the
lever is pressed into the rack by spring a; this fastening secures the window when
closed, or in a partially open position, as illustrated by Drawing.
The third part of my Invention is illustrated by Fig. 4, in which the meeting rails
of the sashes are rebated (as shewn) the reverse way to the ordinary method of

page_text: rebating, and when closed and pressed together by the eccentric K or other means
the rails lock or overlap and cannot be opened until released.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas William Helliwell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
A. B. CROSSLEY,
Wm. Tasker,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
THO³. W. HELLIWELL. (L.S.)