Improvements in Window Frames and Sashes, and Fittings therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Complete Cannif
Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1894
La
4005
IDIONAL DIBUITIVATION.
Improvements in Window Frames and Sashes, and Fittings therefor.
I GEORGE HENRY COUCH of Selsdon Road South Croydon in the County of
Surrey Timber and General Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
I will first describe the frame, and its fittings (which are totally distinct from
the ordinary window frame). I prefer to dispense with the ordinary wood sill, &
window nosing, and provide only a window board, on its outer edge is fixed a shield
(preferably metal, or janah wood) having one or more sharp edges, for the bottom
sash to abut, and bind upon, the bottom edge of said shield to enter a groove
either in a wood sill, or preferably into the stone sill, for the perfect exclusion of
dust, air, and moisture, across the face of said window board, are cut grooves to
receive ends of window jambs. On the face of the window jambs, any desired
distance above the window board, I fit large grooved wheels, on pivots, having face
plates sunk in level with face of jambs, and below the said wheels, I cut sliding
pivot grooves, one for bottom sash diagonal (or it may be curved) to allow of
bottom sash clearing the top sash when passing each other, the one for top sash in
a straight, and parallel line with outside lining, or projection on window jamb, each
groove in their inner lines, adjoining each other are intersecting at the bottom to a
point, their outer lines being circular at the bottom, these two latter points, and the
circular end at the bottom & outside lining, end of, I preferably form in metal, from
the centre of circular end pivot groove at any desired radius, I cut across face of
window jamb grooves for the fixed guide pins in the edges of top & bottom sashes
to pass through when the sashes are turned on their axis into the room for cleaning,
above the said wheels I cut straight grooves for the said guide pins to slide in,
when the sashes pass up & down, the inner side of groove for guide pin of bottom
sash, is formed by the fixed beading, or lining. On the face of either right, or left
hand jamb, I fix any desired distance from face of window board, a lever to project
across the said pivot groove, for bottom sash, to intercept the said sliding pivot, and
so prevent the bottom sash being lifted, by the top sash, when turned in for cleaning,
or lifted by burglars when brought in at the top for ventilation, below the said
wheel any desired distance, I fix another lever to project across upper part of pivot
groove, for the purpose of sustaining the bottom sash at the top of frame, when the
top sash is turned into the room for cleaning, otherwise the bottom sash would
descend, and draw the top up, and so collide, the said levers are actuated together
by a connecting rod, (a spring on the top of bottom lever, and the weight of levers,
& rod, helps to keep them in position) also by the finger, when it is desired to lift,
or lower the sashes. Through window jamb, (below the bottom of said sliding
pivot groove of bottom sash) parallel with its face, below the wheel, I insert a rod,
with its end bent at a right angle, and sufficiently long to project beyond the face of
said window jamb, on the inside face of window frame, a button is fixed to the rod
for the purpose of turning the said end of rod, in, or out of a slot formed in wheel
plate. On the inner face of each window jamb, I fix double jointed hinges to carry
a covering board & heading (of any desired length) the said covering board (having
a roller fixed in its edge) also serves, (each side of window) when it is being
turned to cover the sliding pivot grooves, to press the sashes outwards tightly on to
the outside lining, or projection on the outside of window jamb. On one half of said
hinge that is screwed to the window jamb, and inside lining, I form on its back side
rn

page_text: a boss, or eye, into which is fitted a bolt (with a suitable head) and a slot also in
said half, on the other half of hinge on its inner side, I form a boss, or eye, to fit
the said slot, and receive the said bolt, thus the two hinge plates, are held firmly
together, on the outside of the last named hinge plate, I form at right angles
another hinge, to carry the said covering board, and beading, on face of said
covering board, I fix an ordinary shutter knob, for the purpose of turning the said
covering boards, to or from the face of window jamb. The ends of said window
jamb, are tongued to enter grooves, cut in face of said window board, and head, the
head is formed with as many pieces, as may be desired, the outside head lining may
be fixed on the face of vertical outside lining, or projection on window jamb, so as
to receive the full thickness of top sash, or level with the vertical lining, to receive
the head of top sash if reduced, when fixed on the face, the upper part of said
head lining should be rabbeted to pass up between the brick, or stone & window
frame, thus it would cover the vertical joint, the back side of inside lining, should
be fixed in exact line with face of sashes, and carried up with inner part of head,
any desired distance, for the bottom sash, so that the top sash may pass freely from
under the bottom edge of bottom sash, when turned into the room for cleaning.
I will now describe the sashes, which are like the ordinary sliding sashes in all
respects, except as follows, the outer side edges (and upper part of top sash if
desired) of both sashes are rabbeted, (about the thickness of outside lining,) for
the purpose of covering over, and protecting the joint, (in a line with face of sash,
and the outside lining,) against the weather. On the outside of meeting rail of top
sash, I form a covering piece (the said covering piece to have a projecting edge for
the bottom sash to shut upon) to cover over the joint between the top, and bottom
sashes, as they are when in a fixed position in one vertical line, the bottom sash
being under the top sash, they are also suspended over wheels fixed in the window
jambs, each sash I prefer to balance the other, to avoid counterweighting, and the
ord, band, or chain, is attached at the bottom of each sash, through sliding
ivots & centres, the centres are fixed on bottom edges of each sash, the said
centres being made in two parts, the end of one half is hinged to a plate, (the
Lottom end of said plate is made circular to fit the angle bottom of window jamb)
and the other half is a part of the plate, the end of hinged half of said centre is
secured to the fixed part by a screw, on removing the screws, sliding pivots are
inserted, having heads, so that when the half of centre is replaced, and the screw
inserted, they cannot be withdrawn, the bottom sliding pivot is made hollow with a
projection in the said hollow, to engage end of tape, which has a projection on it, to
allow of the bottom sash, with the sliding pivot being slid over the said tape to the
top of frame, when the top sash is held to the top of frame by the projecting end
of rod. To the sliding pivots of top sash, screws are inserted, to the head of said
crews the other end of tape, cord, or chain is made fast the said screw is for the
purpose of adjusting the length of tape, cord, or chain, also the horizontal joints of
ashes. The top edges of top sash are beviled, that it may enter freely the recess
prepared for it in the head of frame.
On either edge, and lower part of top sash, I cut a straight groove of any desired
length, to receive the end of rod when it is projected beyond the face of frame, for
the purpose of retaining the top sash at any position, when it is desired to have
both sashes at the top of frame.
On the face, near the top of each angle of bottom sash, I fix small plates for the
rollers in edge of the covering boards, to roller over, also the end of the said plates
is to act as guide pins for bottom sash. On meeting rail of bottom sash I fix a
finger ring to draw bottom sash inwards. In the bottom rail of bottom sash,
I insert a finger sash lift.
The manner of operating the window is as follows-
1st. Turn each covering board inwards, then drawing inwards top of bottom sash,
thus ventilation is obtained in the centre of the window, if it is desired to obtain
ventilation at the top as well, lift the bottom sash by the sash lift, until it meets
with boule be she haten Inva

page_text: 2nd. If it is desired to obtain the full space top, and bottom, lift the bottom
lever, at the same time lift the sash.
3rd. If it is desired to clean the window slide the bottom sash to the top of
frame, then lift the small bolt each side of window, and turn the covering boards,
and beading inwards, when the top sash will be free to come into the room, replace
the top sash, lift the lower lever, and bring down the bottom sash, which is also
then free to come into the room, replace the bottom sash, (lift the bolts in hinges)
and covering boards, with beading.
..
11004
Improvements in Window Frames and Sashes, and Fittings therefor.
I, GEORGE HENRY COUCH, of Selsdon Road, South Croydon, in the County
of Surrey, Timber and General Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in window frames and sashes and
in fittings therefor, and it consists; First in so mounting the sashes that the use
of balance weights is dispensed with. Secondly, in so mounting the sashes that
they can be turned to lie horizontally within the room. Thirdly in providing a
tightening device for preventing the sashes rattling when the window is closed,
and fourthly in providing a locking device for locking the sashes when the window
is partially open, the objects being to enable the window sashes to be more readily
handled for the purpose of cleaning, to allow of more perfect ventilation of the
room, to prevent rattling of the sashes by the wind, and to exclude dirt, dust and
moisture.
1 attain these ends in the manner shown by the accompanying drawings, in
which :-
Figures 1, 2 and 3, Sheets Nos. 1, 2 and 3 respectively are broken views in
longitudinal section of a window constructed according to my invention.
Figure 4, Sheet No. 1 is a view in transverse section on line x,-x, of Figure 2
Sheet No. 2.
Figure 5, Sheet No. 1 is a view in transverse section of the frame angle piece on
line of Figure 3 Sheet No. 3.
Figure 6 Sheet No. 1 is a front view of the top hinge in an open position.
Figure 7 Sheet No. 2 is an end view of one of the top hinges in a closed
position.
Figure 8 Sheet No. 2 is a view in transverse section of one of the sash line
pulleys.
Figure 9 Sheet No. 2 is an ent view of the locking device for the upper sash.
Figures 10 and 11 Sheet No. 2 are views in plan and elevation respectively of
the locking and guiding device for the lower sash.
Figures 12 and 13 Sheet No. 3 are views in front and sectional elevation
respectively of the safety locking device for the lower sash.
Figures 14 and 15 Sheet No. 3 are views in sectional and front elevation
respectively of the cord holder and pivotting device for the upper sash.
Figure 16 Sheet No. 3 is a view in transverse section on line
Figure 15, and
"
C of
'
Figures 17, 18 and 19 Sheet No. 3 are similar views of the cord holder and
pivotting device for the lower sash.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The upper and lower sashes A and B respectively are mounted and adapted to
slide in a frame X, the upper sash A being in the same plane as the lower one B

page_text: and abutting thereon when closed. On the meeting rail of the upper sash A is a
guard a to make a dust and damp proof joint at the meeting point of the upper and
lower sashes. The bottom of the lower sash B makes a dust and damp proof joint
with the frame X by abutting against the sill and the water bar Y.
The sashes are rebated on their outer edges to engage with a stile X' so as to
make a better joint than heretofore, small grooves or channels .r¹ are also formed
on the various engaging edges of the sashes, guard and water bar for a like
purpose.
Attached at or near the bottom of each sash-on the edges thereof-are cord
holders and pivotting devices C and C¹ which are adapted to slide in grooves.r², x³,
formed in the sides of the frame X and to retain the ends of the sash lines or
cords z. A pin or pins a¹ on the upper sash A engage with the upper portions of
the grooves ² to assist in guiding the sash. The lines or cords z passing over
pulleys Z mounted in the sides of the frame X as shown by Figures 2 and 7 and as
the sashes are of practically the same weight, it will be seen that one sash will
counterbalance the other and so dispense with the use of balance weights.
To cover up the grooves r³ when the window is closed and also to keep the two
sashes in the same plane I provide covering boards D and beads D¹ which are
hinged to the sides of the frame X by hinges K and K' which will be hereinafter
more particularly described.
The cord holders and pivotting arrangements C for the upper sash A each
consists of a piece E pivotted at e to a piece F which is held in engagement with a
frame G by the pin f, the frame being attached to the edge of the sash in any
convenient manner. The piece E is screw threaded to receive the end of the line
or cord holder E' so as to allow for adjustment of the said line or cord. The
pivotted piece E with the cord holder E' is adapted to slide in the groove x3 of the
frame X. On the frame G is formed a stud 9 which is adapted to engage with
the side of the slotted portion of the angle piece H-which is fixed at or near the
bottom sides of the frame-should the sash tend to lift whilst being swung into a
horizontal position-for the purpose of cleaning-as shown in dot and dash lines in
Figure 3. To prevent the weight of either sash from lifting the other when in a
horizontal position the bottom edge of the sash engages with a nose or projection h
preferably formed in one with the angle piece H.
The cord holder and pivotting devices C' for the lower sash are practically of
the same construction and operate in the same manner as those hereinbefore
described for the upper sash with the exception that the piece E is made hollow as
shown to allow the cord to pass freely through it to prevent the cord kinking or
leaving the pulley Z when both the sashes are at the top of the window, the end of
the cord being prevented from drawing through by the arrangement shown by
Figures 17 and 18 or by any other equivalent arrangement.
The lower sash B is shown in a horizontal position by dotted lines in Figure 3 of
the accompanying drawings.
Either sash can be opened for ventilation into the position shown by dotted
lines in Figure 2 being guided by pins or projections on the sashes engaging
with one or more radial grooves formed on either or both sides of the frame X.
It will be understood that before either of the sashes can be opened it is
necessary that the covering boards D and beads D' be swung back or opened into
the position shown in plan in dotted lines by Figure 4 or in front elevation by
Figure 6.
The hinges K, K', consists of three plates k, k', and k pivotted or hinged
together as shown, the plate k carrying the covering board D. The plate 2 is fixed
to the side of the frame X and has on its back side a socket k³ in which is mounted
a sliding bolt having a suitably shaped head ko. This socket k³ has a slot
formed through it with which a snug k on the plate K' engages, the snug / being
adapted to receive the bolt and thus provide a means of locking the two parts
of the hinge together to make them rigid and thus firmly secure the covering
boards and beads in position in the window frame.

page_text: One of the top hinges K--preferably the one on the right hand side is also
provided with a plate L which is carried by the plate ². On the back of this
plate L is pivotted by means of the pin / an arm L' which is capable of being
swung outward into the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 7 for holding the
lower sash up at the top of the frame as shown in dotted lines by Figures 1 and 2.
A safety catch for preventing either of the sashes from falling or being blown
into the room should the covering boards D and beads D¹ be accidentally left open
inay be provided, which consists essentially of a catch M pivotted at m to the
plate L and at m¹ to a slotted link N which is pivotted at its free ent to a stud n
carried by the head of the bolt k so that when the bolt 4 is raised to unlock
the hinge to allow the covering board and bead to be turned back, the catch M is
drawn back flush with the face of the plate L, but when the bolt is pushed down
again or falls by gravity the catch M is projected through the plate L and
engages with the side of the sash and so prevents it falling into a horizontal
position.
The plates of the top hinges are preferably provided with rings k* to enable
the covering boards and beads to be easily opened or turned back, the ends of the
said rings k being adapted to bear upon plates &* fixed on the sides of the bottom
sash B and so force both sashes outwards on to the stiles X' and guard a thus
locking the sashes and preventing them from rattling.
To lock the upper sash A and to prevent it from descending should it be desired
to have the lower sash B at the top as well as the upper sash A, I provide on
either side of the frame a locking catch or trigger P mounted on the pulley frame
plate and adapted to be operated by the piece p so as to throw in into the position
shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, in which position it will engage in a groove
or slot a* formed on one edge of the sash and so prevent the sash from
descending.
To keep the sashes tightly pressed against the top and bottom of the frame and
also against the guard a I provide on each side of the upper edge of the lower
sash a roller Qmounted on a pin q* carried by a plate q. One of the plates 9 is
also provided with a stud g' adapted to engage with a radial groove x formed ou
the side of the window frame so as to act as a guide when the lower sash is being
opened and also to engage with the upper portion of the groove. This stud
may also be formed to carry a bolt q2 adapted to engage with a series of holes x³ în
the said groove so as to lock the sash in any desired position.
To prevent the lower sash B from being drawn up or rising, when opened for
the purpose of ventilation-should either the catch P or bolt 92 be inadvertently
not used-I sometimes provide a safety bolt as shown in Figures 3, 12 and 13
which consists essentially of a bolt R sliding in a plate and having a finger
piece whereby it may be operated to engage with the top of the piece E of the
cord holder.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
(1.) The improvements in and relating to window frames and sashes, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2.) A window, the sliding sashes of which counterbalance each other and are
capable of being turned to lie horizontally within a room, as and for the purpose
set forth.
(3.) The improved method of mounting window sashes as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(4.) The improved cord holders for sliding window sashes substantially as

page_text: herein before described and shown by Figures 2, 3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of
the accompanying drawings.
(5.) In a window of the type claimed by the second claim, the use of hinges
such as K and K', as and for the purpose set forth.
(6.) In a window of the type claimed by the second claim, the use of a water
bar such as Y, as and for the purpose set forth.
(7.) In a window of the type claimed by the second claim, the combined cord
holding device and pivotting arrangement, as set forth.
(8.) In a window of the type claimed by the second claim, rebating the sashes
and the stile in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
(9.) In a window, the combination of the cord holding device, of the pivotting
device and of the balancing device all combined, arranged and adapted to operate,
as set forth.
(10.) The herein before described combination of parts forming my improvements
in window frames and sashes.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1895.
GEORGE HENRY COUCH