Improvements in Window-sash Locks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
Improvements in Window-sash Locks.
I PHILIP STOVER RIDDELLE,, of Woodstock, County of Shenandoah,
Virginia, United States of America, Physician, 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 window sash locks, and is particularly designed for
locking the revolving sashes, but is useful in connection with window sashes of any
kind which are to be locked against movement when closed to exclude burglars, or
for any other purpose, or to be locked when more or less opened or raised.
The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved sash-lock, which
in the normal position of the parts will automatically lock a sash, one or more, in
any desired position, but is susceptible of being set through the medium of a pair
of finger-actuated devices in such manner that the lock will remain inactive as
regards locking the sash when it is raised or lowered, whereby the lock can be
used to automatically engage and hold a sash closed, or at any desired point in its
opening and closing movements, or can be made inoperative as regards its locking
action to permit the sash to be freely raised and lowered without being engaged
and locked by the lock at any point in its ascending and descending movements.
The object of my invention is accomplished in the manner and by the means
hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sash-lock constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, omitting the front plate to clearly
illustrate the lock mechanism, and showing the parts in position for locking two
sashes.
Figure 3 is a similar view showing the finger-levers moved into position
preparatory to retracting the locking-arms.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the lock is
set so that the locking-arms remain inactive as regards locking the sashes.
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5, Figure 2, but on a
larger scale thau the latter figure, showing the front plate of the lock in position.
Figure 6 is an elevation showing a portion of a window frame, portions of two
sashes, and my improved sash-lock applied thereto and having the locking-arins
engaged with the two sashes to lock the same, and
Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7, Figure 6, the
lock-case being in plan view.
In order to enable those skilled in the art to niake and use my invention, I will
now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawing, wherein the numeral
indicates the frame of a window, and 2 and 3 the upper and lower window sashes.
The window sashes may be arranged to simply slide perpendicularly, as in ordinary
windows, but I prefer to construct the window sashes so that they can he rotated
or revolved.
The sash-lock comprises two locking-arms 4 and 5, which are provided at their
lower ends with bubs 6 and 7, mounted on a supporting rod 8, secured at its ends
to the sides of the case 9 and extending through a lug 10 provided in the lower
portion of the lock-case, approximately central between the perpendicular sides
thereof. The supporting rod 8 may be stationary and the locking-arms 4 and 5
CD27

page_text: swing or turn thereupon as a centre, so that the locking-arms can move laterally
with respect to the lock-case. The hubs 6 and 7 of the locking-arms are also
susceptible of sliding longitudinally along the supporting rod 8, and consequently
the locking-arms are susceptible of moving back and forth in the direction of the
length of the supporting rod, and also of moving laterally in a plane at right
angles to the length of said rod. The hubs 6 and 7 of the locking-arms are acted
upon by springs 12 and 13, which as here shown are in the form of spiral springs
arranged upon the supporting rod 8, but obviously, the construction and arrangement
of the springs can be variously modified so long as they accomplish the purpose
for which they are intended, which is to constantly press the two locking-arms
towards the left and thus tend to maintain the said arms in their locking position.
The spring 12 as here shown is arranged between the hub 6 of the locking arm +
and the lug 10 through which the rod extends, and the spring 13 is arranged
between the hub 7 and the right hand side wall of the lock-case.
The hub 6 of the locking-arm 4 is provided with a flange or lug 14, which enters
a notch 15 in the lower end of a movable lever 16. This lever is pivotally
suspended at its upper end within the lock-case through the medium of a pivot
pin 17, and obviously the lever can oscillate, and when moved to the right it will
carry with it the locking-arm 4. When the lever is released after having been
moved towards the right, the spring 12, acting upon the hub 6 of the locking-arin 4,
shifts the latter towards the left and restores the lever 16 to the position shown in
Figure 2.
The lower end of the lever 16 is provided with a projection 18, bearing
against the locking-arm 5, in juxtaposition to the hub 7 thereof, so that when the
lever 16 is shifted towards the right, both locking-arms 4 and 5 will also he shifted
in the same direction. When the lever 16 is released and permitted to move
towards the left, as hereinbetore explained, the spring 13 will shift the locking-arm 5
towards the left and place it in the position shown in Figure 2.
The lever 16 is operated through the medium of a finger-piece 19, preferably in
the form of a bell-crank lever, pivoted at its angle to the lock-case, as at 20, and
having a short arm 21 pivotally connected to a link 22 having a slot 23 in its inner
end portion, through which extends a pin 24 projecting from the lever 16 in such
manner that when the finger piece 19 is pressed upwardly the link 22 will be drawn
towards the right, and when the left hand end of the slot 23 reaches the pin 24
the lever 16 will cominence to move in the direction required to retract the locking-
arms from their locking position, shown in Figure 2, to the unlocking position
shown in Figure 4. The pin and slot connection between the link 22 and the
lever 16 permits the link 22 to have a certain longitudinal play before it actually
commences to move or swing the lever 16, for a purpose which will bereinafter
appear.
The inner end of the link 22 is provided with a small finger 25 formed as a
longitudinal extension of the link and adapted to enter a notch 26 forined in the
inner end portion of the locking finger-lever 27 pivoted to the lock-case, as at 28,
and having its finger-piece 29 arranged above the finger-piece 19. The inner
end portion of the finger-lever 27 is also provided with notches 30 and 31, either
of which is adapted to receive pin 32, fixed to the swinging lever 16. The
notch 31 is of greater depth than the notch 30, and when all the parts are in
their normal position with the locking-arms 4 and 5 shifted to their locking
position, the pin 32 lies in the notch 31 and the finger 25 of the link 22 lies in
the notch 26 of the fiuger-lever 27, thereby effectually holding the locking-arms in
their locking position and preventing their retraction until the finger-piece 19 is
first operated to withdraw the finger 25 from the notch 26 and the finger-piece 29
is operated to raise finger-lever 27 and disengage it from the pin 32, after which
continued upward pressure on the finger-piece 19 will shift the link 22 in the
direction required to swing the lever 16 towards the right and thereby move the
locking-arms 4 and 5 in the same direction to retract them from their locking to
their unlocking position.
When the fiuger-pieces 19 and 29 are operated as above set forth to fully retract

page_text: is
the locking arins 4 and 5 and the finger-piece 29 is released while pressure
maintained on the finger-piece 19, the inner end portion of the finger-lever 27 will
descend and the notch 30 will engage the pin 32, thereby locking the lever 16 in
the position shown in Figure 4, and holding the locking-arms in their unlocking
position, so that the sash, one or more, can be raised or lowered without the locking
arms engaging the same. If, however, both finger-pieces 19 and 29 are simul-
taneously released after they have been operated to shift the lever 16 towards
the right to retract the locking arms 4 and 5, both locking-arms will be simul-
taneously thrown to their locking position by the springs 12 and 13, and a
spring 48, hereinafter referred to, will press the finger-pieces 19 and 29 away
from each other, throw the lever 27 downward and shift the link 22 into engage-
ment with the notch 26 of said lever 27. By this means the several parts of the
lock will be restored to their normal position, as shown in Figure 2. It will
be obvious from the foregoing that it is impossible to retract either or both
locking-arms by simply manipulating one of the finger-pieces 19 or 29. In other
words, to retract either or both locking-arms, it is essential to manipulate both
fiuger-pieres 19 and 29.
The
The upper end portions of the locking-arms are provided with curved
bearings 33 and 34 and projecting lugs 35 and 36 provided respectively with
locking-studs 37 and 38, as will be best seen by reference to Figure 1.
curved bearings 33 and 34 are adapted to rest against the edges 39 and 40 of
the sashes 2 and 3, as best seen in Figure 7, and the locking-studs 37 and 38 are
adapted to enter notches, orifices or recesses 41 and 42 provided in the inuer sides
of the sashes 2 and 3, in juxtaposition to the edges 39 and 40 thereof. The
notches, orifices or recesses 41 and 42 may be provided in any manner suitable for
the purpose in hand, but I prefer to provide the corners of the sashes with metallic
plates 43 and 44 in which the notches, orifices or recesses are formed. The sashes
are each provided with any number of these notches, orifices or recesses, and the
latter are arranged in a vertical line in each sash, so that, when the sashes are
raised or lowered, the locking-studs 37 and 38 will, if the locking-arms are not
positively held retracted as before explained, automatically spring into engage-
ment with the sashes and lock them in any desired position. If the locking arms
are not held retracted by the engagement of the ward 300 of the lever 27 with the
pin 32 on the lever 16 the locking-studs 37 and 38 will spring into the notches
orifices or recesses whenever the latter coincide or register with the locking-studs.
Obviously, under such conditions the window-sashes will be stopped and locked
whenever any of the notches, orifices or recesses in the sashes register with the
studs 37 and 38, and unless these locking-studs can be held retracted whenever
desired, it would be necessary to manipulate the finger-pieces 19 and 29 many
times during the complete raising or lowering of the sashes. To avoid this
frequent manipulation of the finger pieces when it is desired to raise or lower the
sashes without their being engaged by the locking-studs of the locking-arins is the
object or purpose of the pin 32 and notch 30 of the finger-lever 27.
The provision of means for rendering the locking-arms inactive as regards their
locking engagement with the sashes is very advantageous, in that it enables the
sashes to be raised or lowered without being engaged and locked by the sash-
lock, while, if desired, the sash-lock can be manipulated so that its locking-arms
will automatically engage and lock the sashes in any position to which they
are moved.
The lock-case, as best shown in Figure 1, is provided at the right hand side with
an enlarged portion 45, which in a large measure guards and protects the finger-
pieces 19 and 29, while at the same time a person at the inside of the window can
conveniently manipulate the finger-pieces.
The locking arms 4 and 5 are acted upon by springs as at 46, Figure 5, which
constantly press the locking-arms in the direction of the arrow, so that the curve t
bearings 33 and 34 are maintained against the edges 39 and 40 of the sashes
and 3. The springs 46 permit the locking-arms to yield laterally with respect to

page_text: the lock-case and consequently these locking arms will accommodate or compensate
for any shrinking, swelling or warping of the window sashes, which would tend to
displace the line of notches, orifices or recesses 41 and 42 out of proper alignment
with the locking-studs 37 and 36. The springs as at 46 may be of any known
construction suitable for the purpose of constantly pressing the locking-arms
towards the edges of the sashes. The bearings 33 and 34 are preferably curved
to reduce frictional contact with the edges of the sashes, but obviously, these
bearings 33 and 34 may be of any desired form and constructed in any suitable
nanner.
The locking-arm 4, which is directly connected with the lever 16, is adjustably
mounted on the hub 6, of which the lug 14 is a part. The object of adjustably
mounting the locking-arm 4 is that it can be shifted towards or from the locking-
arm 5 and thereby the locking-arms can be adjusted relatively to one another for
the purpose of adapting them to different windows or sashes which differ in
thickness. The adjustable connection between the locking-arm 4 and the hub 6
is preferably effected by splitting the lower end of the arm 4 and clamping it on
the hub 6 by a screw 47, as best seen in Figure 5. By loosening the screw 47 the
arm 4 can be shifted to any desired position on the hub 6, and then by tightening
the screw the arm will be rigidly clamped to the hub.
The finger-piece 19 and the finger-lever 27 are acted upon, in any suitable
manner, through the medium of a spring 48, which throws the finger pieces 19
and 29 apart, or away from each other, when released by the operator, and thereby
restores the lever 27 and link 22 to normal position, as before explained. The
spring for this purpose may be of any desired construction and arranged in any
suitable manner.
In the operation of the improved sash-lock, if the locking-arms 4 and 5 are
held retracted by the engagement of the notch 30 with the pin 32 of the lever 16,
as shown in Figure 4, and it is desired to render the locking arms active as
regards their locking engagement with the sashes, it is only necessary to press
downwardly upon the finger-piece 29 to disengage the notch 30 from the pin 32,
when the springs 12 and 13 will swiftly throw the locking-arms to their locking
position as shown in Figure 2.
I have described my sasli-lock as provided with two locking-arms 4 and 5, but
obviously one of the locking-arms can be dispensed with if the lock is only
designed to lock one sash, but where two sashes of each window are to be locked
in their closed position, or more or less open, the two locking-arms are employed.
It will be observed that since the locking-arm 5 is not directly attached to the
pivoted lever 16, it is possible for the locking-arm 5 to be held retracted against
the tension of the spring 13 after the lever 16 has been released and the locking-
arm 4 has sprung to its locking position, shown in Figure 2. The purpose of this
is that the locking-stud 38 can bear against the edge of the lower sash until
the locking-stud registers with one of the notches, orifices or recesses, when the
locking-arm 5 will spring forward and the locking-stud 38 will enter one of the
notches, orifices or recesses.
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
clains is-
1. In a sash-lock, the combination of a pivoted, swinging, locking-arm shiftable
back and forth to locking and unlocking positious and also adapted to swing
laterally to accommodate shrinking or swelling of the sash-frame, said arm having
a bearing to rest against the edge of the sash-frame, and a laterally projecting
stud in front of said bearing to spring into engagement with recesses in the sash-
frame, and devices for shitting the locking-arm to its locking and unlocking
positions, substantially as described.
2. In a sash-lock the combination of a locking-arm shiftable back and forth to
locking and unlocking positions, and also movable laterally to accommodate

page_text: shrinking or swelling of the sash-frame, said arm having a bearing to constantly
rest against the edge of the sash-frame, and a laterally projecting stud located in
front of said bearing to spring into engagement with recesses in the sash-frame, a
pivoted swinging lever engaging a part of the locking-arm, a pivoted finger-piece,
and a link connected at one end with the finger-piece, and at the other end with
the said lever for swinging the same to retract the locking-arm from engagement
with the sash-frame, substantially as described.
3. In a sash-lock, the combination of a locking-arm, having means to engage with
a sash-frame and movable back and forth to locking and unlocking positions, a
movable lever engaging with a part of the locking-arm, and two finger-pieces, one
of which has a link connection with the lever and the other one of which is
provided with means for engaging with and locking the link, so that the lever
which retracts the locking-arm cannot be shifted unless both finger-pieces are
simultaneously operated, substantially as described.
4. In a sash-lock, the combination of a laterally-swinging locking-arm, movable
also back and forth to locking and unlocking positions, and having means to
engage with a sash-frame, a pivoted swinging lever engaging with a part of the
said locking-arm, and a finger-piece connected with the said lever for swinging the
latter to retract the locking-arin from engagement with the sash, substantially as
described.
5. In a sash-lock, the combination of two locking-arms, having means to engage
with two sash-frames and independently movable back and forth to locking and
unlocking positions, and also movable laterally to accommodate shrinking or
swelling of the sash, a pivoted swinging lever acting upon both locking arms to
shift the latter from their locking to their unlocking positions and a finger-piece
having a link connection with the said lever, substantially as described.
6. In a sash-lock, the combination of two locking-arms movable back and forth
to locking and unlocking positions, and having means to engage with two sash-
frames, a pivoted swinging lever acting upon both locking-arms to shift them to
unlocking position, a finger-piece having a link connection with the said lever and
also with the pivoted swinging lever, whereby the two locking-arms cannot be
retracted unless the finger-piece and the locking-lever are both actuated, substantially
as described.
7. In a sash-lock, the combination, with a lock-case having a supporting-rod, of
two swinging locking-arms pivotally mounted on the supporting-rod and movable
longitudinally thereof, a pivoted swinging lever acting to move both locking-arms
on the supporting-rod, and a finger-piece having a link connection with said lever,
substantially as described.
8. The combination, with a lock-case having a supporting-rod, of two locking-
arms pivotally mounted on the supporting-rod and movable longitudinally thereof,
a pivoted swinging lever acting to shift both locking-arms on the supporting-rod, a
pivoted finger-piece having a link connection with said lever, and a locking lever
having a finger-piece and provided with means for engaging with the link of the
finger-piece and also with the said pivoted swinging lever, whereby the two locking-
arms cannot be retracted unless both finger-pieces are actuated, substantially as
described.
9. The combination, with a lock-case having a supporting-rod, of a locking-arm
pivotally mounted on the supporting-rod, movable longitudinally thereof, and
provided with a lug, a pivoted swinging lever engaging with the said lug, and a
pivoted finger-piece having a link connection with said lever for swinging the
latter to move the locking-arm longitudinally of the supporting-rod, substantially
as described.
10. The combination, with a lock-case having a supporting-rod, of two locking-
arms movable longitudinally of the supporting-rod, a pivoted swinging lever acting
to shift both locking-arms in one direction on the supporting-rod, springs for
shifting the locking-arms in the opposite direction on the supporting-rod, and a

page_text: finger-piece having a link connection with the said lever, substantially as
described.
Dated the Seventh day of January 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.