An Improved Apparatus for Opening or Closing Fan-lights or other Glazed Frames, and for Securing the same in any Desired Position.
Year: 1885

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Opening or Closing Fan-lights or
other Glazed Frames, and for Securing the same in any
Desired Position..
We; JOHN GILLESPIE, of Cumberland House, Iverson Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Glass Manufacturer, and JOHN THOMAS PENNYCOOK, of 61 Paignton
Road, Stamford Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR OPENING OR CLOSING
FAN-LIGHTS OR OTHER GLAZED FRAMES, AND FOR SECURING THE SAME IN ANY
DESIRED POSITION" to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for opening or closing and securing in any
desired position, fan-lights, or other glazed frames which are arranged to work
upon hinges or pivots; for instance, the hinged or pivotted frames which are
frequently used in conservatories, green-houses, or similar structures for the
purpose of controlling the ventilation thereof.
Our improved apparatus is chiefly designed for use in connection with frames
which are situated beyond the reach of a person standing upon the floor of the
room or structure wherein the said frames are used, and which, therefore, requiro to
be connected with a lever or other device accessible to such person.
Many appliances for opening and closing fan-lights or similar frames and securing
the same in any desired position have heretofore been devised and used; but, so
far as we are aware, all of these appliances have been found more or less objection-
able or defective in practice. By our invention, however, we provide an apparatus
which is thoroughly practical, and free from the objections heretofore existing.
An important feature of our said invention is the provision of very simple means
whereby the fan-light or other frame will be automatically held or locked in any
position to which it is adjusted, so that it cannot be moved therefrom except by
means of an operating lever or key. Therefore the operator does not require to
adjust any pegs, screws or similar devices in order to secure the frame in position;
and the. adjustment of the frame can, if desired, be kept entirely under the control
of one authorized person.
In carrying our said invention into practice we provide a metal bracket which is
secured to the window-frame, preferably at the lower part thereof. This bracket
is made in two parts, which are united by screws or otherwise, and each of which

page_text: is provided with internal teeth so arranged that, when the two parts are united, the
teeth in each part coincide with those in the other part. Between the two parts of
the said bracket is placed a toothed segment capable of rotation upon a pin or bolt.
This segment gears with a rack arranged to slide up and down within the said
bracket. The said toothed segment has two arms or projections which extend
outward slightly beyond the edge of the bracket and have between them a space
designed to receive a lever or key for effecting the rotation of the said segment.
A toothed piece is fitted to slide between the said projections and a spiral spring is
so arranged in a socket in the toothed segment that it presses against the inner
face of the said sliding piece and tends to hold the teeth thereof in engagement
with the teeth of the bracket. The said sliding piece therefore serves as a spring
catch or bolt. We make this sliding piece with a central stud or projection which
enters the spiral spring and thus prevents displacement of the said sliding piece.
The said sliding piece has moreover, flanges which project therefrom on each side
of the arms or projections of the toothed segment, which act as guides for the said
sliding piece.
A rod is connected at one end to the aforesaid rack and is fitted to slide up and
down in guide brackets attached to the window frame. The said rod has an arm
projecting therefrom, to which arm is coupled one end of a connecting rod, which,
at its other end, is coupled to a bracket or lug on the fan-light or glazed frame.
One part of the first named bracket is usually formed with lugs or otherwise, so
that it can be secured to the window-frame, and the other part of the said bracket
'is secured in place by bolts or screws so that it can be readily detached to permit
the removal or insertion of the various parts of the device contained in the said
bracket.
When it is desired to open or close the fan-light, the aforesaid lever or key is
*inserted between the arms or projections of the toothed segment and pressed inward
so as to compress the spring and disengage the sliding piece from the teeth of the
bracket. The segment is then free to be turned in either direction by the said
lever or key, to move the rack up or down.
'
Immediately the lever is released or withdrawn, the spring presses the toothed
sliding piece into engagement with the teeth of the bracket and firmly holds the
parts in the position to which they have been adjusted.
The said toothed bracket (with the toothed segment and the rack) instead of
being attached to the lower part of the window frame, may if desired, be secured
to any other article in the proper relative position with respect to the fan-light, and
within a convenient distance from the floor to be readily reached by the hand.
The provision of a lever or key which is separate and removable from the other
parts of the apparatus is of great advantage in many cases in which it is desired
that the regulation of the ventilation shall be entirely under the control of one
authorized person, as for instance, in schools, hospitals, or other institutions. It is,
however, obvious that the said lever or key might be permanently attached to the
toothed segment if desired.
In some cases, a number of fan-lights or similar hinged or pivotted frames in one
building are so connected by rods, levers, or otherwise that they can all be opened
or closed, and secured by means of one apparatus made according to our invention.
Suitable means are provided for sustaining the fan-light at the side opposite
that which is fitted with the above described devices.

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Opening or Closing Fanlights or
other Glazed Frames, and for Securing the same in any
Desired Position.
We, JOHN GILLESPIE, of Cumberland House, Iverson Road Kilburn in the
County of Middlesex and JOHN THOMAS PENNYCOOK of 61 Paignton Road,
Stamford Hill in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to hinged or pivotted fan-lights or glazed frames such as
those frequently used in conservatories, green-houses or similar structures, for the
purpose of controlling the ventilation thereof.
The object of my said invention is to provide improved apparatus for opening
and closing such fan-lights or glazed frames and for securing the same in any
desired position.
My improved apparatus is chiefly designed for use in connection with frames
which are situated beyond the reach of a person standing upon the floor of the
structure wherein they are used, and which, therefore, require to be connected
with a lever or other operating device within the reach of such person.
Many appliances for opening and closing fan-lights or similar frames and
securing them in any desired position have heretofore been devised and used; but,
so far as I am aware, all of these appliances have been found more or less
objectionable or defective in practice. By my invention, however, I provide an
apparatus which is thoroughly practical, and is free from the objections or defects
heretofore existing.
An important feature of my said invention is the provision of very simple
means whereby the fan-light or other frame will be automatically locked in any
desired position upon the withdrawal or release of an operating lever or key, and
cannot be unlocked except by the insertion or pressing inward of the said
operating lever or key. Therefore the operator does not require to adjust any pegs,
screws or similar devices in order to secure the frame in the desired position; and
the adjustment of the frame can, if desired, be kept entirely under the control of
one authorized person.
-
My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window having a pivotted fan-light or frame
fitted with my improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are different views, drawn to an enlarged scale, shewing details
of my said apparatus.
3
Figure 5 is a front elevation of part of a window, showing a modification of my
invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is the window frame and 6 the pivotted fan-light or frame.
c is a metal bracket, which is made in two parts united by screws c¹. Or
they may be otherwise united if desired. Each of these parts is provided with a

page_text: flange formed with internal teeth c³ so arranged that, when the two parts are
united, the teeth of one part will be opposite those of the other part. One half or
part of the said bracket is formed with lugs c* whereby the said bracket is secured
to the window-frame a by means of screws. Between the two parts of the
bracket c, is placed a toothed, segment d, which is fitted with a capability of
rotation upon a pin or bolt d¹ secured in the said bracket. The segment d gears
with a rack e arranged to slide up and down within the bracket c. The said
segment bas two arms or projections d², which extend outward slightly beyond
the edge of the bracket c. There is a space between these projections for the
reception of a lever or key f for turning the segment d upon or about its pivot d.
'A toothed piece g fitted to slide between the projections d, and a spiral spring h
is so arranged in a socket d³ in the segment d that the said spring presses against
the inner face of the picce g and tends to hold the teeth thereof in engagement
with the teeth c. The said 'piece g, therefore, serves as a spring catch or bolt
for locking the segment d in any position to which it may be adjusted. I make
this sliding piece with a central stud or projection g' which enters the spiral
springh and thus prevents displacement of the said sliding piece. The piece g
has, moreover, flanges g² which project therefrom on each side of the arms or
projections d² and serve to guide the said sliding piece.
A rod is connected, at one end, to the rack e, and is secured, at its other end,
to a metal piece k fitted to slide between V-shaped guides l. The piece k is
connected to one end of a rod or link m, which, at its other end, is coupled to a
bracket or lugn on the fan-light or glazed frame b. The said piece / extends
outward from the window frame sufficiently to permit the required angular move-
ment of the rod m, which will vary according to the dimensions, and extent of
opening, of the frame to which the apparatus is fitted. By the use of the piece k
sliding between the guides 1, the working of the apparatus is greatly facilitated.
I sometimes connect the rod i with the frame b in the manner illustrated in
Figure 5, that is to say :-I secure upon the said rod an arm o, which extends
laterally from the said rod, and I couple the lower end of the rod or link m to the
said arm o. In this case, the rod i is fitted to slide in brackets p secured to the
window-frame a.
When it is desired to open or close the frame b, the lever or key f is inserted.
between the projections 2 and is pressed inward so as to compress the spring h
and disengage the piece g from the teeth c. The segment d is then free to be
turned in either direction by the said lever or key, to move the rack e up or down.
Immediately the lever f is released or withdrawn, the spring h presses the
toothed piece g into engagement with the teeth c³ so that the parts are firmly held
or locked in the position to which they have been adjusted.
The bracket c (with the toothed segment and the rack) is shown attached to the
lower part of the window-frame a. It may, however, be secured to the wall or
other part of the building in the proper relative position with respect to the fan-
light, and within a convenient distance from the floor to be readily reached by
the hand.
It will be seen that, by withdrawing the bolts or screws c¹, that part of the
bracket c which is not secured to the window-frame can be readily detached from
the other part of the said bracket to permit the removal or insertion of the various
parts of the device contained in the said bracket.
The provision of a lever or key which is separate and removable from the other
parts of the apparatus is of great advantage in many cases in which it is desired
that the regulation of the ventilation shall be entirely under the control of one
authorized person, as, for instance, in schools, hospitals, or other institutions. It is,
however, obvious that the said lever or key might be permanently attached to the
toothed segment, if desired, and be so arranged that it would require to be pressed
inward to unlock the parts and would be pressed outward by the spring h, when
released, so that the parts would again be locked in position.

page_text: In some cases, several fan-lights or similar hinged or pivotted frames in one
building are so connected by rods, levers, or other suitable means that they can all
be opened or closed, and secured by means of one apparatus made according to
my invention.
Suitable means are provided for sustaining the fan-light at the side opposite that
which is fitted with the above described devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In an apparatus for opening a pivotted fan-light or similar glazed frame,
the employment of means whereby the parts will be automatically locked in any
desired position upon the withdrawal or release of an operating lever or key, and
may be unlocked by applying pressure to the said lever or key as above specified.
Second. The combination of the internally toothed bracket, the rack, the
toothed segment gearing therewith and provided with the spring catch or bolt, and
the operating lever or key, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. The combination, with the rod i fitted to slide in the brackets p, of
the arm o fixed on the said rod and connected with the frame b by the link m, as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or
modifications shown in the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the
purpose, specified.