IMPROVED MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOW SASHES AND BLINDS, IN RENDERING THE SASHES WEATHER-TIGHT, AND IN REMOVING THE STRAIN FROM THE LINES WHEN THE SASHES ARE CLOSED
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Nevill, of Abergavenny, in the County
of Monmouth, Architect, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF
AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOW SASHES AND BLINDS, IN RENDERING
THE SASHES WEATHER-TIGHT, AND IN REMOVING THE STRAIN FROM THE LINES
WHEN THE SASHES ARE CLOSED."
Sealed the 21st September 1869, and dated the 24th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Nevill at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th March 1869.
I, JOSEPH NEVILL, of Abergavenny, in the County of Monmouth,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOW SASHES AND
BLINDS, IN RENDERING THE SASHES WEATHER-TIGHT, AND IN REMOVING THE STRAIN
FROM THE LINES WHEN THE SASHES ARE CLOSED," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in fitting a strip of wood or
metal in front of the cords or lines by which the sashes are suspended.
The strip is connected at its upper part by a link to the main frame

page_text: and is free to be moved inwards into the box in order that a pin or stud
on it may be released from a hole in the upper sash, and removed from
bearing on the lower sash, by which means both sashes are held firm
and secure without fastenings of any kind.
Secondly. My Invention consists in the employment of a clip or
support by which the weights are held or supported when the sashes are
closed. The clip or support is connected to the back of the strip of
wood or metal before mentioned, and removes the strain of the weights
from the cords.
Thirdly. My Invention consists in making the meeting rails of sashes
weather-tight. The back of the upper rail of the lower sash is made to
overlap a projecting edge of the lower rail of the upper sash. A strip of
metal is fitted on to the front of the lower rail of the upper sash, and
enters a groove formed in the under side of the overlapping portion of
the top rail of the lower sash, whereby all draughts are prevented passing
between the meeting rails, and all attempts at opening the sashes from
the outside frustrated.
Fourthly. My Invention consists in raising and lowering venetian and
other blinds. I fit in the panel or wall under the window where the
blind is fitted a revolving barrel or drum, which may be actuated by a
key or otherwise. The cords by which the raising and lowering are
effected are secured to the drum, so that both are wound on and off at
the same time. The cords are led to the ends of the blinds by rollers
fitted in the stiles, and in order to remove the weight of the blinds from
the cords when fully raised I fit the lower lath with spring bolts at the
ends, which bolts take into holes made for their reception in the side
beads. The tassel cord is connected to the spring bolts, so that when
necessary to draw down the blind, the pressure exerted is sufficient to
withdraw the bolts from the holes and lower the blind.
Sometimes, and principally with blinds of great width and of the
ordinary construction, I fit counterbalance weights in the side stile or
stiles, each counterpoise corresponds in weight to each lath of the
blind. The weights are of ring shape or have holes in them through
which the weight cord passes; the weights are so placed that on each
lath being brought into action it takes its counterpoise; by this means
all strain is removed from the raising and lowering cord.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Nevill in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
NEVILL, of Abergavenny, in the County of Monmouth, Architect, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Joseph Nevill, Her special licence that
I, the said Joseph Nevill, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Joseph Nevill, executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR SECURING WINDOW SASHES AND BLINDS, IN RENDERING THE
SASHES WEATHER-TIGHT, AND IN REMOVING THE STRAIN FROM THE LINES WHEN
THE SASHES ARE CLOSED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Joseph Nevill, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Nevill, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
The first part of my Invention consists in fitting a strip of wood or
metal in front of the cords or lines by which the sashes are suspended.
The strip is connected at its upper part by a link to the main frame,
and is free to be moved inwards into the box in order that a pin or

page_text: stud on it may be released from a hole in the upper sash and removed
from bearing on the lower sash. By this means both sashes are held
firm and secure without fastenings of any kind.
Secondly. My Invention consists in the employment of a clip or
support by which the weights are held or supported when the sashes
are closed; the clip or support is connected to the back of the strip of
wood or metal before mentioned, and removes the strain of the weights
from the cords.
Thirdly. My Invention consists in making the meeting rails of sashes
weather-tight; the back of the upper rail of the lower sash is made to
overlap a projecting edge of the lower rail of the upper sash. A strip
of metal is fitted on to the front of the lower rail of the upper sash, and
enters a groove formed in the under side of the overlapping portion of
the top rail of the lower sash, whereby all draught are prevented passing
between the meeting rails, and all attempts at opening the sashes from
the outside frustrated.
Fourthly. My Invention consists in raising and lowering venetian
and other blinds. I fit in the panel or wall under the window where the
blind is fitted a revolving barrel or drum, which may be actuated by a
key or otherwise; the cords by which the raising and lowering are.
effected are secured to the drum, so that both are wound on and off at
the same time; the cords are led to the ends of the blinds by rollers
fitted in the stiles, and in order to remove the weight of the blinds
from the cords when fully raised I fit the lower lath with spring bolts
at the ends, which bolts take into holes made for their reception
in the side beads. The tassel cord is connected to the spring bolts
so that when necessary to draw down the blind the pressure
exerted is sufficient to withdraw the bolts from the holes and lower the
blind. Sometimes, and principally with blinds of great width and of
the ordinary construction, I fit counterbalance weights in the side stile
or stiles, each counterpoise corresponds in weight to each lath of the
blind; the weights are of ring shape or have holes in them through
which the weight cord passes. The weights are so placed that on each
lath being brought into action it takes its counterpoise, by this means
all strain is removed from the raising and lowering cord.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I annex the
following description and Drawings.

page_text: A, Figures 1 and 2, is the upper, and B the lower sash of an ordinary
window, both sashes are fitted to run up and down in stiles in the usual
manner, and are suspended by cords running over pullies at the upper
part of the boxes. To the top or main frame I attach a bar or link c,
to which is attached a strip D, preferably of wood, so that when the lower
sash is down as shown in Figure 2, it may rest upon the top of the sash
and hold it secure. There is a pin or stud D¹ on the strip to take into
a hole formed in the side of the upper sash, so that when that sash is
up the pin holds it secure. When it is necessary to open the windows
the strip is removed from its position and pushed into the box so as to
clear the lower sash. The stud at the same time being released from
the upper sash when either one or both of the sashes are free to be
opened. By this arrangement no metal or other fastenings are required
in the middle of the sashes as is usual. These strips may be fitted to
both sides or only to one side as desired.
The next part of my Invention is represented in Figure 3, where E is
a clip or support by which the weights F are held when the windows
are closed, so that the strain is removed from the cords, I prefer that
the clip should be fitted to the strips before referred to, so that when the
strips are removed the weights are released. Figure 4 is a sectional
plan view of the boxing of one side of a window; G, H, are respectively
the upper and lower sash frames which are kept in place by the beadings
I, J, so that they can slide up and down with facility; K, L, are the
weights by which the sashes are held. The catch is made with a double
claw so that it takes hold of and retains both weights at the same time.
The third part of my Invention is represented in Figure 5. The under
side of the top rail of the lower sash is rebated as shown, into which
the metal strip a on the bottom rail of the upper sash takes as clearly
shown in Figure 6. When these aro in position all draft is prevented.
passing betwecu them, and all attempts at opening the sashes from the
outside frustrated.
The last part of my Invention is represented in Figure 7. I fit a barrel
M in the wall or panel under the window and lead cords N, N, round
it in opposite directions, so that on the barrel being rotated both cords
are wound on at the same time. The cords are connected to the ends
of the blind so that it can be lifted from both ends by the movement of
one hand, and in order to retain it in a raised position I provide a spring
bolt on the lower lath at each end which takes into holes made in the

page_text: side beads. The bolts are connected by cords to the tassel in the centro
of the blind, so that on pulling the tassel both bolts are released and
the blind is free to be lowered to the desired extent. In the case of
blinds of great width or weight, I attach a counterpoise weight or a
wheel to the cord of each lath, so that the strain of the blind is divided,
and thus offers less resistance to the pressure or force required to raise
it.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The employment of a strip or strips in the manner described
and shown, by which both sashes of windows are secured.
Secondly. The arrangement and employment of a catch or catches in
the boxes of window frames for receiving the weights so as to remove
the strain from the cords, as herein-before described and shown in the
Drawings.
Thirdly. The means described and shown for preventing draughts
entering between the meeting rails of window sashes, as described and
represented in the Drawings.
Fourthly. The arrangement of raising and lowering venetian blinds
and of retaining them at the desired position, as herein-before described
and shown in the Drawings.
Fifthly. I claim the employment of counterpoise weights to each lath
of a blind for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Nevill, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.