Improvements in Window-sash Fasteners.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Window-sash Fasteners.
I, JAMES REDDEN, of No. 29, Bedford Place, Bloomsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Clerk of Works, 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 improvements in devices for fastening, from the inside,
either the top or the bottom sashes of a window, at any point of their respective
travels, and doing it so effectually that it shall be impossible to move either sash
from the outside, in the direction of opening the window more widely, without first
having recourse to violence.
In carrying the invention into effect, I provide one or more plates or tumblers, and
pivot them upon a horizontal axis supported on a base fixed upon the top of the
bottom sash, the heavier portion of the tumblers being next the top sash.
The noses of the tumblers are partly straight and partly curved. The straight
portion is parallel with, and rests evenly against, the sash-frame-side. The curved
portion is above the straight, and is struck eccentrically to the axis of the tumblers.
Consequently, any attempt to pull the top sash down, or to push the bottom sash up,
will tend to depress the tumbler-noses, with the effect of locking both sashes in the
position in which they had been intentionally left. A suitable device is provided for
moving the tumbler-noses away from the sash frame.
In order that my invention, and the means by which the same is to be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of
this specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating my invention as applied to a two sash window,
both sashes being closed and fastened.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation from the interior.
A and B are the frames of the top and bottom sashes respectively.
C is the base plate fixed upon the top of the bottom sash. It is sufficiently wide
to cover the space c between the meeting bars of the sashes.
D, D are cheeks supporting d the horizontal axis upon which the tumblers E are
pivotted. The figures show a fastener of two tumblers, but the number is not an
essential feature of the invention and may be varied. I prefer, however, to have
more than one tumbler, and find that two is a convenient number.
The tumblers are much heavier on the sash-side of the axis d than on the other.
F is the straight edge in full contact with the sash frame and G is the curved edge
eccentric to the axis.
His a link pivotted to the cheeks. Its opposite end rests idly upon the tumblers,
and has a cord h pendent from it. When the cord is pulled, the link presses upon
the tumblers and disengages them from the sash frame. Any other suitable and
equivalent disengaging device may be adopted.
My improved sash fastener is used as follows.
I will suppose that it is desired to open one or both sashes for a distance of, say,
6 inches, for the purpose of ventilation. The tumblers are disengaged from the
sash frame A by pulling at the cord h, and one or both sashes moved the one up or
the other down for the required distance. The cord is then let go, whereupon the
tumblers fall into their normal position, the one illustrated in the figures-against
the frame of the top sash, thereby fastening both in the required position.
The base plate C prevents the tumblers being tampered with from the outside by
a blade pushed up between the meeting bars, and the cheeks may also be shaped so
as to further safeguard the tumblers.

page_text: 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 combination of one or more tumblers having noses of the contour illustrated
with a horizontal axis upon which they are pivotted, as herein before set forth.
2. The combination of a releasing device with one or more tumblers adapted by
their contour to automatically engage with one, and to thereby fasten both, sashes of
a window, as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 18th day of June 1889.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.