Improvements in or in connection with Sliding Window Sashes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Sliding Window Sashes.
I, THOMAS COOKE, of Buckingham Works, York, in the County of York, do here-
by declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to enable the cords of counterbalanced window
sashes to be removed when they break, without the necessity of removing the sashes
from their frames. Hitherto these counterbalancing cords have been nailed in a
groove cut half way down the sash style at each side, so that when a cord breaks
the sash must be taken out of the frame in order to put in a new cord, and this
with a heavy window is always a two-handed job, besides doing more or less damage
to the wood-work and paint.
Now by my invention I propose to cut the grooves through to the bottom of the
sash on each side thereof, and at the bottom of the sash fasten the end of the sash
cords. There is more than one way in which the ends of the cords may be fastened,
thus for example in one arrangement I provide brackets or holders designed to
be fitted to the bottom or underside of the sash, one at each of the two bottom
corners, and Hush therewith so as not to impede the closing of the sash. These
holders have formed in each of them a longitudinal channel in line with the corre
sponding grooves in the sash, and in these channels there are projecting teeth or
webs or other arrangement on alternate sides which clip the end of the cord. The
cords therefore have only to be passed down through the grooves in the styles,
and the ends pressed down well into the channel in the holders, and the webs will
compel the cord ends to take a serpentine course, so that the more they are stretched
or pulled, the tighter the cords become and will bear any amount of pull in a longi-
tudinal direction.
Now it is obvious that if the cord break, all that is necessary is to raise the
sash so as to expose the holder underneath, then remove the broken cord from the
holder by pulling it out laterally, thus disengaging it from the teeth. This being
done a new cord is let down through the groove at the side from top to bottom of
the sash and the end of this new cord pressed well into the channel in the holder
80 as to lock it.
In another arrangement I provide corner pieces or brackets designed to be fitted
to the two bottom corners of the sush, and flush therewith, so as not to impede the
sliding of the sash in the ways or grooves between the beadings in the window frame,
or the closing of the sash. One of the arms of each of these corner pieces has a
channel in line with the corresponding grooves in the sash, and has projecting
teeth or webs on alternate sides or other arrangement which clip the end of the
cord, as above described. The side face of this arm may be provided with a cover
plate fastened thereto, which prevents the cord coming laterally out of the groove
after it has been inserted therein. This corner piece is secured to the bottom
corner of the sash by its other arm being fastened to the bottom mail of the sush by
wood screws.

page_text: In this case, if a cord break, all that is necessary is to raise the sash, unscrew the
wood screws and remove one or both the corner pieces from the bottom corners,
then remove the broken cord or cords, and let down a new cord through the groove
at the side from the top of the sash to the bottom. The end of the cord is then
pulled through at the bottom and inserted into and secured in the corner piece,
so that it will not come unfastened therefrom. The corner pieces are then re-
applied to the bottom corners of the sash, and secured thereto by the wood screws,
both the horizontal and vertical arms of the corner pieces being flush with the
sash when in place.
I, THOMAS COOKE, of Buckingham Works, York, in the County of York, do here-
by 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 has for its object to enable the cords of counterbalanced window
sashes to be removed when they break, without the necessity of removing the sashes
from their frames. Hitherto these counterbalancing cords have been nailed in a
groove cut half way down the sash style at each side, so that when a cord breaks
the sash must be taken out of the frame in order to put in a new cord, and this
with a heavy window is always a two-handed job, besides doing more or less damage
to the wood-work and paint.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a view of part of a window sash with the counterbalancing cords
applied thereto;
Figure 2 a plan of the bracket or holder with the cord fitted therein;
Figure 3 the same with the cord removed;
Figure 4 an end view.
By my invention I propose to cut the grooves through to the bottom of the sash
on each side thereof, and at the bottom of the sash fasten the ends of the sash cords.
There is more than one way in which the ends of the cords may be fastened, thus
for example in one arrangement I provide brackets or holders A designed to be
fitted to the bottom or under side B of the sash, one at each of the two bottom
corners and flush therewith, so as not to impede the closing of the sash. These
holders A have formed in each of them a longitudinal channel C in line with the
corresponding grooves D in the sash, and in these channels there are projecting
teeth or webs E or other arrangement on alternate sides which clip the end of the
cord F. The cords therefore have only to be passed down through the grooves D
in the styles G, and the ends pressed down well into the channel C in the holders A,
and the webs E will compel the cord ends to take a serpentine course so that the
more they are stretched and pulled, the tighter the cords become, and will bear
any amount of pull in a longitudinal direction.
Now it is obvious that if a cord break, all that is necessary is to raise the sash
so as to expose the holder A underneath, unscrew from the rail B, then remove the
broken cord from the holder A by pulling it out laterally, thus disengaging it from

page_text: the teeth E. This being done, a new cord is let down through the groove D at the
side from the top to bottom of sash and the end of this new cord pressed well
into the channel C in the holder A so as to lock it, when it is again screwed to the
under side of the sash rail B.
In another arrangement I provide corner pieces or brackets designed to be fitted
to the two bottom corners of the sash, and flush therewith, so as not to impede the
sliding of the sash in the ways or grooves between the beadings in the window
frame, or the closing of the sash. One of the arms of each of these corner pieces
has a channel in line with the corresponding grooves in the sash, and has projecting
teeth or webs on alternate sides or other arrangement which clip the end of the
cord, as above described. The side face of this arm may be provided with a cover
plate fastened thereto, which prevents the cord coming laterally out of the groove
after it has been inserted therein. This corner piece is secured to the bottom cor-
ner of the sash by its other arm being fastened to the bottom rail of the sash
by wood screws.
In this case,
if a cord break, all that is necessary is to raise the sash, unscrew the
wood screws and remove one or both the corner pieces from the bottom corners,
then remove the broken cord or cords, and let down a new cord through the groove
at the side from the top of the sash to the bottom. The end of the cord is then
pulled through at the bottom and inserted into and secured in the corner piece,
so that it will not come unfastened therefrom. The corner pieces are then re-
applied to the bottom corners of the sash, and secured thereto by the wood screws,
both the horizontal and vertical arms of the corner pieces being flush with the
sash when in place.
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 improvement in or in connection with sliding window sashes, which con-
sists in cutting the grooves in the side of the sash style which hold the counter-
balancing cords through to the bottom of the sash on each side thereof, and at the
said bottom fastening the ends of the sash cords in such a manner that they can
be unfastened when the cord breaks, substantially as described.
2. In sliding window sashes, cutting the grooves which hold the counterbalanc-
ing cords through to the bottom of the sash on each side thereof, in combination
with brackets or holders fitted to the bottom or under side of the sash, one at each
of the two bottom corners, and flush therewith so as not to impede the closing of
the sash, said brackets or holders being formed with a longitudinal channel in
connection with the corresponding grooves in the sash, and the channel provided
with projecting teeth, webs or other arrangement which will clip the end of the
cord, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of September 1898.