IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING OR ADJUSTING WINDOW SASHES, SLIDING PANELS, AND THE LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS THERE- FOR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, British and Foreign-Patent Agent and Consulting
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING OR ADJUSTING
WINDOW SASHES, SLIDING PANELS, AND THE LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS THERE-
FOR." A communication from abroad by Rufus Herbert Rose, of Three, State
Street, New York (City, County, and State), but at present in Paris, in the
Renublic of France.
Sealed the 24th April 1878, and dated the 27th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1877.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
"IMPROVE-
Lancaster, British and Foreign Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer.
MENTS IN FASTENING OR ADJUSTING WINDOW SASHES, SLIDING PANELS, AND THE
LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." (A communication from abroad by Rufus
Herbert Rose, of Three, State Street, New York (City, County, and State), but at
present in Paris, in the Republic of France.)
This Invention consists in modes of and apparatus for arranging the sash or panel
so that it can be tightly held in any position by means of a soft rubber pad or
wedge pressed tightly against it or its framing or surrounding; as applied to ordi-
nary window sashes, I place it near the corner of the sash itself.
A wedge or strip of rubber is fastened to the sash, a space being cut out for the
purpose; this rubber ordinarily lies level, or nearly so, with the edge of the sash.
Behind this wedge in the cavity is an oval or other cam on a spindle having a
handle projecting outside the frame: By turning this handle the rubber is pressed
tight against the frame, and the sash is jammed tight.
A stop can be placed if necessary on the frame or rubber to prevent the handle
being turned too far round.
To use the apparatus, raise the sash the required height, and turn the handle,

page_text: For carriage, omnibus, or railway sashes it is better to put the fastening on the
frame in front. In this case I make the rubber press against the side of the sash
frame, and usually construct it in a cup form fitting into a cup at the end of a screw
working in a nut, or their equivalent, a winged bolt, working into a catch or
catches. The bolt or screw can swivel on the cup that carries the rubber, or be cast
solid with it for cheap work.
To use the apparatus I raise the sash by a handle, handles, or projections the
required height, screw in the handle, or press in and turn it so that the wings catch
in the slots to one side.
If a sorow be used no wings will be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th April 1878.
"
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, British and Foreign Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENING OR ADJUSTING WINDOW SASHES, SLIDING PANELS, AND THE
LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." (A communication from abroad by Rufus
Herbert Rose, of Three, State Street, New York (City, County, and State), but at
present in Paris, in the Republic of France.)
This Invention consists in modes of and apparatus for arranging the sash, panel,
or other sliding body so that it can be held tightly in any position by means of
india-rubber pressed tightly against it or its framing or surrounding; as applied to
ordinary window sashes, I place it usually near the lower corner of the sash
itself.
Two examples, one when fastened to the sash, Fig. 1 and 2, and the other when
fastened to the frame, Fig. 3 and 4, are shewn. In these A is a handle keyed or
fastened on to spindle B; this spindle has a crank, eccentric,or cam C, which
works either directly or indirectly against a strip of rubber D, Fig. 1 and 2, or is
fitted or roughened all over and covered with rubber D, as in Fig. 3 and 4. To
prevent this rubber D, Fig. 1 and 2, wearing out I sometimes put a sheet of steel
or bronze E between D and C.
When the handle is upright the window sash or frame Fin Fig. 3 is free to
slide, but the moment the cam is forced into the working position (shown in full
lines in Fig. 1) the eccentric jams the rubber tight against the frame G (or sash G
in Fig. 3).
A stop H stops the handle A, and prevents the crank or cam going beyond the
horizontal position. The spindle works in plate -I.
When the window sash is thick, as in houses, Fig. 1 and 2 plan is the best ;
when thin, as on railway carriages, the modification shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 is best.
Where the apparatus is attached to the frame and bears against the window sash,
the india-rubber D can still be fixed, as in the Drawing, Fig. 1 and Fig.2, or can be
shrunk on the roughened' eccentric, cam, or preferably crank C, made narrower than
the rubber, so that the two cheeks may indent themselves into the rubber and hold
it firmer. In this case, as the weight of the window assists the rubber in jamming

page_text: tighter, instead of, as when the fastener is fastened to the sash, militating against
the effect of the handle A, I prefer to give the rubber full play, and hence shrink it
on the eccentric or crank C, instead of fastening it to the frame, as in Fig. 1 and 2.
Under these circumstances, if the crank C is heavy and the handle light, and the
spindle B free to rotate in its bearings, the crank and rubber will naturally fall into
its position for holding, and the more the window G is pressed down the tighter it
grips.
One
A plate I carries the working parts, and is screwed to the frame, as shewn.
On the top of the sash I place a projecting ledge, shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 3,
with two soft buttresses at each end of india-rubber, so that when the frame is
down the fingers can be inserted between the ledge and the frame to raise it.
of these two buttresses, when the crank, Fig. 3, is used, is over the crank, and has a
wooden or other inclined plane or wedge below it (shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 3).
The wedge coming down presses the india-rubber back as it slides past until the
rubber, being pressed against the back plate or the woodwork, as at K, brings the
window gently to a stand without shock.
India-rubber buffers on the handle on top or on the bottom of the sash, or other-
wise arranged so as to come in contact with an abutment when the sash approaches
the bottom, are also useful as alternatives or additions to this apparatus.
Fig. 5 and 6 shews my second arrangement, where, instead of using a crank shaft
or its equivalent, I use a screw (or its mechanical equivalent, a winged bolt with the
wings travelling in a spiral cam). This plan is specially useful for carriage windows
where there is constant shaking, and consequently serious liability to slip.
A is the handle; B, screw spindle working in plate I; C, button pressing into
rubber D, and pressing it against frame G.
As in the first instance, a piece of sheet steel or bronze can protect the rubber
from being injured by the button.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire to
protect by the herein-before-in part recited Letters Patent is,--.
1st. The mode described of fastening or adjusting window sashes, sliding panels,
and the like by means of a cam or crank on a spindle or axis pressing directly into
a piece of india-rubber, or its equivalent, abutting against the frame or window.
2nd. The alternative mode described of fastening or adjusting window sashes, sliding
panels, and the like by pressing by means of a screw, or its mechanical equivalent, a
piece of independent stationary india-rubber (whether protected by a sheet of more
durable material or otherwise) hard against the side of the window sash or frame.
3rd. The apparatus described for fastening or adjusting window sashes or the like
by means of a piece of rubber fastened on or in front of a cam, crank, or its
mechanical equivalent, on a spindle which can be provided with a handle or stop,
for the purposes described.
4th. The alternative apparatus with its screw, or its mechanical equivalent, pressing
an independent piece of stationary rubber against the sash or frame.
5th. The handle on the top of the sash acting at the same time as a handle and a
buffer, or acting singly as a handle, and in combination with a buffer or wedge, for
taking off the shock of the descending window, on an apparatus substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto
1
W. P. THOMPSON. (L.S.).