IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR SASHES OR CASEMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dawes, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, in
the County of York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FASTENERS FOR SASHES OR CASEMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dawes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th April 1873.
I, WILLIAM DAWES, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR SASHES OR CASEMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES," to be as follows :-
By the use of a strong elastic spring I make my "fastener" self-
acting or self-fastening, and I am enabled to do this with a spring much
stronger and therefore more certain in its action than heretofore, as I
dispense with the ordinary latch or latching actions or arrangements,

page_text: wherein the power and friction required to overcome such a spring
would tend to displace the then stationary sash or casement instead of
fastening them together, and I employ in lieu thereof a catch or "click"
for retaining or withholding this self-acting portion, whether bolt or
lever out of action or "unshot" when the window is open or un-
fastened, and thus the light duty or action of releasing the parts so
retained by lifting or disengaging the said catch is all the effort required
in closing, thereby insuring with additional certainty the proper securing
of the window however slowly the sashes may be moved or brought into
the "closed" position.
or
Another advantage resulting from the before named arrangement is
that of allowing both hands to be disengaged or at liberty after un-
fastening the window for lifting the lower sash or pulling down the
upper one when opening the window, instead of having to hold the
fastener "unfastened" with one hand whilst opening the window with
the other, as the use of an ordinary latch action would necessitate; and
it may be well to explain that to effect this the second "point," "stud,"
click," which disengages the former or first-named (retaining) click
is so constructed and placed that when they are passing each other in
opening the window it the second or disengaging click "gives way” or
passes the other without any effect, similar to the "passing spring" and
"detent" in the chronometer escapement, and also it must be under-
stood that when acting (i.e., "letting off" or disengaging the fastener);
these catches or clicks pass each other so completely or entirely that the
former is not held or retained out of action by the latter, but is again at
liberty to catch and retain the bolt or lever, whichever I employ, at the
next time of opening the window as before explained.
In some eases I construct my improved "fastener" in such a manner
that in addition to the herein-before explained features it shall also be
self-locking," and this I effect by the use of either the before named
retaining catch or click, and a second notch or groove for it to fall into,
or by an additional click and notch for this purpose only, so arranged
and employed in either case as to form or constitute a locking "stop" or
security against unfastening from the "outside."
I sometimes employ also even another catch or click to act upon or
into this security or locking catch, and thus effect what may be called
“double locking.”

page_text: This last described double locking catch may also be a distinct or
separate locking medium independent of the other or former one, both
being arranged so as to be readily and conveniently "unlocked" inside
the room for opening the window.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Dawes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
DAWES, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Dawes, Her special licence
that I, the said William Dawes, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Dawes, my executors,
administrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS
FOR SASHES OR CASEMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Dawes, 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 William Dawes, do hereby declaro
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, that is to say :—
By the use of a strong elastic spring I make my "fastener
"self-

page_text: acting or self-fastening, and I am enabled to do this with a spring much
stronger and therefore more certain in its action than heretofore, as I
dispense with the ordinary latch or latching actions or arrangements,
wherein the power and friction required to overcome such a spring
would tend to displace the then stationery sash or casement instead of
fastening them together; and I employ in lieu thereof a catch or
"click" for retaining or withholding the self-acting parts, whether lever
or bolt, out of action or unshot," when the window is open or
unfastened; and thus the light duty or action of releasing the parts so
held or retained by lifting or disengaging the said catch is all the effort
required in closing, thereby insuring with additional certainty the proper
securing of the window however slowly the sashes may be moved or
brought into the "closed" position.
«
<<
"
Another advantage resulting from the before named arrangement is
that of allowing both hands to be disengaged or at liberty (after un-
fastening the window) for lifting the lower sash or pulling down the
upper one when opening the window, instead of having to hold the
"fastener "unfastened" with one hand whilst opening the window with
the other, as the use of an ordinary latch action would necessitate; and
it may be well to explain that to effect this the second "point", "stud,'
or click," which disengages the former or first named (retaining) catch
or "click" is so constructed and placed that when they (the two
catches) are passing each other in opening the window it, the second
or disengaging click," gives way or passes the other without any
effect, similar to the "passing spring" and "detent" in the chronometer
escapement; and also it must be understood that when acting (that is
"letting off" or disengaging the self-acting parts of the fastener) these
catches or clicks pass each other so completely or entirely that the
former is not held out of action or prevented from catching by the latter
but is again at liberty to catch and retain, unfastened or unthrown, the
lever or bolt (whichever I employ) at the next time of opening the
window, as before explained.
"
"
I also construct my improved "fastener in such a manner that in
addition to the heroin-before explained features it shall also be "self-
locking, " and this I effect by the use of either the before named
retaining catch or click and separate or additional " notch " or
"notches "for it to fall or "lock" into, or by an additional catch or
"click" and notches, for this purpose only, so arranged and employed

page_text: in either case as to form or constitute a locking "stop" or security
against unfastening from the outside.
I sometimes employ also another catch or "click" to act upon, into,
or against this security or locking catch, and thus effect what may be
called "double locking."
This last described double locking catch may also be constructed as
a distinct or separate locking medium or action independent of the other
or former one, both being arranged so as to be readily and conveniently
unlocked or unfastened inside the room for opening the window.
To render the foregoing general description of my improvements
additionally clear and intelligible I have appended the accompanying
illustrations, wherein,―
Figure 1 is a "plan" of my "fastener" when unfastened before opening
the window. Figure 2 is a "plan" of the same in the closed or
fastened and locked position. Figure 3 is a front elevation, when in the
latter or Figure 2 position. Figure 4 shows the position of the retaining
and disengaging catches before opening the window, or as in Figure
No. 1. Figure 5 shows the position of the catches before releasing or
disengaging when the window is being closed. Figure 6 is a side section
of my improved "fastener" arranged as a self-acting bolt, and un-
fastened. Figure 7 is the same, fastened and locked. The following
letters of reference will also be a further guide as to the details and their
action, namely
a is the bottom plate; b, the lever or claw, with a strong coiled
spring in the centre round the stationary fulcrum pin, and tending or
striving always to throw the lever and claw into the locked or Figure 2
position; C, the retaining or withholding catch or click; d, an undercut
quadrant or guard for steadying and strengthening the lever, supplying
also the "notches" for the click C to catch into or against at 1 and 2,
the former for "retaining" and the latter for "locking" when fastened;
E, the second or disengaging catch or click for lifting or releasing the
catch C, to allow the lever and claw B to "strike round" into the locked
position on closing the window. It will be understood from Figures 4
and 5 that this click works freely upon a pivot or pin, so as to yield or
"give way" upwards for opening the window and fall into position for
duty or action in closing, as before explained; Fis the overhanging head

page_text: or standard, under which the tapered hook 6 strikes for securing the
window; G is the additional catch or click for double locking.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
described or referred to, as many modificatons and variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of the said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, the use and application to window
fasteners of the retaining catch or click C, the " one way, single
acting," or "passing" catch or click E for disengaging this retaining
catch or click and the locking catches, clicks, or notches (single or
double), combined with the two former catches C and E, in one and the
same fastener, for the purpose of producing the effects or improvements
herein-before explained and set forth.
" k
In witness whereof, I, the said William Dawes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
JOHN RADCLIFFE,
Fenton Street,
Leeds.
WILLIAM DAWES. (L.8.)