Improvements in and relating to Sash-holders.
Year: 1890

page_text: of Application, 25th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec.,
1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sash-holders.
I, GEORGE HOPKINS SPRING, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Le Mars, in the County of Plymouth and State of Iowa, one of the
United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 that class of constructions provided to fasten and lock
sash in raised and lowered relations in their casements, and is designed to afford a
device symmetrical in form and reliable in service, for well, and for poorly fitted
sash, being adapted to harmless service with related parts, while convenient in
for the purposes to which it is designed.
It consists essentially in a pendent oblong wedge attached to the side stile of a
raised sash, adapted to slide up and down in its casement, and a stop such as a pivot
and roller, or with a stationary pin alone, for sash fastening purposes, which projects
its narrow end upwardly between the roller or pin, and the nearest part of the
casement to it, the lower under part of the wedge projecting outwardly beneath the
roller, or pin, it having, as a facing feature, a smooth band attached to shield parts
of the casing from injurious pressure, in its use. Also in means in part connected
with the wedge, by which to suspend it in the position indicated, though with its
lower part tending by its weight, to hang away from the casing, to avoid undesired
automatic fastening of the sash when being lowered; in means to limit the inward
movement or swing of the wedge, and that of another attachment (beside it) to
advantage, and in means to move and sustain the pendent wedge, by hand
pressure, sidewise, against the nearest stationary casing of the sash, when the
parts of the invention are encased, (which service may be accomplished directly by
hand pressure, when they are not encased) to make the wedge practically for the
time, a stationary feature of the casing to permit the stop as the said roller, or,
if so used, the round pin attached to the sash to move freely down on the
outwardly leveled side of the wedge, making it a wedging key in its situation,
to easily and securely fasten the sash up in its casement. Also in a pendent,
pivoted lever and locking brace, adapted as the means to press the encased
wedging key into its casing in the sash-fastening service, and also to be turned
upwardly above its pivot, so as to lean at the limit of its upward turning
circuit, against the nearest casing or stop of the sash, as formed to receive it, .
so as to brace against it, or a metal attachment or stop, provided for the purpose,
to lock the sash securely when down; also in a metal case as shown to shield
the combined mechanism of the invention from sight, and to strengthen and hold
in good working relations with each other its various movable and stationary
parts; also a fending roller attached to the metal casing, or in like relations
upon the sash, adapted to limit the side motion of a loosely fitted sash, and shield
from injurious contact the face parts of the metal casing, and the stationary casing
of the sash, and to secure the advantages of the invention thus, to such poorly fitted
sash.
The details of this invention and reference to its scope and general design,
are more fully given in the annexed Specifications, illustrated by accompanying
drawings, so that any one skilled in the art can readily understand and reproduce
them.
In the drawing:
-
Figure 1 is a front view, showing the application of the invention.
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, the front of the case being removed, and
showing the operation of the wedge by dotted lines.

page_text: Figure 4 is an elevation of the stop.
The wedging key, W, may be of any substantial material, such as wood, and
the like, but I choose metal such as iron or brass, preferably, because by its
use I can better balance the wedge so that it will hang (at least in its lower
part) rather away from the window stop, thus diminishing its tendency to
disappointingly fasten the sash when being lowered; and the liability to this is
corrected by attaching to the face plate of wedge, W, a band, B, of smooth
leather, as of sheep-skin. As means to suspend the wedging key, W, I provide
a metal curved band, O, attached to the upper narrow part of the key, formed
to fit or hang upon the stop, R, which may be either a pin, or a pin provided
with a roller. The wedging key, being oblong, gives quite a margin for
supporting sash that have a slight side motion of their casings; but for sash
that have so much side play as to require it, I have provided, as shown in
Figure 3, a fending roller, G, designed to measure or limit the side motion of
such a window, so that my fastener can be set near enough to the side stop to
have the full benefit of all the enlarging taper of the wedge, without bringing
its face parts into injurious contact with the window stop. This gives, besides,
more steadiness of action to the sash, as it is raised and lowered, and as I have
indicated, I provide in this way for the secure fastening of the most loosely
fitted sash, as well as of others that are better adjusted in their casements. I
make this fending roller, preferably of sole-leather, as being durable and other-
wise well adapted to this service. Obviously, other suitable material can be
used with equal advantage. The lower and thicker portion of the pendent wedge,
serves as a basis of pressure by which it can be pressed and held (initially)
against the window stop by direct hand pressure, when used without a metal
casing, and a lateral projection, L, from its base serves the same purpose when
encased, as referred to later herein. The locking brace, I, has a perforation in
its upper end by which it is supported pendently upon a pivot, P, and when
used in connection with the metal casing, H, it hangs pendently within it,
practically filling its open side, though by its weight adapted to incline inwardly
at the bottom, as the wedge does on the other side.
As means to limit the inward inclination of these parts, and yet to hold
them in the best position for ready service, I provide a screw, S, which
serves also in fastening case, H, to the sash. This screw, S, is set where
wedge, W, can touch against it, and hang slightly inclined below, so as to
avoid undesired automatic fastening of the sash when lowering, and projection, L,
is adapted to extend sufficiently far from wedge, W, to hold brace, I, in a
perpendicular position, thus limiting its inward tendency, wedge, W, being heavier
than brace, I.
The benefit of brace, I, as it relates to fastening raised sash, consists in its
being adapted to be pressed upon on its exposed side, and pushed into the metal
casing, H, and through projection, L, presses and supports wedge, W, against
window stop C, permitting the service of stop, R, in fastening the sash. For
convenience of operation, a thumb knob, p, is provided on the side of the brace, I,
for the finger or thumb to obtain a purchase on when it is required to lock the
sash or hold the wedge in a stationary position relative to the sash when the
latter is lowering. The further use of the brace, 1, is in the locking service,
which its name implies. This locking service is required when the sash is down,
and is effected by turning the brace-which is reversible-upwardly, and over
against window stop, C, as indicated in Figure 1, where it locks bracingly
against a metal stop, N, which is driven obliquely into stop, C, and flush with
its surface, a slight beveled recess being made from stop, C, below it, being
thus adapted to its contact in reception there, and to its ready release when
turned outwardly to resume its pendent position by gravity in the side of H.
The metal stop, N, prevents all contact of the outer end of the brace, 1, with the
wood-work, thus completing the locking of the sash in a substantial manner, so that
it cannot be raised by outside parties.

page_text: The double service of brace, I, ought to be appreciated, and the fact also,
that after the work is done, it retires quite out of sight, except as it adds to
the appearance of the case, H, filling and closing its otherwise open side.
The metal case, H, is oblong in its general form, having an oval shaped top;
it is formed of one piece of metal, so as to be closed at its lower end, and
preferably open at its top and side edges, for the free use of the wedge and the
locking brace, and having its front and back plates perforated alike, adapting it
to be fastened on the right or left side of the sash, as may be preferred by the
user. As means for the end designed, I have provided a spacing bar, U, attached
to one of the plates to hold the front and back plates of case, H, sufficiently
apart, so that the movable parts of the invention, such as the pendent wedge, W,
the pendent brace, I, and the anti-friction roller, R, may move freely between
them. As thus formed the case, H, is adapted to shield from sight, to strengthen
in use, and to hold in good working relations to each other, the various stationary
and working parts of the invention, and to form thus a sightly and acceptable
attachment to the sash, for the joint purpose that it serves.
The metal stop, N, has a flat oblong top border, T, adapting it to serve as
a full width rest or bracing point for the contact of brace, I, in locking the
sash, and also, as referred to later, for the contact of wedge, W, in fastening it
open, when a round pin is substituted for roller, R, as it may be in this service,
as it effects practically the same end. The stop, N, has also two flat tapering
points, V, V, extending below its border, T; by which it can be secured readily
and firmly on the side casing, or window stop, without the use of screws, being
well adapted in its form and mode of setting for its designed uses with the parts
mentioned, and to permit their ready release after service.
In the drawing the invention is shown in encased form, but in the line of
economy it may be used uncased, or if preferred with a partial face plate only.
In either case projection, L, and thumb knob, P, could be omitted from the
construction and stationary screws or pins could limit the inward tendency of
brace, I, and wedge, W, could be pressed against stop, C, directly by hand
or finger touch.
While I show an oblong wedge, pressed into service by a lever, I, pivoted
at one end, may, (in a metal case as long as represented in Figure 3) use a
shorter lever pivoted in an eccentric manner, for the purpose, and the oblong
wedge may be varied in its form in some minor particulars, as for instance in
the substitution in the place of the metal band, B, of a flexible band attached
to a stationary pin above, R.
While my invention is illustrated showing my oblong wedge suspended so as
to be pressed and held initially in a stationary manner by hand pressure against
the side casing or window stop, to be fastened there by side pressure from one
round roller on a stationary pin; it is obvious that by the use of a series of my
stops, driven so as to project slightly at intervals from the side casing or window
stop, so that the wedge when pressed sidewise could engage or rest on any one
of them, and one round stationary pin can be used in the place of the roller if
preferred, to fasten the sash open in connection with the lower sash when raised,
or the upper sash when lowered.
All
In an un-encased form my sash fastener may be used in the lower corner of a
lower sash by a mortise opening being made there for it in the edge of the
sash, such as will permit the wedge, W, to be moved sidewise by thumb or
finger pressure after the sash is raised; in which method of use the brace, I,
could be pivoted separately on the stile for its reversible locking service.
my encased device could be set in a sufficiently long mortise opening above the
point just indicated, so that the lever, I, would project its outer end upwardly
and lean normally toward the body of the sash, having linked to it near to and
above its pivot, a pushing and drawing rod projecting through the stile of the
sash to move it into its locking service against the side casement and to retract
it therefrom as required and a similar projecting pin below and opposite, W

page_text: but not attached to it, could be moved against it to effect its special service i:
holding the sash open. Many, however, will doubtless prefer my invention o
account of ease in attaching it upon the face of the side stile of the sas',
which method of use I have more definitely indicated. I do not limit myself
to the exact details of the various features of its construction as shown, or in
the use of the precise means shown as employed to effect the ends specified, as
other and similar means and devices may be used consistently with the design
and scope of this invention to accomplish the same results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:
1. A sash fastener to be attached to a sash in its casement, composed of a
wedge suspended at its narrow end and normally held from contact with the
casement whereby the sash can be moved up or down freely in its casement,
said wedge being susceptible of lateral motion whereby it can be brought in
contact with the casement to hold the sash in the required position, and a stop
for the wedge to bind against when fastening the sash, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the pendent wedge, of the pendent locking brace
adapted to engage with and limited in its inward movement by the said wedge
and adapted to be turned up against the window stop or casement, substantially
as described.
3. A sash fastener and holder comprising a metal holding case attached to a
sash in its casement near one of its side casings, having its top and sides open
and having an oblong wedging key suspended within it, so that its upper narrow
end projects upwardly between and a stop and the side casing or window stop near
it to press the wedging key against the side casing or window stop when the
sash is lowering, and having within it on the opposite side from the wedging
key, a pendent pivoted locking brace which can be turned above its pivot to
touch bracingly against the near window stop, and a metal attachment thereon
to lock the sash when down, to shield these fastening and locking parts from
sight, and to strengthen and hold them in good working relation with each other,
substantially as set forth and for the purposes described.
4. A pendent oblong wedging. device adapted to fasten a sash up, and a
pending locking brace adapted to lock a sash down, attached to the side stile
of a sash in its casement near each other, having an anti-friction roller between
their upper ends to aid in the sash fastening service, each by gravity inclining
inwardly below the roller, in combination with intervening means to limit this
tendency so as to keep each in its required position for ready service, to fasten
the sash when raised and to lock the sash when down, substantially as set forth
and for the purposes mentioned.
5. An oblong reversible locking brace perforated at one end an attached by
a stationary pin or pivot to the side stile of a sash in its casement so as to
hang pendently upon it, having a short pin projecting from its low or part toward
the body of the sash as a point of pressure by which to move it against a
pendent oblong wedging key between it and the casing to effect wedging support
of the raised sash, being adapted also to be turned upwardly above its pivot so
as to lean at the limit of its upward turning circuit against the nearest casing
of the sash as formed to receive it, so as to brace against it, or a metal attach-
ment, thereto, to lock the sash securely when down, substantially as set forth and
for the purposes indicated.
Dated this 25th day of Narambar 1800.
JENSEN & SON
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.. Patent Agents.