IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH FASTENERS "
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Robert Wethered, of Woolwich, in the County of
Kent, Major, RA, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH FASTENERS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Robert Wethered at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1877
EDWIN ROBERT WETHERED, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, Major, R.A.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH FASTENERS "
This Invention has for its object improvements in sash fasteners
My sash fastener consists of two principal parts, a fixed incline and a moveable
incline or wedge connected with the fixed incline, but in such manner as to be free
to slide up and down upon it The fixed incline is provided with lugs or flanges
perforated to receive screws, by which it is attached to the lower sash of the window
in the same position as an ordinary sash fastener, or two fastenings may be employed,
one on either side of the sash, the edge of the moveable incline or wedge then
enters the crack between the sashes, and its outer side, which is vertical, or nearly
so, iests against the lower bar of the upper sash When in this position any
attempt to raise the lower sash, or to lower the upper sash, causes the moveable
incline or wedge to descend the fixed incline, and consequently to force the sashes
apart, until they are set fast in their guides
When it is desired to open the window the moveable incline or wedge is held up
by means of a catch, or otherwise
A convenient arrangement is to joint to the lower sash handles which serve to
raise it, and to connect such handles by a wire or cord with the moveable wedges, so
that when the bandles are lifted the wedges are thereby raised out of contact with
the upper sash
It is obvious that the moveable part of the fastening might be made to move
about a centre or axis in place of sliding on an incline, but the airangement described
is more convenient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edwin Robert Wethered in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th August 1877
EDWIN ROBERT WETHERED, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, Major, R A.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH FASTENERS"
This Invention has for its object improvements in sash fasteners
My sash fastener consists of two principle parts, a fixed incline and a moveable
incline or wedge connected with the fixed incline, but in such manner as to be free
to slide up and down.upon it The fixed incline is provided with lugs or flanges
perforated to receive screws by which it is attached to the lower sash of the window 1
in the same position as an ordinary sash fastener, or two fastenings may be employed,
one on either side of the sash, the edge of the moveable incline or wedge then
enters the crack between the sashes, and its outer side, which is vertical, or nearly
so, rests against to lower bar of the upper sash When in this position any attempt
to raise the lower sash, or to lower the upper sash, causes the moveable incline or 1
wedge to descend the fixed incline, and consequently to force the sashes apart, until
they are set fast in their guides
When it is desued to open the window the moveable incline or wedge is held up
by means of a catch, or otherwise
It is obvious that the moveable part of the fastening might be made to move
about a centie or axis in place of sliding on an incline
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figuro 1 is a side elevation of a sash fastener constructed according to my
Invention, the parts are in the position for holding the sashes, to prevent the
opening of the window, Figure 2 is also a side elevation of the same fastening,
but the moveable wedge is here shown raised and retained, so that the sashes
are fico
Figure 3 is a front elevation, and Figure 4 is a vertical section of the apparatus,
'with the parts in the same position as in Figure 2 a is a portion of the lower sash
of the window and b a portion of the upper sash, c is an incline fixed to a by
screws passing through holes in the lug or flange c¹, d is the moveable incline or
wedge, it has a stem d¹ entering a slot in the part c, and serving to retain the
parts c and d in contact, but leaving the latter free to move up or down, e is a
trigger serving to raise, retain, and release the wedge d. The face of the wedge is
roughened, to give it a better hold on the side rail of the upper sash, against which
it abutts In some cases I apply jointed handles to the lower sash, and connect the
stagger e with them by wies or cords, so that when the handles are raised for the
purpose of lifting the sash the moveable wedge is thereby automatically moved
away, and similarly on leaving go of the handle the moveable wedges are permitted
⚫to descend
Figure 5 15 a side clevation of a window fastener which operates in a similar
manner by wedging the sashes apart, but by a circular motion about a pin or axis
un place of by a sliding movement The piece a is attached by screws to the side
frame of the window, and the curved wedge b 18 caused by the small weight b¹ to
bear against the side rail of the lower sash, it offers no resistance to the closing
down of the sash, but the sash cannot be raised unless the curved wedges be first
held out of contact
Figure 6 15 a side elevation of a similar fastening adapted to secure both the
sashes, and also to lock them when the window is closed a is a portion of the
lower and b is a portion of the upper sash, c is a small bracket fixed on the upper
rail of the lower sash, and it carries a centre or axis c¹, on which the curved wedge d
•
E

page_text: d
is able to turn The weight of the wedge is so arranged that the part à rests in
contact with the side rail of the upper sash, and fiom its form it Jams the sashes
apart and sets them fast as soon as any attempt is made to raise the lower sash or
to push down the upper sash, but the apparatus offers no opposition to the closing
of the window.
Figure 7 shows the curved wedge & separately, it will be seen that the hole
through which the centre pin or axle passes is slotted, this slot comes into use
when the instrument is employed to lock the sashes after the window has been
closed
Figure 8 shows the fastening in the position which it assumes when the sashes
are locked. A recess is formed in the side rail of the upper sash at b¹, and at the
same place a small metal bai, which appears in section in the Figure, is fixed After
the window has been closed the point of the curved wedge d is pushed forward
beneath the cross bar, and the wedge is then turned so as to catch the bar and draw it
forward, thus binding the sashes together During this operation the pivot finds its
way into the other branch of the slot in the wedge piece
Figures 9 and 10 show a similar arrangement, but adapted to the single purpose
of binding the sashes together after that they have been close a is a plate to be
attached by screws to the top rail of the lower sash, bis a curved wedge which is
held to the plate a by means of the bridge piece a¹, c is a plate to be fixed to the
lower 1ail of the upper sash, it has an eye c¹ formed upon it, into which the point
of the curved wedge b enters Figure 9 represents the parts in the positions which
they occupy when the sashes are free, and Figure 10 shows the position when the
sashes are locked together. d is a small spring to prevent the wedge b moving with
the rattling of the window when open or unlocked
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim the construction of sash
fasteners substantially as herein described
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Robert Wethered, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.