Improvement in Sash Fasteners.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Sash Fasteners.
1, CHARLES SPICER APPLE, a Citizen of the United States of America
residing at Bellaire, in the County of Belmont and State of Ohio, 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 :-
The principal objects of my invention are to provide and produce a sash-fastener
which will firmly secure a window in a lowered or elevated position; which will be
simple in construction, effective in use; cheap to manufacture and capable of being
easily and quickly placed in position. For a better comprehension of the invention,
attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.
Figure 2, a side elevation showing the fastener in position for holding the window
in an elevated position.
Figure 3, an elevation showing the fastener in position for locking the window
when closed.
In all the above views corresponding parts are designated by the same letters of
reference.
A, is a right angled plate which is preferably made of sheet metal. This plate
may be stamped or bent into its proper position, or it may be cast when desired.
B, is a curved lever of the general shape shown which is provided with the
pivoting pin, a, and which is pivoted at its forward end to the plate A, preferably
by providing the plate with two bifurcated portions which are bent over the pin a,
as shown. It will be understood however, that this lever B may be pivoted in
place in any other suitable way. The curved lever B is provided directly above
the horizontal portion of the plate with the small lug b, which bears upon the plate
and which will retain the lever B in a normally inclined position so as to engage
with the sash frame when in operation. At the lower end of the lever B is a flat
bearing portion which is adapted to bear upon the sash frame. In some instances
it might be desirable to suitably roughen this bearing face so that it will engage
more firmly with the sash frame, and the same effect will be produced when the
bearing face is made of rubber, but as a general thing, neither of these expedients
is necessary and I have found that a perfectly smooth bearing surface fulfils every
desired requirement. The operation of the device when in use is as follows.
When it is desired to hold the window in an elevated position, it is first raised to
the desired height and the plate A. is inserted in position with its vertical arm in
place between the sash and the frame. The window upon being allowed to descend
will bear upon the upper portion of the lever B, and cause the bearing face to
engage with the sash frame. In this way the lever B will be forced into an almost
horizontal position so as to constitute a toggle-joint which will effectively prevent
the further descent of the window. When it is desired to lower the window it is
first necessary to elevate it so as to allow the lever B to become disengaged from
the sash frame, and the entire fastening is then removed from its place. When it
is desired to lock the window in a lowered position, the vertical part of the plate A
is inserted in place between the top of the sash and the sash frame with the device
in an inverted position as shown in Figure 3. It will now be seen that when an
attempt is made to raise the window the lever B will be moved towards a horizontal
position, which will force the bearing face against the side of the sash frame so as
to constitute a toggle-joint and in this way to prevent the window from being
raised.

page_text: 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,
A sash-fastener, consisting of a right-angled frame, a curved lever pivoted
therein and provided with a flat bearing face at its lower end.
Dated the 19th day of May 1891.
CHARLES SPICER APPLE.
Frederic Prince,
1, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for Applicant.