IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS AND SHUTTERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Whiston, of Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, architect for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR
DOORS, WINDOWS AND SHUTTERS
"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Whiston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1883.
ROBERT WHISTON, of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, architect,
IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS AND SHUTTERS
"
This invention relates firstly, to that class of fastenings known as "bolts" and
which are applicable to doors, windows and shutters generally, though not usually
employed for hung sashes; and, secondly, to fastenings employed for sliding and
hung sashes of windows, doors and shutters.
:
A bolt constructed according to this invention is shot and drawn back by means
of a worm or thread upon a short spindle having its axis parallel with the bolt.
The spindle is carried at its back end in a suitable bearing fixed to the bolt-plate
and passes forwards in front of the bolt-tail along and inside the case or barrel of.
the bolt for the necessary distance. The spindle is held by suitable collars, or
otherwise from moving endways. The tail of the bolt is preferably made flat so
as to readily admit the spindle between its outer face and the inside of the case
or barrel. A worm or thread is sunk into the face of the bolt-tail, or equivalent
means are employed, for receiving the worm first described and thus enabling it to
act upon the bolt. The back-end of the spindle is provided with a short lever and
knob fixed at a right angle thereto, by which means the spindle may be moved
axially half a turn, such movement in one direction shooting the bolt forward, and
in the opposite direction drawing it back. The head of the bolt is made preferably
D-shaped, that is flat at the back, and rounded on the front side, to correspond.
with the section of the case. The staple is made preferably larger in section on
the side the bolt enters than on the other (or the head of the bolt is tapered
somewhat) so as to allow the bolt to enter the staple readily and to tighten itself
or fit better as it is shot home.

page_text: The chief advantages of a bolt constructed as described, are, convenience
and quietness of manipulation, as the lever has to be turned only, and not shot
lengthways.
A fastening, constructed according to this invention, for fixing double hung
window sashes, is let into the face of the pulley style on one side of the frame the
outside of the case of such fastening being flush with the face of the style. The
longitudinal axis of the case is fixed transversely of the pulley style at the common
centre of the two meeting bars. The part of the case at the middle of the pulley
style is circular in front elevation and forms one end of the case. The remainder
of the case is formed of a parallel-sided part which runs horizontally from the
circular part to the face of the joinery within the room. A circular frame is
carried loosely within the circular end of the case so as to be capable of readily
turning therein. Formed with or rigidly connected to this frame are two teeth
each forming in front elevation a segment of a ring struck from the centre of the
frame. The ends of these teeth are formed into inclined planes, and openings
corresponding to the teeth are formed through the face of the case so that as the
frame is turned in one direction the teeth screw themselves out from the face of
the case, and as the frame is turned in the opposite direction the teeth screw
themselves in with their outer faces (which are preferably broad and flat) flush
with the outer face of the case. A quadrant or lever is mounted upon a stud
within the case and central with the frame aforesaid, and such quadrant has a jaw
which takes around a stud upon the frame so that any axial movement of the
quadrant is imparted to the frame. The jaw is made deep so as to allow the stud
to travel therein as the frame moves outwards or inwards with the teeth. A
sliding-piece is carried within the parallel-sided part of the case, and has a slot at
the inner end in which a stud upon the quadrant works and by which stud such
quadrant is moved by means of the sliding-piece. The sliding-piece has a nut at
its outer end through which is screwed a quick-threaded screw on a spindle passing
out through the fore-plate of the case. This spindle is kept by suitable collars, one
on each side of the fore-plate, from moving endways, and consequently when it is
turned in one direction, by means of a handle on the outer end thereof, the
sliding-piece is forced forwards, the quadrant and also the frame being thus
partially rotated and the teeth screwed out and jammed tightly one against the
edge of one sash and the other against the edge of the other sash thus holding the
sashes firmly in any position; and when such spindle is turned in the opposite
direction the teeth are screwed in again with their outer faces flush with the outer
face of the case. The room occupied by the shape and motion of the part of each
tooth which projects beyond the face of the case is somewhat less than a semi-
circumference of the circle of which each tooth forms a segment, and the position
of the teeth is arranged to allow of the parting lath passing down between
them. When the fastener is required for a single-hung sash only, one tooth only
is necessary.
The advantages of this sash fastener are that it is much easier to manipulate, is
not sensibly affected by the shrinking of the joinery, and that it will securely hold
the sashes when left open for ventilation.
The sash fastener described may be employed, fixed in such position as may be
necessary according to the circumstances of the case, and either with one or
two teeth as may be required, for sliding and hung sashes, doors and shutters
generally.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Whiston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th September
1883.
"
_ROBERT WHISTON, of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, architect,
IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS AND SHUTTERS"
This invention relates, firstly, to that class of fastenings known as "bolts" and.
which are applicable to doors, windows and shutters generally, though not usually
employed for hung sashes; and, secondly, to fastenings for sliding and hung sashes
of windows, doors and shutters.
A bolt constructed according to this invention is illustrated by the accompanying
drawings on sheet 1, of which figure 1 is a front elevation but with the sheath in
section so as to shew the interior mechanism employed for operating the bolt.
The bearing block, hereinafter described, is also shewn in section by this view.
In this view the bolt is shewn drawn back. Figure 2 is a similar view to figure 1
but shews the bolt shot forwards. Figure 3 is a top view of figure 1 but with
the plate and sheath, as also some of the parts at the rear end of the bolt, shewn
in section. Figure 4 is a view of the underside of figure 2 being in other respects
a similar view to figure 3. Figure 5 is a front elevation of the sliding part or bolt
proper and plate, with the sheath in section, shewn for the sake of clearness
separate from the other parts of the bolt. Figure 6 is a front end view of figure 1.
Similar letters of reference occurring upon any two or more of these views indicate
corresponding parts. A is the plate, B the sheath, Ca tail to the sliding part or
bolt proper, D the head thereon, E a short spindle having an enlarged part F
thereon to receive the boss of the knob-lever G which is firmly held to it by means
of the screw H. I is a part of the spindle E shouldered down from the enlarged
part F to fit within a bearing block K which is fixed to the plate A.
a a¹ is a
worm or thread solid upon the spindle E, and b is a block formed slanting-wise
upon the spindle E, as shewn, and joining into and forming part with the worm.
When it is desired to shoot the bolt forwards, from the position shewn by
figure 1 into the position shewn by figure 2, the knob-lever.G is pulled down from
its upward position as shewn by figure 1 into its downward position as shewn by
figure 2, thus giving the spindle E a half turn. As the spindle is being turned the
part of the worm thereon, running down a curved inclined part c standing
up upon the bolt-tail C forces forward such inclined part c and consequently also
the bolt-tail C and with it the head D thereon. As the bolt head D arrives at its
outward extremity the end a¹ of the worm passes (as the concluding motion is
given to the spindle E) from off the incline c, and down behind a vertical part d
(see figure 4) and thus effectually acts as a stop to the bolt being forced back until
the knob-lever G is again raised. It will be seen that the inner face on the lower
side of the block b bears against the back end of an opening through the tail C,
when the end a¹ of the worm is behind the vertical part d, and such block b thus
prevents the bolt-tail from being drawn further forwards. The hole is formed in
the bolt-tail to allow space for the turning of the worm a a' and block b in
addition to the purpose already described. The sides of the hole / are chamfered
down from the upper to the lower side thereof as shewn at P.
When it is desired to withdraw the bolt, from the position shewn by figure 2 to
the position shewn by figure 1, the knob-lever G is raised up again, giving a half
turn to the spindle E, during which operation the end a¹ of the worm is raised
above the vertical part d, and the part a of the worm running down a curved
part e standing up upon the bolt tail C forces back the bolt-tail into the position

page_text: shewn at figure 1, at which point the end a¹ of the worm is behind a part ƒ and
thus securely prevents the bolt D from being pushed further inwards. In with-
drawing the bolt the play allowed in the parts permits of the end a¹ of the worm
passing up from behind the part d before the bolt commences its backward
movement. The spindle E is prevented from moving endways on account of the
boss of the knob-lever G coming between the bearing block I and the back end of
the sheath B, as shewn; and the part of the spindle E lying within the sheath B
is carried in guides formed by the parts e e¹ and ff and the metal joining the
bases of such parts respectively, in the manner shewn by dotted lines figure 6.
The rounded front of the sheath B fitting easily around the front side of the
worm a a¹ and the block b keeps the spindle E properly back in its guides. No
illustration is given of the bolt staple as it is of the ordinary construction, but
I may mention that I prefer to make such staple larger in the opening on the side
the bolt enters (or else to somewhat taper the head of the bolt) in order that the
bolt may enter the staple readily and tighten itself or fit better as it is shot home.
The chief advantages of a bolt constructed as described and illustrated, are,
convenience and quietness of manipulation, as the lever has to be turned only, and
not shot lengthways.
A fastening, constructed according to this invention, for the purpose of sliding
and bung sashes of windows, doors and shutters, is illustrated as adapted for
ordinary double-hung window sashes by the accompanying drawings on sheet 2,
of which figure 7 is a back view with the cap-plate removed so as to shew the
interior mechanism. Figure 8 is a section taken on line xx of figure 7 but shews,
in addition thereto, part of one side of the window casing in section. Figure 9 is
a detached wiew of an elevation, looking on the top thereof, of a toothed frame
hereinafter described and which is omitted in figure 7 for the sake of clearness of
illustration. Figure 10 is a view looking on the top of the case, and shews also
the sashes as well as part of one side of the window casing. Figure 11 is a back
elevation of the toothed frame, aforesaid, with the holes therethrough in position
to correspond with the other parts of the mechanism shewn by figures 7 and 8.
The same letters of reference occurring upon any two or more of these views
indicate corresponding parts. A. A is a casing the front B of which stands flush
with the face of the pulley style C (see figures 8 and 10). D is a cap-plate which
closes in the back of the casing A. A by being riveted thereto as shewn. The fore-
plate E stands flush with the joinery on the interior face of the window case.
The part F of the case is formed circular as shewn, the centre of such circular part
coinciding with the vertical centre of the parting lath G and also with the common
transverse centre of the two meeting bars. H is a circular frame fitting within
the circular part F of the case and capable of being turned upon the central pin J.
KK are two teeth formed upon or rigidly connected to the frame H. The outer
circumference of these teeth fits within the circular part F of the case, and the
ends of the teeth are formed as inclined planes. L L are openings through the
face of the plate B, and the ends of these openings are inclined exactly in the
same manner as the ends of the teeth K K. The frame H is placed within the
circular part F, with the front or outer parts of the teeth K K within the
openings LL, into which they fit easily. As the frame is turned in a right-hand
direction, the teeth screw themselves through the holes L L, on account of the
inclined planes on the ends of the teeth sliding against the correspondingly
inclined ends of the holes L L. In figure 8 the frame H is shewn in position with
the front or outer faces of the teeth K K flush with the front B of the case. M is
a spindle having a treble-threaded screw thereon, and passes through the fore-
plate E.
A knob-lever N is connected to a part of this screw which projects
beyond the fore-plate. The boss of this lever and a collar O upon the spindle
keep such spindle in position end ways. The screwed part of the spindle M passes
through an internally screwed boss P standing up upon a sliding plate Q. A
sliding-piece R is fixed to the sliding-plate Q by means of a screw a passing
through a flange on the piece R into a flange on the plate Q. At the inner end of

page_text: the sliding-piece R a slanting pin S stands backwards as shewn, the back end
thereof passing through and fitting within a hole formed through the frame H as
shewn. A guide pin T passes through a slot U in the sliding-piece R to assist in
keeping such sliding-piece in position.
As the knob-lever N is pulled downwards in a direction to unscrew the
spindle M, the sliding-plate Q is driven forwards towards the circular part F of
the case, and carries with it the sliding-piece R and pin S, and consequently also
turns the frame H in a direction to twist or screw the teeth K K forwards through
the openings L L. By this means therefor the front faces of the teeth K K may
be pressed against the edges of the window sashes, namely, one of each of such
teeth against one of each of such sashes respectively, thus firmly tightening back
such sashes between the front faces of such teeth and the pulley style opposite, as
shewn by figure 10. The frictional resistance of the screw M, pin S, and inclined
ends of the teeth, securely keeps the front faces of the teeth against the sashes when
tightened thereagainst as shewn by figure 10. It will be seen that as the teeth are
screwed forwards, the frame H will work forwards along the pins I and S. The
pin S is inclined as shewn in preference to standing back at right angles to the
sliding-piece R because it is found that this inclination increases the frictional
resistance to the back pressure against the outer faces of the teeth and provides
therefor greater security against the teeth being pushed back. The frame H is
made to fit around the pins I and S and within the circular part F sufficiently
easily to allow of the hole through which the pin S passes travelling in the
slightly curved line due to the radial motion of its short travel around the pin I
as the teeth K K are screwed in or out. By this arrangement for giving an
axial motion to the frame H, the quadrant mentioned in the provisional specifi-
cation is dispensed with and the mechanism therefore simplified. It will be seen
that the holes L L are arranged in such a position that one of the teeth K is
screwed out on one side of the parting lath G and the other tooth K on the
other side of such parting lath. The pitch of the screw M and the inclination of
the ends of the teeth K K are proportioned so that, in the most extreme case, the
knob-lever N has not to be moved more than half a turn to screw out the teeth.
When it is desired to unfasten the sashes, the knob-lever N is moved in the
opposite direction to that before-described, when the frame H is turned backwards
and the teeth K K drawn back again within the case, and with their front faces
flush again with the face of the plate B as shewn at figure 8. When the fastener
is required for a single-hung sash only, one tooth only is necessary.
The parts and R may be formed in one piece, if desired, but by making
them in separate pieces, as shewn, the part Q may be made in brass (on account
of the wear occasioned by the screw M through the boss P thereon) and the part R
in iron.
In the case of large sashes, a fastener may be fixed on each side, one right-
handed and one left-handed. The knob-lever in the illustration is shewn to turn
backwards from the window to screw out the teeth, but the thread on the screw M
may be made left-handed in case it is necessary or desirable for the knob-lever to
turn in the direction of the window, or the same purpose may be effected with the
fastener illustrated by fixing it on the opposite side of the window frame and
altering the position of the knob-lever on the spindle as required. In cases where
the knob-lever is too high up to be reached conveniently by hand, a rod may be
carried down therefrom to any convenient level.
The advantages of this sash fastener are, that it is much easier to manipulate
than the ordinary sash fasteners, is not sensibly affected by the shrinking of the
joinery, and will securely hold the sashes in any position in which they may be
placed whether for ventilation or otherwise.
The sash fastener described may be employed, fixed in such position as may
be necessary according to the circumstances of the case, and either with one or
two teeth as may be required, for sliding and hung sashes of windows doors and
shutters generally.

page_text: Having now stated the nature of my said invention and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, I declare that I do not limit
myself to the exact details herein described and shewn by the drawings, as such
may be varied without departing from the nature of my invention, but what I
claim as my invention and desire to secure by the herein before in-part-recited
Letters Patent, is :-
First-The improvements in that class of fastenings known as " bolts" and
which are applicable to doors, windows and shutters generally, such improvements
consisting of a worm or thread, fixed as to endway movement, but capable of being
moved axially by means of a suitable handle, in combination with suitable means
upon the bolt-tail for receiving such worm or thread and enabling it to shoot and
withdraw the bolt, substantially as herein described and shewn by the figures upon
sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Second In a bolt employed for fastening a door, window or shutter, the plain
knob-lever G (or other lever handle) mounted upon a screw-spindle E, such screw-
spindle being operated by a half turn of the knob-lever to shoot or withdraw the
bolt, substantially as herein described and shewn by figures 1 to 4 inclusive on the
accompanying drawings.
Third-The bolt constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated by the figures upon sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth-The before-described improvements in fastenings employed for sliding
and hung sashes of windows, doors and shutters, such improvements consisting of
a frame having teeth (or a single tooth) thereon with inclined ends, in combination
with holes through the front of the case, such holes having ends correspondingly
inclined to the ends of the teeth so that the said teeth may be capable of screwing
themselves forwards through the front of the case as the frame is turned in one
direction and screwing themselves backwards as the frame is turned in the opposite
direction, the necessary axial movement of such frame being produced by means
of a screwed spindle operating a suitable sliding-piece having a pin thereon
fitting into a hole through such frame, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and shewn by the figures on sheet 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fifth In a sash fastener employed for sliding and hung sashes of windows,
doors and shutters, the frame H having teeth K K thereon (or a single tooth) in
combination with the holes L L through the front of the case and in combination
also with suitable means for giving an axial movement to such frame, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described and shewn by the figures on sheet 2 of the
accompanying drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Sixth The improved sash fastener for sliding and hung sashes of windows,
doors and shutters, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and shewn by the figures on sheet 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I, the said Robert Whiston, have hereunto set my
band and seal this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
Witness :-
STEPHEN WATKINS Assoc. M. Inst C.E.
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
ROBERT WHISTON (L.S.)