CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Nicolas Michel and Augustin
Lecomte, of Paris, in the Empire of France, and of 16, Castle
Street, Holborn (City), London, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS."
Sealed the 21st April 1854, and dated the 21st October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Nicolas
Michel and Augustin Lecomte at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 21st October 1858.
We, CHARLES NICOLAS MICHEL and AUGUSTIN LECONTE, of Paris.
in the Empire of France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn, City,
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CER-
TAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS" to be as follows:-
The annexed Drawings represent, A, A, two glazed sashes arranged
as in ordinary French windows, only instead of moving on pivots they
slide parallel in a groove; they are retained above and below by
grooves, which prevent deviation. On each side of the sash frames

page_text: are two panels B, B, of a breadth equal to that of the sashes, and of the
same height, increased by the space occupied by the apparatus for
easily moving the frames; each of the side panels thus forms a box in
which the sashes A, A, lodge. These panels are united at their upper
and lower parts by wooden cross pieces c, c, of which the lower one has
a tongue D, D, and which works in a groove in the bottom of the
frame. When the window is open the sashes are not completely hid
by the panels, the half nearly of the sash being outside to facilitate
the closing, and to afford the means of making the sashes advance
or recede, accordling as it is desired to open the window more or less.
Above the window is a small door E, E. to facilitate the repair of the
rollers herein-after mentioned. The system of rollers, Figs. 3 and 4
principally consist of an iron bar divided into two parts i, i, each double
the length of the sash; each sash is suspended on one of these bars by
two pulleys with iron fittings which go into notches. These bars are
fixed by small cross pieces, which also limit the course of the sashes;
the bars supporting the rollers are arranged so as to enter into the
groove made in the tope of the frame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Nicolas Michel and Augustin Lecomte
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
CHARLES NICOLAS MICHEL and AUGUSTIN LECONTE, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Tetters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto we, the said Charles Nicolas Michel and Augustin
Lecomte, Her special licence that we, the said Charles Nicolas Michel
and Augustin Lecomte, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or

page_text: the window and window frame seen from inside the room as shut.
Fig. 2, is an elevation of the window seen from the back and opened,
the panelling being removed. Fig. 3, is an inside elevation of the rolling
apparatus. Fig. 4, a plan of the same. Fig. 5 and 6, shew in elevation
and plan the fastening apparatus. A, B, are the two window sashes
which join together by a round groove called wolf's mouth, as seen in
Fig. 6; b, is a double bolt, which upon being turned by the knob k,
enters into the eyes c, fastened at the top and bottom of the window A,
and into mortices cut in the cross bar C, C, of the fixed frame. The
panels of the window are moulded in the usual way. The upper and
lower sash-bars S, S', have grooves which fit on the iron bars I, and
rebate R, respectively (sec Figs. 2 and 3); D, D, are recesses or empty
spaces, which are a little less wide than the windows, so that when they
are shoved back as far as possible the fastenings do not enter the
recess; hence the thickness or diameter of the recess is only made
equal to the thickness of the window sash without fustenings. F, F, is
the frame fixed in the wall. In the upper portion of this frame are
fixed two iron bars I, on each of which is hung a window by two or
more casters c, c. These bars I, can each be taken off separately, in
case the window has to be cleaned, or for any other reason. w, is the
central joint between the two sashes or wolf's mouth; d, is a bead fixed
vertically on the fixed frame; h, is the hinged door by which the rolling
apparatus is hidden from sight; E, is the paper tapestry or wains-
coating which fills the panels of the recesses D, D. The windows
A, B, rolling with great case on the casters c, they may also be opened
by turning the knob k, in the following manner:-A. cord or wire is
attached at each end of the axis of the knob, and being guided by
pulleys may be drawn from each part of the room by means of bell-
crank levers suitably fixed on or in the walls. In order to counteract
the tendency which the window-sash has to lift off the bar at the
pulling end when pulled, we fix in the thickness of the wood small
casters e, c', which roll on the under edge of the bars I, I.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the way in
which the same may be carried into effect, we wish it to be distinctly

page_text: such others as we, the said Charles Nicolas Michel and Augustin
Lecomte, our 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
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Charles Nicolas Michel and Augustin
Lecomte, by an instrument in writing under our haud and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 we, the said Charles Nicolas Michel and
Augustin Lecomte, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
Our improvements consist in a new arrangement of windows, differing
entirely from the sash-bar and French windows hitherto used, and
affording an easier and more perfect shutting than these. Our im-
proved window possesses, in common with the ordinary sash-bar window,
the advantage of not projecting in or outside the room when opened,
but it is preferable to the said window in point of soundness of joint,
solidity, and graceful appearance. The improved window consists
chiefly of two moveable sash windows, similar to those called French
windows, but instead of turning on binges they are hung on a hori-
zontal bar by means of casters, on which they can be rolled out of
sight into recesses formed on each side of the window. These recesses
are hidden in the wall, either by closed panels or open panels hung
with paper or tapestry, the tightness of the joints being ensured by
rebates and grooves at the top and bottom of the window.
In order, however, to make the nature of our improvements better
understood we have detailed on the annexed Drawings the way in
which they may be carried into effect. Fig. 1, is a front elevation of

page_text: understood that we claim the system of French windows above described
sliding in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction on bars, the said
windows being shut and opened either by hand or mechanical means.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Nicolas Michel and
Augustin Lecomte, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord 1854.
MICHEL (L.S.)
LECOMTE. (L.S.)