Improvements in Reversible Window Sashes and in their Frames and Appliances connected therewith.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept.. 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Reversible Window Sashes and in their Frames
and Appliances connected therewith.
1
I, ARTHUR CULPIN, of No. 1 Sidbury, Worcester, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to, be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and .by, the following
statement:-
This invention has for object certain improvements in reversible window sashes
and in their frames and appliances connected therewith, whereby
1. The upper sash may be lowered to a certain extent and the lower sash remain
closed, both sashes being locked in that position by an appliance arranged in
connection with the lower sash and an intervening strip.
2. Both sashes can be moved to about mid-distance of the opening in the sash
frame, in which position they may be turned bodily, or brought from the outer
side to the inside of an apartment and be moved within the side beads, so that
the outer surfaces of the glass of both sashes may be cleaned, or the sashes painted
from within a room.
. ."
3. That both sashes, whether in their proper order, or in reversed order, may be
bodily removed from the sash frame when repairs are necessary.
For the purpose of my invention, I attach two sash lines to each side of the
upper sash, one near the top thereof, and one just below the centre. The other
ends of said sash lines are connected to a strip, that from the upper end of the
upper sash to near the upper end of the strip, and the other to near the bottom
end of the strip, the two lines being rove round a double grooved pulley in
opposite direction.
The strip occupies a position between the lower sash and its side-frame and is
provided with a feather, which when the lower sash is placed in position, comes
within a slot formed in the side of the lower sash, and within which groove, the
feather has an amount of play according to the position at which a locking device
is arranged, said locking device being within the strip with its stem projecting
through a slot of the lower sash and provided with a handle by which it can be
turned. The handle can be affixed in an upward, or a downward position by a
throw over flap which constitutes part of the locking device, said device having
also a claw catch for embracing the stem of the appliance for holding the strip
rigidly in connection with the lower sash, so that the lower sash becomes
temporarily affixed to the strip and moves with it and secures the lower sash in a
closed position while the upper sash is open a short distance, thus ventilation-at
the upper part of an apartment may be obtained by the lowering of the upper
sash and a permanent locking of the lower sash as well as the upper sash.-
The double grooved roller has 'free motion on an axle projecting from a head
piece fixed in an angled slot provided in the sash frame, which slot when the head
is in place may be locked by a wedge piece inserted in the angled slot, the head
being prevented from turning by a chamfer cut on its periphery.
Between the strip and the sash frame is another strip and this is also pivotted
on the axle before mentioned, which enables, when the two sashes are brought

page_text: together to be turned over or reversed to bring the outside of the sashes to the
inside of an apartment, a portion of the side beads within which the sashes run
being on this second strip which keeps the two sashes in their respective positions.
At the part of the sash frame where the last named strip has a turning motion
a crevice or slit is formed between it and the sash frame in the apartment side
of the sash frame and an affixable facing board is placed over it to give approxi-
mately a flush appearance thereto but the corresponding crevice at the outside of
the sash frame is closeable by a plate, preferably packed with a piece of sheet
rubber, said plate being on a quadrant and turnable by a pinion within a recess
nade for it in the sash frame and partly within the second named strip. The pinion
is operated by an index band or finger projecting from the inside of the room so
as to be within easy reach of aur attendant.
When the handle of the locking device is turned in one direction, a locking
plate ou its inner end has free motion up and down with the strip but when the
lower sash, or the strip has to be locked in either of the positions at which they
can be arranged, the locking plate can be caused, when the handle is turned, to
enter one or other of a couple of slots in the front bead of the lower sash.
I have described the strips and locking device and other moveable portions as
at one side of the sash frame only but a duplicate set is arranged at the other side
for corresponding manipulation to be effected.
The invention will be more particularly understood by reference to the annexed
drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a pair of sashes and a sash frame, one side of which
has the facing board in position and the finger indicator.turned to indicate that
the outside slit is covered by the quadrant plate. The right hand side of said
figure represents its finger indicator turned up and the facing board removed, the
sashes being closed.
Figure 2 is a part sectional elevation of one half window and of the frame
partly in section showing one of the reversible strips with its axle head and one
of the adjustable strips and with the handle of the locking key turned up, the
fall down flap locking the key, both sashes being held firmly coupled together.
Figure 3 is a corresponding view to Figure 2, showing the upper sash lowered,
the position of the sliding strip being changed, and the fall down flap of the
fastener over the handle of the key which locks the two sashes firmly in the
position shown.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a sash frame showing the grooves at top
and bottom, and the race in which the sashes have motion for reversing, the same
figure also showing one of the turnable strips with the axle head projecting as if
removed from the angled slot of the side sash frame not shown,
Figure 5 is a corresponding view of the sash frame to Figure 4 with the sashes
removed, and the aperture in which the axle head engages when fixed by the
wedge piece..
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the axle and its head detached from the
sashes.
Figure 7 is a view of the upper sash partly in section and the sliding strip in
the positions they occupy when the two sashes are brought together.
Figure 74 shows rack and pinion arrangement for operating my reversible sashes.
This method may be adopted in conjunction with my balancing by sash lines or
without it, in which case the double grooved pullies E are not required.
Figure 8 is a part sectional plan of the two sashes, a frame, and a side box in
which the outer seam is covered by the quadrant plate operated by the pinion and
indicator finger, and with the front strip in position covering the front slit of
the frame and box.
Figure 8 shows the quadrant plate outside the box.
Figure 9 is a face view of a recessed plate, into which the key of the locking
device fits when ventilation is required at the top.
in 10 is an innan face view of one of the inside slit facing boards.

page_text: Figures 11 and 12 show the key and the locking device in an open and a closed
ondition, such as when the upper sash is lowered, as indicated at Figure 3, and the
ower Bash down and fastened.
The key is attached to the side sliding strip and as the key is moved up or down,
t carries the side sliding strip and enables the sash lines to be adjusted, whether:
he sashes be open or closed, .
ower Ba8n down and fastenca.
The key is attached to the side sliding strip and as the key is moved up or down,
t carries the side sliding strip and enables the sash lines to be adjusted, whether:
he sashes be open or closed, .
A, D, are the upper and lower sashes respectively.
C, sash, frame.
D, sliding side strip.
E, double grooved pulley.
F, F, sash cords rove in opposite directions round double pulley and with their
ends attached to the upper sash and sliding strip respectively.
G, a feather on sliding strip.
H, slot in edge of lower sash for the feather to ride in to limit the distance to
which the upper sash can be opened when required for ventilation purposes.
1, side turnable strip.
J, axle head.
K, wedge for holding axle head in position in sash frame.
1, pivot pin of axle head on which the two sash frames A, B, the sliding piece D,
and side strips can turn for reversing the sashes for cleaning purposes.
M, outside slit closing plate.
N, quadrant.
P, pinion for operating quadrant.
,finger indicator.
R, front slit facing board.
S, slotted plate on an enlarged scale but shown in dotted-lines, at Figures 4
and 5.
T, key of locking device.
U, handle thereof.
V, slotted plate affixed to lower sash to permit of movement of stem of locking
device, which is attached to side strip D.
W, fall down flap.
X, slot in fall down flap to pass over handle' U to lock it when the upper sash is.
down, as at Figure 3, and as indicated at Figure 12.
Y, is notch in end of fall down flap which bears against the stem of the catch T-
when at the bottom of the slot, and locks the sliding, strip and the lower sash
together, the sliding strip being at the bottom of its course and coincident with the
lower sash, the catch T engaging in the slot Z', which locks the lower sash and
strip, and since the upper sash cannot move without the lower sash, or the strip, the
upper sash becomes also locked but by turning the handle a quarter of a circle
without raising the fall down flap, the fastener T is released from the slot in the
side bead, and the two sashes are free to be moved up and down respectively to the
fullest extent of their travel.
%, claw catch for temporarily fixing the sashes together when top sash is only
open for ventilation.
To operate these sashes for the reversing action.
Supposing the two sashes be in the position shown at Figure 3. The flap W is.
raised and the handle. U turned to release entch T from its grip in slot in plate S,
the claw catch Z withdrawn the lower sash B is then lifted until the bottom of the
slot H comes into contact with the feather G, this will bring lower sash B aud
strip D to coincide with each other, the handle U is now turned-down for its catch T
to again grip in the slot of plate S, and the flap W is shut down over the handle U
the flap Wis turned down and the notch Y brought to bear upon the stem of locking
key Tthe lower sush 1 is then closed and the handle U turned up the two sashes A, li,
are now in balance and free to be inoved by raising the lower sash B, the upper
sash A will lower to a corresponding distance or until one is directly in front of the
other, as indicated at Figures 7 and 7*. The finger Q is now turned upwards to.

page_text: operate pinion and quadrant N, this causes plate M to get clear of meeting seam
and allows of the facing board R to be removed and the two sashes to be reversed
on the pivot pin L, the sliding strip D and strip I going with thein. "The two
sashes can now be moved up and down in their reversed condition as freely as if in
their proper position.
I have described the actions and operations necessary for one side of the sash
frame only but since both sides of the sash frames are similarly provided with
strips D, fingers Q, pinions P, quadrants N, closing plates M, and facing boards R,
and the lower sashes with strips I and locking appliances W, U, 'it will be
understood that the manipulations above described have to be performed at each
side.
וי
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said:
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In connection with reversible window sashes (in balance) a movable and affix-
able side strip provided with a turnable device for locking the sashes in the
desired positions as described and as shown by the annexed drawings.
2. In connection with reversible window sashes (in balance) the appliances by
which one of said sashes can be fixedly secured open for ventilatiou and for fixedly
securing or coupling the sashes together under other conditions as set forth and
shown.
3. In connection with reversible window sashes (coupled in balance) the hinged
flap appliance for fixedly securing the locking key in the desired position, according
to the position of the sashes as described.
'
4. In connection with reversible balanced window sashes the particular means
and appliances by which both sashics are carried and operatable thereon whether
by lines or pinions and racks connecting upper sash to lower sash sliding side strip
as described.
5. In connection with reversible window sashes (balanced) the means or
appliances by which seam or draught slits can be closed as described.
Dated this 15th dow of Lile 1001
1
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said A. Culpin..