IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING, CLOSING, AND FASTENING WIN- DOWS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Malcolm McCallum, John McCallum, and Donald McCallum,
all of Fort William, in the County of Inverness, North Britain, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING, CLOSING, AND FASTENING WIN-
DOWS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 19th August 1879, and dated the 24th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Malcolm McCallum, John
McCallum, and Donald McCallum at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 24th February 1879.
MALCOLM MCCALLUM, JOHN MCCALLUM, and DONALD MCCALLUM, all of Fort
William, in the County of Inverness, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING,
CLOSING, AND FASTENING WINDOWS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
The object which is secured by this Invention is the easy raising and lowering, as
well as the securely fixing of window sashes in any position.
The apparatus consists of two rods, preferably not exceeding one inch in diameter,
and having the lower half cut with a right or left hand screw, and the upper half
with the screw reversed. Upon each end is a collar or clip fixed into the sashes,
which rise or lower by the action of the upright rods. The screw on these rods has
a pitch of, for example, 45 degrees, every turn of which raises or lowers the sashes
rather more than an inch, or thereabouts. These rods pass through the sill of the
case, and run up the face of the breast piece. The other part of each rod revolves
in a socket fastened to the lintel of the case. A groove is cut in each side of the
lower sash, which wholly protects the rod from being seen or tampered with from
the outside.
When the window is closed up the upper half of these rods show like the sash
cords now in use, being seen only from the inside. The lower ends of these rods
pass through a collar fixed in the underside of the sill, and on the end of each rod
there is a small mitre pinion. Underneath the sill is a horizontal rod, having a
pinion on each end in gear with those on the ends of the rods. This horizontal

page_text: shaft is turned by a pinion, which is operated by another pinion attached to a
bandle of suitable design. By turning this handle the horizontal shaft acts upon
the upright rods by means of the gearing, causing them to revolve, and thereby the
sashes are easily raised or lowered, as may be desired.
When ventilation is required at the top only, provision is made to disconnect the
lower sash, in order that it may remain unmoved while the top one is opened.
The whole of the aparatus is preferably made of brass or iron, and by means of
the apparatus constituting this Invention, windows in positions difficult of access
are acted upon by means of an easily reached rod in gear with the pinion on the
horizontal shaft herein-before described, as under the sash.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Malcolm McCallum, John McCallum, and Donald McCallum in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th August 1879.
"
MALCOLM MCCALLUM, JOHN MCCALLUM, and DONALD MCCALLUM, all of Fort
William, in the County of Inverness, North Britain. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN OPENING,
CLOSING, AND FASTENING WINDOWS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.”
The objects of our said Invention are to enable window sashes to be easily raised
and lowered, and securely fixed in any position to which they may have been
brought.
The apparatus by which the said objects are effected consists of rods arranged at
the breast pieces on either side the window casing, the lower half of each of which
rods has a right or left handed screw thread thereon. The upper half of each of the
said rods has a thread thereon in the reverse direction. Internally screwed collars
or clips fixed upon the upper and lower sashes run upon the upper and lower halves
respectively of the screwed rods, so that when the screwed rods are rotated the
sashes may be lowered and raised, and will remain fixed in the position to which
they have been brought.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we now
proceed more particularly. to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, referenco. being
had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say -
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a window case and sashes, to which appa-
ratus constructed according to our Invention is applied. From this Figure the batten
rod is omitted, the better to shew the screws and other parts. Figure 2 is a vertical
transverse section of the same, taken on the line 1, 2, Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a..
horizontal section taken on the line 3, 4, Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 represent a
detail hereinafter described. The window case is marked A, the upper sash is
marked B, and the lower sash is marked C. On either side of the case A, and
running up the faces of the breast pieces, are the screwed rods D, the upper half of
each of which rods has formed thereon a right hand screw thread, the lower half of
each having formed thereon a left handed screw thread, or the left hand thread may
be on the upper half, and the right hand thread on the lower half. The screws may
have any desired pitch, for example, about 45 degrees, so that every turn raises or
lowers the sashes an inch or thereabouts. The rods D at bottom pass through the
sill of the window case, and are supported in bearing pieces e, and at top they are
supported in bearings in brackets f. Upon the upper sash B.are fixed internally
screwed collars or nuts g, one on either side, to run upon the upper screws of the
rods D, and in the lower sash C are internally screwed half nuts, one on either
side, to run upon the lower screws of the rods D. The side frames of the lower
sash have grooves c, c, therein (see Figure 3), for the reception of the lower parts of
the rods D, so that the said rods can neither be seen nor tampered with from the
outside. When the window is closed the upper parts of the rods D are seen from
the inside only, in the position occupied by the ordinary sash cords. The lower end
of each of the rods D, protruding from the bearing piece e, has fixed thereon a bevel
pinion. Supported in the bearings j, underneath the sill, is a rod or shaft J,
having fixed thereon at each end a bevel pinion & respectively in gear with the
pinions on the ends of the rods D. This shaft J is rotated by a bevel pinion l,
mounted in a bearing in a bracket m, the said pinion gearing with a bevel pinion
n, keyed upon the shaft J. The stem of the pinion is formed with a squared
projecting end, upon which a handle may be fitted when it is desired to operate
the mechanism, by turning which handle the shaft J is rotated through the pinions
l and n, and the pinions k and i transmit motion of revolution to the rods D,
Ż
k

page_text: whereby the nuts g run down upon the screws on the upper halves of the said rods
D, and the half nuts in the lower sash run up upon the screws on the lower halves
of the said rods D, and the sashes may be raised or lowered as desired, remaining
fast in any position to which they may be brought.
It will be evident that our Invention may be applied to but one sash if desired.
In order that when desired the top sash only may be moved, the bottom sash
remaining shut, we employ the arrangement shewn in detail in Figures 4 and 5,
Figure 4 representing a horizontal section, and Figure 5 a vertical section taken on
the line 5, 6, Figure 4, of one side of the frame of the lower sash. Turning in
bearing plates p and q is a screwed pin or rod r projecting to outside the sash frame,
where it is furnished with a knob 7 (seen also in Figures 1, 2, and 3). Upon the
screw on this rod runs a half nuts, internally screwed to correspond with the
screws on the lower halves of the rods D, the said half nut & being guided and
supported by guide rods t passing therethrough, and fixed in the plates p, q. It
will be understood that both sides of the sash have a similar arrangement of disen-
gaging mechanism. When it is desired that the top sash be lowered whilst the
bottom sash remains stationary, the knobs 1 are turned, so that by the rotation of
the screws on the rods the half nuts s are brought into the position shewn in
dotted lines in Figure 4, that is to say, out of engagement with the screws on the
rods D, and the lower sash is therefore not raised when the rods D are operated.
By turning the knobs in the reverse direction the half nuts & are re-engaged with
the screws on the rods D. We do not limit ourselves to this means of disconnecting
the lower sash, as other means of disengaging the said sash, which are or may be
suitable, may be employed.
The whole of the apparatus is preferably made of brass or iron.
By the use of the said apparatus windows difficult of access may be opened or
closed by means of a rod equivalent to the stem of the pinion 1, giving motion to
the shaft J, as hereinbefore described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used or
practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that we not limit
ourselves to the precise details hercin described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of our
Invention, but what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
Apparatus for opening, closing, and fastening windows constructed or arranged
essentially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Malcolm McCallum and Donald McCallum,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
before and in presence of
DONALD FRASER,
Of Fort William,
Witness.
DONALD YOUNG,
Of Fort William,
Witness.
MALCOLM MCALLUM.
DONALD MCCALLUM.
(L.B.)
(L.S.)