Improved Window Sash Holder and Fastener.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Window Sash Holder and Fastener.
I, CHARLES SUMNER ROBERTS, residing at 60 Hazel Street, New Haven, in the
County of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Wood'
Worker, 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 relates to sash fastenings and particularly to that class of
fasteners adapted for use in railway cars or similar vehicles.
The object of my invention is to provide a fastener of the above described class
which can be maintained at any desired position which will not be susceptible to
atmospheric changes and which can be readily operated at all times; a further
object of the invention is to provide a cheap, durable and efficient sash fastener
which is simple in construction and arrangement and as before stated. one which
will not readily get out of order.
The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter set forth
and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
Referring to the drawings:
:―
Fig. 1, is a view of a window equipped with my improved fastener, said window
being broken away, and showing my fastener in position, said fastener being
partly in section;
Fig. 2, is a side view of said window frame; and,
Fig. 3, is a section on the line 3, 3, of Fig. 1.
Like letters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.
In the accompanying drawing a, denotes a window frame of ordinary construc-
tion, and b, a sash of the window. This sash at one side thereof is equipped with
a rack as d, which is adapted to engage with a rack &, which is attached to the
frame of the window. The rack d, is provided, at some point of its length with
an elliptical spring f, which is designed to operate against a plane dividing the
teeth of the rack d².
The rack d, is provided with wedges 9, ³, which are adapted to co-operate
with similar wedges h, h², on a sliding rod k. m denotes a lever fulcrumed on the
window frame (Fig. 2) and pivoted at its nether end to the sliding rod k.
The rack, may be provided with a cord slot as on the ordinary window, and
without interfering with the operation of my improved fastener.
The operation of my improved fastener is as follows:―
The lever m, being raised so as to disengage the wedges g, and h, g³, and h²,
respectively, the spring f, operates to disengage the teeth of the racks d, and d³,
and leave the window free to be raised or lowered as the case may be. The tension
on this spring is preferably made sufficiently great to disengage these teeth not-
withstanding the swelling that may have been occasioned by rainy weather or a
sudden change in the atmospheric condition.
When the window has been raised or lowered to the desired extent it may be
securely retained in this position by depressing the free end of the lever m, thus

page_text: operating the wedges g, and h, g³, and h³, and engaging the teeth of the racks d,
and d, only sufficient strain being necessary to depress the spring f.
By the above described means, I provide a window or sash fastener which is cheap
in construction, simple in arrangement and which will prove equally efficient in
all kinds of weather.
The dangers attendent upon the breaking of the fastener of the ordinary car
window are obviated as it can be clearly seen that the breaking of any one of the
teeth of the rack d, and, will be of no great importance as the racks through-
out their entire extent engage with each other retaining the window not by a
single fastener but by a number.
It is not my intention to limit my invention to the precise construction herein
shown and described, as it is obvious that there may be changes of many minor
details without departing from the spirit of my invention.
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:
1. A sash fastener, comprising two racks united with the window sash and
frame respectively, and means whereby said racks may be engaged or disengaged
at will, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a sash fastener, two racks attached respectively to the window frame and
to the sash, means for releasing said racks from said each other, and means
whereby said racks as released will automatically disengage themselves from each
other, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a sash fastener, two racks attached respectively to the window sash, and
to the frame, means for engaging and disengaging the teeth of said racks, a
spring whereby said racks are normally held out of contact with each other,
substantially as shown and described.
4. In a sash fastener, two racks attached respectively to the window sash, and
to the frame, and a movable wedge whereby said racks are engaged or disengagel
at will, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a sash fastener, two racks attached respectively to the window sash and to
the frame, one of said racks being provided with a wedge adapted to co-operate
with a sliding wedge, and means for sliding said last-named wedge, substantially
as shown and described.
6. In a sash fastener, two racks attached respectively to the window sash and to
the frame, means whereby said racks are normally held out of contact, and a slid-
ing wedge whereby said racks may be engaged or disengaged at will, and means
for sliding said wedges, substantially as shown and described.
7. In a sash fastener, two racks attached respectively to a window frame and a
window sash, a sliding wedge adapted to engage or disengage said racks, and a
lever adapted to operate said sliding wedge, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this. 16th day of September 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.