Year: 1884

page_text: 5
I, ROBERT ALEXANDER LOWE, Builder, of Lower Camden, Chiselhurst, in the
county of Kent, seek leave to amend the specification of Letters Patent, No. 5888
of 1884, as shown in red ink in the copy of the original specification hereunto
annexed :-
My reasons for making this amendment are as follows I have found, that a
part of the invention, described and claimed in my specification, is anticipated.
In the Matter of the Application made by Robert Alexander Lowe for leave to
amend the Specification filed in pursuance of the application for Letters
Patent N° 5888 of 1884:
Deputy
J. CLARK HALL,
Comptroller-General.

page_text: I, ROBERT ALEXANDER LOWE, of Lower Camden, Chislehurst, in the County of
Kent, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND CONNECTED WITH SASH WINDOWS, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to sash windows and has for its principal object to facilitate
the ventilation of rooms without draught.
For this purpose I make the stiles of the sashes of two parts, the inner of which
is rigidly connected with the rest of the sash frame, while the outer one forms a
detached bar fitting between vertical beads attached to the pulley stile, and is
suspended from the sash cord in the ordinary way.
The sash is secured near the centre of the outer or sliding bar by the bolt of an
ordinary lock fitting into a revolving socket piece acting as a pivot.
The revolving socket piece fits into a metallic plate pivoted to the sliding bar,
so that the sash can be drawn inwards at the meeting rail, to admit a large volume
of air into the room.
The contiguous sides of the sliding bar and of the sash stile are provided with a
vertical groove into which fits a movable tongue hinged to a pair of parallel levers
secured to the sash stile so as to form a folding parallelogram adapted to
shift the movable tongue parallel with itself into and out of the groove of the
sliding bar.
The bolt of the lock mentioned above may be withdrawn by turning a key.
The arrangement of the sash is symmetrical, that is to say, there is a sliding bar,
a movable tongue, and a lock, on each side of the sash.
Before turning the sash on its centre it is necessary to withdraw the tongue from
the sliding rail, and for removing the sash from the window, the bolt must be
withdrawn into the sash rail, after which all connection between the sash and the
sliding rail ceases and the latter remains suspended from the cord and is still kept
in position by a tongue fitting into the batten rod.
In order to dispense with ordinary sash fastenings, the bottom rail of the sash is
made deeper than usual, and provided with a horizontal groove placed opposito
a corresponding groove in a rail extending on the sill along the full width of the
Bash frame, in which groove is a movable metal tongue, similar to the tongues on
the sides and which will fix the bottom sash at two different heights.
The sill of the sash frame has two grooves, one for inserting said horizontal
tongue when the sash is in its lowest position, in which the tongue will prevent the
lifting of the sash from outside.
When the sash is raised for admitting air at the meeting rail, the tongue will be
inserted into the lower groove and will be secured in this position by a plate hooked
into a notch of the tongue.

page_text: When the sash is removed from the window each of the sliding rails is held in
the desired position by a book, movable pin or equivalent device.
The stiles of the top sash are made similar in every respect to those of the bottom
sash. When shut the top sash is secured to the head of the sash frame by a self
acting spring catch. To the bottom of the spring catch is attached a cord carried
over guide pulloys to a convenient height from the floor.
By pulling this cord the spring catch is released, after which the top sash may be
lowored by means of this cord and another cord situated on the opposite side.
A third and fourth cord is applied for pulling up the sash.

page_text: I, ROBERT ALEXANDER LOWE, of Lower Camden, Chislehurst, in the County of
Kent, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH SASH WINDOWS, and in what manner the same is to ba
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention chiefly relates to sash windows, the sashes of which slide vertically
and are suspended by means of cords, pulleys, and weights. The invention may be
applied both to single and to double hung sashes, and has for its principal object to
facilitate the ventilation of rooms without draught, also to provide secure sash
fastenings which in addition to securing the sashes when shut, also secure them
when open for ventilating purposes, so that they cannot be opened from the outside.
The fastenings may be applied to ordinary sash windows, and by their adoption
alone a certain amount of ventilation without draught may be obtained from
a sliding sash, with the advantage that both in the open and in the closed position
of the sash the latter can be securely fastened. For the purpose of the invention,
I make the stiles of the bottom sash in two parts, the inner of which is rigidly
connected with the rest of the sash frame, while the outer one forms a detached bar
fixed between vertical beads attached to the pulley stile in the usual manner, and
is suspended from the sash cord in the ordinary way. The sash is secured near the
bottom to the outer or sliding bar by a pair of bolts, pins, screws, or other suitable
device. The sash is adapted to move inward, when raised for ventilation, by
turning on the aforesaid bolts, pins, screws &c as a centre, the distance or angular
motion being regulated by a pin of wood or metal fixed in the sash stile so as to
project from same, and moving in a slot of the sliding bar.
The contiguous sides of sliding bar and each stile are provided with a vertical
groove, into which fits a movable tongue hinged to a pair of parallel levers-pivoted
to-the-sach-stile-so-as-to-form-a-folding parallelogram-adapted to shift the movable
tongue-parallel with the stile into and out of the groove of the sliding bar
The movable tongue may be of either wood or metal, and may be faced with
indiarubber, cloth or similar soft fabric. When such a lining is used, the tongue will
be-made-in-two-parts, with the soft fabrio between them and projecting over their
edge, the two-parts of the tongue being rivetted or serewed-together.
To-use this fastening for the bottom of the sash, The bottom rail of the latter
lower sash is made deeper than usual, and provided with a horizontal groove placed
opposite a corresponding groove in a rail along the full width of the sash frame, in
which groove is pivoted a movable metal tongue similar in-action to those on the
side.
To fix the bottom sash at two different heights, the sill or bottom rail of the sash
has two parallel horizontal grooves, one for inserting the horizontal tongue when
the sash is in its lowest position, and the other for inserting the same, when the

page_text: sash is raised for admitting air at the meeting rails. When the tongue is inserted
in either groove, the sash is securely fixed, and the tongue is held in position, by
a self acting drop catch. The groove in the sill of sash may be formed of metal, if
desired. A pair of stops, of either wood or metal, may be fixed on the batten rods
for regulating the height to which the bottom sash is to be raised for ventilation,
or if desired the regulating pin before referred to may be propelled, by a ratchet or
spring movement, into a slot of the pulley stile, and will then act as a stop.
The top sash is framed in the usual manner, and is secured to the head of the
sash frame by a self-acting spring-catch. This catch may be fixed either in the top
rail of the sash, or in the head of the sash frame; in the former case the cord for
releasing the catch will also be available for lowering the sash, and when fixed in
the head of the sash frame, the spring will be released by a cord working over
pulleys, and extending downward in a vortical groove to a convenient level above
the floor.
In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Fig. 1 is
a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical section of a window embodying my improve-
ments, while Figs 3, 4 and show details on a larger scale.
A represents the upper sash, B, the lower sash, bb are the inner, and 6¹ b¹ the
outer or sliding sash bars or stiles.
b' is the top rail, and b³ the bottom rail, 6*6* are the pins or studs fixed to the
sides of the sash frame and serving as guides for the latter, 60, 6 are the pins, bolts
or screws serving as pivots for the sash; is the window sill, & are the sasli cords;
e-care-the-movable tongues on the sides of the sash, and e¹ is the movable tongue
in the window sill. f,f¹, are the two parallel grooves in the bottom rail; the
tongue c¹ is placed opposite the upper groove f
As shown by the enlarged horizontal section Fig. 4, the tongue e¹ is hinged to
a pair of levers g, g, which are pivoted to plates h, h fixed to the window sill,
i is a lever projecting outside the sill and provided with a knob for moving the
tongue e in and out of the alternative grooves of the sash; g¹ is an automatic
drop catch.
The tongues e, e-are arranged in a similar manner as the tongue c', and may be
moved into and out of the grooves of the sliding bars, by lifting or lowering a pair
of thumb corews-kyk, each of which passes-through-a curved slot in the side bars-b,
and is sorewed into the tongue.
The head of the screw rests on a slotted metal plate-m, and the tongue e-may be
fixed in either of its extreme-positions by tightening the serew-k.
n is a catch-lever pivoted to the top of the window casing and held in place by
a spring o; p is a metal plate secured to the window sash and forming a counter-
part to the catch. q is a cord for releasing the catch from the counterplate, and r
are guide pulleys.
When the top sash is drawn upward, the catch passes through a slot of the
counterplate and is then automatically locked by the spring o.
For obtaining a slight amount of ventilation at the meeting rails, it is sufficient
to raise the lower sash together with the sliding.bars until the lower groove flis
situated opposite the tongue c¹, and then to fasten the sash, after which air will be
allowed to enter between the meeting rails of the two sashes; for obtaining a
larger air passage, the lower sash is drawn forward at the top, so that its pivota b
(placed right and left near the bottom rail) turn in the sockets of the sliding rails,
and the guide pins 6 slide in the short grooves c¹ formed in the sides of the sliding
rails, these grooves being curved from the pivots 65 as a centre.
This open position of the bottom sash is shown in Fig. 2 by dotted lines.
Although I prefer to combine the various features of my invention in one
window, it is evident that the horizontal groove and tongue fastening and the
automatic spring catch are applicable also to ordinary windows.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
nvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would remark in
conclusion that I do not confine myself to the exact shape and construction of the

page_text: parts herein described, as the invention is susceptible of considerable modification
to suit different sashes and casements without affecting the principles involved.
What I claim is :-
1. In sliding sash-windows, a sash frame the stiles of which are composed of two
bars namely an inner bar rigidly connected with the rest of the sash frame, and an
outer or sliding sash bar suspended from the sash cord, the two bars being
connected by a pair of pins, bolts or equivalent pivotal devices so that the Bash
frame may be drawn forward to produce ventilation in the manner substantially as
described.
2. In sash windows, the method of fastening the cach, which consists in
providing the cash frame and the contiguous side of the sash easing, window sill or
the sliding cash-bar, with-a-longitudinal groove, containing a tongue-made-movable
parallel to itself by pivoting it to a pair of parallel levers, substantially as
described.
3. 2. In sliding sash windows, the combination of a sash having in the bottom
rail a pair of parallel horizontal grooves, with a window sill or casing having a
corresponding horizontal groove, a tongue fixed in the said groove of the window
casing and made movable parallel to itself, and means for moving the tongue into
and out of the grooves of the window sash, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. 3. In sliding sash windows, the method of fastening the upper sash, which
consists in fixing the upper sash rail to the head of the sash casing by an
automatic spring catch adapted to operate in the manner substantially as described.
-5.4. The combination of an automatic fastening for the top sash, with a groove
and tongue fastening for the bottom sash, substantially as described.

page_text: I, ROBERT ALEXANDER LOWE, of Lower Camden, Chislehurst, in the County of
Kent, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND CONNECTED WITH SASH WINDOWS, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to sash windows and has for its principal object to facilitate
the ventilation of rooms without draught.
For this purpose I make the stiles of the sashes of two parts, the inner of which
is rigidly connected with the rest of the sash frane, while the outer one forms a
detached bar fitting between vertical beads attached to the pulley stile, and is
suspended from the sash cord in the ordinary way.
The sash is secured near the centre of the outer or sliding bar by the bolt of an
ordinary lock fitting into a revolving socket piece acting as a pivot.
The revolving socket piece fits into a metallic plate pivoted to the sliding bar,
so that the sash can be drawn inwards at tlie meeting rail, to admit a large volume
of air into the room..
The contiguous sides of the sliding bar and of the sash stile are provided with a
vertical groove into which fits a movable tongue hinged to a pair of parallel levers
secured to the sash stile so as to form a folding parallelogram alapted to
shift the movable tongue parallel with itself into and out of the groove of the
sliding bar.
The bolt of the lock mentioned above may be withdrawn by turning a key.
The arrangement of the sash is symmetrical, that is to say, there is a sliding bar,
a movable tongue, and a lock, on each side of the sash.
Before turning the sash on its centre it is necessary to withdraw the tongue from
the sliding rail, and for removing the sash from the window, the bolt must be
withdrawn into the sash rail, after which all connection between the sash and the
sliding rail ceases and the latter remains, suspen-led from the cord and is still kept
in position by a tongue fitting into the batten rod.
In order to dispense with ordinary sash fastenings, the bottom rail of the sash is
made deeper than usual, and provided with a horizontal groove placed opposite a
corresponding groove in a rail extending on the sill along the full width of the
sash frame, in which groove is a movable metal tongue, similar to the tongues on.
the sides and which will fix the bottom sash at two different heights..

page_text: The Bill of the sash frame has two grooves, ono for inserting said horizontal
tongue when the sash is in its lowest position, in which the tongue will prevent the
lifting of the sash from outside.
When the sash is raised for admitting air at the meeting rail, the tongue will be
inserted into the lower groove and will be secured in this position by a plate hooked
into a notch of the tongue.
When the sash is removed from the window each of the sliding rails is held in
the desired position by a hook, movable pin or equivalent device.
The stiles of the top sash are made similar in every respect to those of the bottom
sash. When shut the top Eash is secured to the head of the sash frame by a self
acting spring catch. To the bottom of the spring catch is attached a cord carried
over guide pulleys to a convenient height from the floor.
By pulling this cord the spring catch is released, after which the top sash may be
lowered by means of this cord and another cord situated on the opposite side.
A third and fourth cord is applied for pulling up the sash.
D-1
1004

page_text: I, ROBERT ALEXANDER LOWE, of Lower Camden, Chislehurst, in the County of
Kent, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH SASH WINDOWS, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention chiefly relates to sash windows, the sashes of which slide vertically
and are suspended by means of cords, pulleys, and weights. The invention may be
applied both to single and to double hung sashes, and has for its principal object to
facilitate the ventilation of rooms without draught, also to provide secure sash
fastenings which in addition to securing the sashes when shut, also secure them
when open for ventilating purposes, so that they cannot be opened from the outside.
The fastenings may be applied to ordinary sash windows, and by their adoption
alone a certain amount of ventilation without draught may be obtained from
a sliding sash, with the advantage that both in the open and in the closed position
of the sash the latter can be securely fastened. For the purpose of the invention,
I make the stiles of the bottom sash in two parts, the inner of which is rigidly
connected with the rest of the sash frame, while the outer one forms a detached bar
fixed between vertical beads attached to the pulley stile in the usual manner, and
is suspended from the sash cord in the ordinary way. The sash is secured near the
bottom to the outer or sliding bar by a pair of bolts, pins screws or other suitable
device. The sash is adapted to move inward, when raised for ventilation, by
turning on the aforesaid bolts, pins, screws &c as a centre, the distance or angular
motion being regulated by a pin of wood or metal fixed in the sash stile so as to
project from same, and moving in a slot of the sliding bar.
The contiguous sides of sliding bar and sash stile are provided with a vertical
groove, into which fits a movable tongue hinged to a pair of parallel levers pivoted
to the sash stile so as to form a folding parallelogram adapted to shift the movable
tongue parallel with the stile into and out of the groove of the sliding bar.
The movable tongue may he of either wood or metal, and may be faced with
indiarubber, cloth or similar soft fabric. When such a lining is used, the tongue will
be made in two parts, with the soft fabric between them and projecting over their
edge, the two parts of the tongue being rivetted or screwed together.
To use this fastening for the bottom of the sash, the bottom rail of the latter is
nade deeper than usual, and provided with a horizontal groove placed opposite
a corresponding groove in a rail along the full width of the sash frame, in which
groove is pivoted a movable metal tongue similar in action to those on the side.
To fix the bottom sash at two different heights, the sill or bottom rail of the sash
has two parallel horizontal grooves, one for inserting the horizontal tongue when
the sash is in its lowest position, and the other for inserting the same, when the
sash is raised for admitting air at the meeting rails. When the tongue is inserted
in either groove, the sash is securely fixed, and the tongue is held in position, by
a self acting drop catch. The groove in the sill of sash may be formed of metal, if
desired. A pair of stops, of either wood or metal, may be fixed on the batten rods
for regulating the height to which the bottom sash is to be raised for ventilation,
or if desired the regulating pin before referred to may be propelled, by a ratchet or
spring movement, into a slot of the pulley stile, and will then act as a stop.
The top sash is framed in the usual manner, and is secured to the head of the
sash frame by a self-acting spring-catch. This catch may be fixed either in the top

page_text: rail of the sash, or in the head of the sash frame; in the former case the cord for
releasing the catch will also be available for lowering the sash, and when fixed in
the head of the sash frame, the spring will be released by a cord working over
pulleys, and extending downward in a vertical groove to a convenient level above
the floor.
In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Fig. 1 is
a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical section of a window.embodying my improve-
ments, while Figs 3, 4 and 5 show details on a larger scale.
A represents the upper sash, B, the lower sash, bb are the inner, and b¹¹ the
outer or sliding sash bars or stiles.
62 is the top rail, and 63 the bottom rail, b b are the pins or studs fixed to the
sides of the sash frame and serving as guides for the latter, 65, 6 are the pins, bolts
or screws serving as pivots for the sash; c is the window sill, d are the sash cords;
ee are the movable tongues on the sides of the sash, and el is the movable tongue
in the window sill. ff, are the two parallel grooves in the bottom rail; the
tongue e is placed opposite the upper groove f.
As shown by the enlarged horizontal section Fig. 4, the tongue e¹ is hinged to
a pair of levers g, g, which are pivoted to plates h, h fixed to the window sill.
i is a lever projecting outside the sill and provided with a knob for moving the
tongue el in and out of the alternative grooves of the sash; g' is an automatic
drop catch.
The tongues e, e are arranged in a similar manner as the tongue e¹, and may be
moved into.and-out-of-the-grooves of the sliding bars, by lifting or lowering a pair
of thumb screws h, k, each of which passes through a curved slot in the side bars b,
and is screwed into the tongue.
The head of the screw rests on a slotted metal-plate m, and the tongue e may be
fixed in either of its extreme positions by tightening the screw k.
n is a catch-lever pivoted to the top of the window casing and held in place by
a spring o; p is a metal plate secured to the window sash and forming a counter-
part to the catch. q is a cord for releasing the catch from the counterplate, and ?
are guide pulleys.
When the top sash is drawn upward, the catch passes through a slot of the
counterplate and is then automatically locked by the spring o.
For obtaining a slight amount of ventilation at the meeting rails, it is sufficient
to raise the lower sash together with the sliding bars until the lower groove f¹ is
situated opposite the tongue c¹, and then to fasten the sash, after which air will be
allowed to enter between the meeting rails of the two sashes; for obtaining a
larger air passage, the lower sash is drawn forward at the top, so that its pivots b³
(placed right and left near the bottom rail) turn in the sockets of the sliding rails,
and the guide pins b' slide in the short grooves c¹ formed in the sides of the sliding
rails, these grooves being curved from the pivots b³ as a centre.
This open position of the bottom sash is shown in Fig. 2 by dotted lines.
Although I prefer to combine the various features of my invention in one
window, it is evident that the groove and tongue fastening and the automatic
spring catch are applicable also to ordinary windows.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would remark in
conclusion that I do not confine myself to the exact shape and construction of the
parts herein described as the invention is susceptible of considerable modification
to suit different sashes and casements without affecting the principles involved.
What I claim is:
1. In sliding sash-windows a sash frame the stiles of which are composed of two
bars namely an inner bar rigidly connected with the rest of the sash frame, and an
outer or sliding sash bar suspended from the sash cord, the two bars being
connected by a pair of pins, bolts or equivalent pivotal devices so that the sash
frame may be drawn forward to produce ventilation in the manner substantially as
described.

page_text: 2. In sash-windows, the method of fastening the sash, which consists in
providing the sash frame and the contiguous side of the sash-casing, window sill or
the sliding sash bar, with a longitudinal groove, containing a tongue made movable
parallel to itself by pivoting it to a pair of parallel levers, substantially as
described.
3. In sliding sash windows, the combination of a sash having in the bottom
rail a pair of parallel horizontal grooves, with a window sill or casing having a
corresponding horizontal groove, a tongue fixed in the said groove of the window
casing and made movable parallel to itself, and means for moving the tongue into
and out of the grooves of the window sash, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. In sliding sash windows, the method of fastening the upper sash, which
consists in fixing the upper sash rail to the head of the sash casing by an
automatic spring catch adapted to operate in the manner substantially as described.
5. The combination of an automatic fastening for the top sash, with a groove
and tongue fastening for the bottom sash, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1885.
R. A. LOWE.
By Herbert & Co., Agents,
67, Strand.