IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS FOR CARRIAGES, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS [PATENT to Henry Brittain, of the Firm of S. Brittain and Son, of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS FOR CARRIAGES, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR
THE SAME."
Sealed the 2nd March 1877, and dated the 18th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Brittain at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1876.
HENRY BRITTAIN, of the Firm of S. Brittain and Son, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS FOR CARRIAGES,
AND IN FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME."
My Invention has reference to those windows for carriages which are situated in
the leather or other folding head of the carriage, and are sometimes called "lights,"
and my said Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described, whereby
the securing of the said windows or lights to the folding head of the carriage is
effected more conveniently than by the ordinary method, the glazing and reglazing
facilitated, the frame strengthened and lightened, and other minor advantages
obtained.
I make the framing of strips of sheet metal having the figure of a double trough,
the trough forming the outer side of the frame being somewhat larger than that
forming the inner part of the frame. The outer trough is covered by one of the
webs of a light angle bar which is soldered thereto; the other web of the said
angle bar stands at right angles to the plane of the frame, and constitutes the
framing proper within which the hinged window shuts. The small inner trough is
filled with an india-rubber or other elastic or flexible cord, against which the
window shuts down without noise. In the large or outer trough a series of
tubular screw nuts are soldered, the upper ends protruding through the covering of
the trough.
In connecting the frame to the leather or flexible head of the carriage the said
tubular screw nuts are passed through holes in the edge of the leather, and a light
hollow bar of metal is placed upon the edge of the leather. Screws passed through
the said bar are driven home in the tubular screw nuts, and the edge of the leather
is thus securely gripped between the said bar and the outer part of the frame.

page_text: The glass is secured in its frame in the following manner:- -One of the longer
sides of the glass engages under a bar on one side of the frame, and to the other
longer side of the frame is hinged a bar having at its ends portions at right angles
thereto, the said hinged portions having nearly the figure of three sides of a frame,
and when shut down making with the bar described a complete frame a little less
than the glass. In inserting the glass the hinged part of the frame is raised, one
edge of the glass is introduced under the fixed bar, and the glass then lowered into
the frame. The hinged part is then shut down and fixed by means of screws
passed through the end pieces when the glazing is complete. For reglazing it is
only necessary to remove the screws, when the hinged part can be raised, the old
sheet of glass removed, and a new one introduced.
My improvements are applicable to carriage windows or lights fixed or incapable
of opening, as well as to windows or lights opening on hinges or by sliding.
When the inner or glazed frames of the carriage windows are hinged to the fixed
frames I fasten the said glazed frames to the said fixed frames by means of fasten-
ings constructed preferably as follows:-On the outer face of the vertical web of
the angle bar of the inner frame under which the edge of the glass is inserted a
flat sliding bolt works, the edges of which engage, in trough plates soldered to the
said vertical web. The said bolt is pressed home by a coiled spring. On the face
of the flat bolt are bevilled projections, and on the outer fixed frame of the window,
and opposite the said projections, are staples. When the inner glazed frame is
turned down into the fixed frame the projections on the bolt bear against the
bevilled sides of the staples on the fixed frame, and the bolt is pressed back and
made to snap under the staples, and thereby fix the glazed frame in the outer fixed
frame. By means of a handle on the bolt a sliding motion may be given to it to
disengage it from the staples to release the glazed frame; or a fastening constructed
as follows may be used-I joint to the fixed outer frame of the carriage window
a lever pressed down by a spring. The inner or jointed end of this spring lever is
recessed or cut away on its under side, a shoulder of the said recessed part, when
the lever is in its lowest or fastening position, coming in front of the beading at
the unjointed longitudinal side of the glazed frame, and holding the said frame in
its closed position. By raising the handle end of the lever the shoulder described
is removed from the front of the beading on the glazed frame, and the said frame
is released and may be opened.
Two or more of the said spring levers may be used. In this case the said levers
are connected together by rods, so that the whole of the levers may be simul-
taneously lifted to release the glazed frame by acting upon one of them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Brittain in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th March
1877.
HENRY BRITTAIN, of the Firm of S. Brittain and Son, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS FOR CARRIAGES,
AND IN FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME."
My Invention has reference to those windows for carriages which are situated
in the leather or other folding head of the carriage, and are sometimes called
"lights;" and my said Invention consists of the improvements herein-after
described, whereby the securing of the said windows or lights to the folding head
of the carriage is effected more conveniently than by the ordinary method, the
glazing and reglazing facilitated, the frame strengthened and lightened, and other
minor advantages obtained.
I make the framing of strips of sheet metal, having the Figure of a double
trough, the trough forming the outer side of the frame being somewhat larger than

page_text: that forming the inner part of the frame. The outer trough is covered by one of
the webs of a light angle bar, which is soldered thereto; the other web of the said
angle bar stands at right angles to the plane of the frame and constitutes the
framing proper, within which the hinged window shuts. The sinall inner trough
is filled with an india rubber or other elastic or flexible cord, against which the
window shuts down without noise. In the largo or outer trough a series of tubular
screw nuts are soldered, the upper ends protruding through the covering of the
trough.
In connecting the frame to the leather or flexible head of the carriage the said
tubular screw nuts are passed through holes in the edge of the leather, and a light
hollow bar of metal is placed upon the edge of the leather. Screws passed through
the said bar are driven home in the tubular screw nuts, and the edge of the leather
is thus securely gripped between the said bar and the outer part of the frame.
The glass is secured in its frame in the following manner :-Ono of the longer
sides of the glass engages under a bar on one side of the frame, and to the other
longer side of the frame is hinged a bar having at its ends portions at right angles
thereto, the said hinged portions having nearly the figure of three sides of a frame,
and when shut down making with the bar described a complete frame of the same
size as the glass. In inserting the glass the hinged part of the frame is raised, one
odge of the glass is introduced under the fixed bar, and the glass then lowered into
the frame. The hinged part is then shut down and fixed by means of screws passed
through the end pieces when the glazing is complete. For reglazing it is only
necessary to remove the screws, when the hinged part can be raised, the old sheet
of glass removed, and a new one introduced.
My improvements are applicable to carriage windows or lights fixed or incapable
of opening as well as to windows or lights opening on hinges or by sliding.
When the inner or glazed frames of the carriage windows are hinged to the fixed
frames I fasten the said glazed frames to the said fixed frames by means of a
fastening constructed preferably as follows:-On the outer face of the vertical web
of the angle bar of the inner frame, under which the edge of the glass is inserted,
a flat or tubular sliding bolt works, the edges of which engage in trough plates
soldered to the said vertical web. The said bolt is pressed home by a coiled spring.
On the face of the flat bolt are bevilled projections, and on the outer fixed fraine of
the window, and opposite the said projections, are staples. When the inner glazed
frame is turned down into the fixed frame the projections on the bolt bear against
the bevilled sides of the staples on the fixed frame, and the bolt is pressed back and
made to snap under the staples, and thereby fix the glazed frame in the outer fixed
frame. By means of a handle on the bolt a sliding motion may be given to it to
disengage it from the staples to release the glazed frame. Instead of a double-
acting bolt two single bolts may be used.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan a fixed window or light for the folding head of a
carriage, the said window or light being constructed according to my Invention ;
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same taken on the dotted line, Figure 1, drawn
double the full size; and Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, represent parts of the same drawn
double the full size.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6.
a, b, is the double trough-shaped strip of sheet metal forming the outer frame of
the window; the trough part marked a, which forms the outer side of the frame,
being larger than the trough part b, which forms the inuer side of the frame. The
edge a² of the large trough a is turned or bent parallel to the frame, as seen in the
cross section, Figure 2. The outer trough a is covered by the horizontal web c of
the angle bar c, d, the vertical web d of the said angle bar forming the inner frame,
within which the glass is fixed, or, in case of hinged windows, within which
the hinged glazed frame shuts. The edge of the horizontal web e of the angle

page_text: bar c, d, is engaged under and secured to the turned or overhanging edge a² of the
trough a, as represented. The small trough b of the outer frame a, b, is covered by
the flat stripe on one of the longer sides and the ends of the said frame, and by
the horizontal web e of the angle bar e, e², on the other longer side of the frame.
The object of the vertical web e² of the angle bar e, e², is to strengthen that side of
the inner framed to which the glazing or fixing frame for the glass herein-after
described is hinged or connected. By the combination of the turned in or over-
hanging part a² of the outer frame with the parts c, d, and e, e, a hollow frame is
produced of great strength and lightness.
In the large trough a of the outer frame a, b, a series of hollow or tubular screw
nuts f, f, is soldered at the required distances apart, in which screw boxes or
nuts ff, screws marked take. The shape of the hollow or tubular nuts f is best
seen in Figure 2. The said screw nuts ff, and screws h, h, are used in conjunction
with the hollow fixing bar or frame i, to secure the frame a, b, to the leather or
flexible head of the carriage. In connecting the frame a, b, to the said leather or
flexible head the fixing bar i and screws h are removed from the said frame and
the edge of the leather k, having holes in it corresponding to the tubular screw
nuts, is placed on the upper face of the trough a and covering plate c, and the
holes in the said leather k are passed on to the projecting tubular nuts f, as
represented in the Drawing. The light hollow fixing bar i is now placed upon the
edge of the leather and the screws h passed through holes in the top face of the said
bar and driven home into the tubular screw nuts f. The edge of the leather k is
thus securely gripped between the bar i and the frame a, b, as seen in the cross
section, Figure 2, and the said frame is securely connected to the leather head of the
carriage.
I will now describe my arrangement of parts for fixing the glass in the inner
frame d of the window or light. m is a tubular bar fixed on one side of the inner
frame d, under which bar m one of the longer edges of the glass engages; the
other longer edge and the two opposite shorter edges of the glass are secured by
the hinged tubular bar n, p, p, having the figure of three sides of a frame, the said
hinged bar n, p, p, when shut down making with the fixed bar m a complete frame
of the same size as the glass l. The side n of the hinged bar n, p, p, is furnished
with knuckles or short curved arms q, q, which take into slots 7, 7, in the fixed
inner frame d, e², (see Figures 2 and 4).
Figure 3 represents in plan a portion of the hinged framo n, p, p, and one of its
knuckles, and Figure 4 represents a section of the same, and exhibits the
manner in which the knuckles are engaged with the slots r in the fixed inner
frame d, e².
Figure 5 represents a portion of the fixed inner frame and the slot in it. In
inserting the glass & the hinged part n, p, p, of the glazing frame is raised from the
fixed frame and one edge of the glass is introduced under the fixed bar m, and the
glass is then lowered into the frame, the hinged part n, p, p, is then shut down
upon the glass and fixed in its place by means of screws at 8, 8, passing through
the ends p, p, and taking into screw nuts fixed on the web or covering plate of the
fixed outer frame.
The method of fixing the hinged part n, p, p, to the fixed frame a, b, is best seen
in the separate views, Figure 6, which Figure 6 represents a section of the fixed
frame combined with the glazing frame and also the end p of the glazing frame.
To the extreme end of each of the parts p, p, of the glazing frame a rectangular
perforated piece p² is soldered. Through these pieces på the fixing screws 8 pass and
take into the nuts t secured to the web or covering plate e of the fixed outer
frame a, b. Before the glass is inserted in the frame the recess at u, Figure 2, on
the upper face of the fixed frame is filled with putty, upon which the edges of the
glass rest; additional security in the fixing of the glass is thereby obtained and a
weather-proof joint formed. In order to reglaze the window or light the screws 8, 8, 5
are removed and the hinged part n, p, p, of the glazing frame raised, when the old

page_text: glass may be removed and a new one introduced and fixed in the manner before
described.
Figure 7 represents in plan and Figure 8 in side elevation, partly in section, a
hinged light or window constructed according to my Invention. The said Figures 7
and 8 also exhibit my arrangement of parts for fastening the hinged or glazed frame
to the fixed frame. In Figure 8 the glazed frame is represented nearly shut down
in the fixed frame.
Figure 9 represents a cross section of the hinged light or window taken on the
dotted line, Figure 7, drawn double the full size, and Figure 10 represents the same
view as Figure 9, with the glazed or hinged frame raised from the fixed frame.
The outer frame a, b, and parts connected with it, and also the bar i, and other
parts for securing the frame to the leather head of the carriage are constructed, as
herein-before described with respect to a fixed light or window, and corresponding
parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
The hinged frame in which the glass x is fixed is marked v, v², the said frame
being hinged at v to the inner fixed frame d. The hinged frame is composed of two
bars, marked respectively vand v², arranged with respect to one another in the
manner seen in the cross sections Figures 9 and 10. The upper part of the trough
of the bar is covered by the metal web ³, the said web being situated a little
below the upper edge of the trough, so as to leave a space for a thin layer of putty
for securing the glass a¹ in conjunction with the glazing frame m, n, p, p. The
trough below the covering web is hollow, as represented.
The inner or small trough b of the fixed frame is filled with an india-rubber or
other elastic or flexible cord or tube w (see Figures 9 and 10), against which the
glazed frame v, v², shuts down without noise. The said cord or cushion at w also
forms a weather-tight joint between the glazed frame v, v2, and the fixed frame a, b,
of the window or light. The elastic cord or cushion w is fixed in the trough b by
the angle bars or covering plates, as seen in Figures 9 and 10.
The glass x is fixed in the hinged frame v,, by the fixed bar m and hinged
bar n, p, p, as described with respect to the glazing of the fixed light, Figures 1
and 2, excepting that the fixed bar m and hinged bar n, p, p, are fixed and hinged
to the glazed frame v, v², instead of to the inner frame of the fixed light, and that
the fixing screws 8, 8, for the glazing bar n, p, p, are passed through the sides of the
glazed frame instead of through the top of the fixed frame.
The glazed frame v, v², is fastened to the fixed frame a, b, by a fastening con-
structed as follows:-On the outer side of the longer unjointed edge of the glazed
frame v, v², are two sliding bolts x, x, the said bolts working in the guide tubes
y,y. On the outer end of each of the said bolts is a bevilled head x, and on the
inner end of the bolt is a thumb plate or handle ³, which thumb plates or handles
project through the hinged or glazed frame v, v². The said bolts x, x, are pressed
from one another so as to give them a snapping action by the coiled springs z
bearing against the tail pieces x, x, of the bolts x, x, (see Figure 8). The said
coiled springs are contained in the tubular boxes x, x³, and take their abutment at
one end against the closed end of the said boxes, and at the other end against the
tail pieces x, xt. The motion of the bolts is limited by the stop pins at x, . On
the inner side of the fixed frame d, and opposite the bolt heads ² are staples 2, 2.
When the glazed frame v, v², is turned or shut down into the fixed frame the
bevilled heads of the bolts x, x, bear against the bevilled ends of the staples 2, 2, on
the fixed frame, and the said bolts are pushed back and afterwards made to snap by
the action of the springs z, under the staples 2, 2, and thereby fasten the glazed
frame in the outer fixed frame.
In order to unfasten the glazed frame the two handles or thumb plates ³, x³, of
the bolts are grasped between the thumb and finger and pressed towards each
other. The heads of the two bolts x, x, are thereby simultaneously withdrawn
from under the staples 2, 2, and the hinged or glazed frame is released and may be
turned on its hinge v and raised from the fixed frame, as illustrated in Figures 8
and 10,

page_text: Figure 11 represents in plan another fixed window or light made according to
my Invention, and Figure 12 is a cross section of a portion of the same drawn to a
larger scale.
In this arrangement I give the bars forming the frame 3 of the window or light
the sectional form represented in Figure 12, and in the hollow or trough of the
frame 3 I fix the tubular screw nuts f for securing in conjunction with the hollow
fixing bar or frame i and screws h, the frame 3 to the leather or flexible head k of
the carriage in the manner herein-before described. Besides using the screw boxes
f, screws h, and fixing bar or frame i for securing the frame of the light or window
to the leather or flexible head of the carriage; I also use the said parts for securing
the glass 4 in the said frame. For this purpose I make along the inner side of the
bar or frame i a trough or hollow beading 2, in which putty is placed for securing
the glass in the frame.
The leather or flexible head of the carriage is first secured to the frame 3 by
placing the perforated edge of the leather k upon the tubular screw nuts f, the said
edge of the leather completely covering the flat top of the frame 3, as seen in the
section, Figure 12. The edges of the glass 4 are next laid upon the inner edge of
the leather upon the frame, the said edges of the glass nearly coming against the
tubular screw nuts f. The trough 2 of the upper fixing bar or frame i having been
filled with putty, the said bar or frame is placed upon the frame 3, and the screws
h passed through the said bar and driven home in the screw boxes f. The frame
3 is thereby secured to the leather or flexible head of the carriage, and the glass 4
at the same time fixed in the frame as will be understood by an examination of the
section, Figure 12.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
of improvements in windows for carriages of the kind herein-before described, and
in fastenings for the same,-
First. The arrangement or combination of the parts herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings of the outer or fixed frames of the said
carriage windows or lights, that is to say the combination of the double trough
strip or frame a, a², b, with the angle bars and covering plates c, d, e, e², for forming
a hollow outer frame for the window or light, and the inner frame within which
the glazing frame of the fixed window or light is secured, or within which the
hinged or glazed frame of the window or light shuts, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Secondly. The construction and combination of parts herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings for glazing or securing the glass in the
fixed frame or in the hinged or glazed frame of the window or light, that is to say,
by means of the fixed bar m and the three sided hinged bar or frame n, p, p, and
parts immediately connected therewith, substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The construction and arrangement of parts herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings for securing the window or light to the
leather or flexible folding head of the carriage, that is to say, the combination of
the screw nuts fin the trough of the outer fixed frame screws h and hollow fixing
bar or frame i, the said parts being constructed and used substantially as described
and illustrated.
Fourthly. The combination or arrangement of the parts v, v³, v³, herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, of the accompanying Drawings
for forming the hinged or glazed frame of the window or light; and the combina-
tion therewith of the india-rubber or flexible tube cord or cushion w for the
glazed frame to shut against and for forming a tight joint.
Fifthly. The combination or arrangement of the parts herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, of the accompanying Drawings for fastening
the hinged or glazed frame of the window or light to the fixed frame.
Lastly. The construction and arrangement or combination of the parts herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying

page_text: Drawings for forming the frame of the fixed window or light, for securing the said
frame to the leather or flexible head of the carriage, and for glazing or fixing the
glass in the said frame.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Brittain, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.