IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH FASTENINGS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CASEMENT FASTENINGS AND DOOR FASTENINGS.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Macvitie, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH
FASTENINGS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CASEMENT
FASTENINGS AND DOOR FASTENINGS.'
"
ealed the 13th April 1880, and dated the 22nd October 1879.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATON left by the said William Macvitie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
WILLIAM MACVITIE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH FASTENINGS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO CASEMENT FASTENINGS AND DOOR FASTENINGS."
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner hereinafter
described the parts of sash fastenings, casement fastenings, and door fastenings.
I will describe my improvements as applied to a sash fastening.
The object of my Invention is to produce a simple and efficient self locking
fastening, and so to arrange the locking parts that while they are capable of being
easily released for opening the window, they cannot be acted upon by a knife or
instrument inserted between the sashes from the outside of the window.
In constructing a sash fastening according to my Invention 1 make that part of
the fastening attached to the meeting rail of the upper sash of a jointed arm, the
eye end of the said arm turning upon a peg or axis fixed to the foundation plate.
By means of a coiled spring attached at one end to the peg or axis, and at the
other end to the eye of the arm, the said arm when at liberty to move springs into
its unfastening position, that is, lies parallel with the meeting rail to which it is
attached. A stop limits the back motion of the jointed arm. Near the handle
end of the jointed arm is a cross slot open at one side. Around that part of the
cross slot near the handle of the arm is a cam or curved locking shoulder, around
which a nearly similar locking shoulder on a rotating catch on the meeting rail of
the lower sash engages. The said catch consists of a peg or axis with a large
circular head, and is capable of a partial rotation, a spring pressing it into its
locking position when at liberty to move. At the edge of the circular head of the
rotating catch is a cylindrical flange, constituting a locking shoulder for engaging
around the curved locking shoulder on the jointed arm of the other part of the

page_text: fastening. The rotating catch is moved through the required angle for releasing
the jointed arm either by grasping the milled head of the said catch, or by pressing
upon a small finger plate at the edge of the catch.
When the jointed arm of the fastening is made to cross the meeting rails of both
sashes and pushed home for fastening the sashes, the locking shoulder on the said
jointed arm comes against the cylindrical flange or locking shoulder on the
rotating catch, and turns the said catch through a sufficient angle to permit the
cross slot in the jointed arm to pass onto the axis or peg of the said catch. Just
before the arm reaches this position the locking shoulder on it escapes from that
on the rotating catch, and the latter being free to move makes a back partial
rotation, and its locking shoulder snaps upon or around that on the jointed arm,
and thereby securely fastens the said arm. By turning the catch through a small
angle from its normal position its shoulder is removed from off that on the jointed
arm, and the latter springs into a position parallel to the meeting rail on which it
is fixed, and the sashes are unfastened.
The fastening is thus made self locking, and the jointed arm takes its unfastening
position when released.
The improvements described with respect to a sash fastening are applicable to
casement fastenings and door fastenings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Macvitie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
April 1880.
WILLIAM MACVITIE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SASH FASTENINGS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO CASEMENT FASTENINGS AND DOOR FASTENINGS."
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner herein after
described the parts of sash fastenings, casement fastenings and door fastenings.
I will describe my improvements as applied to a sash fastening.
The object of my Invention is to produce a simple and efficient self locking
fastening, and so to arrange the locking parts that while they are capable of being
easily released for opening the window, they cannot be acted upon by a knife or
instrument inserted between the sashes from the outside of the window.
In constructing a sash fastening according to my Invention I make that part of
the fastening attached to the meeting rail of the upper sash of a jointed arm, the
eye end of the said arm turning upon a peg or axis fixed to the foundation plate. By
means of a coiled spring attached at one end to the peg or axis, and at the other
end to the eye of the arm, the said arm when at liberty to move springs into its
unfastening position, that is, lies parallel with the meeting rail to which it is
Near the handle
attached. A stop limits the back motion of the jointed arın.
end of the jointed arm is a cross slot open at one side. Around that part of the
cross slot near the handle of the arm is a cam or curved locking shoulder, around
which a nearly similar locking shoulder on a rotating catch on the meeting rail of
the lower sash engages. The said catch consists of a peg or axis with a large
circular head, and is capable of a partial rotation, a spring pressing it into its
locking position when at liberty to move. At the edge of the circular head of the
rotating catch is a cylindrical Hange constituting a locking shoulder for engaging
around the curved locking shoulder on the jointed arm of the other part of the
fastening. The rotating catch is moved through the required angle for releasing
the jointed arm either by grasping the milled head of the said catch, or by pressing
upon a small finger plate at the edge of the catch.
When the jointed arm of the fastening is made to cross the meeting rails of both
sashes and pushed home for fastening the sashes, the locking shoulder on the said
jointed arm comes against the cylindrical flange or locking shoulder on the
rotating catch, and turns the said catch through a sufficient angle to permit the
cross slot in the jointed arm to pass onto the axis or peg of the said catch. Just
before the arm reaches this position the locking shoulder on it escapes from that on
the rotating catch, and the latter being free to move makes a back partial rotation,
and its locking shoulder snaps upon or around that on the jointed arm, and thereby
securely fastens the said arm. By turning the catch through a small angle from
its normal position its shoulder is removed from off that on the jointed arm, and
the latter springs into a position parallel to the meeting rail on which it is fixed,
and the sashes are unfastened.
The fastening is thus made self locking, and the jointed arm takes its unfastening
position when released. The improvements described, with respect to a sash
fastening are applicable to casement fastenings and door fastenings.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan, and Figure partly in plan and partly in hori-
zontal section a sash fastening constructed according to my Invention, the two
parts of the fastening being represented engaged together; Figure 3 represents in
plan the two parts of the fastening disconnected, and Figure 4 is a horizontal
section of parts of Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 represent the two parts of the

page_text: fastening in the act of being connected together as herein after explained;
Figure 7 represents a side elevation of the fastening, and Figure 8 a vertical
section of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 to 8.
a, b, are the two meeting rails of the sashes. On the meeting rail a of the
upper sash is the jointed arm c turning on the peg or axis d, and made to spring
into the unfastening position, represented in Figures 3 and 4, when at liberty to
move by means of the ribbon spring e (see Figures 4 and 8), one end of the said
spring e being attached to the peg or axis d, and the other end to the hollow boss
of the jointed arm c. A stop on the foundation plate of this part of the fastening
limits the back motion of the jointed arm c. Near the handle end of the jointed
arm c is a cross slot c open at one side, and near the said cross slot is a cam or
curved locking shoulder g for engaging with the locking shoulder on the other
part of the fastening. On the meeting rail 6 of the lower sash is a rotating catch.
This catch consists of a peg or axis h having a large circular head i. This head is
represented cut away in Figures 2, 4, 5, and 6. The said catch h, i, is capable of a
partial rotation, a spring / bearing against the arm on the peg h (see Figures 4
and 6) pressing it into its normal or locking position. On the circular head i of
the rotating catch is a cylindrical flange m constituting a curved locking shoulder
for engaging with the curved locking shoulder g on the jointed arm c of the
fastening. The shape of the said cylindrical flange or locking shoulder m is best
seen in Figures 7 and 8, and in the horizontal section Figures 2, 4, 5, and 6. By
means of a small finger plate m² at the edge of the catch, the latter may be moved
from its normal position to that represented in Figure 6 for releasing the jointed
arm c; or the head i of the rotating catch may be milled for the same purpose.
.
The action of the fastening is as follows:-When the jointed arm c is made to
cross the meeting rails a, b, for fastening the sashes and is pushed home, the locking
sboulder g on the said arm e strikes against the cylindrical flange or locking
shoulder m on the rotating catch h, i, as represented in. Figure 5. As the jointed
arm c passes to its fastening position, it turns the rotating catch h, i, from the
position represented in Figure 5 to that represented in Figure that is, turns the
rotating catch through such an angle as will permit the cross slot c² in the jointed
arm c to pass onto the axis or peg h of the said catch. On the arm c reaching the
position last described the locking shoulder g on the said arm escapes from the
locking shoulder m on the catch h, i, and the latter now being free to move makes
a back partial rotation by the action of its spring k, and the said locking shoulder m
of the catch snaps upon or around the locking shoulder of the jointed arm c, in
the manner best seen in Figure 2, and the two parts of the fastening are thereby
securely connected together, and the two sashes drawn and fastened together. To
unfasten the sashes the thumb plate m² of the rotating catch is pressed upon and
moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, and brought into the
position represented in Figure 6. The shoulder m² of the catch is thereby so far
removed from off the shoulder g of the jointed arm c that the said arm is no longer
locked, and the said arm springs into the position represented in Figures 3 and 4,
and the sashes are unfastened.
The fastening described and represented may be used as a casement fastening by
fixing the two parts vertically upon the meeting rails or bars of the casements, the
action of the parts being the same as when applied to the fastening of a sash.
Figure 9 represents in front elevation, Figure 10 in side elevation partly in
section, and Figure 11 in vertical section a self locking door fastening constructed 5
according to iny Invention, the door being represented fastened; Figure 12
represents in side elevation, and Figure 13 in horizontal section the door in the
act of being fastened, and Figure 14 shows the position which the locking shoulder
of the catch part of the fastening takes when it has engaged with the locking stud
or roller preparatory to the fastening of the door. This part of my Invention is 5
particularly applicable to the fastening of railway carriage doors, but may be used
for fastening doors generally.

page_text: The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
and 14.
a is the door, and 6 the door frame or jamb. On the face plate c fixed to the
jamb b is a cylindrical stud d, which may either be fixed or capable of rotating,
and at the edge of the door I place the catch of the fastening, the said catch con-
sisting of a strong axis e turning in the case f fixed to the edge of the door a. On
the inner face of the said axis e is a rotating circular disc f working in the
circular depression in the fixing case f, as represented. On the said disc f2 is a
curved locking shoulder få for engaging with or embracing part of the fixed or
rotating stud or roller d on the jamb plate c. Fixed to or made in one piece with
the disc and shoulder f2, f³, is a cross handle f. The weight of the said handle
causes the locking shoulder f³ on the disc f2 when at liberty to move to take its
lowest or fastening position, represented in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. The
recess in the case f in which the disc f2 and locking shoulder f³ work is open at
opposite sides. Through the open inner side h the roller or stud d passes into the
case when the door is closed, and through the other open side i the stem of the
cross handle f works the said open side i, limiting the upward and downward
motions of the said handle f^.
When the door a is closed the open side h of the case f passes partly over the
stud or roller d, and the edge f5 of the locking flange or shoulder fs strikes against
the said stud or roller, as represented in Figure 12, and when the door has been
completely closed the said locking shoulder fs and parts connected with it are
raised into the position represented in Figure 14, and the said locking shoulder
passes onto or partly embraces the said stud or roller d. As soon as the catch
takes the position represented in Figure 14 it falls by its own weight into the
position shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, and the door is securely fastened by the
portion f of the locking shoulder f³ passing to the back of the pin or roller d.
In order to unfasten the door it is only necessary to lift the handle f* into the
position represented in Figure 14. In this position the locking shoulder fs of the
catch no longer fastens the door; that is, the inner part marked f5 of the said
locking shoulder is by the partial rotation of the catch removed from the back of
the roller or stud, and may pass from off the said roller or stud, and the door be
opened.
Figure 15 represents partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section a
modification of the self locking door fastening last described, and Figure 16 is a
side elevation of a portion of the same.
This modification is especially applicable to swing doors or gates, that is, doors
or gates opening in either direction.
In this modification e is the axis of the catch turning in the bearings at e², e³,
carried by the door or gate; f' is the handle fixed to the said axis e; f2 is the
rotating disc of the catch carrying the locking shoulder f³, and d is the stud or roller
on the case f fixed to the door or gate post g. The locking shoulder f³ is rounded at
each end for the stud or roller to act upon it when the swing door or gate is closed
in one or other direction, the action of the locking parts being the same as
corresponding parts in the self locking door fastening, represented in Figures 9 to 14
of the Drawings.
The fastening may be bolted when required. For this purpose I use an axial
bolt screwed at its middle, and taking into a screwed hole in the case f. The
outer end of the bolt k is square or angular, and by means of a key fitted on the
said square end the plain inner end of the said bolt may be advanced into the
cylindrical recess in the disc f2, so as to bolt the two parts of the fastening
together. The cavity in the case on the door or gate post at which access is
gained to the square end of the bolt may be covered by the cover d².
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,
first, the improvements herein before described and illustrated in Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawings in self locking sash and

page_text: casement fastenings, that is to say, constructing the jointed arm fixed on one of
the sashes or casements with a cross slot and with a curved locking cam or shoulder,
and making the catch situated on the outer sash or casement capable of a partial
rotation, and providing the said rotating catch with a circular flange or locking
shoulder, the locking shoulders on the two parts of the sash or casement fastening
being engaged together for locking the sash or casement, and disengaged from one
another for unlocking the sash or casement, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Secondly. The improvements herein before described and illustrated in Figures
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of the accompanying Drawings in self locking door
fastenings, that is to say, making that part of the fastening which is fixed to the
door of a rotating catch provided with a curved locking flange or shoulder, the
said catch carrying the handle of the fastening, the weight of the said handle causing
the locking shoulder when it is at liberty to move to take its lowest or locking
position, and making that part of the fastening which is fixed to the door frame or
post of a cylindrical stud or roller with which the locking shoulder of the other
part of the fastening engages, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Macvitie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
WILLIAM MACVITIE. (L.S.)