US946244A - Automatic window-closing device. - Google Patents

Description

C. A. MAGAW d: D. MAUVIGAB.

AUTOMATIC WIITDGW CLOSlNG DEVICE'.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1908.

Patented Jari 11,1910.

2 SHEETS-BEBE? l.

",l'lfga a r UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

i CHARLES A. MAGA'W AND DANA MAoVICAR, 0F TOPEKA, KANSAS.y

AUTOMATIC WINDOW-CLOSING IDEVICE.V

This invention comprises an attachment adaptedl to be applied to windows, doors and the like, having as its primary objectA the provision of means for normally holding the window sash or door open, with associated means for automatically controlling said holding means, whereby the window or door is released and allowed to be closed, the controlling means being governed by weather influences.

With the above object in view, the invention includes novel means for releasing the holding device for the window, which means is set into operation by action of moisture and will positively release the holding de- Ylce.

More particularly the invention contemplates the provision of a cord, chain or other iolding device, adapted to be applied to a movable sash or door, the opposite end of the cord 'being adapted to be applied to a point of support and thereby hold the window or door open, with means acting under the influence of moisture for positively releasing the coi'd from support.

The invention also comprises means for delecting the rain or moisture and directing van accumulated mass thereof to a pointV where it will act by direct contact with said holding and releasing means.

With the above and other objects in view, attention is directed to the following description, from which the novel arrangement of parts and details of construction of the invention will be clear, and which said description should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. forming a part hereof, and wherein preferable embodiments of the invention are disclosed for the pui'- pose of illustration.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window frame, with its sashes in place, and one of the forms of our attachment applied thereto, F ig.2 is a side elevation of the same device in position relative to the frame and sashes, which latter are o Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed July 22, 1908. Serial No. 444,859.

shown partly in section. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the supporting member of the holding member with associated parts a plied thereto. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail klalellied Jan. 11, 1910. f

view of a section of said support, with the releasing plunger and its support in operative position. Fig. 5 is a. detail view of a. supporting diaphravm for the releasing plunger, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a. modified construction.

Like reference characters designate corref sponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings, in Which- The window frame l is of the ordinary construction and the sashes 2 and 2* are shown as slidably mounted in the usual runways, though, as will be obvious, the devices to Vbe presently described may, as well, beapplie to a sliding door, or even a pivoted or swinging window or door.

3 is a relatively rigid tubular supporting member, preferably of cylindrical metallic construction, and having oliset bracket inembers 4 conveniently arranged adjacent its respective ends, whereby the support may be attached, as by means of screws 4 to the frame 1. The support is usually applied to the frame at a point without the sash runway and below the lower edge of the upper sash. The support 3 has a transverse enlargement 5 intermediate its ends atording a seat. for the reception of a disk or diaphragm which latter forms a temporary partition in the tubular support.

6 is a rod or plunger, whose greatest diameter is slightly less than that of the inner wall of the tubular support 3, whereby it is free to slide longitudinally of said support, the latter having a slotted guideway 7 through which passes a pin i" secured to the plunger 6 and carrying an annular collar 8 on which is mounted a knob or handle 9 "whereby the plunger may be elevated. The

rod 6 is of a length to rest upon the temporary partition when elevated, and to extend below the lower terminal of the tube when lowered. Projecting from the lower end of the. supporting tube is a retaining finger or lug 10.

11 designates a cord, chain or other holding device adapted to be secured to the movable sash 2 in any desired manner.

In the construction shown, 12 is a strap secured at one end to the side of the sash 2 as at 12*l and at its opposite end to a weight 13 to which latter the cord 11 is secured.

' The opposite end of the cord 11 passes through a suitable guide .ring 14 on the frame or sash and has a ring or engaging portion 15 arranged to engage over the retaining lug whereby the sash is normally held in raised or open position. The ring may be a loop vformed of the cord or chain itself, or other engaging device as is obvious.

l 16 is a disk or partition constructed and l arranged to be inserted in the seat 5, the disk preferably comprising a rectangular inem- .125 the diaphragm 16a will, under normal conditions, constitute a support or the plunger and retain the latter in elevated osition. Now, should the diaphragm be subjected to 4the action of moisture, the same will give ,I way thereby allowing the'plunger which is thereof engaging the engaging device 15 and forcibly releasing the same from engagement Y' `35 with the lug or finger 10, whereupon the weight 13 will instantly drop for a distance governed by the length of the strap 1Q, thus causing an initial jar to the sash to overcome any friction, when the sash, acting under 40 the influence of said weight, will close. The enlargement of the tube 3 will constitute a stop `or abutment to'be engaged by the collar 8 and limit downward movement of the plunger 6.

l It is very .desirable that the window be closed when the rain starts, and to this end, a suitable deflector or trough 17 is provided, the saine having an engaging means 18 adapted to detachably engage an eye or the like 19 on the upper sash 2*, the opposite end of the trough having an apertured lug 20 adapted to rest in the hollow terminal of the supporting tube 3. The arrangement is such that the trough will receive the drippings from the upper sash, and the accumulated water will run along the trough, which may be inclined, nding` an exit at the apertured lug 20 and dropping into the tube 3, readily acting upon the diaphragm 6o therein.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6, A is an annular disk or base support adapted to be connected to the sill of the frame 1, and having a funnel shaped de- Hector or trough B the enlarged surface b' ber having a recess adapted to be covered by of which will deflect a etiantity of rain and feed it in an accumulat quantity to a relatively sniall area or space a formed by the lower end of the tunnel and base support A.

In this form of our invention C is the re 70 taining finger or lug for the engaging end 15 of the holding device 11. The lug C, in this instance, is pivoted intermediate its ends tothe defiector B, through which it passes and tothe opposite end thereof is pivoted a rod or plunger D adapted to eX- tend longitudinally1 of the deiector and having a disk shaped end D arranged to rest upon a body of moisture reducing or soluble mass E, which normally holds the rod D in elevated position. E is a spring arm extending upwardly from the base A, and having at its upper end an apertured or slotted portion li arranged to engage over the lun C, which latter has a downward 35 projection I? engaging the inner surface of the vspring arm.

In operation, the engaging end of the holding device 11, which as before described relative to Fig. 1 of the drawings may con- 90 sist of a loop formed of the cord itself or a separate retaining member 15 fits over the lug C to the outside of the spring arm, and the window will be held open. IVhen moisture or rain accumulates on the detlector and is fed downwardly upon the reducible or. soluble substance E, the latter will reducev in size, the we'ig' Et on the sash will exert upward pressure on the lug C which elevates at one end according to the downward movement permitted by the plunger D at its opposite end, when the projection F of the lug will engage the spring arm E and force the same outwardly thereby positively ejccting the engaging end of the holding device 11 from the lug, when the window is allowed to close as herein before described.

In the claims wherein such terms as wa.- ter reducing or moisture reducing means appear, these terms are intended to include 1 10 such an element or substance as will, whe subjected to contact with moisture or waterv be reduced in degree of strength, size or bulk; a satisfactory illustration of which is shown at 16* Fig. 5 of the drawings, where- 115 in is employed a disk, the fibers of which readily disassociate when they become wet; also as shown on Fig. 6, this moisture reducing element may take the form of any 10o evaporating or reducing substance or ga generating substance such as etervescent. salt. as E.

What we claimis:

1. An attachment for windows and the like comprising a frame and an upper and 12 lower sash, a member adapted to be attached to the lower sash, a member adapted to be attached to the frame, a releasable connection between said Vmembers for normally M holding the lower sash open, means whereby 1* il l, t li s i. i. z

vsaid connection will be automatically released under the influence of water, and a water feed secured to the lower edge of the ,upper sash. 2. In combinatiomamovable sash, a rigid fadapted to engage directly with'said rigid support, and means whereby said engagement will be automatically released under 10 the inuenceof water, and a water feed.

3. In combination, a pair of movable sashes, a rigid support, a member carried by one of the sashes and adapted to engage directly with said rigid support, and means whereby said engagement will be automatically released under the inuence of water, and a water feed comprising an elongated trough mounted on the other sash.

4. In an attachment for windows and the like, meansfor normally holding the window open comprising a member carried by the window, an engaging member mounted lon a suitable support, the said first men- ;tionedmember adapted to engage the last mentioned member, and independent means s Vincluding a water reducing element governed by the action of moisture for detaching one of said members from the other.

5. An attachment for window sashes and the like comprising an engaging member mounted on a suitable support, a holding device adapted to be applied directly to the window and arranged to vconnect with said engaging member to hold the window open, and means governed by the action of moisture for positively removing said holding device from the engaging member.

6. An attachment for window sashes and the like comprising an engaging lug or nger mounted on a suitable support, a holding ring adapted to be applied to the window and arranged to engage over said lug or finger to hold the window open, independent means adapted to engage said ring to positively eject the same from the lug or finger,

and water releasing holding instrumentalities for said means.

7. A window closing device comprising a member adapted to be secured to a window frame, and a member adapted to be secured to a window, the said members having interlocking connection, an ejector for releasing said connection, and a water reducing holding element for the ejector. 8. A window closing device comprising a ring adapted to be secured to the window, a lug adapted to be secured to the frame and to be engaged by the ring when the window is open, and means acting under the induence of weather changes for engaging said ring and releasing the same from connection whereby the window is allowed to close. 9. A window closing device comprising a support adapted to be secured to a window support, a member securedto the. sash and.

' being adapted to r `frame, a plunger slidably mounted on the ,65'i

support, a holdinfr member adapted to be secured to the win ow and engage said support to hold the window' open, means for normally holding the plunger inactive including a disk constituting a rest for the 'i plunger, said means being controlled by the action of moisture to release the plunger and allow the same to move and disengage the holdin member from the support. Y f.

10. window closing device comprising a support adapted to be secured to a window frame, a holdmg member adapted to be secured to the window and engage said support to hold the window open, and releasing means for the holding member governed by the action of moisture, including a rod slidably mounted on said support.

11. A window closing device comprising a support adapted to be secured to a window frame, a holding member adapted to be 'se- 85 cured to the window and engage such support to hold the window open, and releasing means for the holding member including a rod slidably mounted on the support, and a.

moisture releasable holding means for the l rod.

12. A window closing device comprising a support adapted to be secured to a window frame, a holding member adapted to be se-v cured to the window and engage such support to hold the window open, and releasing means for the holding member including a rod slidably mounted on the support, a mois` ture rcleasable holding means for the rod, and means for feeding-.water to said last. 1'00 mentioned means.

13. A window closing device comprising a tubular support, holding means for :he window engaging said support a plunger slidably mounted in the tube, a disk in the tube Y.

for holding the plunger elevated. said disk being adapted upon the action of moisture 3*/ to release the plunger, which latter will release the holding means.

14. A window closing device comprising a tubular support, holding means for the window engaging said support a plunger.r slidably mounted in the tube, a disk in the tube for holding the plunger elevated. said disk being adapted upon the action of moisture to release the lunger and the plunger ellease the holding means,

and a feed for the water having an outlet into said tube.

15. A window closing device comprising a tubular support, holding means for the window engaging said support, a plunger slidably mounted in the tube, a disk in the tube for holding the plunger elevated, said disk being adapted upon the action of moisture to release the plunger and the plunger being adapted to release the holding means, and a feed for the water comprising an elnugated trough adapted tobe secured to the lower edge of the upper window sash and having an outlet into said tube.

16. A window closingY device comprising means for closing the window, means for controlling said device, the said means being constructed and arranged to hold the closing device inactive and being sensible to the action of water for releasing the closing device, means for eedingwater to said first mentioned mcanscomprising an elongated trough adapted to be secured to a. suitable support, and having an outlet at one end adjacent the saidfirst mentioned means.

17. A. window closing device comprising a member adapted to be secured to a vwindow frame, and a member adapted to be secured to a windowthe said members having a detachable connection, independent means overned by hygroscopic changes for releasing said connection, and means for imparting a jar to the Window when released.

18. A, window closing device comprising a member adapted to be secured to a window frame and a member adapted to be secured to a window, the said members having an interlocking connection one with the other and automatic means for releasing said connection, and a water reducible holding element for said means.

19. Af window closing device comprising a member adapted to be Secured to a window frame and a member adapted to be secured `to a window, thesaid members having an interlocking connection one with the other and automatic means for releasing said connection comprising a slidable member arranged to engage one of said members, and a water reducing element for normally holding said means inactive.

20. An attachment of the character described adapted to be applied to a movable sash or the like, a weight, a strap secured to the weight and adapted to be applied at its opposite end to the sash, a cord secured to the weight, a suitably supported guide for the cord, and a holding device for the opposite end of the cord arranged to hold the sash open and said weight elevated, said holding device comprising a retaining member and independent means for positively moving saidcord from engagement with the retaining member.

'21. In an attachment for windows, means for normally holding the window open comprising two members adapted to be connected respectively to the window and frame means for connecting the members together, and automatically operable independent means for engaging said last mentioned means to release the connection, including a water reducing element.

22. In an attachment for windows, means for normally holding the window open comprising a member adapted to be secured to a frame, a member ada .ted to be secured to a window, a connection etween said members comprising a lug carried by one and a ring carried by the other, means for ejecting the ring from the"lug, and means for rendering the last mentioned means normally inactive including a moisture reducing element.

23. In combination with a frameand a sliding sash, a part connected to and carried b v the sash, a rigid support on the frame, a direct connection between said part and support, and water releasing means for said connection.

24. In combination with a movable sash, a flexible member secured to and carried by the sash, a retaining lug mounted on a suitable support, means for connecting the inember to the lug, means for moving the flexible member from engagement with the lug, and a moisture governed release for said means.

25. An attachment of the character described comprising a frame, a movable sash, a member carried by and secured to the sash, a retaining member secured to the frame and engaged directly by said first mentioned member to hold the sash open, a movable dcvice for moving one of said members relative to the other to release the same from engagement, and moisture reducing means for holding said device in one of its adjusted positions.

26. An attachment for window saslies comprising a member adapted to be applied to a sash, a support to which said member is secured t0 hold the same open, and a member mounted on and movable relative to said support for releasing the member therefrom,

and means governed by the action of moisture whereby the last mentioned means is rendered operative.

2T. In an apparatus of the character stated the combination of a movable sash, a

frame therefor, a member adapted to be applied to the sash, a support on the frame to which said member is secured to bold the sash open and a member mounted on and slidably connected to said support for releasing tbe member therefrom, and means governed by the action of moisture whereby the last mentioned means is rendered operative.

QS. .Xn apparatus of the character described. comprising a sliding sash, a suitably mounted retaining lug, a member adapted to be connected to and carried by the sash, said member having an engaging part to connect with said retaining lug to hold the sash open, and an ejecting means movable over the lug and engaging directly said engaging part, said ejecting means being controlled by moisture.

29. .ln apparatus of the character described adapted to be applied to a movable i l. i

In testimony whereof we am our signatures in presenceor` Witnesses.

CHARLES A. MAGAW. DANA MACVICAR. lVitnesses: Oris E. HUNGATE, ETHEL MGFARLAND, GALEN NICHOLS.

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