A New or Improved Wedge for Securing Doors and Windows.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar, 1887.
A New or Improved Wedge for Securing Doors and Windows.
I. JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON of Spencer Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention appertains to that class of appliances used for securing doors and
windows in their closed positions, by employing an auxiliary fastener independent of
lock or bolt mechanisms.
My invention consists essentially of an inverted horn shaped lever, jointed at one
end to the top of a bracket with an extended foot, and which said parts are so
arranged and constructed, that when the wedge fastener is in position, and a door is
attempted to be opened, the whole pressure exerted is upon a short arm on the horn
above the joint centre, and which short arm tends to press the horn downwards, and
so more firmly secure the fastener in fastener.
I will describe my invention in connection with a door wedge.
In carrying out my invention, I take an upright bracket, with a taper foot or
extension proceeding outwards from the base or lower part, while the upper part of
the upright bracket is made into a knuckle joint to which a lever in the form of an
inverted horn is pivoted.
The lever consists of a quadrant shaped piece of metal pointed at one end (which is
presented downwards) and jointed near the other end and broader part of the knuckles
of the supporting bracket. The short end of the said lever proceeds upwards above
the joint or fulcrum upon which it turns, into the form of a short arm, with an
inclined tooth or with inclined teeth upon its acting face, for giving the requisite bite
or hold upon the back of a door when in use. Thus the bracket and base of the
appliance consists of a piece of metal shaped into the form of a right angle, of which
one side is the base, and the other side the lever bracket, upon the top of which, the
bent lever before named turns upon its near end as a fulcruin, while the short arm of
the lever disposed above the joint affords the means whereby the pointed front end is
made to penetrate the floor of a room, and so hold the wedge in a fixed or determinate
position, on an attempt being made to open a door, when the appliance is placed in
position.

page_text: In using the wedge or appliance, place the foot under a door when closed, with the
face of the short arm presented to the back of the door. Any attempt to open the
door acts upon the short end of a lever, which consequently forces the pointed end
downwards into the floor of a room, so as to prevent the door from being opened.
The bracket is bowed or curved to impart strength thereto when made of sheet
metal.
Door or window wedges as described are simple in their construction, efficient in
their action, and are not liable to get out of order when in use.

page_text: I, JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON of Spencer Street Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, 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 appertains to that class of appliances used for securing doors and
windows in their closed positions, by employing an auxiliary fastener, independent of
lock or bolt mechanisms.
My invention consists essentially of an inverted horn shaped lever, jointed at one
end to the top of a bracket, with an extended foot, and which said parts are so
arranged and constructed, that when the wedge fastener is in position, and a door is
attempted to be opened, the whole pressure exerted is upon a short arm on the horn
above the joint centre, and which short arm tends to press the horn downwards, and
so more firmly secure the fastener in position.
I will describe my invention in connection with a door wedge.
In carrying out my invention, I take an upright bracket, with a taper foot or
extension proceeding outwards from the base or lower part, while the upper part of
the upright bracket is made into a knuckle joint, to which a lever in the form of an
inverted horn is pivoted.
The lever consists of a quadrant shaped piece of metal pointed at one end (which is
presented downwards) and jointed near the other end and broader part, or knuckles
of the supporting bracket. The short end of the said lever proceeds upwards above
the joint or fulcrum upon which it turns, into the form of a short arm, with an
inclined tooth or with inclined teeth upon its acting face, for giving the requisite bite
or hold upon the back of a door when in use. Thus the bracket and base of the
appliance consists of a piece of metal shaped into the form of a right angle, of which
one side is the base, and the other side the lever bracket, upon the top of which, the
bent lever before named turns upon its near end as a fulcrum, while the short arin of
the lever disposed above the joint, affords the means whereby the pointed front end,
is made to penetrate the floor of a room, and so hold the wedge in a fixed or
determinate position, on an attempt being made to open a door, when the appliance is
placed in position.
In using the wedge or appliance, place the foot under a door when closed, with the
face of the short arm presented to the back of door. Any attempt to open the door,
acts upon the short end of a lever, which consequently forces the pointed end
downwards into the floor of a room, so as to prevent the door from being opened.
The bracket is bowed or curved to impart strength thereto, when made of sheet
metal.
Door or window wedges as described, are simple in their construction, efficient in
their action, and are not liable to get out of order when in use.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.

page_text: Figure 1 represents in side elevation, partly in section, a door wedge, or a door
securing appliance, made according to my invention, and which said securing
appliance is shown in use. Figure.2 is a front elevation of figure 1, and figure 3
is a plan of the securing appliance. Figure 4 is a plan and side elevation of the
bracket or carrier part, and figure 5 is a front and side elevation of the inverted
horn.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the Drawing.
a is an inverted horn shaped piece of metal, pointed at its front end, and provided
at its back end with a heel part a², and spike or tooth a, and which said parts are
disposed above the joint centre a upon which the inverted horn turns. The front
pointed end is for the purpose of securely affixing the appliance in position, in order
to effectually block a door, on the said door being opened or attempted to be opened.
Thus, the pointed end is forced forward, and made to penetrate the floor of a room,
and thereby effectually form a block to any attempt to enter.
dis an upright bracket, divided or forked about its middle, and provided at the
upper ends of the forked parts, with opposite knuckle bearings . This bracket dis
supported by a foot or base d³, (as best seen in figure 3) which when the wedge or
appliance is in use, goes under the door, as represented in figure 1.
To block or secure a door from being opened, when shut, place the foot or base d³
thereunder, and with the heel part a² and spike a³, presented to the side of the door,
and with the forward pointed end of the inverted horn part presented to the floor.
The act of opening the door, when in the position as represented in figure 1, tends
to force outwardly the heel a², and turn the horn upon its joint centre, downwardly
so as to forcibly drive the front or point of the said horn, into the floor of the room,
so as to effectually and efficiently block or prevent the door from being opened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-
In a door wedge or door fastener, consisting of an inverted horn shaped piece of
metal or its equivalent, jointed near its inner or back end, thus forming a lever with
two arms of unequal length; viza front part, and a heel part, with the bearing,
and spike or tooth, on the back of the said heel part, disposed or clevated above the
bearing or joint centre, and which said inverted horn part or wedge, is supported and
carried by an angular bracket or base plate, with a vertical upright, substantially as
and for the purpose herein described and set forth.
Dated this 24th day of February 1887.
GEORGE JOSEPH ROLLASON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.