Novel Means or Apparatus for Securing Doors.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Lef, 28th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1836
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Novel Means or Apparatus for Securing Doors.
WILLIAM JONES STEELE Hawthorn Cottage, South Parade, West Hartlepool
Assistant Borough Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to securing doors, and is especially applicable to the doors
of theatres, public halls, or the like places, in which large audiences are gathered
under conditions in which ample provision for clearing the building is desirable or
requisite in case of panic.
The object of my invention is to furnish large folding or other doors with a
contrivance in the form of a locking bar, so constructed and attached to the doors,
that they are as free to open when pressure is brought to bear against the con-
trivance as if the doors were not barred at all, whilst the said contrivance is as
effective in closing the doors from outside pressure or pull as if the doors were
locked or barred in the ordinary way; that is to say that by my invention,
theatres, halls, or like places are effectually closed to intrusion from outside by
the same doors which offer no obstruction to the egress of a panic-stricken
crowd from within. In carrying out my invention I provide a bar such as a long
steel or iron bar, of which one end is weighted. This bar is hung by its
unweighted end on a staple provided at about the centre of one door in the case
of folding doors and also at about its centre in the case of a single door, in such
manner as to swing freely to a vertical position when not supported or held. In
conjunction with this bar a carrier claw or clip is provided, hinged to a pivot
provided to one of the doors just above the level of the bar when such bar is in a
horizontal position.
The said claw or clip is so formed that when required the said bar can engage
with it and also with open ended staples or stop pieces provided on each door in
the case of folding doors and on the door and its frame in the case of a single door,
effectually barring the doors or door to both pressure or pull from the outside; the
said claw or clip has a set-off just above its point of support to which set-off an
enamelled iron or other plate is provided so that when pressure from the inside of
the building caused by the surging of a crowd or by other means, is brought
to bear against the said plate the said claw or clip is disengaged from the said
bar and such bar is forced from engagement with the said open ended staples or
stop pieces by means of a lug formed on the said claw or clip, when the said
bar immediately falls to a vertical position leaving the doors free to open.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of February 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Novel Means or Apparatus for Securing Doors.
WILLIAM JONES STEELE, Hawthorn Cottage, South Parade, West Hartlepool,
0 Assistant Borough Surveyor 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:-
My invention relates to securing doors and is especially applicable to the doors

page_text: opening outwards of theatres, public balls or the like places, in which large
audiences are gathered under conditions in which ample provision for clearing
the building is desirable or requisite in case of panic. The object of my invention
is to furnish folding or other doors with a contrivance in the form of a locking bar
-so constructed and attached to. the doors that they are as free to open when
certain part of the contrivance is pulled as if the doors were not barred at all,
whilst the said contrivance is as effective in closing the doors from outsido pressure
or pull as if the doors were locked or barred in the ordinary way; that is to say
that by my invention theatres, halls, or like places are effectually closed to
intrusion from outside by the same doors which offer no obstruction to the egress of
a panic-stricken crowd from within. In carrying out my invention I provide an
iron or steel plate, A Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5., which is fixed on that door. having the
rebate on its outer edge, and on which plate are formed two eyes b, Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Near to one edge of this plate a steel or iron bolt c, Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5., is provided
and on such bolt I provide a steel or iron bar B, Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5., so hung on the
:suid bolt that when not supported or held it falls to a vertical position.
Hinged on another bolt d, Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. provided and fixed in the aforesaid
eyes, I provide a steel or iron holder E, Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. so formed that the
aforesaid bar can when required, engage with it and open ended staples F,
Figs. 1. 2. 3. . provided on each door, thereby maintaining the aforesaid bar in
a horizontal position and effectually barring the doors to both pressure and `pull
from the outside.
The said holder is provided with the letters PULL and a handle G, Figs. 3. 4.,
so that when such handle is pulled, the said bar is forced from engagement with
the aforesaid staples and holder by means of a cam h, Figs. 1. 4. 5., formed on
such holder and working in the opening out in the plate and door, and imme-
-diately drops to a vertical position, leaving the doors free to open.
When the contrivance is used on a single door I provide an iron or steel
plate I, Figs. 1. 2. secured to one frame of the door, such frame having a slot J,
Figs. 1. 2., cut in it so that the free end of the aforesaid bar may fit into the
aforesaid slot when required, effectually barring the door as stated above, and
the said bar likewise falls to a vertical position when the aforesaid handle is
pulled, leaving the doors free to open as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
⚫claim is :-
1. A sure method of keeping a bar fixed in slots when such slots are formed by
open ended staples being attached to doors, or being cut in door framos, or by
being formed in like manner.
2. A sure and rapid method of detaching a bar from engagement with slots
when such slots are formed by open ended staples being attached to doors, or by
being cut in door frames, or by being formed in like manner.
3. An apparatus by means of which a bar or like article is maintained in a
certain position by the same instrument that can force such bar or like article to
another position when required.
Dated this 27th day of November 1895.