IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLOSING DOORS AND GATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Angelo Fahie, of the Office for Patents, 2, Nassau
Street, Dublin, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
CLOSING DOORS AND GATES." A communication from abroad by John T.
Foster, of Number 240, York Street, Jersey City, New Jersey, in the United
States of America.
Sealed the 23rd March 1877, and dated the 30th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Angelo Fabie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1876.
JAMES ANGELO FAHIE, of the Office for Patents, 2, Nassau Street, Dublin,
Ireland. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLOSING DOORS AND GATES." A com-
munication from abroad by John T. Foster, of Number 240, York Street, Jersey
City, New Jersey, in the United States of America.
This Invention consists in the application of a spiral spring to doors and gates in
the following manner :- -The spring is constructed with a stud at each extremity
thereof, one of these studs is pierced through with one hole, the other stud is pierced
through with two holes at right angles to and traversing each other. Two pivot
pins are provided, one of which is affixed to the casings or the jamb of the door or
gate about one inch from the edge of same, the other is affixed to the door itself;
this latter pivot pin is fixed in position on the door about the length of the
spring lower down than the other pivot pin and about one inch from the edge of the
door so that the spring will assume a diagonal position across the joint of the door
when placed on these pivot pins. On the lower one of these pivot pins is placed the
end of the spring having only one hole, then by inserting a wrench into the hole at
the right-hand side of the stud at the other end of spring the said spring is turned
or twisted toward the left until in line with the pivot and is then slipped on hereto.
The spiral will therefore be uncoiled or untwisted by the act of opening the door
and in virtue of its tendency to coil or resume it normal position will keep the door
closed. When the latter is set free, should the door not close with sufficient force
the wrench should be inserted as before and another quarter turn or twist should be
given to the spring toward the left.

page_text: Should it be desired to keep the door in a half open position, the coil should be
reversed from left to right as far as may be necessary for keeping the door in any
certain desired position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Angelo Fahie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1877.
JAMES ANGELO FAHIE, of the Office for Patents, 2, Nassau Street, Dublin,
Ireland. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLOSING DOORS AND GATES."
A com-
munication from abroad by John T. Foster, of Number 240, York Street, Jersey
City, New Jersey, in the United States of America.
This Invention consists in the application of a spiral spring to doors and gates in
the following manner:-The spring is constructed with a stud at each extremity
thereof, one of these studs is pierced through with one hole, the other stud is pierced
through with two holes at right angles to and traversing each other.
Two pivot
pins are provided, one of which is affixed to the casing or the jamb of the door or
gate about one inch from the edge of same, the other is affixed to the door itself;
this latter pivot pin is fixed in position on the door about the length of the spring
lower down than the other pivot pin and about one inch from the edge of the door.
so that the spring will assume a diagonal position across the joint of the door when
placed on these pivot pins. On the lower one of these pivot pins is placed the end
of the spring having only one hole, then by inserting a wrench or key into the hole
at the right-hand side of the stud at the other or upper end of the spring, the said
spring is turned or twisted round towards the left until one of the holes is in line
with the pivot pin and is then slipped on thereto.
It will be obvious that upon the door or gate (to which the spring is applied in
the manner above described) being opened, the spring will be uncoiled, and that
when the said door or gate is again free the said spring in virtue of its tendency to
rewind or resume its normal condition will cause the said door or gate to be closed.
Should the door not close with sufficient force the wrench or key should be inserted
as before and another quarter turn or twist should be given to the spring when its
tendency to keep the door or gate closed will be increased accordingly.
Should it be required to retain the door or gate in a half-open position, it will be
readily understood that by slightly unwinding the spring in the opposite direction
the door on being moved to and fro will resume the position desired.
This Invention may also be applied with advantage to the doors of safes to assist
in opening and overcoming the external air pressure usually experienced in
manoeuvring such heavy and air-tight doors.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated it
in the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 shews the application of the spring
in the manner above described; Fig. 2 represents a side view of the same; Fig. 3,
the spring detached; Figs. 4 and 5, the pivot pins; and Fig. 6, the wrench or key
used for the purpose herebefore described.
A, A, represent the casing or jamb of the door or gate; B, B, the door or gate; S, S,
the spring; ff, the the pivot pins above described. In order that the extremities of
the spring may not work off the pivot pins a small hole is pierced transversely in
the top of the latter, through which small rings are passed as seen at c, c, in Figs. 1
and 2.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same may be applied, I hereby declare that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, the application substantially as described in

page_text: reference to the accompanying Drawings of spiral springs for the purpose specified
and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Angelo Fahie have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES ANGELO FAHIE. (LS.)