IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DOOR KNOBS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomson, of Crompton Fold, Shaw, in the
County of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
DOOR KNOBS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1882.
WILLIAM THOMSON, of Crompton Fold, Shaw, in the County of Lancaster,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DOOR-KNOBS
リ
This Invention relates to door-knobs which are secured, not directly to the
spindle, but to washers or plates attached to the door in such a manner that the
inconvenience resulting from the accidental detachment or displacement, which is
such a frequent cause of annoyance with ordinary door-knobs, is entirely avoided,
and the said Invention consists in novel means for connecting the knobs with the
said plates or washers as hereinafter described.
The said Invention is carried into practice as follows, that is to say, I form in the
knob or handle a central cavity or recess extending from the outer surface about
half way through the knob, and from this recess a hole is made extending through
the knob to the surface which is adjacent to the said washer. This hole is provided
for the reception of a hollow square spindle which has a screw-threaded round
portion at its end which projects into the said recess. The latter serves for the
reception of a round nut which fits the said screwed end of the hollow spindle.
The said hollow spindle is fixed or formed on a shallow socket which is faced to
work against the said washer and has a projection which is rivetted, or otherwise
secured, so as to turn freely in the said washer. The small end of the knob is fitted
tightly in the said socket, and when the aforesaid nut is properly screwed upon the
bollow spindle, it will be impossible for the knob to be accidentally detached or
removed from the said plate or washer. The ordinary spindle which connects the
knobs with the latch mechanism is enclosed by the said hollow'squaro spindles, and
the outer end of the cavity or recess in the knob is tightly closed by a plug, which,
for the sake of appearance, is made flush with the surface of the knob.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Thomsou in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1883.
WILLIAM THOMSON, of Crompton Fold, Shaw, in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DOOR-KNOBS
"
My invention relates chiefly to that class of door-knobs which are secured, not
directly to the spindle, but to washers or plates attached to the door; and the said
invention comprises improved means, hereinafter described, for connecting the knobs
with the said plates or washers in such a manner that the inconvenience resulting
from the accidental detachment or displacement, which is such a frequent cause of
annoyance with ordinary door-knobs, is entirely avoided.
In door-knobs of this class as heretofore constructed, the small end of the knob or
handle is inserted in a shallow socket which has a square projection upon one side
fitting into a corresponding recess in the said knob or handle, and the said socket
has a projection upon the other side fitting into the central aperture in the washer
or plate, in which it is secured by rivetting or otherwise so as to turn freely therein;
but this mode of attaching the knob to the said shallow socket is found to bo
defective, and the knob or handle is liable to be accidentally detached from the said
socket. According to my present invention I provide the shallow socket with a
hollow spindle, which may be square, hexagonal or of other suitable form, and
which passes through a corresponding aperture in the knob or handle and is secured
therein by a nut screwed on the end of the said spindle, and preferably fitted into
a recess in the knob or handle, which is afterwards closed by a plug.
In the accompanying drawing have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal central section of a door-knob secured to a
washer or plate in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 represents an end elevation of the door-knob with the plug removed
tlierefrom.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts in these figures.
a represents the knob or handle, in which I form a central cavity or recess b
extending from the outer surface about half way through the knob, as shown in
Figure 1. From this recess a square aperture c extends through the knob to the
surface which is adjacent to the washer or plate d. This aperture is provided for
the reception of the hollow square spindle e having a screw-threaded round
portion e¹ at its extremity, which projects into the recess b. The said recess serveз
for the reception of the round nut f which fits the said screwed end of the hollow
'spindle e. This hollow spindle is fixed or formed on the shallow socket g which is
faced to work against the washer or plate d, and has a projection g' fitting into the
central aperture in the said washer or plate, in which it is rivetted, or otherwise
secured, so as to turn freely therein, in a similar manner to door-knobs of this kind
as heretofore constructed. The small end of the knob is fitted tightly in the
socket g and, when the nut fis properly screwed upon the hollow spindle e, it will
be impossible for the knob to be accidentally detached or removed from the said
plate or washer. The spindle ordinarily employed for connecting the knobs with
the latch mechanism is enclosed by the hollow square spindle of each knob, and
the outer end of the cavity or recess in the knob is tightly closed by a plug i which,
for the sake of appearance, is made flush with the surface of the knob.
The cavity or recess for the reception of the nut, and the plug for closing the
same, may be used in handles which are secured by other means than those above
described, and I sometimes fit the nut on the end of the inner square spiudle.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim-
First The improved means for connecting theknob or handle with the plate or
washer consisting essentially in providing, in combination with the socket, a hollow
spindle which passes through an aperture in the knob or handle and is secured
therein by a nut, substantially as above set forth.
Second In a door-knob or handle, the central cavity or recess fitted with a plug
for closing the same, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
In Witness whereof I the said William Thomson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this First day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
Signed sealed and delivered
by the said William Thomson
in the presence of
ROBERT BARRON
79 Small Brook Shaw
Iron Turner
WILLIAM THOMSON (L.S.)