IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING DOORS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH FOR INSTANTANEOUSLY RELEASING SAID APPLIANCES AND SO FACILITATING EXIT FROM PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT, CHURCHES, AND OTHER PLACES IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHERWISE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Sclanders, of Austin Friars, in the City of
London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING
DOORS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREWITH FOR INSTANTANEOUSLY RELEASING SAID APPLIANCES AND SO
FACILITATING EXIT FROM PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT, CHURCHES, AND
OTHER PLACES IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHERWISE." A communication from
abroad by James Palmer Black, of Nelson, in the Colony of New Zealand.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Sclanders at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1881.
ALEXANDER SCLANDERS, of Austin Friars, in the City of London. "IMPROVE:
MENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING DOORS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREWITH FOR INSTANTANEOUSLY RELEASING SAID APPLIANCES AND
SO FACILITATING EXIT FROM PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT, CHURCHES, AND
OTHER PLACES IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHERWISE." A communication from
abroad by James Palmer Black, of Nelson, in the Colony of New Zealand.
The chief object of this Invention is the employment and construction of escape
door fastenings, whereby ready means of egress or exit from places of public
entertainment, such as theatres, in case of panic is afforded.
The Invention consists of top and bottom spring bolts on doors fitting into
metallic socket or sockets mortised into the door frame; each bolt is provided with
what may be called a thrust spring, to press and keep the bolt or bolts in the
socket or sockets while the door or doors, is or are shut; the opening appliances
are or may be toothed or partially toothed wheels, each preferably provided with
teeth one third of their circumference and geared into each other; one-wheel, say
the upper, is provided with a ratchet tooth, and fitted with a pawl which resists
the pressure of the springs when the bolts are drawn. The plain portion of the
periphery of the wheels is grooved to receive a metallic or other cord or chain, or
its equivalent connecting the bolts to their respective wheels; a lever and knob is
connected to one wheel, which on being depressed simultaneously and instantly
through the wheels and cords, withdraws the bolts from their sockets and releases
the door or doors. The Invention is applicable to any size of door; it will sustain
any inside pressure equal to the strength of the building, and any amount of
pressure on the door from inside, such as might occur in case of panic; it does not
interfere with the easy action of the apparatus or fastening, while the opening of
the door is instantaneous, extremely simple, and not liable to get out of order.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Sclanders in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th January 1882.
ALEXANDER SCLANDERS, of Austin Friars, in the City of London.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING DOORS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES, AND IN
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH FOR INSTANTANEOUSLY RELEASING SAID
APPLIANCES AND SO FACILITATING EXIT FROM PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTER-
TAINMENT, CHURCHES, AND OTHER PLACES IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHERWISE." (A
communication from abroad by James Palmer Black, of Nelson, in the Colony of
New Zealand.)
The chief object of this Invention is the employment and construction of escape
door fastenings, whereby ready means of egress or exit from places of public
entertainment, such as theatres, in case of panic is afforded.
The Invention consists of top and bottom spring bolts on door fitting into
metallic socket or sockets mortised into the door frame; each bolt is provided with
what may be called a thrust spring to press and keep the bolt or bolts in the
socket or sockets while the door or doors is or are shut; the opening appliances.
are or may be toothed or partially toothed wheels, each preferably provided with
teeth one third of their circumference and geared into each other; one wheel, say
the upper, is provided with a ratchet tooth, and fitted with a pawl, which resists
the pressure of the springs when the bolts are drawn. The plain portion of the
periphery of the wheels is grooved to receive a metallic or other cord or chain, or
its equivalent, connecting the bolts to their respective wheels; a lever and knob is
connected to one wheel, which on being depressed simultaneously and instantly
through the wheels and cords withdraws the bolts from their sockets and releases
the door or doors.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the manner in which the Invention is
carried into effect; Figure 1 is a side elevation detached, and Figure 2 is an edge
view of the apparatus or escape door fastening applied to a door, and Figure 3
shows in front elevation the same applied to a pair of doors.
a, a, are the top and bottom spring bolts fitting into metallic sockets a¹ in the
door frame; c, c, are the springs to press the bolts into their sockets and to keep
them there while the door is shut; d, e, are the two partially toothed wheels for
operating the bolts; these wheels are placed in the most convenient position, or
where thought advisable; g, g, are the cords or wires connecting the bolts to the
wlieels d and e respectively; the untoothed portions of the wheels are grooved, as
shown at Figure 2, for the guidance of the wire, chain, or cord; h is the operating
lever shown on the wheel e, and i is the pawl lever with tooth ¹, which when the
lever is depressed causes the partial rotation of the wheels d and e, so that the
tooth engages with the ratchet tooth on the wheel, and in that position
the bolts are unlocked and the springs c compressed, thereby preventing the return
of the bolts. To effect the opening, depress the lever h, which gives the wheels a
partial rotation and simultaneously pulls the wires, chains, or cords, and with
them the bolts a, a ; the doors then are free to open. To refasten them depress the
lever fon pawl i, and the pawl tooth will be raised and disengaged from the
ratchet tooth, and the springs act simultaneously and force the bolts into their
respective sockets.
The Invention is applicable to any size of door; it will sustain any inside
pressure equal to the strength of the building, and any amount of pressure on the
door from inside, such as might occur in case of panic; it does not interfere with

page_text: the easy action of the apparatus or fastening, while the opening of the door is
instantaneous, extremely simple, and not liable to get out of order.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
In a door fastening or apparatus the application thereto of spring bolts, operated
simultaneously from one and the same point by tooth wheel gear and levers, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Sclanders, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ALEX. SCLANDERS. (L.S.)