A SPRING FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHUTTING A DOOR
Year: 1790

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
DOWNER, of Fleet Street, London, Ironmonger, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirteenth day of April, in the thirtieth year of His
Majestie's reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Henry Downer, His
special licence, full power, sole priviledge and authority, that I, the said Henry
Downer, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the
term of years therein expressed, make, use, exercise, and vend, throughout
that part of His Majestie's Kingdom of Great Britain called England, the
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"A SPRING FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHUTTING A DOOR," in which said recited Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Henry Downer, by writing
under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled.
in His Majestie's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the said Letters.
Patent and the Statute in that behalf made, relation being thereunto had,.
may more at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, and in pursuance
of the said Statute, I, the said Henry Downer, do hereby declare that my said
Invention of a Spring for the Purpose of Shutting a Door is described and
ascertained in manner and form following, that is to say:-
It cosists of a spring or springs on a plate, either fixed on or into the door,
or jamb or rabbet of the door, and communicating withe edge of the door,

page_text: or jamb or rabbet of the door, by a chain or hook, or any other method; the
spring in the door, or jamb or rabbet of the door, thereby pulling to or
shutting the door; and these springs may be made of any shape, and act in
various ways, still producing the same effect of shutting the door. The above
method applies to doors already hung, but may also apply to or become part of
hinges or joints, so that no other hinges will be wanting. In this case, bosides
the above described methods, a rack bolt on one side or flap of the joint, with
teeth or grooves in it, being forced by a spring, acts on corresponding grooves
or projecting teeth on the knuckle of the opposite side of the joint, and
thereby closes it, and of course shuts the door. The springs in this case may
likewise be of any shape, and act, in various directions, either with or without
the rack bolt, by means of wheels and chains or hooks, &c. The spring being
on one side, and the chain or book on the other, the same effect may be pro-
duced by a weight instead of a spring being fixed in the same situation as
above.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Downer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand seven hundred and ninety.
Inrolled the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
seven hundred and ninety.