Improvements in Retaining Catches and Fastenings for Doors, Windows, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Retaining Catches and Fastenings for Doors,
Windows, and the like.
ROBERT PLATT, 23 Union Street, Hyde, Cheshire, Whitesmith, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
That these improvements relate to the construction of Automatic Retaining Catches
and fastenings for Doors Windows and the like that are acted upon by the opening
and closing action of the said Doors and Windows, and by such action the Door can
be kept part Open or part Closed at any desired angle by the fixing of a Bell Crank
shaped Catch on the said Door by means of screws or otherwise, and by the insertion
in the Floor of a corresponding Eye Plate, or Plate having a projecting Lip cast or
otherwise fixed on, and which plate also is secured by screws or otherwise, in which
Eye Plate or over the Projecting Lip falls the hook shaped end of the said Bell
Crank shaped Catch, which holds the same in its desired position until released,
which is done by the moving of the Lever either inwards or outwards as the case may
be according to the style of the Catch used. This same mode of action also relates
to the Windows, with the exception that the said Bell Crank Shaped Catch works in
a Vertical position when in use, that is to say the part of the Bracket containing the
said Bell Crank Shaped Catch is fastened or secured by means of screws or other-
wise to the Top Rail of the Bottom Window Sash, and the corresponding Receiving
Plate or Bracket which receives the Hook part of the said Bell Crank Shaped Catch
is fastened or secured by screws or otherwise to the Bottom Rail of the Top Window
Sash, which holds the Top and Bottom Window Sashes together until released by the
Lever or Handle of the said Bell Crank Shaped Catch.
The first part of my said Invention consists in the special designing of a Bell
Crank Shaped Catch which is secured to an Angle or other shaped Bracket by means
of a Screw, Pin or Rivet, and on which the said Catch works freely, the Angle or
other shaped Bracket containing the said Catch must be fastened or otherwise secured
to the Door, Shelf, or Window Sash in a Vertical position. On the extreme end of
the Horizontal arm is formed a Hook shaped recess, which recess practically forms
the said Catch, and which Catch is automatically forced or drops into its desired
place.by the Vertical Arm being slightly weighted in the shape or design of same,
and also cannot go beyond its level or centre on account of a Stop Lip being cast or
otherwise fastened on the said Horizontal Lever at the end opposite the Hook shaped
Recess or otherwise.
The second part of my said Invention also consists in the special designing of a
Horizontal Moveable Catch or Lever which is secured to an Angle or other shaped
Bracket by means of a Screw, Pin or Rivet through its centre on which it works
freely, one end of the said Catch or Lever is formed a Hook shaped Recess, and the
other is slightly bent or otherwise shaped so as to form a Handle, and which also is
to give more leverage so as to force the other or Catch end automatically into its
desired position.
The several parts of my said Improvements are held together, and fixed, by any of
the usual contrivances for such purposes.
As my said Improvements are capable of various modifications, without departing
from the principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to material or dimensions, or to the
precise form or placement of the several parts thereof.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Retaining Catches and Fastenings for Doors,
Windows, and the like.
fr
I, ROBERT PLATT 23 Union Street Hyde Cheshire Whitesmith, 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 :-
.
These improvements relate to the construction of self acting or automatic retaining
catches of various designs and mode of construction, for the better securing of Doors
of every description, including double folding, sliding, or casement doors, and also
all classes of moveable window sashes. These retaining catches are actuated upon by
the opening or closing action of the door, and by such action are kept open or closed
at any desired position or angle until such retaining catches are released from so
holding such doors.
By these contrivances retaining catches are constructed, that by the action of the
door or window are raised, lifted, or otherwise made to receive such, and by the same
action falls or is otherwise brought into position to retain such door, or window in
the desired position.
The first part of my said improvements consists in the special designing of a Bell
Cranked Catch, hereafter termed Cranked Lever, which is secured to an Angle or
other more suitable shaped bracket by means of a screw pin or rivet on which the
Catch works freely.
The Angle Bracket itself containing the said Catch must be fastened or other-
wise secured to the shelf, window frame, or other such like articles in a vertical
position.
The horizontal arm of the said Cranked Lever is notched or otherwise worked out,
or so constructed as to form a Tongue, Lip, or may be otherwise termed a hooked
shaped recess, which practically forms the said catch.
The said Catch is automatically forced into its desired position, or place, by the
opposite or vertical arm being slightly weighted in the shape or design of same, or
by the various positions or placement of the centre pin on which the said Catch
works.
The second part of my said improvements also consists in the special designing of
a horizontal moveable Lever or Catch which is secured to an Angle or other more
suitable shaped Bracket by means of a screw, pin, or rivet passing through its centre
on which it works freely, or may be otherwise constructed as a centre of axis or part
to, revolve on.
One end of the above said Lever or Catch is formed a Tongue, Lip, or projection
or may be otherwise termed a hooked shaped recess, and the other or opposite end.
of the said Lever or Catch is slightly bent in construction or otherwise so shaped so
as to give more leverage to force the end forming the Catch automatically into its
desired position or place for reception.
The third part of my said improvements which is a modification from the first
part herein before described consists of a Cranked Lever with lip or projection cast
or otherwise secured to prevent it from moving beyond its centre or fixed position
when in action, the other Arm termed the Horizontal Lever is so designed or shaped,
by being slightly weighted so as to force the vertical arm with the said lip or pro-
jection in its desired position automatically into a specially constructed angle bracket
with a recess cut, cast, or otherwise so formed in its body to receive the said lip or
projection on the vertical Lever or Arm.
In order that the nature of my said Improvements may be more fully understood
I will proceed to describe the several figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto
annexed, all of which figures or letters are marked, with the like letters of reference
throughout.
Figure 1 is a front and side views of a retaining Catch constructed according to
the first part of my said improvements. A is the Angle Bracket to which is attached

page_text: the Cranked Lever, B, by means of a Screw, Pin, or Rivet C. on which the said
Cranked Lever B. works freely.
On the extreme end forming the Horizontal Arm D. of the Cranked Lever B. is
a vertical projection pointing upwards, which practically forms that part called the
Hooked Shaped Recess, or Retaining Catch E.
The vertical Arm or Handle F. of the said Cranked Lever B. is so constructed or
otherwise slightly weighted so as to keep the Horizontal Arm D. in its working
position that is horizontally.
•
Figure 2. is a modification of Figure 1. shewing front and side views of a Retaining
Catch according to the first part of my said improvements. A is the Angle Bracket
to which is attached the Horizontal Lever G. by means of a Screw, Pin, or Rivet C.
on which the said Horizontal Arm or Lever G works freely.
At one of the extreme ends of the Horizontal Lever G is a vertical projection
pointing upwards, which practically forms that part called the Hooked Shaped Recess
or Retaining Catch E. the other part of the Horizontal Lever G is slightly bent in
shape or otherwise formed or constructed so as to keep the opposite end of the
Horizontal Lever G. forming the Hooked Shaped Recess or Retaining Catch E. in its
desired position that is horizontally.
Figure 3. is a modification of Figure 1. showing front and side views of a Retaining
Catch according to the first part of my said improvements. H. is the fixing Plate
in which is cut, cast, or otherwise formed a slot hole, made to receive the Cranked
Lever B. on both sides of the said Slot Hole in the Fixing Plate H are cast or
otherwise formed projections or Lips II. having holes formed through them to receive
a Screw, Pin, or Rivet C. on which the Cranked Lever B. works freely.
On the extreme end forming the Horizontal Lever or Arm D. of the Cranked
Lever B. is a vertical projection pointing upwards, which practically forms that part
called the Hooked Shaped Recess, or Retaining Catch E. the vertical Arm F. of the
said Cranked Lever B. is so constructed by being slightly weighted so as to keep the
Horizontal Arm D. in its working position that is horizontally.
Figure 4. is another modification of my improved retaining Catches, showing front
and side views of a retaining catch according to the first part of my said improvements.
A is the Angle Bracket to which is attached the Cranked Lever B. by means of a
Screw, Pin or Rivet C. on which the said Cranked Lever B works freely.
On the extreme end forming the Horizontal Arın D. of the Cranked Lever B. is a
vertical projection pointing downwards which practically forms that part called the
Hooked Shaped Recess or Retaining Catch E.
The Vertical Arm F. of the said Cranked Lever B. is so constructed by being
slightly weighted in shape or design so as to keep the Horizontal Arm D. in its true
working position that is horizontally.
Figure 5. is a modification of Figure 1. shewing front, side and a plan of my
improved retaining Catch specially designed for window sashes, which have a vertical
action, that is to say slides up or down, it differs from Figure 1. in this respect, that
the Retaining Catch E. or what is more termed the Hooked Shaped Recess, is on
the Vertical Arm or Lever F. instead of the Horizontal Arm or Lever D.
A. is the Angle Bracket having a vertical slot J. cast or otherwise formed in its
vertical part K. on each side of the said Slot J. and on the top of the vertical part K.
is cast or otherwise formed a Boss L. projecting slightly over the outer edge or face
of the vertical part K having a hole bored or otherwise made or formed through it
to receive a pin C. on which the said Cranked Lever B. works freely.
On the bottom part or extreme end of the vertical Lever or Arm F. is cast or
otherwise formed a Stop Lip or projection M. which prevents the said vertical Arm
or Lever F. from going beyond its centre or fixed position or otherwise.
Also on the bottom part of the said vertical Arm or Lever F. is formed a Lip or
projection N. which is termed the Retaining Catch E.
On that part of the Angle Bracket or Fixing where the vertical and horizontal
arms or parts joins each other, but on its horizontal arm, part, or face 0. is recessed
or otherwise so formed to receive the Stop Lip or projection M. across the front edge,

page_text: part, or face of the said recess is cast or otherwise so formed a Bar or other more
suitable shaped Stop Plate P. which prevents the Cranked Lever B. from going beyond
its desired or fixed place.
Figure 6. is another modification of my improved retaining catch shewing front
and side views of a retaining catch according to the first part of my said
improvements.
A is the Angle Bracket to which is attached the Cranked Lever B. by means of a
Screw, Pin, or Rivet C. on which the said Cranked Lever B works freely.
On the extreme end forming the Horizontal Arm D. of the Cranked Lever B. is
a vertical projection pointing downwards which practically forms that part called the
Retaining Catch Q. which is so formed or otherwise specially constructed or shaped
as to keep or prevent it working itself either by assistance or otherwise out of position
until released by the hand or otherwise.
The vertical Arm or part F. is so constructed as to keep the said Horizontal Arm
or Lever D. in its position by a lip or projection formed, shaped, or placed on the
Boss or centre part, that is where the Horizontal Arm D. and the vertical Arm or
part F. joins each other, which projection R. directly acts against the face or front
part of the Angle Bracket or otherwise.
Figure 1. A. on Sheet of Drawing No. 2 shows a Retaining Catch as fixed to one
half of a Cupboard Door having the Rabbet on the inside.
H. H. is the Cupboard Door on which is fastened by means of Screws or otherwise
the Angle Bracket containing the Retaining Catch.
G. G. is the Cupboard Shelf on the underside of which is secured by means of
screws or otherwise a Fixing Plate having a projecting lip pointing downwards.
This Fixing Plate is so placed that when the Door is closed the point of the
Retaining Catch is forced behind such projecting lip automatically, by which means
the Door is held closed until released by the Lever or Handle of the said Retaining
Catch being pressed or moved towards the Door.
The same Retaining Catch may be also applied to other classes of Doors which are
desired to be kept open or closed as the case may be, by placing the Angle Bracket
containing the Retaining Catch either behind or in front of the Door, or on the
Walls or Casements as the case may be, and a Fixing Plate having a Projecting Lip
on the corresponding Door, Wall, or Casement as the case may be, and thereby act
in a similar manner as described above.
Figure 2. A. is, shewing a Retaining Catch as fixed to the underside of a Cupboard
Shelf as near the centre as possible, but near the front edge or face.
I. 1. is the Cupboard Shelf on which is fastened by means of screws or otherwise
the Angle Bracket containing the Retaining Catch.
H. H. is the Cupboard Door having the Rabbet on the inside.
On the inside of which Cupboard Door is secured by means of screws or otherwise
a Angle Bracket or Fixing having a square hole cut cast or otherwise formed on its
horizontal arm or part.
This Fixing is so placed that when the Door is closed the point of the Retaining
Catch is forced upwards into the said square hole automatically, by which means the
Door is held closed until released by the Lever or Handle of the said Retaining Catch
being lifted or moved upwards towards the underside of the Cupboard Shelf.
The same Retaining Catch may be also applied to a Cupboard Door, but still to
retain both halves or sides of them closed.
To obtain this the Angle Bracket containing the Retaining Catch is fastened the
reverse way, that is to say it is secured by means of screws or otherwise to the
inside half of the Cupboard Door having the rabbet on the outside, a hole being
formed or shaped through the said Door so as to allow the Handle or Lever to come
through same, and allow it to work freely up or down as the case may be.
On the underside of the Cupboard Shelf is secured by means of screws or other-
wise a Fixing Plate having a projecting lip pointing downwards, which Fixing
Plate is so placed that when the Doors are closed in their respective positions the
point of the Retaining Catch is forced behind such projecting lip automatically by

page_text: which means both halves or sides of the Cupboard Doors are held closed, and cannot
be opened until released by the lifting up of the Handle or Lever which projects
through the Cupboard Door to the outside as before stated or described and by the
same action or movement pulls the Door open.
Figure 3. A. is shewing a Retaining Catch as fixed to one half of a Cupboard Door
having the rabbet on the outside.
J. J. is the Cupboard Door on the outside of which is secured by means of screws
or otherwise a Fixing Plate having the Retaining Catch applied thereto.
Through the Cupboard Door is formed or otherwise shaped a slot hole to receive
the said Retaining Catch which allows it to work freely up or down as the case
may be.
On the underside of the Cupboard Shelf is secured by means of screws or other-
wise a Fixing Plate having a projecting lip pointing downwards, this Fixing Plate
is so placed that when the Doors are closed the Point of the Retaining Catch is
forced behind such projecting lip automatically, by which means both halves or sides
of the Cupboard Doors are held closed and cannot be opened until released by the
lifting up of the Handle or Lever, and by the same action the Door is pulled open.
Figure 4. A. is shewing a Retaining Catch and Angle Bracket, both being attached
by means of screws or otherwise to the outside of a Cupboard Door, that is to say the
Retaining Catch is secured to one half of the Cupboard Door having the rabbet on
the inside, and the Angle Bracket is attached to the Cupboard Door having the rabbet.
on the outside.
That half of the Cupboard Door having the rabbet on the inside and also the
retaining catch is to be closed or brought in position first, then the other half
having the rabbet on the outside and also the Angle Bracket with a projecting lip
attached thereto closed afterwards.
By the closing action of this latter half of the Cupboard Door the Retaining
Catch is lifted or moved upwards and immediately falls automatically behind the
projecting lip, when such doors are closed in their respective positions and thereby
held together until released by the lifting up of the Handle or Lever and pulling the
same towards you opens both doors.
Figure 5..A. is shewing a Retaining Catch applied to Window Sashes having a
vertical sliding action or movement.
The Angle Bracket or Fixing containing the Retaining Catch is secured by means
of screws or otherwise to the Top Rail R. of the bottom window sash, and the Angle
Bracket or Fixing with guide lip and recess is secured by means of screws
otherwise to the Bottom Rail Q. of the top window sash.
or
On the Top and Bottom window sashes coming to their respective positions when
closed they are firmly held in their places by the projecting lip being forced auto-
matically into the recess of the Angle Bracket or Fixing, and cannot be released until
such projecting lip is brought out of position by the horizontal arm or Lever being
lifted or otherwise raised in a vertical direction, thereby bringing the projecting
lip out of the said recess and thereby allowing the Windows to be raised or lowered
as desired.
Figure 6. A. is shewing a Retaining Catch as applied to the bottom of a Door.
S. S. is the Door having the Angle Bracket containing the Retaining Catch
fastened by means of screws or otherwise close to the bottom edge and on that side
of the Door where the Handle, Lock or other such Fastenings are usually placed or
fixed.
Sunk or otherwise let in the Floor T. T. is an Eye Plate struck or otherwise formed
to a radius or curve to correspond with the opening of such door, such Eyelet
plate having one or more Eyes, Slots or Projections according to the nature of its
requirements.
By the opening of the Door the Retaining Catch drops or falls into or behind
such Eyes, Slots or Projections thereby holding such Door open at any desired
position and cannot be closed until such retaining catch is brought out of action or

page_text: position by the Handle or Lever being forced by the hand or otherwise in an
outward direction or towards the Door and by the same action closing the Door.
The same Retaining Catch may be also applied to all classes of Doors, Windows
etc., having a radial action, which are desired to be kept closed or open at any
desired Angle or position as may be required by placing the Bracket, containing the
Retaining Catch either behind or in front of the Door or Window as the case may
be, and the Fixing Plate having the Eyelets, Slots or Projections on the corresponding
frame casement or floor as the case may be and thereby act in a similar manner as
described above.
By these arrangements the action of the Doors, Windows or other such like articles
when being closed causes the Retaining Catch to move either in a upward, downward,
or horizontal direction as the case may be, and according to the class or kind of
Retaining Catch required, and by such action they fall over or behind a Fixing Plate
having a projecting lip, or tongue, or may fall in a recess or hole, cut, cast or other-
wise formed in a Fixing Plate which must be secured or otherwise fastened in the
ordinary manner by screws to the Doors Door Casements, Shelves, Window Frames,
Skirtings, Walls, or Floors, or to whatever they may be applied to, which Fixings
having the said projections, or Recesses, must be fixed directly opposite the
Retaining Catch when brought in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and novelty of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare to what
I claim,
1st. The Construction or special designing of a Bell Cranked Catch, herein
generally termed Cranked Lever, which works or oscillates on a Pin or other such
like centre of axis, which is at the joint end, that is to say where the Horizontal and
Vertical Arms meet together. One of the said Arms forms the Retaining Catch, and
the other Arm forms the Lever or Handle, such Retaining Catches being moved
upward, downward or horizontally as the case may be, by the Action of the Closing
or movement of the Door, or Window, and by such action retains the same in the
desired position, until released by means of the Handle or Lever by means of the
Hand or otherwise, as herein before described and set forth as shewn in Figures 1-3
-4-5-6 of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The construction or special designing of a Horizontal Moveable Lever or
Catch which also works according to the first portion or part of my claim herein
before described and set forth as shown in Figure 2. of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of June 1889.
ALBERT BIRCH,
Agent for Robert Platt.