Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Door Knobs.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Door Knobs.
I, GEORGE HARRY BURROWS, of Wood Street, Willenhall, in the County of
Stafford, Lock and Latch and Brass Furniture Manufacturer, 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:-
--
Door knobs having sheet metal bodies have heretofore been commonly made
first in two separate main portions, namely, the body, or portion which is grasped
by the hand, and the neck, or portion by which the knob is directly fixed upon
its spindle. The blank for the body is first drawn into a cup shape, and the inner
end is then spun in to complete the required shape, and the body is fixed to
the neck by inserting the edge of the metal thereof into a circular groove or
recess formed in one end of the neck and tightening it within the groove. It is
found, however, that the bodies are very liable to become loose and turn upon
the necks, which, of course, renders the knobs useless.
Now, the object of this invention is to obviate the inconvenience above
mentioned, and to cheapen construction.
According to this invention, the sheet metal body of a knob is formed in two
cup-shaped parts, of which one is to form the inner, and the other the outer,
portion of the body. The part which is to be directly fixed to the neck has a
hole through its centre which is other than circular in shape. The neck is formed
with a portion to fit the hole through the inner end of the body, and a part thereof
extends within such end and is adapted to be opened out to fix the neck and body
together, or to receive a nut or part for the same purpose; and at the base
of the part of the neck which fits within the hole of the body is formed a
shoulder against which the inner end of the body bears when the parts are
brought together. It is preferred to form the hole through the inner end of the
body of a circular shape having a notch or notches in its edge, and in such
case the neck is formed with a part or parts to fit within the notches. When the
neck and inner end of the body have been put together, the portion of the neck
which projects within the body is opened out or clenched back somewhat by means
of a suitable tool, to firmly fix the neck to the inner part of the body; or, in
lieu of opening out the inwardly projecting part of the neck, a nut or other part
may be applied thereto for the purpose of securely fixing the neck to the body.
The engagement of part or parts of the neck with the notch or notches of the
hole through the inner end of the body, securely prevents the body from being
turned in relation to the neck; and the same result may, of course, be attained
by fitting the neck within a hole through the inner end of the body which is
otherwise not circular in shape. When the neck and inner portion of the body
have been fixed together, the outer portion of the body is joined to the inner
portion by spinning, or in any convenient manner; and, in order to avoid risk of
one portion of the body turning in relation to the other, the two parts of the
body are joined together in a manner which ensures that the hand will always
grasp the inner portion of the knob, that is to say, the portion which is directly
fixed to the neck, the outer fold or layer of the metal of the joint forming part

page_text: of the metal of the inner portion of the body. According to a preferred method
of joining together the two parts of the body, as affording a surface which may
be conveniently roughened to increase the grip by the hand, the outer end of the
inner portion of the body is formed of a cylindrical shape (in the case of a
round knob or of oval shape in the case of an oval knob) of slightly larger
diameter than the portion into which it joins, thus leaving a shoulder between
itself and the portion into which it directly joins, and the outer portion of the
body is formed with a corresponding part to fit within the cylindrical part of the
inner portion, but slightly less in width, and this part is of a slightly larger
diameter than the part into which it joins, thus leaving a shoulder between itself
and such part. The one cylindrical part is pushed up within the other against
the shoulder at the inner end thereof, and then the rim of the outer cylindrical
part is spun in behind the shoulder of the other cylindrical part, thus securely
holding the two parts of the body together. Previously, however, to putting the
parts together, the outer cylindrical part may be crimped or roughened by means
of a pair of rollers, namely an inside and an outside roller, between which it is
revolved.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to
d'escribe a practical application of the same, with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Figure 1 is a section taken through the centre of the inner portion of the
body, of the neck, and of the tool by means of which the portion of the neck
which projects into the body is bent back. Figure 2 is a corresponding view to
Figure 1, but shews the projecting portion of the neck to have been bent behind
the edge of the body. Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, plan views of Figures 1
and 2, but with the tool omitted. Figure 5 is a corresponding view to Figure 2,
but shews the outer portion of the body inserted within the inner portion prior
to the two portions being united. Figure 6 is a corresponding view to Figure 5,
but shews the two portions of the body to have been united. Figure 7 is a side
elevation shewing the inner portion of the body of the knob as being operated
upon by tools which roughen the portion thereof which is grasped by the hand;
and Figure 8 is a side elevation of the completed knob.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, A is the inner portion of the body,
B the outer portion thereof, and C the neck. The portions A and B of the body
are pressed into the cup shapes shewn, by suitable press tools; while the neck C
is of cast metal, as is usual. A hole is formed through the centre of the portion A
which is circular except for notches b formed in the edge thereof. A collar c is
formed around the neck C, against which the metal of the portion A bears when
the parts are brought together; and projections or fingers à are formed with the
neck, the inner ends of which are of a size to fit the notches b. When these parts
have been put together, as shewn by Figure 1, a tool I) is brought down within the
projecting ends of the fingers d, whilst the neck is suitably supported against
downward pressure, and the fingers thus bent back, as shewn by Figure 2. The
fingers are bent back sufficiently to secure the parts together. The inner por-
tion A of the body is formed with a cylindrical part f which is slightly larger
in diameter than the part into which it immediately joins, leaving a shoulder g
at the junction; and the part B of the body is formed with a cylindrical portion e
which is of a diameter to fit within the cylindrical part f, but is slightly narrower
than such part, and the junction of this cylindrical portion e with the remaining
part of the portion B of the body forms a shoulder h. To fix the parts A and B of
the body together, the cylindrical portion e is pushed within the cylindrical
portion and against the collar g, as shown by Figure 5, and then the rim of the
portion is spun in behind the shoulder h, as shewn by Figure 6.
Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, the cylindrical portion f of the part A
of the body is crimped or roughened, before the part B is fixed thereto, by
revolving the portion f between crimping rollers E and F, of which the roller F
is capable of being moved towards and from the roller E.

page_text: It is not essential, for the purpose of fixing the neck to the body in the manner
above described, that the body shall be formed in two cup-shaped portions of about
the same size, as it is sufficient, though not so convenient, if the portion of the
body which is to be fixed direct to the neck is made with an opening through its
outer end of sufficient size for the passage of the tool therethrough which is used
to open out or bend back the portion of the neck which projects within the body,
and the outer portion of the body consist simply of a cap or dish-shaped end to
close in the opening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A door knob in which the body and neck are fixed together through the
medium of a part of the neck which is of such shape that it cannot turn within
the hole of the knob through which it passes, substantially as described.
2. A door knob in which the body and neck are fixed together through the
medium of a part of the neck which is of such shape that it cannot turn within
the hole of the body through which it passes and an inwardly projecting portion
of which is utilised also in holding back the body against a shoulder of the neck,
substantially as described.
3. A door knob in which the body and neck are fixed together through the
medium of a part of the neck which is of such shape that it cannot turn within
the hole of the body through which it passes and of a part which is opened or
bent within the body to hold the body against a shoulder of the neck, sub-
stantially as described.
4. A door knob of which the body and neck are fixed together in the manner
substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
5. A door knob having the body thereof made of two cup-shaped portions of
sheet metal, substantially as described.
6. A door knob having the body thereof made of two cup-shaped portions of
sheet metal of which the outer portion is fitted to the inner portion in a manner
which ensures that the inner portion will be gripped by the hand, substantially
as described.
7. A door knob having the body thereof made of two cup-shaped parts joined
together by means of parallel shouldered portions, substantially as described and
shewn by the drawings herewith.
8. A door knob having the body thereof made of two cup-shaped portions of
which the inner portion is formed with a part which is crimped or roughened and
the outer portion is formed with a part which fits into and is held within the
crimped or roughened part of the inner portion, substantially as described.
9. In the manufacture of metal door knobs, crimping or roughening the portion
of the surface of the body which is to be grasped by the hand, by means of rollers,
substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of November 1899
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.