IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF ADJUSTABLE APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE POSITION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Waller Gossage, of Creek Road, Deptford, in the
County of Kent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
AND ARRANGEMENT OF ADJUSTABLE APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE
POSITION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Waller Gossage at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1880.
ROBERT WALLER GOSSAGE, of Creek Road, Deptford, in the County of Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF ADJUSTABLE
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE POSITION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS."
:
This Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an improved
adjustable apparatus to be used in combination or connection with door springs of
ordinary and suitable nature for regulating the angle at which it is desired that
doors and what are termed "French" windows (windows which turn on hinges
arranged at the sides), shall remain at or shall resume after being opened. The
apparatus, which is strong, efficacious, and simple in construction, possesses the
great advantage of receiving and neutralising any concussion resulting from the
closing or partially closing of the doors or windows to which it is applied, thereby
avoiding noise and also the risk of damage in the case of glazed doors and windows,
thus rendering it specially valuable for the doors of hotels and other public
buildings.
The said apparatus is constructed as follows:-A cylinder or barrel is provided
with suitable contrivances for the purpose of being screwed to the door. A spiral
or helical spring is placed within and bears against the inner end of the said
cylinder or barrel, the opposite end of such spring bearing against a buffer (capable
of working freely within the cylinder), the spindle of which passing through the
interior of the spring projects through a suitable opening or aperture in the inner
end of the cylinder, and the end thus projecting has formed thereon a screw thread,
on which is arranged a nut for the purpose of adjustment, as hereinafter described.
Within the tube and beyond the before mentioned buffer is arranged a carrier, which
T

page_text: is provided with a marble or other suitable contrivance for the purpose of reducing
friction. A forked or double armed lever is hinged to the door post in such a
manner that the ends of the arms come into position at the respective sides of the
cylinder, and are connected together by a pin which passes through slots in the sides
of the cylinder and through the before mentioned carrier. To the latter is attached
a guide tube, which works within the cylinder and is free to pass through the
outer end thereof.
The action of the apparatus hereinbefore described is as follows:-When the
door is opened the pin hereinbefore mentioned is moved by the ends of the arms of
the hinged lever along the slots in the cylinder towards the outer end thereof,
taking the carrier with it, and the action of closing the door causes the ends of the
lever arms, pin, and the carrier to move back along the slot towards the inner end
of the cylinder until they come into contact with the buffer, which, with the
assistance of the spring receives and absorbs any concussion.
When the spring is
extended to its full extent the door will remain open as wide as it is intended by
the construction of the apparatus employed, and after being further opened it will,
by the assistance of a spring or other suitable contrivance, always return to the
same position. The position of the door is regulated by screwing the before
mentioned nut up the spindle of the buffer, thereby bringing the latter nearer to the
inner end of the cylinder, and compressing the spring, which will permit the pin to
move nearer to the inner end of the cylinder, thus causing the door to be closed
more or less, according to the extent of compression of the spring by the adjustment
of the nut. It will be readily understood that the unscrewing of the said nut
will have the reverse effect.
In some cases when the apparatus is to be employed in connection with heavy
doors, two cylinders, each containing a spring and buffer and spindle, all arranged
substantially as herein before described, are used, and the pin connecting the arms of
the lever passes through the two carriers, or one carrier can be made to act on both
buffers.
Although the use of carriers is herein before referred to, they are not absolutely
necessary, as the pin can be made to act directly on the buffers, but in that case the
portion of the pin which is contained within the cylinder is by preference enlarged
for the purpose of strengthening and guiding the same.
In some cases instead of connecting the lever to the door post, as hereinbefore
described, it is hinged to any suitable part of the box of an ordinary box spring, so
that by causing a finger actuated by the said spring to bear against a portion of the
lever the necessity for the employment of a separate contrivance for closing the door
is obviated.
When the closing of the door is effected by the action of a spring on an arm or
lever connected therewith, as is well known and understood, I modify the herein-
before described apparatus, and combine it with the said arm or lever in the
following manner, and dispense with the before mentioned forked arm or lever :-|
The said spring arm or lever is passed through the aperture in the inner end of the
cylinder and through the coils of the spring, so that its free end passes beyond the
outer end of the cylinder. The buffer forms the end of a guide tube, to which is con-
nected a screw block or nut which screws on to a screw thread formed on the end
of the said arm or lever. By turning the guide tube, the head of which is milled for
the purpose of facilitating such operation, in one direction the screw block or nut
and buffer will be advanced along the arm or lever, thereby compressing the spring,
which, by limiting the extent of action of the arm or lever, causes the door to
remain more or less open. By unscrewing the said tube the extent to which the
door remains open will be diminished, or it can be sufficiently unscrewed to allow
the same to be entirely closed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Waller Gossage in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
April 1881.
"1
ROBERT WALLER GOSSAGE, of Creek Road, Deptford, in the County of Kent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF ADJUSTABLE
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE POSITION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS."
My said Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an improved
adjustable apparatus to be used in combination or connection with door springs
of any ordinary and suitable nature for regulating the angle at which it is desired
that doors, and what are termed "French windows" (windows which turn on
hinges arranged at the sides), shall remain at or shall resume after being opened.
The apparatus, which is strong, efficacious, and simple in construction, possesses
the great advantage of receiving and neutralising any concussion resulting from
the closing or partially closing of the doors or windows to which it is applied,
thereby avoiding noise and also the risk of damage in the case of glazed doors and
windows, thus rendering it specially valuable for the doors of hotels and other
public buildings.
The said apparatus is constructed as follows:-A cylinder or barrel is provided
with suitable contrivances for the purpose of being secured to the door. A spiral
or helical spring is placed within and bears against the inner end of the said
cylinder or barrel, the opposite end of such spring bearing against a buffer (capable
of working freely within the cylinder), the spindle of which passing through the
interior of the spring projects through a suitable opening or aperture in the inner
end of the cylinder, and the end thus projecting has formed thereon a screw thread,
on which is arranged a nut for the purpose of adjustment, as hereinafter described.
Within the tube, and beyond the before mentioned buffer, is in some cases arranged
a carrier, which may be provided with a marble or other suitable contrivance for
the purpose of reducing friction. A forked or double armed lever is hinged to the
door post or other convenient fixture in such a manner that the ends of the arms
come into position at the respective sides of the cylinder, and are connected together
by a pin which passes through slots in the sides of the cylinder and through the
before mentioned carrier. To the latter is attached a guide tube, which works
within the cylinder, and is, in some cases, made free to pass through the outer end
thereof.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, from which the
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood. Figure 1 is an
elevation of an apparatus in which the cylinders and accompanying mechanism are
shown double in order to make the same suitable for heavy doors; Figure 2 is an
end view of the same; and Figure 3 is a top view. A are the arms of the forked
or double lever, a being the pin connecting the ends of the same; B are the
cylinders or barrels, and b are the slots in the sides thereof; C are the buffers,
and C¹ the spindles of the same; the adjusting nuts on the end of the latter are
shown at D; E are the springs; F is the carrier; E' is the guide tube attached to
the carrier; and J are marbles or balls arranged in the latter for the purpose of
reducing friction; G is the knuckle plate to be attached to the door post; and H
is the pin connecting the forked lever to the said plate. The action of the apparatus
shown in these Figures is as follows:-When the door is opened the pin a is moved
by the ends of the arms A of the hinged lever along the slots b in the cylinder B
towards the outer end of the latter, taking the carrier F with it, and the action of
closing the door causes the said ends of the lever arms, pin, and carrier to move
back along the slot towards the inner end of the cylinder until they come into

page_text: contact with the buffer C, which, with the assistance of the spring E, receives and
absorbs any concussion. When the spring E is extended to its full extent the
door will remain open as wide as it is intended by the construction of the apparatus
employed, and after being further opened it will, by the assistance of a spring or
other suitable contrivance, always return to the same position. The position of the
door is regulated by screwing the nut D up the spindle C₁ of the buffer C, thereby
bringing the latter nearer to the inner end of the cylinder, and compressing the
spring E, thus permitting the pin a to approach more closely the inner end of the
cylinder B and allow the door to be closed more or less, according to the extent of
compression of the spring E by the adjustment of the nut D. It will be readily
understood that the unscrewing of the said nut will have the reverse effect.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detached views of the various parts of the carrier
and guide tube.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively elevation and end view of an apparatus
substantially the same as that lastly described, with the exception that only one
cylinder is employed, and the lever, instead of being attached to a knuckle plate, is
shown hinged to the box K of an ordinary box spring, so that by causing a
finger L actuated by the said box spring to bear against a portion of the lever, the
necessity for the employment of a separate contrivance for closing the door is
obviated; Figure 11 is a top view of this arrangement; and Figure 12 is an
elevation, showing part of the internal mechanism, a portion of the cylinder B being
broken away for that purpose; Figures 13 and 13× are respectively elevation and
top view of an apparatus similar to that above described, but in which the carrier and
guide tube are dispensed with, the pin a being made to act directly on the buffer.
In this case the portion of the pin which is contained within the cylinder B is, by
preference, enlarged for the purpose of strengthening and guiding the same. In
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, and 26, the combination of the adjusting
apparatus with an arm closing spring, or a long arm or lever, is illustrated.
these arrangements the forked lever is dispensed with.
In
Figures 14 and 15 are respectively elevation and top view of one arrangement;
P is the arm, one end of which is connected or hinged to the knuckle plate G,
and on the opposite end of the same is the head p. The said arm P passes through
the hollow spindle C₁ of the buffer C; the spring E is situated between the
buffer C and the inner end of the cylinder; the adjusting nut D screws on the
end of the hollow spindle C. The outer end of the cylinder B is shown hinged
to the knuckle plate G¹ which is attached to the door. By screwing the nut D
along the spindle C₁ towards the buffer, the spring will be compressed and the door
allowed to close, whilst the turning of the nut D in the opposite direction will
allow of the door remaining open at any desired angle; Figures 16 and 17 are
respectively elevation and top view of the adjusting apparatus, combined with an
arm door spring; Figure 18 is an elevation partly in section; and Figure 19 is a
detached view of the tubular nut. In these Figures K is a box spring, and P is
the arm attached to it; the opposite end of the arm P passes through the cylinder
and spring contained therein, and projects beyond the outer end of the former; this
projecting end of the arm P has a screw thread cut on it for the reception of the
tubular nut S. The spring E is confined between the end of the nut S and the
inner end of the cylinder. It will be readily seen that by screwing the nut S along
the arm P towards the inner end of the cylinder the spring E will be compressed,
more or less, thus allowing the angle at which it is desired the door should remain
open to be regulated, and by turning the nut in the reverse direction the door can
be closed; Figures 20 to 24 illustrate a hinged bracket arrangement, to which is
connected the end of the arm P; this arrangement, as will be readily understood by
reference to the Drawings, allows the door to be opened to a greater extent than is
possible when the arm P or lever A is binged or connected to a fixed knuckle plate
or other analogous contrivance; Figures 25 and 26 are respectively a longitudinal
section and end view of a modification of the apparatus hereinbefore described, in
which the spring for regulating the open position of the door is arranged within

page_text: the same cylinder as the spring for closing the door. In these Figures A is the
cylinder, one end of which is mounted in the lugs or bearings B, which are attached
to the door; C is a hinged bracket arrangement, as hereinbefore referred to, to be
attached to the door post; to this bracket arrangement is hinged a plate or boss, or
other contrivance, to which is connected the tubular spindle D of the buffer d;
through the said tubular spindle passes a second spindle E, around which is
arranged the spring F for closing the door; the tension of this spring is regulated
by the nut e; G is the spring for regulating the opening of the door; and H is the
adjusting nut. By screwing up the nut H, the spring G' will be compressed
between the same and the buffer d, and will thus keep the door open more or less
according to the degree to which the said spring is compressed.
In some cases I substitute chains, straps, hooks, or other suitable contrivances
for the arms A of the forked levers, or for the arms P, or for a portion of the said
arms, which modification will admit, if desired, of the adjusting nut being dispensed
with, as the angle at which it is desired the door should remain can be regulated
by shortening or tightening up the said chain, or other contrivance, by any suitable
and known means or method, as will be well understood.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, are,
First. In mechanism for regulating the position of doors and windows, the
combination of the arms A, or equivalent chains, or other connections, with the
cylinder or barrel B, buffer and spindle C, C¹, spring E, and adjusting nut D,
substantially as herein before set forth and described and shown in Figures 1 to 13*
of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. In mechanism for regulating the position of doors and windows, the
combination of the long arm or spring arm, or equivalent connection, which is
hinged or otherwise connected to the door post or other fixed part, with a hollow
buffer spindle, cylinder or barrel, spring and adjusting nut, substantially as herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
And, Thirdly. In mechanism for regulating the position of doors and windows,
the combination of the long arm or spring arm hinged or otherwise connected to the
door post or other fixed part, with the cylinder, tubular nut (one end of which acts
as the buffer) and the spring, substantially as herein before set forth and described
and shown at Figures 16 to 19 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Waller Gossage, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.