Improvements in Springs for Closing Doors.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 7th May,
1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Springs for Closing Doors.
THOMAS STARKEY & WILLIAM ARTHUR STARKEY Ironmongers 170 South
Street Moor, Sheffield, Yorks. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention is for improvements in springs for closing doors, by means of an
ordinary spiral spring with suitable ends attached which may be of brass, iron or
any suitable metal, we take an ordinary spiral spring one end we fasten firmly to
door jamb, the other end fits to a circular collar or disc having ratchet teeth
formed on its face which closely fit into another disc which is fastened to door &
by means of a lever in the form of a wire pin placed in holes on side of upper disc
is turned so as to uncoil the spring, thereby the teeth by raising over each other
pass round & increase the pressure the spring exerts on the ends which are.
attached to it.
Dated this 15th day of June 1801
THOS. STARKEY.
WM. ARTHUR STARKEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Springs for Closing Doors.
THOMAS STARKEY 170 South Street Moor Sheffield Yorkshire Ironmonger
WILLIAM ARTHUR STARKEY 170 South Street Moor, Sheffield Yorkshire
Ironmonger 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in springs for closing doors & similar
purposes and consists of fittings adapted to the spring whereby the reactive power
of the said spring may be adjusted with facility to suit the work, which it is
required to perform.
We secure these fittings together in a form which entirely avoids the
employment of any loose parts usually found in this class of spring which are
objectionable owing to the difficulty in manipulating them and their liability of
being lost.
First. We attain this object by the special arrangement which we have
illustrated and for better explanation of our invention we have appended two sheets
of drawings hereto, similar references denoting similar parts in the various
figures.
Fig. 1. is a view of our invention in position.
Fig. 2. is a view shewing the collar with its projections and ratchet arrangement
for adjusting the power of the spring with bracket A Fig. 4.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation of the opposite end bracket.
Fig. 5 & 6 7 & 8. is a view of our invention provided with arm.
For the purpose of our invention we take an ordinary spiral spring S. one end of
which we fasten to the bracket B. by which that end is attached to the door or door
frame. The other end of the spring fits on and turns with a circular collar C
provided with holes H or having other equivalent means by which it may be turned
round. This collar C has a central circular projection on each side, one projection D
fitting into the coils of the spring, the other projection P passing through a hole in
D

page_text: the centre of a circular boss on the lower bracket A. the end of this projection P
having a washer W rivetted on, thereby coupling both together but allowing end wise
movement for the ratchet teeth to pass each other in adjusting as hereafter described.
In the projection of collar C fitting into coils of spring we form a V shaped
groove V, which runs on parallel part, to fit this groove the spring ends are bent
slightly inwards, and thereby are prevented from turning round except in conjunction
with the said collar. The projection E of bracket B which fits into end of
spring is also formed with a V groove in the same manner, V. V. V. see Figs. 2.-3
and 7. Both the bracket A and the collar C are provided with ratchet teeth T
which engage with each other and are held in gear by the endwise pressure of the
spring S.
The said spring is fixed diagonally across the joint of the door, and its frame,
its action is not that of longitudinal expansion or contraction but of a twisting
movement or nature, and it will be seen that the more the spring is uncoiled from
its normal position the stronger its reactive power will become.
Assuming the spring to be fixed, and that an increase of power is required, insert
a wire piu or lever in one of the holes H and turn (uncoil the spring) the collar C.
one or more of the ratchet teeth T as desired, the spring by endwise pressure will
immediately lock and keep the collar in its new position and the closing power be
therefore increased. A. modification of our invention (when the spring is fixed
parallel to door joint) is represented in Figs. 5 and 6 on Sheet 2 of the drawings, in
which is a second collar K provided with arm N. this collar in like manner to
collar C has a central circular projection on cach side the one fitting into the
coils of spring is formed with V groove into which the extreme end of spring
(being bent slightly inwards) closely fits. The other projection Y passing through
and working in head or bracket M. has a washer W rivetted on its end. The
head M has a hole through its centre similar to bracket A but unlike it in respect
of having no ratchet teeth.
Having thus explained the formation of these parts it will be seen that in this
spring being fixed upright on the door frame or jamb the arm N. will bear against
the door and on the door being opened, the spring will begin to uncoil and its
reactive power be exerted at end of arm in closing the door.
And to still further increase the power of spring it is only necessary to turn
round the collar C one or more of the ratchet teeth T.
The fittings marked A B C K and M. may be made of any suitable material
and the brackets A B and M may be varied in design. The apparatus may be
combined with a hinge.
Having thus described our invention we wish it to be understood that we are
aware that spiral springs are used for closing doors and therefore do not
claim such use broadly, but what we do claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is
1st. The combination with a spiral spring of an adjusting collar C having ratchet
teeth T. arranged to engage with corresponding teeth upon a fixed bracket A the
projection D of the collar C fitting into the end of spring being formed with a long
✓ groove V the other projection P. having a washer W rivetted on its end.
The projection E of bracket B having also a long V groove V for the purpose
specified and substantially described and shewn.
2nd. The combination with a spiral spring of an adjusting collar C having
ratchet teeth T. arranged to engage with corresponding teeth upon a fixed
bracket A the projection D of the collar C fitting into the end of spring being
formed with a long V groove V the other projection P. having a washer rivetted
on its end. A collar K. carrying a projecting arm N. one projection R of collar K.
fitting into spring being formed with a long V groove V the other projection Y
passing through head or bracket M having a washer W" rivetted on its end for
the purpose specified and substantially described and shewn.

page_text: 3rd. The combination with a hinge of a spiral spring fitted with an adjusting
collar having ratchet teeth to engage with similar teeth upon a fixture and
constituting a door spring and hinge combined substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1892.
THOMAS STARKEY.
WILLIAM ARTHUR STARKEY.