A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO DOORS, WINDOWS, OR OTHER PLACES FOR EXCLUDING DRAUGHTS AND RAIN
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harry John Fieldus, of Queen's Road, Brighton, in the
County of Sussex, Upholsterer and Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "A
NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO DOORS, WINDOWS, OR OTHER
PLACES FOR EXCLUDING DRAUGHTS AND RAIN."
Sealed the 2nd March 1880, and dated the 25th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harry John Fieldus at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November 1879.
HARRY JOHN FIELDUS, of Queen's Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Upholsterer and Cabinet Maker. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE
APPLIED TO DOORS, WINDOWS, OR OTHER PLACES FOR EXCLUDING DRAUGHTS
AND RAIN."
The object of my Invention is to prevent draught, rain, or dust from passing
through the apertures or openings found at the bottoms or round the edges of doors,
windows, and other places, thereby excluding it from dwelling rooms and other
enclosures.
My Invention consists in applying to the bottom or edge of a door or window a
bar or lath of wood, or other suitable material, which is caused to slide vertically
so as to close the aperture or opening thereat on shutting the door or window, and
to be moved away from the aperture or opening on opening the door or window.
For this purpose the bar or lath is placed against the outside of the door or window,
near the bottom or edge where the aperture or opening occurs, and confined
thereat by a pocket or cover strip screwed or otherwise secured to the door or
window. To the inside face of the bar or lath are fixed metal or other tongue
pieces sliding vertically between corresponding guides fixed to the cover strip. In
the same plane with the bar or lath are arranged semicircular, elliptical, or other
shaped springs which take against pins on the bar and cover strip respectively.
Through the middle of these springs, but confined thereto by nuts or otherwise,
passes a rod extending through the bar or lath to the outer end thereof, where it
is jointed to the inner arm of a double lever pivoted to the door or window, the

page_text: other or outer arm of the lever projecting beyond the edge of the door or window,
and acting in such a manner that on shutting the door or window it strikes against
the jamb (provided or not thereat with a metal plate), and forcing outwards the
inner arm of the lever causes the rod to draw upon and flatten or compress the
semicircular or other shaped springs, the ends of which in so doing force the bar or
lath outwards over the bottom or other edge of the door or window so as to com-
pletely close the aperture or opening thereat, and thereby prevent the passage of
any draught, rain, or dust through it into the room. On opening the door or
window the springs recoil and bring back the bar or lath to its normal position.
The bar or lath may either be secured, as described, against the outside or inside
face of the door or window, or let into a slot on the edge thereof, as found most
convenient; it may also be provided on its outer or bottom edge with felt or other
soft material so as to adjust itself to any irregularity of the surface, against which
it is closed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Harry John Fieldus in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
May 1880.
HARRY JOHN FIELDUS, of Queen's Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Upholsterer and Cabinet Maker. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE
APPLIED TO DOORS, WINDOWS, OR OTHER PLACES FOR EXCLUDING DRAUGHTS
AND RAIN."
The said Invention has for its object preventing draughts or rain from passing
through the apertures or openings found at the bottoms or round the edges of doors,
windows, and other places, thereby excluding it from dwelling-rooms and other
enclosures.
The Invention consists in applying to the bottom or edge of a door or window,
for example, a bar or lath of wood or other suitable material, which is caused to
slide vertically so as to close the aperture or opening on shutting the door or
window, and to be moved away from the aperture or opening on opening the door
or window.
For this purpose the bar or lath is placed against the outside of the door or
window, near the bottom or edge where the aperture or opening occurs, and
confined thereat by a pocket or cover strip screwed or otherwise secured to the door
or window. To the inside face of the bar or lath are fixed metal or other tongue
pieces, sliding vertically between corresponding guides fixed to the cover strip.
In the same plane with the bar or lath are arranged semi-circular, elliptical, or other
shaped springs, which take against pins on the bar or slides and cover strip
respectively. Through the middle of these springs, but confined thereto by nuts
or otherwise, passes a rod extending through the bar or lath to the outer end
thereof, where it is jointed to the inner arm of a doubled armed lever pivotted to
the door or window, the other or outer arm of the lever projecting beyond the edge
of the door or window and acting in such a manner that in the act of closing tho
door or window the outer arm of the lever comes into contact with the jamb
(provided or not with a metal plate), and forcing outwards the inner arm of the
lever, this action causes the rod to draw upon and flatten or compress the semi-
circular or other shaped springs, the ends of which in so doing force the bar or lath
outwards over the bottom or other edge of the door or window so as to completely
close the aperture or opening, thereby preventing the passage of any draught or
rain through it into the rooms. On opening the door or window the springs recoil
and bring back the bar or lath to its normal position.
The bar or lath may either be secured, as described, against the outside or inside
face of the door or window, or let into a slot on the edge thereof, as found most
convenient. It may also be provided on its bottom or outer edge with felt or other
soft material, such, for example, as india rubber, so as to adjust itself to any
irregularity of the surface against which it is closed.
The two Figures on the accompanying Drawing illustrate a mode of carrying out
the said Invention, Figure 1 being a back elevation of the said apparatus detached,
and Figure 2 a vertical section of the lower portion of a door with the said
apparatus applied.
a is the door, to which I secure, say, for example, at the bottom thereof, a
transverse bar or strip b of wood, having attached thereto metal brackets c. These
brackets are grooved or slotted so as to form guides for slides d, to which is
attached by means of metal sheaths g a wooden bead carrying a strip e of felt,
india rubber, or other suitable material. To each bracket c is secured one extremity
of a bow spring h, the opposite extremity of which is attached to the corresponding
slide d, and the two springs are connected together by a rod i jointed to one arm
of a lever 1, mounted upon a centre or fulcrum m, and the opposite arm n of which

page_text: lever projects so as to come in contact with the jamb of the door (for example) in
the act of closing the door.
It will be obvious that as the door is closed the lever is turned upon its centre
or fulcrum m in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the rod i is moved
longitudinally, thus flattening the springs h, whereby the slides d are forced
outwards, and the strip e is brought into intimate contact with the floor so as to
prevent the admission of currents of air, and in the case of external doors so as
also to exclude rain, whilst as the door is opened the bead fand strip e are elevated
again by the action of the springs h so as to remove the obstruction which would
otherwise be presented to the free opening of the door.
It will be evident that in addition to its excluding draught and rain the apparatus
also excludes dust.
The apparatus is also applicable to windows and other places for a like purpose,
such modifications, only being made in the relative arrangements of the parts, as
will readily suggest themselves to practical men. In all cases also the details of the
apparatus, and the materials of which its parts are composed, may be varied so long
as the same action and effect are obtained.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
The new or improved apparatus to be applied to doors, windows, or other places,
for excluding draughts and rain, the said apparatus being constructed and arranged
so as to operate substantially in the manner herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Harry John Fieldus, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.