OR DEVICE FOR RETAINING DOOKS IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION "
Year: 1885

page_text: OR DEVICE FOR RETAINING DOOKS IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION
"
I MATTHEW PARKER ISMAY of 1 Sydenham Terrace Newcastle on Tyne
Druggist do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED LATCH
and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
"
The object of my Invention is to secure a simple and efficient apparatus for
latching" doors or retaining them in their closed position so that whilst they can
be closed with ease and with but little noise they will not be liable to accidentally
open and so that should the door be not quit closely pulled to it will still be
retained in its closed position. The opening of the door from one side can be
effected by simply pushing the door in the proper direction without the necessity
for operating a handle. For this purpose the latch or retainer constructed
according to this Invention consists of a scries of recesses or teeth with one or
other of which, when the door is closed, a pawl or catch piece engages, the recesses
or ratchet teeth being held in the door frame or post and the pawl or catch piece
being carried by the door or the reverse, the said parts being held in contact with
each other by means of a spring or springs or their equivalents.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 represents a part of a door and its frame to which a device constructed
according to my Invention is applied the said Figure shewing the door in the
position in which it is, when being closed and just as the latch or retainer is about
to come into action. Figure 2 is a similar view but shewing the door closed. A is
a box fixed on, or to the door post or frame, and in this is a sliding piece B held in
its projecting position by the springs C. The piece B is formed with recesses bat
its upper part-Upon the door is secured a pawl or catch piece D hanging upon
the pin d. As the door is being closed this pawl D trails along the series of
recesses band when the movement of the door is stopped the said pawl drops into
one of these recesses. When the door is moved in opening it, the pawl D pushes
the piece B down against the action of the springs C so that although it requires
Povice 71

page_text: but little pressure to close the door a comparatively great pressure is required to
open it and there is no danger of the door becoming accidentally opened. If the
door should not be closed quite closely, provided it be closed sufficiently for the
pawl to become engaged with one of the recesses 6 towards the outer end of
the series that will be sufficient to retain the door in its closed position.
I do not limit myself to placing the recessed piece B and case A on the door
frame and the pawl D on the door as the position may be reversed that is to say
the pawl may be on the frame and the recessed piece and case be on the door and
the details may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention
for example the pawl may be made to yield instead of the recessed piece if desired.
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
A door latch or retaining device consisting in the combination of a recessed or
toothed piece, and a pawl or catch piece, arranged to operate substantially as
herein before described.