Year: 1898

page_text: I, WILLIAM RAMSAY, of 131, Page Bank, Spennymoor, Co. Durham, Fitter, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention for an improved door latch has for its object a simple arrange-
ment by which the door can be held in its closed position while at the same time
it can be readily opened and in which no springs are required, the arrangement
depending on its own weight and moreover being almost frictionless in operation.
According to this invention a suitable casing is secured to the door and within
this casing is pivoted a bent lever, the pivot being at one end of the said lever
and the other end of the lever engaging in one position with the catch on the door
frame. At the bend of this lever a pin is fitted provided with an operating knob
and a slot is formed in the door by which a slight movement of this pin is per-
mitted. In the normal position the bent lever engages with the catch on the door
frame but on pushing upwards the operating knob a short distanco the pin rises
in the slot and therefore lifts the bent lever so that it is moved out of engagement
with the catch on the door frame and the door may be opened. On releasing the
operating knob the parts fall by their weight and the bent lever will again engage
with the catch on the door frame to close the door.
Dated the 2.1
e A
1 1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
I, WILLIAM RAMSAY, of 131, Page Bank, Spennymoor, Co. Durham, Fitter, 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:
This invention for an improved door latch has for its object a simple arrange-
ment by which the door can be held in its closed position while at the same time
it can be readily opened and in which no springs are required, the arrangement
depending upon its own weight and moreover being almost frictionless in operation.
According to this invention a suitable casing is secured to the door and within
this casing is pivoted a bent lever, the pivot being at one end of the said lever
and the other end of the lever engaging in one position with the catch on the door
frame. At the bend of this lever a pin is fitted provided with an operating knob
and a slot is formed in the door by which a slight movement of this pin is per-
CD 077

page_text: mitted. In the normal position the bent lever engages with the catch on the door
frame but on pushing upwards the operating knob a short distance, the pin rises
in the slot and therefore lifts the bent lever so that it is moved out of engagement
with the catch on the door frame and the door may be opened. On releasing the
cperating knob the parts fall by their weight and the bent lever will again engage
with the catch on the door frame to close the door.
In order to more clearly describe this invention reference is had to the accom-
panying sheet of illustrative drawings on which
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a latch constructed according
to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same, and
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the bent lever.
The casing a is secured to the door by screws or the like and within this casing a
the lever b, shaped substantially as shown is pivoted upon the pivot c. The
pivot c is at one end of the lever and the other end b¹ forms the latch and is
adapted to engage with the catch d on the door frame. It will be seen that owing
to its shape the lever b normally hangs with the end b¹ projecting in the fastening
position. At the angle of the lever a pin e is fitted and projects through a slot f
in the door which permits a slight movement of the pin e. This pin e is provided
on the other side with an operating knob e¹. In the normal position the end b' of
the lever engages with the catch d on the door frame, but on pushing upwards
the operating knob el a short distance the pin e rises in the slot f and therefore
lifts the lever b so that it is moved out of engagement with the catch d on the door
frame and the door may be opened.
On releasing the operating knob el the parts fall by their weight and the end b
of the lever b will again engage with the catch d on the door frame to fasten the
door.
An inclined surface g is provided on the door frame adjacent to the catch d so
that when the door is pushed close the end 6¹ of the lever bis pressed inwards until
it engages in the catch d.
a
If desired, to permit of the door being operated from either side the pin e is
extended on the other side and provided with a second operating knob the casing
being suitably cut away to permit of this. The operating knob e¹ may be formed
in one with the lever b.
Doors fitted with this device may be provided with locks in addition, if desired.
The latch may be used for all purposes for which a latch is suitable, and also
for doors of railway carriages and other vehicles, and is then entirely enclosed
so as to prevent tampering.
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) An improved door latch consisting of a bent lever pivoted at one end in a
casing on the door, its other end being adapted to engage with a catch on the door
frame, the said lever being so shaped that normally it lies in the fastening position,
and a pin and operating knob for lifting the lever to withdraw its projecting end
substantially as described.
(2) An improved door latch, casing a, lever b, fastening end b¹, pivot c, catch d,
pin e, operating knob or knobs el, slot f, formed in door, and incline y upon door
frame, all arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 29th day of June 1898
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.