IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE DOOR FURNITURE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1885

page_text: I CHARLES DOHRN DOUGLAS of 15 Queenhithe in the City of London, Lock
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGE DOOR FURNITURE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to afford simple and efficient means for enabling
passengers or travellers in railway and other carriages to open the door from the
inside of the carriage, and relates more particularly to such carriage doors as are
fitted with locking bolts or catches to which a constant tendency to assume the
locking or shot position is imparted by means of a weight or spring.
The invention relates to the use of a releasing lever or trigger on the inside of
the door in combination with a guard plate or cover for preventing the accidental
or unintentional opening of the carriage door from the inside.
In carrying out my invention I adapt to the inner end of the spindle by which
the locking bolt or catch is withdrawn against the pressure of its weight or spring
a lever arm of a form adapted to be operated by the finger or thumb of a passenger,
and I protect it by a guard plate or cover in which is a slot opposite to or
coincident with the free end of the said lever arm, and of such size as will enable
the tip of the finger or thumb to be inserted for the purpose of pressing upon the
said lever arm when required. The guard plate or cover may be formed with a
recess or flange for convenience in pulling to the door. When the door is properly
closed the locking bolt or catch will snap or shoot into its socket in the door jamb,
and hold the door securely fastened, after the manner common in some carriages.
To open the door from the inside without lowering the window the passenger will
merely require to insert his finger in the slot or aperture in the guard plate or
cover and press the releasing lever arm or trigger.
The position and shape of the guard plate or cover is such that by no accidental
movements of the passenger can the lever arm be touched.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig: 1 is a
sectional view of part of a carriage door with the invention applied thereto, Fig: 2
is a view of the guard plate or cover and lever arm on the inner side of the door,
and Fig: 3 is an end view of the same.
A is the spindle by which the door lock or catch is controlled or operated. It is
fitted at its outer end with a handle B of any suitable kind. This spindle operates
on the latch or locking bolt by means of a follower and a constant tendency is
imparted to the said catch or locking bolt to assume its shot or locking position by
means of a spring or weight acting in any well known or convenient manner.

page_text: The present invention does not relate to the manner in which those parts are
assembled, and it has therefore not been thought necessary to illustrate the follower,
or the locking bolt with its actuating spring or weight.
C is a lever arm or trigger securely fitted to the inner end of the spindle A in
any convenient manner and D is the guard or cover for protecting the said lever
arm against accidental - displacement through-contact with the dress or person of
the travellers.
The lever arm C is formed with a spreading or enlarged end to afford a sufficient
surface for the application of pressure, and the guard or cover D is slotted or
formed with an opening as at d, to allow of a finger or thumb being inserted for
the purpose of applying pressure to the lever arm. By this means the spindle A
can be partially rotated and the catch or locking bolt withdrawn when required by
a passenger from the inside of the carriage; and there is no risk of the lever arin
being accidentally operated and the door suddenly flying open; as the guard plate
is so shaped that no part of the lever arm projects above or beyond it. The lever
arm C may be secured to the end of the spindle A in any convenient manner but I
preferably fit it over a square formed on the end of the spindle and hold it in place
thereon by a nut as shown in the Drawing.
The dotted lines in Figs 2 and 3 indicate a recess which may be formed in or on
the guard plate or cover D and serving the purpose of a handle for closing the door
or preventing it from swinging open when the trigger or lever arm C is moved and
the catch withdrawn.
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. The adaptation to the inner side of a carriage door of a lever arm or its
equivalent fast upon the spindle of the locking bolt or catch, and a guard plate or
cover attached to the door and provided with an opening for the finger or thumb
opposite to or coincident with the free end of the said lever arm, for the purpose of
enabling the spindle to be partially rotated from the inside of the carriage to
withdraw the catch or bolt when required and without risk of the door being
accidentally opened through contact of the inside releasing lever with the person or
dress of the travellers as described with reference to the drawing.
2. The combination with a lock or latch spindle A of a releasing lever or
trigger C on the inside of the door and a protecting case or guard plate D of a form
to protect the said lever or trigger against accidental displacement and provided
with an opening such as d to enable the said lever or trigger to be moved by a
passenger or traveller when required, from within the carriage, substantially as set
forth.
3. The combination with a spindle for actuating or controlling the movements of
the locking bolt or catch of a railway carriage or other door, of a releasing lever or
trigger C, and a guard plate such as D, having an opening d through which the
finger or thumb may be inserted to actuate the said lever or trigger, and a recess
or flange for convenience in pulling-to the door, substantially as described with
reference to the drawing.