Improvements in Devices for Automatically Closing Doors and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Automatically Closing Doors and the
like.
I, HENRY WOODS, of Rayment's Hotel, London Wall, in the County of London,
Hotel Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to devices for automatically closing doors, gates and the
like; and it is designed to provide a simple and cheap device adapted to occupy
little space and capable of being readily secured in place, removed or repaired.
According to my invention I provide a recessed plate adapted to be let into
that part of the framing of the door to which said door is hinged and to be secured
thereto by screws or otherwise. In this recess, preferably to the back wall thereof,
I attach one or more appropriate elastic devices as for example springs formed of
coiled steel wire. The opposite extremities of these springs are secured to a
plate attached to the edge of the door adjacent to the above mentioned framing.
The devices or springs are of such a length as to be normally under a slight amount
of tension when the door is closed. When the door is opened they will be further
extended and also bent or curved out of their normal shape or position; and thus
as soon as the door is released they will tend to close the same with a force which
gradually decreases as the door approaches its closed position, so that a silent
or very nearly silent closing is effected.
This construction also enables a broken spring to be quickly removed and
replaced by a new one, without disturbing the plates.
It will be seen that my improved door closing device is applicable to swinging
doors adapted to open in either direction, as well as to ordinary doors opening
in only one direction. When applying my invention to doors of the latter kind,
the plate attached to the edge of the door may be hinged to the recessed plate and
the device may then be employed in place of one of the ordinary hinges of the door.
The aforesaid plate attached to the door may sometimes be of angular or
channel shape so as to be secured to the side or sides as well as the edge of the
door, and thus provide for a very secure attachment.
Dated this Qth dow of Nawamba 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Devices for Automatically Closing Doors and the
like.
I, HENRY WOODs, of Rayment's Hotel, London Wall, in the County of London,
Hotel Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner:
[Price 8d.]

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:
This invention relates to devices for automatically closing doors, gates and the
like; and it is designed to provide a simple and cheap device adapted to occupy
little space and capable of being-readily secured in place, removed or repaired.
According to my invention I provide a recessed plate adapted to be secured to
the door post or other part to which the door or the like is hinged. In the recess,
preferably to the back wall thereof, I attach one or more appropriate elastic devices
or springs, as for example springs formed of coiled steel wire. The opposite
extremities of these springs are attached to a plate, which may or may not be
recessed, that is secured to that edge of the door adjacent to the door post. The
arrangement is such that the springs are slightly extended when the door is closed.
When the door is opened they will be further extended and also bent or curved
out of their normal shape or position; and when the door is released they will
tend to close the same with a force which gradually decreases as the door
approaches its closed position, so that a gentle and silent or very nearly silent
closing is effected.
When applying my invention to doors opening in one direction only, the
plate attached to the edge of the door may be hinged to the other plate and
the device may then be employed in place of one of the ordinary hinges of the
door.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect, I will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
-
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of one form of my invention applied
to a swing door opening in both directions.
Figure 2 is a view of the device when the door is open. In this view two of
the springs are removed in order to show the means for detachably securing the
said springs to the plates.
Figures 3 and 4 are views, similar to Figures 1 and 2 respectively, of another
form of my invention wherein the device also constitutes one of the supporting
hinges of the door.
In all the figures the same letters of reference indicate the same or similar
parts.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, A represents a portion of a door and B
represents a portion of the door post. a is a flat plate of metal or other suitable
material secured to the edge of the door by screws. b is a dished or recessed plate
similarly secured to the door post, in which a recess or chamber has previously
been cut to accommodate the dished portion. Springs c of coiled steel wire, are
connected at their extremities to the inner or back wall of the dished plate b
and to the plate a. The length of the springs, when contracted, is slightly less
than the depth of the recess in the plate b, and consequently said springs are at
all times in a state of tension. Upon the opening of the door, which can take
place in either direction, the springs are stretched and are bent into a curve;
and when the door is released the tendency of the springs to regain their normal
or straight form and also to contract, causes them to close the door, the force
exerted by them gradually diminishing as the door is brought nearer to its closed
in position. The initial tension upon the spring, which is dependent upon the
difference between the length of the contracted spring and the depth of the recess,
is so adjusted that the door shall be closed gently and without being forced much
beyond its closed position. The strength of the springs employed varies according
to the weight of the door.
g, g, are india rubber stops or buffers which will check the movement of the
door when it approaches its closed position.
In order that a broken or otherwise defective spring may be readily removed
and replaced by a new one without disturbing the plates, I provide, for each
spring upon each plate, a bar or strip d one extremity of which is pivotally

page_text: secured to the plate adjacent to an oblong hole or recess e in such plate. This
bar is adapted to be retained, by the screw d' or other means, in a position trans-
verse to the recess e, as shown in Figure 1 and the upper part of Figure 2, in
which position the end ring or loop c¹ of the spring is securely retained by said
bar. When the screw d¹ is removed however, the bar can be turned to the position
shown at the middle portion of Figure 2, and the ring c¹ can then be readily
slipped off or onto the said bar.
In the modified form of door closer shown in Figures 3 and 4, both the
plates a and b are dished or recessed; and these plates are hinged or connected
together to form a hinge which is secured to the door and to the door-post in
the usual manner. This construction enables me to employ a longer or larger
spring. Two or three of these devices may be provided to each door, in place
of the usual supporting hinges, and in such cases it is only necessary to employ
one spring in each device. Obviously however, the device may be provided with
two or more springs; and one such device only may be employed in connection with
a door, one or more ordinary hinges being used in addition thereto.
For the purpose of attaining greater certainty or efficiency in the above
mentioned silent closing of the door, I provide upon one of the plates a plug f
of india rubber, or other appropriate material, which is adapted to enter and closely
fit the recess in the other plate as the door closes, and to act as a buffer, thereby
checking the movement of the door as it approaches its closed position. The
arrangement might be such that the air within the two recesses would be slightly
compressed by said plug so as to assist the buffing or checking effect. The plug
is perforated and the spring passes therethrough.
In order to prevent the plug from collapsing or being crushed or bent I may
construct it of metal or wood with a face or outer lining of india rubber which
could be renewable when worn.
It will be readily understood that this plug or a similar device might be applied
to the plate a, and be adapted to enter the recess in the plate b, shown in Figures 1
and 2.
The plate a may sometimes be of angular or channel shape and be capable of
being secured to the side or sides as well as the edge of the door, a very secure
attachment being thus provided.
Instead of employing metal coil springs I may employ india rubber bands or
other appropriate elastic devices.
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. A door closing device comprising a spring or springs in combination with
a pair of plates one or both of which are recessed to receive said spring or
springs substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. The door closing device having its parts constructed, arranged and combined
to operate substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.