IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLOSING AND KEEPING OPEN AT ANY DISTANCE DOORS AND GATES IN LIEU OF USING SPRINGS, STRAPS, OR OTHER UNSIGHTLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING THE PURPOSE."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Deavin, John Henry Sutton, and Martin
Deavin, all of Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLOSING AND KEEPING OPEN AT ANY
DISTANCE DOORS AND GATES IN LIEU OF USING SPRINGS, STRAPS, OR OTHER
UNSIGHTLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING THE PURPOSE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Deavin, John Henry
Sutton, and Martin Deavin at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 7th November 1866. .
We, JOHN DEAVIN, JOHN HENRY SUTTON, and MARTIN DEAVIN, all of
Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLOSING AND KEEPING
OPEN AT ANY DISTANCE DOORS AND GATES IN LIEU OF USING SPRINGS, STRAPS, OR
OTHER UNSIGHTLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING THE PURPOSE," to be as
follows:-
We propose using a series of pulleys so fixed as to be within a small
compass at the bottom or top of door, near the hinge edge, with lines passing
over the said pulleys and weights attached at the ends thereof, which so

page_text: govern the door that it may be made to close or.remain open at any distance
required, whereby "slamming" is prevented. The pulleys, lines, and
weights may be kept entirely out of sight, and the lines made of wire, rope,
chains, or any other suitable material; also the door may be fastened in the
ordinary manner without interfering with our arrangements. For the doors
of public edifices this Invention is most invaluable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Deavin, John Henry Sutton, and Martin Deavin in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
DEAVIN, JOHN HENRY SUTTON, and MARTIN DEAVIN, all of New Road,
Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS-Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did; for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
John Deavin, John Henry Sutton, and Martin Deavin, Her special licence
that we, the said John Deavin, John Henry. Sutton, and Martin Deavin, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John
Deavin, John Henry Sutton, and Martin Deavin, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLOSING AND KEEPING OPEN AT ANY
DISTANCE DOORS AND GATES IN LIEU OF USING SPRINGS, STRAPS, OR OTHER
UNSIGHTLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING THE PURPOSE," upon the condition
(amongst others). that we, the said John Deavin, John Henry Sutton, and
Martin Deavin, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
.NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Deavin, John Henry Sutton,
and Martin Deavin, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
We propose using a series of pulleys so fixed as to be within a small
compass at the bottom or top of door, near the hinge edge, with lines passing
over the said pulleys and weights attached at the ends thereof, which so
govern the door that it may be made to close or remain open at any distance
required, whereby "slamming" is prevented. The pulleys, lines, and weights
may be kept entirely out of sight, and the lines made of wire, rope, chains,
or any other suitable material; also the door may be fastened in the ordinary
manner without interfering with our arrangements. For the doors of public
edifices this Invention is most invaluable.
Figure No. 1 is an elevation drawing of door and governor as fixed, and is
drawn on the scale of one inch to the foot, shewing weights, pulleys, and
cords in position; Figure 2 represents the plan of doors kept in position by
'governor "; Figure 3 is a drawing of "governor" as applied to door, and is
here shewn one-fourth of full size.
66
In this Drawing A, A, represent a crank fixed on the bottom of the door;
B, B, B, shew a lever firmly fixed to the lower part of the crank; C, C,
represent two pulleys attached to crank and two cords, the ends of which are.
fastened to under side of floor, passing over the two pulleys C, C, and
continued to D, E, and F, G, respectively, one line ending at and fastened to
the weight marked W; the other line, L, L, has a continuation passing
through an eye. fixed in the said weight, which line L has loops or links at
the end thereof to be 'attached to a hook- (conveniently fixed) in order to
regulate the length of the cord according to the distance the door is required
to be kept open.
Figure 4 is a plan of governor, also shewn one-fourth of the full size, and
may, be thus explained. At or near the pulley marked D a cord is fastened,
which passing over pulleys C, D, E, is then fastened to weight marked W.
At or near pulley F another cord is fastened, which passing over pulleys C, F, G,
and through loop of weight marked W is continued and attached in the direction
as stated and shewn in Figure 3, and marked L, L.
This Invention is also applicable to "swing doors" which are brouglit to
the centre by a slight modification of the arrangement of pulleys as previously
shewn. Instead of having a crank fixed to the lower part of the door the
lever may be connected with the centre pin of the lower hinge, and thus
govern the door.
Our claim is substantively, as described, an entire superseding of the use of
springs and straps on doors and gates, and the effectual closing of them and
:

page_text: keeping them open at any required distance by the use of cranks, levers, cords,
pulleys, and weights, and in the method of arranging the same at or near the
hinge edge of the door or gate (and by preference at the bottom), so that
doors and gates of single or double action may be closed or kept open at any
distance required.
. In witness whereof, we, the said John Deavin, John Henry Sutton, and
Martin Deavin, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day
of May, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. DEAVIN.
(L.S.)
J. H. SUTTON. (L.S.)
M. DEAVIN.
(L.S.)