IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTACHING DOOR KNOBS TO SPINDLES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Aldridge Weston at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1882. A communi-
cation from abroad by Byron H. Lockwood of Stamford, Connecticut, in the
United States of America.
THOMAS ALDRIDGE WESTON of Stamford, Connecticut in the United States of
America, and of 169 Fleet Street London, Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ATTACHING DOOR KNOBS TO SPINDLES." [A communication from abroad by
Byron H. Lockwood of Stamford, Connecticut in the United States of America.]
The Invention relates to door knobs with shanks which are secured to the spindles
by frictional contact under great pressure induced by the action of eccentrics. The
object is to provide a simple, economical and reliable connection between a knob-
shank and spindle that will permit the ready adjustment of the spindle within the
shank to accommodate variations in the thickness of different doors.
I provide a knob-shank with a longitudinal slot extending from the spindle socket
out radially through the wall of the shank. I also provide a transverse slot in the
shank which intersects the longitudinal slot and enables the wall of the shank to be
readily compressed and clamped upon the spindle. At the same time the shank
remains complete of one piece of metal. This shank formed in this manner, constitutes
an essential feature of the Invention. Instead of making the shank cylindrical, I
form on one side of it about opposite the longitudinal slot an eccentric in order to
provide for clamping the walls of the shank upon the spindle. To surround the
shank I provide a sleeve preferably cylindrical in its external conformation, but
provided with an eccentric on its internal surface, and made within to correspond
with the external shape of the knob-shank, so as to readily slip on to the shank.
The spindle may be provided with little recesses to receive a segmental key passing
through the transverse slot in the shank, as is well understood thus keying the shank
and spindle together; but while this provision is suggested for greater security I do
not deem it absolutely essential. However, as the sleeve will when in place cover
the key and hold it in its sent firmly the combination of the sleeve and key affords
a very secure and excellent fastening for the shank and spindle.
Suppose the knob to be secured to the shank in any suitable way, and ready to
receive the sleeve over it and the spindle within it. The spindle being inserted and
adjusted and if desired, keyed in the shank, the sleeve is slipped into place and
then by means of a lever or suitable wrench entering a hole therein is turned hard.
This turning will cause a wedging or binding action of the two eccentrics which

page_text: will clamp the shank very firmly to the spindle in any position to which it may
have been adjusted within the shank, and at the same time, of course, unite the
sleeve very firmly to the shank. When the parts are thus adjusted and firmly
secured together it will be observed that the turning of the knob in use does not
place the least strain or have the slightest effect upon the sleeve. Hence it is not
liable to get loose, and it is found it practice that there is only the remotest
liability, substantially none at all of the parts ever getting disturbed in their fixed
and rigid relations when originally properly secured.