Improvements in Portable Door Fastenings
Year: 1897

page_text: I, JOHN FRANKLIN SULLIVAN, Carpenter and Builder, of Florence, in the
County of Fremont and State of Colorado, one of the United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a portable door fastening to be used
as a supplement to the ordinary locks for doors, and which can also be carried
conveniently by a person who is travelling, for instance, so that at strange hotels and
stopping places, the door can be locked inside by means independent of the ordinary
locks and bolts. It comprises a plate that is to be placed against the door jamb and
is provided on one side with pins or spikes which are forced into the door jamb,
or it may also be held in place by a screw that passes through the plate and into
said jamb. This plate is thin enough to allow the door to close, but it should fit
tightly between the door and the door jamb, and to overcome any objection on
this score that might arise owing to shrinkage of a part of the door, an auxiliary
plate is provided that can be readily applied or removed from the main plate.
The plate tapers towards its outer end and is conveniently provided with a handle
by means of which it can be manipulated. On one side, the plate is provided
with stops to rest against the edge of the door jamb so that the opening through
the plate stands flush with the edge thereof. In connection with this perforated
plate is
a pin that fits within the opening in the plate so as to
extend across the adjacent edges of the frame of the door and the
door jamb, while a spring finger upon said pin holds it firmly in position to
prevent accidental displacement. The said pin and the plate may be connected
together by a chain for the purpose of preventing accidental misplacement or loss.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1897.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in Portable Door Fastenings.
JOHN FRANKLIN SULLIVAN, Florence, Colorado, U.S.A., Carpenter and Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
[Price 8d.1

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention has reference to a novel construction in a door-fastening, and has
for its object to provide a device that can be attached permanently to a door-jamb
or may be attached as occasion may require.
The invention consists in the features of constructions, as hereinafter described
and specifically claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figures 1, 2
and 4 are perspective views of a door-holding device constructed in accordance
with this invention; and Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same, showing the
manner in which it is applied to a door-jamb and door.
Referring now to said drawings 1 indicates the door and 2 the door-jamb.
The said door holder consists of a plate 3, that is provided with means for
attaching it permanently or temporarily to the said jamb. These means consists
either of the points or pins 4 or the opening 5 and a screw. At one end the said
plate is bent to one side as shown at 6 by means of which the plate can be held
in position, and inserting the same between the door and the jamb the said plate
is thinner at this end than at the other end thereof-that is to say, it tapers
toward the handle piece 6.
The said plate is provided at its outer end or near the bent piece with an opening
to receive a bolt. This bolt is provided with a notch 17, and with the bent
handle 8 and with a spring 9 as shown.
The said plate 3 is also provided with the projection or shoulder 10 which when
in use lies against the edge of the jamb, and the outer face of this projection is
even with the inner edge of the opening 11 in said plate that receives the bolt 7.
The bolt 7 has a notch of a depth equal to the thickness of the projection 10. In
this way it is seen that by placing the plate against the jamb, with the projection 10
against the edge of the same. The edge of the bolt 7 is even with the jamb, so
that when the bolt is in place it lies closely against the face of the door. The
handle 8 of the bolt and hand-pice 6 of the plate are each provided with an
opening whereby these parts can be connected together by a chain or wire, so
that one of the parts will not be lost. I have also provided means for employing
this device in connection with doors that have shrunk to such an extent that there
is a considerable opening between the door and jamb. This consists of an
auxiliary plate 13, that is provided with pins 14, that enter corresponding open-
ings 15 in the plate 3. In this way it is seen that the auxiliary 13 fills up the
space caused by the shrinkage of the door..
The said plate 13 is also provided with an opening 16 to correspond with the
opening 5 of the plate 3 to permit the use of a screw for fastening the ptals
permanently to a door-jamb. In use the plate 3 is placed against the door-jamb,
with the projections 10 lying against the edge of the same and before the door is
closed, and the pins 4 are pressed into the door-jamb. When the door is closed
it is seen that it stands even with the inner face of the projection 10 so that the
bolt 7 can be passed through said opening and will stand against the face of both
the door and jamb and is held firmly in place by the spring 9. In this way it is
seen the door is effectually locked and cannot be opened except from the inside
and, furthermore, it is noted that the bolt can be quickly removed as well as the
plate being removed or inserted in place.
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:
I. Improvements in a portable door fastening by providind a thin plate to be
fastened to the door jamb by points or screws.
II. A second thin plate to be placed on top of the first one when the door
stands away from the jamb so as to require it.

page_text: III. A pin with a spring on the back and a notched collar to insert in the plates
and against the door, securely holding the same.
Dated at Florence, in the State of Colorado, in the United States of America,
this the 21st day of April, A.D. 1898.
JOHN FRANKLIN SULLIVAN,
Applicant.