Improvements in and connected with Emergency Exit Doors for Theatres and other Buildings, and to Fastenings Applicable thereto and to other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Emergency Exit Doors for
Theatres and other Buildings, and to Fastenings Applicable
thereto and to other Purposes.
I, HARRY BROOKE LE MESURIER, of 4 Lower Summerlands, Exeter, in the
County of Devon, Chief Constable of the City, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with emergency exit
doors for theatres and other buildings, where an alarm from fire or other cause is
likely to create a panic, and to fastenings applicable thereto and to other purposes
such as window fastenings and the like.
In constructing an emergency exit door, I provide a lever actuated by the
depression of a hinged or otherwise moveable plate forming part of, or attached to,
the floor in front of the door. When sufficient weight, such as that of one or more
people is placed upon this hinged or otherwise moveable plate, the lever is depressed
and the mechanism of the exit unlocked allowing the door to be opened by a single
push, or a spring is attached thereto so as to open the same widely when the
mechanism is unlocked. In the door jamb I fix vertically a spindle free to turn in
suitable bearings and carrying one or more horizontal slotted drums with one of
which, when two drums are employed, the door catch, or bolt engages, and with
the other, as with all directly and indirectly, the locking lever actuated by the hinged
plate, or by an independent weight or spring. In the case of one drum being
employed, both door bolt and locking lever engage with it, respectively, in its
perpendicular and lower horizontal actions. When the door catch or holt is within
the slot in the corresponding drum and the lever released, the pressure of the spring
or other means adopted for opening the door will cause the bolt to press against
the side of the slot in the drum and revolve it on its vertical spindle in a direction
opposite to that of the door itself, thereby releasing the bolt from the drum and
allowing the door to open. The sides and depth of the slot and shape of the door
bolt are cut so as to ride easily and take one against the other. The angular move-
ment of the spindle is limited by stops or the like thereon or on the drums taking
against projections fixed upon the door frame or other convenient spot. When the
weight is removed from the hinged or moveable plate and the door closed the catch
will enter the slot again and turn it and the vertical spindle in an opposite direction
until a slot or groove in the bottom drum is immediately over or above the end of
the locking lever, which will immediately enter and lock the door in closed position.
In connection with the hinged or otherwise moveable plate, as a means of automati-
cally releasing emergency door bolts, I also employ a perpendicular rod, actuated by
the hinged plate or lever, sliding vertically in the door jamb, having its upper
extremity acting as a staple behind which the door bolt is stapled when the door is
closed.
In adapting the fastening device for windows and the like, the drum is fixed to
revolve in bearings in a horizontal spindle, the said bearings being attached to the
upper bar of the bottom sash, the catch being placed on the bottom bar of the top
sash and pressed forward by a spiral or other spring fixed in its rear. A locking
lever is arranged to slide transversely along the top bar of the bottom sash behind
the drum being actuated in one direction by means of a small hand lever when it is
required to open the window, and returned by a suitable spiral or other spring. The

page_text: catch is thus self fastening and self locking, the mere act of closing the window
automatically secures it.
Dated this 27th day of May 1889
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Emergency Exit Doors for
Theatres and other Buildings, and to Fastenings Applicable
thereto and to other Purposes.
I HARRY BROOKE LE MESURIER of 4 Lower Summerlands Exeter in the County
of Devon, Chief Constable of the City do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with emergency exit
doors for theatres and other buildings where an alarm from fire or other cause is
likely to create a panic, and to fastenings applicable thereto and to other purposes
such as window fastenings and the like. In constructing an emergency exit door I
provide a lever actuated by the depression of a hinged or otherwise moveable plate
forming part of or attached to the floor in front of the door. When sufficient weight
such as that of one or more people is placed upon this hinged or otherwise moveable
plate the lever is depressed and the mechanism of the exit unlocked allowing the
door to be opened by a simple push or a spring is attached thereto so as to open
the same widely when the mechanism is unlocked. In the door jamb I fix vertically
a spindle free to turn in suitable bearings and carrying one or more horizontal
slotted drums with one of which, when two drums are employed, the door catch or
bolt engages and with the other (as with all directly or indirectly) the locking
lever actuated by the hinged plate, or by an independent weight or spring. In the
case of one drum being employed both door bolt and locking lever engage with it
respectively in its perpendicular and lower horizontal sections. When the door
catch or bolt is within the slot in the corresponding drum and the lever released the
pressure of the spring or other means adopted for opening the door will cause the
bolt to press against the side of the slot in the drum and revolve it on its vertical
spindle in a direction opposite to that of the door itself thereby releasing the bolt
from the drum and allowing the door to open. The sides and depth of the slot and
shape of the door bolt are cut so as to ride easily and take one against the other.
The angular movement of the spindle is limited by stops or the like thereon or on
the drums taking against projections fixed upon the door frame or other convenient
spot. When the weight is removed from the hinged or moveable plate and the door
closed the catch will enter the slot again and turn it and the vertical spindle in an
opposite direction until a slot or groove in the bottom drum is immediately over or
above the end of the locking lever which will immediately enter and lock the door
in closed position.
In connection with the hinged or otherwise moveable plate as a means of auto-
matically releasing emergency door bolts I also employ a perpendicular rod actuated
by the hinged plate or lever, sliding vertically in the door jamb having its upper
extremity acting as a staple behind which the door bolt is stapled when the door is
closed.
In adapting the fastening device for windows and the like the drum is fixed to
revolve in bearings in a horizontal spindle the said bearings being attached to the
upper bar of the bottom sash, the catch being placed on the bottom bar of the top
sash and pressed forward by a spiral or other spring fixed in its rear. A locking

page_text: lever is arranged to slide transversely along the top bar of the bottom sash behind.
the drum being actuated in one direction by means of a small hand lever when it is
required to open the window, and returned by a suitable spiral or other spring. The
catch is thus self-fastening and self-locking, the mere act of closing the window
automatically secures it.
In order that this invention may be more particularly described and completely
understood especially with reference to its application to foulding or double doors
reference is given to the accompanying drawings and to the letters by which the
parts are indicated.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of a single door shewing the application of
part of the invention. The lever C working on a fulcrum as at P is placed beneath
the level of the floor in front of the door. It is actuated at one arm through the
swivelled T piece E (or other suitable connection) by the depression of the hinged or.
otherwise moveable plate or treadle M forming part of or attached to the floor in
front of the door. The lever arm and treadle are kept in the position shewn in the
figure by means of the weight W or suitable spring. The spindle A A fixed vertically
in the door jamb in suitable bearings carries the horizontal slotted drums X' X²
with which the door catch or bolt and locking lever C engage in suitable slots when
the door is closed. On depressing the hinged plate M the arm of the locking lever C
is disengaged from the drum X2 allowing the door to be opened by a simple push or
spring provided for the purpose. The drums being connected and forming part of
the spindle A; when the door catch or bolt is within the slot in the corresponding
drum X and the lever released the act of opening the door causes the bolt to press
against the side of the slot in the drum and revolve the spindle in a direction opposite
to that taken by the door thereby releasing the door catch from the drum and
allowing the door to open. The angular movement of the spindle is limited as
previously stated. The act of closing the door causes the drums to return to the
position of locking and the door is thus fastened. In Fig. 1 part plan the door
catch or bolt Y is seen engaged with the horizontal drum X in closed position. A
groove is cut along the face of the door frame as shewn at f to allow the .catch to
pass outwards unobstructed on leaving the slot in the drum and a corresponding
projection as shewn at D is suitably fixed on the door itself to cover or fit the gap
when the door is closed. A handle or knob may also be provided to actuate the
mechanism of the door catch or bolt from the inside of the door, as shewn in the
figure, by means of which the bolt can be withdrawn from the slot in the corre-
sponding drum independently. This may also be accomplished by means of a key
from the outside of the door.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section shewing improvements in the treadle or plate action
and other mechanism applied to double doors. The moveable plate or treadle M is
hinged at N to the floor or its box in front of the door. A lever C is provided
working on a fulerum as at P¹ placed as necessary according to the rise & fall
required to give to its arms. At the piece E is pivoted to carry the moveable
base of the plate M. At Ps a short vertically sliding bolt or pin B2 is pivoted at its
lower extremity to the lever arm C. A socket or guide is fixed vertically in the
floor at K to act as a guide to the short pin B' and as a catch plate or staple to the
extremity of the bottom bolt B carried by one of the doors. Two slotted cams or
drums moveable about spindles A A are placed vertically as shewn in the figure in
a suitable casing G. G. The slots in the drums are suitably cut to take the catch or
bolt carried by the other door. The top and bottom bolts B B slide in suitable
bearings on the vertical plane of the door and are connected by suitable mechanism
within the casing to the horizontal sliding bolt L which is employed to lock the drums
when the doors are closed.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation shewing the construction and connection of the parts
of the mechanism within the casing G G. The vertical top and bottom bolts of the
door are connected at their extremities P P by pins or joints to the arms of the
tumblers T T, The tumblers move about fixed points P*P* and are connected at.

page_text: their other arms with the horizontal bolt L at D' as shewn. The bolt L is seen.
engaged in suitable slots cut in the inside faces of the moveable cams or drums and
the catch or bolt V attached to the other door is also seen engaged in closed position.
Suitable springs as at S S are provided to shoot the bolts L. B B to bolt the doors::
On the bolts being shot or projected outwards in the position shewn in the figure the
extremity of the bottom bolt B enters the socket K and depresses the sliding pin B²
causing the opposite arm of the lever C to raise the moveable base of the treadle
plate. M from a position of rest to the level or slightly above the level of the floor.
Thus by the mere act of closing the doors they are automatically secured and the
treadle or plate is raised in a position such that if it be depressed by sufficient weight
such as that of a person approaching the door the lever arm C canses the sliding
pin B2 to eject the bottom bolt B from the socket K and thus the upward motion
imparted to the bottom bolt B causes the bolt L and top bolt B to be also simul-
taneously and automatically withdrawn respectively from the drums and the door
frame, through the medium of the tumblers T T, and the cams or drums actuated
by suitable springs are free to turn to release the catch or bolt V of the other
door. When the cams have moved from their locking position the horizontal
bolt L rides against their inner faces and cannot be shot until they have returned
into the required position, that is when the doors are closed; thus too the bolts B B
are prevented from returning until required. The bolts B B are made in parts
joined and adjusted by means of male & female screw caps.
"
Exits may be opened by electricity by means of electro-magnets. fixed beneath
the treadle or plate to attract armatures suitably fitted to the treadle or lever arm.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the cams or drums shewing the bolts V and L
engaged in locking position. A spiral spring S is also shewn to force the cams
to release the catch V when the bolt L is withdrawn. Suitable stops are provided
to limit the angular movement of the cams.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
(1) The construction of a hinged or otherwise moveable plate in combination
with a lever, working on a fulcrum, placed beneath the plate or treadle, wherein.
a lever is worked by the depression of a moveable plate or treadle forming part of
or attached to the floor in front of a door or doors, for the purpose of automatically
unfastening bolts or similar fastenings attached to doors of theatres or other
buildings, substantially as herein set forth.
(2) The construction of slotted cams or drums moveable on or about spindles
employed in the nature of catch plates for bolts and similar fastenings substantially
as herein set forth.
Dated this 26th day of February 1890.