Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1900
mproveme.
I, MORTHEN JOHANNESEN THUÉSTAD, of 112, 9th Street, San Francisco, in the
State of California, in the United States of America, Sailor, and a Subject of the
King of Sweden and Norway, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved door catch, the object of my invention
being to provide a device of this character which will be especially suited for the
doors of steamers or other vessels, and in particular to provide a door catch in which
the door hook shall be shielded when not in use, so as to avoid injury from the
sharp point thereof coming in contact with persons passing near the door, and
one which will prevent rattling of the door when so held by said catch.
My invention therefore resides in the novel construction, combination and
arrangement of parts for the above ends, hereinafter fully specified and particu-
larly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a top view of my improved catch,
the door and wall being shown in broken away section; Figure 2 is a side elevation
of the device in operation; Figure 3 is a horizontal section thereof; Figure 4
is a vertical section; Figure 5 is an end view; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the
catch proper; and Figure 7 is a vertical section thereof.
I represent my improved catch secured to a door 2 by means of screws 3 through
the circular flange 4 at the base of the catch. From said flange extends horizon-
tally outwards a short tube 5, and in said tube is contained a hook whose shank 6
has a pivot hole aligned with two holes 7 in opposite sides of the tube 5, and
through said holes passes a pivot bolt 8. Thus said shank rocks vertically on
said pivot.
The shank 6 has a forked tail 9 which is engaged by a pin 10, said pin being
cut out on each side a short distance above its lower end, leaving a web 11
passing through said fork, so that a vertical movement of the pin in either direc-
tion rocks the hook on its pivot. Said pin extends upwards through a hole in the
tube 5, and carries on its upper end a suitable head 12, and between said head
and the outer surface of the tube 5 is interposed a compressed spiral spring 22.
Said spring normally raises the tail of the shank 6, and therefore normally
depresses the hook 13 of said shank,
Co-operating with said hook is a loop 14 formed by a U-shaped piece of metal
secured by screws 15 to the wall 16 against which the door is to be held open,
and when the door is swung open, the inclined front face 17 of said hook engages
the front of said loop and is raised thereby against the pressure of the spring 22,
until the hook passes over said loop and is held thereby. Pressure upon the
head 12 of the pin 10 will raise the hook and free the catch.
When the door is closed the hook is not in use, and in order to prevent injury

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to persons or clothing from the pivot of the hook in this position, there is
vided a cylindrical sleeve 18 sliding upon the tube 5, and having its outer end 19
closed except for a vertically elongated slot 20 through which the hook 13 passes.
A compressed spiral spring 21, interposed between the outer end of the tube 5
and the inner surface of the end 19 of the sleeve, serves to normally extend the
sleeve from the tube. And the sleeve is sufficiently extended, normally, to com-
pletely shield the hook 13, and prevent injury therefrom. Slots 23 cut in the
side of the sleeve, and through which the pivot bolt 8 passes limit this movement
of the sleeve. When the door is swung wide open the loop 14 first engages the
end 19 of the sleeve and pushes it inwards on the tube 5, thereby exposing the
point of the hook 13, and the continued movement of the door raises said hook
and causes it to engage the loop in the manner already explained.
The sleeve 18 and spring 21 perform two useful offices or functions. First,
they prevent rattling of the hook and loop against each other, and secondly they
shield the front of the book when not in use and prevent accidental injury or
damage therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that
what I claim is:
In a door catch, the combination of the tube 5, the hook 6, the spring-resisted
pin 10, and the spring-actuated sleeve 18, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of September 1899.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.