Improvements In and relating CHO Theatres, Halls, and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 18th June, 1888
Complete Accepted; 20th July, 1888
Improvements
In and
relating
CHO
Theatres, Halls, and the like.
I, WILLIAM BAIRD of 43 Douglas Street, in the City of Glasgow, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved means for securing doors of theatres or other
places of public entertainment against opening without unlocking from the outside
whilst providing that they will open from the inside on the application of pressure e.g.
of a crowd seeking exit from the building, the object of the invention being to obviate
risk of accident attendant on the outrush of people in case of panic.
To that end I secure the doors, which are hinged to open outwards, by means of
bolts entering sockets in the door frame at the top and in the floor at the bottom in
the usual way, the ends of said bolts being coupled by a link or lever so that they are
shot out or in simultaneously; and to either bolt or to the link or lever is attached
a helical or other spring arranged to withdraw the bolts on their being released
from a locking catch by which when shot out the bolts are held. The locking catch
enters a notch or slot in one of the bolis to retain the bolts in place when shot to
fasten the door or doors, a spring being provided to retain the catch in position whilst
a bell crank lever or similar device employed for withdrawing the catch, the bell
crank being acted on by a board hinged to the inside of the door and adapted, when
pushed towards the door by the pressure of a crowd or otherwise, to effect the
disengagement of the catch and the consequent withdrawal of the bolts so that the
door may swing open.
Dated this Sixteenth day of Sontember 1887
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Fastenings for the Doors of
Theatres, Halls, and the like.
I, WILLIAM BAIRD of 43 Douglas Street in the City of Glasgow, Engineer, 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:
on the
My Invention relates to improvod means for securing doors of theatres or
other places of public entertainment against opening without unlocking from
the outside whilst providing that they will open from the inside
application of pressure.e.g. of a crowd seeking exit from the building the object
of the invention being to obviato risk of accident attendant on the outrush of people
in case of panic.
As represented in the accompanying drawings in elevation at figure 1 in plan at
figure 2 and in detail at figures 3 and 4 I secure the doors A, A, which are hinged to
open outwards, by means of bolts B, B, entering sockets in the door frame at the
top and in the floor at the bottom in the usual way, the ends of said bolts being
coupled by a link or lever C so that they are shot out or in simultaneously; and to
either bolt B (or to the link or lever C) is attached a helical or other spring D (seen
in figure 4) arranged to act on and withdraw the bolts B on their being released
from a locking catch E by which when shot out the bolts are held. The locking
catch enters a notch F, or a slot, in one of the bolts B to retain the bolts in place
when shot to fasten the door or doors, a spring & being provided and attached to the
door and catch bar E to retain the catch in position whilst a bell-crank lever or
similar device, e.g. as shown a wedge H entering a slot I in the catch bar E, is
employed for withdrawing the catch, the wedge, which is carried on a spring blade J,
(or the bell crank) being acted on by a board K hinged to the inside of the door
and adapted when pressed towards the door by the pressure of a crowd or otherwise
to effect the disengagement of the catch E and the consequent withdrawal of the
bolts B so that the door may swing open.
A lever L having on it a pin engaging one of the bolts B and which may be
actuated by a portable handle is provided for shooting the bolts against the power of
the releasing spring D.
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 combination of parts constituting the improved means for fastening
and automatically unlocking the doors of theatres, halls and the like substantially
as decorihad

page_text: 2. In combination with doors hinged to open outwards and secured by locking bolts
a pressure board or its equivalent adapted when subjected to pressure to effect the
disengagement of the bolts substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a door fastening the combination with a locking bolt or bolts actuated by a
spring of a catch engaging said bolt when shot and a pressure board adapted, when
pushed, to disengage the catch and effect the automatic withdrawal of the locking
bolts substantially as described.
Dated in Cinth of Jun 7000