Improved Self-acting Door Fastener.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar-, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Self-acting Door Fastener.
1, JOHN WILLIAM DART, Builder, The Hollies," High Street, St. Aubin's,
Jersey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The old fashion monkey tailed bolt has long been a source of endless trouble in
the opening & closing of large doors.
The improved self acting door fastener is made so that on the lintel of door frame
is fixed the catch which is self acting on the closing of door, to the catch is fixed
a small line connected to ceiling by means of two small pullies the line is allowed to
drop at the stile of door frame thus being completely out of the way, at a con-
venient height to be easily reached by a child. On the door is fixed the clip of
fastener, on simply pushing the door home the clip is immediately caught by the
fastener beyond the possibility of the strongest wind to open it, when opening the
door you simply pull the line & open the door.
Dated this 26th day of April 1890.
JOHN WILLIAM DART.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Self-acting Door Fastener.
I, JOHN WILLIAM DART, of "The Hollies," High Street, St. Aubin's, Jersey,
Builder, do 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 consists in the production of a simple, inexpensive, self-closing door
fastener, and means for operating same.
In the annexed explanatory drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 a
side elevation of my improved device or contrivance.
A is a catch weighted at its outer end and pivotted at a in lugs or brackets
carried by the metal plate C which is screwed or bolted in position and formed with
a vertical slot for permitting the catch A to rise and fall. D is the lintel of the
door to the inside of which is secured by bolts or equivalents a metal plate of
sufficient size and strength which terminates at its upper end in a projection or nose
piece B which engages with the abutment on the catch A and serves to retain the
door in the closed position. One end of a cord or equivalent c is adapted within
easy reach of the person requiring to open the door; this cord, which passes over
one or more pullies d suspended from the ceiling or roof, being attached to the outer
end of the catch A.
The act of closing the door causes the convex or angled surface of the projec-
tion B to bear against the end of the catch A, the latter riding over B and then
resuming its normal position either by gravity or by means of a suitable spring.
In order to release the catch it is raised by the cord c into the position shown in
dotted lines whereupon the door can be opened, and the catch A allowed to fall or
be depressed.
My improved door fastener effectually resists the attempts of any person to open
the door by force, it is not liable to become deranged, whilst the door once slammed
is closed; moreover, the heaviest doors can be opened and closed in a speedy manner
with very little exertion.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, I declare that what claim is :-
In the improved self-closing door fastener before described the combination with
the catch A pivotted to the plato C and engaging with the projection B of the
means for operating said catch substantially as specified.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1800.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holhorn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.