Improvements in connection with the Suspension of Hinged Doors and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with the Suspension of Hinged Doors
and the like.
I, FRANCOIS DE SALES of 11, Vincent Street, South Circular Road, in the City
and County of Dublin, Ireland, Carpenter, 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 improvements in the construction of, and means for
suspending hinged doors and the like, and applies more particularly to the doors of
show cases, book cases, or casements where these are hung in pairs, the objects
attained by the said improvements being that by their adoption the usual hanging
style is dispensed with, and the space hitherto occupied thereby converted into
serviceable use, which permits that doors of greater width may be employed, thus
providing greater facilities for getting at the goods in the case, or a wider opening
for the casement, or the like, and further, that doors constructed and hung according
to my invention afford greater protection of the goods in the case or in the apart-
ment enclosed by the casement, from dust and dirt, than obtains with the methods
and means hitherto employed.
In order to render my invention perfectly clear I have hereunto appended a sheet
of drawings in which :-
Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a pair of doors according to my invention,
while Fig. 4, being a front elevation of an ordinary show case or cabinet, illustrates
the manner of hanging the same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the form of hinge or butt employed by
me, and one of the socketed plates with which they engage.
Figs. 5 and 6 are end views of Fig. 4 with the case or frame partly broken away
and in section while, Fig. 7 is a section of the same upon the line A B.
I carry my invention into effect by constructing in the usual way a pair of doors A
and B Figs. 1 and 2, which may be panelled or glazed as may be desired, according
to the purposes for which they are required, and these I hinge together by the
means of butts or hinges C, (Fig. 3) so that practically one door is suspended upon
the other. The butts or hinges C differ from those in general use, inasmuch as the
pin connecting the two plates, is extended beyond their lengths as at D Fig. 3, and
the two butts or hinges would be fixed upon A and B in such a manner, that the
said extensions D, would be above and below A and B, as at Fig. 1, so that these
form pivots by which the pair of doors may be suspended, and I attain this by
fixing upon the upper surface of the bottom of the case E or the like, a plate F
(Fig. 3), into the socket G of which the bottom pin or extension D is placed, and
in like manner I fix upon the under surface of the roof of E, a similar plate with
which the upper pin or extension D engages, and by these means both doors are
suspended upon one and the same pivot as at Fig. 4, without the need of a hanging
style, either of which may be opened without interfering with the other, or both
may be opened simultaneously if desired. The said arrangement would apply in
suspending doors upon casements by fixing the plates F upon the upper and lower
cross styles of the casement frame.
I may find it convenient or desirable for the purpose of reducing friction, and
effecting a perfect clearance between A, B, and E, to interpose a thin metallic
washer H between the plate F and the shoulders of the pins or extensions D as at
Fig. 4.
Or may further reduce friction by employing, in lieu of H, a pair of
convex or cupped plates, placed mouth to mouth, and divided by suitably interposed
metallic balls as bearings, or one such convex plate may be so used upon D while
J
07

page_text: an equivalent for the second may be attained by cupping the plates Frand of course,
in either case, suitable provision would be made when fixing the butts or hinges C,
upon A and B, to permit the presence of such cupped or convex plates or their
equivalents.
In order that the junction of A and B between the upper and lower butts C may
be as near dust proof as possible, I form upon, or connect to, one of the doors
(say A) a circular faced bead J, as at Fig. 1, and upon the other door a like
spaced recess K, as at Fig. 2, and as said bead would be of precisely the same
diameter as the hinged portion of the butts or hinges C, and form a continuation
from one to the other, as at Fig. 4, and as both A and B would be suspended upon
the same pivots, a dust tight connection would always exist between A and B
whether either or both be open or shut, and to further effect this I form upon one
of said doors vertically (say A) a tongue L and upon the other a groove M which
To still further
engage with each other when the doors are closed as at Fig. 7.
attain the exclusion of dust and dirt I may form horizontal grooves N and O upon
the inner surfaces of A and B as at Figs. 2, 5 and 6, and corresponding tongues P
upon the case or casement E as at Figs. 5 and 6, with which these may engage
when the doors are closed, and in like manner I may provide vertical grooves R R
upon the doors A and B as at Figs. 1, 2, and 7, and form vertical tongues P
upon E with which these may engage when the doors are closed. Or the said
grooves may be formed upon É and the tongues upon A B if desired.
I may find it convenient or desirable to arrange that the plates F instead of
being fixtures upon the case or casement E, as described, may be of dovetail form
upon their back surfaces, and engage with corresponding slots, metallic or
otherwise, fixed to, or formed in, the upper and lower surfaces of E, in order
that both A and B when open, may be slid to either the right or left if desired.
It is obvious that the foregoing description of my invention applies equally to
the suspension of swinging doors as used in offices, or churches, chapels, theatres,
and other public places, with the exception of course that the grooves N, O, and
the tongues P would not be required, and by reason of the absence of the usual
hanging style, a greater width in the doors would result, and consequently a larger
opening afforded thereby, and in such cases the lower plate F may be set into the
flooring.
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.
First. In combination, the herein described method of constructing doors, and
the manner of suspending same without the need of a hanging style therefor, and
the application of same for the dust proof enclosure of show cases, casements or the
like, or as swinging doors for public places, substantially as herein described and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Second. The combination of a pair of panelled or glazed doors A and B
connected together by hinges or butts C, each provided with a pin or projection D,
and the manner of suspending the said doors by means of said pins engaging with
sockets G of plates F (with or without an interposing washer H, or ball bearings
for the reduction of friction) fixed upon or arranged in sliding contact with the
case, casement, or the like E. The arrangement of a dust proof junction between A
and B by forming upon, or fixing to either, a bead or nosing J, and forming upor
the other a recess K, and upon either, a vertical tongue L, and upon the other a
a groove M, substantially as herein described and shewn by the appended
drawings.
Third. In combination, with the doors and their accessories as set forth in the
preceding claim, the application thereto of horizontal grooves N, O, and R R in A
and B for engaging with tongues P upon a case or casement E, for the exclusion
of dust and dirt substantially as described and shewn by the drawings hereunt
annexed.

page_text: Fourth. In combination, the construction and use of butts or hinges C, having
an abnormally long connecting pin, forming thereon a shoulder or projection D, for
engaging with slots G, of plates F, with or without ball bearing cups, or a cup
formed in F for the reception of balls for the reduction of friction, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings,
and more particularly by Fig. 3.
Dated this 7th day of October 1893.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.