IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPA- BATUS FOR CLOSING DOORS, GATES, AND SHUTTERS
Year: 1837

page_text: GERISH'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
WILLIAM GERISH, of 16, East Road, City Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Smith and Ironmonger, send greeting.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, by.
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirtieth day of May, in the seventh year of His reign, did,
for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Francis William Gerish, his especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said William Francis Gerish, my exors, adññors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis William Gerish, my exors,
adors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPA-
BATUS FOR CLOSING DOORS, GATES, AND SHUTTERS;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso, that I, the said Francis William Gerish, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date.
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference.
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Francis William Gerish, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked.
thereon:-

page_text: My Invention consists of improvements in the apparatus for closing
doors, gates, and shutters, by the application of a chain (or other suitable con-
nection) and spiral spring to hinges. The chain (or other suitable connection)
and spring I prefer to connect to a hinge in the following manner, videlicet:-
To one flap thereof the chain (or other suitable connection) is made fast by an
enlarged head on the part which passes through the flap of the hinge, and in
the other flap a passage way or hole is formed to allow the chain to pass
freely through when opening or shutting the door. I prefer that the chain
in its action at the opening of the door should compress the spring, and giving
a power acting on the door or shutter, and causes the same to close itself
when permitted so to do; but it will be evident that in place of compressing
the spring, the same may be arranged to open or extend the spring. The
chain shewn in the Drawing is made of pieces which I designate tongue and
cheeks, Figures 1 and 2 shewing the tongue, and Figures 3 and 4 the check,
which may be of iron or other suitable metal; Figures 5 and 6 is what I call
the head for fastening one end of the chain to the hinge. My improvements
are shewn to be applied to a common butt hinge, having on the outside of
each of the flaps a boss or fillet on one side, to prevent the head of the chain
from turning round or moving out of its place, and on the other a boss through
which the chain passes, and on which the end of the spring presses, having a
groove therein to receive the same. Various views of the apparatus are shown
in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, an inspection of which Figures will be
sufficient to enable a workman readily to combine the parts and produce my
Invention. The chain and spring are covered by a tube as shewn at Figure 11,
in section, and Figure 12 as applied to a door for the more ready mode of
fixing, and also for the prevention of injury to the chain and other parts. Or,
in place of applying my improvements to hinges, I sometimes apply a chain
or other suitable connection and spring, in the manner before explained, to
single plates let on or into doors and posts or jambs the doors, shutters, &c.;
this would, in fact, be an apparatus similar in every particular to the above,
omitting the axis and joints of the flaps of the hinge, and although I re-
commend that the chain and spring should be let into the door, shutter, or gate
post, it will be evident the same may be let into the gate, door, or shutter
itself. Figures 14, 15, and 16, shew another apparatus for closing what are
called swing doors, and consists of the spiral spring a, the rod b, and the plate c.
The plate c is shewn to be affixed to the door post, and it will be seen that
there is a heart-shaped opening formed therein which acts as a guiding
surface to the friction roller d, on the end of the rod or bolt b, and the rod or
bolt 6 has an enlarged ring or projecting surface e, against which the spring

page_text: bears, and has at all times a tendency to force it outwards; f is a pivot or
axis on which the door turns, there being two friction rollers g, 9, in order to
the bolt or rod moving freely into and out on the opening and shutting of the
door. On examination of the Drawing it will be evident that in opening the
door, the roller d will run along the curved surface, either to the right hand
or to the left, and will compress the spring a, and when the door is let go, the
spring a will force out the bolt or rod b, till it arrives at the end of the curve,
and thus close the door; Figure 17 is a plan, Figure 18 is a plan in section
shewing some of the parts; Figure 19 is a plan of the under side of the upper
plate of the spring; Figure 20 is a vertical section of the parts as applied to
a swing door; Figure 21 is a plan of the whole of the parts, the springs
being uncovered; and Figure 22 shews various parts separately. A is a
lever moving on an axis B, affixed on the lower plate of the case. This lever.
A has a friction roller C at the other end, which works against the curved
surface of the follower D, the follower D being fixed on the pin or pivot E,
on which the door moves; F is a lever moving on a fulcrum at G, affixed to
the upper plate of the spring case, and has a friction roller C, which works on
the curved surface of the follower D. To the levers A and F, are attached
rods or bolts H, having around them spiral springs as is shewn in the
Drawing, such spiral springs pressing on the bolts or rods H constantly inwards,
in order to bring the door to a shut position as is clearly shewn in the
Drawing. It will be seen that the levers A, F, cross each other, and are so
arranged in respect to the follower D, that the power of the springs decrease as
the door or gate becomes wider open, in consequence of the ends of the levers
A, F, which are acting on the follower progressively, come nearer to the pin or
pivot E, on which the door moves. Figure 23 is a plan in section of another
arrangement of spring for closing doors, gates, and shutters; Figure 24 shews
a section in elevation of the same parts, as applied to a swing door and its
post. It consists of two springs A and B, which are affixed to the spindle C,
but coiled in opposite directions, and at their outward ends they are formed
into hooks, which take hold of the catches D cast or formed with the sockets E,
which have straps by which the same are attached to the door, and F is what
may be called the middle joint of the hinge, to which the axis or spindle C is
made fast; G, G, are stops affixed on the circular plates H, which plates are
affixed to the axis or spindle; each stop G affixed on the plates acting to
receive its spring, and to retain it in the proper position for closing the door,
and prevents the spring which is not being compressed (by further winding)
from following its catch; D and H are plates screwed into the sockets, and
turn on cylindrical ends formed on the axis or spindle. I would remark, that

page_text: I am aware that similar springs have been before employed for closing doors,
but have been so combined with parts as to be applied at top or bottom of the
door, and acting on the pivots or axes on which the doors move, I only there-
fore claim the new combination of parts by which such springs can be applied
to the backs of doors, gates, or shutters.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would remark that I
lay no claim to the parts shewn and described in their separate condition,
but only as combined as herein described; but what I do claim is,―
First, the mode of closing doors, gates, and shutters by combining with
hinges the apparatus consisting of a chain (or other suitable connection) with
spiral springs as above described.
Secondly, I claim the combining like apparatus with plates or surfaces for
connecting the door, shutter, or gate with its post, without having such plates
connected by joints and axes in order to form them into a hinge as above
explained.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of combining the parts shewn in Figures 14, 15,
and 16, for closing doors or swing gates, as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of combining the levers A and F with spiral
springs and follower -D, as above described.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of combining the parts shewn at Figures 23 and
24 for closing doors, gates, and shutters, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis William Gerish, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, One thousand
11

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
OKE MILLETT, of Penpoll, Hayle, in the County of Cornwall, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty William the Fourth, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the First day of June, in the seventh year of His reign, did, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
Oke Millett, His especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
the said Richard Oke Millett, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Oke Millett, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR EXTRICATING
TEETH in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
William Oke Millett, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as
in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Oke Millet, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
The instrument consists of a handle, shaft, lever, bolster, claws, and screws.
Figure 1-A, the handle; B, dotted lines, shewing the hollow within the
handle, into which is inserted the square of the shaft. Figure 2:-A, the shaft;
B, the square of the shaft, on which the handle is fixed; C, the dotted lines,
marking the hollow between the square, which is occupied by the screw D,
that keeps the handle on the square; E, the gaff, which receives the claw;
F, the lever; G, dotted lines, shewing the channel or hole within the lever,
through which the bolster screw passes: Figure 3-A, the bolster, shewing
its smooth surface; B, dotted lines, marking the direction of the gaff on the
opposite side. Figure 4-A, the bolster, shewing its upper or lowest side; B,
the gaff of the bolster, into which is inserted the lever; C, dotted lines,
marking the direction of the bolster screw within the bolster. It shews
itself as it passes across the gaff B. This screw retains the lever in its place.
Figure 5A, the handle; B, the shaft; C, the claw, shewing its upper or
convex surface; D, the head of the claw screw; E, dotted lines, marking the
direction of the claw screw within the end of the shaft. This screws retains
the claw when adjusted in its place. F, the upper side of the bolster; G,
a tooth. This Figure represents a diagonal view of the instrument, the tooth
being lifted from its socket. Figure 6:-A, the claw; B, section of the shaft; C,
the lever; D, the point or end of the bolster screw; E, the end of the bolster;'
F, dotted lines, shewing the continuation of the lever within the gaff of the
bolster G, a tooth. This plate represents a view of the instruments, looking
from the handle along the shaft. The tooth is lifted from its socket. Figure 7:
A, the head of the claw screw; B, the claw; C, the lever; D, the 'head of the
bolster screw; E, the end of the bolster; F, dotted lines, shewing the lever
within the gaff of the bolster; G, the tooth. This plate represents a view of
the instrument looking at the end along the shaft towards the handle. The
tooth is lifted from its socket.
What I claim as my Invention is the mode of combining and constructing
of the parts called the lever and bolster with the stem of the key, as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Oke Millett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-seven.
KICHARD OKE (L.S.) MILLETT

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord 1837, the aforesaid Richard Oke Millet came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.
Inrolled the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.