Improvements in Apparatus for Closing and Latching Doors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Closing and Latching Doors.
I, JOSEPH LONGWORTH of 65 Ashton Road Denton in the County of Lancaster
Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for closing and latching doors
my object being to contrive attachments that shall close doors also to provide a
latch which may be lifted in the ordinary way or may be raised by pushing the
door open.
My improved apparatus is constructed as follows and consists chiefly of a spirál
spring one or more grooved pulleys or fixings also a latch with a small grooved
pulley attached, all of which can be made of metallic or other material.
Immediately above the door on the door casing I attach my pulley fixing the
pulley being laid in a line with the top of the door and a short distance away from
the hinge side.
I attach also on the door casing parallel with the top of the door, one end of an
ordinary steel spiral spring which may be made of any required diameter and
strength.
On the back of the door near to the top I attach a bracket which projects
sufficiently to allow room for the pulley when the door is closed. On the projection
of the bracket I form a hook to which I attach a suitable chain which passes
round the pulley the other end of the chain being secured to the spiral spring
aforementioned. The projection on the bracket is so constructed that it causes the
door as it is being opened, to reduce the force of the spring and is placed in such
a position that when the door is wide open, the projection, chain and spring are
almost in a direct line with the top of the door casing.
I may if desired place the spiral spring vertically on the door casing at the back
of the door by providing another pulley and fixing it at right angles to the one
aforementioned and passing the chain round both pulleys.
The plates for the latch may be made and secured to the door in the ordinary
way, or the plate for the latch to slide in may have the slide formed on.
The latch may be made of the usual pattern and any required length and secured
to the plate by a stud, at the other end I attach a small grooved pulley into which
I insert a rubber ring.
On the door casing I fix the catch which has a suitable recess provided for the
reception of the grooved pulley and I may make the catch so that by pushing the
door open the pulley may roll out of it or it may be made sufficiently deep for
the latch to be lifted in the ordinary way.
It will be readily seen that by this pulley, the latch will roll into the catch each
time the door is closed and when desired the pulley may be formed on the latch or
can be made without groove and may be made of metallic or flexible material.
I
may when desired place the spring and pulley underneath the door casing or on
the back of the door near to the top by using suitable fixings for same.
Doted this 10th day of Mov 1892
JOSEPH LONGWORTH.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Closing and Latching Doors.
I, JOSEPH LONGWORTH of 65 Ashton Road, Denton, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist 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 :---
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for closing and latching doors.
The object of my invention is to form a combination of attachments that will close
doors, also to provide a latch for the same which may be lifted in the ordinary
way, or may be raised by pushing the door open, and applicable to doors of rooms,
furnace doors, oven doors, and doors used for other purposes.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 represents a front view and
Fig. 2 an edge view of any ordinary room door with my invention applied.
Fig. 3 is a front view and Fig. 4 an end view of a latch that may be applied
either in combination therewith as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or separately to oven
doors, furnace doors, or any doors to which latches of the ordinary form are
applicable.
My improved apparatus consists of a spiral spring such as c, one or more grooved
ulleys d and a bracket e, also a latch with a grooved pulley g attached thereto;
place immediately above the door a, on the door casing b, the pulley fixing / the
pulley d being laid in a line with the top of the door and a short distance away.
from the hinge side.
I attach to the door casing band parallel with the top of the door one end of an
ordinary steel spiral spring c which may be made of any required diameter and
strength.
On the back or hinge side of the door a near to the top I attach a bracket e
which projects sufficiently to allow room for the pulley d when the door is closed.
To the projecting portion e¹ of said bracket I attach a suitable chain ; which passes
round the pulley d the opposite end of the chain being secured to the spiral
spring c.
The projection on the bracket e is placed in such a position that when the door
is wide open, said projection e', chain; and spring c are almost in a direct line with
the top of the door casing b..
C
If it is preferred to place the spiral spring c vertically on the door casing at the
back or hinge side of the door, I provide another pulley and place a bracket at
right angles to the bracket e passing the chain round both pulleys. The plates for
the latch may be made and secured to the door in the ordinary way, or the plate 3
for said latch to slide in may have the slide formed thereon. The latch may be
made of the usual pattern and of any required length and secured to the plate by
a stud; at the opposite or outer end of the latch I attach a pulley g said pulley
may have a groove formed thereon in which an india rubber ring g' may be inserted
as shown in Fig. 2.
l
On the door casing a I fix the catch which is suitably recessed for the reception
of the pulley g.
The recess in the catch may be formed so that by pushing the
door the pulley may roll out of it, or it may be made sufficiently deep for the latch
to require to be lifted in the ordinary way. The front end of the catch is formed
so that the roller g may easily rise onto and pass over said end. It will be readily
seen that the pulley g which is connected to the latch f will roll into the catch each
time the door is closed.
When preferred the pulley 9 may be formed on the latch for may be made
without a groove as shown in Fig. 3.
The spring and pulley may if preferred be placed underneath the door casing or 5
on the back of the door near to the top by using suitably formed brackets.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said.
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. For closing doors, the combination of mechanism applied to door casings.
and doors, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein before.
described.
2nd. The application of a roller to the ends of latches of doors of rooms, furnace
doors, oven doors, and doors used for other purposes, and a catch of suitable form
to receive said roller in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein.
before described.
THOMAS PRESCOTT,
53, Arcade Chambers, St. Mary's Gate, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.
THOMAS PRESCOTT,
53, Arcade Chambers, St. Mary's Gate, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.