IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING HINGES AND LATCHES FOR VESTIBULE AND OTHER DOORS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roger Race, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING
HINGES AND LATCHES FOR VESTIBULE AND OTHER DOORS,"
sealed the 6th October 1877, and dated the 23rd July 1877,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roger Race at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1877.
ROGER RACE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING HINGES AND LATCHES FOR VESTIBULE AND OTHER
DOORS."
"
In the first place I form a hollow groove in the door-post or cheek, of a section of
about one-quarter of a circle, the length of the chord of the are being equal to the
width or thickness of the door. On the vertical edge of the door on the hinge side
I form or fix a circular piece of a corresponding form, the section of which represents
three-fourths of a similar circle, so that this rounded edge of the door fits into the
groove in the door-post or cheek as in a hinge, and the door can move through a
half circle.
Through the centre of the rounded edge of the door I drill a hole, and through
this I pass a spring steel wire, the upper end of the wire being squared and fitted
into a square hole in a plate attached to the door-post, and revolving in a boss in a
plate screwed to the upper part of the door. The lower end of the spring wire is
also squared, and passes through a square hole in a plate screwed to the bottom of
the door, and revolves in a boss or socket in a plate screwed to the door-post or
cheek. Thus it will be seen that one end of the wire being fast to the door and the
opposite end being fast to the door-post, whenever the door is opened in either
direction it twists the spring wire, and the untwisting of the same, as soon as the
door is released, brings the door back into its original position, and at the same time
the wire passing through the round socket at top and bottom forms the hinge upon
which the door turns.
In the other vertical edge of the door I form a groove in which lies a vertical
bolt, the upper end of which takes into a hole in a curved plate fixed to the under
side of the lintel. The lower end of this bolt rests on one end of a tumbler lever

page_text: the other end of which is acted upon by a latch or by a tumbler fixed to the spindle
of a door knob, or to the spindle of a mortise lock. A spring acts upon the tumbler
plate so as to keep the bolt always projected excepting when the latch is pressed
or the knob or handle turned. The door thus fastens with a spring latch or bolt at
the top, and the latches projecting from the edge of the door are entirely dispensed
with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Roger Race in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd January
1878.
ROGER RACE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS. IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING HINGES AND LATCHES FOR VESTIBULE AND OTHER
DOORS."
My Invention relates to the construction of spring hinges and latches for vesti-
bule and other doors, the objects being simplicity, efficiency, and durability in the
construction of the spring hinge, and so to construct the latch that the door, at the
same time that it will swing readily in either-direction, it may be made to catch or
bolt itself either at top or bottom, or both at top and bottom. It may also be made
to swing free without catching, or it may be bolted fast.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood,
I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked.
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is an elevation (shown partly in section) of a pair
of vestibule doors with my Invention shown as applied thereto.
Fig. 2 are detached vertical sections on a larger scale of the upper and lower
corners of the door; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same; and Figs. 4 and 5
are elevations of two forms of latch with the front plate removed.
In the first place I form a hollow groove a, a, in the door-post or cheek b, b, of a
section of about one-quarter of a circle (see Fig. 3), the length of the chord of the
arc being equal to the width or thickness of the door c, c. On the vertical edge of
tlie. door on the hinge side I form or fix a circular piece d, d, of a corresponding
form, the section of which represents three-fourths of a similar circle, so that this
rounded edge of the door fits into the groove a, a, in the door-post or cheek as in a
hinge, and the door can move through a half circle..
"Through the centre of the rounded edge of the door I drill a hole or plane a
groove e, e, and through this I pass a spring steel wire f, f, the upper end of the
wire being squared and fitted into a square hole in a plate g, g, attached to the
door c, c, (see Fig. 2, upper portion), and revolving in a boss in a plate h, h, screwed
to the upper part of the door c, c. The lower end of the spring wire f, f, is also'
squared, and passes through a square hole in a plate i, i, screwed to the bottom of
the door-post (see Fig. 2, lower portion), and revolves in a boss or socket in a
platek, k, screwed to the door c, c. Thus it will be seen that one end of the
wire, f, being fast to the door, and the opposite end being fast to the door-post,
:

page_text: whenever the door is opened in either direction it twists the spring wire; and the
untwisting of the same, as soon as the door is released, brings the door back into
its original position, and at the same time the bosses on the plates g and i passing
through the round holes in the plates h and k at top and bottom form the hinge
upon which the door turns.
In the other vertical edge of the door I form a groove in which lies a vertical
bolt 1, l, the upper end of which takes into a hole in a curved plate m, m, fixed to
the under side of the lintel n, n. The lower end of this boit rests on or is attached
to one end of a tumbler lever o, o, (see Figs. 4 and 5), the other end of which is
acted upon by a latch or by a tumbler connected to the spindle of a door knob, or
to the spindle of a mortise lock. A spring acts upon the tumbler plate so as to
keep the bolt always projected excepting when the latch is pressed or the knob or
handle turned. The door thus fastens with a spring latch or bolt, and the top and
the latches projecting from the edge of the door are entirely dispensed with.
It will be evident that if preferred the bolts may be made to fasten downwards
into the floor, as at l', m'; or they may be made to fasten both upwards and down-
wards, as shown on the Drawing. In this case a second tumbler lever o' is added
to work the second bolt.
Fig. 4 and the left-hand door at Fig. 1 show the application of a thumb latch to
release the bolts; and Fig. 5 and the right hand of Fig. 1 show the application of a
knob and tumbler.
In the tumbler lever o, o, I sometimes form a hole p, p, in which is a cam q, q,
capable of being placed in three different positions by means of a small handle 7, r,
inside the door (see Fig. 1). When the cam q is horizontal the bolts 1, 1, are free
to act. When the cam is turned upwards (see Fig. 4) the bolts are both withdrawn
into the door and do not act at all; but when the cam is turned downwards, as
shown at Fig. 5, then both bolts are shot (one into the lintel and the other into the
floor), and the door is held fast at top and bottom.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. The peculiar construction of spring hinges for vestibule and other doors.
And, Secondly. I claim the peculiar construction of the latches and bolts for the
same, all constructed and operating substantially as herein-before described, and
illustrated by the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Roger Race, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.