IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR STOPS OR CHECKS
Year: 1882

page_text: "
$6
ETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of W. P. Thompson
and Boult of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn
in the County of Middlesex and Lord Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR STOPS
OR CHECKS A communication to him from abroad by Gilbert Ruggles
Elliott of the City of Boston in the County of Suffolk and State of
Massachusetts in the United States of America, and John Martin Winslow
and Thomas. E. Clary both of the City of Norwood in the County of Norfolk
and State of Massachusetts in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1882.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W P Thompson and Boult of the
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex and 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR STOPS OR CHECKS a communication to me from abroad by
"Gilbert Ruggles Elliott of the city of Boston in the County of Suffolk and State
of Massachusetts in the United States of America and John Martin Winslow and
Thomas E. Clary both of the city of Norwood, in the county of Norfolk -and State
of Massachusetts in the United States of America -
This invention relates to Door Stops or Checks, and also to devices for retaining
the door in any desired or fixed position when open.
It is well known that many devices have been made and adopted for the purpose
. of closing doors automatically after being opened, sucb.as springs, hinges, weights
and other contrivances, which so far as I am aware have not given entire
satisfaction, and are in many ways objectionable.
It is also well known that where such devices have been in use great annoyance
is caused by slamming of the doors against the jambs or door frames, not only
creating very disagreeable noise but also frequently where the doors are very heavy
loosen the plastering and often jar the whole side of the building.
A further objection to the devices alluded to as at present, constructed is that
where they are attached to doors, it is difficult to retain the doors in an open
position

page_text: To overcome the objections above referred to, and to improve and simplify the
construction, cheapen the first cost and to make an effective door check and stay,
is the object of my invention.
To theso ends therefore my invention consists in certain arrangements, of
parts consisting of a combined spring and piston with an outer spring by means
of which, when the door is opened it automatically closes itself in such manner
that it is prevented from slamming against the jaibs avoiding the usual thud
or jar.
It also consists in the means by which the door is held open, partly open, or
ajar to any desired extent, by means of a rack and locking device, and means for
retaining said locking device in position, against the tension of the springs, or the
other closing devices.
In carrying out my invention I use a piston rod that performs the function
of a bolt actuated by a spring coiled upon said rod and combining therewith
locking devices in the form of a lever stop and a toothed rack which latter
supports the piston and its rod and is pivoted to the door jamb, the locking devices
being connected with the door.
With the piston on the piston rod is combined an air cylinder that forms a
cushioning mechanism to denden the force of the spring and prevent the door from
slamming.
By means of the weighted locking lever and the toothed rack above referred to
the door may be locked partially open or wide open and by incans of a chain cord
or rope the locking lever is released from the toothed rack.
If desired the, nechanism may be enclosed within a cylinder or casing which
inay constitute an extension or prolongation of the air cylinder in which case
such cylinder will be provided with notches that correspond with the notches
in the toothed rack or it may have longitudinal slots for the locking levers to
slide in as the piston slides back and forth upon the rod against the tension of the
spring in one direction that is when the door is opened and impelled by such
spring when the door is released.
I preferably apply a flat or other spring in the end of the air cylinder so that
should the piston packing become dry and thereby cause an imperfect joint between
it and the air cylinder walls the spring would act as a cushioning device and receive
the impact of the piston and prevent the door from slamming.
.Instead of a piston and air cylinder elastic diaphragms may be employed or any
other suitable cushioning device. By meaus of the rack and locking lever tho
.imechanism will serve as a bolt whereby the door when closed may be bolted by
springing up the locking lever between two of the teeth of the rack.
Other modifications of construction of the above described mechanism may be
resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention which consists
essentially in the combination with a spring actuated piston or equivalent
mechanism of a cushioning mechanism either an air cylinder or other elastic
appliances, to receive the impact of the said piston and in the further combination
with the piston of a lover or arm or clutch whereby the piston on opening the
door is moved against the tension of the actuating spring and in the further
combination with the piston actuating spring and piston moving devices of locking
devices whereby the piston may be locked into position to prevent the spring from
exerting its power thereon and finally in combination with the locking mechanism
of mechanism whereby the locking lever and consequently the piston is released to
enable the actuating spring to exert its power upon said piston.
In the drawings H is the air cylinder, I its supporting shaft, mounted in the
rack bar L' S is tho actuating spring, and E the piston, all pivoted on a bracket F,
secured to the door jamb, D is a clutch and L the stop, that engages with the rack
bar pivoted upon a bracket arm secured to the door A.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th April 1883.
I
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult of the
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the county of
Middlesex, and 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster, Engineer,
IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR STOPS OR CHECKS, a communication to me from Gilbert
Ruggles Elliott of the city of Boston in the county of Suffolk and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America and John Martin Winslow and
Thomas E Clary both of the city of Norwood, in the county of Norfolk, and State
of Massachusetts, in the United States of America
3
This invention relates to Door Stops or checks and also to devices for retaining
the door in any desired or fixed position when open. It is well known that many
devices have been made and adopted for the purpose of closing doors automatically
after being opened such as springs hinges weights and other contrivances, which
as far as I am aware have not given entire satisfaction,, and are in many ways
objectionable.
It is also well known that where such devices have been in use great annoyance.
is caused by slamming of the doors against the jambs or door frames, not only
creating very disagreeable noise but also frequently where the doors are very.
heavy loosen the plastering and often jar the whole side of the building. A
further objection to the devices alluded as at present, constructed is that where
they are attached to doors, it is difficult to retain the doors in an open position.
To overcome the objections above referred to and to improve and simplify the
construction, cheapen the first cost and to make an effective door check and stay, is
the object of my invention. To these ends therefore my invention consists in
certain arrangements of parts, consisting of a combined spring and piston with an
outer spring by means of which when the door is opened it automatically closes
itself in such manner that it is prevented from slamming against the jambs avoiding
the usual thud or jar.
It also consists in the means by which the door is held open or partly open by
means of a rack and locking device. It further consists in certain modifications
of the mechanism as hereinafter more fully described, referring more particularly
to figs. 1 to 7 inclusive in which like letters of reference indicate like parts.
B is the door, and A the door jamb. H is an air cylinder, which is preferably
bevelled on its inner wall outwards for the purpose of the ready admission of the
piston; this is an important feature in the working of the invention for it often
happens that the rod gets out of line from various causes such as twisting or
straining the door &c and when so out of line with the mouth of the open cylinder
it would strike its edge, and thus fail to operate, but when the, mouth of the
cylinder is open when the piston reaches it it cases itself into the cylinder, the
bevelled inclination being its guide. E is the piston bead mounted upon rod I;
this rod I extends entirely through the apparatus and carries the spring S' and
locking device. C is a bracket arm attached to the door at one end and mounted
on the rod at the other end, the weight lever P locking lever L and releasing
lever M, are clutched between the jaws formed on the right angled portion of the
bracket arm C. This clutch D is pivoted on the upper end of the bracket arm so
that when the apparatus turns it turns upon this pivot, in this case one end of the
hub of the clutch forms also the hub of the piston.

page_text: The other side of the hub of the clutch forms a bearing for the end of the
working spring S.
An angular rack bar L is provided at both ends with bearings for a rod I
rigidly connected with said bar with the teeth of which engages one arm L of a
three armed lever through the medium of the weighted arm P of said lever to
hold the door open to any desired extent.
At the outer end of the cylinder, I place another arm bracket F upon which is
also placed a pivot somewhat like thint of the pivot of a hinge as seen in section
at, h, fig. 5. One end of this arm is fastened to the door jamb and a projection G
extending from the cylinder has a journal or socket that fits over said pivot, h,
and which turns upon it.
If desired a cage or cylinder is placed around the spring and the working
mechanisun. This casing or cylinder may be a prolongation of the air cylinder, it
may be reduced at its outer end as shown at fig. 2; it must have notches to
correspond with the notches in the rack or angle iron or it may have longitudinal
slits for the levers to slide in as the piston slides back and forth.
The rod I has an air port or groove, 'a, cut on its lower end, which air port
extends into and communicates with the cylinder; this port, a, is for the gradual
escape of air from the cylinder when it is used for an air cushion. (see arrow
tig. 5)
It sometimes happens that the packing of the piston becomes dry or loose and
thereby leaks rendering the air cushion inoperative, so that the door would slam as
hard with it as without; to provide for such an emergency I place a fint or other
spring in the bottom of the air cylinder, so that when the air fails to form a cushion,
the spring satisfactorily performs the function.
Where doors are very heavy and are apt to shut to with great force then the
spring and air cushion both will be found useful. Of course the spring, b, will be
interposed between the piston and the bottom of the cylinder, the spring alone
without the cylinder and piston would produce good results as a cushioning.
device.
A modification of the cushioning device is shown by fig. 4 made up of two
clastic diaphragmus concave on their inner surfaces and when put together forms an
air chamber
One of the diaphragms is bored for the ingress and egress of the air.
It is evident that when the door is rapidly closing and these two diaphragms
are being forced together, the air within their chamber will form a good cushion
and thus prevent the door from slamming; this I regard as a very simple and
effective door stop or check and which may be made very cheaply and easily
manipulated.
The door retaining device may be utilized as a bolt, or lock, by springing up the
stop when the door is closed.
A further modification of construction is shown in figs 8, 9 & 10 in which like
letters of reference indicate like parts. A is the jamb or door frame B is the
door C is the outer cylinder, and D the inner cylinder (see fig. 2) which performs
in this instance the function of the piston above referred to.
I will here remark that it is necessary that the piston should be inaintained in
true line with its cylinder, even when the cylinder has a prolongation, but varying
in diameter between the piston bearing proper and the guiding portion of the
cylinder; for the reason that the packing is so sensitive to the air that it becomes
dry while withdrawn from its proper bearing and when reinserted it becomes
leaky and thus inoperative. These two difficulties, I entirely avoid for the reason
that the inner or trunk cylinder has equal equal bearing within the outer cylinder its
entire length and thus the piston cannot get out of line, and secondly it always
being in close contact its bearings are never exposed to the air, so that when once
fitted it remains tight a long time. E represents the spring snugly fitting the bore
of the inner cylinder D), the trunk portion being so elongated that the spring when

page_text: in the state of being contracted retains a true plane with the bore of the cylinder
and thus any shunting or twisting of the spring is avoided.
Experience has demonstrated that when a spring is frequently and constantly
strained and twisted out of its normal condition it loses its true elasticity, and hence
my spring holding and trunk cylinder preserves the spring and thus avoids these
objection. F is the diaphragın or bottom of the trunk cylinder cast solid with it and
G is an annulus or extension of the inner cylinder; the object of this annulus is to form
a recess or pocket for the reception of the packing, and also for the disc H which
holds the packing in position. It will be observed that the recess formed by the
annulus G tapers a little towards a knife edge for the purpose of permitting the
expansion of the packing to fit the bore of the outer cylinder, a set screw, a, or other
device may be adopted to hold the two discs or diaphragms F and H together and in
this instance between them the piston packing, b, all of which snugly fits the bore of
the outer cylinder, Upon the bottom of the outer cylinder C is fitted a casting I
bored out and made to snugly fit air tight the exterior of the outer cylinder, and
centrally and transversely is cast with said casting a disc or diaphragm J.
Centrally through this disc or diaphragm J is located a hole, or may be a series of.
perforations, and upon the upper side of the disc J, I place a valve K, This valve
may be flop, clock, or vacuum: valve or may be an ordinary check valve, the object
being to allow air to enter through the air port when the piston is drawn up, and
prevents its escape when the piston is being closed, so that the air in the cylinder
will form a cushion upon the door being closed. Below the disc on the casting is,
an annular flange L which fits into logs or clutches, which are fastened to the door.
jamb. Through these lugs or clutches, I pass a pintle or rod, c, upon which when
the door swings, the apparatus swings upon said pintle to and fro with the door..
The outer case is provided with two or more slits. or grooves, a portion of
its length, and the inner cylinder is provided with two projections their:
purpose being as follows. I place upon the door, a bracket arm M, which
connects the door with the apparatus, upon the outer projections of the
bracket arm, I form a journal or socket, into this journal lower projecting
pin, m, fits and upon which the apparatus turns when the door is opened!
or closed. Upon the pin or projection, n, on the upper sile of the inner
cylinder is formed a clutch or bifurcated lugs, o, in which works the staying
device, p, for holding the door in any desired position. The rack N is fastened to
the outer cylinder at both ends and of course moves with it. The two projecting,
pins, m, and n, work or slide in the longitudinal slots in the outer cylinder as the
inner cylinder moves back and forth
The object of screw shown in detail is the slot being tapering so the screw
is screwed in or out, the slot port enlarges or diminishes as the escape of
air from the cylinder is desired, that is to say when the screw is unscrewed
it enlarges the slot for the escape of the larger quantity of air, and as crewed
in it diminishes for the escape of less quantity of air so that according to
the weight of the door the escape of air from the cushion cylinder is more
or less rapid. The operation of the devices is apparent to all and may be
briefly stated as follows. The door is opened to the desired position against the
tension of the spring and ordinarily when let go it will instantly slam to and
create a great noise or jar.. To prevent this in the old way, a weight is placed on
the floor to keep the door open, but with my device a rack is located above or
along the spring, and as the spring recedes, a catch is carried with it; when the
door is opened to the desired position, the tongue.or catch springs into the notches
in the rack, and thus securely retains the door in the required position. When it
is desired to close the door after being retained in position or not and to prevent
it from slamming, I place a cushioning device upon the end of the spring rod, and
when the door is near its terminal point it is gradually and softly arrested by
means of the said cushioning device and automatically eased to its place against
the door jamb, thus all noise jar, or thug is prevented. In this way the door may

page_text: be softly and noiselessly opened and closed without the annoyance of the "slam
bang" of the old method.
The weight automatically retains the door in position, and when it is desired to
relenso the door the chain is pulled and the door instantly closes. The said
retaining device is especially useful when the exit of people takes place at churches
and other buildings, and takes the place now occupied by a person. It is also
useful in summer when it is required to let the door stand open. Having
now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be carried
into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the
details of construction and arrangement of the mechanism shown and described as
these may be varied without departing from the nature and spirit of my invention
but what I do claim is: 1 The combination of the door spring check cushioning
device consisting of the spring rod and spring air-cylinder and piston with the
door retaining device in the manner shown. 2nd The door check consisting of the
spring rod and spring the aircylinder and its piston and the auxiliary spring
cushion combined with door and jamb fastening mechanism substantially as
described. 3 The combination in a door check of the air cylinder and piston and
their enclosing casing or cage and means for forcing the door to the weighted
lever the catch lever and the releasing lever all arranged as described for joint
operation. The door check of the air cylinder, bevelled mouthed as described,
its piston and rod I and spring S. The said rod having an air groove or exit part
at its lower end, the bracket arms C and F said arms being adapted to retain the
checking apparatus in position, and to serve as pivots for said checking apparatus,
all combined to operate in the manner described. 5th The combination in a door
check of the cylinder the piston, the rod I and spring S the auxiliary spring, b, in
said cylinder the rack L and the locking nechinuism with the bracket arms C, E,
all operating together to retain the door in any desired position when open and
to provent its slamming when being closed in the manner shown and described.
6 The door stop consisting of the rod I spring S locking devices P, L, M, tho
bracket arms C, F, and the air chamber H, combined and arranged to operate as
set forth. 7 The combination of the door stop or check with the retaining device
consisting of the air chamber, the spring rod, and spring, the cage or casing the
rack L and the bracket arms F, C, with their pivoted projections or journals, n,
said casing being provided with longitudinal slots substantially as shown and
described. 8 A door check and staying device consisting of the inner and outer
cylinder, the inner cylinder having at its bottom a piston adapted to fit the
internal bore of the outer cylinder and the casting I having annulus G arranged
in the manner set forth. The inner and outer concentric cylinders C and D,
the outer cylinder having slots and the inner cylinder provided with projections,
mn, the former forming a swivel or journal and the latter adapted to hold the
door in any desired position, the said projections being, adapted to work in the
said slots as shown and described. 10th The combination in a door check of the
two concentrically arranged cylinders, the outer one having projections to work in
said slots, with the bracket arin M having a journal in its outer end adapted to
receive said studs or projections in the manner set forth. 11th In a door check the
concentric cylinders adapted to work one within the other the inner having at its
bottom a disc or diaphragm an annulus G below said disc, a package, b, below said
annulus,, and a disc or follower HI, adapted to secure said packing in position and
the spring E all arranged and set forth. 12th A door check having, concentric
cylinders the inner one provided with a working piston to fit the internal bora of
the outer cylinder, the casting. I having a disc or diaphragm provided with an air
duct and a valve said casting having also double flanges for the reception of the
outer cylinder and the pintle rod, c, of the hinge all combined and arranged in
the manner set forthi.
'
13 The combination in the door check of the inner and outer cylinder, the
annulus. G having an air agerture, and valve. K with a screw provided with a

page_text: tapering slot by means of which more or less air is permitted to escape from said
screw cylinder by the adjustment of said screw to an inward or outward position
in the manner shown and described.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my
hand and seal this ninth day of April One thousand Eight hundred and
Eighty two. [sic]
ALFRED J. BOULT (LS.)