IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSING SPRINGS FOR DOORS OR GATES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Sterne and James Baird Handyside, both of the
Crown Iron Works, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSING SPRINGS FOR
DOORS OR GATES."
Sealed the 28th May 1878, and dated the 30th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Storne and James
Baird Handyside at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th
November 1877.
"
LOUIS STERNE and JAMES BAIRD HANDYSIDE, both of the Crown Iron Works,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers. IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLOSING SPRINGS FOR DOORS OR GATES."
This Invention relates to an improved adjustable combination of a helical or
spiral metal spring with other parts, to be applied to doors and gates for the purpose
of closing the same.
The spring is fixed in any convenient way to metal end pieces, each of which is
formed with one or more diametrical pairs of studs or trunnions and with cross
holes, or with a squared or otherwise shaped part for the application of a rod or key
to turn the end pieces by.
The parts to be fixed to the door or gate, and to the frame or post respectively,
consist each of a plate to be attached by scrows or otherwise, and formed with a
cradle, in the sides of which recesses are formed to receive the studs or trunnions of
the end pieces. The lower fixed part is placed with the recesses on its under side,
whilst the upper fixed part is placed in the reverse position. The spring is engaged
with the fixed parts by placing each end piece between the sides of the cradle, so
that a pair of the studs or trunnions rest in the recesses.
The fixed parts are placed on the door or gate, and on the frame or post in such
relative positions that the spring when engaged lies in an inclined position and so
that the door or gate when being opened has a torsional action on it
The effective force of the spring can be increased or diminished by drawing either
end through its holding cradlo sufficiently to take its studs or trunnions out of the

page_text: recesses, next twisting or untwisting it, and then placing a pair of the studs or
trunnions in the recesses again.
The spring inay be adjusted or set, so as either to tend to keep the door or gate
closed, or so as to tend to keep it open or in any desired position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Louis Sterne and James Baird Handyside in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th May 1878.
LOUIS STERNE and JAMES BAIRD HANDYSIDE, both of the Crown Iron Works,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLOSING SPRINGS FOR DOORS OR GATES."
Our said Invention relates to an improved adjustable combination of a helical or
spiral metal spring with other parts to be applied to doors and gates for the purpose
of closing the same.
The spring is fixed in any convenient way to metal end pieces, each of which is
formed with one or more diametrical pairs of studs or trunnions and with cross
holes, or with a squared or otherwise shaped part for the application of a rod or key
to turn the end piece by.
The parts to be fixed to the door or gate, and to the frame or post respectively,
consist each of a small plate to be attached by screws or otherwise, and formed with
a cradle, in the sides of which recesses are formed to receive the studs or trunnions
of the end pieces.
The fixed parts are placed on the door or gate, and on the frame or post respectively,
in such relative positions as that the spring when engaged lies in an inclined
position, and so that the door or gate when being opened has a torsional action
on it.
The spring may be adjusted or set, so as either to tend to keep the door or gate
closed, or so as to tend to keep it open, or in any desired position.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, we hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
to be herein-atter referred to, and representing an example of our improved door or
gate spring and its accessories. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are
used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a view of the spring, as
detached.
Figures 2 and 3 are a plan and elevation of one of the cradle pieces which are to
be fixed to the door or gate, and to the frame or post, and with which the spring is
to be engaged.
Figure 4 shows the spring as applied to a door; and Figure 5 shows an instrument
by which the spring can be adjusted.
The spring 6, which is a helical or spiral coil of steel or other suitable inetal, has
fixed at each end an iron or other metal end piece 7, which is formed with two

page_text: pairs of diametrically opposite studs 8 and with two diametrical holes 9. Each
holder or cradle piece is formed with a plate or flange 10, by which it is to be fixed
by screw, nails, or otherwise, to the door or gate 11, or to the frame or post 12; and
from this plate 10 the cradle 13 projects at right angles, being in the form of a book
with an opening at one side at which to enter the spring end piece Inside the
cradle or hook 13, and at the upper part, recesses 14 are formed for the studs or
trunnions 8 of the spring end piece, and the two cradles 13 for one spring being
placed oppositely to each other, as shown in Figure 4; the strain of the spring keeps
the studs or trunnions 8 in their recesses or seats 14.
The effective force of the spring can be easily increased or diminished at any time
by inserting an instrument, such as is shown in Figure 5, or any convenient rod or
pin in a hole 9 at one end, and by means of it elongating the spring sufficiently to
get the pair of studs or trunnions 8 out of their recesses, then twisting or untwisting
the spring as much as may be requisite, and finally replacing the end piece with the
studs or trunnions 8 in their recesses 14 again.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we have to state that what we believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the construction and combination of the spring end pieces (7, 8, 9,) and
cradles (13, 14,) in the manner herein described and delineated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jaines Baird Handyside, on behalf of the said
Louis Sterne and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JAMES B. HANDYSIDE. (LS.)