Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 10th May, 1887.
"
I, HUBERT WILLIAM HENNES, of Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that form of fastenings used for double doors or windows,
in which the act of closing the second door automatically fastens the first which
has been already closed.
In such fastenings as already heretofore used, a lever has sometimes been employed
turning upon a pivot in a frame inserted in the top or bottom of the door or window
frame, such lever being provided with two projecting bolts, in such manner that the
edge of the second door when closed depresses one such bolt and in doing so protrudes
the other bolt which enters a hole in the edge of the first door already closed and so
retains it fastened until the second door is again opened, when a spring brings the
lever back to its original position.
Or, sometimes a lever similarly arranged has been used provided with a loose bolt
or catch at each end, which bolts are made to project outward by means of one or
more springs. In their normal position both of these bolts protrude partially, and
their projecting parts are rounded or bevilled, so that when the first door is closed its
edge catches the bevilled end of one of the bolts and forces it down until the door is
completely shut, when the bolt projects back into a hole in the edge of the door. The
other door is then closed, and its edge catches against the bevelled end of the other
bolt which it forces down, the lever at the same time raising the first bolt still higher
into the hole in the first door which is firmly held.
These different methods present some disadvantages. For instance, when the first
door is closed, the bolt is left projecting up in the frame of the other door, to the
inconvenience of the person using them. In the first described method, the first door
is not retained closed by any means until the second door is closed, whilst in the last
described method the apparatus is expensive and complicated, consisting of several
pieces likely to get out of order and requiring delicate fitting and adjustment.
The improved device which forms the subject of my present invention is extremely
simple, cheap, and durable, not liable to get out of order, and without the incon-
venience of shewing any projecting part whilst the second door is open.

page_text: I use a metal frame consisting of an upper plate having at the back two sides
between which a lever is fitted and works, being pivotted to the sides at or about the
centre of its length. Each end of this lever is provided with a projecting end
protruding through corresponding holes in the upper plate, and a spring is arranged
between the plate and the lever so that the latter remains with one of its ends
protruding and the other withdrawn into the plate. The protruding end is bevilled
at both sides, whilst the withdrawn end is left flat or very slightly rounded.
The plate is screwed upon the upper or lower edge of the frame of the doors, the
sides together with the lever being let into a recess, and the outer side of the
plate being arranged so that the edges of the doors just clear it in opening and
shutting, the centre of the plate over the pivot of the lever being about opposite to the
junction of the doors.
The bevilled projection is arranged so that it is under the edge of the door which is
first closed in which is a hole of suitable shape and size into which the bevilled
projecting end rises and holds the door when the latter is closed.
If therefore the first door is closed, its edge catches the bevilled projecting end of
the lever and depresses it until the door is shut when the spring raises the projection
into the hole in the door which is thus kept sufficiently firmly held, but can be
opened without difficulty when required,-the edge of the hole then catching and
depressing the inner bevilled edge of the projection.
When the first door is closed, the second one is then closed and its lower edge
passes over the flat end of the bolt which is withdrawn into the plate as already
described, and prevents it from rising and protruding so long as the door is closed.
This second door is secured by a catch or lock and so long as it remains closed the
first door is equally safely fastened. Metal plates may be screwed upon the parts of
the edge of the doors above the projecting ends of the lever, that above the bevilled
projecting end having a suitable hole to receive the latter.
It will be seen that the device described is free from the disadvantages first pointed
out; whilst it is of extreme simplicity, consisting only of a frame carrying a pivotted
lever, and a spring.
It is applicable to the double doors used on cupboards, cabinets, book-cases, and in
other similar positions, and it may be varied more or less in its details and method
of construction according to the varying circumstances in which it is to be used.
Dated this 7th day of July 1886

page_text: Improvements in Selfacting Fastenings for Doors and Windows.
I, HUBERT WILLIAM HENNES, of Kentish Town in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, 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, and accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
My invention relates to that form of fastenings used for double doors or windows,
in which the act of closing the second door substantially fastens the first door which
has been already closed and prevents it from opening.
In such fastenings as already heretofore well known and used, a lever has sometimes
been employed turning upon a pivot in a frame inserted in the top or bottom of the
door or window frame, such lever being provided with two projecting bolts in such
manner that the edge of the second door when closed depresses or forces in one such
bolt and in doing so protrudes the other bolt at the other end of the lever, which
enters a hole in the edge of the first door already closed and so retains it fastened
until the second door is again opened, when a spring brings the lever back to its
original position. Or, sometimes a lever similarly arranged has been used provided
with a loose bolt or catch at each end, which bolts are made to project outward by
means of one or more springs. In their normal position both of these bolts protrude
partially, and their projecting parts are rounded or bevelled, so that when the first
door is closed its edge catches the bevelled end of one of the bolts and forces it
down until the door is completely shut, when the bolt projects back into a hole in the
edge of the door. The other door is then closed, and its edge catches against the
bevelled end of the bolt which it forces down, the lever at the same time raising
the first bolt still higher into the hole in the first door which is therefore firmly held.
Or, for the same purpose a latch has sometimes been used forming a segment of a
circle and turning upon a fulerum, the latch being mounted in a frame sliding in a
second frame fixed to the frame of the door. A spring in the fixed frame presses the
latch and the sliding frame carrying it into the proper position for latching or
engaging into a striking plate or catch upon the door. A lever turning on a fulcrum
in the fixed frame has one end connected to the sliding frame carrying the latch and
the other end bent so as to be flush with the door frame in such a position that the
second door comes in contact with it when closed, and the slide which carries the
latch is then prevented from moving out, the first door therefore being held firm until
the second is re-opened.
These different methods present some disadvantages. For instance in those first
described, when the first door is closed the bolt is left projecting up in the frame of
the second door, to the inconvenience of persons using them.
In the first described method the first door is not retained closed by any means
until the second one is also closed, whilst in those last described the apparatus is
expensive and complicated, consisting of several pieces likely to get out of order and
requiring delicate fitting and adjustment.
The improved device which forms the subject of my present invention is extremely
simple, cheap, and durable, not liable to get out of order, and without the incon-
venience of shewing any projecting part whilst the second door is open.
It consists simply of a fixed frame carrying a lever and a spring, and is entirely
free from any separate hinged latch or sliding frame or guide.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1 being a

page_text: side view and Figure 2 an end view, Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, figure 4 a
plan, and Figure 5 is a side view of bolt in a different position, and figure 6 shews it,
on a smaller scale applied to a pair of doors.
I use a metal or other frame, consisting of a plate a having at the back two
sides b, b, between which the lever c is fitted and works, being pivotted to the sides
at d at or about the centre of its length. Each end of this lever is provided with a
projecting end f, g, protruding through corresponding holes in the plate a, and a
spring is provided by which the lever remains normally with one of its ends f
protruding and the other 9 withdrawn into the plate. The protruding end ƒ is
bevelled at both sides, as shewn in figure 2, whilst the withdrawn end g is left flat or
very slightly rounded. The plate a is screwed to the upper or lower edge of the
frame of the door (as shewn in figure 6), the sides together with the lever c being let
into a recess, and the outer face of the plate being arranged so that the edges of the
doors A, B, just clear it in opening and shutting, the centre of the lever at d being
about opposite to the junction of the two doors.
The bevelled projection is so arranged that it is struck by the edge of the door
which is first closed (A figure 6), in which edge is a hole of suitable size and shape
into which the bevelled projecting end fis pressed by the spring e when the door is
completely closed.
If therefore the first door A be closed, its edge catches the bevelled projecting end f
of the lever c and forces it back into the position shewn in figures 5 and 6, until the
door is completely closed when the spring e brings it out again into the hole in the
edge of the door, which is thus kept sufficiently firmly held but can be opened without
difficulty when required, the edge of the hole then catching and forcing in the inner
bevelled edge of the projection
When the door A is closed the second one B is then closed, its edge passing over
the flat end of the projection g which is withdrawn into the plate a as already described
and shewn in figures 1 and 3. The projection f at the other end of the lever is
thereby prevented from receding and holds the door A fast so long as the door B
remains closed.
This second door B may be secured by a catch or lock and so long as it remains
closed the first door A is equally safely fastened. Metal plates h may be fixed
upon the edge of the door opposite the projecting ends of the lever c (as shown
in figure 6), the one opposite to the projection f having a suitable hole to receive the
latter.
It will be seen that the improved device described is free from the disadvantages
already pointed out, whilst it is of extreme simplicity, cheapness, and efficiency.
It is applicable to the double windows or doors used for cupboards, cabinets,
bookcases, or in other similar position, and may be varied more or less in its details
and method of construction according to the varying circumstances and conditions in
which it is to be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The combination of the frame a, pivotted lever c having the bevelled projecting
end and the flat projecting end g, and spring e, shaped, arranged and operating
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and shewn in the
drawings.
1
LI
CA 1007