A New or Improved Draught Excluder for Attachment to the Bottoms of Doors.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Draught Excluder for Attachment to the
Bottoms of Doors.
1, ALEXANDER WINTON ROBERTSON, of Custom House Engine Works Victoria
Docks, E. 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 :-
My Invention relates to a new or improved draught excluder for attachment to the
bottoms of doors, and consists in so constructing and arranging the same that it will,
when the door is shut, automatically, and at the same time, most effectually, close the
aperture between the bottom of the door and floor, and moreover it will adjust itself to
the floor even when such floor slopes or lies at an angle to the bottom of the door.
Much inconvenience and in fact great danger to health, is caused by the draught of
necessity experienced through the space or opening beneath a door, and to obviate
this inconvenience and danger many devices have been employed, but in all of these,
imperfections of a greater or less degree are to be found. Some are expensive in
manufacture, some while adjusting themselves to a level floor are not effective when
the floor slopes, as is frequently the case, and again though perhaps answering the
purpose of excluding the draught when the door is closed, others are found to be an
inconvenience and an impediment when it is desired to open the door.
My Invention has therefore for its object to produce a draught excluder which shall
effectually close the aperture between the bottom of the door (when it is shut) and the
floor, notwithstanding any slope of the latter, and which shall form no impediment to
the opening of the door. At the same time the apparatus is so simple in its construc-
tion and arrangement that it will not get out of order, and the first cost of same will
be but small. It can readily be fitted to all existing doors as no special construction
of the same is necessary for its adoption.
The improved draught excluder according to my Invention which is adapted to the
bottom of the door consists essentially of a strip of india rubber or other suitable
material arranged in combination with rollers, springs, cranks, levers, or other suitable
mechanism, so as to be automatically raised or lowered according as the door is open
or shut. By this means a perfect closure of the space beneath the door when shut is
obtained, and no impediment to the opening of the door is caused. And in order that
this Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect I will proceed
to describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is
a longitudinal sectional elevation, and Figure 2 an inverted plan of a very simple and
convenient arrangement of draught excluder constructed and arranged in accordance
with this Invention. A is the draught excluding strip of india rubber, or other
suitable material carried by the rod B which latter is provided with rollers C, and
runs the full width of the door and is contained, as here shown, in a groove, channel,
or chamber formed by the casing E in the bottom of the door D. The rod B works
loosely in bearings a and is allowed a rise and fall sufficient to suit any slope of floor
which may be met with. It will readily be seen that the draught excluder will
necessarily accommodate itself to the floor whether the latter be at an angle to the
bottom of door or not, and no impediment or obstruction to the opening of the door
will be offered by any dragging of the draught excluding strip, as the rollers
(preferably formed of a diameter to admit of their being to a very slight extent below
the level of the strip) will travel smoothly and carry the strip easily over the floor.
Figure 3 represents end views of the above arrangement, with door in section,
showing the position of roller and draught excluder when the door is open and when
same is closed.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a longitudinal elevation, (with door in section)
and a cross section of another arrangement of my draught excluder in which the

page_text: draught excluding strip is automatically raised as the door is opened, and lowered
when same is shut, by means of bell crank levers. To the strip A of india rubber
or other suitable material (which may be suspended within a suitable holder or
carrier) are attached at requisite intervals bell crank levers C which are preferably
fulcrumed at c to the casing E, the other arms of these ball cranks being connected
to a rod or a series of disjointed rods B extending throughout the entire width of the
door D. A corresponding number of compressed spiral springs F are arranged at
that portion of the rod telescoping into the adjacent one, as shown, a suitable clearance
being provided between each of the rods so as to allow-when the door is closed and
the end 6 of the outer rod B bears against the plate c¹ countersunk in the door
post D¹ of the further compression of said springs F, whereupon the rods telescope
to a certain extent one within the other, causing, by the bell cranks C, the lowering of
the draught strip A as shown in dotted lines, Figure 4.
Upon the door being re-opened the tension of the springs F again expand the rods B
to their fullest extent, consequently raising the strip A within its chamber, groove,
or receptacle. Figures 6 and 7 respectively represent by longitudinal elevation and
cross section, the last above described arrangement drawn to enlarged scale.
In the arrangement illustrated in longitudinal and cross section Figures 8 and 9,
the strip A of rubber or other suitable material is formed internally with a
longitudinal groove or recess, in which engages the head d of the carrier or web e
adapted to the rod B. Upon closing the door the horizontal rod B automatically
lowers the draught strip, as shown and described in reference to Figure 4, with the
exception that instead of employing bell cranks, I provide the rod with blocks or
equivalents-working in suitable guides having inclined or bevelled faces which
bear against corresponding inclined bevelled or angled surfaces as shown, the raising
of the strip being effected by the coiled spring or springs F.
In longitudinal and cross section Figures 10 and 11, and in the slightly
modified enlarged views Figures 12 and 13, arrangements are shown wherein a
series of rollers or runners A¹, performing the function of the draught strip A
aforesaid, are mounted or otherwise arranged in divided sections or otherwise on
the horizontal rod B. This rod which rises and falls correspondingly to the
inequalities of the floor or ground surface, is carried in slots or bearings a provided in
the enclosing casing E.
Figure 14 illustrates a door arranged in such a manner that on actuating the
connecting rod e from the lever or crank fattached to the door spindle, the
draught excluding strip A,-carried by the pin or rod 6 working in slot a-is
raised and lowered as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
First The construction and arrangement of draught excluder, consisting of a
draught excluding strip carried on a rod working in loose bearings, and provided
with rollers; all contained in a groove channel or chamber formed in, or in a box
attached to, the bottom of door substantially as herein described and shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, for the purpose of effectually closing the aperture beneath the
door when the door is shut, notwithstanding any slope of floor, and of easily and
smoothly travelling over the floor or carpet upon the door being opened.
Second-The modification wherein the draught excluding strip is automatically
raised and lowered by means of bell crank levers, when the door is opened or
shut, substantially as herein before described and particularly shown in Figures 4,
5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Third-The modification shown in Figures 8 and 9 wherein the draught excluding
strip is held in the raised position, when the door is open by means of a spring
or springs and is lowered so as to effectually close the aperture beneath the door,
by pressure of the strip-supporting rod against the door post when the door is
closed substantially as set forth.

page_text: Fourth-The modification shown in Figures 10, 12, 13, and 14, consisting of a
series of rollers or runners, arranged on a horizontal rod, working in loose bearings,
the rod together with the rollers or runners being contained in a chamber provided at
the bottom of the door, substantially as herein set forth.
Fifth :—The arrangement of draught excluder for doors wherein the draught
excluding strip is raised or lowered upon turning the door handle, by means of a
lever or crank attached to door spindle and a connecting rod attached to draught
excluding strip, substantially as shown and described with reference to Figure 14
of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth-The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts, together
with any mere modification or modifications thereof, forming my new or improved
draught excluder for attachment to the bottoms of doors, substantially as herein-
before described and shown.
Dated this Thirteenth day of September 1889.
JAMES STEVENSON.
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.