Patent ID: 8353079

Claim:
An elevator hoistway door closer comprising: a reel having a central axis and a side; a channel defined by a groove in the side of the reel; the channel includes a first portion having a substantially constant diameter; the channel includes a second portion having a conical helix shape having an initial end and a terminal end, said initial end attached to said first portion, the diameter of the second portion is substantially equal to the diameter of the first portion at the initial end and less than the diameter of the first portion at the terminal end; and the channel includes a third portion defined by a breakover angle at said terminal end of said second portion and a flat edge extending beyond said breakover angle, the diameter of the third portion is less than the diameter of the second portion; an elongate tensile element having a first end fixed to the reel, the elongate tensile element is received by the first and second portions and passes over the third portion including said breakover angle and said flat edge, the elongate tensile element has a second end for attachment to a fixed point; and a spring for rotating the reel and retracting the elongate tensile element by wrapping the elongate tensile element around the first and second portions of the channel and over the third portion including said breakover angle and said flat edge; wherein a tensile force transmitted by the elongate tensile element increases when the elongate tensile element encounters the second portion of the channel; wherein the tensile force transmitted by the elongate tensile element after passing over the third portion including said breakover angle and said flat edge and being fully retracted exceeds a tensile force exerted by the spring when the elongate tensile element is fully withdrawn from the reel.