US1861888A - Spring for doors, gates, and the like - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1932. H. A. STEVENS I 1,861,888

SPRING FOR DOORS, GATES, AND THE LIKE e. ,roh 1931 fT-uQ. Stevens Patented June 7, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HERBERT ALFRED STEVENS, OI LONDON, ENGLAND SPRING r03 noons, GATES, AND THE LIKE Application filed March 3, 1931, Serial No. 519,829, and in Great Britain March 25, 1930.

This invention relates to springs for doors,

gates and the like of the kind adapted to be secured to two pivotally connected members, such, for instance, as a door and that side of L the corresponding door frame to which said door is pivoted, for the purpose of influencing one of said members to assume a predetermined position relative to the other.

The invention has for its object to provide a spring which operates more efficiently than those of the usual type, and which may be fitted to the door or the like so that the latter may be quite free from external fittings and protuberances.

Y A spring of the kind referred to according to the present invention comprises a substantially straight resilient rod or strip adapted to be attached at one point to the one memher and at another point to the other member, so both of said points being on or adjacent to the axis about which the members are pivotally united, so as to. create a torsion stress in the rod or strip when the device is in operation. The rod or strip may be secured to the 5 one member at a plurality of points spaced along the length of said rod or strip, the latter being also secured to the other member at a point or points disposed intermediately of the points of attachment of said rod or strip to the one member.

Thus, if desired, the rod or strip may be secured at both its ends to the one member and at a point substantially midway of its length to. the other member.

In some cases the rod or strip may be contained within a casing, to which latter said rod or strip is secured at one point, said rod or strip being secured at the other point to a guide mounted for rotation relative to said casing, and the arrangement being such that the casing is adapted to be secured to the one member and the rotatable guide to the other of. said members.

Further, the rod or strip may be of laminated formation, the strips comprising the laminations being preferably spaced by sheet rubber or like material, while the rod or strip as a whole may also be enclosed in a sheathing of rubber or like material.

For use in connection with spring-up seats,

a tubular casing for the rod or strip may be incorporated into av supporting framework, one or more radial arms or brackets being secured to the rotating guide or guides, and said members being adapted to carry or support the seat portion, angular motion being permitted by circumferential slots formed in the tubular casing.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panymg drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a door closing device in side elevation, i

Figures 2 and 3 show tov a reduced scale the device according to Figure 1 mounted in position upon a door, the latter being in its closed and open positions, respectively;

Figure 4 shows in plan a modified method of mounting the device according to Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a device for use in connection with spring-up seats, and

Figure 6 shows in a section a modified form of resilient strip. I

The form of device according to the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, comprises two strips 10 and 11 of tempered steel or other springy material secured to a common bearing plate or bracket 12, into which they are slotted, as indicated by the dotted lines, and secured by means of rivets 13. The free ends of the strips 10 and 11 are secured in a similar manner to plates 14 and 15, respectively.

The plates 12, 14 and 15 are each formed with screw holes 16, preferably countersunk, for securing the device in position between the edge 17 of a door 18 and the corresponding inner surface 19 of a door post 20, the plates 14 and 15 being mounted upon the door post 20 and the plate 12 upon the door 18. If desired the plate 12 may be countersunk onboth sides so that it may be detached from the door 18 and secured in an inoperative position on the door post 20.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that when the door 18 is in its closed position, the strips 10 and 11 are flat or plane, and are completely concealed within the thickness of the door, whilst, as shown in Figure 3, when the door 18 is opened, the plate 12 is rotated relatively to the plates 14 and 15, so applying a torsion stress to the strips and 11. These latter of course, tend to assume the flat or plane Condition, and in doing so the door 18 is caused to close. As the rod or strip is disposed substantially parallel with the pivotal axis of the door the stresses induced in the strips 10, 11 are approximatelypure shear and therefore the material composing saidstrips 10, .11 is used to the best advantage and the maximum stresses may be kept comparatively low'.

In order to protect the strips "lO- and. 11 from damage and corrosion, an outer sheathing 21 of rubber is provided.

If desired, the edge 17 of the door may be inclined to the surface 19 of the door post, as shown in Figure 4,.so that alslight closing-torsion is applied to the strips 10(and11' even when the door 18 :iscompletely closed. This effect may also be obtained by setting thestrips 10 and 11 with-aninitialtwist, or byzforming the plates 12,14:- and so that the plate 12 is disposed at a small angleto the plates 14 and 15 before the device is mounted vin position on a door. or the like. Such a device may be-securedtoadoor of the usual-kind so that asmall closing force is exerted even when the door is-in its closed position, while by reversing the device rend for'end, it may be arranged sothat'the device exerts a reverse .torque when thedooris in its closed position, .thus.tending torreduce the impactwhen the door is slammed. In the case offdoors and gates which swing-both ways, the device mnstbe'formedand adjusted so as to allow said doors orgates to close in true alignment.

Figure 5 shows the application of the device to spring-up seats, suchas are used in theatres and the like, the strips 10 and 11 being. enclosed within a tubular casin g 22, which is preferably incorporated into or attached to the-supporting framework (not shown). The adjacent ends of the strips 10 and 11 are secured to a block23 secured within'th'e casing 2, substantially atthe-middle vthereof by means of a screw 24, while the. outer ends of said strips 10 and 11 are mountedinto cylindrical blocks 25 and26, respectively, each rotatable within the casing 22. Brackets 27, 28 are attached to the seat (not shown) and are securely fastened to the- blocks 25,26, respectively, angular movementof the brackets 27,728 about the axis of the tubular casing22 being permitted by circumferential slots 29, 30, respectively, -formed in said casing.

Th device may be constructed so that brackets 27, 28 are adapted to support a single seat or form, thusbringing the strips .10 and 11 into operation simultaneously, 1 or separate seats may be secured to said brackets 27, 28, in which case the strips 10 and 11 may be used independently ofone another. If desired, the seats may bevadapted to .extend back to back, the slots 29, .30 being formed in opposite directions, While the seat portions may be pivotally mounted independently of the device, the brackets 27, 28 of the latter being provided with rollers (not shown) at their outer ends for engagement with slides or runners upon the under portion of said seat or seats.

The form of device substantially as shown in' Figure 5 is suitable for use in connection with garden gates, and for other purposes where climatic exposure is inevitable, as the strips;lO i and .11 may be completely protected both from accidental damage and from corros ion. WVhen one resilient member is used this may be connected atthe one end to the casingwhich latter is adapted to form one fixing member, the other end of the resilient member being adapted to work through a slot orthrough the endof said casing.

' It willbe observedthat onestrip maybe employedlina device according tothe invention the upper end being fastened, for instance,.to the door frame or gate post and the lower end to the door 'or gate, or alternatively, the device may be formed inany numberiof sections, alternatefixingplates or points ofxattachment being secured .to the door post and the intermediate ones to the door frameor gateipost,

The rod or stripmaybe formed inanysuitable manner, but as comparatively thin strips may T be tempered much more readily and successfully thanthicker rods,,.it is desirable, when a strong-torsion memberisrequired,athat-a compositememberbe built up of aplurality of strips,-as shown in Figure 6,,in whichthe centre-strips:31 are wider than the outerstrips 32, eachofsaid strips being separated from the adjacent strips byimeans of sheetrubber or thelike 33, and the WllOlB beingprlotectediby means ofan. outer sheath ingi34 of ruhberor other suitable, material.

In devices according to.theinvention,.any suitableform of fixingmeans maybe utilized for-securingthe rod .or .strip, or theqlatter may be secured directly to, or formed with, agate, seat or.the.like.; Thus, .for'instance, the .rod or strip maybe secured'by suitably shaped collars, themselves attached to the pivoted members, the rod or-strip beingadjustably. secured within or upon said collars by means of set screws or the equivalent, while,=if desired, slotsmay be provided in the casing, rod or strip for preventing longitudinal tension or compression stresses as the rod or strip is twisted or untwisted, or ball or other thrust bearings may be em ployed.

What I claim is LA torsion spring for application to a swinging element and its support comprising thin resilient. strips arranged end to end, anvattaching plate secured to the adjacent ends ofthe strips, and similar attaching plates secured .to the-.opposite-ends of the strips.

2. A torsion sprin for application to a swinging element an its support comprising thin resilient strips arranged end to end, an attaching plate secured to the adjacent ends of the strips, similar attaching plates secured to the opposite ends of the strips, and an elastic sheathing around the strips.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

HERBERT ALFRED STEVENS.

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