US1085657A - Door opening and closing mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

"B. s. APPLETON.

DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM.

ABPLIQATION FILED MAY 16, 1913.

1,0 5, 57,. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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. i BURM S,- AlPLE Q QF E DY, H A- DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING MEGI-IANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Feb. 3,1914.

Application filed May 16, 1913. Serial No. 768,120.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, BURM S. ArPLn'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eddy, in the county of Kay, State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Opening and Closing Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to door opening and closing mechanism, and it more particularly relates to appliances for opening and closing cellar doors.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and easily operated device whereby a cellar door may be instantly opened by means of a foot lever or. pedal.

Another object is to provide an improved combination door holding and door closing device.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide devices of this character which may be applied to inclined or horizontal cellar doors of ordinary construction.

Another object is to provide devices for the foregoing purposes, which are simple of construction, comparatively inexpensive, durable, and thoroughly eflicient.

Other objects and advantages may be recited hereinafter and in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which supplement this specification: Figure 1 is a top plan view 'of the cellar door fitted with my improved closing and openingde. vices. Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the door and its adjuncts in closed position. Fig. 3 is a View similar toFig. 2 except that the door is in its open position. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 2 except thatthe door is in its closing position. Fig. 5 is a side elevation view, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective View of the bracket and opener spring.

Referring to these drawings, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts, throughout the several views: The door 10 and door frame 11 are of ordinary construction, and will not be described in detail further than to mention that the door is mounted on hinges 12 and.

adapted to be swung through an angle of approximately ninety degrees. On the central portion of the door is mounted a bracket 13 in which is mounted a sheave door frame.

wheel 14, the axis of said wheel being parallel with the axis on which the door swings.

Adjacent to the door hinges and substantially parallel therewith is mounted a beam or support 15 which is stationary with the Upon this beam is mounted a bracket 16 which is substantially U-shaped, having a standard 17 at each end, said standards supporting a pivot or bolt 18 around which is coiled a spring 19. One of the standards is provided with a horizontal extension or lug 20 which serves as a keeper for one end portion of the spring, and beyond this keeper is an extension 21 which engages with a lever 22, pivoted at 23 to a bracket 24, said bracket being mounted upon the beam 15. The other end portion 25 is seated in the peripheral groove of the wheel 14: and exerts an upward pressure against 1 the wheel. This pressure, however, is not sufficient to raise the cellar door so long as the lever 22 is in its normal elevated position; but when the free end of the lever is pressed down, it carries the extension 21 downward, so as to increase the pressure of the spring element 25 sufficiently to start the door upward; it being understood that the helical coil of the spring is pivotally mounted on the bolt 18. Having thus started the door, it will be seen that the pressure upon the element 25 clecreases as the door approaches the vertical plane in which it finally rests, and moreover, the door having been started, its own momentum also operates to offset the decreasing pressure of the spring. iVhen the door has reached its opened position, it is engaged and held by means of the latch member 26, which is pivoted at 27 to a standard 28, said standard being slotted or bifurcated at 29 for receiving the combined holder and closer between the furcations thereof. This holder and closer member includes the latch 26, the operating arm 28 and the closer arm 29 This holder and closer member may be formed in any proper way or from any suit-able material, but in the present disclosure, it is formed from a length of heavy wire or rod, bent upon itself at 30 and formed into a coil or bearing at 31, while the closer arm 29 depends from the coil 31, and the arm 28 extends upward from the element 30. The lower end of the closer member is curved or looped so as to avoid undue wear and mutilation of the door, and to obtain the smoothest and easiest possible closing operation.

In operation, the person wishing to open the door places one foot upon the end of the pedal or lever 2:2 and bears it down, thereby actuating the spring 19 and instantly opening the door, as previously described. Then the door contacts with the inclined lower surface of the latch, it raises the latch, and the latter falls into its operative position in which it holds the door securely in its open position. The pedal 22 having now been raised to its normal position, the door may now be quickly closed by pressing the handle or operating arm 28 laterally and downward toward the pedal. This movement of the handle swings the closer member 29 into contact with the door, and by continuing to press upon the handle, the momentum of the door overcomes the pres sure of the spring 19 until the door has reached its normal closed position, and now the full weight of the door is exerted for holding the spring element 25 down.

It will be seen that while I have provided a mechanism for quickly and easily opening and closing a door, I have also provided a cushioning means or resilient retarding means whereby the door is prevented from slamming when it is closed.

It will be seen that I have provided a mechanism of this character, which is fully capable of attaining the foregoing objects, in a thoroughly practical and eflicient man ner.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herewith illustrated and described, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonable interpretation of the claims.

I claim 1. In combination with a hingedly mounted cellar door, a support adjacent to the hinges of the door, a sheave wheel mounted on the door, a pedal pivotally mounted on.

the support, a spring pivotally mounted on the support and having one end portion engaged with the sheave wheel, the other end portion of the spring being engaged with said pedal, so that when the pedal is pressed the door is opened, and means for engaging the door and holding it in open position.

2. In combination with a hingedly mounted cellar door, a support adjacent to the hinges of the door, a sheave wheel mounted on the door, a pedal pivotally mounted on the support, and a spring pivotally mounted on the support ancl'having one end portion engaged with the sheave wheel, the other end portion of the spring being engaged with said pedal, so that when the pedal pressed the door is opened.

3. A door opening and holding and closing appliance consisting of a support adjacent to the door hinges, a spring member consisting ofa helical coil pivotally mounted on said support and having an extension engaged with an element on the door, a

pedal pivotally mounted on the support and engaged with an extension of said spring, a standard on the support, and a combined holding and closing member pivotally mounted on the standard and adapted to engage with the door when it has been opened, said door holding and closing member also being provided with ahandle and with a clo-serarm which latter is adapted to be swung into forceful contact with the door and to force it into closed position against the resistance of the spring member.

4. A door opening and holding and closing appliance consisting of a support adjacent to the door hinges, a pedal pivotally mounted on the support, a standard on the.

BUR-M. S. APPLETON Witnesses: r

F. C. E. LETTAN, 'SAML. GONGRAM.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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