US1511020A - Door closer - Google Patents

Description

Oce. 7. 1924. 1,511,020

A. EORCHART DOOR CLOSER Filed June 1923 A.. Barchart 'k aan? www' abbina! Patented Get. 7, i924.

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Application filed .Tune 4,

T0 all 'tv/'tom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR BoRcHART,

Va citizen of the United States, residing lat Centralia, in the county of Lewis and State of llashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Closers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a devicel for automatically closing the doors of automobiles, the object being to provide a simple and efficient device which will operate positively to close the door when the same is released so that damage now frequently resulting from moving an automobile while the door is open will be avoided. Due to carelessness or inattention, it frequently happens that the door of an automobile is left open and the vehicle is moved about in a garage or is driven along a road or street without the door being closed and the laterally extending door is brought into violent Contact with some object so that serious damage results. My invention provides a simple means which will be covered by the upholstery of the door and which will operate positively and efficiently to close the door automatically whenever it is released after being opened. One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will Abe hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an automobile showing my improved closer applied to the door thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The automobile 1 may be of any welllmown form and the door 2 is supported on the body of the vehicle by hinges, indicated at 3, in the usual manner. In carrying out my invention, I provide a groove or recess 4 in the edge of the door opening and within the said recess I fit a socket member 5 adapted to receive a ball 6 upon one end of a rod 7. The ball is retained within the socket member 5 by a cap plate 8 secured by screws or similar devices 9 to the edge of the door opening over the socket member 5 so that the same fastening devices will secure the socket member rigidly in place. The cap plate is, of course, provided with a central vopening having a beveled edge to fit around the ball so that, while the ball 1923. Serial No. 643,417.

may move freely within lthe socket member, 1t cannot drop out of place and will consequently maintain the rod 7 in operative po-V sition at all times. il hub or sleeve meml' ber 10 extends from one side of the socket member 5 and coincides with the groove 4" to bridge said groove and thereby retain'the rod therein, the covering or upholstering 13 of the door extending over the said groove and the parts cooperatin therewith, as will Ibe readily understood. he end of the rod 7 remote from the ball 6 is formed into a hook 14 with which is engaged one end of a threaded rod 15 forming a part of a turnbuckle, the turnbuckle being completed by a link 16 and avsecond threaded rod 17 which is fitted in the end of the link 6 alined with the threaded rod 15. r1 he rod 17 is constructed with a hook 18 with which is engaged the terminal of a coiled spring 19 which has its opposite terminal engaged .in an eye 20 secured to the side of the door frame which carries the lock.

It will, of course, be understood that the ball 6 and the socket 5 are disposed eccentric to the pintles or pivots of the hinges 3v Consequently, when the door is opened and swung outwardly, the spring 19 is placed under an increased tension so that immediately upon ,release of the door the spring will contract and thereby impart a closing movement to the door. The turnbu-ckle permits the normal tension of the spring to be easily adjusted so that the door may be fully closed or may be merely held closed but unlatched so that violent slamming of the door will be avoided. In either event, however, the tension of the spring should be such as to maintain the door normally within the lines of the running board or wheel guards so that, if the vehicle should be moved about while the door is unlatched, the door cannot come in contact with adja cent objects and be thereby damaged.

My device is exceedingly simple and may be applied at a low cost to any automobile now in existence vor which maybe hereafter produced. It may be applied to the door without any substantial structural changes therein and, when applied, will be covered lby the lining or upholstery of the door so that it /Willnot be unsightly and not be apt to catch in the clothing of an occupant ot the vehicle.

Having thus described :the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination With a vehicle body, and a door hinged thereto, of a rod mounted for universal movement upon the body eccentric to the door hinges and extending across the side ofthe door at the hinged end thereof, a contractile spring attached to the `lat-ch end of thedoor, and an eXtensible connection between said spring and said rod, the spring, the rod and the connection being always in alinement.

y"2, The combination 'With a .Vehicle body,

and a door hinged thereto, of a socket member fitted in the body eccentric vto the `door hinges, a rod extending across the side of the door at the hinged end thereof, a ball on one end ofsaid irod seating in said socket member, a cap plate secured over said sockj et member and engaging around the ball, a contractile spring attached to the latch end of the door, means Jfor holding the rod to the door and an adjustable connection between said spring and said rod, the rod, the spring and the connection being always in alinement.

ln testimony whereof l affix ,my signature.

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