US3129024A

US3129024A - Door holding device

Info

Publication number: US3129024A
Application number: US91906A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles J Schuessler; Wilzig Herbert
Original assignee: Triangle Brass Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Triangle Brass Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1961-02-27
Filing date: 1961-02-27
Publication date: 1964-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1981-04-14

Description

April 14, 1964 Filed Feb. 27, 1961 C. J. SCHUESSLER ETAL DOOR HOLDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Afsesser WLZ/G INVENTORS flrraelvsy.

Cm ez E5 (I; 5010555252 April 1964 c. J. SCHUESSLER ETAL 3,129,024

DOOR HOLDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1961 HEEBE/QT "viz/c;

INVENTOR. BY% AW flrroeusy.

April 14, 1954 c. .1. SCHUESSLER ETAL 3, ,024

DOOR HOLDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 27, 1961 Cxmezes cl (Sb/0555452 152-25527 14 74 2/6 INVENTORS.

United States Patent Ofitice 7 3,129,024 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,129,024 DOOR HDLDING DEVICE Charles J. Schuessler, West Covina, and Herbert Wilzig,

Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Triangle Brass Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a

era-partnership Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,906 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-15) The present invention relates to door holding devices, and more particularly to such devices which include a holder member and a strike member cooperative therewith.

Door holding devices of the type under consideration are well known in the prior art, and have special importance for use in schools, hospitals, public institutions, churches, and other large buildings in which heavy doors are apt to be found. A device of this type will usually include a holder provided with a tensioned roller or similar member, and a strike member adapted to engage the holder through contact with said roller or similar member. Such known door holding devices are usually of two types: i.e., a floor-type and a wall-type. In the case of the floor-type holding device, the holder is mounted on the door; and the strike member is mounted on the floor beneath the door and at a point at which it is desired to hold the door open. In the case of the wall-.ype device, the holder is mounted on the wall against which the door is opened, while the strike member is mounted on the door. These devices of the prior art are usually con structed of metal or a metal alloy, such as aluminum, brass or bronze.

The door holding devices known in the prior art, however, have usually presented a number of disadvantages from the point of view of high manufacturing and installation costs, as well as of maintenance difiiculties and low operational efliciency. For example, most of such evices cannot be employed for both floor-type and Walltype installations. Rather, it is often required that different types of holders be employed for the two installations, respectively. Insofar as floor-type installations themselves are concerned, strike members of five different heights or more may be required in a single building, where there may be encountered different threshold heights, differences in carpeting thickness, varying door clearances, etc. The resultant high initial cost of such door holding devices is obvious. In the case of the floor-type devices, the holder usually must be positioned at an exact point on the door, and the roller or similar member within the holder must be precisely adjusted for efficient cooperation with the strike member. However, most doors which require the use of holding devices may be expected to sag after a period of use, and this is particularly true in schools for young children, where hanging on the doors is a common practice. When sagging of the door takes piace, misalignment between the holder and the strike member; collision between the two; and consequent bending or breakage of the holder and/or strike member obviously may and often does occur. A serious maintenance problem may thus be presented.

As has been stated above, rollers or similar members are often employed in the door holding devices known in the prior art. After a period of use, such rollers even under normal conditions ordinarily require some adjustment. However, in the known door holding devices, the adjustment means has usually been quite diflicult to reach, and has thus presented a further maintenance problem.

In the case of Wall-type door holding devices, a special problem is encountered where the wall which is to support t-e strike member lies at an angle to the door when open. Special and usually complicated and expensive devices have been required heretofore to compensate for 2 such angular positioning of the wall with respect to the door, and to assure proper engagement between the strike member and holder.

Additional problems have usually been encountered with respect to the mounting means employed for the holders. known in the prior art. Such mounting means have often been of unsightly appearance, and have been subject to tampering. Thus, in the case of school door installations, there has been the danger of children tampering with the mounting means, loosening the holder, and even removing it from its supporting surface. Furthermore, if adjustment means of the kind mentioned above are provided, these likewise have in many types of holders notbeen tamper-proof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide, an improved door holding device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door holding device which includes a single type of holder employable for either a floor-type or a wall-type applicatron. v

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door holding device which, in floor-type applications, employs a strike member of the same height and style for greatly varying types of installations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floortype door holding device which automatically compensates for door sagging.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door holding device having movable parts which are readily adjustable while the device is in installed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door holding device having an angularly adjustable strike member for use in wall-type installations in which the wall supporting the strike member lies at an angle to the door when open.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door holding device having concealed means for mounting the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door holding device including tamper-proof mounting means for the holder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door holding device having adjustable moving parts which are tamper-proof.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a floor-type door holding device constructed in accordance with the invention, portions of a door and a floor to which the device is secured being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 V

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but being somewhat diagrammatic, the holder of the door holding device being shown in a position of disengagement from the strike holder thereof;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a wall-type door holding device constructed in accordance with the invention, the holder thereof being shown somewhat diagrammatically, and portions of the wall and the door which support the device as well as a portion of the floor therebeneath being shown in section;

FIG. 7 is a top plan of the door holding device of FIG. 6, the holder thereof here also being shown somewhatdiagrammatically, and supporting door and wall portions here also being shown in section;

FIG. 8 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the use of a modified wall-type door holding device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 8, further illustrating the use of the modified form of the invention shown in the latter figure;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the modified wall-type door holding device of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the device of FIGS. 8-10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken along the lines of 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation, being somewhat diagrammatic, of a modified form of holder constructed in accordance with the invention, a portion of a door upon which the holder is mounted being shown;

FIG. 14 is a vertical section taken along the lines 14- 14 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a rear elevation of the holder of FIGS. 13 and 14.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a floor-type door holding device is shown, which device includes a holder 22 and a strike member 24. The holder 22 and the strike member 24 are preferably constructed of a metal alloy such as brass or bronze or of a metal such as aluminum. The holder 22 is mounted on the inner face 26 of a door 28 of a building (not shown), and is located adjacent the lower end 30 of the door 28. The strike member 24 is mounted on a floor portion 32 of said building extending beneath the door 28. The holder 22 and strike member 24 are interengaged for holding the door 28 in an open position.

The holder 22 is of hollow construction, and is formed of a curved top wall 34; a substantially vertically extending front wall 36; a substantially horizontally extending bottom wall 38 of comparatively great thickness; and two substantially vertically extending opposite side walls 40 and 42 (FIG. 2). The holder 22 is open at its rear (see FIG. 3) with a rear wall including two

flanges

44 and 46 extending outwardly from the rear edge of the

side walls

40 and 42, respectively, said

flanges

44 and 46 being secured by means of screws 48 to the inner face 26 of the door 28.

A slot 50 is cut through the

walls

36 and 38 approxi mately midway between the

side walls

40 and 42, and extends from its upper end 50a located adjacent the upper end of the front wall 36, continuously to its lower end 50b (FIG. 3 located adjacent the rear edge of the bottom wall 38.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the bottom wall 38 is thick in comparison to the other walls of the housing. This massively strengthens the housing so it can withstand hard use. In addition, a chamber is formed in the bottom wall, which in this particular embodiment comprises two coaxial and substantially

horizontal bores

52 and 54 cut through the bottom wall 38, at opposite sides of the slot 50, respectively. Two

ball catch members

56 and 58 are protectively mounted at the inner ends 60 and 61 of the

bores

52 and 54, respectively, and project into the slot 50; said inner ends 60 and 61 being open, and of reduced diameter so as to prevent passage of the

members

56 and 58 into the slot 50. The outer ends 62 and 63 of the

bores

52 and 54 are also open, at the opposite sides of the holder 22, respectively. The

ball catch members

56 and 58 are held yieldably in their positions of projection into the slot 50 by means of two

springs

64 and 66 maintained under compression by means of two adjustment screws 68 and 7t) threadedly secured in the outer ends 62 and 63 of the

bores

52 and 54, respectively. The screws 68 and 70 when rotated within the

bores

52 and 54, adjust the amount of compressive force which the

springs

64 and 66 exert against the

ball catch members

56 and 58, respectively. The screws 68 and 70 have heads 72 and 74, adapted for rotation thereof by a suitable instrument such as a screw driver, for consequent adjustment of the degree of compressive force exerted by the springs 64 and 4 66 upon the

ball catch members

56 and 58, respectively.

A seat 76 is cut out of the bottom wall 38 adjacent the rear edge thereof. The seat 76 is in communication with the lower end 5% of the slot 53, and has portions extending substantially perpendicularly to the slot 59 and along either side thereof. Mounted within the seat 76 is a cushioning member in the form of a rubber pad 78, having a purpose to be described hereinbelow.

The strike member 24 is provided with a base 80, which is secured to the floor 32 by means of any desired number of screws 82 (three being shown). The strike member 24 provides an upwardly extending strike plate or bar 84 which has a width sized to penetrate slot 5%), see FIGS. 1 and 4, and a longitudinally extending elongated forward edge or wedge shaped entrance portion 86 for ease of entry. Immediately behind its forward end 86, the strike plate 84 is formed at its opposite sides and along its full height with two oppositely positioned vertically extending

grooves

88 and 90 generally uniform in cross section and parallel to the entrance portion 86 for receiving, the

ball catch members

56 and 58, respectively. The length of the entrance portion 86 and

grooves

88 and 90 is great in comparison to the diameter of the spherical or

ball catch members

56 and 58. With this arrangement, the point of engagement between the spherical catch members and the grooves is not critical, and variations in the point of engagement will not effect the operation of the door holder for reasons to become apparent below. The strike plate 84 is so designed that the forward end 86 thereof will tightly press against the rubber pad 78 when the

ball catch members

56 and 58 are received in the

grooves

88 and 90, respectively, as most clearly seen in FIG, 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the door 28 is shown in a position in which the holder 22 and strike member 24 are disengaged, the door 28 then being free to move. If it be desired to close the door it can be moved in the direction of the arrow x of FIG. 5. However, if it be desired to hold the door in open position, utilizing the door holding device 20, the former is moved in the direction of the arrow y of FIG. 5. The forward end 86 of the strike plate 84 will then enter the holder 22 through the slot 50, and will come into contact with the

ball catch members

56 and 58 which, it will be understood, will then be in positions of projection into the slot 50. The forward end 86 will initially force back the

ball catch members

56 and 58 against the respectively associated compression springs 64 and 66 and into positions of substantial retraction from the slot 58. However, upon further movement of the door 28 and consequent further entrance of the strike plate 84 into the holder 22, the

grooves

88 and 98 will come into alignment with the

ball catch members

56 and 58, respectively; and the latter will then be projected by the

springs

64 and 66 back into the slot 50 and into the grooves 88 and 99, respectively. At the same time, the forward end 86 will bump up against the rubber pad 73, which will serve as a cushion. The holder 22 and strike member 24 then will be in the fully interengaged position shown in FIGS. I4, and the door 28 as a result will be held tightly in place (i.e., in the open position).

If it be desired to then close the door 28, the latter may be moved in a direction opposite to that just described (i.e., in the direction of the arrow x), and the strike plate 84 consequently withdrawn from the holder 24. During the withdrawal, the strike plate 84 will again initially force the

ball catch members

56 and 58 into positions of retraction from the slot 50. After the strike plate 84 has cleared the respective inner ends 66 and 61 of the

bores

52 and 54 the

ball catch members

56 and 58 will return to their original positions of projection into the slot 50 under the compressive force of the

springs

64 and 66, respectively. Upon complete withdrawal of the strike plate 84 from the slot 50, the holder 22 and strike member 24 will have been returned to their positions shown in FIG. 5. The door 28 will then be free for further movement in the direction of the arrow x and into closed position.

It will be understood that when the holder 22 and strike member 24 are installed for use, they will be so positioned that the ball catch members 56 and 53 will come into engagement with the grooves 88 and 99, respectively, at a point adjacent to the upper end of the strike plate 84. However, should sa ging of the door 28 take place over a period of use, the interengagement will be effective at points closer to the base 30, such as, for example, in the manner shown in FIGS. 1-5. The need for precise vertical positioning of the holder 22 when it is installed is thus obviated, and the holder will work efficiently though left in its original installed position, despite a substantial amount of sagging of the door 28, with consequent great havings in maintenance costs. At the same time, the possibility of collision between the holder 22 and the strike member 24 due to misalignment, and consequent breakage of the parts, is substantially eliminated.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the coaxial bores and ball catch members are in spaced relation to the rear of the housing. With this arrangement either the portion of the slot in the front wall, or the portion of the slot in the rear wall can receive the entrance portion 86 of the strike member 24, whereby the flexibility of the installation of the door holder is increased.

As is common with most door holding devices, some loosening of the holding mechanism (here, the ball catch members 55 and 58) may take place after a period of use. However, such loosening can be compensated for with a minimum of difficulty through rotation of the heads '72 and 74 of the adjustment screws 68 and 7t and consequent increase in the degree of compressive force exerted by the

springs

64 and 66 on the ball catch members 5d and 58, respectively. As may be seen, the heads 72 and 74 are, when the holder 22 is mounted on the door 28, in a position for ready access thereto for such rotation.

As a further consequence of the lack of need of exact positioning as between the holder 22 and strike member 24, a single size of strike member may be employed despite variations in fioor thickness, threshold heights, carpeting thickness, door clearances, etc.

Referring to FIG. 6, a wall-type door holding device 2th is shown, cconstructed in accordance with the invention. Here, a holder 22a is provided, being identical in construction to the holder 22 of FIGS. 1-5. The holder 2 2a thus provides a curved top wall 34a which merges with a substantially vertically extending front wall 36a, the latter in turn merging with a substantially horizontally extending bottom wall 38a of comparatively great thickness. Two flanges 44a and 46a (FIG. 7) extending outwardly from the side walls dha and 420, respectively, serving to mount the holder 26a by means of screws 43a upon a wall portion 92. The wall portion 92 lies behind the door 28a when the latter is in open position, and the holder 22:: is mounted on said wall portion 92 adjacent the door 32a although it will be understood that the holder 22a may be mounted on the wall portion 92 in any desired location vertically. Mounted on the inner face 26a of the door 23a adjacent the lower end 39a of the latter is a strike member 94-. The strike member 94 is provided with a base 9-5 for mounting thereof by means of screws 98 on the door face 26a, and with a strike plate 1th? projecting substantially horizontally from said base 96. The strike plate rat is of short height as compared to the strike plate and is formed with a wedge-shaped forward end 1692 adapted to enter the slot Stia of the holder 25a. Immediately behind the forward end 1&2, the strike plate is formed with two oppositely positioned and vertically extending grooves 1&4 and 1%, adapted for engagement with the

ball catch members

56a and 58a, respectivey. It will be understood that the strike member il -d is secured to the door face 26a to register with the holder 22a and both the strike member 94 and the holder 22a may be positioned vertically as desired.

The door holding device 26a operates in much the same fashion as the door holding device 20 of FIGS. 1-5. However, in the case of the former, it is the strike member 94 which is moved into engagement with theholder 22a when the door 28a is opened into a position for operation of the device. The forward end 162 of the strike plate 101) then enters the slot 50a, for engagement of the grooves 104 and we with the

ball catch members

56a and 58a, respectively.

In view of the obvious similarities in both structuresand operation as between the door holding devices 20 and 20a, no further description of the latter will be presented.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a modified wall-type door holding device 26b constructed in accordance with the invention is shown, positioned for use in connection with doors which when open lie at an angle to the walls therebehind. The door holding device 2% includes a holder 22b identical in construction with the holders 2?. and 22a of FIGS. 1-7. The holder 22b bears flanges 44b and 461; (FIG. 10) which are secured by screws 48b to the inner surface 26b of a door 28b, adjacent the outer edge 2% of the latter. A slot 50b fitted with ball catch members 5612 and 53b is provided.

The door holding device 2i?!) includes a strike member Hi3 having a strike plate 1110. The forward end 112 of the strike plate is similar in structure to the forward end 102 of the strike plate Hill of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, but is of somewhat greater height (see FIG. 11). The strike plate 168 is formed with a circular rearward end 113, the latter being of reduced height and being pivotally seated by means of an Allen-type screw 114 upon a horizontally extending shelf 116 of a bracket 118 provided with mounting screws 120. The under surface of the rearward end 113 of the strike plate lit) is formed with serrations 122, as best seen in FIG. 11.

As seen in FIG. 8, the door holding device 20b may be employed in an arrangement in which the door 281) when open lies against a wall 124 extending at an angle convergent with the outer edge 2%. The door 28b is mounted in conventional manner on hinges 126 for movement between its open position as shown and its closed position indicated at 28b. As seen in FIG. 9, the door holding device Ztlb may also be employed in an arrangement in which the door 281) when open lies against a wall 128 which extends at an angle divergent from the outer edge 2%. The door 28b is here hingedly mounted at 130, for movement between its open position as shown and its closed position indicated at 2812. It will be noted that in each of the arrangements of FIGS. 8 and 9, the strike member 198 is supported by the bracket 11.8 and mounting screws on the

respective wall

124 or 128.

The adjustment screw heads (only one head 72!; being shown, FIG. 11) of the holder 2211 require a spanner for their rotation and are thus tamper-proof.

The operation of the door holding device 2% is identical to that of the door holding device 20a of FIGS. 6 and 7, except that the former is adjustable to compensate for the angular positioning of the door 28b when open with respect to the

wall

124 or 128. Thus, after the strike member 1% has been installed in place on the

wall

124 or 128, the screw 114 is loosened by conventional means, and the rearward end 113 of the strike plate 110 is rotated on the shelf 116, and into a position in which the forward end 112 of the strike plate lit will enter the slot 50b when the door 28b is opened. The screw H4 is then tightened to hold the strike plate 110 in the selected angular position. The serrations 122 will then bite into the surface of the shelf 116, and will serve to prevent angular movement of the strike plate 110 after it has once been tightened in place. It will thus be clear that the door holding device 2012 can be employed in door constructions of widely varying designs, regardless of the angle at which the door when in open position lies with respect to the wall therebehind.

Referring to FIG. 13, a modified form of holder 132 is shown, mounted on the inner face 134 of a door 136, adjacent the lower end 133 of the latter. The holder 132 is secured to the door 136 by means of three bolts 140, the latter being threadedly received at their inner ends 141 by two horizontal bores 142 (FIGS. 14 and located in the bottom wall 144 of the holder 132 and opening at the rear thereof, and a third horizontal bore 146 located in an enlarged portion 148 of the curved top wall 150 of the holder 132, respectively. The bolts 140 at their outer ends have heads 152 which are seated against a kick plate 154 of conventional design, mounted on the outer face 156 of the door 136.

It will be understood that the holder 132 may also in some cases be mounted on a wall, as part of a wall-type door holding device. The use of the holder 132 eliminates the need for flanges or other similarly visible mounting means, and thus provides a concealed mounting. This mounting is also tamper-proof.

Two screws 158 are provided, extending through suit able bores 160 (one being shown) in the wall 144. The screws 158 have inner ends 162 which engage the rubber cushioning pad 164, and heads 166 positioned at the rear surface of the wall 144. The screws 158 serve to hold the pad 164 in place and thus render the latter tamper-proof. Since the heads 166 of the screws 158 are at the rear of the holder 132, and are thus inaccessible when the latter is mounted on the door 136, a further measure of protection against tampering is provided. Except as mentioned, the holder 132 is identical in structure with the

holders

22, 22a, and 22b, and will therefore not be further described.

If desired, the holder 22 of the door holding device can be modified so as to provide only a single

ball catch member

56 or 58 with an associated

adjustable compression spring

64 or 66. The strike plate 84 would then be formed with only a single groove 88 or W). The door holding devices 20a and Zilb might be similarly modified. However, in the case of such modification of any of the embodiments of the invention, the manner of operation would remain substantially the same as already described. Engagement of the strike plate when in the holder would then of course be effected at only one side thereof.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of appended claims.

We claim:

1. A door holding device comprising in combination a holder and a strike member having a strike plate, said holder comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a vertical surface and comprising at least a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls, said housing being formed with a vertical slot extending through at least said front and bottom walls, said bottom wall being thick in comparison to said front, rear, and side walls and having two coaxial bores extending therethrough and located on opposite sides of said slot respectively, and each having an inner end communicating with said slot and an outer end, the inner end of each bore being reduced in size in comparison to the remainder of the corresponding bore, two spherical catch members located in said bores respectively, the diameter of each of said catch members being larger than the size of the inner end of the corresponding bore, whereby the catch members are retained in the bores, two compression springs in said bores for resiliently projecting said spherical catch members toward the inner ends of said bores respectively, whereby portions of said catch members protrude into said slot, said coaxial bores and said catch members in spaced relation to said rear wall, whereby either the portion of said slot in said front wall or the portion of said slot in said bottom wall can serve as an entrance to receive said strike plate and means closing the outer end of each bore, respectively, said holder being formed with a seat cut out of said bottom wall and extending at opposite sides of said slot, cushioning means mounted in said seat adapted for contact by said strike plate, said strike plate comprising a bar adapted to be mounted on a second surface, said bar having a width sized to penetrate said slot, the opposite sides of said bar each provided with an elongated groove generally uniform in cross section, said strike member and said holder being mounted for relative movement toward each other, the length of said bar and said grooves being large in comparison to the diameter of said spherical catch members, said elongated grooves on said bar being positioned when said bar is in said slot for penetration by said spherical catch members urged by said compression springs, whereby said strike plate is yieldably held in said slot in the holder and variations in the point of engagement between said spherical catch members and said grooves do not affect the yieldable connection between the holder and the strike member whereby the vertical relationship between the holder and the strike member is not critical in the direction the grooves extend and the door holding device will function despite sagging of the door to which part of the door holding device is attached.

2. A door holding device comprising in combination a holder and a strike member having a strike plate, said holder comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a vertical surface and comprising at least a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls, said housing being formed with a vertical slot extending through at least said front and bottom walls, said bottom wall being thick in comparison to said front, rear, and side walls and having two coaxial bores extending therethrough and located on opposite sides of said slot respectively, and each having an inner end communicating with said slot and an outer end, the inner end of each bore being reduced in size in comparison to the remainder of the corresponding bore, two spherical catch members located in said bores respectively, the diameter of each of said catch members being larger than the size of the inner end of the corresponding bore, whereby the catch members are retained in the bores, two compression springs in said bores for resiliently projecting said spherical catch members toward the inner ends of said bores respectively, whereby portions of said catch members protrude into said slot, said coaxial bores and said catch members in spaced relation to said rear wall, whereby either the portion of said slot in said front wall or the portion of said slot in said bottom wall can serve as an entrance to receive said strike plate, and means closing the outer end of each bore, respectively, said holder being formed with a seat cut out of said bottom wall and extending at opposite sides of said slot, said strike plate comprising a bar adapted to be mounted on a second surface, said bar having a width sized to penetrate said slot, the opposite sides of said bar each provided with an elongated groove generally uniform in cross section, said strike member and said holder being mounted for relative movement toward each other, the length of said bar and said grooves being large in comparison to the diameter of said spherical catch members, said elongated grooves on said bar being positioned when said bar is in said slot for penetration by said spherical catch members urged by said compression springs, whereby said strike plate is yieldably held in said slot in the holder and variations in the point of engagement between said spherical catch members and said grooves do not affect the yieldable connection between the holder and the strike member whereby the vertical relationship between the holder and the strike member is not critical in the direction the grooves extend and the door holding device will function despite sagging of the door to which part of the door holding device is attached.

3. A door holding device in accordance with claim 2, said means closing the outer end of each bore comprising two adjustment screws threadedly secured within said bores, respectively, each of said adjustment screws maintaining the respective compression spring in position for resiliently projecting the respective spherical catch mem- 389,605 Shaw et a1 Sept. 18, 1888 her toward the inner end of the respective bore, each of 650,059 Almonte May 22, 1900 said adjustment screws being adapted for rotation Within 2,038,835 Frost Apr. 28, 1936 the respective bore for variation of the amount of com- 2,453,935 Quigley et a1 Nov. 16, 1948 pressive force exerted by the respective spring against the 5 2,993,718 Ahlgren July 25, 1961 respective ball catch member. FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent 134,312 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,485 France Sept. 30, 1935 269,806 McArthur Dec. 26, 1882 10

Claims

1. A DOOR HOLDING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A HOLDER AND A STRIKE MEMBER HAVING A STRIKE PLATE, SAID HOLDER COMPRISING A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A VERTICAL SURFACE AND COMPRISING AT LEAST A FRONT WALL, A REAR WALL, A BOTTOM WALL, AND TWO SIDE WALLS, SAID HOUSING BEING FORMED WITH A VERTICAL SLOT EXTENDING THROUGH AT LEAST SAID FRONT AND BOTTOM WALLS, SAID BOTTOM WALL BEING THICK IN COMPARISON TO SAID FRONT, REAR, AND SIDE WALLS AND HAVING TWO COAXIAL BORES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SLOT RESPECTIVELY, AND EACH HAVING AN INNER END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SLOT AND AN OUTER END, THE INNER END OF EACH BORE BEING REDUCED IN SIZE IN COMPARISON TO THE REMAINDER OF THE CORRESPONDING BORE, TWO SPHERICAL CATCH MEMBERS LOCATED IN SAID BORES RESPECTIVELY, THE DIAMETER OF EACH OF SAID CATCH MEMBERS BEING LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF THE INNER END OF THE CORRESPONDING BORE, WHEREBY THE CATCH MEMBERS ARE RETAINED IN THE BORES, TWO COMPRESSION SPRINGS IN SAID BORES FOR RESILIENTLY PROJECTING SAID SPHERICAL CATCH MEMBERS TOWARD THE INNER ENDS OF SAID BORES RESPECTIVELY, WHEREBY PORTIONS OF SAID CATCH MEMBERS PROTRUDE INTO SAID SLOT, SAID COAXIAL BORES AND SAID CATCH MEMBERS IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID REAR WALL, WHEREBY EITHER THE PORTION OF SAID SLOT IN SAID FRONT WALL OR THE PORTION OF SAID SLOT IN SAID BOTTOM WALL CAN SERVE AS AN ENTRANCE TO RECEIVE SAID STRIKE PLATE AND MEANS CLOSING THE OUTER END OF EACH BORE, RESPECTIVELY, SAID HOLDER BEING FORMED WITH A SEAT CUT OUT OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND EXTENDING AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SLOT, CUSHIONING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID SEAT ADAPTED FOR CONTACT BY SAID STRIKE PLATE, SAID STRIKE PLATE COMPRISING A BAR ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A SECOND SURFACE, SAID BAR HAVING A WIDTH SIZED TO PENETRATE SAID SLOT, THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BAR EACH PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED GROOVE GENERALLY UNIFORM IN CROSS SECTION, SAID STRIKE MEMBER AND SAID HOLDER BEING MOUNTED FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD EACH OTHER, THE LENGTH OF SAID BAR AND SAID GROOVES BEING LARGE IN COMPARISON TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID SPHERICAL CATCH MEMBERS, SAID ELONGATED GROOVES ON SAID BAR BEING POSITIONED WHEN SAID BAR IS IN SAID SLOT FOR PENETRATION BY SAID SPHERICAL CATCH MEMBERS URGED BY SAID COMPRESSION SPRINGS, WHEREBY SAID STRIKE PLATE IS YIELDABLY HELD IN SAID SLOT IN THE HOLDER AND VARIATIONS IN THE POINT OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID SPHERICAL CATCH MEMBERS AND SAID GROOVES DO NOT AFFECT THE YIELDABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOLDER AND THE STRIKE MEMBER WHEREBY THE VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOLDER AND THE STRIKE MEMBER IS NOT CRITICAL IN THE DIRECTION THE GROOVES EXTEND AND THE DOOR HOLDING DEVICE WILL FUNCTION DESPITE SAGGING OF THE DOOR TO WHICH APRT OF THE DOOR HOLDING DEVICE IS ATTACHED.