US1652643A - Spring-door closer - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,643 G. L. SHERWOOD SPRING DOOR CLOSER Filed Feb. 21, 1925 aj ar.

Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES,v

PATENT OFFICE.

GLENN L. SHERWOOD, OF BUCHANAN, MICHlIGAN, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 AUGUSTUS F. KLASING,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-DOOR CLOSER.

The present invention relates to improvements in spring door closers.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a spring door closer which will exert its greatest spring tension on the door when the door is substantially closed. This is a decided advantage over the action of the majority of prior spring door closers, in which the pressure applied to the door diminishes as the door moves to closed position and as the tension of the spring slackens. The result of this diminishing eifort applied to the door is that frequently the door will not close all the way but will remain slightly This is particularly true with screen doors where there. is no latching bolt to hold the screen door closed, and in the slamming of such a door to closed position it will often rebound and remain slightly ajar.

Another object of my invention is to provide aspring door closer which will elfectively close the door without slamming. The slam of a door is caused. for the most part by the momentum of the door rather than by the actualpull of the spring at the instant of closing. I have reduced the momentum of the door by providing a spring closer which, in the wide open position of the door, operates through a relatively, ineflicient length of etiective lever arm through which the spring can exert comparatively little force on the door; consequently, in the initial part of its movement towards the closed position, the door receives a small part of the spring energy and starts towards its closed position with a slow motion. As

the door continues to move towards its closed.

position the elfective length of this lever arm decreases so that the spring, therefore, is enabled gradually to apply more effort to the door; but before the door has an opportunity to gain any great momentum it has moved to its. closed position. At this time the spring is operating through the most efii cient length of the lever arm and, consequently, the door is firmly held in its closed position.

A further object of the invention is to attain the foregoing objects in a pull type of spring door closer which is adapted for pulling the door towards the closing device in moving the door to its closed position. A spring door closer of this type is frequently the only type which it is practicable to em ploy in certain situations. WVith an outwardly opening outside door, a push type of closer must be mounted outside for pushing the door closed and the unattractive appearance of this closing device on the outside of the house or building is objectionable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring door closer of the above type characterized by a resiliently extensible. connecting link between the spring urged arm and the door. This resiliently extensible connecting link permits a greater range of movement of the door than would otherwise be possible.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means for adusting the tension of the spring of the door closer. Another object of my invention is to provide a spring door closer which can be detached almost instantly from its operative position on the door jamb when the full width of the door Way is desired for moving furniture, etc. through the door way, and can be again very quickly attached.

A further object of my invention is to provide a spring door closer, a considerable part of which can be made up from stampings, and which is otherwise simple and inexpensive to constructand very durable in service.

The invention consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of certain preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying draw-- ings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the principles of my invention and before mounting in operative position on the door jamb;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the device, mounted in operative position and showing in dotted lines changed positions of the door;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the unit, viewed from the right in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a modified arrangement for mounting the device on the door jamb; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are front elevational and modified em- I the door way 8, being supported on outside hinges 12 which permit the door to swing outwardly through approximately a full half circle. The spring closing device of my invention is arranged to be mounted on the hinge jamb 9 in position to pull the door towards it to the closed position.

The closingdevice comprises a bracket 14.- formed as a U-shaped sheet metalstamping consisting of the back wall 1 1 and the two parallel side arms 1 1*. Pivoted between the side arms 14" is a swinging lever or radius arm 15 which is also preferably constructed as a sheet metal stamping. It consists of the web or back wall 15 and the two laterally bent side walls 15 which preferably taper in width towards the outer end of the lever. This arm or lever is pivoted between the arms 141 of the bracket 14 on a pivot 16 which preferably consists of a short section of tubing passed through aligned apertures in the side arms 1 1 and the swinging arm 15. One end of this tubular pivot is held against axial displacement by riveting over the end thereof, as indicated at 17 in Fig. 3,*and the other end is held by the adjustable spring tensioning arm 18, which I shall presently describe. 4

7 Coiled about the pivot 16 is a flat spiral spring 19 which has its inner end til-zed in a slot in the tubular pivot, as indicated at 21 in Fig. 2. The outer end of the spring is extended along the inner side ofthe back wall 15 of the arm 15 and is then turned outwardly through a slot 22 in this back wall, thereby securely fastening this end of the spring to the arm 15. It will be noted that this spring is wound to rotate the arm 15 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2.

' As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the side walls 15 of the arm 15 are punched together, as indicated at 15, to bring the apertures 23 in these side walls close together for receiving the hook end 24 of thetension spring 24-. This tension spring functions as a resiliently extensible connecting link for connecting the arm 15 to the door 11. A non-extensible link may be employed where the door has a comparatively limited angular movement, but where it is intended that the door more through approximately 180 it is desirable to employ the spring 241. This spring will be subject to very little stretching while the door is moving to approximately the first dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, but when the door approaches the fully open position, represented by the second dotted line position, the spring stretches and accommodates this continued movement.

Y As a. simple method of connecting this link to the door 11 a hook 26 may be screwed into the door in appropriate position to receive this link; although any other connecting means may be employed.

The foregoing unit, consisting of the bracket 14:, arm 15 and link 2%, is adapted for detachable mounting on the jamb 9 through the instrumentality of the pad or mounting plate 28. This plate is secured fast to the jamb 9 in close proximity to the door 11 by screws2 Along the vertical edge adjacent the door the plate is formed with a right angle flange 31 which forms a. marginal stop 101' we outer-edge of the bracket 1 1:. Along the edge remote from the door the plate is formed with an inwardly turned or hook flange 32 under with the opposite edge of the bracket 1 1 is adapted to be inserted. The upper and lower edges of the plate 28 may be provided with right angle marginal flanges 33 to prevent the bracket from slipping up or down relative to the plate. In mounting the bracket on this plate the rear edge of the bracket is first inserted under the inwardly turned flange 32 and then the bracket is swun into position to bring its outer edge against the other flange 31. The hooking of the spring or link 2 1 to the screw 26 places the spring 19 under tension, which reacts through the bracket to hold its base wall 1 1 pressed tight against the plate, the flange 32 preventing the rearedge oi the bracket from being pulled outof the plate as a result of this spring tension. lVhen it is desired to remove the door and the spring closing device, as for giving a full width of unobstructed door way for the moving of furniture, etc, the link 2 1 is merely unhooked from the screw hook 26. This removes the tensionalv reaction of the spring from the bracket and enables the bracket to he slipped out of the plate 28 instantly.

For adjusting the tension of the spring 19 I have provider. thearm 18which consists or a short length of stilt wire having one end turnably inserted in openings in the protruding uppereud of the tubu ar pivot 16, the other end of the wire ht ing a laterally depending hook portion 37. which is adapted to be received in a notch 88 cut in the front edge of the bracket 14, the extrem- 1ty of said last named end terminating in a handle portion 37 In adjusting the spring. the hook 37 is disengaged from the notch and the wire is then turned substantially 180 on its axis to bring the handle portion 37 into an upwardly extending position; the arm now serves as a crank for turning the pivot member 16 thereby placing the spring under the desired tension. -When the spring has been properly tensioned the arm 18 is iii? turned back on its axis to the position shown in the drawings. The shape of the arm and the tension of the spring are such as to maintain the arm in locked engagement with the bracket.

If desired, thefront side of the bracket 14 may be closed by bending a front wall 39 into the place indicated in Fig. 2, either from one of the arms 14 or from the base portion 14. Similarly, the pivot end of the arm 15 may be partially enclosed by forming inwardly extending circular walls 15 from the side walls 15 around the spring 19.

In the operation of the device, it will be observed from Fig. 2 that as the door is swung open the spring arm 15 will be revolved around in a counterclockwise direction under the pull of the link 24. As the arm 15 moves out away from the jamb it will be seen that the effective lever arm thereof continuously increases. This lever arm or radius arm is measured as a line perpendicular to the link 24 passing through the center of the pivot 16. Vhen the door is in closed position this radius arm is very short, as will be noted from Fig, 2. \Vhen the door has been moved to open position the spring arm 15 lies in a position in continuation of the bracket 14 or in a position in front of the bracket, and at such time this effective radius arm from the link to the pivot is. at its maximum length. Consequently, when the door starts to close, the spring 19 must exert its pulling eflort on the door through this relatively long radius arm. As a result the door starts to close with a slow even motion. The radius arm continuously increases with the closing movement of the door but no strong pull is exerted on the door until the door is practically closed and consequently the door does not have an opportunity to gain sufficient momentum to slam. lVhen closed, however, the relatively short length of radius arm enables the spring to exert its maximum pull on the door, thus holding it firmly in latched or closed position and preventing any rebound.

The adjustability of the spring tension atforded by the adjusting arm 18 enables the device to be readily. adapted to any weight of door, so that in all ins ances the door will have a slow even closing motion. Owing to the long length of the spring 19 relative to its deflection in the opening and closing movements of the door, the tension of the spring does not change materially between the different positions of the door.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the mounting plate is adapted to be secured in place over the door stop or jamb member 41 by screws 42 and 42. The plate 40 is provided with a tail portion 40 which serves as a spacer between the door frame and the plate 40. Initially the portion 4O is placed at such an angle that it will accommodate stop or j amb members 41 of the maximum thickness. Should any particular jamb member be relatively thin the driving of the screw 42 to aid in bringing the main. portion-of the plate 40 against the face of the jamb will force the portion 40 to straighten out to the necessary extent. This arrangement is easy to install on any ordi nary jamb, no cutting away of the jamb or bending of the plate with a hammer or other tool being required. The struck out hook portions 4O serve to engage the edge of the web portion 14 of the bracket in the same manner as the hook portion 32 heretofore described.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown another form of my invention embodied in or associated with the hinge of the door. The hinge comprises the relatively long leaf 43, which is adapted to be screwed to the door, and the relatively short leaf 44 which is secured to the door frame. These't-wo hinge leaves have the usual pintle sockets 45 for receiving the pintle 46, which in this instance is removable for ready removal of the door.

Projecting from the front of the leaf 43 is a ribbed arm 47 having a backwardly turned flange 48 which forms a socket 4!). A similar socket 50 is formed at the edgeof the other hingeleaf by a curved flange 51.

Sprung between these two sockets is a spring toggle mechanism 52 comprising the two U-shaped links 53 and 54. These links have eyes formed at their adjacent ends through which passes a pivot member 55. A helical spring 56 surrounds this pivot member and has its respective ends hooked over the sides of the two U-shaped links. This spring toggle mechanism is preferably releasable from one or both hinge leaves; in the construction shown link 54 being permanently secured in the socket 50, and the link 53 being releasably snapped into the other socket 48. Thispermits the toggle unit to be snapped into position after the hinge leaves have .been secured to the door and door frame and also permits ready disassembling of the hinge when it is desired to remove the door. By making the toggle unit releasablefrom both leaves, toggle units having different weights of springs may be substituted for doors of different sizes.

As viewed in Fig. 6, the direction of action of the spring 56 is such as to tend to fold the two links 53 and 54 together in a direction away from the hinge pivot 46. In the closed position of the door the two links lie at a slight angle to each other so that as the door is opened the toggle joint breaks outwardly, which is contrary to the direction of action of the spring. Hence, as the door is opened a greater tension will be given the spring and when the door is re- Jan leased this spring tension, tending to fold the two toggle links in the other direction,

will operate to swing the door back to closed position. i

I do not intend to limit my invention to the details of construction shown and described, except only in so far as certain of the appended claims are specifically so limited, as it will be obvious that modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a spring door closer, the combination of a bracket comprising a back wall and two spaced. arms extending therefrom, a pivot extending between said arms, a lever comprising a web portion and two lateral s ions, a spring coiled about said pivot be said side portions, one end of said spring being connected to said pivot and the other end to said lever, a spring adjusting arm connected to said pivot for rotating it to tighten the spring and adapted to be ro tated into position to engage the bracket for holding the spring in tightened condition, and a link pivotally connected to said lever and adapted to be attached to the door.

2. In a spring door closer, the combination of a stamped metal bracket comprising a back wall and substantially parallel arms extending therefrom, a pivot extended between said arms, a lever journalled on said pivot between said arms comprising a web portion and two laterally turned side portions, a spiral ribbon spring coiled on said pivot between said side portions, and a helical spring having its ends pivotally. connected to said lever and adapted to effect attachment to the door.

3.'A spring door closer, comprising in combination a mounting member for the face of a door jamb adjacent to the inner face of a door, a bracket, means on the mounting member for holding the bracket when given 7 a swinging movement toward the door into position, an arm swingingivmounted on said bracket, a spring adapted normally to swing the arm in the direction corresponding to the closing movement of the door, and. connections between said arm and said door where-' by power is normally applied to the door for closing it and the bracket is pressed toward the door for holding it in operative position on the mounting member.

4:. A spring door closer, comprising in combination a bracket, means adapted to grip said bracket and to hold it in operative position when swung in one direction, and

yielding means having an effective bearing on said bracket and said door tending normally to hold the door closed and to hold the bracket from swinging in the direction for release from operative position.

5. A spring door closer, comprising in combination a bracket, means adapted to grip said bracket and to hold it in operative position on a door jainb when the bracket is swung toward the door, and a spring having an effective bearing on said bracket and said door tending to swing them toward each other and serving to hold the bracket in operative position and to hold the door yieldingly closed.

A spring door closer, comprising in combination a mounting plate for the door jamb having a shoulder at the side thereof disposed toward the door and a hook at the side thereof disposed away from the jamb, a bracket insertable into engagement with the mounting plate by a swinging movement toward the door and held by such engagement against further swinging movement toard'the door, and yielding means having an effective bearing on said bracket and said door tending normally to hold the door closed and to hold the bracket from swinging in the direction for release from said mounting plate.

7. A spring door closer, comprising in combination a mounting plate for the door jamb having a shoulder at the side thereof disposed toward the door and a hook at the side thereof disposed away from the door, a bracket insertable into engagement with the mounting plate by a swinging movement toward the door and held by such engagement against further swinging movement toward the door, a lever swingingly mounted on said bracket, a spring bearing on said bracket and said lever tending to hold the lever swung in the direction away from the door, and connections between the lever and the door serving to apply the spring pressure for holding the door yieldingly closed and for holding the bracket from swinging in the direction for release from the mounting plate.

' GLENN L. SHERWOOD.

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