US2096740A - Wicket construction - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26, 1937. w. FRANKEL WICKET CONSTRUCTION Filed Jul'y 9, 1934 FIGB L. E. wm R Y mam NF/NR E o VM T @MMM L WY B Patented Oct. 26, 1937 Unirse star sare-sr orFIcE i 28 Claims.

This invention relates to wicket construction.

It is an object of the invention to provide, for a wicket construction to be arranged in connection with a door structure, a single unitary construction having a number of features coordinated and desirable for inspection ofjandcommunication with, an individual outside an enclosure, e'iciently and without danger. Y

It is an object of the invention to provide, in association with a wicket construction, elements for an alarm-creating device, the association of the elementsy being capable of eiiectuation Without, in any manner, marring the appearance of the door structure.

The single unitary device, so mounted at a door, may have means to permit one Within an enclosure to determine, without disclosing his own actions, what is proceeding on the other' side of the door. Such element may have means toi permit conversation to take place, at will, between persons on opposite sides of a door. In that same single unit, there may be associated means for identifying the particular apartment or room or similar location for which such door is' provided; and means, such as a knocker, for giving an alarm at the door, which knocker, in turn, may have means upon which to position, for retention thereon, letters or similar items.

The wicket structure may include a plurality Y of closures, mounted to cooperate with an opening in the door. in one specific construction, one of the closures is designed to carry the other. Furthermore, one of the closures may be provided Vwith a device which permits one, without difficulty, to look through the door opening in one direction, while interfering with and making difiicult any attempt to glance through the opening in the other direction. One of the closures may be provided with an Velement which, as theolosures jointly move automatically to closed position, will function to latch theclosures in position,'thus to prevent anyone from looking or speaking through the opening. Merely by engaging this latch, a person within the enclosure may swing the entire arrangement out of the way, and. then carry on conversation through the opening, if he so desire.

In specic construction, the invention involves Y the association of the transparent element with the closure means of a simple casing structure by which its assembly, quickly and eciently, and without danger ci breakage of the transparent elements which generally are of glass, may be eifectuated. In this instance, a reflecting element is utilized for setting up interference with any- (Cl. 2li-39) ones vision when he attempts unauthorizedly to spy into a dwelling through the opening. The mirror, which may be of any well-known type,

may be guarded against destruction or injury,

during its use, but without interferencewith the light-transmitting properties of the mirror device, by means such as the interposition of another element, such as an additional piece of glass.

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter be set forth, or will be apparent from the description and the drawing, in which is illustrated one type of wicket construction capable of carrying out the invention.

The invention, however, is not intendedto be restricted to any particular construction or arrangement of parts, or to any particular application of such construction, or to any specific manner of use, or to any of various details thereof, herein shown and described, as the same may be modied in various particulars, or be applied in many Varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, the wicket construction herein illustrated and described merely being of one of various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied. Y On the drawing, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which are disclosed preferred embodiments:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a wicket construction embodying features of the invention, shown as mounted upon a door, the door beingl broken away; y

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational View of the construction shown in Fig. 1, one of the closures being shown in dotted lines in its normallyclosed position, and in full lines in one of its open positions;

Fig. 4 is a view'of a detail of the construction, shown in perspective; and i Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the front face of one of the movable closures of the wicket construction,.illustrating a detail of construction.

The type of wicket construction I0, shown on the drawing, is especially adapted for use in conjunction with metallic doors. The invention, however, is not intended to be so limited, except possibly in some of its very specic elements of construction, since, by a simple change in, one or more `of the disclosed elements, the invention may be applied in many other associations, without departure from the principles of invention herein to be detailed. Construction I0, as here shown, includes an escutcheon plate I2,.a knocker I4, a back-plate I6, a spring door I 8, and a gravity closure 20. The construction is here shown. associated with a door 22, through which an opening 24 is formed. Plate i6 of the construction is mounted on the inner face 26, and plate I2, at the outer face 28 of the door, in the manner to be detailed.

Plate I6 may be made up in any desired manner and take any desired form; in the type shown, it is an elongated casting having a thin plate-like wall 38. One effective type of construction was found Where each of the several parts, viz, plate IE, spring door I8, and gravity closure 28, was of thin cross-section. At a central portion of wall 38 an opening 32 is provided.

This opening, when plate I6 is properly assembled, is substantially of the same contouring as, and thus cooperates properly with opening 24, to permit one to speak through the door.

Escutcheon plate I2 may likewise be made in any desired manner, as by casting, and may have any desired contouring or ornamentation applied thereto, while an opening 34 is formed therethrough, this opening being dimensioned and positioned to cooperate with openings 24 and 32 when plates I2 and I6 are properly assembled on door 22.

Spaced inwardly from the edge of opening 32 in-plate I6 there may be provided a plurality of openings 3'1, preferably countersunk at face 38 to cooperate properly with heads of screws 48, so that such screws, when finally assembled, will be either below or immediately in the surface of plate IS. In this manner, face 38 will be uninterrupted in its continuous planar character, both for a neatly finished construction and for a proper cooperation with door I8.

In like manner, a number of tapped holes 42 may be formedin the rear face 44 of plate I2, arranged around opening 34 therein in the same relationship as openings 36 in plate I8. |IVhus, when screws 48 are passed through openings 36, they may be engaged with the threads of holes 42 to bring plates I2 and I6 together, and so to retain them. Rotation of plates I2 and I6, with 'relation to door 22, is to be prevented. A construction especially adapted for metal doors is here shown in which a number of openings 46 may be provided through the door. Screws 4t,

vif extended through these openings, will lock the entire assembly against any such rotation. However, other arrangements may be provided, as, for instance, a single screw passed through plate I6 and engaging only door 22 itself, asV

where such door is wooden.

At any suitable portion of escutcheon plate.l2, as, for instance, as here shown, at the top thereof, an elongated slot 48 may be defined. Rear face 58 of plate I2, immediately at slot48, may be provided with a recessed formation 52, closed at the side edges of plate I2, except as hereinafter otherwise described, but opening upwardly into a passage 54 through which a name plate, or any such device customarily used for designating the apartment or enclosure with which door 22 is associated, may be inserted into a proper relation with slot 48.

Spring door I8 is mounted to swing away from plate I6. In the construction here shown, the plate, at one end thereof, has a pair of arms 56 extending substantially parallelly therefrom. These arms have aligned openings 58 for the ree cepticn of a pin 68, there retained positively with relation to arms 56 in any desired manner. Spring door I8, which may be made by casting, is here shown with a pair of arms 62 at one end, these arms being spaced to be received between arms 56. Arms 62, in turn, have openings 64, in proper alignment with each other and so located as to be capable of alignment with openings 58. Thus, pin 68 may retain plate I6 and door I8 associated to permithingng relative movement thereof. A spring 66 may be wound around pin 68, one end of the spring being anchored in an opening 68 in a side edge I8 of door I8. The other end 12 of the spring may be left free to engage against door 22, thus to provide sufficient resilient force tending normally to move door I8 into contact with plate I6.

From plate I6, at one end, extends a lug 14. This lug may have an upwardly sloping cam surface 'I6 terminating at a notch 18, extending downwardly into the lug from its top edge. Both cam and notch are intended to cooperate with a latch 88 carried at the end of door I8 opposite arms 55. Latch 80 may consist of an arm 82 so mounted upon a pin 84 as to permit pivotal movement of the arm about the pin. Such movement is limited in two directions by a single stop 86. On upward movement of the arm, a lug 88 thereon enga-ges against top 86. 'Ihe arm normally gravitates so that its body rests against the stop. The arm further may be provided with an outwardly extending boss 90 to serve as a manipulating finger for the arm.

Arm 82, by its normal cooperation with stop 86, positions the lower edge 92 of its free end 94 to engage cam surface 16 as door I8 swings to closed position. On continued movement of door i8 in the same direction, the latch will ride up this cam surface, and finally fall, by gravitational action, into notch 18. Thus, by itsengagement in the notch,vthe arm automatically functions to retain the door against opening movement upon the application of any unwarranted force thereto, and to be released only upon a properly directed manipulation of the arm by engaging finger 98. In the latter case, after engagement of finger 88, the arm is caused to rise, and lug 88, to engage the stop. Continuing the application of this force to the finger and then simply pulling upon the linger outwardly away from the door, will swing door I8 to open position, whereupon communication through openings 24, 32 and 34 may proceed. The action of lifting finger Si] and the pull thereon are found to be substantially a single force, and function continuously for eifectuating the movement of the door to the open position.

Through door I8 is formed an opening 96, this opening being of slightly less radius than openings 24, and Sil. Associated at opening 96 is the combined view-permitting-and-interfering means 98. In this case, the meansincludes a mirror piece In one method of assembly for this type of face 522 of door I8 adjacent plate it is provided with an annular recess or shoulder It around opening 96. Within the recess is rested flange I of a ring |08. This ring may be formed substantially of Z-shaped cross-section, having another iiange I!!! extending from a wall I i2 thereof to provide a ledge i i4. f

Against this ledge is rested mirror piece IBO, with its reiiecting surface Ii' facing outwardly. One type of mirror intended for use here is that in which, upon that face oi a transparent member, vSuch as a piece of glass disposed opposite the face resting against ledge H4, has been deposited or otherwise disposed thereon a silvering or similar reflecting body.V Such body is, of course, otherwise substantially opaque, except at fine lines I8, or similar means, which may be delineated in vthe Vreflecting surface by removing the deposit from, or, in'the rst instance, leaving the glass or similar surface free of, such reflecting body. Metallic mirrors also are contemplated, in which case the glass pieces, or either of them, herein mentioned, may, for certain purposes, be eliminated. Also,.the metallic mirror, in the form of highly polished sheet metal of well-known types, may be stamped with the requisite openings to conform to the desired delineated lines H8.

In either case, when one peers through lines H8 from the side of door 22 at which plate I6 is located, no interference with sight, Yexcept for the limited outlook, will follow. On the other hand, to attempt to look through Vthe door in the opposite direction is to meet the reflection from the mirror surface, which will effectually interfere with vision in that direction. Also, one at the outside will not be aware of another making an inspection from the inside, because of the flneness of the lines, and their` ordinary black appearance against the shiny character of the mirror surface.

To protect surface H6, especiallywhere it is a deposit upon Vthe surface of a transparent member such as glass, a piece |2 of transparent material of the same or different character may be positioned immediately over surface H6 so that, when the assembled pieces VHill and |2 are positioned upon rim |22 of opening S6, and ring Hi8 is placed over the pieces and into recess |94, glass piece |29 will abut against rim |22, being of llarger diameter than opening 96. Merely by punching the metal immediately around the outer edge of recess |04, as, for instance, aty points |24, the metal at that edge will be swaged against, and then will serve to retain, flange IJ'S, and, therefore, ring |08 and the associated pieces against separation, and thus positively to fix the mirror and its protecting piece in position.

Although ring |08 may extendv somewhat from face |02, it may be of less diameter than openings 2Q, 32 and 3e. Thus, when door I8 swings to closed position, the ring and its assembled members will move into openings 24 and 32 and be snugly housed therein. In the case oa door 22 of any considerable thickness, the ring will not appear at all outside'the enclosure. In any case, the thickness of the escutcheon plate will make up for any possible extension of the ring. Furthermore, opening 32 may be bevelled off at |26, at the face immediately adjacent the ring, thus to receive snugly the extending ring element.

Door |8 may be formed wi'th an extension |28, upon which may be mounted a pin |30, providing a pivot for securing gravity closure 20, which may be made from a stamping. As can be seen, this closure normallyiwould tend to gravitate into a position barring opening 96, and thus prevent any inspection through lines H8. Thus, only when one within theenclosure moves closure ZQ-upwardly away from opening 9B, ork opens door I8, could any inspection or communication be eifected through opening 2li. When closure 2E! is moved from its normal barring position, shown in dotted lines on Fig. 3, to the full-line position there shown, by pivoting it counterclockwise'about pin |32, it may be brought to rest, as shown, with its edge resting against arm 82. A tongue |32 at the lower end of closure 20 may facilitate the manipulation thereof. Also, this tongue as well as the body of the plate will co-act with arm 82 toilprevent rotation of the plate aboutV pin |30 other than in the direction indicated to bring the plate to rest upon arm 82, and then reversely thereof. Y

Immediately adjacent the upper end of the escutcheon plate, at its rear face, a pair of notches |34 opening into recessed formation 52 and at the side edges and rear face of the escutcheon plate may be defined. These notches cooperate with the faceof the door to form bearings for lugs |36, which extend inwardly from arms |38 of knocker i4. With the assembly of plates I2 and I6 at the door, lugs |35 will be held loosely between plate i2 and the door, permitting free rocking movement of the knocker.

M- at the lower end of the knocker may strike against a contact button 42 which may be formed as anintegral part of the escutcheon plate. The knccker, if desired, may take any desired orna# mental form. In this case itis shown to include a spring nger ld, retained, by a screw |4'6, against the rear face of the knocker, and locked against rotational movement by a pair of bosses |28. Letters or similar matter may be caught vbetween finger IM and theknocker.

Vmethods of operation set forth, and in specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific description being merely of an embodiment within the spirit of the invention.

What is 'claimed as new and useful Yisz-- Y V1. A'wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guarded unobserved inspection or positive communicationthrough the opening, the construction including a closure for the opening,`the closureY including a pair of members each of which independently of the other normally tends to move to opening-closing position, one of the members` having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, the other member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein, and means'associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier in one direction but interfering with positive communication through the opening and with visibility in the other direction.

2. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guarded unobserved inspecf tion or positive communication through the opening, the construction including a closure for the opening, the closure including a pair of members `each of which normally tends to move to opening-closing position, one of the Vmembers having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, the other member being carried entirely by the first member so as normally to tend to bar that aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier in one direction but interfering with positive communication through the opening andV with visibility in the `other direction.

3. A device of the character described, includ- In such case, an extension j ing ,a communication-preventing element and a visibility barrier, the element and the barrier being associated to be mounted at anopening to control visibility andcommunication through A,

the opening, the element and the barrier being associated so that each Vby its own independent.

of interfering with visibility, the vbarrier being carried by the element, and means for retaining the element in communication-preventing position when moved into that position.

4. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guarded unobserved inspection or positive communication through the opening, the construction including a closure for the opening, the Yclosure including a Ypair of members each of which normally tends to move to opening-closing position by its own independent force, one of the members having an aperture to cooperate' with the opening, the other member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to gravitate into position for barring that aperture, the aperture having a barrierrmounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier in one direction but interfering with positive communication through the opening and with visibility in the other direction.

5. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guarded unobserved inspection or positive communication through the opening, the construction including a closure for the opening, the closure including a pair of members each of which normally tends to move to opening-closing position, one of the members having an aperture to cooperate with the opening and being hingedly mounted to move laterally toward and away'from the opening, the other member being pivotally mounted upon the rst member so as no-rmally to tend to gravitate into position for barring that aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier in one direction but interfering with positive communication Ythrough the opening and with visibility in the other direction. Y

6. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a closure for the opening, the closure including anY element and a member each of which normally tends to move to opening-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, a barrier for the aperture on the element and extending laterally from the element, the extension of the barrier being received within the opening when the element is in its normal position, the member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, and Ymeans' associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening.

7. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening Ythrough a door topermit guarded inspection or positive communication through ture, and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening. v

8. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permitV guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a mounting secured tothe door, the mounting Yhaving a passage for cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closure including an element and a member each of which normally tends to move to passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate with the opening and the passage, the member being carried by the element and normally tending to bar that aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering withA positive communication through the opening.

9. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening without the Vnecessity for opening kthe door, the construction including a mountingsecuredto the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closure including an element and a member each of which normally tends to move to passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate with the opening and the passage, an annular housing associated with the element and positioned immediately around the aperture, a barrier for the aperture within the housing, the barrier being of less extent than the passage, the housing and the barrier being received within the passage when the element is in its normal position, the member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening. g

10. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation With the opening, a closure for the passage, the closure including an element and a member each of which normally tends to move to passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate with the opening and the passage, a depressed surfaceon the element immediately Varound the aperture, an annular housing associated with the element immediately around the aperture and having a portion there-V of secured at the depressed surface, a barrier for the aperture within the housing, the barrier being of less extent than the passage, the housing and the barrier being received Within the passage when the element is in its normal position, the member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, and means asso-y ciated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening.

11. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening throughy a door to permit guarded inspection or positivecommunication through the opening without the necessity for opening the t door, the construction including a mounting at one face of the door, the mounting having a paspresse-d around the aperture, an annular band flanged in opposite directions ,atV its two edges,\

Sage for cooperation with the opening, an es` cutcheon plate at the other face of the door, the escutcheon plate having a hole for cooperation with the opening and .the passage, the mounting and the escutcheon plate being secured together toprevent rotational movement thereof relative to each other and to the door, a closure for the passage, the closure including an 'element and a member each` of which normally tends to move to passagefclosing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate with the opening and the passage, the member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, thev aperture having a barrier mounted therein, means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening, and a knocker pivotally supported in association with theY escutcheon plate, the knocker being secured in position by securing together the mounting and the escutcheon plate.

12. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded in-V spection or positive communication through the opening without the necessity for opening thel door, the construction including a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closure including an element and a member each of which normally tends to move to passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate with the opening and the passage, the element being hingedly supported 1 upon the mounting to move toward and away from the mounting, a strike upon the mounting, a gravity latch pivoted upon the element and restrained against movement below the level of the strike, the element being propelled to its normal position by resilient means, the latch being limited in its upward movement to provide a grip for moving the element hingedly away from the mounting, the member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permitvvisibility through the barrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening.

13. As an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at an opening, means forV controlling such communication and also visibility through the opening, the means including a plate member movable toward and away from the opening, the member having an aperture for rege istry with the opening when the member has been movedtoward and up to the opening, the surface of the plate member immediately contiguous to the opening when in such position being depressed around the aperture, an annular housing seated on the depressed surface, and means carried in the housing and positioned in association with the aperture for governing visibility through the opening, the visibility-governing means having a surface for reflecting light into the eyes of an unauthorized observer at one face of the member.

14. As'an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at an opening, means for controllingV such communication and also visibility through the opening, the means including a plate member movable toward and away from the opening, the member having an aperture for registry with the opening when the member has been moved toward and up to the opening, the surface of the plate member immediately contiguous to the opening when in such position being dethe outwardly directed flange being seated on the depressed surface, the band defining Va housing, and means carried in the housing Vand positioned in association with the aperture for governing visibility through the opening, the VVisibility-gov?- erning means having a surface for reflecting light` into the eyes of an unauthorized observer at one face of the member.

Vi5. As an element of a cormnunication-controlling device positioned at an opening,` means for controlling such communication and also visibility through the opening, the means including a plate member movable toward and away from the opening, the member having an aperture for reg- 1 istry with the opening when the member has been moved toward and up to the opening, the surface' of the plate member immediately rcontiguous to the opening when in such position being depressed around the aperture, an annular band flanged in opposite directions at its two edges, the outwardly directed flange being seated on the depressed surface, the walls defining the depressed surface being swaged againstthe flange, thefband defining a housing, a pair of transparent mem@ istry with the opening when the member has beenmoved toward and up to the opening, the surface Y of the plate member immediately contiguous to the opening when in such position being depressed around the aperture, an annular band flanged in opposite directions at its two edges, the outwardly directed flange being seated on the depressed surface, the walls defining the de pressedsurface being swaged against the flange,

Y opening to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening, the construction'includingl a closure for the opening, the closure including a pair of lmembers each of which independently of the other normally tends to move to opening-closing position, one of the members having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, the other member being associated with the aperture and normally tending to barV that aperture, the aperture having a Vbarrier mounted therein to permit visibility but to interfere with positive communication through the opening. Y

18. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening, the con-V struction including a closure for the opening, the closure including a pair of members each Vof which normally tends Ato move to opening-closing position, one of the members having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, the other member being carried entirely by the first mem' ber so as normally to tend to bar that aperture, the aperture having a. barrier mounted therein to permit visibility but to interfere with positive communication through the opening.

19. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening, the construction including a closure for the opening, the closure including a pair of members each oi which normally tends by its own independent force to move to opening-closing position, one or" the members having an aperture to cooperate With the opening, the other member being associated with'the aperture and normally tending togravitate into position for barring that aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein to permit visibility but to interfere with positive communication through the opening.

20. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening, the construction including a closure for theopening, the closure including a pair of members each of which normally tends to move to opening-closing position, one of the members having an aperture to cooperate With the opening and being hingedly mounted to move laterally toward and away from the opening, the other member being pivotally mounted upon the rst member so as normally to tend to gravitate into position for barring that aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein to permit visibility but to interfere with positive communication through the opening,

21. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a closure for the opening, the closure including an element which normally tends to move to opening-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, a barrier for the aperture on the element and extending laterally from the element, the extension of the barrier being received Within the opening when the element is in its normal position, and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering With positive communication through the opening.

22. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening Without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a closure for the opening, the closure including an element which normally tends to move to opening-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate With the opening, the element being of slight thickness, a barrier for the aperture on the element and extending laterally from the element, the extension of the barrier being received Within the opening when the element is in its normal position, and means associated With the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening.

23. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening Without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closure including an ele,-

ment which normally tends to move to passage- 24. A wicket construction for positioning at an f opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation with the opening, afclosure for the passage, the closure including an element which normally tends to move to passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperate With the opening and the passage, a depressed surface on the element immediately around the aperture, an annular housing associated with the element immediately around the aperture and having a portion thereof secured at the depressed surface, a barrier for the aperture Within the housing, the barrierv being of less extent than the passage, the housing and the barrier being received within the passage when the element is in its normal position, the barrierV permitting visibility but interfering with positive communication through the opening.

25. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening Without the necessity for opening the door, the construction includinga mounting at one face of the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation with the opening, an escutcheon plate at the other face of the door, the escutcheon plate having'a hole for cooperation with the opening and the passage, the mounting and the escutcheon plate being secured together to prevent rotational movement thereof relative to each other and to the door, a closure for the passage, the closure including an element which normally tends to move to passage-closing position, and a knocker pivotally supported in association with the escutcheon plate, the knocker being secured in position by securing together the mounting and the escutcheon plate. Y

26. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door to permit guarded inspection or positive communication through the opening Without the necessity for opening the door, the construction including a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closure including an element to cooperate with the opening and the passage, the element being hingedly supported upon the mounting to move toward and away from the mounting, a strike upon the mounting, and a gravity latch pivoted upon the element and restrained against movement below the level of the strike, the element being propelled to itsY normal position by resilient means, the latch being limited in its upward movement to provide a grip for moving the element hingedly away from the mounting.

27. As an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at an opening, means for controlling such communication, the means including a plate member movable towards and away from the opening, the member having an aperture for registry with the opening when the member has been moved towards and up to the opening, the surface of the plate member immediately contiguous to the opening when in such position being depressed around the aperture, an annular housing seated on the depressed surface, and means carried in the housing and positioned in association with the aperture for governing communication through the opening.

28. As an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at an opening, meansY for controlling such communication, the means including a plate member movable towards and away from the opening, the member having an aperture for registry with the opening when the member has been moved towards and up to the opening, the surface o f the plate member immediately contiguous to the opening when in such Y position being depressed around the aperture, an

annular band flanged in opposite directions atY its two edges,the outwardly directed flange being seated on the depressed surface, the Vband defining a housing, and means carried in the hous-V

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