US2149375A - Doorknob - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFI DOORKNOB Harry H. Wiebe, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 20, 1937, Serial No. 170,066

4 Claims.

My invention provides an improved doorknob and processes for producing the same; as generally stated the invention consists of novel devices, combination of devices and successive steps of manipulation hereinafter described and claimed.

The improved doorknob is adapted for general use, but is particularly desirable for use in hospitals, hotels, and the like, where, not only the damage-to woodwork or walls, but also noise produced by bumping of the doors, is a serious i objection. This improved doorknob meets all of the conditions for the particular purpose noted and will be found serviceable for general use.

16 The improved doorknob is illustrated in the accompanying drawing Wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to' the drawings:

, Fig. 1 is a perspective showing a portion of the 20 door equipped with a latch, and of the improved door knobs.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the knob.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of F'g. 2; and

25 Fig. 4 is an elevation showing some parts broken away and some parts indicated by dotted lines showing the normal and also the distorted shape of the rubber ball or core that is inserted into the cavity of the door knob.

30 The door 5 is equipped with a latch 6 that is operated by and secure to angular shaft 1, to the ends of which the door knobs are applied. The door knobs 8 are preferably a casting and are provided With shanks 9 Which are telescoped on 35 to the ends of the latch rod 'l and secured there-to by set screws IU.

The interior of each knob is f'ormed with a large cavity II that is preferably spherical and, at the face of the knob, is formed with a some- 40 Whatl contracted annular neck flange l2 that afiords an opening of considerably less diameter than the cavity Il.

A soft rubber filler, or ball l3; is forced into the cavity H through the contracted neck 45 flange I2. This ball i 3 is normally of considerably greater diameter than the cavity II, (see full lines Fig. 4), so that a considerable portion of the ball will project out of the front face of the knob. The ball l3 is provided with a dia- 50 metric passage through which is passed a clamping screw M. When this clamping screw is inserted through the ball and screwed into the internally threaded shank 9 of the knob and then is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3, the

55 outwardly projecting portion of the soft ball will be distorted and spread to form an outstanding elastic bumper flange around an outwardly fiaring axial cavity l6.

The outer front edge of the knob is formed With an annular groove in Which is inserted an 5 annular tire-like rubber bumper l'l.

At the bottom of the flaring cavity iii there is placed a luminous device, such as a body or coating |8 applied on the head of the screw M and covered by transparent crystal. This crystal 10 i9 will be held in place by the inwardly bulging of the flexible portions of the rubber body. In Fig. 1 the numeral indicates metal plates applied to the door and through which the latch rod 'l is passed. 'These plates have the customary 15 annular flanges 2! in Which the inner ends of the knob shanks are rotatedly seated.

In the foregoing, it is evident that the knob described vvill meet the desired conditions and will eliminate noise due to swinging the doors against 20 the walls or the like. Moreover, the bumper rings 7 give the operator a good non-slipping grip on the knob.

The process involved consists of forming the knob with internal cavity having a contracted entrance passage, forcing through said entrance passage and into said cavity a soft rubber-like body of greater volume than can be contained in said cavity, thereby leaving a portion of said fiexible body projecting outward through said entrance passage, and finally in subjecting said flexible body to pressure on a line diametrically thereof and axially of said entrance passage to thereby spread the projecting portion of said body to form an annular cushioning fiange out- Ward of said knob. Whereas, the resilient balllike filler l3 is preferable and is described as being of rubber or rubber composition, it Will be understood that the term rubber has been used in a broad and liberal sense to cover any resilient material and desired characteristic such for example as synthetic rubber or synthetic rubber composition.

What I claim is:

1. A doorknob having a large cavity with contracted entrance passage, a soft rubber-like body forced into and filling said cavity with a portion thereof projecting outward through said entrance passage, and a clamping device applied diametrically through said body axially of said entrance passage and applying distorting force to said body and causing the outer portion of the latter to spread and form an annular buifer fiange at the exterior of the knob.

2. A doorknob having a large recesswith contracted entrance passage at the axis of the knob, a soft rubber-like body forced into and fillling said cavity, With a portion thereof projecting out- Ward through said entranoe passage, and a olamping screw applied diametrically through said body axially of said entrance passage and provided at its outer end With a head Which -applies distorting force to said body and causes the outer portion of the latter to spread and form an annular buifer flange at the exterior of the knob.

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