Door closer having means to neutralize the door closing force exerted thereby
First Claim
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1. In combination with a door which moves between open and closed positions with respect to a door opening in a wall, the improvement comprising:
- force means for providing a restoring force when the door is opened;
transfer means between the force means and the door for causing the restoring force to urge the door to its closed position;
neutralizing means for at least in part neutralizing the force exerted by the force means when the door is opened by an individual desiring to pass through the door opening, the neutralizing means being an air cylinder including a barrel and a piston rod which moves relative to the barrel when the barrel is pressurized and which exerts a neutralizing force on the transfer means in opposition to the force exerted by the force means; and
a valve carried by the door and connected between the air cylinder and a source of pressurized air for admitting the air to the air cylinder when activated.
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Abstract
A door closer has an air cylinder which, when pressurized, neutralizes the door closing force applied by the closer so that the door will open with relative ease. The air cylinder is pressurized through a valve which is contained within the door and is operated by a handle on the door.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In combination with a door which moves between open and closed positions with respect to a door opening in a wall, the improvement comprising:
- force means for providing a restoring force when the door is opened;
transfer means between the force means and the door for causing the restoring force to urge the door to its closed position;
neutralizing means for at least in part neutralizing the force exerted by the force means when the door is opened by an individual desiring to pass through the door opening, the neutralizing means being an air cylinder including a barrel and a piston rod which moves relative to the barrel when the barrel is pressurized and which exerts a neutralizing force on the transfer means in opposition to the force exerted by the force means; and
a valve carried by the door and connected between the air cylinder and a source of pressurized air for admitting the air to the air cylinder when activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
- force means for providing a restoring force when the door is opened;
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4. In combination with a door which moves between open and closed positions with respect to a door opening in a wall, the improvement comprising:
- force means for providing a restoring force when the door is opened, the force means including a spring;
transfer means between the force means and the door for causing the restoring force to urge the door to its closed position, the transfer means comprising an element which undergoes linear movement as the door opens and closes, the element being acted upon and urged in one direction by the spring, the element being moved in the opposite direction by the door as the door opens; and
neutralizing means for at least in part neutralizing the force exerted by the force means when the door is opened by an individual desiring to pass through the door opening, the neutralizing means being an air cylinder including a barrel and a piston rod which moves relative to the barrel and when the barrel is pressurized applies a neutralizing force to the element of the transfer means in opposition to the force exerted on the element by the spring. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
- force means for providing a restoring force when the door is opened, the force means including a spring;
- 10. In combination with a door which is mounted on hinges in a door opening within a wall and swings between open and closed positions with respect to the door opening, the improvement comprising a housing mounted on the door and containing a bore, a piston within the bore, a damping liquid in the bore, means associated with the piston to enable the piston to move rapidly through the bore in one axial direction and slowly in the other axial direction, force means for urging the piston in the direction in which it moves relatively slowly through the bore and for further exerting a closure force on the door, an air cylinder carried by the housing and including a piston rod which projects into the bore and when energized exerts a neutralizing force on the piston in opposition to the force exerted thereon by the force means, and a valve connected between the air cylinder and a source of pressurized air for admitting pressurized air to the air cylinder when actuated, whereby the force exerted by the air cylinder will at least in part neutralize the force means and the door will open with relative ease.
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13. For use in connection with an entry structure including first and second components, the first component being a swinging door which moves between open and closed positions with respect to a door opening in the second component which is a door frame, an improved door closer connected between the two entry structure components to urge the door toward and maintain it in its closed position and to further enable the door to be opened with ease, said door closer comprising:
- a housing mounted rigidly on one of the components and having a cavity provided with first and second ends;
a shiftable element in the cavity and being capable of moving therein generally toward the first end and away from the second end and vice versa;
a rotating spindle in the housing and being engaged with the shiftable element such that the spindle rotates when the element moves in the cavity; and
a linkage arrangement connected between the spindle and the other entry structure component such that the spindle will rotate on one direction and the shiftable element will move toward the first end of the cavity when the door is opened and the spindle will rotate in the opposite direction and the element will move toward the second end of the cavity when the door is closed;
a spring in the housing and urging the element toward the second end of the cavity, whereby when the door is opened, the spring urges the door toward its closed position;
a liquid in the cavity;
means in the housing for permitting the liquid to escape slowly from the portion of the cavity between the element and the second end of the cavity so that the element moves slowly toward the second end of the cavity under the force exerted by the spring when the door is not otherwise restricted; and
an air cylinder including a barrel mounted in a fixed position with respect to the housing, a piston in the barrel, and a piston rod attached to the piston and extended out of the barrel into the cavity of the housing through the second end of the cavity, the piston rod being oriented to exert a force on the element in opposition to the force exerted thereon by the spring when the barrel is pressurized behind the piston, whereby when the air cylinder is energized, the force of the spring will be partially neutralized, allowing the door to be opened with ease. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
- a housing mounted rigidly on one of the components and having a cavity provided with first and second ends;
Specification