Automatic closure mechanism for double-acting doors

In combination with a door, a door frame defining an opening for said door, a door post, post support means for rotatably mounting said door post to said door frame so as to determine an axis of rotation for said door, and door support means for connecting said post and door so that said post and door can rotate as a unit on said axis, an automatic door closure comprising:

• a roller fixed relative to said door frame;
• a cam surrounding said door post, said cam having a contoured surface engaged with said roller;
• means coupling said cam to said door post so that (a) said cam will rotate with said post about said axis of rotation and (b) said cam is capable of limited movement relative to said door post along said axis;
• and
• biasing means resiliently urging said cam along said axis in a first direction to maintain said contoured surface engaged with said roller;
• said contoured surface being formed so that (a) when a turning force is applied to said door to cause it to rotate about said axis to an open position, said cam is forced to rotate with said post and simultaneously to move relative to said post along said axis in a second direction against the force of said biasing means, and (b) when said turning force is removed, said biasing means and said roller coact to force said cam to move along said axis in said first direction and simultaneously to rotate so as to restore said door to a closed position.

Door mounting hardware comprising:

• a door post;
• means for attaching a door panel to said door post so that said post and panel will rotate as a unit;
• first and second bearings surrounding said door post, said bearings being adapted to be secured to a door jamb so as to determine an axis of rotation for said door post;
• a roller;
• means for attaching said roller to said door jamb in fixed relation to said door jamb;
• a cam surrounding said door post, said cam having a contoured surface engaged with said roller;
• first and second cooperating means on said post and said cam respectively for coupling said am to said door post so that (a) said cam, said door post and said door panel are rotatable as a unit about said axis of rotation, and (b) said cam is capable of limited movement relative to said door post along said axis of rotation;
• and
• a spring resiliently urging said cam in a first direction along said axis of rotation so to maintain said contoured surface in engagement with said roller;
• and
• means for adjusting the force exerted by said spring on said cam;
• said contoured surface being formed so that (a) when a turning force is applied to said door panel so as to cause it to rotate about said axis of rotation to an open position, said cam is forced to rotate and simultaneously move along said axis in a second direction against the force of said springs, and (b) when said turning force is removed, said spring and said roller coact to force said cam to move along said axis in said first direction and simultaneously to rotate so as to restore said door to a closed position.

In combination with a door frame that defines a door opening, and a door that comprises a door panel, an elongate round door post, and door support means connecting said door panel to said post so that said post is fixed relative to said door panel, apparatus comprising:

• a roller adapted to be secured to a side member of said door frame in a fixed position;
• a cam surrounding said post having a contoured surface for engagement with said roller;
• coupling means for mechanically coupling said cam to said post so that (a) said cam must rotate with said post when said post rotates about an axis of rotation and (b) said cam is capable of limited movement relative to said post along said axis, said coupling means comprising first and second mutually cooperating means on said cam and post respectively;
• and
• compression spring means for resiliently urging said cam along said axis in a first direction to maintain said contoured surface engaged with said roller;
• said contoured surface being formed so that while engaged with said roller (a) if a turning force is applied to said door to cause it to rotate about said axis to an open position, said cam will be forced to rotate and simultaneously to move along said axis in a second direction against the force of said compression spring means, and (b) if thereafter said turning force is removed, said compression spring means and said roller will coact to force said cam to move along said axis in said first direction and simultaneously to rotate so as to restore said door to a closed position.