Door furniture
Encyclopedia
Door furniture or Door hardware (North American English
) refers to any of the items that are attached to a door
or a drawer to enhance its functionality or appearance.
Design of door furniture is an issue to disabled persons
who might have difficulty opening or using some kinds of door, and to specialists in interior design
as well as those usability
professionals which often take their didactic examples from door furniture design and use.
Items of door furniture fall into several categories, described below.
See also:
. Some doors, particularly older ones, will have a keyhole
accompanying the lock.
A number of items normally accompany doors but are not necessarily mounted on the door itself, such as doorbell
s.
North American English
North American English is the variety of the English language of North America, including that of the United States and Canada. Because of their shared histories and the similarities between the pronunciation, vocabulary and accent of American English and Canadian English, the two spoken languages...
) refers to any of the items that are attached to a door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
or a drawer to enhance its functionality or appearance.
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
who might have difficulty opening or using some kinds of door, and to specialists in interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
as well as those usability
Usability
Usability is the ease of use and learnability of a human-made object. The object of use can be a software application, website, book, tool, machine, process, or anything a human interacts with. A usability study may be conducted as a primary job function by a usability analyst or as a secondary job...
professionals which often take their didactic examples from door furniture design and use.
Items of door furniture fall into several categories, described below.
Closer
A door closer is a mechanical device that closes a door that is open.Hinges
A hinge is a component that attaches one edge of a door to the frame, while allowing the other edge to swing from it. It usually consists of a pair of plates, each with a set of open cylindrical rings (the knuckles) attached to them. The knuckles of the two plates are offset from each other and mesh together. A hinge pin is then placed through the two sets of knuckles and usually fixed, to combine the plates and make the hinge a single unit. One door usually has about three hinges, but it can vary.Handles
Doors generally have at least one fixed handle, usually accompanied with a latch (see below). A typical "handle set" is composed of the exterior handle, escutcheon, an independent deadbolt, and the interior package (knob or lever). On some doors the latch is incorporated into a hinged handle that releases when pulled on.See also:
- Doorknob - A knob or lever on an axle that is rotated to release the bolt.
- Crash barCrash barA crash bar is a mechanism for unlatching a door, consisting of a spring-loaded metal bar fixed horizontally to the front of the door and hinged...
Locks
A lock is a device that prevents access by those without a key or combination, generally by preventing one or more latches from being operated. Often accompanied by an escutcheonEscutcheon (furniture)
An escutcheon is a general term for a decorative plate used to conceal a functioning, non-architectural item. Escutcheons are most often used in conjunction with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components and fixtures where a pipe, tube, or conduit passes through a wall [or other material]...
. Some doors, particularly older ones, will have a keyhole
Key (lock)
A key is an instrument that is used to operate a lock. A typical key consists of two parts: the blade, which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow, which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. The blade is usually intended to...
accompanying the lock.
Fasteners
Most doors make use of one or more fasteners to hold the door closed. Typical or common fasteners include:- LatchLatch (hardware)A latch is a type of mechanical fastener that is used to join two objects or surfaces together while allowing for the regular or eventual separation of the objects or surfaces....
- A device that allows one to fasten a door, but doesn't necessarily require an external handle - Bolt - A (nearly always) metal shaft usually internal to the door, attached by cleats or a specific form of bracket, that slides into the jamb to fasten a door.
- Latchbolt - A bolt that has an angled surface which acts as a ramp to push the bolt in while the door is being closed. By the use of a latchbolt, a door can be closed without having to operate the handle.
- DeadboltDeadboltA dead bolt or dead lock , is a locking mechanism distinct from a spring bolt lock because a deadbolt cannot be moved to the open position except by rotating the lock cylinder. The more common spring bolt lock uses a spring to hold the bolt in place, allowing retraction by applying force to the...
- Deadbolts usually extend deeper into the frame and are not automatically retractable the way latchbolts are. They are typically manipulated with a lock on the outside and either a lock or a latch on the inside. Deadbolts are generally used for security purposes on external doors in case somebody tries to kick the door in or use a tool such as a crowbarCrowbar (tool)A crowbar, a wrecking bar, pry bar, or prybar, or sometimes a prise bar or prisebar, and more informally a jimmy, jimmy bar, jemmy or gooseneck is a tool consisting of a metal bar with a single curved end and flattened points, often with a small fissure on one or both ends for removing nails...
or a hammerHammerA hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
and screwdriverScrewdriverA screwdriver is a tool for driving screws and often rotating other machine elements with the mating drive system. The screwdriver is made up of a head or tip, which engages with a screw, a mechanism to apply torque by rotating the tip, and some way to position and support the screwdriver...
etc.
- Strike plateStrike plateA strike plate is a metal plate affixed to a door jamb with a hole or holes for the bolt of the door. When the door is closed, the bolt extends into the hole in the strike plate and holds the door closed...
- A plate with a hole in the middle made to receive a bolt. If the strike is for a latchbolt, it typically also includes a small ramped area to help the bolt move inward while the door is being closed. (Also known as just "strike") It's also available as electric strikeElectric strikeAn electric strike is an access control device used for doors. It replaces the fixed strike faceplate often used with a latchbar . Like a fixed strike, it normally presents a ramped surface to the locking latch allowing the door to close and latch just like a fixed strike would...
which allows you to open the door even though the mechanical lock is locked.
Accessories
Numerous devices exist to serve specific purposes related to how a door should (or should not) be used. See:- Door closerDoor closerA door closer is a mechanical device that closes a door, in general after someone opens it, or after it was automatically opened. Choosing a door closer can involve the consideration of a variety of criteria...
- A device that closes an open door - Door damper - A hydraulic device employed to slow the door's closure
- Door knockerDoor knockerA door knocker is an item of door furniture that allows people outside a house to alert those inside to their presence. A door knocker has a part fixed to the door, and a part which is attached to the door by a hinge, and may be lifted and used to strike a plate fitted to the door, or the door...
- Door stop - used to prevent the door from opening too far or striking another object
- EspagnoletteEspagnoletteAn espagnolette is a locking device, normally mounted on the vertical frame of a French door or casement window. A handle or knob is connected to a metal rod mounted to the surface of the frame, at about three or four feet above the floor. Operating the handle rotates the rod, which has hooks at...
(for a window) - FingerplateFingerplate (door)A fingerplate is a plate that is fixed to a door near the handle or keyhole. It can be made of metal, plastic, ceramic or glass. It purpose is to prevent people's fingers from smudging the door....
- Letter boxLetter boxA letter box, letterbox, letter plate, letter hole, mail slot, or mailbox is a receptacle for receiving incoming mail at a private residence or business...
or mail slot - PeepholePeepholeA peephole is a small opening through which one may look.In a door, a peephole allows people inside the security of seeing outside without opening the door...
A number of items normally accompany doors but are not necessarily mounted on the door itself, such as doorbell
Doorbell
A doorbell is a signaling device typically placed near a door. Most doorbells emit a ringing sound to alert the occupant of the building to a visitor's presence, when the visitor presses a button. Many modern doorbells are electric — they are actuated by an electric switch...
s.