The Anglo - Scottish team in 1813 were noted for their mechanical contrivance designed to stop doors (and windows) from being blown in by the wind (a somewhat similar problem that Mr Norton faced) hinted at in a snippet from their patent, below.
"A pneumatic apparatus for preventing the sudden closing of a door. Air is received into a cylinder or collapsible receptacle, and the door cannot be completely shut until the air is expelled or squeezed out."
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qlrlE-6wJisC&pg=PA21-IA33&dq=william+bullock+james+boaz+patent+1813&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzkY6UkcrjAhVIecAKHerXAycQuwUISzAG#v=onepage&q=william%20bullock%20james%20boaz%20patent%201813&f=false