IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND OTHER FASTENINGS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND OTHER FASTENINGS."-A communication from
abroad by Paul Baudet, Watch and Clock Maker, of 29, Boulevart St.
Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 24th October 1865, and dated the 29th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Cominissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
April 1865.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND OTHER FASTENINGS," to be as follows:-
Locks of all kinds, as hitherto constructed, do not indicate on the outside
whether the bolts are shot or otherwise, or whether they are singly or doubly
locked. According to this Invention I adapt an appendage to all kinds of
locks which will indicate on the outside whether they are fastened or not, or
if partially locked or otherwise. I produce this indication not only by means
of a lock itself, but also with the key when detached from the lock in such
manner that a simple inspection either of the key or lock will prove whether the
bolt is thrown or not, and what is its position.
It will be readily understood how important it is to know by means of a
key carried on ones person the state of a lock which may serve for securing
furniture, safes, rooms, travelling requisites, cabinets, or for other purposes.

page_text: I obtain this result by means of parts, appendages, or indices, with which both
the lock and key are provided, or one only of them, so that the lock and key
may furnish the indications or it may be the lock or key only. These
appendages or indices are acted on by the movements of the key in the lock
in order to open or close it, and from their displacement and the position they
occupy, I am enabled to obtain the indications above mentioned. Instead of
these indicating parts being actuated by the turning of the key in the lock,
they may be produced by the movement of the bolt or bolts or other parts of
the lock.
The means of carrying out this Invention may be greatly varied, and
depend on the description of lock to which the appendages are applied.
The Invention thus consists in improvements in locks and keys, whereby to
indicate, either together or separately at a single glance or inspection the
position of the bolt, or whether singly or doubly locked, this being effected by
the aid of appendages or movable indices with which the lock and key are
provided, and actuated either by the turning of the key in the lock or by the
bolts or other parts of the same.
Fig. 1 of the annnexed Drawing represents a central vertical section of the
indicating mechanism of this Invention; Fig. 2, a front view of the front
plate and keyhole; Fig. 3, a plan of the key, with the indicating appendages;
and Fig. 4, an end view of the key and keyhole detached. The same letters
apply to all the Figs.
a, woodwork or other part to which the lock b is fixed, the latter being
indicated by the box or frame only; c, covering plate, baving an aperture d
for the introduction of the key; e, barrel of the lock; f, key, having a screwed
part g, on which is screwed a socket h, furnished with an index i; j, feather
formed on the top of socket h, taking into a groove k made in the upper part
of barrel e for the purpose of preventing the socket from turning with the key;
1, graduations made on the barrel of the key, on which travels index i. On
turning the key in order to open or fasten the lock the socket h is caused to
slide in a rectilinear direction either forwards or backwards by means of
screw g, the index i thus traversing graduations 7, and as these are distant
from each other the exact width between each turn of the screw, the parts
may be so regulated that, supposing the lock to be unfastened, the index on
the key will point to the graduation marked "zero," and if locked will correspond
to division 1, if with one turn of the key will stand at division 2, and with two
turns at division 3. On withdrawing the key the position of the index thereon
will show at a glance the condition of the lock.
I will now describe the additional parts of the lock serving to furnish the

page_text: indications before mentioned. m, toothed segment, provided with graduations n,
and turning on a pivot o; p, fixed index hand mounted on the segment m;
r, tooth or projection, formed on key f, and gearing with the teeth of segment m.
It will be understood that by turning the key in either direction in order to
open or fasten the lock, the tooth r will cause the segment m to move a tooth
in either direction for every turn, and that thus the fixed index p, which is
previously set at zero, will show the position of the bolt.
Instead of a segment a movable barrel may be placed in the lock con-
centric with the one therein, which, if furnished with a screw thread, might
be made to move in and out of the lock to a certain extent to be shown by an
index, as in the key before described, the position of said movable barrel
showing the condition of the lock. These improvements may also be applied
to ordinary locks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lettors Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter,
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCKS AND OTHER FASTENINGS," a communication to me from abroad by Paul
Baudet, Watch and Clock Maker, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause

page_text: the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar'
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
.
Locks of all kinds, as hitherto constructed, do not indicate on the outside
whether the bolts are shot or otherwise, or whether they are singly or doubly
locked. According to this Invention I adapt an appendage to all kinds of
locks which will indicate on the outside whether they are fastened or not, or
if partially locked or otherwise. I produce this indication not only by means
of the lock itself, but also on the key when detached from the lock, in such
manner that a simple inspection either of the key or lock will prove whether
the bolt is thrown or not, and what is its position. I can also construct the
lock in such manner that a key (of the ordinary construction) cannot be taken
out without its being locked; or I can so construct it that the key cannot be
withdrawn until the bolt is shot.
It will be readily understood how important it is to know by means of a
key carried on ones person the state of a lock which may serve for securing
furniture, safes, rooms, travelling requisites, cabinets, or for other purposes.
I obtain this result, first, by means of parts, appendages, or indices with which
both the lock and key are provided, or one only of them, so that the lock and
key may furnish the indications, or it may be the lock or key only. These
appendages or indices are acted on by the movements of the key in the lock
in order to open or close it, and from their displacement and the position they
occupy I am enabled to provide the indications above mentioned. Instead of
these indicating parts being actuated by the turning of the key in the lock,
they may be produced by the movement of the bolt or bolts or other parts of
the lock.
These improvements are equally applicable to the keys of ordinary locks or
to locks arranged according to this Invention; secondly, by means of additions
to ordinary locks I can indicate the position of the lock on withdrawing
the key, 1st., by an arrangement of parts in the interior of the lock for the
purpose of retaining the key all the time the bolt is not shot or locked. For
obtaining greater security in locks and other fastenings I can employ a
secondary bolt to be actuated by the catch on which would depend the move-
ment of the locking bolt. In this manner the key cannot be withdrawn from
the lock until the bolt is shot.

page_text: The Invention thus consists, first, in improvements in locks and keys
whereby to indicate, either together or separately, at a single glance or
inspection, the position of the bolt, or whether singly or doubly locked, this
being effected by the aid of appendages or movable indices, with which the
lock and key are provided, which are actuated either by the turning of the
key in the lock or by the bolts or other parts of same; secondly, in so con-
structing locks that when an ordinary key without the addition of parts as:
above described is withdrawn from the lock, it is a proof that it is securely.
locked, it being otherwise impossible to remove the key. This object. is
attained by the application of parts to the lock for preventing the key from
being withdrawn.
The means for carrying out this Invention may be greatly varied, and
depend on the description of lock to which the improvements are applied.
The accompanying Drawings represent several methods of carrying out the
Invention, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 showing the indicating parts applied to both tho
lock and key.
Fig. 1 represents a central vertical section of a lock furnished with tho.
indicating mechanism of this Invention; Fig. 2, a front view of the front
plate and keyhole; Fig. 3, a plan of the key, with the indicating appendages';
and Fig. 4, an end view of the key and keyhole detached. The same letters
apply to all the Figures.
a, woodwork or other part to which the lock is fixed, the latter being
indicated by the box or frame only; c, covering plate, having an aperture d
for the introduction of the key; e, barrel of the lock; f, key having a screwed
part 9, on which is screwed a socket h furnished with an index i; j, feather
formed on the top of socket h, taking into a groove & made in the upper part
of barrel e for the purpose of preventing the socket from turning with the key;
1, graduations made on the barrel of the key, on which travels index i. On
turning the key in order to open or fasten the lock, the socket h is caused to.
slide in a rectilinear direction either forwards or backwards by means of
screw 9,
the index i thus traverses graduations I, and as these are distant from.
each other the exact width between each turn of the screw, the parts may be.
so regulated that, supposing the lock to be unfastened, the index on the key
will point to the graduation marked zero, and if locked will correspond to
division 1, if with one turn of the key will stand at division 2, and with two
turns at division 3. On withdrawing the key the position of the index thereon:
will show at a glance the condition of the lock.
I will now describe the additional parts of the locks serving to furnish the:
indications above mentioned. m, toothed segment provided with graduations n
:

page_text: and turning on a pivot o; p, fixed index hand, mounted on the segment m;
r, tooth or projection formed on key f, and gearing with the teeth of
segment m. It will be understood that by turning the key in either direction
in order to open or fasten the lock, the tooth r will cause the segment m to
move a tooth in either direction for every turn, and that thus the fixed index p
which is previously set at zero, will show the position of the bolt. Instead of
a segment a movable barrel may be placed in the lock concentric with the one
therein, which, if furnished with a screw thread, might be made to move in
and out of the lock to a certain extent to be shown by an index, as in the key
before described, the position of said movable barrel showing the condition of
the lock.
Figs. 5 and 6 show central vertical sections of a lock furnished with
indicating parts according to this Invention.
a, lock of ordinary construction, having movable necks or otherwise; b, plate,
on which is fixed the barrel c of the lock, and furnished with a groovo d;
e, key; f, screw thread, formed on the stem of key e; g, socket, taking into.
screwed part f of the key, and furnished with a projecting tailpiece h received
in groove d. It will be readily understood that by turning the key one way
or the other in order to open or secure the lock, tho socket g will slide
forwards or backwards by the action of the screw thread f, and so from its
position it may be readily seen whether the lock is fastened or unfastened.
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 represent further improvements in the indicating apparatus
of this Invention. Fig. 7 shows a central vertical section of a key furnished
with the indicating parts; Fig. 8, a section of same on line 1, 2, Fig. 7, while
Fig. 9 shows a plan of the parts with which the key is supplied. The same
letters apply for all three Figures.
a, lock of any suitable construction; b, plate, carrying the barrel c of the
lock, said barrel being furnished with a slot d; e, key; f, small flanged ring,
keyed eccentrically on key e, and turning with it, said ring being provided
with a small slot 9; h, ring fitting inside ring f, and turning in frictional
contact therewith; the ring his also furnished with notches i at equal distances
apart; j, collar, mounted so as to turn on the barrel of the key; k, tooth or
projection formed on collar j, and taking in notches i; 1, second projection on
collar j, received in slot d of the barrel of the lock. The parts being arranged
as described, and occupying the position shown at Fig. 7, on the key being
turned one way or the other for fastening or unfastening the lock, the ring f
alone turns with the key, the ring j being held by the tooth 1, received in
slot d, while ring is held by tooth k of ring j. The ring his held only so long
as tooth is engaged in one of the notches i, and continues to turn with the

page_text: part when said tooth is freed from the notch. On turning the key still
further round, another notch i slips on to the tooth k, the rings h and falso
continue to turn.
From the foregoing it will be seen that every time the key turns the ring h
will move round a certain extent, and supposing that its periphery bo suitably
graduated, by a single glance at the Figure shown at the opening g, the position
of the bolt will be readily ascertained.
Lastly, Figs. 10 and 11 show an arrangement by means of which the with-
drawal of the key from the lock gives proof of its being fastened, Fig. 10 being
a face view of the interior of a lock, with the additional parts applied thereto,
while Fig. 11, which is a plan of the lock, shows the action of the catch on
the said lock. The same letters apply to both these Figures.
a, box or case of the lock; b, bolt; c, ordinary key, the bit of which acts
simultaneously on the bolt by means of opening a and on spring e by the aid
of arm f; g, tailpiece formed on the end of bolt b, acting on a small lever h,
which oscillates in such manner as to present itself within the radius of the
lever or bit of the key c for a purpose herein-after mentioned; i, spring,
serving to return lever h to its first position when the bolt cuters catch j,
Fig. 11, fixed to the door or other frame; k, small supplementary bolt, one
end of which is bevilled, it being projected beyond the lock by a spring 1,
while the door or other part to which the lock is fixed is closed; m, spring,
limiting the motion of the bolt entering a notch n made therein for that
purpose; o, small pin or projection fixed to bolt k, and sliding on spring m;
P, opening for introducing or withdrawing the key shown dotted in the
Drawing.
The parts being arranged as described, the following is the action of the
lock, which in the Figures is shown as unfastened and the key as free to bo
removed. On turning the key from right to left it enters the opening d in
the bolt, and tends to cause the latter to slide were it not prevented by the
steel spring m engaged in notch n, while by turning the key from left to right
it cannot be withdrawn by reason of the tailpiece 9 of the bolt securing the
lever h in position, so as to impede the rotation of said key.
In order to fasten the lock it is necessary for it to be placed opposite the
catch j; in fact, when closing the door, shutter, window, or other part to which
the lock is fixed, the bevilled end of the small bolt is pressed back by the
angle j of the catch with a horizontal motion together with pin o, which
latter depresses spring m so as to release it from notch n. Immediately the
bolt is disengaged the key may be turned in order to shoot it into the catch j,
in which movement the tailpiece g liberates lever h, the latter being so

page_text: depressed by spring i as to present no further obstacle to the turning of
the key.
From the foregoing it will thus be seen that the key cannot be taken out
of the lock except when the latter is unfastened, and that the bolt cannot be
shot unless the lock is opposite the catch, so as to permit of its entering
therein. I also construct locks without secondary bolts, and simply adapt
thereto the arrangement herein described for holding the key while the lock
is unfastened.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the berein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the adaptation to all kinds of locks generally of parts indicating whether
they are fastened or unfastened, and also the exact position of the bolt.
These parts are to be applied to both the lock and key, or to one only of them,
whether to keys of the ordinary manufacture or to locks and keys constructed
especially for the purposes of this Invention.
Secondly, I claim so constructing locks that the withdrawal of a key of the
ordinary manufacture will be a proof that the lock is fastened, and as herein-
before described.
Thirdly, I claim to ensure further security adapting a secondary bolt to locks
last above mentioned for liberating the principal bolt, and actuated by the
catch, all as herein described.
In witness, whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JAMES DAISHI,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK.
(L.S.)