Improvements in Locks and Latches.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May. 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Latches.
1, JOHN JULIA RIDGWAY residing at No. 53 Woolbine Street, in the City of
Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Locks have herctofore been constructed with divided pin tumblers within holes
that are partially in the pin cylinder or moving portion of the lock, and partially
in the stationary portion of the lock, there being springs to press the divided
pin tumblers in the opposite direction to the movement given by the key, and
when the key is inserted the pin tumblers are moved against the springs so that
the lines of division between the two parts of the tumblers coincide with the
line of division between the stationary and the movable portion of the lock, so
that the movable portion of the lock can be turned by the key in opening the lock.
Locks of this character can be opened by a person skilled in picking locks by
the insertion of a tool by which the pin tumblers are acted upon successively while
a strain is applied to the moving part of the lock to partially turn the same.
By this
The object of the present invention is to prevent any indication to the delicate
touch of the party seeking to pick the lock when the division between the two
parts of the pin tumbler coincides with the division between the stationary and
movable part of the lock, and with this object in view, a guard is inserted between
the stationary and moving portions of the lock having holes through which the pin
tumblers pass and which guard is allowed a limited movement, there being a loose
connection between such guard and the moving portion of the lock.
means the party seeking to pick the lock is unable to determine whether the
difference in the friction upon either one of the pin tumblers results from the
division in the pin tumbler coinciding with the division between the guard and
the stationary portion of the lock or between the guard and the moving portion of
the lock, and the opening of the lock is effectually prevented except when the
divisions between the two parts of the pin tumblers coincide with the line of
division between the guard and the stationary portion of the lock.
In carrying out this invention the guard is made either as a cylinder or segment
of a cylinder interposed between the stationary and the moving portions of the
lock or latch where the divided pin tumblers stand radially to the pin cylinder, or
cylindrical segment forming the moving portion of the lock; and where the
divided tumblers are parallel to the axis of motion, a plate intervenes between the
adjacent moving and stationary surfaces, and it is advantageous to provide a pin in
the moving part of the lock entering an elongated slot or hole in the guard so that
the loose connection thus formed allows the moving portion of the lock to be
partially turned before it is arrested by the pin against the end of the slot or the
enlarged hole in the guard.
These improvements are available with any lock or latch having divided pin
tumblers.
Dated this Olet dow of Mo 1805

page_text: 43333
I, JOHN JULIA RIDGWAY, residing at No. 53 Woodbine Street in the City of
Brooklyn and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Locks have heretofore been constructed with divided pin tumblers within holes
that are partially in the pin cylinder or moving portion of the lock, and partially
in the stationary portion of the lock, there being springs to press the divided pin
tumblers in the opposite direction to the movement given by the key, and when the
key is inserted the pin tumblers are moved against the springs so that the lines of
division between the two parts of the tumblers coincide with the line of division
between the stationary and the movable portion of the lock, so that the movable
portion of the lock can be turned by the key in opening the lock. Locks of this
character can be opened by a person skilled in picking locks by the insertion of a
tool by which the pin tumblers are acted upon successively while a strain is applied
to the moving part of the lock to partially turn the same.
The object of the present invention is to prevent any indication to the delicate
tonch of the party seeking to pick the lock when the division between the two
parts of the pin tumbler coincides with the division between the stationary and
movable part of the lock, and with this object in view, a guard is inserted between
the stationary and moving portions of the lock having holes through which the pin
tumblers pass and which guard is allowed a limited movement, there being a loose
connection between such guard and the moving portion of the lock. By this
means the party seeking to pick the lock is unable to determine whether the
difference in the friction upon either one of the pin tumblers results from the
division in the pin tumbler coinciding with the division between the guard and
the stationary portion of the lock or between the guard and the moving portion of
the loch, and the opening of the lock is effectually prevented except when the
divisions between the two parts of the pin tumblers coincide with the line of
division between the guard and the stationary portion of the lock.
In carrying out this invention the guard is made either as a cylinder or segment
of a cylinder interposed between the stationary and the moving portions of the
lock or latch where the divided pin tumblers stand radially to the pin cylinder
or cylindrical segment forming the moving portion of the lock; and where the
divided tumblers are parallel to the axis of motion, a plate intervenes between
the adjacent moving and stationary surfaces, and it is advantageous to provide
a pin in the moving part of the lock entering an elongated slot or hole in the
guard so that the loose connection thus formed allows the moving portion of the
lock to be partially turned before it is arrested by the pin against the end of
the slot or the enlarged hole in the guard. This improvement is available with
any lock or latch having divided pin tumblers.
In the drawing,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section representing the improved lock and the guard
with the guard as a flat disk between the end of the pin cylinder and the stationary
portion of the lock.
Fig. 2 is a detached view of the guard and its connecting pin.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section illustrating the present improvement as applied
around the pin cylinder and with the two part pin tumblers at right angles to the
key, and
Fig. 4 is an external elevation of the guard cylinder and the pin upon the pin
cylinder.

page_text: It is to be understood that the present improvement may be applied to any
character of lock having divided pin tumblers, and that the drawing illustrates the
nanner in which the present improvement may be applied to two well-known forms
of pin locks.
A represents the cylinder that is slotted for the reception of the key B, and this
cylinder A. is held in any suitable stock or cylinder, as shown by the cylinder C,
which has an internal flange 2 for holding such cylinder A in position, and in that
class of locks in which the cylinder A is provided with a stem D firmly connected
therewith and passing through the stationary portion E, such stem D is made use
of for actuating the lock or latch by the rotation of such stem D and the
cylinder C.
In other styles of locks, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, the pin cylinder A¹ within
the cylinder C¹ is provided with a cam or projection adapted to act directly or
indirectly upon the bolt to withdraw the same, and the portion E' is stationary
and forms a part of the lock case or socket within which the pin cylinder A¹ can
be turned.
In either class of locks the divided pin tumblers F are in holes that are in line
with each other in the parts A and E or A¹ and E¹, and there are springs to
project the divided pin tumblers, and the construction and mode of operation of
the parts thus far described are well known and do not require elaboration.
The present improvement relates to the guard interposed between the stationary
and movable portions containing the pin tumblers. In Fig. I this guard G is in
the form of a disk at the back end of the pin cylinder A. In Fig. 3 the guard G¹
is in the form of a cylinder surrounding the pin cylinder A'. In both instances
the holes through the guard correspond to the holes in the pin cylinder and
stationary portion of the lock, so that the divided pin tumblers slide through the
guard the same as though such guard formed an integral part of the pin cylinder,
but instead of being integral and moving therewith, these is a loose connectiou
between the guard and the pin cylinder, such loose connection being advan-
tageously formed by a pin 3 in the pin cylinder A or A¹ passing into a hole in the
guard G or G', and this hole is elongated so that the pin may have a slight
movement in the hole in the guard.
When the key is inserted the lines of separation in the divided pin tumblers are
brought to coincide with the surface of the stationary portion E or E¹ of the lock,
and hence the pin cylinder A or A' and the guard G or G turn together the same
as though they were integral and the lock can be opened as usual.
But if an
attempt is made to pick the lock by applying a rotative force to the cylinder A
or A' and the pick is applied to one after another of the pin tumblers to press them
in, the friction against the pin tumblers results from the pressure on the opposite
sides of such pin tumblers, and when the end motion brings the line of separation
between the two parts of the pin tumbler to the surface between the guard and the
cylinder A or A¹ a slight rotary movement is allowed to the cylinder A or A¹
and the party endeavouring to pick the lock finds the pressure on that tumbler
relieved, and the pick is applied to another tumbler, and when the effort is made to
open the lock the pin cylinder can only turn the extent of motion that may be
allowed by the elongation of the slot containing the pin 3 and the further
movement of the parts is effectually prevented; thus the party endeavouring to
pick the lock fails because the guard intervening between the stationary and
moving portions of the lock effectually prevents a knowledge being obtained of the
location of the line of separation between the back or outer surface of the guard
and the stationary portion of the lock, thus by the simple intervention of the guard
the picking of the lock is effectually prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The combination in a lock having divided pin tumblers and a movable

page_text: portion acted upon by the key, of a guard intervening between the movable
portion and the stationary portion and perforated for the passage of the divided
pin tumblers, and a loose connection between the same and the moving portion
of the lock, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the pin cylinder, divided pin tumblers and
stationary portion in a lock, of a guard intervening between the pin cylinder and
the stationary portion of the lock, such guard having holes for the pin tumblers,
and a pin upon the pin cylinder entering an elongated hole in the guard,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 18th day of September 1895.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicaut