IMPROVEMENTS IN PADLOCKS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES DEAN, of Walsall Road, Willenhall, in the county of Stafford, lock
manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
PADLOCKS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-referonce being had
to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.
This invention has for its object (1) to increase the security and durability of
padlocks, (2) to improve the mechanisin of self locking padlocks, and (3) to provide
a very simple arrangement of spring for throwing out the shackle immediately the
bolt is drawn back.
I will describe my invention with reference to the padlock illustrated by the
accompanying drawings, of which figure 1 is a front elevation with the cap-plato
removed in order to shew the interior mechanism, figure 2 a vertical section on
line of figuro 1, figure 3 a front clevation, and figure 4 a view looking on
the top. The same letters of reference occurring upon any two or more of the
views indicate corresponding parts. a is tho padlock case, b the shackle, the spoon
of which is in section to shew clearly the opening therein to receive the bolt,
c the sliding-plate or lower bolt carrying the levers, and d the bolt having the usual
tail piece d' against which the sliding-plate c bears to draw back the bolt. One of
the levers with its connected spring is shewn by dotted lines in its locked position
figure 1. The levers are omitted in figure 2 for the sake of simplicity of illustra-
tion. e is a feather spring bearing against a projection f on the back end of the
bolt d and keeps the bolt forward in its locked position except when held back by
the key. g is a feather spring fixed in the position shewn to bear up under the
spoon of the shackle and so throw out the shackle as the bolt is drawn back. The
spring g is shewn by dotted lines in the position it assumes after throwing out tho
shackle, and as the shackle is closed in it again compresses this spring. j is a flat
guard spring fixed at ono end by the pin and connected at its other end by means
of a stud with a taper plug or disc m fitting accurately within a taper hole in the
back of the case. The spring is set to press the plug m into the taper hole so that
n is a
the outer face of the plug may be flush with the outer face of the case.
projection downwards from the spring ; and fits within a corresponding notch in
the sliding plate c, when the latter is in its forward position, and thus, whilst this
spring is in the position shewn by figure 2, the sliding plate c cannot be moved back
by the key and the padlock cannot therefore be unlocked. When it is desired to
unlock the padlock the plug m must be pressed back by the finger. at the same

page_text: time that the key is turned, so as to bring the projection n forward clear of the
notch in the sliding plate c, when the sliding-plate is readily pressod back by the
key. The upper side of the lever against the sliding-plate c is notched as shewn to
clear the projection n when the spring j is pushed forward. As the sliding-plate is
brought back automatically by the action of the spring f, through the medium of
the tail spring d', the guard spring; (from the disc m of which the pressure of the
finger has of course been removed) again interlocks itself with the sliding-plate.
The projection n may be formed upwards into a notch into the bolt d if desired,
instead of downwards into a notch in the sliding-plate c as shewn. u is a hole
drilled partially through the back of the case from the inside to receive the pin-end
of the key, and r is a guard rim around this hole to give an increased depth thereto
and thus provide proper length of bearing for the pin in addition to answering the
purpose of a ward. This rim is formed preferably solid with the back of the case.
The hole u may be used without the guard rim if desired, but in such case it is
preferred to form the band o (presently to be described) deeper, to allow of a deeper
hole, or a boss may be used in lieu of or supplementary to this band for such
purpose. The rim also may be used without the hole u providing that the pin-
end of the key does not project beyond the bit. By these means the liability of the
lock mechanism to corrode occasioned by the entrance of rain and moisture through
a back pin-hole is obviated. The bit and pin of the key are shewn by figure 5.
o nud pare raised bands of metal down the middle of each face of the padlock
respectively. The outer face of the plug m is flush with the face of the band o, and
the key-hole g passes through the band p-and-is--covered, when not in use, by a
plates hinged at t. The plate s is shewn to be pushed back clear of the key hole
by dotted lines figure 3. The faces of both the bands o and p are scored over with
lines or a pattern to conceal-the-plate 8 and the plug-m, but especially_the_latter,
from detection, and thus prevent the lock from being tampered withī¯by-any-person-
not acquainted with its action.
I am aware that previously to the date of my invention the shackle for a padlock
has been thrown out, when unlocked, by means of a spring, and that the bolt has
been pressed forward by means of a spring in the case of self-locking padlocks, and
I claim in respect of these parts of my invention, therefore, only the construction
and arrangement of springs described and illustrated, and which I believe are new
for the purposes described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a padlock, the spring guard j with projection n and disc m constructed
and operating substantially as described and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a padlock, the hole u drilled only partially through the back of the case in
combination with the guard rim r, and also either of them used alone, substantially
as described and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
. 3. In a padlock, the feather spring e constructed and operating substantially as
described and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a padlock, the feather spring g constructed and operating substantially as
described and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this eleventh day of January 1884.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Agent for the Applicant.