Interior Doors, Wardrobes, Cupboards, and the like.
Year: 1885

page_text: Interior Doors, Wardrobes, Cupboards, and the like.
I, JAMES WOODWARD, of the firm of B. Walters and Company, of 154 North
Street Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, lock manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING HEMI-
SPHERICAL-ENDED LATCHES FOR INTERIOR DOORS, WARDROBES, CUPBOARDS, AND
THE LIKE, to be as follows:-
The class of latches to which this invention relates is that commonly known as
"Bales' latches."
Bales' original latch consisted of a ball or spherical bolt pressed, by means of a
spiral spring contained in a cylindrical case, partially through a fore-plate carried
in the edge of the door or part to which the latch was fixed. This ball, as the
door was closed, came in contact with the striking-plate and was thus forced in
against the pressure of the spring, and as the door came into its closed position the
ball entered partially into a hole in the striking-plate. According to this arrange-
ment, however, less than half the ball projected in front of its fore-plate or the
entire ball would have been forced through, and consequently therefore a com-
paratively small force pressing against the door was sufficient to open the door
when latched by forcing the end of the bolt out of the staple.
In order to give a greater hold in the striking-plate, and at the same time permit
of the door being forced open by pressure as described the bolt has since been
modified by forming it as a hemispherical or somewhat more than hemispherical
head having a shank thereto passing through the end of the cylinder or case
containing the spiral spring, and in the backwardly projecting part of such shank a
cross-pin has been fixed to form a stop to the forward movement of the bolt. This
arrangement allows a hemispherical end to project in front of the fore-plate, and
answers the purpose admirably as far as the latching of the door is concerned, but
the projection of the shank at the back of the case necessitates more of the joinery
being cut away in fixing the latch.
Now, according to this invention, the bolt head is formed to project a hemesphere
in front of the fore-plate, and is provided with a collar or rim to bear against the

page_text: inside of the fore-plate when the latch is out and thus prevent the bolt head from
being pressed through the fore-plate. The ordinary spiral spring is employed in
a plain cylindrical or other case at the back of the fore-plate, as in the case of
Bales' original invention. According to this invention, therefore, all the advan-
tage is secured of the improvements already described on Bales' invention, with
the advantage of having no unnecessary projection from the case and with the
advantage also of economy in the manufacture of the latch.
If, desired a short shank may be formed at the back of the head of my improve
bolt, of a diameter to pass inside the spiral spring, but of such a length as not to
necessitate its passing through the back end of the case.

page_text: Improvements in Self-acting Hemispherical-ended Latches for
Interior Doors, Wardrobes, Cupboards, and the like.
I, JAMES WOODWARD, of the firm of B. Walters and Company, of 154 North
Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, lock manufacturers, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of
reference marked thereon (that is to say):-
The class of latches to which this invention relates is that commonly known as
Bales' latches."
Bales' original latch consisted of a ball or spherical bolt pressed, by means of a
spiral spring contained in a cylindrical case, partially through a fore-plate carried
in the edge of the door or other part to which the latch was fixed. This ball, as
the door was closed, came in contact with the striking-plate and was thus forced in
against the pressure of the spring, and as the door came into its closed position
the ball entered partially into a hole in the striking-plate. According to this
arrangement, however, less than half the ball projected in front of its fore-plate or
the entire ball would have been forced through, and consequently therefore a
comparatively small force pressing against the door was sufficient to open the door
when latched, by forcing back the end of the bolt out of the staple.
In order to give a greater hold in the striking-plate and at the same time permit
of the door being forced open by pressure as described, the bolt has since been
modified by forming it as a hemispherical head with a short cylindrical part at the
base of the hemisphere and having a shank on the back of the cylindrical part
passing through the back end of the cylinder or case containing the spiral spring;
and in the backwardly projecting part of such shank a cross-pin has been fixed to
form a stop against the back end of the case to the forward movement of the bolt.
This arrangement allows a hemispherical end to project in front of the fore-plate,
and answers the purpose admirably as far as the latching of the door is concerned,
but the projection of the shank at the back of the case necessitates more of the
joinery being cut away in fixing the latch than in the case of Bales' original latch.
Now, according to this invention, the bolt head is formed to project a hemisphere
in front of the fore-plate, and is provided with a collar or rim to bear against the
inside of the fore-plate when the latch is out and thus prevent the bolt-head from
being pressed through the fore-plate. The ordinary spiral spring is employed in
a plain cylindrical or other case at the back of the fore-plate, as in the case of
Bales' original invention. According to this invention, therefore, all the advantage
is secured of the improvements already described on Bales' invention, with the
advantage of having no projection from the back of the case and with the advantage
also of economy in the manufacture of the latch.
If desired, a short shank may be formed at the back of the head of my improved
bolt, of a diameter to pass inside the spiral spring, but of such a length as not to
necessitate its passing through the back end of the case.

page_text: This invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the fore-
plate and case of my improved self-acting hemispherical-ended latch, shewing the
bolt and spring in elevation, and figure 2 is a detached view of the bolt. The fore-
plate A, case B, and spring C, are of the usual construction with this class of latch,
but the bolt D is provided with an enlargement E at the back of the fore-plate so
as to form a collar or rim to bear against the inside of the fore-plate, as shewn,
when the latch is out, and thus prevent the bolt head from being pressed com-
pletely out through the fore-plate. The part of the bolt shewn as passing through
the fore-plate is cylindrical, and the part of the bolt projecting from the fore-plate
is hemispherical. a is a shank formed on the back end of the bolt to assist in
keeping the spiral spring in position, but such shank, though preferred, is not
essential. The shank a, when employed, is of such length as will ensure that it
does not jam against the back end of the case as the bolt is moved inwards in
striking.
It is not essential for the purpose of this invention that a collar or rim be formed
to bear against the fore-plate (though such is the most convenient construction for
the purpose) as any stop formed upon the bolt in position to bear against the inside
of the fore-plate when the bolt is out may be employed, such for instance as a pair
of studs or a pin passing through the bolt and projecting on each side.
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 in respect of self-acting hemispherical-ended latches for interior doors;
wardrobes, cupboards, and the like, is:-
:-
1. An enlargement upon the part of the bolt within the case so as to form a
collar or rim to bear against the inside of the fore-plate when the latch is out (or
other stop upon the bolt in position to bear against the inside of the fore-plate
when the bolt is out), substantially as described and shewn and for the purpose set
forth.
2. The combination of the short shank a with the enlargement E (or with other
stop, as described, to bear against the inside of the fore-plate when the bolt is out),
substantially as described and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
L 1