IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADLOCKS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Harby, of South Albert Road, Sefton Park,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADLOCKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Harby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1881.
THOMAS HARBY, of South Albert Road, Sefton Park, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADLOCKS."
This Invention relates to improvements on that class of padlock the shackle of
which allows of the padlock when unfastened dropping away from the loops or
staples to which it is applied, and thereby provides against fraud from the
shackle, being apparently secured while it is in fact only wedged into its locked
position.
The object of my improvements is to simplify the construction of padlocks and
to render them durable and secure.
I will first describe the arrangement which I prefer for out door use, it being
desirable in making such padlocks to secure them against the admission of rain.
The case of the padlock consists of two parts constituting together a practically
water-tight circular box. From the upper part of each half of this case projects
a horn, which horns when the parts of the case are in place constitute a divided
shackle. The deeper half of the case containing the locking mechanism is
furnished on the outer periphery of its annular rim with segment shaped fillets
which interlock with corresponding fillets formed on the inner periphery of an
annular rim on the shallow half of the case. Fitted to the deeper half of the case
is a sliding lock plate, which is retained in place by tumblers or "levers" which
catch on to a stud of the lock plate and require to be raised by the key as usual
in tumbler locks before the key can move the lock plate. Upon this lock plate is
also a stud or driver, which when the case is together enters a space between two
blocks or projections on the inner face of the shallow half of the case, and it is
through this connection that the two halves of the case are caused to move axially
Davies C21

page_text: the one upon the other when a traverse motion is given by the key to the lock
plate. By this axial motion the two halves of the shackle are brought together
and caused to interlock, their ends being rebated for the purpose, or they are
caused to recede and thus open the padlock. As an additional protection to the
padlock I fit in the deeper half of the case a slotted lever, which is recessed
laterally to receive a stud projecting from the shallower half of the case. By the
pressure of a spring a tendency is given to this slotted lever to move towards the
centre of the case and rest on the ends of the tumblers. When in this position a
shoulder in the slot of the lever will form a stop to the stud just mentioned, and
prevent the opening of the padlock. The act however of lifting the tumblers will
force back the slotted lever until its slot is in line with its stud, and the lock plate
will then be free to move under the pressure of the key to open the padlock.
To simplify this construction I may remove the slotted lever, and as a check
against forcibly opening the padlock put a second stud on the lock plate and two
additional projections on the shallow half of the case for this stud to play between.
The space in which this stud works will be at right angles or nearly so to the
space between the first mentioned blocks.
When it is not required to prevent the access of rain to the interior of the case
I may adopt the following arrangement :-
The shackle I secure by a pivot pin to the case or box, but instead of allowing
its free end to enter the case I provide for it a fixed horn or abutting piece which
rises solid like the half shackles of the first described arrangement from the upper
side of the case and forms the completion of the shackle. The abutting surfaces of
these parts may have a groove and fillet or a pin and socket to ensure their locking
together, and form a support to the movable portion of the staple. The heel of
the staple I fit with a pin which enters a hole formed to receive it in a locking
plate, and by this means the locking plate and shackle are so connected together
that the endway movement of the locking plate will raise or depress the shackle
and open or close the padlock. The locking plate is formed with two horizontal
slots, one to receive a fulcrum pin projecting from the inner face of the case, and
the other near its connection with the shackle to receive a square locking pin
which permits of the sliding of the plate but holds it firmly when pushed to the
end of its traverse, the pin at that time falling into a vertical extension on recess
of this locking slot. The locking plate which is moved by the key working against
its lower edge carries the tumbler or "lever" stud which projects as usual through
slots formed in the tumblers or levers pendent from a fulcrum pin attached to the
case. By the proper lifting of these levers a passage is opened for the lever stud
to pass, and thus allow the locking plate to slide back and open the shackle.
For the purpose of locking the padlock it will only be necessary, as in the first
described arrangement, to close the shackle by hand. This movement will draw
forward the locking plate, and allow the vertical recess of the locking plate to drop
over the square locking pin. The shackle will now be retained in its locked
position until by the application of a key the locking plate is lifted to bring the
horizontal portion of the locking slot on a level with the locking pin.
The proper adjustment of the levers by the wards of the key will then permit
of the locking plate being slidden backwards on its locking and fulcrum pins.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Harby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th November
1881.
THOMAS HARBY, of South Albert Road, Sefton Park, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADLOCKS."
This Invention relates to improvements on that class of padlocks the shackle of
which allows of the padlock when unfastened dropping away from the loops or
staples to which it is applied, and thereby provides against fraud from the shackle
being apparently secured while it is in fact only wedged in the shackle hole in its
locked position.
The object of my improvements is to simplify the construction of padlocks and
to render them durable and secure.
.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings I have shewn an arrangement of
padlocks suitable for out door use, it being desirable in making such padlocks to
secure them against the admission of rain to the interior. The case of the padlock
consists of two parts, constituting together a practically watertight circular box,
the parts composing which are capable of being turned axially the one on the
other. From the upper part of each half of this case projects a horn, which horns
when the parts of the case are in place constitute a divided shackle which is locked
and unlocked by mechanism contained within the case.
Fig. 1 shews the padlock in outside view and in its unlocked position; Figures 2
and 3 represent the two halves of the case and shackle separated to shew the
interior mechanism of the lock, Fig. 2 being the deeper half of the case containing
the locking mechanism, and Fig. 3 the shallower half carrying the studs which
connect this half of the case with the lock mechanism, the parts of the case being
connected together by interlocking concentric segment shaped rebated flanges.
In these Figures A, A, are the parts composing the circular case, and B, B¹, are
the horns projecting therefrom and constituting a divided shackle. The deeper
portion A of the case containing the locking mechanism is furnished with segment
shaped rebated flanges a, which interlock with corresponding rebated flanges a' on the
shallower portion A¹ of the case. Fitted to the part A of the casing is a sliding lock
plate C (see the detached view, Fig. 4), which is retained in place by tumbler
levers D (shewn detached at Figures 5). These tumbler levers D are pivotted to
the part A of the case and catch on to a stud c of the lock plate C. By means of
a key as is usual with lever locks these tumbler levers are raised before the key
can move the lock plate. Upon this lock plate is also a stud c¹ or driver, which
when the case is together enters a space between two blocks or projections c², c³,
on the inner face of the part A' of the case, and it is through this connection that
the two halves of the case are caused to move axially the one upon the other when
a traverse motion is given by a key to the lock plate C. By this axial motion the
two halves B, B', of the shackle are brought together and caused to interlock, their
ends being rebated for the purpose, or they are caused to recede and thus open the
padlock. As an additional protection to the padlock I pivot to the part A of the
case a slotted lever E, shewn detached at Fig. 6, which is recessed laterally to receive
a stud e projecting from the part A¹ of the case. By the pressure of a spring e' a
tendency is given to this slotted lever to move towards the centre of the case and
bear against the end of the tumbler levers. When in this position a shoulder in
the slot of the lever will form a stop to the stud just mentioned and prevent the
opening of the padlock, as shewn at Fig. 2. The act however of lifting the levers
will force back the slotted lever until its slot is in line with its stud, and the
lock plate will then be free to move under the pressure of the key to open the
padlock.

page_text: Fig. 7 shews a modification of the padlock just described, the slotted lever E being
converted into a locking bolt for preventing the axial motion of the parts A, A,
composing the case. This locking bolt is pivotted to one of the tumbler levers D,
and rises and falls therewith under the action of the key. Its lower end passes
through an opening made for it in the flange a, and enters a notch in the flange a' 5
of the case.
This bolt is slotted to receive a guiding stud a² which projects from
the inner face of the case, and serves also as a guiding stud for the lock plate.
When the bolt is in the position shewn at Fig. 7 the shackle will be closed, but on
the turning of the key to open the padlock the bolt E will rise together with its
tumbler lever into the dotted position of Fig. 7, thereby leaving the parts a, a, of 1
the case free to move axially and open the padlock.
This padlock, like that first described, may be locked by simply pressing together
the parts B, B', of the shackle. From the foregoing it will be understood that
when the parts A, A', of the case are moved axially sufficiently far to disengage
their interlocking flanges they may be taken apart to give access to the interior of 1
In order however to prevent this opening of the case it may be
desirable to insert a screw stud, as at c, Fig. 3, which on the turning of the case
will strike against the stud c³, and arrest the further axial motion of the half of
the case.
the case.
In Sheet II. of the Drawings I have shewn my interlocking padlock case adapted 2
to the use of a hinged shackle, which is locked and unlocked by the axial motion
of a part of the case; Fig. 8 is an outside view of the padlock; Fig. 9 shews the
interior locking mechanism in its locked position; Fig. 10 shews the interior of the
part A' of the case with its driving stud.
In this arrangement of padlock a shackle B (which is an undivided shackle) is
hinged to the part A of the case, and its free end enters a hasp B* formed to
receive it on the periphery of the part A' of the case. In this instance I employ a
compound locking plate C, C', the two parts composing which are shewn detached
at Figure 11. The part C on which the key acts slides as before on guiding studs
projecting from the case A, and it is furnished with a stud c, which enters a slot c'
formed in the plate C¹, for the purpose of imparting motion to that plate, and
through it to the case A¹. The plate C is pivotted on the pin which receives the
barrel of the key, and it is furnished with a lump c, which is recessed to receive a
stud projecting from the inner face of the case A¹. As therefore this plate C is
rocked it will impart an axial motion to the case A', and 'cause it to advance its
hasp B towards or withdraw it from the shackle B.
Supposing now the padlock to be in the unlocked position, as shewn at Fig. 12,
it will only be necessary in order to lock it to depress the shackle, and to shift the
relative positions of the parts A and A¹ axially, so as to bring the hasp over the
free end of the shackle, the padlock will then be securely locked, as represented at
Fig. 9, the locking stud in the tumbler levers D offering the requisite resistance, as
in the preceding examples, to the opening of the padlock. When the padlock is
required to be opened the key is applied to lift the tumbler levers, and to propel
the locking plate C, as before explained, when the plate will by means of its stud c
rock the plate C¹, and thereby through the lump c² and stud c³ turn the case A',
and cause it to withdraw the hasp from the shackle.
When it is not required to prevent the access of rain to the interior of the case I
may adopt the arrangement shewn at Figures 13 and 14, Sheet II., Fig. 13,
shewing the padlock in its locked position with the cover of the case removed,
and Fig. 14 the moving parts in their unlocked position, the case being indicated
by dots.
The shackle B it will be seen is connected by a pivot pin to the case or box A,
but instead of allowing its free end to enter the case as in ordinary padlocks, I
provide for it a fixed horn or abutting piece B', which rises solid like the half
shackles of the first described arrangement from the upper side of the case, and
forms the completion of the shackle. The abutting surfaces of these parts interlock
to provide a lateral support to the hinged shackle, which is shewn detached at

page_text: Fig. 15. The heel of the shackle I connect by means of a pin c with the locking
plate C, the movements of which under the action of the key serve to operate the
shackle. The pin c of the shackle enters a slot c¹ in the lock plate, and thus allow
of the plate C receiving a vertical motion without affecting the shackle. The lock
plate slides over fixed studs (as usual) standing up from the case. One of these
studs c² serves also as a locking stud, the slot in which it works being rebated on
its upper side to receive the stud when the lock plate is moved to the locking
position.
The locking plate, which is moved by the key working against its lower edge,
carries the tumbler or lever studs c³, which projects as usual through slots formed
in the tumbler levers D pendent from a fulcrum pin attached to the case; by the
proper lifting of these levers a passage is opened for the lever stud to pass, and
thus allow the locking plate to slide back and open the shackle. For the purpose
of locking the padlock it will only be necessary, as in the first described arrange-
ment, to close the shackle by hand. This movement will draw forward the locking
plate, and allow the vertical recess of the locking plate to drop over the squared
locking pin. The shackle will now be retained in its locked position until by the
application of a key the locking plate is lifted to bring the horizontal portion of
the locking slot on a level with the locking stud.
The proper adjustment of the levers by the steps of the key will then permit of
the locking plate being slidden backwards on its locking and fulcrum pins.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Padlocks," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent, I claim,—
First. Constructing padlocks with a divided shackle, as described with reference
to Sheet I. of the Drawings, which shackle is opened and closed by the axial
movements of a part or parts of a case, and secured in its locked position by a
locking bolt or locking stud or studs.
Secondly. Constructing padlock cases of interlocking parts, as described, whereby
I am enabled to ensure by the axial movement of those parts the locking and
unlocking of the padlock, whether the same provided with a divided shackle, as
illustrated at Fig. 1, or a hinged shackle, as illustrated at Fig. 8.
Thirdly. In combination with a hinged shackle a fixed horn or abutting piece,
as described with reference to Fig. 13 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Harby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
THOMAS HARBY. (L.S.)