IMPROVE MENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Brampton, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN LOCKS."
Sealed the 10th May 1870, and dated the 15th November 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Brampton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th November 1869.
I, FREDERICK BRAMPTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of
locks in the manner herein-after explained, whereby a lock of great
simplicity and security is produced at a very low cost.
The said lock consists essentially of two circular disks or plates of
metal connected together at their centres, one of the said disks being
capable of rotating upon the other. The axis about which the rotating

page_text: disk turns constitutes the pin upon which pipe of the key works.
The motion of the moveable disk is limited by a stud on the fixed
disk taking into a slot in the moveable disk. In the moveable disc
and close against the axis upon which it turns a series of four or other
number of holes is made, and the key, which is a simple pipe with a
cross end for turning it, has on its acting end a series of projections of
a size and shape proper to engage in the said holes in the moveable
disk. The edge of the fixed disk is turned at right angles to the said
disk, and a slot is cut in tho said turned edge and also in the disk of a
size proper to admit of the staple of the lock. The moveable disk has
also a slot cut in its edge, which opens into a curved slot extending
about one quarter round the disk. That portion of the moveable disk
between the said curved slot and the edge of the disk constitutes a
curved bolt, which when the moveable disk is turned by the key
passes through the staple, and fixes the said staple and the lid or other
article to which it may be fixed. In fixing the lock to a box or other
article a mortice or opening of a circular form has to be cut, in which
the fixed disk is inserted. The keyhole, which is cylindrical, has a
metallic lining, between which lining and the pin or axis on which the
pipe of the key works there is a tubular space only large enough to
permit the pipe of the key to pass. The said space is not sufficiently
large to permit of the introduction of any picking instrument or tool.
In order to give where required greater security the holes in the
moveable disk may have close-fitting projecting pieces pressed in them
to different levels by springs. In this case the acting end of the key is
made of a figure suitable to depress the said projecting pieces to the
required depths respectively before it can turn the moveable disk and
shoot or withdraw the bolt. Where required the fixed disc may have
that part in which the staple enters plain instead of curved, or instead of
the said fixed part being in the form of a disk it may be square or of
other required figure.
In order to adapt the lock to shoot a bolt in a rectilinear direction the
moveable disk may be geared to the bolt by a pin and slot or other-
wise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Brampton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
BRAMPTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
"
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Frederick Brampton, Her special
licence that I, the said Frederick Brampton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick Brampton,
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," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Frederick Brampton, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands 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 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 Frederick Brampton, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of
locks in the manner herein-after explained, whereby a lock of great
simplicity and security is produced at a very low cost.
The said lock consists essentially of two circular disks or plates of.
metal connected together at their centres, one of the said disks being
capable of rotating upon the other. The axis about which the rotating
disk,turns constitutes the pin upon which the pipe of the key works.

page_text: The motion of the moveable disk is limited by a stud on the fixed disk
taking into a a slot in the moveable disk. In the moveable disk and close
against the axis upon which it turns a series of four or other number of
holes is made, and the key, which is a simple pipe with a cross end for
turning it, has on its acting end a series of projections of a size and
shape proper to engage in the said holes in the moveable disk. The
edge of the fixed disk is turned at right angles to the said disk, and a
slot is cut in the said turned edge and also in the disk of a size proper
to admit the staple of the lock. The moveable disk has also a slot
cut in its edge, which opens into a curved slot extending about one
quarter round the disk. That portion of the moveable disk between tho
said curved slot and the edge of the disk constitutes a curved bolt, which
when the moveable disk is turned by the key passes through the staple
and fixes the said staple and the lid or other article to which it may be
fixed. In fixing the lock to a box or other article a mortice or opening
of a circular form has to be cut, in which the fixed disk is inserted..
The keyhole, which is cylindrical, has a metallic lining, between which
lining and the pin or axis on which the pipe of the key works there is
a tubular space only large enough to permit the pipe of the key to pass.
The said space is not sufficiently large to permit of the introduction of
any picking instrument or tool. In order to give where required greater
security tlic holes in the moveable disk may have close fitting projecting
pieces pressed in them to different levels by springs. In this case the
acting end of the key is made of a figure suitable to depress the said
projecting pieces to the required depths respectively before it can turn
the moveable disk and shoot or withdraw the bolt. Where required the
fixed disc may have that part in which the staple enters plain instead of
curved, or instead of the said fixed part being in the form of a disk it
may be square or of other required figure.
In order to adapt the lock to shoot a bolt in a rectilinear direction
the moveable disk may be geared to the bolt by a pin and slot or
otherwise.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in elevation and edge view one of the parts of a
lock constructed according to one of the arrangements of my Invention;
and Figure 2 represents in elevation and edge view the other part of

page_text: tlie said lock; Figure 3 represents the said lock composed of the parts:
Figures 1 and 2, and a tubular keyhole applied to the body of a box
or other article, the box being represented in longitudinal section and
cross section; Figure 4 represents the key of the lock. The same letters:
of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures. of the.
Drawings.
a is the fixed disk of the lock carrying the pin b, upon which the pipe
of the key works, and also a stud c; d is the moveable disk of the lock,
which disk I will hercin-after call the bolt disk. Tlic said bolt disk d
is capable of rotating about the pin b of the fixed disk a as a centre.
The motion of the bolt disk d on the fixed disk a is limited by the stud c
on the said fixed disk working in the curved slot in the bolt disk d.
In the flange or edge at of the fixed disk a and also in the said disk a
slote is made; into this slot e the staple of the lock passes as harcin-
after described. The bolt disk d has also a slot f cut in its edge,. which
opens into a curved slot 7 extending about one quarter round the disk.
By the cutting away of the metal to form the slots f, g, a curved bolt
l is left in the disc d. In the said disk d and close against the axis or
pin upon which it turns a series of four (or other number of) holes i
is made, and the acting end of the pipe % of the key Figure 4 has four
projections upon it to engage in the said holes i. The lock is fixed
in a circular mortice or opening m in the. box or other article, and tho
keyhole made in the said box or article is provided with a cylindrical
metallic lining n, between which lining and the pin or axis & on which
the pipe of the key works there is a tubular space only large enough to
permit of the pipe of the key to enter. When the lid of the box or
article is shut down the staple of the lock passes into the slot e in tho
fixed disk and also into the slot coincident therewith in front of the
curved bolt of the bolt lock d. By introducing the key, Figure 4, into
the keyhole at n and engaging its bits or projections with the holes i
in the bolt disk d and turning the key the said bolt disk moves upon
the fixed disk a, and the curved bolt is shot forward and passes
through the staple, and fixes the said staple and the lid or other articló
to which it may be fixed. The curved bolt h is withdrawn from the
staple and the lid of the box or other article unlocked by rotating the
bolt disk d in the opposite direction by the action of the key. Instead of
shooting the bolt by the action of the key, the said bolt may. be pressed.
into its shot position by a spring.

page_text: A lock having a spring bolt constructed according to my Invention is
represented applied to a box or other article in front clevation in
Figure 5, and side elevation in Figure 6 of the Drawings, the body of
the box or article, and the lid being represented in section; Figure 7
represents the lock in section detached; and Figure 8 represents the
samo in front and side elevation without the case; Figure 9 represents
the case detached; and Figure 10, the bolt disk detached; Figure 11
represents the key drawn to a smaller scale.
a is the fixed disk, and 6 the pin on which the pipe of the key works;
e is the slot into which the staple passes; d is the bolt disk. (shown
separately in Figure 10), and h is the bolt of the same, the said bolt
disk turning about the pin b as a centre. The said bolt disk d is pressed
into its shot position by the circular spring p, one end of which spring
is fixed to the shoulder p, and the other and free end bears against the
back of the bolt in the manner best seen in Figure 8. When the bolt
disk d is at liberty to move it is shot forward by the spring p, the
bolt / occupying the slot e in the fixed disk a. The bolt disk d has in
this arrangement two holes i for the bits of the key Figure 11 to
engage in, the said key having a corresponding number of bits. This
lock is provided with a case 9 (shown separately in Figure 9), the
cylindrical lining of the keyhole being connected with the said casc.
The fixed disk a is secured in the case q by closing the back edge q' of
the case upon the said disk a, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the said
disk a being kept at the required distance from the front
to permit of the motion of the bolt disk d by the ring s.
represented in the case Figure 9 before the said case is
the fixed disk a. The case q is furnished with a slot q, which slot is
fixed coincident with the slot c in the fixed plato a into which the staple
passes. The lock is fixed in the circular mortice or opening in the box
or article by pins passed through the ears t, t, at the back edge of the
casc q. The staple u fixed to the lid of the box or article is bevilled,
and the nose of the bolt is also bevilled. The normal position of tho
bolt is that represented in the Drawing, that is, it is shot forward by its
spring into the slots in the fixed disk a and case 7 of the lock. When
the lid of the box or article is shut down the bolt is pushed back
by the staple u, and when the lid has been completely shut down the
said bolt is urged forward by its spring p, and made to snap through.
the staple and fasten down the lid. To withdraw the bolt h from the
of the case q
The ring & is
closed upon

page_text: staple the key Figure 11 is introduced into the keyhole of the lock,
and its bits engaged with the holes in the bolt disk d. By turning
the key the bolt disk dis partly rotated on the fixed disk a, and the
bolt is thereby withdrawn from the staple u, when the lid may be
raised. On loosing the key the bolt returns to its shot or normal
position by the action of the spring p.
Figures 12 and 13 represent a spring lock constructed according to my
Invention in which a rectangular fixed plate is used instead of a circular
plate or disk, and in which a series of projecting pieces are fitted into
the holes in the bolt disk for giving greater security to the lock;
Figure 12 representing the lock in front clevation (the covering plate and
the tubular lining for the keyhole being removed), and Figure 13 tho
same in back elovation; Figure 14 represents the bolt disk detached.
The parts of the lock Figures 12, 13, and 14 are. marked with the same
letters of reference as corresponding parts in Figures 5 to 9 of the
Drawings. The parts by which greater security is given to the lock
consist of projecting pieces passing through the plate a and pressed
into the holes i in the bolt disk d by springs wo; or the said projections v
may be made of such a shape as to fit closely in the holes i. One of the
springs to and projections are shown separately and combined with
the plate a in Figure 15. The projecting pieces are made of different
lengths, and are thereby situated at different levels in the holes i. The
key for this lock is made of a figure suitable to depress the projections v
to the required depths respectively before the key can turn the bolt disk
d to withdraw the bolt h, that is, before the bolt disk d can be turned
the key must press the projections out of the holes i and keep them
flush with the fixed plate a. The projecting pieces may be applied
to the various forms of my Invention.
Figure 16 represents in front elevation and end elevation, and Figure 17
the same with the covering plate removed a lock constructed according
to my Invention for fastening a double staplo; Figures 18, 19, and 20
represent parts of the same separately. In this arrangement the head or
bolt part of the bolt disk d is engaged with a rectilinear sliding plate
provided with two bolts y, y, for engaging respectively with the two
staples. The action of this lock will be readily understood by an exami-
nation of the Drawings.
Figures 21 to 28 represent another lock constructed according to
my Invention, the bolt of which has a rectilinear motion; Figure 21

page_text: represents the lock in front elevation and end elevation; Figure 22, the
same, partly in section, with the covering plate removed; Figure 23
represents the fixed plate of the lock detached; Figure 24 represents
the covering plate and tubular lining of the keyhole detached; Figure
25 represents the sliding bolt detached; Figure 26, one of the springs
of the lock; Figure 27, the moveable or bolt disk; and Figure 28,
the key.
a is the fixed plate carrying the pin b, on which the pipe of the key
works; d is the bolt disk for withdrawing the sliding rectilinear bolt,
the said bolt being pressed into its shot position by the springs 1, 1,
acting respectively upon each side of the said bolt ; 2, 2, are
abutments on the fixed plato a for the stationary ends of the springs
1, 1; and 3, 3, are abutments on the sliding bolt for the other or
acting ends of the springs 1, 1. When the bolt is withdrawn the
pressures of the two springs 1, 1, being equal in amount on each side
of the bolt balance one another, and thereby cause the said bolt to
travel in a rectilinear direction. 4 is a projection on the bolts, against
which the head of the bolt disk d bears to withdraw the bolt. The
key, Figure 28, being introduced into the lock and turned to the right,
the bolt disk d turns on the fixed plate a, and its head striking against
the projection 4 withdraws the bolt. On the withdrawal of the bolt
to its full extent the head of the disk escapes from the projection 4,
and the bolt is again shot forward by the action of the springs 1, 1.
The withdrawal of the bolt is now effected by so turning the disk d
as to raiso the head of the bolt disk and cause it to strike the
projection 4 and push back the bolt . The bolt disk d is thus made
to withdraw the bolt by the turning of the key in either direction.
The parts of this lock which I have not described are constructed in
the manner hercin-before described, and are marked with the same
letters of reference.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details hercin described and
illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention, the improvements
in locks hercin-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, the construction and combination or arrange-
ment of the fixed disk or plate a and bolt disk d, h, (with or without

page_text: a spring) rotating upon the said disk or plate a, whether the said bolt
disk engages directly with the staple or actuates a bolt plate for
engaging with the staple or staples, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 20, both inclusive, of the
accompanying Drawings. Also the construction and combination or
arrangement of the fixed plate a, bolt disk d, h, and springs 1, 1, and
parts immediately connected therewith for shooting and withdrawing
the rectilinear bolt, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 21 to 28, both inclusive, of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Brampton, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
FREDERICK BRAMPTON. (L.8.)