IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR STREET AND OTHER DOORS, AND WINDOWS, AND OTHER SIMILAR OPENINGS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hancock, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR STREET AND OTHER
DOORS, AND WINDOWS, AND OTHER SIMILAR OPENINGS."
Sealed the 25th April 1879, and dated the 12th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hancock at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1878.
HENRY HANCOCK, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FASTENINGS FOR STREET AND OTHER DOORS, AND WINDOWS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
OPENINGS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in fastenings for street and other
doors and windows, and other similar openings, and consists of the following arrange-
ment I make the spindle whereon the centre knob of the door is placed revolving,
and of sufficient length to allow of a second centre knob being affixed thereto on the
inside of the door, in order that the mechanism presently described may be actuated
either from the interior or exterior as required, and I place around the edge of the
door any suitable number of bolts which are connected by means of chains or their
equivalents, attached to a suitable metal disc affixed to the centre spindle on the
inside of the door, so as to allow of such bolts being thrown forward or backward
by turning the inside or outside door handle and causing the spindle to revolve.
One of such bolts and chains (hereafter called the main horizontal bolt) is placed
in a horizontal line with the lock of the door, and such main bolt has a suitable
slotch plate securely affixed to the end thereof in any convenient manner, or such
slotch plate may be cast on the end of such main bolt. A suitable stud or its equi-
valent conveniently placed in the interior of the lock takes into the slot formed in
such plate so as to securely hold it in position, at the same time that the slot is of
D....611

page_text: sufficient length and width to allow the plate to move freely to and fro, when the
bolt to which it is attached is thrown forward or backward by turning the door
handle. The slotch plate is made of such dimensions that when the bolt is thrown
forward the plate projects over the aperture of the key hole, and so totally prevents
any possibility of the lock being picked or otherwise tampered with, and in order
to obviate all risk of such plate being forced back and so afford greater security I
place a suitable spring, either just above or below the door spindle, or if preferred
springs may be placed both above and below such spindle, the action of which
spring or springs is regulated as follows:A small cog wheel is conveniently placed
inside on the spindle of the door above or below the disc or base plate before men-
tioned, while suitable arms or projections are formed inside upon the spindle, which
arms or projections actuate the before mentioned spring or springs and either cause
them to gear into or release them from the teeth of the cog wheel. By inserting a
suitable regulating key into an aperture formed in the door just behind the door
handle, and by turning this key slightly to the right or left as desired the arms or
projections formed on the spindle, as also the cog wheel and springs, are brought into
action, and so either cause the slotch plate to be held fast over the keyhole of the
door or to recede therefrom. The aperture through which the regulating key is
inserted from the inside is perforated through the entire thickness of the door so
that such key may also be applied from the outside when desired, and in order to
conceal such aperture from observation I fit a suitable sliding plate over the same
on the outer side. It will thus be seen that in order to simply prevent the lock
from being picked it is only necessary to turn the centre door handle either from
the inside or outside, and so cause the slotch plate to be thrown across the keyhole
of the lock; but when desired to secure the door for the night, or otherwise, by in-
serting the regulating key before mentioned, such plate may be firmly secured over
such keyhole so as to resist all attempts to force the same back.
In adapting my improved door fastening to strong room doors and other similar
places where great security is required, the springs may be multiplied and each
spring actuated and governed by an independent key of a different formation.
My improved fastening may also be adapted to windows provided with hinged
shutters.
I would also remark that it may be readily adapted to existing locks, and that in
order to simplify the arrangement for ordinary purposes the supplementary bolts
and chains first mentioned as being placed round the edge of the door may be dis-
pensed with and only the main horizontal bolt and chain retained.