Improvements in Self Locking and Wedging Fastening Devices..
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 21st Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1894-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self Locking and Wedging Fastening Devices..
I, AUSTIN ADAMS of Havemeyer Building New York City State of New York
in the United States of America, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to appliances designed for the purpose of fastening movable
articles, as for example doors, covers, etc., and of automatically locking the same,
and also to means whereby the said movable articles may be wedged or drawn tight
to their seat or closed position.
I provide a plate having an arched laterally projecting bracket carrying at
approximately a right angle to the same, a horizontal tubular bearing, through
which passes a shaft which is enlarged on opposite sides of the same in order to
abut against the said bearing. The said shaft carries at its opposite extremities an
outer operating handle, and an inner weighted lever, and turns freely in the bearing.
My retaining means or keeper with which the weighted lever engages consists of
two forwardly projecting jaws, sustained by a base plate in vertical line with the
jaws. When used with wide door casings the base plate may be provided with a
longitudinal extension.
To
The jaws are narrowed toward their extremities which approach each other and
are provided with a double incline. As the door is closed the weighted lever rides
upon the inclined edge of the lower jaw, and gradually turns the shaft and weighted
lever until the lever passes between the jaws and falls by gravity behind one of the
In order
same. The door is thus automatically locked solely by closing the same.
to wedge the door tight, I press the depending handle to the left, whereupon the
lever will be moved still farther along the inclined inner edge of the lower jaw,
whereupon the door will be rigidly held tight to the casing, the said opening of the
door and the closing and wedging of the same being done with one hand.
unlock the door from the inside a shaft supported by a bearing on the inner face
of the door casing carries at its extremities a handle secured to the same by a
screw, and a crank rigidly secured to the shaft. The crank engages the weighted
lever and by turning the handle the lever may be raised so as to pass between the
jaws and the door be thereby opened. My additional independent locking means
consists of either a projection or loop or eyes formed in the faces of the retaining
jaws by means of which the parts may be locked by a padlock. My fastener may
be used with either a right or left hand door.
Sioned at New York. U.S.A.. this 27th day of July 1893.
AUSTIN ADAMS,
By Fowler & Co.,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Self Locking and Wedging Fastening Devices.
1, AUSTIN ADAMS of Havemeyer Building New York City, State of New York
in the United States of America Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention relates to appliances designed for purposes of fastening movable
articles as for example, doors, covers, etc., and of automatically locking the same,
and also to means whereby the said movable articles may be wedged or drawn tight
to their seat or closed position, and it has for its object the provision of a device
simple in construction inexpensive and readily applied and operated, and also
efficient in practical use.
To attain the desired end my invention consists in the construction and arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter described.
In the drawings which form a part of this Specification
Figure represents a plan view of a fastener constructed according to my
invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 3 view in detail showing a side elevation, partly in section, of my fastener
and releasing device, and
Figure 4 is a view in detail of a modified form of lock for my fastener.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views.
A, represents a plate constructed and arranged to be bolted or otherwise secured
to the movable article to be fastened as a door, and provided with a forwardly
projecting arm A', carrying at approximately a right angle to the same, a horizontal
tubular bearing A², through which passes the shaft B, which is enlarged on opposite
sides of the same in order to abut against the said bearing. The shaft B, carries
at its opposite extremities an outer operating handle B', and an inner weighted
lever B2, and is constructed and arranged to turn freely in the tubular bearing A
The said arm A' projects a distance beyond the edge of the door etc., in order
that when the same is closed the preferably weighted lever B³ will engage a
retaining device, consisting of a bracket or base plate C in vertical line with two
forwardly projecting jaws C1, C2. I also ordinarily provide my retaining means
with an additional similarly formed base plate Co, also in vertical line with the
said jaws. The said base plates are constructed and arranged to be bolted or
otherwise secured to the stationary part, as a door casing, adjacent to the said
movable article. The object for which I have constructed the retaining means as
described, is to utilize it for narrow doors or other jambs, wherewith no other
construction of base plate is available for purposes of fastening the same, and the
advantage of the same consists in the fact that there is no tendency in practical
use of the said retaining means working loose, as the strain is practically in line
with the fastening devices of said retaining means.
This plate C is provided with two forwardly projecting jaws C1, C2, facing the
projecting arm A', the two jaws C³, C² becoming narrowed toward their extremities
which approach each other.
As the door is closed the weighted lever B' will engage the lower jaw C³, and
will ride upon the inclined edge of the same thus gradually turning the shaft B
until the lever B' assumes a horizontal position whereupon the said weighted lever
will pass between the jaws C1, C2, and then fall by gravity behind the jaw C
The door etc., is now locked by reason of the jaw C³ being located between the

page_text: handle B, and the weighted lever B³, and it will be noted that the locking of the
same has been accomplished entirely automatically, solely by pushing the door etc.,
to a closed position.
In order to wedge or effect an air tight fastening, I now press the depending
handle B' to the left, whereupon the weighted lever B2 will be moved still further
along the inclined inner edge of the lower jaw C2, whereupon the door etc., will be
drawn with great force toward and rigidly held tightly to the casing etc.
In cases where my fastening device is used on a door of a compartment, etc.,
I provide means for opening or locking the same from the inside, by providing one
of the members of my latch with unlocking means as in the present instance by
constructing the keeper member with an unlocking device, as follows: A shaft D
supported by a bearing E secured to the inner face of the door casing, carries at
its extremities a handle D' secured to the same by the screw d' and a crank D²
rigidly secured to the said shaft D. By means of the use of the set screw d', the
handle D' may be located at any desired point along the shaft D thus rendering
The crank D2
my device capable of being adjusted to door jambs of any thickness.
is constructed and arranged to engage with the weighted lever B2, and by turning
the handle D', the weighted lever may be caused to assume a horizontal position,
whereupon the same may be pushed between the jaws C', C' again, and the door
thereby opened.
It will be observed that in this case the member of my latch constituting the
keeper is provided with a manually operated device, as a handle, located within
the chamber, whereby the member may be disengaged, and the function of the
said keeper is thus not only to become engaged with my ball lever, but also
consists in forming a guide and support for the unlocking device, and also in
providing means for determining the centre both of the unlocking shaft, and also
the proper centre of the ball lever latch, whereby the parts may be readily and
quickly applied to the door and jamb.
The base plate C is cut out in order to serve as a socket or support for the
unlocking disk supporting the pin D², and the arms C1, C2, are inclined so as to
form a circular mouth in order to serve as a guide for the unlocking pin D², which
makes its rotatory movement within the said jaws until it is advanced far enough
around to clear the same. By means of the circular mouth of the keeper a centre
is formed for the shaft D of the unlocking pin D3, which centre is formed by the
intersection of two right lines, namely; a vertical line equidistant from the interior
of the socket in the base plate C, and the extremity of the jaws C', C2 and a
horizontal line midway between the highest and lowest point of the jaws C, C
and which centre must coincide with the longitudinal axis of the shaft B of the
ball latch: After the keeper C provided with the handle D' has been located and
the hole for the unlocking shaft D has been bored in the jamb J, the member A
may be quickly and readily placed in proper position upon the door, by simply
bringing the shaft B of the ball latch in alignment with the shaft D of the keeper.
It will be observed that my unlocking pin D' and base plate C form one member
when used, and are held in proper mutual relation by any suitable means as in the
present instance by the door jamb J, although if preferred as for purpose of
shipment, the rear portions of the base plate Cmay be extended entirely across
the back of the same, thus lying upon and serving as a substitute and being used
for the door jamb J.
The configuration of the member C and the locking pin D², and disk thereof,.
are so designed as to ensure a mutual harmony of parts and to allow the free
action of the unlocking means with which my inember C is provided; and the
same dual member may be more easily and quickly applied to a door jamb, than
would be the case if the keeper C and unlocking means D, D1, D2, were separate
and independent parts and did not constitute one and the same member.
I also provide additional independent locking means whereby the fastening bar
or arm and the retaining means become directly engaged and inter-locked.
Upon the inner face of the bar A' is formed a projection A, or a loop A',

page_text: Figure 4, constructed and arranged when the parts are in a closed relation to
coincide or register with the eye C³ located on the outer face of one of the
retaining jaws.
By passing the shackle of a padlock indicated by dotted lines in the drawing,
through the eye C³, the parts may be securely locked together. It is obvious that
in lieu of the eye C³, an eye C₁ may be placed in the other jaw, or if preferred
both eyes may be used in connection with the projection or loop of the bar in order,
with the aid of a padlock, to cause the parts to become directly engaged and inter-
locked whenever it may be so desired.
In case of any sagging or shrinking or looseness of the door, etc., occasioned by.
long use, my wedge fastener will draw the parts closely, and hold the same rigidly
together, and the simplicity of my fastener, the readiness with which it may be
applied, together with the efficiency of the same in practical operation renders it
applicable to a great variety of articles.
It will be noted that the jaws C1, C2, of my retaining means are of similar
construction the appliance thus being interchangeable, so as to be used with either
a right or left hand door. In use with a left hand door the handle B', will be
turned to the right in order to wedge the same, and the weighted lever B² will
ride upon the jaw C¹, which will, in this case be the lower jaw as the jaws C¹, C²
will be turned around so as to face the left, or if preferred the keeper may be
applied to the door and the latch fastened to the joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination, in a fastening device, with an arched laterally projecting
bracket attached to a door and supporting a weighted handle, of a keeper secured
to the jamb and provided with a jaw narrowed toward its extremity, whereby the
fastening device may be released and the door opened with one hand.
2. The combination, in a fastening device, with a bracket attached to a door and
supporting a weighted handle, of a keeper secured to the jamb, the jaw of said
keeper being provided with a double ineline whereby the door may be opened and
also closed and wedged tight with one hand.
3. The combination, in a fastening device, with a bracket supporting a weighted
handle, of a keeper and of means independently operated within the closed chamber
for releasing the weighted arm from the keeper.
4. The combination in a fastener with a projecting arm, provided with an
engaging device as an extension, and carrying a handle and a preferably weighted
lever, of retaining means, provided with jaws narrowed toward their extremities,
one of said jaws being provided upon its outer face with a fastening as an eye, and
also of means whereby the said parts may be directly engaged with each other.
5. The combination in a fastener with a projecting arm carrying a handle and a
preferably weighted lever, of retaining means provided with jaws narrowed
towards their extremities, and also provided with a bracket or base plate in
vertical line with said jaws, whereby any strain upon said jaws is in line with the
fastening devices of said retaining means.
6. In a latch the combination with one member consisting of a self latching
device as a weighted handle of another member constituting a keeper, the two being
respectively secured to a door and jamb, and being constructed and arranged to
become automatically engaged upon the door being closed; one of said members
being provided with a manually operated device, as a handle, located within the
chamber, whereby the members may be disengaged.
7. In a latch the combination with one member, consisting of a self latching
device as a weighted handle, of another member, constituting a keeper, and
provided with double inclined jaws, the two being respectively secured to a door
and jamb, and being constructed and arranged to become automatically engaged
upon the door being closed; one of said members being provided with a manually

page_text: operated device--as a handle, located within the chamber, whereby the members
may be disengaged.
Doted this 11th daw of Mon 1904
AUSTIN ADAMS.
By Fowler & Co.,
29, Broadway, New York, U.S.A., Agents.
AUSTIN ADAMS.
By Fowler & Co.,
29, Broadway, New York, U.S.A., Agents.