Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
I CHARLES FREMONT HILL, Machinist and Millwright of the town of Middle-
branch, in the County of Stark, in the State of Ohio, one of the United States of
America, 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:
This invention relates broadly to locks and specifically to door knobs, and has
for its object to provide, in connection with door knobs, a permutation or combina-
tion of lock by means of which the two knobs on opposite sides of the door
which are normally out of engagement with each other and independently
rotatable, may be engaged with each other so as to cause both knobs to rotate or
turn together for shifting the door lock. The knob upon the inside of the door
is always in operative engagement with the lock, and the knob upon the outside
of the door may only be used for operating the door lock by working the combina-
tion so as to engage the outer knob with the inner knob. The construction also
provided for permanently locking the two knobs so that they will turn together,
thus obviating the necessity of working the combination during the day time.
With the improved door knobs the necessity for carrying a key with which to
operate the door lock is obviated.
To the above end, the invention consists in certain novel features and details
of construction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and
incorporated in the claim hereto appended.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional view through a pair of door knobs and their attachments,
showing the same applied to a door, the door lock being omitted to avoid
confusion;
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section through the inside knob, showing the
arrangement of the nested tumblers or disks;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inner knob with the cap removed to show
the internal mechanism;
Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the same parts;
Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the latch for holding the operative
parts of the inner knob in locked relation.
Figure 6 is a section taken about centrally and transversely of the knob spindle
looking toward the inner surface of one of the escutcheon plates;
Figure 7 is a similar view looking toward the other escutcheon plate.
Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several
figures of the drawing.
The improved knobs and the locking mechanism therefor are adapted to be
used in connection with any ordinary mortise lock. The outer knob and the
inner knob 2 are both hollow and of substantially cylindrical shape, as shown in
Figure 1. In the outer knob 1 is a lever pivoted at one end, as shown at 4,

page_text: and extending diametrically within the knob, said lever being provided at its
opposite end with a pivoted plunger 5, which passes through an opening in the
inner side of the knob where it is. provided with a push button or head 6,
whereby the plunger may be pushed inward for vibrating the lever 3 for a purpose
hereinafter described. Arranged in the inside knob 2 is another lever 7, which
is pivoted at one end, as shown at 8, and which extends diametrically within the
knob, the free end of said lever being provided with an offset 8 on its inner edge
for engaging the notches in the tumblers hereinafter described. The free end
of the lever 7 is guided by a slotted bracket 9, the slot in which limits the vibratory
movements of said lever, and both the levers 3 and 7 are connected at medial
points by means of a wire or rod 10, the said rod extending through the hollow
knob spindle and serving, when the lever 3 is vibrated to simultaneously and
correspondingly vibrate the lever 7.
The inside knob has connected rigidly thereto a hollow spindle section 11,
which extends into the lock case, where it is provided with a squared outer
surface similar to other spindles, for the purpose of engaging operatively the lock
mechanism of the door. The outer knob 1 also has rigidly connected thereto a
spindle section 12 which passes into the section 11 and through said section into
the inner knob. 2. The spindle section 12 may either be tubular or it may be
solid and provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the wire or rod 10 and
permit the longitudinal movement of the latter. Upon the inside of the outer
escutcheon plate is a spring 13, the free end of which bears against a polygonal
collar 14 fast on the spindle section of the outer knob, said spring serving to
steady the, movements of said knob, and most important of all to indicate to the
person working the combination the proper distance to turn the outer -knob for
throwing the working parts of the knob into engagement for coupling the two
knobs together and enabling the door to be opened. The opposite escutcheon
plate on the inside of the door also carries a spring 15 upon its inner side, the free
end of said spring bearing against the spindle section 11 for steadying the move-
ments thereof and compensating for any looseness where the improved knobs are
applied to old locks and preventing the same from turning too freely while
working the combination. The lever 7 is actuated in an outward direction by
means of a spring 16 which is preferably in the form of a piece of spring wire
coiled as shown at 17 around the fulcrum pin of the lever 7 and having one
terminal hooked to engage the inner edge of the lever 7 for forcing the same
outward, while the opposite terminal of the spring is hooked to engage the bracket
or post 18 upon which the lever 7 is fulcrummed.
Mounted loosely in the inside knob is a series of disks or tumblers, three of
such discs or tumblers being shown, although, of course, the number may be
increased or diminished at will without departing from the spirit of this invention.
These disks are designated by the numerals 19, 20 and 21, the disk 19 being
innermost and the disk 21 being outside. Each of said disks is provided with an
annular rim 22 indicating the outer rim which is on the disk 19, 23 the inter-
mediate rim which is on the disk 20, and 24 the inner rim which is on the
disk 21. Each of the disks is also provided with an inwardly extending sleeve
portion 25, and these sleeve portions are nested or telescoped one within the other
and all are mounted to revolve freely within the hub portion 26 of the inside
knob 2. Each of the rims 22, 23 and 24 is provided at a certain point with an
open slot or notch 27, and in working the combination it is necessary to bring all
of the notches of the several rims into alignment so that when the lever 7 is
rocked inward at its free end, the offset 8 of said lever will enter said notches,
thereby locking the several rims together and effecting a turning of the inside
knob when the outer knob is turned. The disk 19 of the inner rim 24 is
constantly locked to the spindle section 12 by means of a collar 28 fast on said
spindle section provided with a radial projection 29, which enters a notch 30 in
the rim 24. Each of the rims is also provided with either inwardly or outwardly
extending projections 31, the said projections consisting of short screws which

page_text: pass radially through said rims so that the projection on one rim will engage the
projection on the next adjacent rim, whereby when one rim is rotated it is adapted to
take up and rotate the adjacent rim. The inner rim need only have a projection
on its outer surface and the outer rim need only have a projection on the inner
surface, while the intermediate rim should have projections on both its inner and
outer surfaces. All of these projections are located in the same plane, so that
upon the rotation of the rims, said projections must necessarily engage each
other. These projections, which are in the form of screws, are also adjustable,
and this is accomplished by providing each of the rims with a plurality of
threaded perforations 32, so that its screw may be removed and placed in any one
of the perforations. This enables the combination to be changed at will.
33 designates a latch which is in the form of a transverse shaft or spindle 34
journaled in the inside wall of the knob and also in the bracket 9, above described.
This shaft is provided exteriorly of the knob, and upon the inner side thereof
with a lever or handle 35 wherewith it may be turned, and said shaft is provided
at a suitable point with a segmental projection 36 adapted to be rocked into the
path of the lever 7 and so as to bear against the outer edge of said lever for the
purpose of holding the lever inward in engagement with the notches 27 in the
rims 22, 23 and 24. This permanently couples the two knobs together and enables
them to be worked the same as ordinary knobs during the day time. In the
evening, or when it is desired to protect the house, the latch 33 is thrown out of
engagement with the lever 7, thus leaving the lever free to rock outward thereby
allowing the knob to turn independently and the combination to be destroyed,
thus preventing unauthorized persons from entering the house, the house being
accessible only to those who are acquainted with the combination.
By means of the construction above described, the necessity of carrying a key
for operating a door lock is entirely obviated. It is only necessary for a person
acquainted with the combination to turn the outer knob a sufficient number of
times to set all of the tumblers in motion. The knob is then stopped at a pre-
determined point, for instance with the button or head uppermost. This brings
the notch in the outer rim 22 in position to receive the offset 8 of the lever 7.
The knob is then rotated in a reverse direction a predetermined distance so as to
bring the notch of the intermediate rim into alignment with the notch in the
outer rim and also into position to receive the lever 7. The direction of the knob
is now again reversed and the knob is moved a certain distance, thereby bringing
the notch in the inner rim 24 into alignment with the other notches, whereupon
the plunger 5 may be pressed inward, thus rocking the lever 3 and consequently
the lever 7 and bringing the offset into interlocked engagement with the
notches 27. By now turning the other knob the inner knob will be correspond-
ingly turned and .by reason of the engagement of its spindle with the door lock,
the lock will be operated and the door may be opened. The inside knob is
provided with a removable portion or cap 37 whereby access may be had to the
mechanism contained in the inside knob for the purpose of changing the
combination, when desired.
It will be understood that the knobs and the locking mechanism therefor above
described are susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion and minor
details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to without departing
from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.
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 consider novel and desire to claim is:
1. The combination with a door lock, of a pair of knobs independently
movable, and means for coupling said knobs so that they will turn together.
2. A pair of knobs constructed to be independently rotatable, in combination
with means for locking or coupling said knobs together, whereby they may be
simultaneously turned, substantially as described. .

page_text: 3. A pair of knobs loosely connected to each other so as to turn independently,
in combination with means for placing said knobs in interlocked engagement,
substantially as described.
4. A pair of door knobs, one of which is provided with a hollow or tubular
spindle and the other with an independent spindle adapted to pass through the
hollow spindle of the opposing knob, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
5. A knob having a hollow spindle, in combination with a second knob having
a spindle mounted in said tubular spindle and adapted to rotate freely therein,
and means for causing said spindles to interlock, substantially as described.
6. A knob having a hollow spindle, in combination with a second knob having
its spindle extended through said hollow spindle and carrying means for engaging
the knob of the hollow spindle, substantially as described.
7. A knob having a hollow spindle, in combination with a second knob having
its spindle rotatably mounted in the hollow spindle, and means located in one of
the knobs whereby said spindles may be coupled together and turned
simultaneously, substantially as described.
8. A hollow knob and locking mechanism contained therein, in combination with
a second knob having its spindle inserted into the first knob, and means on said
spindle for engaging said locking mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
9. A hollow knob provided with a hollow spindle and containing locking
mechanism, in combination with a second knob having its spindle rotatably
mounted in the hollow spindle of the first named knob and carrying a device for
engaging and operating the locking mechanism, substantially as described.
10. A pair of hollow knobs each containing a lever mounted therein, and a
connection between said levers for simultaneously operating them, in combination
with locking mechanism arranged in one of the knobs and adapted to be engaged
by one of said levers whereby the two knobs may be coupled together or uncoupled,
substantially as described.
11. A pair of hollow knobs each carrying a spindle section, one of which is
tubular, in combination with levers mounted in said knobs, a connection
between said levers for simultaneously operating them, and locking mechanism
arranged in one of the knobs and adapted to be engaged by one of said levers,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
12. Two hollow knobs, each having spindle sections one of which is tubular,
in combination with levers arranged one in each knob, a connection between said
levers for simultaneously operating them, means projecting exteriorly of one of
the knobs for operating one of the levers, and locking mechanism in the other
knob adapted to be engaged by the lever therein, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
13. The combination with a hollow knob, of a series of notched rotatable
tumblers mounted therein, a device for engaging the notches in said tumblers,
and a connection extending from said lever through the knob spindle and
connected to means in the opposite knob, whereby said lever may be actuated,
substantially as described.
14. The combination with a hollow door knob, of a plurality of rotatable
tumblers mounted therein and notched, a lever mounted in said knob for engage-
ment with the notches in the tumblers, a spring for giving said lever a normal
tendency, and an operating connection for said lever extending through the knob
spindle and adapted to be operated from the opposite knob, substantially as
described.
15. The combination with a pair of knobs independently rotatable with relation
to each other, of means located in one knob for coupling the two knobs together,
and means on the other knob for effecting a coupling of the two knobs together,
substantially as described.
16, The combination with a hollow knob, of locking mechanism arranged

page_text: therein, a lever for engaging the lock tumblers, and a latch for maintaining the
engagement between said lever and tumblers, substantially as described.
17. The combination with a hollow knol, of locking mechanism arranged
therein, a lever adapted to engage the notched tumblers of the locking mechanism,
and a latch for engaging the free end of said lever and provided with means
exterior to the knob whereby said latch may be operated, substantially as
described.
18. In a lock, a plurality of nested tumblers having notched rims, in com-
bination with projections on the inner and outer surface of said rims, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
19. In a lock, a series of nested tumblers having notched rims, each provided
with a series of perforations, in combination with projections having a removable
connection with said rims and made interchangable as to the several perforation:
therein, substantially as described.
20. A hollow knob, and a series of rotatable tumblers nested therein and
provided with notches as described, in combination with a second knob having
its spindle extending into the first named knob and provided with means for
engaging one of said tumblers, and means on each of said tumblers for taking
up and rotating the adjacent tumbler, all arranged for joint operation,
substantially as described.
21. The combination with a knob spindle, of a polygonal collar thereon, and a
spring for engaging said collar, substantially as described.
22. The combination with a knob spindle, of an escutcheon plate, and a spring
connected to the inner surface of said plate and bearing at its free end against
said spindle, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of July 1897
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.