IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR 'SAFES,' STRONG ROOMS, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wharton Parkin, of Sowerby Bridge,
in the County of York, Safe and Lock Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR 'SAFES,' STRONG ROOMS,
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 8th February 1876, and dated the 11th August 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wharton
Parkin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 11th August 1875.
I, ROBERT WHARTON PARKIN, of Sowerby Bridge, in the County of
York, Safe and Lock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR 'SAFES,' STRONG
ROOMS, AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the attainment of greater strength
and more direct action in all the working parts of such locks, as well as
additional security against violence, the skilled lock "picker," acids,
and explosive substances.

page_text: The general arrangement is of a sextuple nature, embracing three
separate classes of fastening or lock,-
Firstly. That class of locking device which opens and fastens without
a key.
Secondly. That class of lock requiring one key to open and
fasten it.
Thirdly. That class of lock which cannot be opened or fastened
without the use of two keys.
The first class of locking device without key is divided into two parts,
the first part being composed of a series of bolts which have attached
to them a corresponding number of new and peculiar shaped talons
having a series of gatings or slot holes suitably placed, and into which
a number of studs are made to fit, and are operated upon by means
of an octagonal, circular, or other shaped disc having a stud or
other metal rod or spindle fixed in the centre and worked by means
of a handle which throws bolts into the four sides of the safe, strong
room, or other depository. These bolts are afterwards secured by a lock
which fastens with a key.
The second part of this class consists of a new arrangement of a
second series of bolts which move parallel with the bars or plates con-
necting the previously named bolts together; this second series of bolts
are made to shoot into a prepared recess or groove in the bolt head of
the first-named series. These second-named bolts have talons attached
to them, in which are made a number of gatings or slot holes that
work on studs firmly fixed in the door of safe or a plate prepared
for them; other talons or plates are made to abutt one upon the other,
thus rendering these two series of bolts equivalent to a solid mass of
fastening. This second scries of bolts are also fastened with a lock
worked by means of a key, and placed so as to ensure perfect security.
This class of locking device is made to work with one key, and con-
structed upon the principle of the lock described in the following or
third part of my Invention.
The third class of locking device is made to work with two keys, and
may be described as the principal lock.
My Invention consists of a new or improved guardian which is placed
under the talon of the bolt in a suitably shaped recess. The detector of

page_text: this guardian is made to abutt upon the head of bolt, and when pressure
is brought to bear either upon the bolt head from without or upon the
levers or talons or any one of them from within, the detector is raised
and firmly opposed by a strong stud suitably shaped for resistance.
This detector will operate with the least possible pressure, and resist a
great amount.
The levers are of a new or improved shape, and so constructed as to
block up the entrance to the lock on the first movement of any one of
the levers, and by its own action thus prevent the introduction of any
second instrument for the purpose of picking. The construction of the
levers and bolt talon is such as to prevent the introduction of any
explosive material in sufficient quantity to impair or destroy the
working parts of the lock. I also construct my guard of an improved
shape.
Another part of my Invention consists of a suitably shaped steel disc
or plate working upon an axis inserted in the cap of lock, and revolving
round the pin of lock a suitable spring is fixed, which bears upon the
outer disc of disc, and at a given point fastens into a groove. This
disc is operated upon by means of a key inserted into the same keyhole
as the principal lock, but when locked closes up the entrance to principal
lock; this has a decided advantage over other two-keyed locks which
have two keyholes and one of them always open.
Lastly. I provide a strong metal plate of such size and shape as to
cover up and protect from violence the interior of the principal lock.
This plate has fixed in it a collar through which one of the spindles
passes and opens or shuts at pleasure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.
filed by the said Robert Wharton Parkin in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 11th February 1876.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Wharton
Parkin, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Wharton Parkin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert Wharton Parkin, 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 FOR SAFES,
STRONG ROOMS, AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Wharton Parkin, 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Wharton Parkin, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object the attainment of greater strength
and more direct action in all the working parts of such locks, as well as
additional security against violence, the skilled lock picker, acids, and
explosive substances.
The general nature is of a sextuple nature embracing three separate
classes of fastening or lock.
Firstly. That class of locking device which opens and fastens without
a key.
Secondly. That class of lock requiring one key to open and fasten it.
Thirdly. That class of lock which cannot be opened or fastened
without the use of two keys,

page_text: The first class of locking device without key is divided into two parts,
the first part being composed of a series of bolts which have attached
to them a corresponding number of new and peculiar shaped talons,
having a scrics of gatings or slot holes suitably placed, and into which
a number of studs are made to fit, and are operated upon by means of
an octagonal, circular, or other shaped disc, having a stud or other metal
rod or spindle fixed in the centre, and worked by means of a handle
which throw bolts into the four sides of the safe, strong room, or other
depository. These bolts are afterwards secured by a lock which fastens
with a key.
The second part of this class consists of a new arrangement of a
second series of bolts which move parallel with the bars or plates con-
necting the previously named bolts together; this second series of bolts
are made to shoot into a prepared recess or groove in the bolt head of
the first-named series. These second-named bolts have talons attached
to them in which are made a number of gatings or slot holes that work
on studs firmly fixed in the door of safe, or a plate prepared for them;
other talons or plates are made to abut one upon the other, thus
rendering these two scries of bolts equivalent to a solid mass of
fastening; this second scrics of bolts are also fastened with a lock
worked by means of a key, and placed so as to ensure perfect security.
The locks for fastening the two series may one or both of them be
constructed in accordance with the locks herein-after described.
The third class of locking device is made to work with one or two
keys, and may be described as the principal lock.
My Invention consists of a new or improved guardian which is placed
under the talon of the bolt in a suitably shaped recess; the detector of
this guardian is made to abut upon the head of the bolt, and when
pressure is brought to bear either upon the bolt head from without or
upon the levers or talons, or any one of them from within, the detector
will operate with the least possible pressure and resist the greatest
amount.
The levers are of a new or improved shape, and so constructed as to
block up the entrance to the lock on the first movement of any one of
the levers, and by its own action thus prevent the introduction of any
second instrument for the purpose of picking. The construction of the
levers and bolt talons is such as to prevent the introduction of any

page_text: consist of a new or improved guardian L placed in a suitably shaped
recess under the talon M of the bolt, and when pressure is brought to
bear upon either the bolt head from without, or upon the levers or
talons or any of them from within, the detector N will operate with the
least possible pressure, and resist the greatest amount, the stud o
receiving the force of the pressure.
The shape of the levers (see Fig. 3) is such that on the first move-
ment of any one of them the entrance to the lock is closed, which
prevents the introduction of any second instrument for the purpose of
picking.
My improved guard is indicated by the letter P.
Fig. 4 illustrates a lock to which is applied a steel disc or plate R
working upon an axis inserted in the cap of the lock at the keyhole.
There are two notches cut in the rim of this plate, in which the catch"
fixed to the lever S enters, being pressed by a spring T. The principal
keyhole of the lock is shewn in dotted lines; the short keyholes is for
the purpose
of allowing the key U to be withdrawn and inserted when
it is desired to turn the disc round.
The improvements described herein and illustrated by Figs. 2, 3, and 4,
may be all applied to one lock if desired.
In Fig. 1 is shewn a strong metal plate V which is fixed on the
spindle of the second series of bolts, and when this spindle is turned
round the metal plate entirely covers the principal lock G.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and shewn
by Drawings how the same is to be performed or carried into practice,
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein shewn and described as the same may be varied, but what
I claim as my Invention is,-
Firstly. The use of the double series of bolts arranged and operated
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The arrangement of the guardian and detector, and the
improved shape of the levers, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, and also the
disc and method of working and fastening the same, as shewn in Fig. 4,
and described herein.
Thirdly. The method of securing the closing to the entrance of the
principal lock, whereby the plate V is moved into position and fastened

page_text: at the same time and by the same means as are employed for fastening
the second series of bolts.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wharton Parkin, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and 5
seventy-six.