AN IMPROVED SAFETY LOCK OR LATCH
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN CHARLES GARROOD, Plumber of 58 Coolinge Road, Folkestone in the
County of Kent do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN IMPROVED
SAFETY LOCK OR LATCH to be as follows:-
A metal disc is attached to a small tube or two metal discs are connected by a
similar tube, the said discs being placed inside the lock in such manner that the
tube occupies the round end of the keyhole and the discs are free to revolve.
Into this tube the pin or pipe of the key is inserted, the said tube and discs
having respectively a slot and aperture into which the bit of the key passes. Such
tube may or may not pass through the bush or coverplate of the lock or latch.
The aforesaid tube is designed to rotate with the key when turned in the lock or
latch, and to carry with it the metal disc or discs so as to close or cover up the
keyhole of the lock or latch. The said discs or one thereof having on a portion of
the outer edge a rim or flange or stud which rin flange or stud is designed to run
in a groove or over a stud or pin with or without a friction roller, constructed to
fit the same and placed on the lever or tumbler of the lock or latch or on the bolt
of the lock or latch in such manner that the said lever or tumbler cannot be lifted
until the aforesaid disc or discs are turned round, the said disc and tube or discs
and tube forming also a shield or cover to the aforesaid lever or tumbler &
protecting it in such a way that the bolt of the lock or latch cannot be thrown
back or opened by any picklock, bent wire or nail or false key, but only by the
proper key thereof, by the action of which the aforesaid disc or discs being rotated
releases the lever or tumbler of the lock or latch and suffers the bolt to be move |
in the ordinary way by the bit of the key. In some cases the interior or working
parts of the lock or latch may be fastened in the ordinary way to the back or case
of the lock or latch, but when preferred & especially in the case of latches having
a drawback action to the latch, a separate plate may be introduced to which the
working parts may be attached, so as to allow the whole working parts to be
drawn back together instead of the bolt only. This Invention is designed to
effect at a small cost such a radical change in the interior arrangement of almost all
ordinary locks and latches as to render them quite as secure or even more safe
against attempts. to pick or open them, as locks or latubes of an expensive
description.

page_text: I, JOHN CHARLES GARROOD, (Plumber,) of 58 Coolinge Road Folkestone in the
County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN IMPROVED
SAFETY LOCK OR LATCH, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention is designed to protect the bolt of any ordinary lock or latch
from the action of any false key, picklock or wire inserted at the key-hole, and
to effect at a trifling cost such an alteration in the interior of the lock as will
render it quite as secure or even inore safe than locks of an expensive description.
Locks are of two kinds, viz. (1) those which open on one side only such as
cupboard, pad, & till locks deadlocks & night latches of some sorts; and (2) those
which have a double keyhole and can be opened by the insertion of the key on
both sides such as rim locks, mortice locks, solid key deadlocks & night latches, &c.
The following description refers to locks which open only on one side as shewn
in the accompanying Drawing, but a simple alteration viz. the addition of another
disc at the end of the small tube will adapt it to locks which open on both sides.
A metal disc (A) is attached to a small tube K. and is placed inside the lock in
such manner that the tube occupies the round end of the keyhole & the disc is
free to revolve as the key turns. A slot is left in the said tube to admit the
bit of the key. On a portion of the outer edge of the disc is a rim flange or
stud, or similar attachment constructed so as to run in a groove or over a stud
or pin placed on the tumbler or lever of the lock (B) or on the bolt of the lock
if there be no tumbler or lever, in such manner that the said tumbler or lever (B)
cannot be lifted or the bolt (C) thrown forward or backward until the disc (A) is
turned round. It will be obvious that before it is turned round the tube K. forms
an effective protector to the mechanism of the lock, & if it be turned the shield (A)
completely closes the straight or "bit" portion of the keyhole and leaves only the
small space at the round end of the keyhole through which a picklock could enter
and the slot in the tube through which it could work, which slot may be reduced
to extremely small dimensions by cutting a vertical ward (W) in the key as shown
in Fig. 6, close to the pipe, and removing only that portion of the tube of the disc
which is necessary to admit the neck (N) of the bit of the key.
To open a lock so protected (without the right key) would be extremely
difficult if not impossible (because no examination could be made to ascertain the
nature of the interior).
Fig. 1 shows an ordinary night-latch with the top
disc (A) in its normal position before the key enters.
Fig. 2 shows the position of the disc when the key is
act of throwing back the bolt (C).
Fig. 3 shows a vertical section of the disc and tube.
form of the disc and the tube detached from the lock.
plate removed, and the
turned round & is in the
Fig. 4, & 5, show the
Fig. 6 shows a key with a ward (W) formed to fit on the tube of the disc.
It will be readily seen that additional security may be obtained when required
by varying the shape of the keyhole in the said disc and forming corresponding
variations in the key, or what is termed technically "fancying" the key and
keyhole. When required a small catch or spring may be employed to prevent any
shifting or turning of the aforesaid disc, by the action of the wind, or by vibration,
or from any other cause,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A disc capable of turning with a slotted tubular axis and with a rim, flange,
or pin for locking the tumblers or levers substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of a flat or corrugated disc with rim, flange, or pin and the
levers or tumblers of a lock with groove, studs or pins, in the same manner and
for the purposes substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination of a disc with slotted tubular axis and a key with a vertical
ward, for the purposes substantially as hereinbefore described.
SAMUEL S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent,
27, Newgate Street, London.