An Improved Catch or Locking Mechanism for Doors, Gates, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Catch or Locking Mechanism for Doors, Gates,
and the like.
I, HERMANN RATH, of Reichenbergerstrasse, No. 100, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Locksmith, 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 to an improved safety catch or locking arrangement for
doors, gates and the like, intended to replace the known safety chains which can
be opened from outside only by an authorised person.
By this locking arrangement, after the door has been closed, the same can not
be set free by means of a string, or wire noose previously wound round the bolt.
In the present invention this disadvantage is prevented in a peculiar manner,
as a closing arm fixed to the door is guided in a perpendicularly swinging slide,
the top of the stationary closing arm having a peculiar formation which does not
prevent the entire or partial opening or closing or locking of the door by the
authorised person.
In the annexed drawing two forms of the invention are represented.
The first form is shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and of which Figure 1 shows a perspective
view of the device when locked with the door not closed.
Fig. shows a perspective view of the locking device set free by the key whilst
the door is closed.
Fig. 3 the perspective view of the device when locked and when the door is
closed.
Fig. 4 an upper view of the locking lever.
Fig. 5 a side view of the pivoted slide.
Fig. 6 the upper view of Figure 5.
A pivotal connection is fastened on the door-frame A by means of a plate 1 and
carries by means of its pin 3, between cheeks 2, the arm 4 bent at the lower part
as represented, in the slot 5 of which the neck 6 of the curved locking arm 8 cau
slide, this arm being suitably fastened by screws on a plate 7 fastened on the
door B.
arm 4.
The spring 9 shown fastened on the turning joint is usually pressed between
the cheeks 10 of the pivoted arm 4 and pushes the latter against the locking arm
except this is, as shown in Fig. 2, prevented by the key 11 lifting the pivoted
The pin bolt 12 is fastened on the turning joint plate 1 at a certain
height, in the represented example such a pin is shewn provided above and
below in order to be able to use the same device for right and left hand closing
doors for which purpose the spring 9 is also prolonged and has two friction
buttons.
The locking arm has only to be screwed on reversed, for use with doors opening
in the opposite direction. The nose 13 on the pivoted arm 4 allows its movement
during the action of the locking arm and the subsequent swinging movement,
but prevents the same from loosely hanging on the bolt 3.
The locking arm head 14 is formed as a segment in such a manner that when
he door is closed and in the perpendicular position of the arm 4 it can pass easily

page_text: through the slot 5, but is held fast in the oblique position of the arm 4 (Fig. 1).
As the locking arm is stationary and the sliding movement acts as described, any
attempt to open the door from outside by means of a cord or other pulling device
through the chink of the door could only have a locking effect; it is impossible
to set the locking device free otherwise than by means of the key put in before
closing the door.
Referring to the Figures 7 to 13 which show another form of construction;
Fig. 7 is a front view of the locking device in the position ready for use with
closed door.
Fig. 8 a plan view of Fig. 7 with partial section on the line - of Figure 7.
Fig. 9 the front view of the device in locked position the door being partially
open.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively front and side views of the pivoted slotted
piece with accessories in the position out of use, Figure 11 shewing the key put
in.
Figures 12 and 13 are central sections through the locking arm head and the
pivoted slotted piece, Figure 12 shewing the device locked, and Figure 13 the
same set free by the key.
The bent locking arm 16 fastened to the door by means of a plate 15 is provided
with a head in the form of an open tube 17 wherein a weight latch with ball like
head 20 is pivoted on a pin 18.
The fastening of the locking arm can as represented be made adjustable suitable
to the form of the door by means of collar 21 and rod 22. The guide for the
locking arm and the latch head 20 consists of a tube 30 pivotally suspended
between the cheeks 29 of a plate 28 fastened on the door-post.
The tube has on the front side a slot 23 ending in an elliptical enlargement,
so that when the falling latch head 20 hangs free (Figure 12) it glides, when the
door is opened into the slot 23 giving the locked position shown in Figure 9;
but if through a back slot 25 a key 27 of suitable form is put on the hanging pin 26
in the position shown in Figure 11, the tube 30 moved back by the locking arm
when the door is closed, pushes the key 27 into the position shown in Figure 13
whereby the latch head 20 is lifted thus allowing the door to be opened. In order
to put the locking device out of use the thumb screw 32 is provided which holds
the slotted tube 30 in the position of Figures 10 and 11 whereby the noses 31
lean against the plate 28. In the locked position the slotted tube is held by the
spring 33 Figs. 7 and 8 provided with friction holders the stem 34 of which forms
a buffer against the door-post. Also in this form it is impossible to set the locking
device free from the outside by a string or the like introduced before closing,
because the locking arm lying before the chink of the door is stationary and the
latch head 20 of the same lying inside the perpendicularly swinging slotted tube
is inaccessible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An improved safety catch or locking mechanism for doors, gates and the
like in which a curved or bent locking arm is fastened on the door whose head
glides in the locked position in a slotted guide arranged on the door post, and
capable of swinging perpendicularly to the door or door post, in such a manner
that a release of the locking arrangement can only be effected by a suitable key,
when the door is closed.
2. A form of construction of the locking mechanism as in Claim 1 wherein the
slotted guide 4 engages with the segment shaped head 14 of the locking arm
in such a manner that in the perpendicular or lower position of the guide
the same can be lifted freely off the head of the locking arm whilst in
the oblique or raised position a locking is effected (Figures 1 to 6).
3. A form of construction of the locking mechanism as in Claim 1 wherein the

page_text: swinging guide is formed as a tube 30 with elliptically enlarged slot 23 and the
head of the locking arm 16 is formed as an open tube 17 wherein a weight latch
with ball head 20 swings whereby the same in the locked position comes behind
the slot 25 but in order to set the locking device free the same is lifted to the top
of the elliptical opening 24 (Figs. 7 to 13) by means of a suitable key.
Tel: 0741 dow of V 1800
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.