IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS APPLICABLE TO DESPATCH AND OTHER BOXES, WRITING AND DRESSING CABES, OR OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Oldfield, of Noble Street, Saint Luke's, in
the County of Middlesex, Writing and Dressing Case Manufacturer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS
APPLICABLE TO DESPATCH AND OTHER BOXES, WRITING AND DRESSING CABES, OR
OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES."
Sealed the 9th October 1868, and dated the 16th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Oldfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th April 1863.
I, WILLIAM OLDFIELD, of Noble Street, Saint Luke's, in the County of
Middlesex, Writing and Dressing Case Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF Locks
APPLICABLE TO DESPATCH AND OTHER BOXES, WRITING AND DRESSING CASES, OR OTHER
SIMILAR RECEPTACLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in so constructing and arranging the parts of a
lock, that the lock and bolt may be applied to and carried by the upper part
or cover of a despatch box or of a writing or dressing case, or other similar

page_text: receptacle, the key being introduced through a keyhole formed in the upper
surface or lid of the box or case, and the locking plate or catch being fixed
on the lower portion of the box or case, by which arrangement despatch boxes,
writing, dressing, or other folding cases can be unlocked and readily opened
without reversing their position after being unlocked as is the case when the
locks are applied to the lower portion of such articles.
For this purpose the locking plate which is fixed upon the lower part
of the box or case is by preference formed with one or more hook shaped pro-
jections which (when the two parts of the box or case are folded together)
pass up through suitable openings in the under plate of the lock into a position
to engage with the projections of the bolt of the lock when shot forward. The
bolt is extended upwards to the top plate of the lock in which the keyhole is
formed, and slots or openings are formed in the bolt for the introduction of a
spring, tumbler, or other locking apparatus. There is also a fixed projection on
the back plate of the lock which passes through a slot in the bolt to support
the key pin. Suitable wards, grooves, inclines, or projections are formed upon
the bolt for the key to act upon. The form and action of the bolt, together
with the arrangements of the other parts of the lock, may be greatly varied
according to the purpose for which it is required, without departing from
the nature of my Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Oldfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
OLDFIELD, of Noble Street, Saint Luke's, in the County of Middlesex, Writing
and Dressing Case Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William. Oldfield, Her special licence that I, the said William
Oldfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Oldfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,

page_text: use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS APPLICABLE TO DESPATCH AND OTHER BOXES,
WRITING AND DRESSING CASES, OR OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Oldfield, 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Oldfield, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in so constructing and arranging the parts of a
lock, that the lock and bolt may be applied to and carried by the upper'
part or cover of a despatch box or of a writing or dressing case or other
similar receptacle (the key being introduced through a keyhole formed in
the upper surface or lid of the box or case) the locking plate or catch being
fixed on the lower portion of the box or case, by which arrangement despatch
boxes, writing, dressing, or other folding cases, can be unlocked and readily
opened out without reversing their position, after being unlocked, as is the
case when the locks are applied to the lower portion of such articles.
For this purpose the locking plate which is fixed upon the lower part öf
the box or case, is by preference formed with one or more hook shaped pro-
jections which (when the two parts of the box or case are folded together),
pass up through suitable openings in the under plate of the lock, into a
position to engage with the projections of the bolt of the lock when shot
forward. The bolt is extended upwards to the top plate of the lock in
which the keyhole is formed, and slots or openings are formed in the bolt
for the introduction of a spring tumbler or other locking apparatus. There
is also a fixed projection on the back plate of the lock which passes through
a slot in the bolt to support the key pin. Suitable wards, grooves, inclines,
or projections are formed upon the bolt for the key to act upon. The form
and action of the bolt, together with the arrangement of the other parts
of the lock, may be greatly varied according to the purpose for which it is
required, without departing from the nature of my Invention.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, shows a side view of a lock and its locking plate suitably con-
structed for being applied to a despatch or other box, writing, or dressing
case, or other similar receptacle according to my Invention; Figure 2 shows a
similar view, the bolt being shot and the parts locked together; Figure 3
is a section showing the position of the lock as applied to the upper part, cover,
or lid of a despatch or other box, writing or dressing case, or other similar box
or receptacle; Figures 4 and 5 show perspective views of a despatch box or
writing case having my improved arrangement of lock applied thereto; Figure 4
showing it closed, and Figure 5 open ready for use. It will be seen on
examining the several Figures of the Drawing that the key is introduced into
the lock through a keyhole at a formed in the upper surface or lid of the box
or case, and passes down through the top plate into the lock which is let
into the vertical side of the lid or cover, the form of the bolt b, and of the
plate c, by which it is carried, being such as to admit of this arrangement; d is
the locking plate and catch fixed on the upper edge of the vertical side of the
body of the box or case, and d¹, d', are projections thereon of suitable form to
pass through openings on the under side of the lock plate c into a position to
engage with the slots and projections 6', 6', formed on the lower end of tho
bolt be is a spring tumbler carried by the pin e, fixed on the lock plate c,
the bolt 6 having an opening formed therein with notches for the end of the
tumbler to rest in and retain the bolt in position; c', is a fixed projection on
the lock plate c, a slotted opening being formed in the bolt 6 for it to pass
througb. The projection c¹ carries the key pin on which I prefer to place
a spiral spring and plate f which springs upwards to cover the under side of the
keyhole when the key is withdrawn. The upper part of the bolt is suitably
formed for being acted upon by the key to move it to and fro for the purpose
of locking and unlocking the parts.
I would remark that the form of the bolt and of the tumbler or other locking
instruments or apparatus of the lock may be greatly varied without departing
from the nature of my Invention and I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details berein described so long as the peculiar
character of my Invention be retained, whereby locks are so arranged as to be
suitable for being applied to the lid or cover of a despatch or other similar

page_text: box, or to writing or dressing cases or other similar receptacles so that they
can be unlocked and readily opened out without reversing their position as
herein fully described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Oldfield, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
84, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
W. OLDFIELD. (L.S.)