Improvements in or connected with Keys for Locks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Keys for Locks.
I, ROBERT ASQUITH of Number 3 Headingley Terrace in Leeds in the County
of York Cloth Finisher and Retired Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an appliance to attach to the keys of door locks which
has the effect of making such locks safer from being picked or opened by any
instrument used on the opposite side to that on which the key is inserted while
such key is in the lock, and consists firstly of placing a ferule or loose roller
on the end of the key, of the usual diameter of the pin of the key, or of the
hole for the same in the lock, and of such length as to prevent the pin being
grasped by pliers or other instrument and the key actuated thereby, as the
ferule or roller would simply slip round on the pin of the key. And secondly
to this ferule or roller I attach or combine therewith a tongue piece of such
shape as to approximately fill the remainder of the hole in the lock case on
the opposite side to that on which the key is inserted so as to prevent the
introduction of pick locks or other instruments for opening the lock. In the
latter case of course the ferule or roller cannot turn round being held by
the tongue piece, neither can the key be operated upon on the opposite side of
the lock to that on which the key is inserted.
The ferule or roller and tongue piece may be made of either brass steel or other
metal or metals substance or substances.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Keys for Locks.
I, ROBERT ASQUITH, of 3, Headingley Terrace, Leeds, Yorkshire, Retired
Engineer and Cloth Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of the 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 relates to door-lock keys of that class wherein the key is fitted
with a pivoted bit serving to close the key-hole on the opposite side of the lock to
that on which the key is inserted for preventing the lock from being opened or
picked by any instrument used on said side of the lock while the key remains in
the lock and is so turned as that its locking bits are not in alignment with the
key-holes and consists in the improvements hereinafter described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
;
On the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, represents, in elevation, one form of the improved key applied to a lock-
case which latter is shown in sectional elevation.
Figure 2, represents an end view of the same key turned into such a position as
to permit of its introduction into or withdrawal from the lock-case.
Figure 3, represents an under plan view of the same key, in the position repre-
sented in Figure 2.
Figure 4, represents, in sectional elevation, a modification of the key represented
in Figures 1 to 3.
Figure 5, represents a view, corresponding to Figure 1, of a second form of the
improved key.

page_text: Figure 6, represents a similar view, but with the key partly in sectional elevation,
of a modification of the key represented in Figure 5: and
Figure 7, represents a front elevation of the key represented in Figures 5 and 6,
showing the same applied to a lock-case."
Like reference numerals indicate like parts wherever they are repeated on the
drawings.
8, represents the opposite case-plates of a door-lock, the locking details of which
may be of any required character and are not illustrated on the drawings.
9, represents key-holes formed in the lock-plates 8, opposite to each other, to
permit of the introduction of the key into the lock from cach side of the door.
10, represents the key, which as regards its shank or stem-part, may be of any
suitable formation, and as regards its locking bits 11, may also be of any suitable
formation determined by the character of the locking details of the lock.
According to the present improvements, 1 pivotally adapt to the outer end of the
stem of the key a key-hole closing device consisting of a tubular portion 12, made
integral with a depending tongue piece 13, formed as hereinafter described, such
device being made of such a shape and dimensions as to approximately fill up the
key-hole 9, which it occupies when the key (having its locking bits 11, and said
closing device in alignment, wide Figs. 2 to 4) is inserted in the lock-case,
nide Fig. 1.
In the under part of the tongue piece I form a notch or recess 14, adapted, as
hereinafter further referred to, to engage with the bottom of that key-hole 9, which
the device occupies when the key is inserted in the lock-case as aforesaid.
In the form of key represented in Figs. 1 to 4, the tubular part 12, of the device
is pivoted concentrically with the axis of the key-stem. In Figures 1 to 3, it is
pivoted on a reduced part 15, of the key-stem, and is secured by the end of such
part being rivetted over, vide Fig. 1; and in the modification represented in
Figure 4. it is pivoted on a pin 15*, which is inserted into a hole 16, drilled.in the
adjacent end of the key-stem, and is secured, with facility of turning about its
axis, by a screw pin 17, inserted radially through the key-stem and engaging with a
groove 18, formed in and surrounding the pin 15*. Or the pin 15*, may be secured,
without such facility of turning, by a screw or other pin inserted through it and
the key-stem as hereinafter described with reference to Fig. 6.
In such form of key, should any attempt be made to force down the pivoted end
of the device and to break off the pivotal support 15, or 15*, the notched end 14,
of the tongue part of the device will be caused to engage with the bottom of the said
key-hole and will be supported by the lock case, and so such attempt will be
defeated.
In the form of key represented in Figures 5 to 7, the tubular part of the device
is pivoted excentrically to the axis of the key-stem. In Figure 5, it is pivoted on a
reduced part 15, of the key-stem and is secured as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1 to 3, and in the modification represented in Figure 6, it is
pivoted on a pin 15×, inserted into and secured to the key-stem with facility.of
movement about its axis as herein before described with reference to Fig. 4, or by.a
screw or other pin 17, passing through or otherwise securing it as represented.
In such form of key, the act of turning the key, after its insertion into the lock-
-case, so as to remove its locking bits 11, from alignment with said closing device
and key-holes, causes the notched end 14, of the tongue-piece to engage with the
bottom of the said key-hole, and to be supported by the lock-case so as both to
prevent the tongue-piece from being forced down or from being forced inwards of
the lock, so affording a most efficient means of securing the lock from being
tampered with.
To prevent the device 12, 13, from loosely swinging relatively to the locking
bits 11, and to keep the saine together when the key is removed from the lock, if
required, I fit the parts nicely together and make the adjacent faces of the locking
bit and tongue-piece of a corresponding curved formation as represented at 19,
Figure 3, so that it will require some little degree of force to cause the tongue-

page_text: UT I CR is result in om
piece to swing clear of the adjacent locking DIG.
suitable ways.
The device 12, 13, may be made of steel or of any other suitable metal or
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In keys of the class hereinbefore referred to :-
1. The combination with the key-stem, of a key-hole closing device consisting of
the parts 12, 13, made integral and notched and formed as aforesaid, and mounted
concentrically with the axis of the key-stem, as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the key-stem, of a key-hole closing device consisting of
the parts 12, 13, made integral and notched and formed as aforesaid, and mounted
excentrically to the axis of the key-stem, as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of November 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.