IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCKS." A communication from abroad by James Brady, of Norwich,
Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 5th November 1867, and dated the 6th May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th May 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN Locks," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said improvements relate to the construction of a lock which is more
especially designed for securing the doors of dwelling houses, and which
by a simple adjustment. of parts will act as a latcb, opening by a handle on
both sides of the door, as a night latch, which can be opened from the outside
of the door by the aid of a latch key, or as a lock or fastening which can only
be opened from the inside of the door.

page_text: The said improvements consist chiefly in the peculiar construction of the
lock bolt. The said bolt is formed in two parts, which are connected or dis-
connected to effect the various changes in the operation of the lock. One of
these parts projects from the case of the lock and forms the fastening, while
the other part, which is permanently in connection with the tumblers of the
handle forms a retractor for drawing back the said fastening. Each part of
the bolt is forced forward by a separate spring. The said improvements also
consist in the combination of the said bolt with an adjustable connecting link
or rod and cam for operating the same. The said link is pivotted to one part
of the bolt, and is formed and arranged to connect and disconnect readily with
the other part.
•
The said improvements consist further in constructing the connecting link
with projections or ridges which are formed and arranged to slide through
the wards of a latch key. The said link may be divided into a number of
thin plates or divisions, each of which may be raised independently of the
others by differently formed keys.
The said improvements further consist in the employment of a swivel spindle
or stem to connect the handles by which the bolt is operated on both sides of the
door, and in the combination with the said spindle and. bolt of a split, tumbler,
one leaf of which acts on the fastening or projecting part of the bolt, and the
other on the retractor. In this arrangement of parts the rear end of the said
fastening is extended and remains permanently in contact with the leaf of the
split tumbler operated by the inner handle, but cannot be moved by the outer
handle till the two parts of the bolt are connected.
The said improvements consist, lastly, in the combination of the bolt, link,
cam, handle, and other parts for effecting the required changes and movements
of the lock.
The mechanism of the lock is enclosed in a suitable case, through one edge
of which the part which forms the fastening projects. The said fastening is
bevilled at its outer end like an ordinary door latch. The rear portion of the
fastening which slides between two guides attached to the inside of the case
is provided at its rear end with a finger or stud; this finger is connected to
one end of a spiral spring whose other end is attached to the front part of the
case, and which acts to force the bolt forward. The inner end of this part of
the bolt is made rather less than one-half the thickness of its projecting end,
and is formed and arranged to leave a space for the retractor between it and
the case. The said retractor is by preference constructed in the form of a
fork, whose jaws.extend on each side of the stem of the handle which passes
through the case; this part of the bolt is also fitted to slide between suitable

page_text: guides. Each jaw is provided with a stud or projection which rests in contact
with a tumbler, through whose centre this stem passes, the said tumbler and
projections being so arranged that the bolt is drawn back by turning the
bandle in either direction. The said retractor is projected by a spiral or other
suitable spring. The fastening or forward part of the bolt is formed with a
shoulder, which fits: against a similar shoulder on the retractor, the two
shoulders being so arranged that the force of both springs is exerted upon the
fastening. The connecting link or rod is by preference pivotted at one end
to the retractor or rear part of the bolt, its other end being formed with a
catch or projection which is fitted to take into a recess formed in the inner
edge of the other part of the said bolt; the two parts being thus united will
move together when the handle is turned on either side of the door. A
shoulder is also formed on the under side of the fastening or forward part of
the bolt in such a position that when this part is forced forward and the
retractor 'drawn back the end of the link can be raised behind the said shoulder
and will hold the two parts of the bolt firmly and solidly together. The cam
for effecting the adjustment of the link is arranged below the same near the
end upon which the catch is formed. The lobe or projection of the said cam
is so formed that when turned upward it will hold the catch of the link
properly in the recess or against the shoulder of the bolt, but when turned
downward will leave space for the said catch to pass clear of the under side of
the bolt. The link is forced away from the said recess and shoulder by a
spring, which for convenience is attached to the sliding retractor.
The cam
is formed with faces, and a spring acting on the same holds the said cam
when it is turned into either position. The handle of the cam, which is on
the inside of the door, may be permanently attached to the lock, or may be
made removable. The under side of the connecting link is constructed withi
longitudinal projections or ridges, which are formed to correspond with the
wards of the latch key. The key by preference employed is a flat strip of metal
with the wards cut in its upper edge. The point of the key is made slightly
taper, so as to pass freely through the key hole and under the portions of the
link immediately behind the longitudinal projections on the said link. The
key being inserted raises the link, and the catch on the end of the same fits
into the recess of the latch. The two parts of the bolt being thus connected
the said bolt can be drawn back by turning the handle or knob on either side
of the door, the projections or ridges on the under side of the link passing
freely through the wards of the key. The form and arrangement of these
projections can be varied to an almost unlimited extent, and as any key whose
wards do not correspond exactly with the shape and position of the said

page_text: projections will not allow them to pass, it is practically impossible to operate
the lock with any key or other instrument except the one made expressly for
it. When the link is divided into a number of plates the wards of each key
can be formed to act differently upon each plate. When the swivel spindle is
employed the same is passed through a square hole in each of the leaves of the
split tumbler, and the joint or division of the said spindle lies between these.
two leaves. The end of one part of the said spindle is fitted to turn freely in.
a hole bored in the end of the other part, and is retained therein by a screw or
other suitable device. One leaf of the tumbler operates the fastening or forward
portion of the bolt, which in this arrangement of parts is extended or provided
with a stud or finger for that purpose, and the other leaf of the said tumbler.
acts upon a similar stud on the end of the retractor. This method of
construction allows the lock to be so adjusted that the door can always be
opened by a person passing out of the door by simply turning the handle, but
cannot be opened from the outside except by the aid of the latch key. To
prevent any-possibility of the inner tumbler being turned by the outer handle
or knob a stop bolt may be employed, which fits into a notch in the said.
tumbler, and is drawn cut of the notch when the link is raised by means of a
cam operated by the said link or by a portion of the bolt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
.5th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Robert Lake, 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

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN Locks," upon the condition (amongst others), that I, the said.
William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par
ticularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings forming a part of this Specification.
The said improvements relate to the construction of a lock which is more.
especially designed for securing the doors of dwelling houses, and which by a
simple adjustment of parts will act either as a simple latch, opening by a
handle on both sides of the door, as a night latch, which can be opened from
the outside of the door by the aid of a latch key, or as a lock or fastening.
which can only be opened from the inside of the door.
The said improvements consist chiefly in the peculiar construction of the
lock bolt; this bolt is formed in two parts which are connected or disconnected
to effect the various changes in the effect and operation of the lock. One of
these parts projects from the case of the lock and forms the fastening, while.
the other part which is permanently in connection with the tumblers of the
handle forms a retractor for drawing back the said fastening. Each of the
two parts of the bolt is forced forward by a separate spring. The said im-
provements also consist in the combination of the said bolt with an adjustabl
connecting link or arin and with a cam for operating the same. The said
link is pivoted to one part of the bolt, and is formed and arranged to connect
and disconnect readily with the other part.
The said improvements consist further in constructing the connecting link
with projections or ridges which are formed and arranged to slide through the
wards of the latch key. The said link may be divided into a number of thin
plates or divisions, each of which may be raised independently of the others
by differently formed keys.
The said improvements further consist in the employment of a swivel
spindle or stem to connect the handles by which the bolt is operated on both
sides of the door, and in the combination with the said spindle and bolt of a
split tumbler, one leaf of which acts on the fastening or projecting part of the

page_text: bolt, and the other on the retractor. In this arrangement of parts the rear.
end of the said fastening is extended and remains permanently in contact with
the leaf of the split tumbler which is operated by the inner handle, but
cannot be moved by the outer handle till the two parts of the bolt are
connected.
The said improvements consist, lastly, in the combination of the bolt, link,
cam, handle, and other parts of the mechanism for effecting the required.
changes, and movements of the lock.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure is a side view of the interior of my improved lock, showing the
same adjusted to be opened by the handle from either the inside or outside of
the door Figure 2 is a similar view of the said lock, showing the same
adjusted to act as a night latch, which can be operated from the outside of
the door by the aid of a latch key; Figure 3 shows the said lock adjusted to act
as a secure fastening, the bolt being completely inaccessible from the outside
of the door; Figure 4 is a section on the line, x, Figure 2; Figure 5 is a
side view of the interior of my improved lock with parts, of modified con-
struction Figure 6 represents one of the latch keys employed in connection
with my improved lock. Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the
Figures.
The mechanism of the lock is enclosed in a suitable case a, through one
edge of which the part 6 of the bolt forming the fastening projects; the said
bolt is bevelled at its outer end like an ordinary door latch. The rear portion b¹
of the bolt fastening b which slides between two. guides c attached to the
inside of the case is provided with a finger or stud b; this finger is connected
to one end of a spiral spring d whose other end is attached to the front part
of the case a, and which acts to force the bolt forward. The inner end b' of
the part of the bolt is made rather less than one-half the thickness of its
projecting end, and is formed and arranged to leave a space for the retractor e
between it and the case. The said retractor is by preference constructed in
the form of a fork whose jaws el extend to the rear on each side of the stem f
of the handle which passes through the case; the retractor e is also fitted to
slide between the guides c and g. Each of the jaws e¹ is provided with a stud
or projection which rests in contact with a tumbler i through whose centre
the stem f passes, the said tumbler and projections being so arranged that the
bult is drawn back by turning the handle in either direction. The retractor e
is projected by a spiral spring k or other suitable spring. The forward part
of the bolt or fastening 6 is formed. with a shoulder 6 which fits against a

page_text: similar shoulder on the retractor, the two shoulders being so. arranged that
the force of both springs is.exerted upon the fastening b. The connecting link
or arm is by preference pivoted to a projection e' on the retractor or rear
parte of the bolt, its other end being formed with a catch or projection l',
which is fitted to take into a recess 6 formed in the inner edge of the other
part 6 of the said bolt; the two parts b, c, being thus united will move together
when the handle is turned on either side of the door. A shoulder b³ is also
formed on the under side of the fastening or forward part of the bolt,. in
such a position that when this part is forced forward, and the retractor e
drawn back, the extremity of the link can be raised behind the said
shoulder, and will hold the two parts e, of the bolt firmly and solidly
together. The cam m for effecting the adjustment of the link
below the same near the end upon which the catch is formed. The lobe or
projection m of the said cam is so formed that when turned upward it will
hold the catch of the link properly in the recess b, or will keep the
point, against the shoulder of the bolt but when turned downward
is arranged
will leave space for the said catch to pass clear of the under side of the bolt.
The link is forced away from the said recess and shoulder by a spring n which
for convenience is attached to the sliding retractor e. The cam m is formed
with faces, and a spring o acting on the same holds the said cam in either
position. The handle of the cam m which is on the inside of the door may
Le permanently attached to the lock or may be made removable. The under side
of the connecting link is constructed with longitudinal projections or ridges
which are formed to correspond with the wards of the latch key. The key
by preference employed is a flat strip of metal q with the wards g. cut in its
edge. The point 2 of the key q is made slightly taper, so as to pass freely
through the key hole 1, and under the portion of the link immediately behind
the longitudinal projections on the said link; the key q being inserted into
the key hole raises the link and brings the catch on the end of the same into
the recess of the latch b. The two parts b, e, of the bolt being thus connected
the said bolt can be drawn back by turning the handle or knob on either side
of the door, the projections or ridges 13 on the under side of the link passing
freely through the wards q' of the key q. The form and arrangement of these
projections can be varied to an almost unlimited extent, and as any key whose
wards do not correspond exactly with the shape and arrangement of the said
projections will not allow then to pass it is practically impossible to operate
the lock with any key or other instrument except the one made expressly for
it. When the link is divided into a number of plates the wards of each key
can be formed and arranged to raise each plate to a different position. When

page_text: the swivel spindle is employed the same is passed through a square hole in
each leaf of the split tumbler i, and the joint or division of the said spindle
lies between these two leaves. The end of one part of the said spindle is
fitted to turn freely in a hole bored in the end of the other part, and is
retained therein by a screw or other suitable device. One leaf of the
tumbler operates the fastening or forward portion 6 of the bolt, which in this
arrangement of parts is extended, and provided with a stud or finger
for that purpose, and the other leaf of the said tumbler acts upon
the stud on the end of the retractor e as shown in Figure 3. This method
of construction allows the lock to be so adjusted that the door can always be
opened by a person passing out of the said door by simply turning the handle
but cannot be opened from the outside except by the aid of the latch key. To
prevent any possibility of the inner tumbler & being turned by the outer
handle or knob a stop bolts may be employed, which fits into a notch in
the said tumbler, and is drawn out of the said notch when the link / is raised
by means of a camt operated by the said link or by a portion of the bolt.
In the modification of parts represented in Figure 5 the swivel spindle is
nosed and the construction of the lock is somewhat simplified. The tumbler **
is not split or divided and has no connection with the fastening 6 except through
b
the retractor b¹.
Having thus fully described the said improvements as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,
First, the lock bolt consisting of the two portions 6 and e constructed,
combined, and operating together, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Second, the link or arın 1 for connecting the two portions b, 6, of the said
bolt constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third, the combination of the link l, cam me, and springs n, o, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth, the two parts b, e, of the bolt, and the link combined and
operating with the split tumbler i and swivel spindle passed through the same,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth, the two parts b, e, of the bolt constructed and arranged to operate
in combination with the solid tumbler i*, in the manner and substantially as
set forth.
Sixth, the parts b, e, of the bolt, link l, cam m, tumbler i or i, and other
parts constructed, combined, and operating together. to produce the various

page_text: changes or modifications in the operation of the lock, substantially as herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THOS. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.