Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1886
Complete Left, 17th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 30th Sept., 1887,
I, ARTHUR ILLIDGE, of 16 Church Street, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention refers to improvements in indicator bolts or fastenings for doors,
that is to such bolts or fastenings as are employed for indicating that the apartment is
engaged or otherwise; and comprises means whereby the fastening may be adapted
to varying thicknesses of door without altering the length of the spindle; and means
whereby the door may be held closed when the apartment is not occupied, and be at
the same time capable of being easily opened by means of an exterior handle; and
means whereby, for special purposes, the fastening may be fastened and unfastened
from the outside by an attendant; and, also, means whereby the fastening may, when
desired, be secured against such unfastening by the attendant.
According to one part of this invention, a cam-action bolt, such as is in common
use for other purposes, is employed, and has its spindle formed to pass through the
door from side to side; and an indicator disc is mounted on the outer end of the
spindle, and the ordinary door knob handle is mounted on its inner end. The indicator
disc is of a description heretofore employed with indicator bolts, and is enclosed in a
suitable case, of the character usually employed with such disc, having a concentric
slotted opening for the exhibition of the word "engaged,” vacant," or other word
or words as required. This arrangement permits of the bolt being used for varying
thicknesses of door without altering the length of the spindle, as the inner end of the
spindle may be inserted for a varying distance within the knob. The bolt case may be
mortised into the door, if desired.
” “
According to another part of this invention, any ordinary or other convenient
spring latch bolt, or other bolt, operated by a follower (or otherwise capable of being
operated from both the inside and outside of a door) may be employed, and be provided
with a stop-piece carried upon a spindle, the stop-piece being in such position that
when turned in one direction it prevents the bolt from being drawn back by the usual
follower (or by other means), and when turned in the other direction permits of such
bolt being readily drawn back. In this case the spindle carrying the stop-piece

page_text: This
projects forward to the outside of the door and carries the indicator disc.
arrangement has the advantage of enabling the door to be quite closed from the
outside and held in such position by the bolt, as in such case the bolt can readily be
drawn back by an outside knob on the follower spindle (or by other means).
According to a further part of this invention, the outer end of the spindle carrying
the indicator disc, according to either modification above-described, may be formed
with a square or other shaped recess, or be otherwise formed or shaped to receive the
end of a suitable key, and a hole be formed in the centre of the case for the passage of
the end of the key therethrough. An attendant is thus able to turn such spindle from
the outside, and thus shoot forward or draw back the bolt, or turn the stop-piece (and
thus enable the bolt spindle to be turned or the bolt to be otherwise drawn back) as
the case may be, when circumstances so require, such as when a closet at a railway
station is to be fastened, after use, or opened for admission, or for access to a person
taken suddenly ill. This part of my invention is applicable generally in cases in
which an indicating disc is mounted on a spindle the turning of which latter will have
the effect of operating the bolt, or, when turned in one direction, of securing the bolt
in its fastened position, and, when turned in the other direction, of enabling the bolt
to be unfastened from both the inside and outside.
A further part of this invention relates to an addition which may be made when the
arrangement described in the last preceding paragraph is adopted, and consists of a
sliding-plate or bolt between the outer face of the case and the face of the indicator,
and of a lever or levers, or other convenient lock mechanism, through the aid of which
a key may be employed to move and lock the sliding-plate in position closing the hole
in the centre of the case against the insertion of the key referred to in the last
preceding paragraph, and also to unlock such plate and return it to its former position.
The plate is formed so that part thereof passes over and obscures the index shewing
through the slot, and the face of such covering part may be marked with the word
"locked," or other word or words, as desired. The key for moving the sliding-plate
is inserted through a key-hole formed in any convenient part of the front plate of the
case, preferably near the lower side thereof. This part of the invention is specially
suitable for offices, and such rooms, in the case of which it is sometimes desired to lock
the door from the outside, as security against an attendant who may, as a precaution
of safety, be entrusted with the key for access when the door is fastened simply
from the inside.
Dated this 24th day of November 1886.

page_text: I, ARTHUR ILLIDGE, of 16 Church Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
brassfounder, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and
the letters of reference marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This invention refers to improvements in indicator bolts or fastenings for doors, that
is to such bolts or fastenings as are employed for indicating that the apartment is
engaged or otherwise.
According to one part of this invention, a cam-action bolt, such as is in common use
for other purposes, is employed, and has an indicator disc mounted on the outer end
of the spindle and the ordinary door knob or handle mounted on its inner end. The
indicator disc is of a description heretofore employed with indicator bolts, and is
enclosed in a suitable case, of the character usually employed with such disc, having
a concentric slotted opening for the exhibition of the word "engaged,"
* 66 vacant," or
other word or words or indication as required. The spindle passes freely through the
cam, but is shaped in cross section so as to readily turn such cam as it is itself turned.
This arrangement permits of the bolt being used for varying thicknesses of door
without altering the length of the spindle, as the inner end of the spindle may be
inserted for a varying distance within the knob or handle. The bolt case may be
mortised into the door, if desired.
This part of my invention is illustrated by the drawings on sheet 1 herewith, of
which figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through the centre (that is on line x z
of figure 1) of a cam-action bolt and indicator fitted together in the manner stated,
for the purpose set forth, and figure 2 is an elevation of the bolt with the case shewn
as if the outer plate thereof were cut away and with the indicator shewn by_broken
lines. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both views. The bolt
is of the ordinary type of such bolts, the bolt proper A being thrown out and drawn
in by means of a cam B on the spindle (operating alternately, as it is turned a half
turn in a forward and in a backward direction, against the projections a and b on the
bolt tail. The bolt is shewn to be reversible by moving the screws c c, which act as
stops to the movement of the cam in either direction, from the upper side of the bolt
proper to the lower side, as indicated by broken line circles c¹ c¹. An indicator is

page_text: ***
"
employed of the usual character, consisting of a disc d carried within a case e having
a slotted opening ff (see broken lines figure 2) for the exhibition of the word
"engaged,"
vacant or other word or words or indication. The disc d is mounted
rigidly on an outwardly projecting part of the spindle C which is formed with a
cylindrical part to turn easily in a plate j fixed to the door D by means of screws
passed through holes in the disc and having countersunk heads so as when screwed up
to be flush with the face of such plate and thus allow of the turning of the disc, and
such spindle is provided with a collar i between which and the disc it is retained end-
ways in the plate. The handle E is fixed upon the spindle in the usual manner and
the spindle passes freely through the cam B, and is formed square or of equivalent
shape so that it may be readily turned by the handle and also itself readily turn the
cam B. The bolt and indicator may thus be used for varying thicknesses of doors
without alteration of parts.
According to another part of this invention, any ordinary or other convenient spring
latch-bolt, or other bolt, operated by a follower (or otherwise capable of being operated
from both the inside and outside of a door) may be employed, and be provided with a
stop-piece carried upon a spindle, the stop-piece being is such position that when
turned in one direction it prevents the bolt from being drawn back by the usual
follower (or by other means), and when turned in the opposite direction permits of
such bolt being readily drawn back. The spindle carrying the stop-piece projects
forward to the outside of the door and the indicator disc is mounted thereon. This
arrangement has the advantage of enabling the door to be quite closed from the
outside and held in such position by the bolt, as in such case the bolt can readily be
drawn back by an outside knob on the follower spindle (or by other means).
This part of the invention is illustrated by figures 3 and 4 (sheet 2) which are s
corresponding views to figures 1 and 2, showing a spring latch bolt and indicator
fitted together in the manner stated, the bolt being provided with a stop-piece of the
character described. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both
views. The spring bolt shewn is of the ordinary type of such bolts, and the broken
lines which bound three sides of figure 4 indicate the front plate carrying the bolt
mechanism, which is supposed in such view to be removed. The bolt proper A is
drawn back by means of a follower G upon the main spindle C fitted with knobs in
the ordinary manner; and a stop-piece F is carried upon an inwardly projecting part
of a handle E, or it may be carried upon a supplementary spindle H as the cam B
previously described is carried by the spindle C, and when such stop-piece is turned
into the position shewn by the drawings, against a stop-pin l, it bears immediately at
the back of a projection m on the bolt tail and prevents the bolt proper from being
drawn back, but when the catch-piece is turned back against a stop-pin the bolt
proper may be readily drawn back in the usual manner. The bolt, apart from the stop
mechanism, is naturally reversible without alteration, and the stop mechanism is made
reversible by altering the position of the stop pins to that indicated by the
circles (figure 4). The indicator is of the character described with reference to
figures 1 and 2, and the disc is mounted on the spindle H in the manner in which the
disc d of such views is mounted on the spindle C, and the inner end of the spindle
enters any required distance within the handle É, and thus the combined fastening
and indicator may be applied, without alteration of parts, to doors of varying thickness.
It will be readily seen that a door fitted with this combined fastening and indicator
can be quite closed from the outside, and be readily opened again by first turning the
spindle C.
Indicator fastenings are sometimes constructed with the outer end of the spindle
carrying or operating the indicator disc or plate formed with a square or other shaped
recess, or having the end otherwise formed, to receive the end of a suitable key in
order that an attendant may be able to turn such spindle from the outside to fasten
and unfasten the door. In this case an opening is formed through the front plate of
the indicator case for the passage of the end of the key therethrough.
A further part of this invention relates to an addition which may be made when the
arrangement described in the last preceding paragraph is adopted, and consists of a

page_text: diaphragm within the indicator case, immediately in front of the disc or indicator
plate, of a sliding plate or bolt carried against the outer face of such diaphragm, and
of a lever or levers or other convenient lock mechanism through the aid of which an
additional key may be employed to move and lock the sliding-plate in position in front
of the end of the spindle so as to prevent the insertion of the key referred to in the
last preceding paragraph, and also to unlock such plate and return it to its former
position. The plate is formed so that when locked part thereof passes over and
obscures the index.shewing through the slot, and the face of such covering part may
be marked with the word "locked," or other word or words as desired.
" "
This part of my invention is illustrated by figures 5, 6 and 7, of which figure 5 is
an elevation of an indicator fitted with a sliding plate in the manner described, the
front plate of the case being removed to shew the interior parts. Figure 6 is a
sectional plan taken on line of figure 5, and figure 7 a front elevation of the
indicator. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout these
views. The case e is made deeper than the ordinary indicator case and is provided
with a diaphragm J J which takes the place of the front plate shewn by figures 1
and 3, having therethrough a slotted curved opening ff for the exhibition of the
word "engaged," vacant," or other word or words or indication marked upon
the indicator disc d which is carried to turn immediately at the back of the
diaphragm. An opening n is formed through the centre of the diaphragm for
the passage of the end of the key for insertion into a square or other corres-
pondingly-shaped recess n' in the end of the spindle C, or for fitting over a suitably
shaped end of such spindle. A sliding plate L L is carried upon the outer face
of the diaphragm J J and has a hole formed therethrough which is opposite to
the hole n through the diaphragm, when the plate is in its downward position shewn
by figure 5. This plate is provided with a suitable lever or levers o whereby it may
be shot upwards by means of a suitable key inserted within a holo p through the front
plate M of the case and locked in such position so as to close over the opening n
through the centre of the diaphragm J J and thus prevent the insertion of a key to
turn the spindle C¹. An opening g is, of course, formed through the centre of the
front plate for the insertion of the key for turning the spindle C. A slotted curved
opening N is formed through the front plate M for the exhibition of the word
engaged,"
," "vacant," or other word or words upon the indicator disc. The sliding
plate L L is preferably formed at its upper side so as when shot up to close in the
slotted curved opening through the diaphragm J J so as to hide the word or words on
the indicator disc which would otherwise shew therethrough, and such part of the
sliding plate is preferably marked with the word "locked", or other word or words
as desired, which will when the plate is shot up shew through the curved slotted
opening through the front plate M and indicate that the apartment cannot be opened
by the central key. The sliding-plate is shewn to be unlocked in figure 5 and locked
in figure 7.
"
The part of the invention last described is specially suitable for offices and such
rooms in the case of which it is sometimes desired to secure the door from the outside,
against the entrance of an attendant who may be entrusted with a key which fits the
indicator spindle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of cam-action bolt and indicator substantially as described.
2. A cam-action bolt and indicator fitted together so that they may be applied,
without alteration of parts, to doors of varying thickness, substantially as described.
3. A spring latch bolt or other bolt operated by a follower (or otherwise capable of
being operated from both the inside and outside of a door) having a stop-piece which
when turned in one direction prevents the bolt from being drawn back and when
turned in the opposite direction permits of the bolt being drawn back, in combination
with an indicator operated by the spindle of such stop-piece, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The means by which a bolt of the kind referred to in the last preceding
paragraph having a stop-piece of the character described, is fitted together with an
indicator, so that they may be applied without alteration of parts, to doors of varying
thickness, substantially as described.
5. In an indicator fastening of which the indicator spindle is formed capable of 5
being turned by means of a key in the manner described, a locking plate constructed
to be shot by means of a supplementary key across or in front of the end of such
spindle, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 11th day of A1007