IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Saint Aubin, of Willenhall, in the County
of Stafford, Pattern-maker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
AND LATCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Saint Aubin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th September 1880.
WILLIAM HENRY SAINT AUBIN, of Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Pattern-
maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES."
The object of this Invention is to construct the locking mechanism of rin, dead,
draw-back, and mortise locks and latches so that the locking bolt may be locked
with the key inserted the right or ordinary way up, whether the lock or latch is
used for the right or left-hand; and also to construct the mechanism in such a
manner as to render the lock or latch difficult to pick.
The tail of the locking bolt is provided with two sets of key gatings and racks,
one set being for locking right hand and the other for locking left-hand.
Corresponding provision is made for receiving the key, the key holes being apart
longitudinally and, of course, in opposito directions vertically. The tumbler works
upon a stud at the back of the locking bolt tail, and has an open part shaped in
reversed duplicate to correspond with the right and left hand gatings aforesaid
respectively, that is to say, it is shaped so as to be moved by the key properly to
allow of locking or unlocking the bolt, whether the right or left hand gating is
used. A stud projects from the front end of the tumbler, and as the tumbler
is moved the stud moves with it to a position opposite to one of the racks aforesaid
(according to whether the right or left hand gating is used). The bolt is secured
when unlocked by the stud aforesaid falling into a recess at the front end of one
of the racks. The bolt is secured in its locked position by the stud aforesaid
falling into a cross slot or rack joining the back ends of the two before mentioned
racks. At the back of the head of the locking bolt, and on the underside thereof,
is fixed a small steel spring (preferably let into a slot cut in a boss cast or formed
with the head), the ends of which bear against the inside of the fore-plate or
selvage of the lock case. The cross slot or rack joining the two first mentioned
racks is slightly recessed on its side nearest the bolt head, thus leaving a projection
or shoulder at each end of that side. The small spring aforesaid presses the bolt
[Price Gd.]

page_text: slightly back after it is shot forward, and after the stud aforesaid is moved into
the cross slot, and thus the recessed part of the cross slot is pressed up against the
said stud, the effect being that if the lock is tampered with the shoulders aforesaid
offer an obstruction to the motion of the stud, and thereby prevent it from entering
either of the first mentioned racks. As the proper key is turned to unlock the
bolt, the bolt is moved forward by the key sufficiently to clear the stud of the
shoulder in the cross slot, and is kept forwards until the stud is moved opposite to
one of the first mentioned racks, when the locking bolt can be shot back. A cross
spring is fixed at the back end of the tail of the tumbler (preferably in a slot cut
through a boss thereon), projecting each way therefrom, and pressing against studs
or forks fixed to the case. The said last mentioned spring acts to return the tumbler.
to its mid position from either direction. The tail of the locking bolt is kept in
position by suitable guides. On the outer part of the case of the lock (except
in the case of a mortise lock) I employ a bush, turning upon a centre. This bush
has a key hole formed through it, and by being turned in either direction the said
key hole through the bush is brought opposite to the right or left hand key hole
of the lock, accordingly as may be desired, and the other key hole covered up. A
stop is fixed upon the case, and shoulders are formed at the edge of the bush, by
means of which the position to which the bush is to be turned in either direction,
for the above purpose,-is-fixed.-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Saint Aubin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th March 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY SAINT AUBIN, of Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Pattern
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES."
The object of this Invention is to construct the locking mechanism of rim, dead,
draw-back, and mortise locks and latches, so that the locking-bolt may be locked
with the key inserted the right or ordinary way up, whether the lock or latch is
used for the right or left hand; and also to construct the mechanism of double-
handed, and other locks and latches, in such a manner as to render the lock or latch
difficult to pick.
In constructing the locking mechanism of locks and latches so as to make them
double-handed, according to this Invention, the tail of the locking-bolt is provided
with two sets of key gatings and racks, one set being for locking right-handed and
the other set for locking left-banded, that is when the lock is placed the opposite
way up. Corresponding provision is made for receiving the key, the key-holes
being apart longitudinally and, of course, in opposite directions vertically. The
tumbler works upon a stud fixed to the case of the lock or latch at the back end
of the bolt tail, and has an open part shaped in reversed duplicate to correspond
with the right and left-hand gatings aforesaid respectively, that is to say, it is
shaped so as to be moved by the key properly to allow of locking or unlocking the
holt, whether the right or left-hand gating is used. A stud projects from the front
end of the tumbler, and as the tumbler is moved the stud moves with it to a
position opposite to one of the racks aforesaid (accordingly as the right or left-
hand gating is used). The bolt is secured when unlocked by the stud on the
tumbler falling into a recess at the front end of one of the racks, or into a cross-
slot joining the front ends of the racks. The bolt is secured in its locked position
by the stud on the tumbler falling into a cross-slot joining the back ends of the
racks, or into one of a pair of recesses formed at the back ends of the racks. A
cross-spring is fixed at the back end of the tail of the tumbler (preferably in a slot
cut through a boss thereon), projecting each way therefrom, and bearing against
studs or other abutments fixed to the case. The said cross-spring acts to return
the tumbler towards its mid position from either direction. The tail of the bolt is
kept in position by suitable guides.
In constructing the locking mechanism of double-handed locks and latches
constructed to lock according to this Invention as aforesaid, so as to render the
same difficult to pick, I fix at the back of the head of the locking-bolt a small
steel spring (preferably let into a slot cut in a boss cast or formed with the bead),
the ends of which bear against the inside of the fore-plate or selvage of the case.
The cross-slot, when such is used to join the back ends of the two racks aforesaid,
is slightly recessed on its side nearest the bolt head, thus leaving a projection or
shoulder at each end of that side. When the key passes out of contact with the
bolt after locking it, the small spring aforesaid presses the bolt slightly back.
Previously, however, to this taking place, the stud on the tumbler will have been
moved into the cross-slot and past one of the shoulders at the ends thereof. By
these means the recessed part of the cross-slot is pressed up against the stud, the
effect being that if the lock is tampered with, the shoulders aforesaid each offer
an obstruction to the motion of the stud, and thereby prevent it from entering
either of the racks. When recesses are employed at the back ends of the racks,
instead of a cross-slot, the recesses are notched forwards so as to leave a shoulder
to each recess corresponding to the shoulders aforesaid in the cross-slot. The
application of this part of my Invention to an ordinary tumbler lock or latch will

page_text: be obvious to a person who understands its application to a double-handed lock
constructed as aforesaid. In applying this part of my Invention to a lever lock or
latch, a shoulder is formed in the recess at the forward end of the rack, and the
stud upon the bolt tail is pressed back behind the shoulder (when the bolt is
locked) by means of a spring.
On the outer part of the case of a two-sided lock or latch (except a mortise lock
or latch) I employ a plate (termed "bush" in the Provisional Specification) capable
of being turned upon a centre. This plate has a key-hole formed through it, and
by being turned in either direction, the said key-hole through the plate is brought
opposite to the right or left-hand key-hole of the lock or latch, accordingly as may
be desired, and the other key-hole is covered up. A stop is fixed upon the case,
and shoulders are forined at the edge of the plate by means of which the position
to which the plate is to be turned in either direction, for the above purpose, is
fixed.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will now proceed more
particularly to describe the manner of performing the same, with reference to the
accompanying Drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a mortise lock with the cap-plate removed, and is shewn
constructed as a double-handed lock. The locking mechanism only is shewn. The
latch-bolt and follower, being of the ordinary construction, are left out on the
illustration. A is the bolt head, and B, B, the tail of the bolt; C is the tumbler,
which is shewn detached-by-Figure-2-;-D-and-Dare_the_key-holes; E and E¹ are
--key gatings formed through the tail of the bolt, as shewn, and F and F clearance
openings through the tail of the bolt to allow the key to pass round into the gatings
E, E'.
a and a are horizontal racks through the tail of the bolt, and b is a cross-
slot joining the front ends of the racks a, a¹; c and care recesses, which are
continued upwards and downwards, as shewn, as is usual in such cases for additional
safety. Figure 3 shews the part of the key which is inserted into the lock. When
the key-hole D is used the opening d in the key passes clear of the point e on the
tumbler, and the part on the key comes in contact with the part g of the tumbler,
raising the tumbler and with it a stud h which projects from the front end of the
tumbler into the cross-slot b as shewn. The tumbler is thus raised by the key
until the stud his opposite to the front end of the rack a. The tumbler is then
retained in the position to which it has been raised by the part of the key
passing along the curved part of the tumbler, and while so maintained in position
one of the parts of the key (according to which side of the lock the key is inserted
from) moves the bolt forwards until the rack a is clear of the stud h. The tumbler
is then lowered and the stud falls into the recess c, the bolt being then completely
locked. The reverse motion is of course employed to unlock the bolt. The tumbler
is carried on the stud G at the back end thereof, and is brought back to its
horizontal position, or into either of the recesses c or c¹ by means of the
cross-spring H carried in the produced back end of the tumbler, as shewn, and
bearing at each end against a part J riveted to the lock case.
When the key-hole D' is used (as it would be were the lock turned the other
way up for the opposite hand) the tumbler is moved so as to bring the stud h
opposite to the rack a¹, and the bolt is shot forwards till the rack a¹ is clear of the
stud h when the latter enters the recess c', the bolt being then locked. In this case,
the tumbler begins to be moved when the part f of the key arrives at about the
position m of the tumbler. K, K, are studs fixed to the case, and act as guides to
the tail end of the bolt. Although the bolt can be locked out by using either key-
hole, it can only be unlocked again by using the same key-hole through which it was
locked. Figure 4 shews an edge view of the tumbler. n, n, are two studs projecting
therefrom, which with the parts p, p, distance the tumbler off from the lock case to
allow either of the parts 7 of the key to pass freely between the tumbler and the
case.
Figure 5 is an elevation of a dead-lock with the cap-plate removed. The bolt A
is shewn locked out. The arrangement of racks, cross-slot, and recesses, lettered

page_text: respectively a and a¹, b, and c and c¹; are shewn in reversed position to those
illustrated by Figure 1, that is to say, the cross-slot bis back ward of the recesses
c, c'. I do not propose to describe in detail the method of locking and unlocking
the bolt A, as from what has been before described with reference to Figures 1, 2,
and 3, this will be readily understood by a person skilled in the business to which
the Invention relates; but I have given this illustration more especially to describe
in relation thereto my construction of mechanism for rendering the lock difficult to
pick. I may however first point out that when the key-hole D (shewn by dotted
lines) is used, the bolt is unlocked by raising the tumbler at about the point m
until the stud h is opposite to the rack a, and that when the bolt is unlocked the
stud h falls into the recess c; and that when the key-hole D' (shewn also by dotted
lines) is used the tumbler is moved at about the part n till the stud / is opposito
the rack a. When the bolt is shot back, the stud h passes into the recess c¹. By
this arangement of racks, cross-slot, and recesses, the bolt can be unlocked by using
either key-hole, but can only be locked by using the key-hole through which it
was last unlocked. The cross-slot b is recessed, as shown, leaving two shoulders
g and g', and it will be seen that whilst the bolt remains in the position shown the
tumbler C cannot be moved with the stad opposite to either of the racks a or a',
as in the attempt to do so the stud would be stopped by one of the shoulders
g or gl. Figure 6 is an elevation shewing the back of the front end of the bolt A,
and Figure 7 is an elevation looking on the top of the front end of the bolt as
shewn at Figure 5. k is a flat spring let in between the bolt-head A and the stud
formed upon the tail of the bolt. The spring / bears at each end i against the
inside of the fore-plate or selvage L of the case, and is shewn as acting to press
back the bolt so that the recessed side of the cross-slot b bears against the stud h.
When the key-hole D is used the bolt A is moved slightly forward by the key
acting on the part o of the bolt tail, and is thus held forward as the key runs up
the curve above o, thus clearing the shoulder g while the stud h passes it. When
the key-hole D' is used the part p on the tail of the bolt, and the curve inme-
diately below it, answer the corresponding purpose in relation to the shoulder g'.
As it is necessary with this construction of mechanism to press the bolt forward
before the tumbler can be fully raised, the lock is difficult to pick, especially if its
peculiar construction is not understood by the person attempting to pick it.
The arrangement of racks, cross-slot, and recesses, with the other parts of the
locking mechanism shewn by Figure 5 may be used also for mortise and other
locks and latches, constructed double-handed, as heroin before described, if desired,
as may also the arrangement shewn by Figure 1 be used for other locks and
latches constructed double-handed, as herein-before described, besides only mortise
locks. The special mechanism illustrated by Figures 5, 6, and 7 for making the
lock or latch difficult to pick may be employed also for other locks and latches
constructed double-handed, as described, as will be apparent. The mechanism for
making the lock or latch difficult to pick can readily be applied also when the
arrangement of racks, cross-slot, and recesses, as illustrated by Figure 1, are
employed. In this case the recesses c and c' (Figure 1) would be cut somewhat
deeper, and notches would be cut in the sides nearer to the bolt head, thus forming
shoulders in the same position with relation to the racks as when the cross-slot is
employed at the back.
The part of my Invention for making locks and latches difficult to pick, as
applied to an ordinary tumbler lock or latch, will be obvious without need for
special illustration, being in fact substantially identical with the arrangement
illustrated by Figures 5, 6, and 7, except that as an ordinary tumbler lock or latch
has only one rack a and recess c, and part only of the cross-slot 6 (which is in this
case simply a recess), only one shoulder is formed, behind which the stud upon the
tumbler is retained when the bolt is locked.
The application of this part of my Invention to a lever lock or latch is illustrated
by Figure 8. M is the lever turning upon the fulcrum N; O is the stud upon the
tail of the bolt; a is a notch sunk back from the forward recess of the rack, as

page_text: locked, in combination with a spring for pressing back the said bolt so as to bring
the shoulder or shoulders into a position to lock the stud, or to bring the stud into
a position to be locked by the shoulder or shoulders, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described and shewn by Figure 5 (in reference to a double-handed
tumbler lock) and by Figure 8 (in reference to a lever lock) of the accompanying
Drawings.
5th. The construction and employment of the plate P, substantially as and for
the purpose herein described and shewn by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Saint Aubin, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
W. H. ST. AUBIN. (L.S.)