IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS AND KEYS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hughes, of Bristol, in the County
of Gloucester, Builder, and Charles Jones, of Wolverhampton,
in the County of Stafford, Lock Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS AND KEYS."
Scaled the 25th September 1868, and dated the 27th March 1868..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hughes and
Charles Joues at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 27th March 1868.
We, HENRY HUGHES, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester,
Builder, and CHARLES JONES, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Lock Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUCKS AND KEYS," to be as follows:
The first part of our Invention relates to improvements in locks
applicable for doors, safes, and other purposes. In front of the bolt.
we place a series of sliders which are independent the one of the
other and work in guides at right angles to the direction of motion
of the holt, the upper end of each slider is slotted for the reception.
Price Ed.

page_text: of a pin or projection acting as an additional guide for each slider.
The sliders are further provided with springs at top bearing against
the casing of the lock which tend to keep them in a downward position.
A deep slot or recess is made in variable positions in the front edge
of each slider at right angles thereto, a corresponding projection being
formed on the face of the bolt to fit said recesses. When all the slots
or recesses in the sliders are brought in position opposite said projection
by means of the key in the manner herein-after described the bolt
is free to be thrown back into the lock by the projection entering
the slots in the sliders. The bolt is acted on by a suitable knob or
handle the spindle of which is provided with a follower taking into
a recess in said bolt for the purpose of moving it in either direction.
A narrow rectangular slit is formed in each slider for the reception
of the key which consists of a steel plate of about end of an inch
only in thickness having steps or recesses made in one edge corre
sponding to the wards or recesses in the sliders. When the bolt is shot
the sliders are in their lower or normal position and the key hole
slits in all the sliders coincide; and in order to draw back the bolt
the whole of the sliders are first raised simultaneously by means of the
knob, until their keyhole slits are brought opposite the keyhole slit
in the lock plate, by the aid of a lever pivotted at the lower part of
the lock and acting on a projecting part of each slider by turning
the knob and follower in the reverse way to when throwing back
the bolt. The sliders are held in this position by the knob until the
key is inserted in the slit in the sliders, the end of said key being
supported in a step or bearing formed on the case; the knob or handle
is then released and the sliders are free to be depressed by their springs
into their respective places in the wards of the key (which correspond
to the variable positions of the slots in the sliders) so that all these
slots are brought in a line opposite the projection on the bolt, which
may then be drawn back and slid therein by turning the handle.
The key is merely inserted in the sliders without being rotated as
usual which affords additional security, as the smallness of the keyhole
and the absence of the internal chamber required when the key is
rotated on a centre pin prevent the employment of picks or the
introduction of a sufficient quantity of gunpowder to damage the lock.
Above the sliders we place a drill proof plate suitably attached to the
bolt and serving to protect the sliders it being slotted to receive the
projection on the bolt for the purpose of imparting, additional strength

page_text: thereto, and to prevent its displacement in the case of an attempt to
force the lock. Further, in order to prevent any strain being brought
to bear on the supporting sliders should an attempt be made to force
back tlie bolt without using the key by turning the knob or otherwise,
we mount an oscillating catch above the bolt which is caused to enter
a recess therein on pressing the projection on the bolt against the
bottom slider which acts on a stud on the oscillating catch so as to
overcome the force of the spring on said catch serving to keep it free
of the bolt when thrown back in opening the lock in the usual manner.
Any strain in forcing the bolt is thus transmitted to the oscillating
catch which is caused to enter the recess in the bolt and so prevents
its moving.
This improved lock is particularly applicable for such safe doors
as are provided with a rotating disc having connecting rods operating
catches in the sides of the door for locking said safes.
This lock may be substituted for the rotating disc by lengthening
the sliders and providing them with a second series of variable recesses
for the reception of a second bolt similar to the first and operated
in a contrary direction by the follower on the knob spindle, as before
described.
A further advantage in the case of safes is that by making the wards
of the key corresponding to one or more of the under sliders of the
lock longer than the others it will be impossible to withdraw the
key until the door is locked, which prevents the door being left
accidentally unlocked by withdrawing the key without first locking it.
The improved keys herein-described are entirely new in shape and
construction, and may either be stepped on one side or on end, in which
latter case the sliders would be placed vertical to the cap plate, the
steps of the key acting on the outer edges of the sliders and not in
a groove as in the example before-described.
Levers may also be substituted for the sliders working on a centre
and using the same form of key as before, the levers falling into instead
of being lifted by the steps of the key before the bolt can be drawn
back as in the case of the sliders. The improvements herein-described
are applicable to all kinds of locks hitherto made.
A further improvement in keys consists in jointing them at one end
to a case or handle so as to shut in the manner of a knife blade or
pocket comb.
In this manner they are rendered more suitable for

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Hughes and Charles Jones in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 26th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
HUGHES, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Builder, and CHARLES
JONES, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Lock Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in
the thirty-first year of her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Henry Hughes and
Charles Jones, Her special licence that we, the said Henry Hughes
and Charles Jones, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Henry Hughes and Charles Jones, our
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 and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCKS AND KEYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Henry Hughes and Charles Jones, our executors or
administrators by an instrument in writing under our, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henry Hughes and Charles
Jones, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being
had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon (that is to say):

page_text: The first part of our, Invention relates to improvements in locks
applicable. for doors, safes, and other purposes.
In front of the bolt
we place a series of sliders which are independent the one of the other
and work in guides at right angles to the direction of motion of the
bolt, the upper end of each slider is slotted for the reception of a pin
or projection acting as an additional guide for each slider, the sliders are
further provided with Springs at top bearing against the casing of the
lock, which tend to keep the sliders in a downward position.
A deep
slot or recess is made in variable positions in the front edge of each
slider at right angles thereto, a corresponding projection being formed
on the face of the bolt to fit said recesses. When all the slots or
recesses in the sliders are brought in position opposite said projection
by means of the key in the manner herein-after described, the bolt is
free to be thrown back in the lock by the projection entering the slots
in the sliders. The bolt is acted on by a suitable knob or handle, the
spindle of which is provided with a follower taking into a recess in
said bolt for the purpose of moving it in either direction. A narrow
rectangular slit is formed in each of the sliders for the reception of the
key which consists of a steel plate of about 2nd of an inch in.
thickness, having steps or recesses made in one edge corresponding to
the wards or recesses in the sliders. When the bolt is shot the sliders
are in their lower or normal position and the key slits in all the sliders
coincide; and in order to draw back the bolt the whole of the sliders
are raised simultaneously by means of the knob until their key slits
are brought opposite the key slit in the lock plate. This is effected by
the aid of a lever pivoted at the lower part of the locking and acting on
a projecting part of each slider by turning the knob and follower in the
reverse way to when throwing back the bolt. The sliders are held in
this position by the knob until the key is inserted in the slits in the
sliders, the end of said key being supported in a step or bearing formed
on the case. The knob or handle is then released and the sliders are
free to be depressed by their springs into their respective places in the
wards of the key (which correspond to the variable positions of the slots
in the sliders) so that all these slots are brought in a line opposite the
projection on the bolt which may then be drawn back and slid therein
by turning the handle. The key is merely inserted in the sliders without
being rotated as usual, which affords additional security as the smallness
of the keyhole and the absence of the internal chamber required when
tlic key is rolated on a centre pin prevent the employment of picks

page_text: or the introduction of a sufficient quantity of gun powder to damage
the lock. Above the sliders I place a drill proof plate suitably attached
to the bolt and serving to protect the sliders, it being slotted to receive
the projection on the bolt for the purpose of imparting additional
strength thereto and to prevent its displacement in case of an attempt
to force the lock. Further, in order to prevent any strain being brought
to bear on the sliders should an attempt be made to force back the
bolt without using the key by turning the knob or otherwise, we
mount an oscillating catch above the bolt, which is caused to enter a
recess therein on pressing the projection on the bolt against the bottom
slider which acts on a stud on the oscillating catch so as to overcome
the force of the spring on said catch serving to keep the oscillating
catch free of the bolt when thrown back in opening the lock in the
usual manner.
Any strain in forcing the lock is thus transferred to
the oscillating catch, which is caused to enter the recess in the bolt and
so prevent its moving.
This improved, lock is particularly applicable for such safe doors as
are provided with a rotating disc having connecting rods operating
catches in the sides of the door for locking said safes.
This lock may
be substituted for the rotating disc by lengthening the sliders and
providing them with a second series of variable recesses for the reception
of a second bolt similar to the first and operated in a contrary direction
by the follower on the knob spindle, as before described.
A further advantage in the case of safes is that by making the wards
of the key corresponding to one or more of the under sliders of the
lock longer than the others it will be impossible to withdraw the key
until the door is locked, which prevents the door being left accidentally
unlocked by withdrawing the key without first locking it.
The improved keys herein described are entirely new in shape and
construction, and may either be stepped on one side or on end, in which
latter case the sliders would be placed vertical to cap and plate, the
steps of the key acting on the outer edges of sliders and not in a groove,
as in the example before described. Levers may also be substituted for
the sliders working on a centre and using the same form of key as
before, the levers falling into instead of being lifted by the steps of
key before the bolt can be drawn back as in the case of the sliders.

page_text: The improvements nerem described are applicable to an Kinus OT
locks hitherto made.
A further improvement in keys consists in jointing them at one end
to a case or handle so as to fold in the manner of a knife blade or
pocket combe. In this manner they are rendered niore suitable for
carrying in the pocket.
This improvement is chiefly applicable to the thin key plates herein-
before described.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Our Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings; Figure 1
of which shows an inside face view of a lock; Figure 2 a similar
view with the covering plate removed; Figure a transverse vertical
section on line 1. 2, Figure 2; and Figure 4 a horizontal section;
all these Figures show the bolt in the unlocked or open position.
Figure 5 shows an inside face view of the lock with the bolt shot; while
Figures 6 and 7 shows details of the construction of the lock, herein-
after referred to.
A, A, is the box or case of the lock containing the bolt B, which for
greater strength is fitted to slide on a stud a on the case. In front
of the bolt we place a series of sliders C, C, moving independently one
on the other in guides b, b', at right angles to the direction of motion
of the bolt. The sliders have each a spring c mounted on their upper
ends bearing against the rim of the lock and having a constant tendency
to depress said sliders. Each slider is further provided with a deep
transverse slot or recess C', C', on one edge, the position of each slot
and the number of the sliders being varied to suit the form of key. A
tongue or projection B' on the bolt is caused to enter these slots C',
when they are made to coincide therewith for the purpose of throwing
back the bolt, as will be presently described. D is a steel drill proof
cap plate for protecting the sliders screwed to the bolt heads d, d, and
also recessed on to the projection B' of the bolt for affording greater
strength and preventing its displacement in the case of an attempt to
force the lock. The bolt B is operated by means of a suitable knob
or handle E shewn dotted, the spindle E of which is provided with a
follower E taking into a recess e in the lower edge of the bolt for the
purpose of throwing it in either direction; F is a lever pivotted at the
lower part of the lock and serving to raise the whole of the sliders C

page_text: simultaneously at the desired time by the aid of the bolt follower E',
as shown in Figure 7. A narrow rectangular slit is formed in each of
the sliders C for the reception of a key g, Figure 3, and separately repre-
sented in the Figure S. The key we make of a thin steel plate of about
one-thirty-second of an inch only in thickness, with steps or recesses in
one edge corresponding to the wards or recesses in the sliders, or the wards
may be made in the end of the key if desired. The key is introduced
first through a narrow slit f made in the boss or cap G, Figure 10,
fixed on the covering plate of the lock and then through the several
sliders, being supported at its end in a steel bed grooved for its reception.
The slit in, the cap G is made of the form shown, to preclude the
possibility of picks being inserted or of introducing sufficient gunpowder
to damage the lock. Further in order to prevent any strain on the
sliders by endeavouring to force back the bolt in any way without
using the key, we mount an oscillating catch H, Figure 6, above the
bolt B, which is caused to enter a recess therein on the projection B'
being pressed against the bottom slider. This latter bears, on pressure
being applied against a stud i, on the oscillating catch H overcoming
the force of the spring of said catch, and forcing the latter to enter
the recess h, so as to take any strain that may be brought to bear on
the bolt. The spring ordinarily serves for raising the catch H ont
of gear with the bolt to permit of its freely moving backwards and
forwards in the lock.
The following is the action of the lock-When the bolt is' shot or
locked the sliders are all in their lower or normal positions with the
key slits coinciding, and in order to draw back the bolt the whole of
the sliders are first raised simultaneously (by means of the lever E
before mentioned on turning the knol E from right to left) until the
key slits are brought opposite the slit on the boss or cap of lock plate.
The sliders are held in this position by the aid of the knob, and the
key then inserted in the slits of the sliders, after which the handle is
released and the sliders are free to be depressed by their springs into
the wards of the key, by which means all the slots C' are brought in
a line with the tongue B on the bolt, and the latter is free to be drawn
back by turning the handle from left to right. The key cannot be
withdrawn until the bolt is again thrown back by the knob and locked,
when the knob is turned hard to the left to lift the sliders and release
the key, which may then be withdrawn.

page_text: This arrangement is of especial advantage, as it prevents any mistake
as to whether a door is locked or not, which may occur with other locks
when the key is withdrawn in a hurry.
Fig. 9 of the Drawings shows one of our improved key plates
jointed at one end to a case or handle in the manner of a pocket knife,
blade, or comb, so as to better adapt them for being carried in the
pocket. We also provide ordinary keys with handles or cases in a
similar manner, the barrel of the key being jointed at one end to the
case so as to enclose the wards when closed in the manner shown in
Figure 10.
The above improvements are applicable in principle to all kinds of
locks, such as for safe doors, ordinary room doors, mortise, and rim
locks, wardrobe locks, night latches, cash-box locks, padlocks, and
others.
Having described the nature of our Invention and the manner of
performing the same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention
to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
1st. We claim the combination of parts composing our improved
locks, arranged and operating substantially in the manner shown and
described, or any mere modification thereof, while reserving the right
to use levers in lieu of the sliders C, in the manner before indicated.
2ndly. We claim the improved keys to be used with the locks of
our Invention, together with the modifications of the same, substantially
as shown and described.
3rdly. We claim mounting the above and other keys in a handle
or case as and for the purpose described and as illustrated in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Henry Hughes, for myself and
on behalf of the said Charles Jones, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
HENRY HUGHES. (L.S.)