CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SINCLAIR, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, on the Thirteenth day of November, in the fifteenth year of Iler
reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Sinclair, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Sinclair, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said William Sinclair, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said William Sinclair, shall
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Sinclair, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements in locks consist, firstly, in the combining the action of
two or more of the tumblers, leaves, or sliders, in such manner as shall prevent
their being individually placed in the position requisite for the passage of the
locking pin, ring, or plate (as the case may be) through the gate or way, or
in such other position as the peculiar construction of the lock to which the
improvement is applied may require, in order to free the bolt from the obstruc-
tion of the tumblers, leaves, sliders, locking plate, or pin, or as shall, in the
event of one or more of the said tumblers, leaves, or sliders, being wholly
or in part advanced to the position before mentioned, cause the remaining
combined tumblers, leaves, or sliders, to become locked, and may also be
applied to the securing any other portion of the lock ordinarily set in action
by the motion of the key. This improvement is effected by the application to
the aforesaid tumblers, leaves, or sliders of grooves, curves or notches, having
pins, catches, or detents, in, on, or in connection with them, the position of
the pins, catches, or detents, coinciding with the grooves, curves, or notches,
only when the relative motion of the tumblers, leaves, or sliders is such as
would be generated by the legitimate action of the key. In such locks as arc
known as "Bramah," " Cotterill," and others of similar construction, I employ
slides actuated by pins, curves, or wedges formed on the sliders, and notches
for the aforesaid slides to take hold of, thereby effecting the combination
aforesaid. This portion of my Invention includes the application of slides,
detents, or detectors to the bolt, tumblers, leaves, sliders, and locking pin,
ring, or plate, in such manner as shall cause their yielding in the event
of pressure being applied to the bolt prior to the tumblers, leaves, or sliders
being placed in position for the passage of the gate or way, or such other
position, as the construction of the lock may require in order to free the bolt
as aforesaid. By a variation of the same improvement, the leaf tumbler or
slider is mounted with a moveable gate or way which is confined to its legiti
mate motion by a pin or spring, or both, but so constructed as to yield to
pressure in the event of the bolt being acted upon, as aforesaid.
Secondly, my improvements consist in the application of revolving rings
curtains, or guards, combined with escutcheons or wards, in such manner as
shall preclude the introduction of or increase the difficulty of operating with
picking instruments.

page_text: Thirdly, in the use of a zig-zag or serpentine gate or way for the passage of
the locking pin, and in the application of a compound motion of the tumblers
or leaves, in order to effect the passage of the said pin, so as to produce the
result of two or more lockings by one revolution of the key.
Fourthly, in the combination of an index scale or dial with a "tumbler or
leaved lock," by which arrangement the degree of motion imparted to the
tumblers may be varied to the permutations of a changeable key, or the lock
may by means of the dial and suitable arrangements connected therewith, be
disarranged (after having been locked) in such manner as shall prevent the
unlocking even with the legitimate key without the knowledge of the secret
arrangement requisite for the time being.
Fifthly, in the dispensing in "pad" or other similar locks with the shackle,
the eye bolt, or with both, and in the substituting a plate on which the lock is
placed, and to which plate or to pieces passing through or attached thereto, the
bolt is caused to lock or become otherwise connected.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, I shall
proceed to describe the manner of practically applying the same. In the
accompanying Drawings, in Sheet 1. is shewn the application to tumbler or
leaved locks of the first and second portions of my Invention.
Fig. 1 is a tumbler fitted with the arrangement for combination, as hereto-
fore described; a, the tumbler; b, the groove or slot; c, the combination pin
(supposed to pass through two or more tumblers), which is mounted on the
lever d, vibrating on a fulcrum e; the red lines indicate a tumbler placed in
position for the passage of the locking pin through the gate or way g; it will
be evident that the pin c passing through two or more tumblers, it is requisite
that the grooves or slots b, b, should coincide with it, and therefore, that the
tumblers cannot be individually placed in position for unlocking, as herein-
before mentioned.
In Fig. 2 the ordinary locking notch h is formed at a tangent with a curve,
having the tumbler fulcrum i for its centre, the displacement of the tumbler a
drawing the locking pin f, and consequently the bolt j, or a sliding bar d fitted
therein, brings the combination catch or detent c in contact with the notches
b, b, of the tumblers that are at rest, thereby causing them to become locked.
It will be proper to observe, that the notched edge b, b, of the combined
tumblers will be curved off sufficiently to avoid the locking detent c when they
are set in motion by the ordinary action of the key.
In Fig. 3 the tumbler a, being in contact at 6' with the lever d, forces by.
displacement the detent c into contact with the notches b, b.
In Fig. 4 the tumblers a, a, of a double lever lock are mounted with com-

page_text: bination pins or catches c, c', acting respectively in connection with the curves
b, b, of the opposed tumbler, and securing the combination, thereby I desire it
moreover to be particularly understood, that, though by the arrangements herein-
before described the tumblers are secured, I by no means confine the Invention
to such results, as it may be readily perceived that the action of the notches,
curves, slots, or grooves, combined with the pins, catches, and detents, may be
applied to the securing any ordinary moving portion of the lock, though they be
formed on, attached to, or connected with and derive their action from the
said tumblers. In Fig. 5 is shewn the application of a moveable gate or way
a to a tumbler b; it has its certre of motion on the pin c, and is confined to
its desired position by the spring d, but is formed so as to yield and be secured
by the pressure of the locking pin e (which is fluted or provided with knife
edges the more effectually to detain the tumbler) in the event of a strain being
placed upon the bolt f, and thereby be prevented from being placed in position
for the passing of the locking pin e. In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are shewn variations
of the same principle, but so applied as to form detectors, preventing the
passage of the gate or way. In Fig. 6 a is the tumbler, & the slide terminating
in the detent or detector c, and formed so as to yield to the pressure of the
In Fig. 7
locking pin d, thereby securing the passage of the gate or way at e.
the slide is released by pressure from the notch in the spring detent, and
which effects the stoppage of the gate or way. In Fig. 8 an additional
locking pin f is employed, which in double-locking by acting on the detent c,
will restore the slide b to its position. In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 a variation is
shewn as applied to the bolt a, a, the tumblers b, the bolt c, the locking pin
mounted on a slide d, and retained in position by the spring e, the locking pin
yielding to pressure against the tumblers, and carrying the slided with it,
releases the detent or detector f, which takes hold of the lock plate or case
securing the bolt thereby from being shot.
In Fig. 12 is shewn the plan, Fig. 13 the under side, Fig. 14 the edge view,
and Fig. 15 a section, of a revolving guard or curtain combined with wards, as
described herein-before under the second article or division of my said Invention.
a is the plate for closing the key-hole by the turning of a guard after the intro-
duction of the key; b, a block or split tube formed on the back of the plate a,
and elongated at c, c, in order more effectually to cover and enclose the key bit;
d is a ward fixed to the case of the lock, and fitted to a recess formed in the
block 6; e is a ward formed in the slot f of the block b; g is the key pin with
which the wards are concentric, and round which the guard turns; h is a slide
connected with the body of the lock in such manner as freely to permit of the
motion requisite to free the key bit from the notches i and-j. The key bit in the

page_text: ordinary action of locking being received in the notch i, and in unlocking by
the notch j, the red lines indicate the positions assumed in consequence of the
revolutions of the key. In Fig. 16 is shewn a guard, and the end view of its
corresponding key; in this instance the wards are dispensed with by the
substituting a ziz-zag or serpentine slot k for the reception of the key bit 1.
Fig. 17 is the plan of a lock, with the covering plate removed; Fig. 18, a
section through the line A, B; Fig. 19, a section and plan of a portion of the
back plate; Fig. 20 a section through the line C, D; and Fig. 21 the key,
with section and end view thereof. a is the outer case, b the bolt, c, c, the
tumblers, the combination levers, e the pressure detector, f the revolving
guard, the slide for completing the enclosure of the key-hole; h, h, per-
forations in the lock plate covered with parchment or other suitable materials i
stretched on a plate, or in other convenient manner, so as to yield in the
event of explosion or other violent procedure; j, the key fitted with slots
k, k, corresponding with the wards in the lock guard; l, the pin on which the
tube of the key turns. The bolt, as is evident, is in a locked condition.
"
In Sheet 2 I have exhibited in detail the first and second divisions of
my aforesaid Invention as applied to the "Cotterill" and "Bramah'
lock, or others of similar construction. In Fig. 1 is shewn a plan of the
revolving wheel or barrel of a "Cotterill" lock; Fig. 2, a detached s lider;
Fig. 3, a combination slide or detent; Fig. 4, a plan of the barrel of a "Bramah"
lock; Fig. 5, an elevation of the same; Fig. 6, a detached slider; Fig. 7, a
detached combination slide or detent. a, a, the wheels or barrels; b, b, the
sliders in slots c, c; d, d, the combination slides in curves or notches e, c; ff,
the locking rings or plates; 9, 9, the gates, notches, or ways; h, h, projections
on the sliders bearing against the ends of the combinations slides at i, i; j,j,
notches formed in the sliders for the reception of the catches or detents h, k, on
the ends of the combining slides d, d, in the event of individual displacement.
In the ordinary process of unlocking or locking, the detents h, k, are received
in the notebes l, l. It will be proper to observe that the detents and projec-
tions and also the notches being wedge shape will cause the restoration of the
slides to their position by the return of the sliders on the withdrawal of the
key; moreover, if desired, springs may be added to the combination slides in
order to restore them in the event of individual displacement. In Fig. 8 a
section of the barrel of a slider lock, fitted with sliders, having a moveable gate
or way. Fig. 9 portions of the slider detached. a is the barrel, b, b, the
sliders, c, c, the movable gates or ways attached to the sliders b, b, by means
of the pins d, d, in the notches or slots e, e; f, f, the slider springs, and 9, 9,
spring of small power for retaining the gate or way in its desired position

page_text: Should pressure be applied to the bolt prior to the sliders being thrust home
by the key, it is evident the moveable gate or way will be retained by the con-
tact of the locking ring, and thereby secure the lock. In Fig. 10 are the edge
view and section of a locking ring, as applied to a "Cotterill" lock, and in
Fig. 11 a plan and section of the locking plate for a "Bramal" lock. a, a,
are segments of the ring or plate; b, b, portions of the lock plates to which they
are attached; c, c, slides or moveable portions of the ring or plate in which
the locking notches d, d, are formed. The contact of the sliders with the
locking notches d, d, in the event of pressure being applied, will, it is evident,
displace the slides, thereby forming obstructions to the gate or way. Fig. 12
is a revolving guard adapted to an expanding key (of which side and end view
are shewn Fig. 13), also a plan and section of the guard and outer barrel to
which it is applied.
The key (Fig. 13) is formed, it will be seen, by dividing the tube into seg-
ments a, a, in which the notches or bits b, b, are formed; the segments a, a,
are connected to the tube c by the elongations or necks d, d, which are jointed
or formed as springs in order to permit the segments being pressed close
to each other for the admission to the interior of the lock through the
revolving guard e, which is provided with slots f. f, for the reception of the
necks d, d, of the key on its expanding in the interior; g is a sliding centre or
key pin, formed so as to yield to the pressure of the key on admission to the
lock, and of size sufficient to fill the space of key-hole in the guard; h is a pin
connected with an outer ring i, and formed to slide on the key tube ; with
this the moving key pin g is thrust back in order to permit of the withdrawal
of the key segments from the lock. The key in being turned carries, as will
be evident, the revolving guard and centre or key pin with it. In Fig. 14 is
shewn a plan of the outer barrel and escutcheon of a slider lock, fitted with a
revolving ring or guard, also a section of the same and detached views of the
revolving guard, and in Fig. 16 is shown the key. a is the escutcheon; b, the
key-hole; c, c, slots for the passage of the key bits f, f; d, an inner ring or
escutcheon provided with similar slots, but placed so as to mock those of the
outer escutcheon; the plates respectively opposing blanks to the slots of
each other. e, the revolving guard, also fitted with slots corresponding
with those of the escutcheons, and placed in the space between them. In
order to introduce the key, the bits f,f, are passed through the slots c, c, of the
outer escutcheon into those of the revolving ring or guard, the key is then
turned, carrying the guard with it until the slots correspond with those of the
inner plate or escutcheon, as shewn in Fig. 15; the key is then thrust forward
into the interior in order to act upon the lock.
Fig. 17 is a section through

page_text: the axis of a slider lock, fitted with the improvements herein-before par-
ticularly described; Fig. 18, a transverse section of the same; Fig. 19, an
elevation and plan of the detached barrel and sliders. a, the case of the lock;
b, the bolt; d, the barrel; e, e, the combination sliders, fitted with the
preventive gate or way, herein-before particularly described; f, the locking
plate; g, the key or centre pin; h, the revolving guard; i, the expanding key,
hercin-before described, and shewn at full (Fig. 13); k, a barrel or tube
attached to the lock plate or case, and provided with a spring 1, for pressing
outwards the centre or key pin g, which is provided with a feather m, in order
to prevent its being turned whilst pressed into the barrel or tube k, by the
introduction of the expanding key i; the barrel d is fitted with a slot for the
reception of the feather m, which serves by communicating the motion
imparted by the key i to turn the aforesaid barrel d and the bolt 6 during the
ordinary action of locking and unlocking.
In Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings the improvements comprised
under the third, fourth, and fifth divisions of my Invention are fully
shewn, as hereafter described. Fig. 1 illustrates the application of a
zig-zag gate or way to the slide, leaf, or tumbler of a lock. a, the slide, leaf,
or tumbler, susceptible of a sliding rectilinear motion in the carriage or
guide b, which by means of a slot freely moveable in the feather c, attached
to the lock plates or case, is capable of rectilinear sliding motion in a
direction rectangular with the primary motion of the slide or leaf a. Now
it will be evident that by communicating an alternate motion to the car-
riage band to the leaf a, a fixed point or pin would generate a zig-zag
line, which is such as I propose to apply for the formation of the gate or
way; d, is a secondary tumbler, mounted on the fulcrum e, and restrained to
its desired bounds by the spring f; g, the key, which on being turned on its
pin or fulcrum h, is brought first in contact with the swell or projection i on
the slide a, thereby displacing the said slide sufficiently to clear the locking
notch from the locking pin ; the key, by then acting on the swell of the
tumbler a, displaces it, and by means of the connecting pin m in slot n of
leaf a gives motion to the said leaf or slide and its carriage b, thereby carrying
the portion o of the gate or way over the locking pin k; the
then receives its final motion from the key by means of the
thereby the portion 9 of the gate or way in position for the
locking pink on the shooting of the bolt, when the said pin is
locking notch n by the return of the leaf or slide a through the
spring s, thus, as will be evident, producing the effect of two or more lockings
by one revolution of the key, as herein-before mentioned. The red, yellow,
leaf or slide a
swell p, placing
passage of the
received in the
agency of the

page_text: a, the
and blue lines indicate the first, second, and third change effected by the
operation described. In Figure 2 are shewn the slide a and the tumbler d
detached. Figure 3 is a plan, with the covering plate removed, and Fig. 4 a
section through the line A, B, in Fig. 3, of a lock fitted with leaves or
tumblers, having the zig-zag gate or way. a, the outer case of the lock; b,
the bolt; c, c, the slides or leaves; d, d, the tumblers; and e the revolving
guard, herein-before described. In Fig. 5 is shewn the tumbler of a
changeable lock having the intermediate lever and its sliding fulcrum, com-
bined with a rack and pinion for effecting the change desired.
tumbler; b, the intermediate lever; c, the sliding fulcrum; d, the rack;
and e, the pinion. In Fig. 6 is shewn the plan, end view, and one of
the detached bits of a changeable expanding key. a the key tube, having
a box or slide 6 connected thereto by the neck c; in this box or slide
are arranged the changeable expanding bits d, d, retained in the desired
position by pressure of the springs'e, e, against the side of the box or slide in
such manner as to permit of their expanding or being withdrawn at pleasure.
Figure 7, a plan, Fig. 8, the under side, and Fig. 9, a section, of a revolving
guard combined with a ward, fitted with excentric projections or cams for
giving the desired expansion to the bits of the key, the said ward being sup-
posed to be attached to the plate of the lock, and adapted to be received in
the space f, formed in key (see Fig. 6). a, the tube of the revolving
curtain or guard; b, b, elongations thereof, for covering the sides of the key; c,
the plate for closing the key-hole; d, the ward; e, the lock case; and f, f, the
cams or steps for expanding the key bits. Fig. 10 is the plan of a change-
able lock, having the covering plate removed; Figure 11, a section through
the line A, B, in Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 a view of the back plate of the same.
a, the lock case; b, the bolt; c, c, the tumblers; d, d, the intermediate levers';
e, e, the fulcrums; f, the pinion, having an arbor or axis 9 passing through the
lock plate, and provided with a pointer hand an index or dial i, for regulating
the interior arrangements of the lock; j, the revolving guard enclosing the
'cam ward; for expanding the key bits. (The key has been herein-before
shewn, see Fig. 6.)
: It will be proper to remark that, though I have herein shewn but one
pinion, pointer, and dial, more may be employed, or their combination varied,
if thought expedient.
Fig. 13 is the plan of a plato hooped or formed with a rim or raised edge,
as employed in the improved padlock under the fifth division of my said
Invention; Fig. 14, a transverse section of the same; Fig. 15, a plan with
the lock applied; Fig. 16, a horizontal section through the lock; and Fig. 17,

page_text: a transverse section of the lock and plate combined. a, the plate formed with
a recess for the reception of the hasp or bar; b, c, the rim or hoop fitted with
notches d, d, for the reception of the detents or outer blocks e, e; f, f, screw
bolts or rivets for attaching, the plate to the door jamb, or other position to
which it may be applied; g, the lock case; h, the revolving bolt, provided
with eccentric notches i, i, for projecting the detents or outer bolts e, e, by
means of the pins j, j, into the notches d, d. This arrangement, it will be
evident to the ordinary workman, may be varied in such manner as to cause
the bolt to take hold of or lock in or to eyes, pins, or projections formed on,
attached to, or passed through the plate a, or in such similar manner as may
.be best adapted to the purposes for which the lock is designed; as, for in-
stance, as applied to a travelling bag, the. plate a may be attached to one of
the leaves or side frames, and have the ordinary eye pin passing through a
perforation in the centre of the plate. In this instance the hasp or bar b
would be dispensed with, and the lock be provided with a notch, in order to
permit of the eye pin being brought in connection with the bolt. Though I
-have herein shewn and described the plate as combined with a slider lock, it
will be evident that it is equally well adapted for combination with a tumbler
or common-warded lock.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into practical
effect, I desire it to be particularly understood that I claim as my Invention,
under the first article or division of my said improvements,―
First, the application to a lock of two or more tumblers, leaves, or sliders,
having their action so combined as to prevent their being individually placed
in position to clear the passage of the gate, or way, or such other position as
the peculiar construction of the lock may require, in order to free the bolt
from the obstruction offered by the said tumblers, leaves, or sliders without
in any way confining myself to the peculiar arrangement of the said tumblers,
leaves, or sliders, or the mechanical means employed for effecting their
combination.
Secondly, I claim the application to a lock of two or more tumblers, leaves,
or sliders, having their relative action combined or regulated in such manner as
to cause the locking or detention of one or more of the same by the individual
relative displacement of some other of the set prior to its being advanced to
the position requisite for the passage of the gate or way, or such other similar
position as the construction of the lock may require to free the bolt from the
obstruction of the tumblers, leaves, or sliders.
Thirdly, I claim the use of slides, catches, or detents released or put in

page_text: action by the displacement of the tumbler, prior to its being advanced to the
position requisite for the passage of the gate or way, the object of such catch
or detent being to secure the bolt.
Fourthly, I claim the application to one or more of the tumblers, or leaves
of a slide, or detector, for securing the passage of the gate or way.
Fifthly, I claim the combination of a sliding or movable locking pin,
with a spring catch or detent for securing the bolt.
Sixthly, I claim the application of one or more sliding detents to the
locking ring or plate.
Seventhly, I claim the application to one or more of the tumblers, leaves, or
sliders of a moveable gate or way connected to the tumbler, leaf, or slider by a
pin or other equivalent contrivance.
Eighthly, the use of a fluted locking pin, or one provided with a knife edge,
for catching the tumbler or the detector.
Under the second article or division of my improvements I claim as my
Invention,
First, the combination of a revolving curtain or guard, with a ward or
wards either formed in, on, or attached thereto, and revolving with it, or
attached to the plate or case of the lock.
Secondly, I claim the use of a revolving guard, combined with a warded or
zig-zag slot for the reception of the key bit.
Thirdly, I claim the combination of a revolving ring or guard, with a
moveable centre or key pin and and expanding key.
Fourthly, I claim the use of a centre or key pin, capable of being pressed
inwards by the action of the key, and of resuming its position by the pressure 2
of a spring after the admission to or extraction of the key from the lock.
Fifthly, I claim the construction of an expanding key having the bits or
notches formed in, or on the segments of a tube, to which the said segments
are connected by necks.
Sixthly, I claim the combination of a revolving ring or guard, with an inner 3
and an outer guard plate or escutcheon.
Seventhly, I claim the construction of a key for a slider lock, having bits
radiating from the tube, and combined with two or more guard plates or
escutcheons, provided with slots for the reception of the bits, but placed so as
to mock each other.
Under the third article or division of my improvements I claim as my
Invention, the use of a zigzag or serpentine gate or way.
Under the the fourth article or division of my improvements I claim as
my Invention,
3

page_text: First, the use of an index scale or dial for regulating the adjustment of a
changeable tumbler lock.
Secondly, I claim the use of a rack and pinion for effecting the adjustment
of a changeable lock.
Thirdly, I claim the use of an expanding key having two or more bits,
receiving unequal degrees of expansion.
Under the fifth article or division of my improvements I claim as my
Invention,
First, the construction of a padlock or lock applicable to similar purposes,
dispensing with the shackle or with the eye bolt, or with both, and the sub-
stituting therefor a plate into recesses in which, or to pins attached thereto, or
passing through the same, the bolt is locked or otherwise connected.
Secondly, the use of a plate, with raised edges or sides forming a hollow
into which the lock is fitted or sunk.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Sinclair, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and 6ft two