Improvements in Locks and Latches Fitted with Reversible Latching Bolts.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Latches Fitted with Reversible Latching
Bolts.
We, ISAAC CONSTABLE, of 5, Evans Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton,
Manager of a Lockworks, and WILLIAM SAWBRIDGE, of 51, New Street, Portobello,
Willenhall, Lockmaker, both in the County of Stafford do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object improved means whereby, without opening
the case for the purpose, the latching bolt of a mortise or other lock or latch may
be readily converted from a right hand to a left hand one or vice versa.
"
Ai
In carrying this invention into effect the latch bolt, which is preferably of
rectangular shape, has the head part passing through a guide hole in the fore
end of the lock casing. The tail, which is reduced in size, has a projection on
each side, and its end fits into a recess formed in a dog" or lever placed at
right angles, or thereabouts, to the latch bolt and is pivoted at its end.
feather or other spring presses against the back side of the "dog" and keeps the
latch bolt in its outward position. A stud or knob is fixed on the "dog" and
the cover of the lock has a slot cut therein of sufficient size to allow of a slight
backward movement of the "dog" for a purpose to be hereafter explained.
To operate the latch bolt by means of the follower we use a block placed
parallel with the latch bolt and having a shoulder which engages with one of
the projections of the bolt. This block may be operated by the follower by any
convenient means.
The lock or latch may be changed from right to left hand or vice versa by
pulling back the stud or knob as far as the groove will allow which releases the
end of the latch bolt from the recess in the "dog." The head of the latch bolt
should then be taken in the right hand and slightly depressed so as to raise the
projection on the end clear of the shoulder on the block. The bolt should then
be pulled forward so that the reduced part comes in the hole in the fore end of
the lock casing. The latch bolt may then be turned half a revolution thus bring-
ing the level round from back to front and engaging the other projection on the
tail of the latch bolt with the shoulder of the block when the bolt is pushed in
again. A slot is cut in the cover and back plate of the lock to allow the pro-
jections on the latch bolt tail to turn. A stud is fixed in the casing of the lock
and one of the projections on the latch bolt tail catches thereagainst when the
bolt is pulled out far enough for reversal.
"
By the above arrangement it will be seen that the latch bolt works indepen-
dent of the follower when the door is being closed.
Dated this Third day of December 1898.
ISAAC CONSTABLE.
WILLIAM SAWBRIDGE,

page_text: Improvements in Locks and Latches Fitted with Reversible Latching
Eolts.
We, ISAAC CONSTABLE, of 5, Evans Street, Wolverhampton, Manager of a Lock-
works, and WILLIAM SAWBRIDGE, of 51, New Street, Portobello, Willenhall,
Lockmaker, both in the County of Stafford, 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:-
Our invention has for its object improved means whereby, without opening
the case for the purpose, the latching bolt of a mortise or other lock or latch may
be readily converted from a right hand to a left hand one or vice versa.
In carrying this invention into effect the latch bolt, which is preferably of
rectangular shape, has the head part passing through a guide hole in the fore
end of the lock casing. The tail, which is reduced in size, has a projection on
each side and its end fits into a recess formed in a dog or lever placed at right
angles, or thereabouts, to the latch bolt and is pivoted at its other end. A stud
or knob is fixed on the dog and the cover of the lock has a slot 'cut 'therein' of
sufficient size to allow of a backward movement of the dog for a purpose to be
hereafter explained.
"
To operate the latch bolt by means of the follower we use a block placed
parallel, or thereabouts with the latch bolt and having a shoulder which engages
with one of the projections of the latch bolt. This 'block has a lever connected
thereto pivoted at its other end to the lock casing. This lever is operated by the
follower in any convenient way.
The invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings of which Figure 1 represents a mortise lock, having a convertible latch
bolt fitted thereto, with the cap plate removed.
Figure 2 is a section taken on line xx of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view with the cover plate in position.
1
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the latch bolt and a a are projections on each side. The end 6 fits into
the recess c in the dog B which is pivoted at d. e is a stud on the dog and pass-
ing through a slot f in the cover plate C. D is a block having a shoulder
which engages with the projection a. h is a joint pin connecting the block D
with a lever E which is jointed at i to the lock casing. ; is a spring fitting into
recesses in the dog B and the lever E and keeps the latch bolt and the lever
operated by the follower in position. k is the follower. 'the tumblers and
m the lock bolt. nn are stop pins to the block D and lever E respectively.
oo are grooves cut in the lock casing and cover plate respectively to allow the
projections a a to clear when the latch bolt
fixed to the casing and one of the projections a comes, thereagainst when the
being reversed, and p. is a stud
latch bolt is drawn out sufficiently for this purpose.
Assuming that the bolt is in position for a right hand door and it is pro-
posed to use the lock for a left hand one, first draw back the dog B by means
of the stud e thereon until the said stud comes against the other side of the
groove in the cover plate C as shewn by the broken lines Figure 3. The latch
bolt head should then be taken in the other hand and slightly depressed so as
to clear the projection of the shoulder g. The bolt may then be pulled out 4
wards until the projection a comes against the stop p and then be turned half a
revolution so as to bring into the position shewn by broken lines Figure 2, and
the bolt when pushed home again is adjusted for use on a left hand door.

page_text: It will readily be seen that the latch bolt works independently of the follower
when the door is being closed.
One spring only is shewn operating the latch bolt and lever E and block D
but two feather springs may be used if desired one to press against the dog B
and the other against the lever E. In this case the sides of each would be made
plain as will be readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In reversible latch bolts for locks and latches, employing a dog or lever to
receive the end of the latch bolt having projections thereon, one or the other, of
which engages with a block in turn operated by the follower substantially as
described.
2. In reversible latch bolts for locks and latches the combination of the latch
bolt and the dog or lever so that the latch bolt works independently of the fol-
lower when the door is closed substantially as described.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1899.