Improvements connected with Pad and other Locks and like Fasteners, with Means for Preventing Surreptitious Opening of same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Pad and other Locks and like
Fasteners, with Means for Preventing Surreptitious Opening
of same.
We, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVER and JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, both of 214 to
222, St. John Street, Clerkenwell, London, Gas Meter Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object, arranging appliances under or behind the key
hole plate, or under or behind a false plate in front, or under or behind a strap
across the keyhole portion of a lock front plate to enable an appliance termed
a seal to be inserted to cover the keyhole proper when pushed in or dropped
down a slot and to become located by such push or drop motion as to be securely
connected by spring claws, and the main portion to be removable only after an
exposed portion has been severed.
To carry our invention into practice, say, with an existing door or padlock,
we fix a front plate or strap thereto by any suitable means. The back face is
notched or has a portion removed for a width correspondingly or about so with
the width of the leg of a T shaped strip of metal, such as can be stamped from
lead or a composition, or other soft or easily severable metal or material.
The side checks of the back have each a recess next the slot in which one or
more spring claw or toothed edged pawls are located, these being pressed towards
the centre and into the path of the metal or other T shaped strip, the edges of
which are notched or otherwise shaped for the claws or teeth of the pawls to
enter, the arms and upper part of the tee resting upon the solid part of the
lock plate exposed, as well as the bottom of the tee leg by which after the upper
part is severed, the leg can be drawn out of the slot and so expose the keyhole
proper for the lock to be unfastened.
The strip of metal or other material as the seal is placed into the slot and
becomes locked in position during the push down motion, the key hole proper
being covered so long as the seal remains where placed. This would take place
after the lock or bolt has been shot home and the ordinary key removed but if
the bolt of the lock be of the spring actioned kind, the seal can be applied aud
located previous to the locking action. In either case, when the seal is once
placed in position it cannot be removed unless the top be cut away.
The seal can be stamped, impressed, perforated, or be otherwise marked
officially, and when used for sealing purposes there will be indications of having
been tampered with at any attempt of fraud by the next official.
The invention is applicable for general purposes where locks are used but is
specially intended for padlocks affixed to coin freed or
" coin in the slot" gas
meters but is available to all kinds of locks, escutcheon plates of locks, and
lock furniture where seals are necessary.
By this invention, no special tool is necessary for severing the strip, a knife

page_text: or cutter of any kind being alone sufficient. Again, no compression of the seal
is required after being pushed or dropped into the pocket in which it is located.
Dated this 12th day of November 1898.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Thomas Glover and John George Glover.
Improvements connected with Pad and other Locks and like
Fasteners, with Means for Preventing Surreptitious Opening
of same.
WC, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVER and JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, both of 214 to
222, St. John Street, Clerkenwell, London, Gas Meter Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
This invention has for object, arranging appliances under or behind the key
hole plate, or under or behind a false plate in front, or under or behind a strap
across the key hole portion of a lock front plate to enable an appliance termed
a seal to be inserted to cover the key hole proper when pushed in or dropped
down a slot and to become located by such push or drop motion as to be securely
connected by spring claws, and the main portion to be removable only after an
exposed portion has been severed.
Our invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings
which show several forms of seals such as from lead, brass, cardboard, ebonite,
or other material in the position they occupy enclosed in front of a padlock, or
it may be a lock of any other kind, as desired.
Figure 1 face view of a padlock with what might be termed a fixed escutcheon
plate cut away to show two side flat steel springs to engage the seal.
Figure 2 similar view in which two tumbler plates which by wire coiled
springs engage the seal which covers the key hole.
Figure 3 similar view with a single tumbler plate controlled by a coiled wire
spring and the key hole covered by said tumbler plate the seal being at the side.
Figure 4 similar view of a padlock in which the seal is engaged by two spring
bolts, catches, or pawls.
Figure 5 similar view showing serrated edged bolts or catches backed by bow
springs to engage the seal.
Figure 6 shows the outside view of a padlock with the face plate, or it may
be a cross strap and with the seal in position closing the entrance into the lock
until the head of the seal is cut or torn away and the tail end withdrawn by a
downward pull to remove it from between the facing plate or strap and the
front plate of the lock.
The seal of Tor of corresponding shape is preferably of sheet lead, tin, card-
board, ebonite, or other somewhat rigil material capable of being cut or torn
away along the line a, a, which can be marked in stamping out the seals, so that
the head A can be removed and leave the stem B in situs. C, tail end of seal pro-
jecting from below the facing or escutcheon plate D for removal by a draw
down action. E, E, steps or shoulders formed by cutting away or ratchet
notching portions from the edge or edges of the stem B for engagement by a

page_text: spring or springs For bolts or claws G to resist upward pull when once the
seal A, B, C, is pushed home in the slot of the facing plate 1).
We prefer that both side edges of the seal stems be reduced or ratchet toothed,
so that such seals can be pushed down in the slot of the facing plate D with
either face exposed, and by this means ensure an engagement of the spring or
springs For the tumbler plates G whether the seal A, B, C, be employed to
cover the keyhole of the lock, as represented at Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, or to
fix the tumbler plate G over the keyhole of the lock plate H, as at Figure 3,
which tumbler plate G when the seal A, B, C, is removed, as before described,
springs sideways upwardly into the recess shown by dotted lines I in said
figure, the stiffness or rigidity of the seal being sufficient to overcome the tension
of the spring F while being pushed into the slot for locating it.
In all the figures of the drawing, we show the seal A, B, C, as pushed down-
wardly into the slot from above but such seal may be entered from below or
from one side, the spring, claw, or other catches being arranged accordingly.
To carry our invention into practice, say, with an existing door or padlock,
we fix a facing plate or strap thereto by any suitable means. The back of this
plate is notched or has a portion removed for a width correspondingly or about
so with the width of the leg of a T shaped strip of metal, such as can be stamped
from lead or a composition, or other soft or easily severable metal or material.
The side cheeks of the back have each a recess next the slot in which one or
more spring claw or toothed edged pawls are located, these being pressed towards
the centre and into the path of the metal or other T shaped strip, the edges of
which are notched or otherwise shaped for the claws or teeth of the pawls to
enter, the arms and upper part of the tee resting upon the solid part of the
lock plate exposed, as well as the bottom of the tee leg by which after the upper
part is severed, the leg can be drawn out of the slot and so expose the keyhole
proper for the lock to be unfastened.
The strip of metal or other material as the seal is placed into the slot and
becomes locked in position during the push down motion, the keyhole proper
being covered so long as the seal remains where placed. This would take place
after the lock or bolt has been shot home and the ordinary key removed, but if
the bolt of the lock be of the spring actioned kind, the seal can be applied and
located previous to the locking action. In either case, when the seal is enco
placed in position it cannot be removed unless the top be cut away.
The seal can be stamped, impressed, perforated, or be otherwise marked
officially, and when used for sealing purposes there will be indications of having
been tampered with at any attempt of fraud by the next official.
The invention is applicable for general purposes where locks are used but is
specially intended for padlocks affixed to coin freed or "coin in the slot" gas
meters but is available to all kinds of locks, escutcheon plates of locks, and
lock furniture where seals are necessary.
By this invention, no special tool is necessary for severing the strip, a knife
or cutter of any kind being alone sufficient. Again, no compression of the seal
is required after being pushed or dropped into the pocket in which it is located.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. The herein before described means for covering the keyhole of a lock either
directly by the seal A, B, C, or by a tumbler plate G (Figure 3) held by such
seal A, B, C, after being pushed and lodged in a slot in the face plate or of a
false plate, or a strap fitted to a lock, as set forth and substantially as repre-
sented.
2. As an article for the purpose described, a T or equivalent shaped piece of
material A, B, C, with one or more shoulders E, E, for the engagement of

page_text: springs F, or of tumbler plate or plates G secured in or to a lock for effecting
the closing of a keyhole 'thereof, as explained.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said R. T. and J. G. Glover.