IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCcks
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lewis, of High Cross Street, in the Parish
of Saint Martin's, Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Lock Maker,.
for the Luvantion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCcks"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lewis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
September 1854.
I, GEORGE LEWIS, of High Cross Street, in the Parish of Saint Martin's,
Leicester, in the County of Leicestershire, Lock Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS'
to be as follows:-
I have two knife-edged stumps attached to the head of the bolt of the lock,
and I have one knife-edged or flat stump fixed to the lock case at the tail end
of the bolt; I have also double-action levers, or a double-action lever, having
notches at the ends, corresponding with the stumps just described. When any
other key than the proper one is used to open the lock, or pressure is applied
for the purpose of picking it, the stumps drop into their corresponding notchies,.
and at the same time the lever closes the key-hole. I call this lock a double-.
action lever lock, and I apply my Invention to all kinds of locks now in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th February 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
LEWIS, of High Cross Street, Leicester, Locksmith, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second, day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Lewis. Her special licence that 1, the said George Lewis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Lewis, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF LOCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Lewis, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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' Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Lewis, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My Invention consists of "a double-action lever lock," the mechanism of:
which is applicable to all descriptions of locks.
First, two knife-edged, stumps, marked a, a, which are firmly fixed to the
lock bolt, which said knife-edged stumps pass on each side of the lever or
levers marked b, b, when in the act of locking or unlocking, and which said,
kife-edged stumps force back the levers on to a fast stump, marked c, near the
head of the bolt, when any pressure is applied to the bolt, thereby preventing
the possibility of picking.
Second, a slot hole, marked d, at the tail end of the lever or levers, to allow
them to slide back on to a fast stump or stud. marked e, at the opposite end,
to hold the levers firm whon any attempt is made to force back the bolt for
the purpose of picking the lock, and which levers are notched, for the purpose

page_text: of receiving the fast stud or stump c, the stud or stump c being rivetted or
screwed firm to the lock case.
Third, a sliding or covering plate, marked f, for the purpose of closing the
key-hole, when any pressure is applied to the bolt for the purpose of picking
the lock.
Fourth, antifriction roller or rollers, marked g, 9, 9, affixed to the guide
arm, marked h, and the striking end of the latch bolt, marked i.
Fifth, a regulating screw, marked k, passing through the centre of the knob
or knobs, and tapped into the end of the spindle, to regulate the knob, according
to the thickness of the doors required, and also securing firmness to the knobs,
which on the old plan become loose and shaky after a few years' wear.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, I claim the two
knife-edged stumps firmly rivetted or screwed to the lock bolt, which said
knife-edged stumps pass on each side of the lever or levers when in the act of
locking or unlocking; a slot hole cut in the levers or tumblers for the pur-
pose of sliding back on a fast stump or stud at the opposite end, such stud or
stump being rivetted or screwed to the case of the lock, to receive the levers
or tumblers on any attempt being made to pick the lock; the sliding or
covering plate to close the key-hole when any attempt is made to pick the lock;
the antifriction rollers fixed on the latch bolt and guide arm; the regulating
serew passing through the centre of the knob or knobs, tapped into the end of
the spindle for regulating the length thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lewis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JNO. SAM SMITH.
GEO. LEWIS. (L.S.)