Improvements in Locks and Latches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Locks and Latches.
EDWIN ROBERT WETHERED, Lt.-Colonel Ret'd, 18, Church Terrace, Black-
heath, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
I make a lock or latch, somewhat resembling in external contruction my
locks under my Patent 2277 of 15th Feby. 1888. The bolt in my improved lock
is made with a hooked nose, which shoot derectly into the door the releasing
detent also sliding up a direct incline on striker, made specially for sliding
doors.
I also improve the lock under patent above referred by dispensing with the
pawl or detent, and free the bolt by means of a slot in the bolt and an external
pin, which automatically enters the door lock to secure the door.
I, EDWIN ROBERT WETHERED, of 18, Church Terrace, Blackheath, in the
County of London, Lieutenant Colonel Retired, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to locks or latches the objects of my invention being
(1) to provide a lock or latch, for use in connection with sliding doors, which
automatically engages with the striking plate when the door is closed and (2) to
improve the construction of the lock described in the Specification of my former
Patent No. 2277 of 1888.
In carrying out the first part of my invention the bolt of the lock is pivoted
and is provided with a hooked nose which is inclined at the end so as to shoot
directly into the striking plate and automatically engage therewith, and in
carrying out the second part of my invention I substitute for the pawl or
detent, heretofore used for holding up the bolt when the door is open, a sliding
spring pin adapted to engage beneath the said bolt.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the lock or latch constructed accord-
ing to my invention and adapted for sliding doors:
Figure 2 is an end view:
Tin is a contional side elevation and

page_text: Figure 4 a sectional plan of a lock constructed in accordance with my former
Patent and provided with the improved means for holding up the bolt.
In Figure 1 a indicates the sliding door and b the post to which the same is
to be locked, or a second door when a pair of doors is used, is the lock case
and d is the striking plate.
e is the bolt of the lock which is mounted upon the spindle f and adapted
to be operated either by an external lever handle upon the said spindle or by a
key inserted into a socket on the spindle; the free end of this bolt is inclined,
as at g, so that as the lock is moved up to the striking plate and the said free
end impinges against the projection or lip thereof the said bolt will ride over
the said projection and thus automatically engage therewith under the action
of the spring e¹. In some cases the said projection h is provided with an anti-
friction roller against which the bolt strikes.
i is a tongue or projection formed upon the bolt and which serves to limit
the forward movement of the bolt under the action of the spring and also to
completely close the aperture through which the bolt projects.
In Figures 2, 3 and 4, which illustrate the improvements in a slam lock for
swing doors of the kind described in my former Patent, jis the spring pin
which serves to hold up the bolt when the door is opened; this spring pin,
which slides in a suitable guide on the lock case, is. at one end adapted to
engage in a notch or recess 7 on the underside of the bolt e and at the other
end carries an arm m which, when the door is being closed, but slightly before
it is completely closed, comes against a stop in connection with the striking
plate, so that the complete closing of the door moves the latter relatively with
the said sliding pin whereby the bolt e is pushed off the pin and is so free to
engage with the striking plate. When, to open the door, the bolt c is lifted in
the usual manner to the required extent the spring pin automatically moves
forward when the opening movement of the door commences and into the notch 7
to hold up the bolt."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is—
1. A lock for sliding doors provided with a spring bolt having a hook shaped
end adapted to automatically engage with the sliding plate, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
2. In a slam lock of the kind referred to, the combination with the spring
bolt of a sliding spring pin, which, when the door to which the lock is applied
is open, projects beneath the bolt and which, when the door is closed, is disen-
gaged from the said bolt, substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 2,
3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 30th day of October 1899
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.