IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS FOR LOCKS
Year: 1886

page_text: I, HENRY JOHN ALLEN, of 7 Park Street, Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Shorthand Writer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS FOR LOCKS" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to keys of that class wherein the stem is made hollow
throughout a portion of its length to fit a pin or stud in the lock.
Considerable inconvenience has hitherto been experienced by persons using keys
of this description, by reason of the liability of such keys to become filled up with
dust and other substances thereby rendering it difficult if not impossible to properly
insert the key in the lock. Moreover keys of the class above mentioned have
usually been made in one piece with the stem or barrel solid from the bow or
handle to a distance of about from one-half to three-quarters of an inch from the
other extremity of the key.
The object of my invention is to provide for readily clearing the said stem or
barrel of dust or other substances which may accumulate therein, and, in some
instances, for preventing the accumulation of such substances therein.
In carrying my said invention into practice I make the stem or barrel and the
bit or web of the key in one piece and I make the said stem or barrel hollow
throughout its entire length. I make the bow or handle of the key in a separate
piece and unite it with the stem or barrel by means of screw-threads or otherwise.
Should any dust or other substances enter the key it is only necessary to
unscrew the bow or handle from the stem or barrel and to blow through the latter
to eject the dust or other substance therefrom; or the said substances can be
otherwise readily removed or ejected; the key can thus be immediately made ready
for use.
In some instances, I make the stem or barrel hollow and attach the bow or
handle thereto by screwing or otherwise, and I provide a small spring which is
inserted in the stem or barrel and has a piece attached thereto in the form of a
bolt. This bolt is preferably made larger at its outer end than at its inner end,
the larger end being very slightly smaller than the inner circumference of the
stem or barrel, so that it will prevent the entrance of dust or dirt. When the key
is not in use, the outer end of this piece or bolt will be flush with the extremity of
the key. When the key is inserted in the lock, the spring is compressed and the
said piece or bolt is moved back far enough into the stem or barrel to permit the
... 077

page_text: insertion of the key far enough into the lock to operate the same. Immediately
the key is withdrawn from the lock, the said piece or bolt flies back to its normal
position flush with the extremity of the key and thus effectually prevents the
entrance of any dust or other substance into the stem or barrel.
In other instances, I make the stem or barrel hollow as above described and
provide the same with a small bolt of metal or other suitable material, say about
three quarters of an inch shorter than the said stem or barrel, this bolt can be
moved to and fro as desired by means of a pin or stud projecting through a slot in
the stem or barrel of the key, and in this manner dust or other substance which
may enter the barrel can be easily expelled or ejected therefrom; or, by pushing
the eaid bolt forward and leaving it in this position while the key is not in use,
the entrance of dust and other substances therein can be effectually prevented.
D
Jou
LT1000

page_text: I, HENRY JOHN ALLEN, of 7 Park Street, Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Shorthand Writer, 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:-
My invention relates to keys of that kind or class wherein the stem is made
hollow or tubular so that it will fit upon a pin or stud in the lock.
Keys of this kind have usually been made of a single piece of metal, and have
had the stem or barrel solid from the bow or handle to a distance of about from
one-half to three-quarters of an inch from the extremity of the said stem or barrel.
And considerable inconvenience has hitherto been frequently experienced by
persons using keys of this kind, by reason of the entrance of dust or other
substances into the stem and the consequent difficulty, if not impossibility, of
inserting the key into the lock far enough to turn the same and withdraw or lift
the latch or bolt.
The object of my invention is to construct a key either so that any dust or other
substances which may accumulate in the stem or barrel can be readily removed or
ejected therefrom, or so that the entrance of such substances into the stem or
barrel will be prevented.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the simplest form or modification of
my improved key.
Figures 2 and 3 are sectional elevations showing other forms or modifications
thereof.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is the stem or barrel, and b the bit or web of the key, which are formed in one
piece. is the bow or handle. The stem or barrel a is hollow or tubular
throughout its entire length, and is formed separately from the bow or handle c
and united thereto by means of screw-threads as at c¹. Or it may be united to the
said bow or handle in any other convenient manner.
Should any dust or other substance enter the stem or barrel a, it can be readily
ejected therefrom by simply detaching the bow or handle from the said stem or
barrel and blowing through the latter or pushing a rod through the same.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figure 2, I employ a pin or
bolt d, which is fitted to slide to and fro in the stem or barrel a and is provided
with a stud or projection d' which extends through a slot a¹ in the said stem or
barrel. When the key is inserted in the lock, the pin or bolt d is moved back into
the position shown in the drawing. After using the key, the pin or bolt d is to be
pushed forward by pressing upon the stud or projection d', so as to prevent the
entrance of dust or other substances into the stem or barrel.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figure 3, I employ, in combination
with the bolt d, a spiral spring e which is inserted in the stem or barrel. This
spring bears, at one end, against the bow or handle c and, at its other end, against

page_text: the sliding bolt d, which is thereby pressed outward so that, when the key is not
in use, the outer end of the said bolt is flush with the extremity of the stem or
barrel. When the key is inserted in the lock; the spring is compressed and the
said bolt is moved back. Immediately the key is withdrawn from the lock, the
spring e, by its reaction, forces the bolt outward to its normal position flush with
the extremity of the stem or barrel, and thus effectually prevents the entrance
therein of any dust or other substance.
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 :-
First. A key wherein the stem or barrel is hollow throughout its length and is
made separately from, and united to, the bow or handle, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Second. The modification of my invention wherein I employ a sliding bolt,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 2 of the drawing for the purpose
specified.
Third. The modification of my invention wherein I combine a spiral spring
with the sliding bolt, substantially as described with reference to Figure 3 of the
drawing for the purpose specified.