Improvements in Locks for Safes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1899
Improvements in Locks for Safes and the like.
I, GEORG HEINRICH STEINFORTH, of Uthbremerstrasse 149, Bremen, in the
Empire of Germany, Safe Maker, 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, and accompanying, drawing,
that is to say:-
The locks of safes as heretofore ordinarily made are known to be liable to the
serious objection, that by boring one of the side plates at the part opposite the
bolt, the latter can be driven back by means of a punch and a hammer.
Moreover, burglars by means of suitable means used by them can force apart
or burst open the two sides of the safe, so that the bolts are freed and the open-
ing of the safe door becomes possible.
By the present invention, these risks are prevented.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1 being
a side view showing the bolt of the lock closed; Figure 2 a similar view show-
ing it open; and Figure 3 being a front view of the opened lock.
As shown in the drawing, the circular bolt a constitutes the essential feature
of the locks. It is fixed upon the plate 6 and turns round the centre c, such
turning being effected when required by a handle or key d (Figure 3). Obvi-
ously, the plate b and the bolt a may be made of a single piece of metal, instead
of being attached together. The ends of the circular bolt are cut away at such
an angle that, as shown in Figure 2, when the bolt is open the fronts of both its
ends exactly coincide with the edge of the lock.
The following is the action of the improved lock. By turning the key e, an
angle lever f, which turns upon a pin g, is first moved, whereby the latch
bolt his pressed back. By turning the key further the tumbler or tumblers i
are raised, and the safety locking bolt k drawn back. The circular bolt a is now
free and can be turned back by the handle or key d. It is evident that the
locking of the circular bolt a can be effected by a lock of any ordinary suitable
kind, instead of by the locking bolt shown. It is only essential that after the
locking of the circular bolt a, a second bolt should be locked against it so as to
prevent it from being turned back.
It will be seen from what has already been explained that the circular bolt a
cannot be driven back, as such driving back in the direction of the arrow
(Figure 1) by means of blows of a hammer and a tool or punch through a hole
bored in the side of the safe, is impossible.
Also, an attempt to open the door, by forcing apart the two sides of the safe,
is frustrated or at least rendered extremely difficult, as the ring-shaped bolt
passes through and grips the lock-plate x, Figure 1.

page_text: 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:-
The lock for safes and the like, consisting of a circular bolt a, secured in its
position when locked by the bolt of another lock of any ordinary construction,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dat then
1000
day of Augu
1000
EDWARDS AND CO.,
Chartered Patent Agents,.65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.