IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Henry Tucker, of Fleet Street, London,
Lock Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Henry Tucker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st May 1855.
I, WALTER HENRY TUCKER, of Fleet Street, London, Lock Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Locks" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, first, in so making locks, that the ordinary vertical
revolving "barrel" and horizontal revolving "curtain," as they are technically
termed, shall, in conjunction with and in consequence of the peculiar construc-
tion of other portions of such locks, be made to prevent the possibility of any
picking instruments (which may be introduced into the locks) remaining in
contact with their combination security parts during the time that the com-
bination stump or piece shall be brought into pressure or frictional contact
with such security parts; and the means by which I effect this purpose are as
follows: I attach the combination stump or piece to the barrel or curtain, and
in such a position that any instruments which shall be placed into and turned

page_text: in the locks must be carried past and away from the combination security
parts before the barrel and curtain shall have been turned so far round as to
bring the combination stump or piece into contact with or pressure upon the
combination security parts.
My Invention consists, secondly, in making the revolving curtain serve also
as the bolt in locks for certain purposes, so as thereby to diminish the amount
of work in, and lessen the cost of, production of such locks.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in causing the barrel or curtain, or some
attached or component part of them, to operate upon the combinatio nsecurity
parts in the process of locking, so as to force or carry them into their correct
locked positions before the key or instrument used in locking the lock can be
removed from the lock, so as to prevent the possibility of the lock being left
insecurely locked.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in causing the barrel or curtain, or some
attached or component part of them, to throw the bolt in the several kinds of
locks in which the curtain does not itself form the bolt, so as to compel such
bolt to be carried to its full distance in locking, and thereby prevent any
fraudulent alteration of the key or of the bolt talon from affecting the security
of the lock.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in causing the barrel or curtain, or some
attached or component part of them, to carry back the bolts or latches in all
spring locks and latches, so as to lessen the work in them and diminish the
cost of their production.
My Invention consists, sixthly, in making the shackles of padlocks with a
continuation or tail beyond the joint; and in causing the locking of such
shackle to be effected at such tail end, in place of locking it at the other or
spoon end, as is customary, by which I do away with the usual locking slot in
such shackles, and thus make them stronger.
My Invention consists, seventhly, in using a comb spring to press upon the
edges of the combination security parts, for the purpose of overcoming the
adhesion of their surfaces, such comb spring giving no action to the security
parts as in other locks.
My Invention consists, lastly, in so shaping the combination security parts
that they shall surround the drift pin on all sides, so as to diminish the space
for the insertion of gunpowder into the lock, and so as to prevent any picking
instruments from reaching the bolt in all locks and latches wherein the
revolving curtain does not form the bolt.
The several portions of my Invention, as herein-before described, establish
for me the following claims :-

page_text: 1st, I claim the application or attachment of the combination stump or pieco
to the revolving barrel or curtain in locks.
2nd, the use of the revolving curtain as the bolt in locks for certain
purposes.
3rd, the use of the barrel or curtain, or some attached or component part of
them, to operate upon the combination security parts, so as to force them into
their correct positions in locking.
4th, the use of the barrel or curtain, or of any attached or component part
of them, to throw the bolt either forwards or backwards in all locks and latches
wherein the curtain does not itself form the bolt.
5th, the use of a shackle to padlocks with a continuation or tail beyond the
joint, and the mode of locking such shackle at this tail end.
6th, the use of a comb spring to press upon the edges of the combination
security parts, to counterbalance the adhesion of their surfaces.
And, last, the use of combination security parts so formed that they shall
surround the drill pin on all sides, so as to limit the space for the insertion
of gunpowder into the locks, and so as to prevent any picking instruments
from communicating with the bolt in locks wherein the curtain does not form
the bolt
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said Walter Henry Tucker in the Great Seal Patent Office on.
the 21st November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER'
HENRY TUCKER, of Fleet Street, London, Lock Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,.
the said Walter Henry Tucker, Her special licence that I, the said Walter
Henry Tucker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Walter Henry Tucker, 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 "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN Locks," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Walter Henry Tucker, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,

page_text: 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 Seal Patent Office within six calendar mouths next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Henry Tucker, do hereby declaro
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, first, in so making locks, that the ordinary vertical
revolving "barrel" and horizontal revolving "curtain" (as they are technically
termed), or a modification of them, shall, in conjunction with and in consequence
of the peculiar construction and arrangement of other portions of such locks,
be made to prevent the possibility of any picking instruments which may be
introduced into the locks remaining in contact with their combination security
parts after or during the time that the combination stump or picco shall be
brought into pressure or frictional contact with such security parts; and the
means by which I effect this purpose are as follow:-In locks for certain
purposes, and in most kinds of spring locks and latches, I attach the combina-
tion stump to the barrel or curtain, and in such a position that any instruments
which shall be placed into and turned in the locks must be carried past and
away from the combination security parts before the barrel and curtain can be
turned so far round as to bring the combination stump which is attached to
them into contact with or pressure upon the combination security parts. In
locks for other uses, I effect the purpose by attaching the combination stump
to the bolt, and by bringing the curtain or barrel when the bolt is locked out
behind the stump or some other portion of the bolt, so as to keep the com-
bination stump at a distance from, and prevent its being brought into contact
with, the combination security parts until the barrel and curtain shall have
been turned so far round as to carry any instruments which may have been
placed into the lock past and away from contact with the combination
security parts; or I effect it by fixing the combination stump to a dropping
piece or tumbler, and in such a position that the stump or some other portion
of the dropping piece or tumbler shall (when the bolt is locked out) rest upon
or be held down or in by the barrel or curtain, and that until the barrel and
curtain shall have been turned so far round as to carry any instruments which
may have been placed into the lock past and away from the combination
security, parts that the combination stump cannot be brought into contact with
the combination security parts.
My Invention consists, secondly, in making the revolving curtain serve also

page_text: as the bolt in locks for certain purposes, by which I diminish the cost or such
locks.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in causing the barrel or curtain, or some
attached or component part of them, to operate upon the combination security
parts in the process of locking, so as to force or carry them into their correct
locked positions before the key or any other instruments used in locking the
lock can be removed from the lock.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in causing the barrel or curtain, or some
attached or component part of them, to throw the bolt in the various kinds of
locks wherein the "curtain" does not itself form the bolt, in place of throwing
it directly by the key, by which means I compel such bolts to be carried to
their full distance, and thereby prevent any fraudulent alteration or wear of the
key or of the bolt talon from affecting the security of the locks.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in causing the barrel or curtain, or some
attached or component part of them, to carry back the bolts or latches in all
spring locks and latches, by which means I diminish the work in and lessen
the cost of production of such locks and latches.
My Invention consists, sixthly, in so making padlocks that their shackles
shall be formed with a continuation or tail beyond the joint, such tail to be
carried into and be always contained within the body of the lock, and in
causing the locking of such shackle to be effected at the inner or tail end of it,
in place of locking it at the outer or spoon end, as is customary, by which
means I do away with the usual weakening locking slot in such spoon end, and
thus materially strengthen the shackles.
My Invention consists, seventhly, in using a comb spring to press upon the
edges of the combination security parts, for the purpose of counterbalancing
the adhesion of their surfaces, in place of using fixed divisions between the
security parts to effect the purpose, such comb spring not being used by me to
give an action to the security parts, as in other locks.
My Invention consists, lastly, in so shaping and arranging the combination
security parts that they shall surround the drill pin on all sides, so as to
diminish the space for the insertion of gunpowder into the lock, which I
further make powder-proof by leaving apertures in the rim of the lock-cap,
through which apertures, on explosion, the powder would escape without
injuring the lock, and so as to prevent any picking instrument from reaching
the bolt in all locks and latches wherein the "curtain" does not itself con-
stitute the bolt.
The several portions of my Invention, as herein-before described, give rise
to and establish for me the following claims, amongst others :-

page_text: 1st, I claim the use of the revolving barrel or curtain, whether singly or
together, as a means for preventing the combination stump in locks from being
brought into contact with the security combination parts of locks during the
time that any picking instruments or false key can be in communication with
such security combination parts, whether such combination stump be attached
(as I hereby claim its attachment) to the revolving barrel or curtain, or be in
any other manner fixed or disposed in the lock.
2nd, I clain the use of the revolving curtain as the bolt in locks for certain
purposes.
3rd, I claim the use of the barrel or curtain, or of any attached or com-
ponent part of either of them, to operate upon the combination security parts
in locks, so as to force them into their correct positions in locking.
4th, I claim the use of the barrel or curtain, or of any attached or com-
ponent part of them, to throw the bolt in all locks wherein the curtain does
not itself form the bolt.
5th, I claim the use of the barrel or curtain in locks and latches, or of any
attached or component part of them, to carry back the bolts or latches in all
spring locks and latches.
6th, the use of a shackle (to padlocks) with a continuation or tail beyond
the joint, such tail to be within the body of the lock, and the mode of locking
the shackles of padlocks at this tail end instead of at the spoon end, as is
customary.
7th, the use of a comb spring in locks, to press upon the edges of the
combination security parts, for the purpose of overcoming the adhesion of their
surfaces.
And, lastly, I claim the use of combination security parts so formed that
they shall surround the drill pin on all sides, so as to aid in rendering locks
powder-proof, and so as to prevent picking instruments from communicating
with the bolts of locks and latches wherein the "curtain" is not itself the
bolt.
And I would wish it here to be clearly understood that I do not confine
myself to the use of any particular form of combination security parts, nor to
any special shape or configuration of "barrel or curtain;" neither do I restrict
myself to the use of any arbitrary form of combination stump or piece, or to
the use of any particular kind of metal or material, in the manufacture of my
locks and keys. And be it also understood that I claim the use or application
of any or all of the various portions of my Invention, as herein-before described,
to locks of every description and for every purpose to which locks are now
or may hereafter be applied; and that I hereby especially declare and make

page_text: known my intention of applying certain portions of this my Invention to locks
for liquor taps or cocks, gas taps or cocks, &c., &c.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Henry Tucker, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 21st day of November, in the year of our
Lord 1855.
(L.B.) WALTER HENRY TUCKER.
(L.B.) WALTER HENRY TUCKER.