Improvements in the Latching Mechanism of Locks and Latches.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Latching Mechanism of Locks and Latches.
I, JOSEPH LEGGE, trading as J. Legge and Company, of Colonial Works,
Stafford Street, Willenhall in the County of Stafford, Lock and Latch Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
11
This invention relates, more especially, to the latching mechanism of locks; and
is designed, chiefly, to enable a hanging or pivoted latch head to be used in the
same case with a locking bolt, and the latch spindle to be arranged in the middle of
the depth of the case, without the necessity of making the case so deep as it has
usually been heretofore required to be when a pivoted latching head has been used
in the same case with locking mechanism; and, indeed, without the necessity of
making the case any deeper than when ordinary latching mechanism is used in the
same case with locking mechanism. The improved latching mechanism may,
however, be used in a case alone, that is without a locking bolt.
The latching mechanism consists, according to this invention, of a latching head
having a short upward shank of which the upper end is pivoted within the case; of
a bar or link which is pivoted to such shank below its pivot centre, and which is
pivoted at its other or hinder end to the lower end of a back follower which is
pivoted at its upper end within the case and is pressed forwards by a spring; and
of a double-horned follower on the latch spindle. The latch spindle is near the
hinder end of the case, and preferably about central between top and bottom
thereof.
The latch head is drawn back by turning the spindle, and consequently the
follower, in either direction, when one or other of the horns of the follower presses
back the back follower, against the pressure of the spring, and draws back the bar
or link and the latch head; and on removal of the pressure by which the spindle
has been turned, the parts are returned again to their normal or latched position
by the re-action of the spring.
A single horned follower may, of course, be used, if desired, in which case the
spindle is turned in one direction only to unlatch the latching head.
The locking mechanism, when used, may be of the usual or any convenient
description, and is preferably placed above the latching mechanism. It is preferred,
in order to enable the key-hole to be brought down as low as possible, so as to
reduce as much as possible the necessary depth of the case, to crank down the
portion of the bar or link which passes along below the key-hole.
The latching mechanism may be arranged above the locking mechanism, if
preferred, in which case the latch head shank may pass downwards and be pivoted
within the case at its lower end.
1. 671 J
1000
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Latching Mechanism of Locks and Latches.
I, JOSEPH LEGGE, trading as J. Legge and Company, of Colonial Works,
Stafford Street, Willenhall in the County of Stafford, Lock and Latch Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the:
[Price 8d.1

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates, more especially, to the latching mechanism of locks; and
is designed, chiefly, to enable a hanging or pivoted latch head to be used in the
same case with a locking bolt, and the latch spindle to be arranged in the middle of
the depth of the case, without the necessity for making the case so deep as it has
usually been heretofore required to be when a pivoted latching head has to be used
in the same case with locking meclianism; and, indeed, without the necessity for
making the case any deeper than when ordinary latching mechanism is used in the
same case with locking mechanism. The improved latching mechanisin may,
however, be used in a case alone, that is without a locking bolt.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
it with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an elevation, with
the cap-plate removed to shew the interior mechanism, of a lock fitted with my
improved latching mechanism.
The locking bolt A, and the mechanism by which it is operated, is of the usual
or any convenient description, and in the illustration is shewn (as is usually
preferred) in position above the latching mechanism. The latching bolt is formed
with a head B and a short upward shank b, and is pivoted at the upper end of its
shank to a pin or stud a fixed to the case. A bar or link C is pivoted at its
forward end, by means of a pin or stud c, to the shank at a point below the
pivot a, and at its hinder end to the lower end of a back-follower D, by means of a
pin or stud d. The back-follower D is pivoted at its upper end to a pin or stud e
fixed to the case, and is pressed forwards by a spring E. The back-follower is
moved back by means of a double-horned follower F in the manner usual in latch
mechanism and the follower F is in such position that the spindle by which it is
turned in unlatching is near to the hinder end of the case and is also, preferably,
near to the middle thereof vertically, as shewn.
;
The latch head B is drawn back, as the spindle is turned in either direction,
through the medium of the follower F, back follower D, and bar or link C; and
on the removal of the pressure by which the spindle has been turned, the parts are
returned to their normal or latched position by the re-action of the spring E.
A single-horned follower may, of course, be used, if desired, in which case the
spindle is turned in one direction only to unlatch the latching head.
The bar C may be cranked down somewhat, as shewn, to enable the key-hole to
be brought down as low as possible, in order to reduce as much as possible the
necessary depth of the case. In the lock illustrated, however, the key-hole is not
brought down as low as it is permitted to be by the cranked-down shape of the
link. It is desirable also that the back-follower D shall be of considerable length,
as shewn, to ensure an easy action in turning the spindle; and to effect this it is
convenient to pivot the link thereto at a lower level, as shewn, than its pivot
connection with the shank b. When this is the case, and the position of the key-
hole will allow thereof, the link may, of course, be inclined instead of cranked
down.
The latching mechanism may be arranged above the locking mechanism, if
preferred. In such a modification the parts would appear as seen when holding. the
illustration upside down, except that, of course, the locking mechanism would,
preferably, be arranged for locking in the usual manner, that is with the key-hole
below the bolt, and the locking bolt would be brought nearer to the latching head
than shewn, to avoid having to make the case unnecessarily deep.
My improved latching mechanism is very easy in action, and simple and
economical in manufacture.
The invention may be applied, also, in the case of latching mechanism in which
the handle is drawn back instead of being turned on its axis. In such case, the
hinder end of the bar or link C is pivoted to a sliding-piece to..which the handle is 5
fixed, or direct to the handle itself, instead of being pivoted to a back follower-as
shewn.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is-
1. In the latching mechanism of a lock or latch, the combination of a pivoted
bolt with a bar or link pivoted at one end to such bolt and at the other end to a
part of the mechanism through the medium of which it is drawn back, substantially
as described.
2. In the latching mechanism of a lock or latch, the combination of a pivoted
bolt with a bar or link pivoted at one end to such bolt and at the other end to a
back-follower which is operated through the medium of a double or single horned
follower, substantially as described.
3. The improved latching mechanism of a lock or latch, substantially as described
and shewn by the drawing herewith.
Dated this 26th day of May 1893
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant