Improvements in Locks.
Year: 1895

page_text: I, JOHN TOURTEL, of 17 Sinclair Mansions, West Kensington Park, in the
County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in the design and construction of locks
whereby they are rendered more secure and cannot be opened by a duplicate key
or otherwise without detection.
For this purpose I provide over the keyhole of the lock a frame, either fixed
or removeable, for the reception of a screen of paper, cardboard, or any other
convenient material, which, when inserted in the frame, covers the key-hole or catch
of the lock. The lock is preferably a spring-lock which can be locked by the act
of closing, and without a key. The frame is so arranged that the screen can only
be inserted when the lock is open, and thus, when the lock is closed, it is impossible
to get at the keyhole or catch without damaging or destroying the screen. Any
suitable device may be affixed to the said screen SU as to render it easily
recognisable.
Dated this Eighth day of January 1895
Improvements in Locks.
I, John Tourtel, of 17 Sinclair Mansions, West Kensington Park, in the
County of London, Engineer, 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 improvements in the design and construction of locks
whereby they are rendered more secure and cannot be opened by a duplicate key
or otherwise without detection, these said improvements being more particularly
applicable to the class of locks known as seal locks in which a destructible screen
is employed to guard the key-hole of the lock.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the application of my invention to a
padlock in Figures 1 to 11 while Figure 12 shows the device whereby the screws
are rendered easily recognizable.
Similar letters are used throughout to designate similar parts in the various
figures.
The inner case of the lock is formed of plate A which is bent up along the dotted
lines shown in Fig. 4.
The outer case or frame B is formed of a plate which is bent down along the
dotted lines shown in Fig. 6.
Fig. 7 represents the cover C of the case A, the said cover being provided with
recesses to receive the projecting portions of the sides of the case A.
Two projections 6 61 on the frame B are arranged to pass into the case A where
a rod G passing through holes in the said projections and through holes in the
sides of the case A causes the frame B to be hinged to the case A.
027

page_text: D is a hasp pivotted to the case A at d and provided with a hooked end d¹ which
passes through holes B¹ and A' in the frame B and case A thus holding them
together. A lever or catch E pivotted at e to the case A and provided with a
projection el is kept in engagement with the hook d¹ of the hasp D by means of a
spring F and thus locks the hasp. When the key k is introduced and turned upon
the pin K it strikes the projection of the catch E the projection e¹ of which is
thus removed from engagement with the hasp D which may then be opened. The
frame B may now be opened on its hinges to such a position as is shown in
Figs. 1 and 9.
The hook d and projection e' having inclined faces, the action of pressing in
the hasp locks it.
In order to prevent the lock from being opened without detection I place a
screen of paper (or other suitable material) within the frame B, and upon the
frame being closed and the hasp pressed in the said screen is held by the frame
and covers the keyhole of the lock, as shown in Fig. 11; it is then impossible to
open the lock without first destroying the screen.
In order that the screens (or lock seals as I preferably call them) may be.
easily distinguished I provide books, packets or strips of lock-seals which are.
attached together by perforated edges. All the lock-seals contained in each book,
packet or strip have affixed on them the same distinguishing device which consists
of a set of figures, or letters, or a combination of both, such as MB 10210,
Figs. 11 & 12. By arranging that every book, packet or strip bears a different
combination of letters and figures, while all the lock-seals in each book, packet or
strip bear the same combination of letters and figures, the owner of a particular
book, packet or strip is secured against the possibility of anyone else possessing
lock-seals bearing the same combination of letters and figures as his; and although
many locks may be opened with the same key the fact of the lock-seals being
different will ensure detection in case the lock should be tampered with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is-
1. The improvements in locks substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The combination of the hasp D, spring-catch E & hinged frame B, constructed
and operating in the manner substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated.
3. The combination of the hasp D, spring-catch E, hinged frame B, and the
lock-seals or screens, substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated
Dated this Eighth day of October 1895.
JOHN TOURTEL.