Improvements in Locks and Keys therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Keys therefor.
A communication from FRANK G. STARK, of the City of St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London"
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:—
This invention relates to a bolt or latch which works lever-wise with a
circular ring instead of a small pivot at the axis of motion.
nearly
It is arranged to
Both the form and
The key is flat and thin and is unsupported at the centre.
engage with the latch by wings on opposite sides of its axis.
size of the key are essential; any other than the proper form may not enter the
key-hole or any size materially greater or less will either not enter the ring in the
latch or will enter and turn idly around in the space in the ring without operating
the latch.
Such lock may be used either right hand or left hand as circumstances or the taste
of the person applying it shall render desirable.
The lock affords a high degree of strength with cheap and easily made mechanism
and is peculiarly guarded against being opened by picking.
The invention may be applied to secure and release at will a door or other device
moving bodily like a sliding door. It may be thus applied to secure a link at the
end of a chain arranged to stretch across a passage as across the entrance to a pew in
a church or a box in an opera house.
The annexed sheet of drawings illustrates by way of example, locks and keys
constructed according to the present invention.
Fig: 1 is a front view of the lock with the front portion removed.
Fig. 2 is an end view.
This plate is shown in
section.
Fig. 3 is a front view with the latch raised.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lock.
Fig. 5 is a face view of the escutcheon and locking plate.
the raised position in dotted lines. The shaft of the key is in
Fig. 6 is a front view with the latch reversed and raised.
figure show the latch depressed into position for holding the door.
figures show modifications.
The dotted lines in this
The remaining
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form adapted for securing a chain across
the entrance to a seat in church.
Fig. 8 is a section of the same.
Fig. 9 is a corresponding view of the same reversed to serve on the other side of
the aisle.
Figs. 10 and 11 show modifications in the form of the key, it heing understood that
the casing is with each form modified to match.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they>
occur.
A is the door and B the door casing, sometimes termed the jamb to which it is to
be secured by the lock and liberated as required. It is to be understood that these
parts may be of any ordinary or suitable construction adapted to serve for dwellings,
stores, workshops or other buildings, or for the low doors used for pews in churches,.
and generally for all styles and sizes of doors and gates of whatever name which turn
upon hinges. The description when not otherwise specially designated refers to
figures 1 to 4 inclusive.
Cis an escutcheon plate surrounding the key-hole and D is a casing of malleable
cast iron or other suitable material similarly fixed by screws or other fastenings

page_text: around the key-hole on the opposite face of the door. E is the key having a stout
ring as usual for a handle and two wings E' E' at the other end to be inserted in
the lock.
Gis a pivotted plate analogous to an escutcheon turning on a pivot o set
in the plate Cand having a notch g' adapted to engage with a collar E³ on the key
and hold the key strongly confined in the lock and door while allowing it to be turned
at will.
M is the turning or lever-wise moving bolt. I will term it a latch. Certain portions
will when necessary be marked by supernumerals as M'. This latch performs
important functions, serving as a latch to automatically engage when the door is closed,
and as a locking bolt to hold it closed until it is liberated by the key, and further,
serving by its form to cramp the parts together, thus giving the device great capacity
to resist violence. M' is a ring cast or otherwise formed on one end the end which
serves as the axis of motion.
M² is a narrow but sufficiently stout neck joining this
ring to the main body M, and M³ and M4 are offsets arranged as shewn. P is a guide
or open-topped keeper secured on the door, and Q is a somewhat corresponding
keeper secured on the jamb B. The keeper Q has a projection Q¹ extending out
from the jamb and having its upper face bevelled as shown.
The exterior of the ring M is finished perfectly circular excepting of course the
junction of the neck M², and is enclosed within a corresponding circular rim D
extending more than half around it on the housing or casing D. The interior not
thus enclosed is an aperture d in which the neck M2 can be moved as the latch is
turned.
The interior of the ring M need not be nicely finished, but my correspondent
attaches much importance to its form. It is smooth and may be perfectly circular
except that there are smoothly rounded internal projections m m¹ on opposite points.
These projections do not extend far inward and do not occupy the full thickness of
the metal, but they are sufficient to be engaged by the wings E', E of the key E and
as the key is turned to compel the ring M and consequently the latch M to turn a
partial revolution with it. This turning may be only sufficient to lift the latch M out
of its engagement with the keepers P and Q allowing the latch to drop again and thus
be ready to automatically. engage with the keepers when the door is again closed, or
it may be carried so far as to lift the latch into the perpendicular position and to
carry it then a little further. so that it would be held by gravity until the key should
be again turned in the reverse direction to move the latch again into position to engage.
It is important that the key be able to enter the key-hole and also that it be properly
formed to touch the projections m and m' and not to be obstructed in its partial turning
movement by any of the fixed parts of the casing. It is also important that the
wings E¹ E be just sufficiently extended; or in other words that the working end of
the key be just sufficiently wide. In what is esteemed the best construction there is
no. centre support for the key but the centre is free to move to a small extent up
and down and sidewise and in any intermediate direction. This key is certain to bear
on both projections and to move the latch if the right key is used, but any false key
cannot succeed unless it is of the proper form and also of a very exactly determined
size. If it is too large it will not enter the ring M¹. If it is too small it can be
turned idly around without moving the latch.
The projections m and m' being rounded without shoulders afford no abutment for
ordinary picking instruments to engage with. These being of less thickness than the
ring Mallows some picking devices to move past without exerting any force
at all.
The key wings are thin and may be planed or variously carved, the keyhole being
correspondingly formed. I make the keyhole longer than required so that its length
affords no aid in determining the width of the key.
It will be understood that the key on being turned a half revolution or more in
the direction opposite to that required for unlocking, brings the latch down after it
has been thrown into its superelevated position. The key may always be used to
promote the depression of the latch and ensure its full and firm engagement with
the keepers P and Q.

page_text: Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the
advantages of the invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole.
I can dispense with the freedom of the centre of the key and let the key engage by
a central spur in a hole adapted to strongly sustain it, but such will increase the
liability of the lock to be opened by improper instruments because it will not then
be necessary to engage but one of the projections m or m'. I. can dispenso with the
reversible quality.
-
Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a lock having the invention in part. It is arranged to
secure and release a chain to stretch across a passage as in a pew or opera box entrance.
Wis the chain one end of which is permanently attached to one side of the passage.
This is allowed to hang idly when not required.
When it is desired to secure the
passage the chain is extended across and the link W₁ at its previously free end is
inserted in the aperture d' in the lock case where it acts on the bevelled end M* of
the lever or latch M and raises it to allow it to enter. So soon as sufficiently in, the
lever bolt or latch M drops and engages with the link Win the obvious manner.
It can not be released again except by the aid of the proper key inserted in the key-
hole and turned with sufficient force to overcome the tension of the spring O which
aids gravity in ensuring the proper descent of the latch. These figures show the
reversible condition very clearly.
When the ring M is made with a series of stops the internal projections m m¹ may
be made on either one of the steps.
Dated this 22nd day of Auril 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Keys therefor.
A communication from FRANK G. STARK, of the City of St. Louis, in the State: of
Missouri, United Sates of America.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent 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:—
This invention relates to a bolt or latch which works lever-wise with a nearly circular
ring instead of a small pivot at the axis of motion.
The key is flat and thin and is unsupported at the centre. It is arranged to engage
with the latch by wings on opposite sides of its axis. Both the form and size of the
key are essential; any other than the proper form may not enter the key-hole or any
-size materially greater or less will either not enter the ring in the latch or will enter
and turn idly around in the space in the ring without operating the latch.
Such lock may be used either right hand or left hand as circumstances or the taste
of the person applying it shall render desirable.
The lock affords a high degree of strength with cheap and easily made mechanism
and is peculiarly guarded against being opened by picking.
The invention may be applied to secure and release at will a door or other device
moving bodily like a sliding door. It may be thus applied to secure a link at the end
of a chain arranged to stretch across a passage as across the entrance to a pew in a
church or a box in an opera house.
Referring to the drawings filed with my provisional specification and which
illustrate by way of example, locks and keys constructed according to the present
invention.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the lock with the front portion removed.
Fig. 2 is an end view.
Fig. 3 is a front view with the latch raised.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lock.
Fio is face view of the ascent bean and looking nlata
This plats is shoïvn

page_text: .
:
Fig. 6 is a front view with the latch reversed and raised. The dotted lines in this
figure show the latch depressed into position for holding the door. The remaining
figures show modifications.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form adapted for securing a chain across
the entrance to a seat in church.
Fig. 8 is a section of the same.
Fig. 9 is a corresponding view of the same reversed to serve on the other side of
the aisle.
Figs. 10 and 11 show modifications in the form of the key, it being understood that
the casing is with each form modified to match.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they occur.
A is the door and B the door casing, sometimes termed the jamb to which it is to be
secured by the lock and liberated as required. It is to be understood that these parts
may be of any ordinary or suitable construction adapted to serve for dwellings, stores,
workshops or other buildings, or for the low doors used for pews in churches, and..
generally for all styles and sizes of doors and gates of whatever name which turn
upon hinges. The description when not otherwise specially designated refers to
figures 1 to 4 inclusive.
C is an escutcheon plate surrounding the keyhole and D is a casing of malleable cast
iron or other suitable material similarly fixed by screws or other fastenings around
the key-hole on the opposite face of the door. E is the key having a stout ring as
usual for a handle and two wings E¹ E at the other end to be inserted in the lock.
G is a pivotted plate analogous to an escutcheon turning on a pivot y set in the plate (
and having a notch adapted to engage with a collar E3 on the key and hold the key
strongly confined in the lock and door while allowing it to be turned at will.
M is the turning or lever-wise moving bolt. I will term it a latch. Certain
portions will when necessary be marked by supernumerals as M¹. This latch
performs important functions, serving as a latch to automatically engage when the
door is closed, and as a locking bolt to hold it closed until it is liberated by the key,
and further serving by its form to cramp the parts together, thus giving the device
great capacity to resist violence. M' is a ring cast or otherwise formed on one end,
the end which serves as the axis of motion. M2 is a narrow but sufficiently stout
neck joining this ring to the main body M, and M³ and M' are offsets arranged as
shewn. P is a guide or open-topped keeper secured on the door, and is a somewhat
corresponding keeper secured on the jamb B. The keeper Q has a projection Q¹
extending out from the jamb and having its upper face bevelled as shown.
The exterior of the ring M is finished perfectly circular excepting of course the
junction of the neck M2, and is enclosed within a corresponding circular rim D'
extending more than half around it on the housing or casing D. The interval not
thus enclosed is an aperture d in which the neck M² can be moved as the latch is
turned.
The interior of the ring M¹ need not be nicely finished but my correspondent
attaches much importance to its form. It is smooth and may be perfectly circular
except that there are smoothly rounded internal projections m m on opposite points.
These projections do not extend far inward and do not occupy the full thickness of the
metal, but they are sufficient to be engaged by the wings EE2 of the key and as
the key is turned to compel the ring M and consequently the latch M, to turn a
partial revolution with it. This turning may be only sufficient to lift the latch M
out of its engagement with the keepers P and Q allowing the latch to drop again and
thus be ready to automatically engage with the keepers when the door is again closed,
or it may be carried so far as to lift the latch into the perpendicular position and to
carry it then a little further so that it would be held by gravity until the key should
be again turned in the reverse direction to move the latch again into position to
engage. It is important that the key be able to enter the key-hole and also that it be
properly formed to touch the projections m and m and not to be obstructed in its
partial turning movement by any of the fixed parts of the casing. It is also important
that the wings E' E be just sufficiently extended, or in other words that the working

page_text: end of the key be just sufficiently wide. In what is esteemed the best construction
there is no centre support for the key but the centre is free to move to a small extent
up and down and sidewise and in any intermediate direction. This key is certain to
bear on both projections and to move the latch if the right key be used, but any false
key cannot succeed unless it is of the proper form and also of a very exactly deter-
mined size. If it is too large it will not enter the ring M¹. If it is too small it can
be turned idly around without moving the latch.
The projections m and m¹ being rounded without shoulders afford no abutment for
ordinary picking instruments to engage with. These being of less thickness than
the ring Mallow some picking devices to move past without exerting any force
at all.
The key wings are thin and may be planed or variously carved, the keyhole being
correspondingly formed. I make the keyhole longer than required so that its length
affords no aid in determining the width of the key.
It will be understood that the key on being turned a half revolution or more in
the direction opposite to that required for unlocking, brings the latch down after it
has been thrown into its superelevated position. The key may always be used to
promote the depression of the latch and ensure its full and firm engagement with the
keepers P and Q.
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the
advantages of the invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole.
I can dispense with the freedom of the centre of the key and let the key engage by a
central spur in a hole adapted to strongly sustain it, but such will increase the
liability of the lock to be opened by improper instruments because it will not then be
necessary to engage but one of the projections m or m¹. I can dispense with the
reversible quality.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a lock having the invention in part. It is arranged to
secure and release a chain to stretch across a passage as in a pew or opera box
entrance. W is the chain one end of which is permanently attached to one side of
the passage. This is allowed to hang idly when not required. When it is desired
to secure the passage the chain is extended across and the link W' at its previously
free end is inserted in the aperture d¹ in the lock case where it acts on the bevelled
end M of the lever or latch M and raises it to allow it to enter.
So soon as
sufficiently in, the lever bolt or latch M drops and engages with the link W¹ in the
obvious manner.
It can not be released again except by the aid of the proper key inserted in the
keyhole and turned with sufficient force to overcome the tension of the spring O
which aids gravity in ensuring the proper descent of the latch. These figures show
the reversible condition very clearly.
When the ring M is made with a series of steps the internal projections m m¹
may be made on either one of the steps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a lock the latch M having a ring M around its axis of motion provided
with internal projections mm² on opposito or nearly opposite points, adapted to serve
with a double winged key E, E', E, as herein specified.
2. For a lock of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, a key constructed
substantially as described and shown, to operate in the manner set forth.
Dated this 26th day of June 1890.
W. LLOYD WISE.
Per F. J. Brougham.