IMPROVEMENTS IN PADLOCKS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Linley, of 31, Great Saint Helen's, in the City of
London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PADLOCKS." A communi-
cation from abroad by George Cooper, of Buenos Ayres.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Linley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1880.
ARTHUR LINLEY, of 31, Great Saint Helen's, in the City of London. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PADLOCKS." (A communication from abroad by George Cooper, of
Buenos Ayres.)
This Invention relates to improvements in locks, and especially to that class
known as padlocks.
Padlocks as usually made are provided with a bow or loop, which is pivoted
at one side of the lock, and when in use the said bow or loop has to be passed
through a staple or its equivalent, and then closed and secured by being locked
with a key in the ordinary manner.
According to this Invention the bow or loop is made in two pieces, one being
pivoted on each side of the lock; each half forming the loop is provided with an
arm, the latter being attached to a sliding plate inside. A pin or stud on the
sliding plate takes into a spring tumbler, the latter having an aperture in it of such
a form that it holds the pin and consequently the sliding plate when locked, and
so prevents the halves of the bow or loop opening.
The insertion of the key acts on the tumbler and the sliding plate and opens the
bow or loop. To fasten the lock no key is required, it being only necessary to
press the two halves of the loop together, when they instantly close with a spring,
the ends folding on each other, the lock can then be opened by means of the key
only.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Linley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd June
1881.
ARTHUR LINLEY, of 31, Great Saint Helen's, in the City of London. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PADLOCKS." (A communication from abroad by George Cooper, of
Buenos Ayres.)
This Invention relates to improvements in locks, and especially to that class
known as padlocks, the object being to so form a padlock that it cannot be held in
its place on the article or receptacle to be secured without its being fastened or
locked.
Padlocks as usually made are provided with a bow or loop, which is pivoted at
one side of the lock, and when in use the said bow or loop has to be passed
through a staple, or its equivalent, on the article to be fastened, and then closed
and secured by being locked with a key in the ordinary manner.
According to this Invention the bow or loop is made in two pieces, one being
pivoted on each side of the lock; each half forming the loop is provided with an
arm, the latter being attached to a sliding plate inside. A pin or stud on the
sliding plate takes into a spring tumbler, the latter having an aperture in it of such
a form that it holds the pin and consequently the sliding plate when locked, and
so prevents the halves of the bow or loop opening. The insertion of the key acts
on the tumbler and the sliding plate and opens the bow or loop. To fasten the lock
no key is required, it being only necessary to press the two halves of the loop
together when they instantly close with a spring, the ends folding on each other,
the lock can then be opened by means of the key only.
The Invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawing, in which Figure 1 shows the padlock unfastened or unlocked, and
Figure 2 shows the same as locked, the outer plate in each Figure being
removed to more clearly show the details of the lock and the positions they take
according to whether the lock is fastened or unfastened.
a, a, are the two pieces forming the bow or loop; they are pivoted at b, b, and
each balf has an arm or extension c which takes between two projections & and e
forming part of the sliding plate f.
The sliding plate f has also a pin or stud g which takes into an aperture / in the
spring tumbler i, the plate f being guided in its motion by having two slotted
openings in it which take over the pins ; and k, the latter k forming also the
centre on which the tumbler can vibrate when the lock is being secured or
unfastened.
The operation of fastening or unfastening the lock is very simple; if the former
it is only necessary to close the two halves a, a, of the loop by pressure of the hand,
this causes the arms c, c, to impart a sliding motion to the plate fin the direction
indicated by the vertical arrow in Figure 1, which motion brings the stud g on
plate into the position shown in Figure 2; this allows the spring 7 of the tumbler
to act and place the lower edge of the tumbler above the stud g of the sliding
plate, so holding the latter securely in position and the lock fastened.
To unfasten, the key (of ordinary form) is inserted and turned in the direction
of the circular arrow seen in Figure 2; the nose of the key then moves the tumbler
to the right, as indicated by the Drawing, until the aperture h in the tumbler is
opposite or over the stud 9 on the plate f, when the latter is instantly put in
motion, the stud 9 taking into the aperture h, and the lock thrown open as in
Figure 1 under the action of the spring m, which exerts a constant pressure on the
underside of the projection e for that purpose; n shows the pin to receive the pipe

page_text: of the key when inserted, and o is a notch in the sliding plate f to receive the nose
of the key when the lock is unfastened, as in Figure 1; it enables the key to restore
the parts to the locking position, Figure 2, by turning it in the direction indicated
by the circular arrow in Figure 1.
This fastens the lock without the hand pressure on the halves of the loop a, a, as
before explained.
The tumbler may be in one or more pieces as desired, and the loop pieces a, a,
are preferred to take into each other, as in Figures 1 and 2, or to fold on each other,
as in Figure 3, and their extremities at p, p, are of such a shape that they cannot
be hung on to, say, a staple, unless the padlock is positively fastened.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The improvements in padlocks as described, and substantially as shown in
the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. Forming the loop or bow of padlocks in two pieces, as described, and
substantially as shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Linley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty one.
ARTHUR LINLEY. (L.S.)