Improvements in Locks and Latches.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Latches.
I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS of St. Johns Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, General Brassfounder and Lock
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in the followers and also to the control of
the key and snib respectively over the bolt.
In carrying my invention into effect in respect of the follower, I form an annulus
in or upon the inner face of either or of both the lock plates and one in or upon
both faces of the follower. Each annulus is in relief in the one part and recessed
in the corresponding part.
The second part of the invention relates to a means by which the bolt, previously
locked by the key from the outside, can be unlocked by means of the snib without
a key. The tumblers, or as many as there may be, are provided with a projection
which is adapted to be engaged by another on the snib after the bolt has been
shot. These projections are of a proper contour, respectively, for the rearward
travel of the nib to unlock the tumblers. An extension of the snib brings it
within the control of the key during the locking motion of the latter. On the
other hand, when the bolt has been unlocked, the said projections engage in such a
way as to lock the snib back.
According to a modification, the projections on the snib and tumblers are so
shaped that the latter can be lifted by the motion of the snib in either direction.
Either modification may be made to be operated by its key from both sides but
as the last mentioned one can be unlocked by means of the snib, it is only essential
that the key be applicable from the outside.
There is a suitable amount of play between the snib and the bolt.
Dated thin 91st day of November 1893.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
* Improvements in Locks and Latches.
I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS, of St. Johns Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, General Brass Founder and Lock
Maker, 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 followers of latches and also in the
mechanism by which the snib controls the bolt of a lock.
It consists firstly, in improved bearing surfaces for the follower; secondly, in
means by which the bolt, previously locked with the key from the outside, can be
unlocked with the snib from the inside, and independently of the key; and thirdly,
in means by which the bolt can be either locked or unlocked with the snib from
the inside and independently of the key.
In order that my invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will describe it and them in detail,

page_text: i
referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of
this Specification and read therewith.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a 2-bolt rim lock without the cover plate.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a. 2-bolt rim latch without the cover plate.
Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.
The first part of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4.
a is the inside lock plate. a' is a circular ridge surrounding the hole in the lock
plate a in which the follower fits and turns. It is made fast to the said plate in
any convenient way, being preferably flush with the outer face of the plate a, but
it always projects from the inner face of the latter into the cavity of the lock.
a' is a corresponding circular ridge, preferably of the same size as the ridge a'. It
is made fast to and projects from the cover plate 6 in the same way and direction
as the ridge a¹ with reference to the plate a.
C
is the follower. c¹ is a circular groove in one side of it, adapted to fit over the
ridge a', while c is a second similar groove in the opposite side of it, adapted to fit
over the ridge a³...
The second part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. d, d are the
tumblers of the lock. Each tumbler is provided with a projection d' which is really
a prolongation of its front end both forwards and downwards. All the projections,
as many as there may be, are counterparts of each other. e is the lock-bolt.
fis the snib, and f₁, its neck. The snib and lock-bolt engage with each other
through a block fast on the neck f¹ and held thereby between a pair of
tabs e', which project from the lock bolt e. The distance between the said tabs
is greater than the width of the block, for a reason which will appear further
on. Further, the excess of the said distance over the width of the block has an
important bearing upon the working of the invention as will also appear further
on. is a projection or nose on the top of the block f*: One face of it, f', is of
the proper contour to engage with and lift the tumblers d when the snib is drawn
back. The opposite face is cut away to make room for the projections d'.
This part of my invention acts as follows. When the lock bolt e is unlocked, and
the suib pushed forwards, the block f cannot lift the tumblers because the
contour of the face f is shaped so as to prevent it doing so, being too concave for
the purpose. As soon as the bolt e has been shot forward in the act of locking,
the projections d' are forced by the tumbler springs d' down the face of the
projection thereby carrying the block f forward away from the tabe and up
to the tabe. If the snib be now drawn back, the projection f* will lift the
tumblers until the gates 9 are aligned with the stump g¹.
It is selt evident that while the snib is lifting the tumblers, it must not come
into contact with the lock bolt e and that is the reason for making the distance
between the tabs e', e greater than the width of the block f. The snib slot f* is,
consequently, longer than heretofore.
B
Both
The third part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.
faces of the projection fare of the proper contour to engage the respective
edges of the projections d' and to thereby lift the tumblers. Further, the excess
distance between the tabs e', e' or play between the block and them, is greater
than in the second part of the invention, because the third part requires that the
snib shall lift the tumblers d on both of its motions before coming into contact with
the lock bolt e.
:
: h is a rearward prolongation of the block f. It provides two surfaces required
by the present invention, one of them, the edge h¹ which stands in the path of the
key from the moment that the lock bolte is locked, and the other of them.
which stands in the path of the key from the moment that the said bolt is
unlo ked. is a foot adapted to strengthen the prolongation h by. bearing against
the shank i of the latch.
This third part of my invention acts in the following manner. At the moment
when the bolte has been locked with the hey in the usual way, the projections.d

page_text: are resting upon the top of the incline 8, the nose of the key web j then standing-
between the bolte and the edge h¹. The continued motion of the key, by engaging
the said edge h', pushes the block f' forward as far as the tab e' in order that the
said projections d' may drop down the incline f8. The tumbler springs d' would
bring about the same result. After the key has been withdrawn from the lock:
from the outside of the door, the lock-bolt e remains under the control of the
snib from within, for if the latter be then drawn back, the incline 8 will engage
the projections d' and lift the tumbler or tumblers, as many as there may be, until.
the gates g are opposite the stump g'. During the time that the tumblers were
being so lifted, the block was moving through the distance between the
tabs, and having come up to the latter, transfers the motion of the snib.
through itself to the bolt e. As soon as the block f' gets up to the tab e³, the
projections d begin to drop down the incline f', locking the bolt e and holding
the snib back. If the latter be now pushed forward, the block f³ will, by the
engagement of the projection f³ with the projections d', lift the tumbler or
tumblers d, as many as there may be, until the gates g are opposite the stump g.,.
by which time the block f' has moved from the tab e' to the tabel through which
it transfers to the bolt e, the motion of the snib. As soon as the block has shot.
the bolt e forward, the projections d' drop down the incline 8, locking the said
bolt and holding the snib forward.
The lock bolte may also be shot with the key, by making the web; of the latter
engage the edge h³.
It is a matter of indifference whether the lock is made to admit its key from
outside or from either side of the door.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein before described improved bearing surfaces for a lock follower, as
set forth.
2. The combination of a lock bolt, tumbler or tumblers, snib, projections carried
by both snib and tumbler or tumblers whereby the motion of the snib is adapted
to lift the tumbler or tumblers, and tabs on the lock bolt adapted to provide for
the tumbler lifting and the bolt locking motions of the snib, as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1894.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.