IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Beverley Fenby, of the City of Worcester,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
AND LATCHES."
Sealed the 28th June 1864, and dated the 5th January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Beverley Fenby
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th January 1864..
I, JOSEPH BEVERLEY FENBY, of the City of Worcester, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
AND LATCHES," to be as follows:-
My first improvement consists in so constructing locks provided with levers
or tumblers, or slides, that the key or unlocking instrument is introduced into
the lock at a considerable distance from the point at which the said key or
instrument is required to act upon the said levers or tumblers or slides to
withdraw the bolt, the said levers 'or tumblers or slides are thereby prevented
from being acted upon by any instrument however slight.
I will describe the said improvement in connection with a safe lock, but my
Invention may be applied to other locks. To an ordinary lever lock I add a
secondary bolt, sliding parallel to the locking or main bolt. The secondary
bolt may be moved by any convenient mechanism actuated from outside the
lock; the said secondary bolt passes through the back or the front. plate of
the lock. To the plate of the lock through which the end of the secondary.

page_text: bolt passes a bush or bearing is connected, the said bearing enclosing the bolt
a short distance within the lock case. In this bearing, and through the face
plate of the lock, a slot or hole is made, of a shape and size suited to the key
or unlocking instrument used with the lock; the said slot or hole may be of the
form of an ordinary key hole. The secondary bolt has a hole or slot in it of a
similar shape to that in the face plate; when the bolt of the lock is shot, the
hole in the secondary bolt and that in the face plate coincide. A detached
web or bit, which I will herein-after call a check, provided with the required
steps to raise the levers, is introduced through the slot in the face plate and
bearing into the slot in the secondary bolt; the secondary bolt has a pin or
axis, upon which the check is fitted, and upon which the said check may have
the rotatory motion necessary to lift the levers. The secondary bolt is moved so
as to carry the check through the bearing -before described, and bring it
opposite the portion of the levers upon which the said check is to act to
withdraw the main or locking bolt. During the motion of the secondary bolt
the check carried by it has a rotatory motion given to it by suitable mechanism
so as to make the steps of the said check act upon the levers in the usual
manner to withdraw the locking bolt. The bearing described through which
the secondary bolt passes cuts off any passage through the slot in the face
plate to the chamber of the lock, the length of the said bearing being some-
what greater than the length of the slot in the secondary bolt. The check
before mentioned may consist of a flat piece of metal cut into steps, or of a
small tube with notches or slots cut upon either end:
My second improvement in locks provided with levers or tumblers or slides
consists in the means herein-after described of detaching the check before
described or other unlocking instrument used for withdrawing the locking bolt
from the secondary bolt, and depositing the said check or instrument in a lower.
chamber of the lock until the door, to which the lock is applied, is opened.
Near the inner end of the locking bolt, and behind the position assumed. by
the check, when the said check acts. upon the levers, is a straight lever or a
cranked lever. This lever turns on a centre on the lock case, and has motion.
given to it by the mechanism employed to move the secondary bolt in such a
manner that when the secondary bolt. has completed its motion into the lock.
the said lever is pressed against the check, so as to remove it from the pin or
axis on the secondary bolt, throwing the said check through a suitable opening
into a chamber at the bottom. of the lock. If any attempt be made to reverse
the motion of the secondary bolt-before the said bolt has completed its motion
into the lock, the before-mentioned lever will act upon the check, and remove
it from the secondary bolt as before described. Although I prefer to remove

page_text: the check from the secondary bolt by the lever described, yet other arrange-
ments may be employed for that purpose with the same or nearly the same
effect.
My third improvement in locks provided with levers or tumblers or slides
consists in providing the bolt with a transverse talon or stud sliding backwards
and forwards in the body of the bolt. The said talon or stud is, when the bolt
is shot, lifted and supported flush with the under surface of the locking bolt by
means of a detector or auxiliary tumbler or lever furnished with a stump,
which stump must be allowed to fall into a secondary gating in the levers or
tumblers, the said secondary gating being situated, by preference, at right
angles to the primary gating in the levers. To allow the stump of the
auxiliary lever to fall into the secondary gating of the primary levers it is
necessary that the said primary levers should be raised by the steps of the true
check introduced into the lock in the manner described under the first part of
my Invention. The secondary gating in the primary levers must be brought
opposite the stump on the detector or auxiliary lever just before the primary
gating in the levers comes opposite the ordinary stump on the bolt to permit
the check to operate upon the sliding talon or stud in such a manner as to
draw back the locking bolt.
The improvements described are applied to latches essentially in the manner
described with respect to locks, excepting that in the case of latches the
motions are vertical instead of horizontal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Beverley Fenby in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BEVERLEY FENBY, of the City of Worcester, Mechanical Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord..
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Beverley Fenby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I. the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “ IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
J, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:
My first improvement consists in so constructing locks provided with levers,
or tumblers, or slides, that the key or unlocking instrument is introduced into
the lock at a considerable distance from the point at which the said key or
instrument is required to act upon the said levers, or tumblers, or slides, to
withdraw the bolt, the said levers, or tumblers, or slides, are thereby prevented
from being acted upon by any picking instrument, however slight.
I will describe the said improvement in connection with a safe lock, but
my Invention may be applied to other locks. To an ordinary lever lock I add
a secondary bolt, sliding parallel or perpendicular to the locking or main bolt.
This secondary bolt may be moved by any convenient mechanism actuated
from outside the lock. The said secondary bolt passes through the back or
the front plate, or both back and front plates of the lock. To the plate of the
lock through which the end of the secondary bolt passes a bush or bearing is
connected, the said bearing enclosing the bolt a short distance within the lock
case. In this bearing, and through the face plate of the lock, a slot or hole is
made of a shape and size suited to the key or unlocking instrument used with
the lock; the said slot or hole may be of the form of an ordinary keyhole.
The secondary bolt has a hole or slot in it of a similar shape to that in the
face plate; when the bolt of the lock is shot the hole in the secondary bolt
and that in the face plate coincide. A detached web or bit, which I will
herein-after call a check, provided with the required steps to raise the levers,
is introduced through the slot in the face plate and bearing into the slot in
the secondary bolt; the secondary bolt has a pin or axis upon which the
check is fitted, and upon which the said check may have the rotatory motion
necessary to lift the levers. The secondary bolt is moved so as to carry the

page_text: check through the bearing before described and bring it opposite those por-
tions of the levers upon which the said check is to act to withdraw the main
or locking bolt. During the motion of the secondary bolt the check carried
by it has a rotary motion given to it by suitable mechanism so as to make the
steps of the said check act upon the levers in the usual manner to withdraw
the locking bolt. Instead of the rotary motion described of the check the said
check may have a rising motion only to lift the levers, the bolt being with-
drawn by the action of an excentric working on an axis or otherwise. The
bearing described, through which the secondary bolt passes, cuts off any
passage through the slot in the face plate to the chamber of the lock, the
length of the said bearing being somewhat greater than the length of the slot
in the secondary bolt. The check before mentioned may consist of a flat piece
of metal cut into steps, or of a small tube with notches or slots cut upon
either end.
My second improvement in locks provided with levers, or tumblers, or
slides, consists in the means herein-after described of detaching the check
before described (or other unlocking instrument used for lifting the tumblers
prior to the withdrawing of the locking bolt) from the secondary bolt and
depositing the said check or instrument in a lower chamber of the lock, access
to the said check in the chamber being prevented until the door to which the
lock is applied is opened. Near the inner end of the locking bolt, and behind
the position assumed by the check when the said check acts upon the levers,
is a lever or retainer. This lever turns upon a centre on the lock case, and
has motion given to it by the mechanism employed to move the secondary
bolt in such a manner that when the secondary bolt has completed its motion
into the lock, and is reversed, the said lever is pressed against the check so as
to remove if from off the secondary bolt, throwing the said check through a
suitable opening into a chamber at the bottom of the lock. If any attempt
be made to reverse the motion of the secondary bolt before the said bolt
has completed its motion into the lock, the before mentioned lever will act
upon the check and remove it from the secondary bolt, as before described.
Although I prefer to remove the check from the secondary bolt by the lever
described, yet other arrangements may be employed for that purpose with the
same or nearly the same effect. The improvements described are applied to
latelies essentially in the manner described with respect to locks.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed,
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a lock for a safe constructed according

page_text: to the first part of my Invention, and Figure 2 represents an end elevation of
the same; Figure 3 is a vertical section of the same taken through the line a.
Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a vertical section of the same taken through the.
line b, Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front elevation, with the front or face plate of
the lock removed, the parts being in the respective positions which they occupy.
after the bolt of the lock has been shot; and Figure 6 is a front elevation of
the same with the front or face plate removed, the parts being in the respective
positions which they occupy when the bolt is about to be withdrawn; Figures 7
and 8 represent portions of the same, as herein-after explained; and Figures 9
and 10 represent the key. The same letters of reference are used to indicate
the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
c is the bolt of the lock, and d are the levers or tumblers turning upon the
axis e and pressed downwards by the spring f; g are the gatings or slots in
the tumblers or levers; and h is the stump on the bolt c. Besides the stump h
the bolt c carries a pin m; i is the secondary bolt sliding parallel with the
principal bolt c. This bolt i has no bolting action, its function being to carry
a portion of the key, as herein-after described. The bolt i, shown separately
in plan in Figure 7, has a dovetail & capable of rising and falling vertically
in the said bolt i, and the back of the said dovetail k carries the pin ; n is
a box or hollow cam, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5, and represented
separately in Figure 8. The cam n is keyed to an axis o, on the square end
of which the hollow axis p is fitted. The box or hollow cam n is provided with
two depressions q, r. The pin m of the bolt c engages with the depression q,
and the pin on the dovetail k of the bolt i engages with the depression 7. The
key, Figure 9, consists of two parts, s and t, the part s constituting a check
capable of screwing on the part t. The checks is provided with a series of steps"
proper to raise the levers d to the required heights when the said check is brought
underneath the said levers, as herein-after explained. The part t has a square
end u of a size proper to fit in the hollow axis p and give motion to the cam n.
The front of the dovetail k of the bolt i is of a figure proper to receive the check s
of the key, and the front plate v of the lock has a hole s³ (Figure 1) suitable-
for the introduction of the said check s. The action of the lock is as follows:
-The several parts being in the positions represented in Figures 1 and 5,
that is, the bolt c of the lock being shot, in order to withdraw the bolt cor
unlock the lock, it is necessary to proceed as follows:-The ends of the key,
Figure 9, being passed through the keyhole s (Figure 1) the checks enters
the dovetail in the bolt i. (The position of the check in the dovetail is
represented in Figure 6). The part t of the key is now turned so as to
unscrew it from the check s, and the said part t being withdrawn the said

page_text: check s is left in the dovetail k of the bolt i; the square end u of the key is
now introduced into the hollow axis p and the key t is turned so as to move
the hollow or box cam n in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5.
The depression or hollow r in the said cam acting on the bolt i through the
pin first brings the said bolt into the position represented in Figure 6 and
next lifts the dovetail & carrying the checks into the position, Figure 6. The'
steps of the check s lift the levers or tumblers d into such positions that the
stump on the bolt c can enter. the gatings in the said levers or tumblers.
The further motion of the cam n in the same direction produces no change in
the position of the bolt i, dovetail k, and check s, but effects the withdrawal
of the bolt c, the said withdrawal being effected by the shoulder q² of the
depression of the cam n having been brought against the pin m of the bolt c.
Having withdrawn the bolt c; the key t is turned in a direction contrary to
that indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, by doing which the hollow or
depression r of the cam n reverses the motions described of the dovetail k and
bolt i, that is, the dovetail k and check s fall into the bolt i, and the bolt i slides
from the position Figure 6 to that Figure 5. The motion of the cam n
necessary to restore the bolt i to the position Figure 5 effects no motion in
the bolt c, and the key t may now be withdrawn from the hollow axis p, and its
screwed end being introduced into the hole s it may be screwed into the
checks and the said check withdrawn. The parts being in the positions last
described the bolt c may be shot by introducing the square end of the key into
the hollow axis p and turning it in a direction contrary to that indicated by
the arrow in Figure 5. The shooting forward of the bolt c is effected by the
shoulder q³ of the cam n. By the shooting of the bolt c the stump h has been
withdrawn from the gatings g of the levers d, and the said levers pressed down
by their spring into the position represented in Figure 5, and the bolt cannot
be withdrawn until the checks has been introduced into the lock and made to
raise the tumblers to the required heights in the manner already described.
Over the bolt i is a block or bearing w which closes the top of the slot in the
bolti in which the dovetail k works when the said bolt is in the position
represented in Figure 5, and when the front plate v of the lock is in its place
the steel plate a carried by the said plate v closes the space in front of the
bolt, and all access to the levers or tumblers by any picking instrument'
introduced through the keyhole s when the bolt i is in the position Figure 5.
is thus cut off; immediately the bolt i moves from the position Figure 5 in
order to unlock the lock the keyhole s is covered. If a false check be
introduced into the dovetail k, and the axis p turned so as to make the said
false check act upon the tumblers, the said false check, when acting upon the

page_text: tumblers, is cut off from access at the keyhole s², and no information can be
obtained as to the said tumblers by the said false check. By the use of a lock
of the kind described the check.s necessary for the unlocking of the lock may.
be kept in the possession of a principal or superior servant, and the part t of
the key left in charge of another. By means of the part t the bolt c of the
lock can be shot, but the said bolt cannot be withdrawn except by the principal.
or the person. who has possession of: the check s. As the check is only
required for the unlocking of the lock it need not leave the possession of the
principal and the opportunity for tampering with or taking impressions of the
said.check is prevented. Instead of introducing the check into the dovetail k
of the bolt i in the manner described the said check may be introduced into
the 'said slide with its longest diameter in a horizontal position; in this case.
a stop is fixed upon the lock case, by coming against which stop a motion.
of partial rotation is given to the said check and its longest diameter raised.
into a vertical plane so as to make the steps upon it act upon the tumblers; in
this case a horizontal axis is fixed in the front of the slide k, upon which axis the
checks is passed and about which it performs its motion of partial rotation.
Figures 11 and 12 represent in front elevation a lock for a safe constructed:
according to the second part of my Invention; and Figure 13 represents a plan.
of a portion of the same; Figure 14 represents the key and the manner of
introducing the check into the lock. In the lock, Figures 11 and 12, the
principal bolt is made to move in a line at right angles to that in which the
secondary bolt. moves. In Figure 11 the parts are represented in the several.
positions which they respectively occupy when the principal bolt has been:
shot; and in Figure 12 the parts are represented in the several positions which
they respectively occupy when the principal bolt is withdrawn. The same.
letters are employed to indicate the same parts in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14.
a is the principal bolt, and 6 the secondary bolt for carrying the check
and closing the outer keyhole; d are. the levers or tumblers, and e the
gatings of the said levers or tumblers; the levers d turn upon the centre d³,
and are pressed home by the spring d³; f is the stump of the bolt a. The
position of the hollow cam, by which the several motions of the bolts a and b,
and the carrier of the check are effected is indicated by a dotted circle at g in
Figures 11 and 12. As the construction of the said hollow cam 9 will be
sufficiently understood by the description and representation of the hollow.
cam n, Figures 5 and 8, I have not thought it necessary to represent or to
describe the said. cam in Figures 11 and 12, the only change requiring to be
made in the cam g being that necessary to give a vertical instead of a horizontal
motion to the bolt a, and the slightly different motion, herein-after described,

page_text: of the secondary bolt 6. The cam 9 turns upon the same centre as the
tumblers d; h is the dovetail slide in the secondary bolt b; by which the
check is carried in the carrier k, the check i being held at its ends only by
the said carrier k. The check i consists of a flat plate of metal having the
necessary steps to act upon the levers or tumblers d, the said check i being
pushed through a slit in the lock case, the position and size of which are
indicated by the check i in Figure 11; Figure 14 represents the key l, which
is made of a flat piece of steel pushing the check through the side of a safe m
and a lock plate n; o is a lever or retainer pressed upon by the spring p, the
function of which lever is herein-after described. The action of the lock is
as follows: The bolts a and b being in the positions represented in Figure 11,
and it being wished to unlock the lock the check i is pushed through the slit
in the lock case by means of the part of the key. The said check i is
received by the carrier k of the bolt b. By means of the square end 1* of the
key introduced into the square hollow axis of the cam 9 motion is given to
the said cam g, and the bolt 6 is brought into the position represented in
Figuro 12. The steps of the check i acting on the tumblers d bring their
gatings into the required positions, and the bolt a can be withdrawn, the
stumpf entering the gatings e.. In passing from the position, Figure 11.to
the position Figure 12, the carrier k performs the following motions:When
the said carrier k is free of the shoulder o² it rises vertically lifting the end of
the lever o. It next performs a horizontal motion until it arrives at the
position Figure 12, when the end of the lever o, which had pressed upon the
check i, escaping from the said check is pressed into the position Figure 12,
whereby its end is brought opposite to the back of the check i. When by the
motion of the key the motion of the secondary bolt 6 is reversed, the back of
the check comes against the end of the lever o, and prevents the said check
being carried back by the carrier k. The said carrier.k retiring from the check,
the said check being no longer supported falls upon the shoulder 3 of the
bolt b. The carrier & descends into the bolt b, and as the shoulder b² of
the bolt b comes under the shoulder of the check resting on the shoulder b² is
swept from off it, and falls into the lower chamber q in the lock. The
chamber q is situated in the inner side of the lock, and the check can only be
taken therefrom when the door to which the lock is affixed is opened. The
principal bolt can be shot by the square end of the key 1, and the check
may be kept in the possession of the principal or person to whom the
unlocking of the lock is entrusted. As the check i when once brought into
the position in which it acts on the levers cannot be withdrawn from the lock,

page_text: excepting by falling into the chamber q, any false check which may be intro-
duced is retained and deposited in the chamber 2, and no knowledge can
be obtained respecting the levers by the use of the said false check. The
deposition of the false check in the chamber q indicates that an attempt has
been made to pick the lock by the said false check. In this lock all access
to the tumblers or levers is cut off under all positions of the bolts, that is to
say, no instrument can come in contact with the tumblers or levers, until it
has passed out of all control from the outside of the lock, and is brought
under the control of the retainer, which prevents its return under any cir-
cumstances by the way by which it entered.
Although I bave only described my Invention with reference to locks
provided with levers or tumblers, yet my said Invention is applicable to locks
having slides instead of levers or tumblers, but as I believe my Invention will
be sufficiently understood by the foregoing description, I do not think a
detailed description of a lock provided with slides necessary. The machanism
constituting my Invention may be applied to locks having any kind of levers
or tumblers or slides. Although I have only described my improvements in
connection with locks for safes, yet my improvements are applicable to other
locks and to latches.
.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my said Invention; for example, the motions of the principal and
secondary bolts may be effected by means of a rack instead of a cam, and the
rising motion of the dovetail carrying the check may be effected by making
the pin or lower end of the said dovetail traverse a fixed incline, and in like
manner many of the other details described may be varied, and the essential
action of the mechanism constituting my Invention preserved; I claim as my
Invention,-
Firstly, arranging the parts of locks and latches, substantially in the
manner herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, and 10 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, providing a
secondary bolt in addition. to the principal or locking bolt, the said secondary
bolt receiving the check or that portion of the key which lifts the levers or
tumblers or slides to the heights required to allow the principal bolt to be
withdrawn, the said secondary bolt in unlocking the lock being moved so as
to close the keyhole at which the check was introduced, thereby completely.

page_text: isolating the said check from the keyhole during the action of the said check
on the levers or tumblers or slides, the principal bolt being withdrawn by the
continued motion of the cam or mechanism by which the secondary bolt
is moved.
Secondly, arranging the parts of locks and latches, substantially in the
manner herein before described and illustrated in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14
of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the addition to mechanism of
the kind described, with reference to Figures 1 to 10 both inclusive, of
mechanism for retaining the check, and preventing its removal from the lock
through the opening by which it was introduced.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JOSEPH BEVERLEY FENBY. (L.S.)