Improvements in Locks and Fastenings.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Fastenings.
We, JOHN GILMORE, of the Vicarage, West Norwood, in the County of Surrey,
Clerk in Holy Orders, and WILLIAM RICHARD CLARK of 30 Muschamp Road, East
Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to locks, latches, or fastenings, and consists of a combined
automatic latch or lock, or a lock or latch independently of each other, which by a
particular construction and arrangement of mechanism consists of very few parts and
is of simple and cheap construction, springs being entirely dispensed with.
The essential mechanism is as follows:-
The locking bolt or latch is formed in two parts, jointed with a pivoting joint in
the centre. One end forms a latch or bolt protruding from the case to engage in a
catch plate fixed in the jamb of a door or other aperture which it is desired to close.
The other end of the jointed latch or bolt is fitted to a square spindle, or rotates freely
upon a fixed pivot. When a square spindle is used, handles may be applied thereto,
one on each side of the door, to operate the mechanism as an ordinary latch, the bolt
or latch naturally protruding from the case when the jointed latch-bars has fallen into
a position in which the two parts are nearly extended into a straight line. The
weight of the jointed latch will ensure the said elbow joint being normally extended,
and thus the latch protruding from the case. The projecting extremity of the latch
may be bevelled in this case, so as to cause the latch to act automatically, and engage
into the catch plate in the opposite jamb, when the door or other object carrying the
latch is closed. By the turning of either of the said handles on the square spindle,
the said elbow joint in the bolt is caused to rise, and the latch is thus withdrawn, by
an upward and oblique movement, within the case.
A projection on the latch checks the latch from passing out so far that the joint
might fall below the horizontal position.
In order to secure and lock the latch in its protruded position, above the joint is
situated a sliding stop, so that when the latch is out to its full extent the said sliding
stop may be moved by an externally projecting thumb piece, or by a key, to a position
directly over the hinged joint, thus preventing the joint from being raised and the
latch being withdrawn. To move the sliding stop the key need only operate upon
two shoulders, one on either side of the stop, and thus the key, requiring no central
pivot, but supported in the shoulder of the key hole, may be of very simple
construction. Wards may be provided on the lower ledge of the said stop, so as to
prevent the operation of any but the properly constructed key.
The said combined locking latch may be also used as a lock, in which case the end
of the protruding bolt need not be bevelled, and will remain normally withdrawn
within the case, by either allowing the central pivotted joint to fall of its own weight
below the horizontal line when in normal position, and be protruded outwardly only
when the sliding stop is forced, by a key, under the joint. Or, with the said joint
normally tending to fall downwards to the horizontal position the jointed lever may
be counterbalanced to resist that tendency, and the motion of the key may be
employed to force it down by the movement of a sliding stop against the reaction of
the said counterbalance weight.
In the case of a lock or fastening to a drawer or falling door, where the bolt is to
move perpendicularly, the bolt of the lock or fastening may be operated upon by a
weight, mounted upon a lever, which will serve to force the tongue of the lock or
fastening outwards or upwards, and the arm to which it is jointed, into a perpendicular
position. The withdrawal of the bolt into the case, is caused by the operation of a

page_text: key or bolt which throws the jointed latch or bolt out of the perpendicular. The bolt
may be secured in its protruded position by a sliding thumb piece or operated by a
key as before described.
Dated this 18th day of January 1889.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victorin Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Fastenings.
We, JOHN GILMORE, of the Vicarage, West Norwood, in the County of Surrey
Clerk in Holy Orders, and WILLIAM RICHARD CLARK of 30 Muschap Road, East
Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, Mechanician.
This invention relates to locks, latches, or fastenings, and consists of a combined
automatic latch-or-lock, or a lock independently of each other, which by a particular
construction and arrangement of mechanisin consists of very few parts, and is of
simple and cheap construction, springs being entirely dispensed with.
The essential mechanism is as follows:-
The locking bolt or latch is formed in two parts, jointed with a pivoting joint in
the centre. One end forms a latch or bolt protruding from the case to engage in a
catch-plate fixed in the jamb of a door, or other aperture, which it is desired to close.
The other end of the jointed latch or bolt is fitted to a square spindle, or rotates freely
upon a fixed pivot. When a square spindle is used, handles may be applied thereto,
one on each side of the door to operate the mechanism as an ordinary latch, the bolt
or latch naturally protruding from the case, when the jointed latch bar has fallen into
a position in which-the two parts are nearly extended in a straight line. The weight
of the jointed latch will ensure the said elbow joint being normally extended and thus.
the latch protrudes from the case. The projecting extremity of the latch may be
bevelled in this case so as to cause the latch to act automatically, and engage into the
Catch-Plate in the opposite jamb, when the door or other object carrying the latch is
closed. By the turning of either of the said handles on the square spindle, the said
elbow joint in the bolt is caused to rise, and the latch is thus withdrawn, by an
upward and oblique movement within the case.
A projection on the latch checks the latch from passing out so far that the joint
might fall below the horizontal position.
In order to secure and lock the latch in its protruded position, above the joint is
situated a sliding stop, so that when the latch is out to its full extent the said sliding
stop may be moved by an externally projecting thumb piece, or by a key, to a position
directly over the hinged joint, thus preventing the joint from being raised, and the
latch being withdrawn. To move the sliding stop the key need only operate upon
two shoulders one on either side of the stop, and thus the key, requiring no central
pivot, but supported in the shoulder of the key-hole, may be of very simple
construction. Wards may be provided on the lower edge of the said stop so as to
prevent the operation of any but the properly constructed key.
The said combined locking latch may be also used as a lock, in which case the end
of the protruding bolt need not be bevelled, and will remain normally withdrawn
within the case, by either allowing the central pivotted joint to fall of its own weight,
below the horizontal line, when in normal position, and be protruded outwardly only
when the sliding stop is forced, by a key, under the joint. Or with the said joint
normally tending to fall downwards to the horizontal position the jointed lever may be
counterbalanced to resist that tendency, and the motion of the key may be employed
to force it down by the movement of a sliding stop against the reaction of the said
counterbalance weight.
In the case of a lock or fastening to a drawer or falling door, where the bolt is to
move perpendicularly, the bolt of the lock or fastening may be operated upon by a
weight mounted upon a lever which will serve to force the tongue of the lock or

page_text: fastening outwards or upwards and the arm to which it is jointed into a perpendicular
position. The withdrawal of the bolt into the case is caused by the operation of a key
or bolt which throws the jointed latch or bolt out of the perpendicular. The bolt may
be secured in its protruded position by a sliding thumb piece or operated by a key as
before described.
Or in the case of a lock with a long throw bolt we arrange the jointed bolt bar so
that the pivotted lever of such boli bar can revolve for about half a revolution whereby
the range of movement of the engaging end of the bolt is very much longer and the
difficulty of successfully tampering with such a lock is considerably increased.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had
to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts throughout
the drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our invention applied as an automatic latch, showing
the position of the parts when the bolt is drawn back in the unlocked and unlatched
position.
Figure 2, is the above, shown in the latched and locked position.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of figure 2 on the line x y z.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the latch in the reverse or inverted position to that
shown in Figure 1 when used as a lock.
Figure 5 is figure 4 in the locked position.
Figure 6 is a sectional plan of Figure
on the line x y z.
Figure 7 shews the latch (in an unlocked position) where used in an horizontal
position, the automatic movement of the parts being augmented by a weight.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the same in a lockod position.
Figure 9 is a sectional plan of figure 8 on the line
y.
Figure 10 is a plan of figure 7 showing stop G in position.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the lock in a locked position when used on drawers
and such like.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of same on the line icy z.
Figure 13 is figure 11 in an unlocked position.
Figure 14 is a plan of F in Figure 1.
Figure 15 is a plan of F in figure 5.
Figure 16 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation of our invention applied as a long-throw
bolt-lock with the bolt in the unlocked position.
Figure 17 is a view of the same in the locked position, and
Figure 18 is a sectional plan of Figure 17 on the line a y.
The bolt bar is composed of two parts, the holt or latch A and the actuating
lever B, these being pivoted together at C. The other end of the lever B is pivoted
at B on the frame D, and through the end B¹ we arrange a square or other shaped
spindle E, so that upon turning the spindle E the lever B will be operated, thereby
moving the bolt A in and out of the latch case or frame D. The bolt A is prevented
from protruding too far by a projection a which comes in contact with the side of the
case when the bolt has protruded far enough.
It will he readily understood that where the parts are situated as shown in figures 1
2, & 3 the jointed parts A and B will always fall by reason of gravity into the latched
position.
Above the joint C a stop F is arranged which slides within a slot in the frame 'D,
so that when the bolt har A B is in its extended position, as shown in figure 2 and
the stop F is over the said joint C, the upward movement of such joint is prevented,
and likewise the door from being unlatched. When the stop F is in the position as
shown in figure 1, the jointed bolt bar is perfectly free to move in the upward
direction, and the door can accordingly be unlatched.
The stop F as shown in figures 12 & 14 may be moved by a thumb piece projecting
from the stop through the slot in the frame to the outside.
In the case of a latch (figures 45 & 6) where the mechanism is arranged in the
reverse position to that shown in figures 1, 2, & 3 it is obvious that the weight of the

page_text: jointed parts B will tend to draw the latch within the frame instead (as in the case
of figures 1, 2 & 3) of keeping it in the extended or latched position. In this case
the stop may be arranged to shoot the bolt by its movement directly under the
joint C, whereby the said joint is lifted and the parts A, B, straightened, the_bolt
being prevented from protruding too far by the aforesaid stop a. The parts A, B, of
course fall by gravity into the unlocked position immediately the stop F is withdrawn
from under the joint.
In the case of the latch as shown in figures 7, 8, 9 & 10 the automatic_action of
moving parts may be augmented by arranging a weight O upon the lever B. Upon
the stop F we arrange extending lugs G, by which the stop can be operated upon by
a key turning within the key-hole II, so as to move the stop from one position to the
other.
Or in the case of this latch being used in a vertical position with the latch pro-
jecting in an upward direction, we arrange a weight upon the lever B so as to keep
the jointed levers in their extended position. Whore this latch is used--in a reverse
position that is with the latch projecting downwards the gravity of the jointed levers
would keep them in their extended form.
When our invention is applied to a small lock for use on drawers, and such like
purposes, we arrange the mechanism as shown in figures 11, 12 and 13. The lever B
which is pivotted to the bolt is so arranged that when operated in one direction by a
key, it rotates through about half a revolution, thereby moving the bolt A into the
locked position, and whon operated in a opposite direction draws the bolt into the
case. The lever B is prevented from further movement than this, by a projection on
or a part of the lever B coming in contact with the bolt A, at each end of such
motion, that is, in the extreme locked and unlocked positions. When in the locked
position the joint Ctravels a short distance-past-the-centre line, whereby any pressure
in an inward direction on the bolt from the outside tends rather to prevent the bolt
from being shot back than otherwise.
Or in the case of the long throw bolt-lock as shown in figures 16, 17 and 18, the
bolt A and lever B are jointed together by a stud I upon the pivoted lever B,
engaging with a slot K at the end of the bolt A. Upon the pivoted lever Bis
arranged a second stud M, which engages, when in the locked position (figures 17
and 18) with an open ended slot N adjacent to the slot K on the end of the bolt A.
This slot N has a slight recess n upon its side, nearest to the locking end of the bolt,
into which the stnd M slides; whereby the bolt is effectually prevented from being
forced back into the frame, from the outside, by the stud I being in contact with the
bottom of the slot K, and the second stud M engaging in the recess n of the slot N,
whereby the bolt A and lever B are kept in a straight line.
When the lever B is operated by a key from the keyhole H, the small stud M
retreats from its recess n and slot N, the stud I travelling along the slot K, until the
second stud M is clear of its slot; when the stud I coming into contact with the top
of the slot K, it draws the bolt in an upward and backward direction within the
frame, until it has assumed a position as shown in figure 16.
Wards or projections can be arranged upon the frame of the lock in order to
prevent any but a properly formed key from operating the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is -
1st. The construction of a lock or latch by an elbow point forming the bolt or
latch A and the mechanism or lever B for actuating the said bolt or latch, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
2nd. In an automatic latch the bolt A having a bevelled end and the lever B
forming an elbow joint, the automatic action of the said latch being effected by the
straightening of the said elbow joint by the weight of its parts due to gravity,
substantially as described.
3rd. In a lock, the bolt A and the lever B forming an elbow joint, actuated and

page_text: locked by the sliding lock or stop F, the bolt A being drawn into the lock by
gravity due to the weight of the parts A and B of the joint C, substantially as
described.
4th. In a lock or latch the bolt A and the lever B forming an elbow joint and kept
in the locked or latched position by the movable stop F being placed under or over
the joint respectively, when the said joint is in its straightened position, substantially
as described.
5th. In a lock, the bolt A and the lever B, forming an elbow joint in which the
lever B can travel through nearly half a revolution, and provided with two studs I M,
which engage with two slots K N on the bolt A respectively, in order to prevent the
bolt being moved externally when in the locked position, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of October 1889
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.