IMPROVEMENTS IN PADLOCKS
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Brookes at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1876. Communicated
from abroad by Gustave Vandepoel, of Schaerbeek, near Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Gentleman.
WILLIAM BROOKES, of 62, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
and Registration Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PADLOCKS." Communicated from
abroad by Gustave Vandepoel, of Schaerbeek, near Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Gentleman.
This Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the con-
struction and arrangement of parts of padlocks. Upon two studs or stumps
affixed to one of the plates of the padlock case is mounted, so as to be capable of
horizontal motion thereon, a plate herein-after called the locking plate. The said
locking plate extends from near the bottom of the padlock to near the top of it, and
is of such width as to allow of its having the required horizontal motion within the
case. This horizontal motion in either direction is given by the key of the padlock,
which works in a suitably formed slot in the said locking plate, and the said slot is
so formed that the key can only make about three quarters of a revolution, its
motion being arrested by a stop on the locking plate. Thus after unlocking the
padlock the key must be turned backward, so as to lock the padlock before it can
be taken out of the key hole. Upon the said locking plate is mounted a lever one
end of which turns upon a pin or centre affixed to the locking plate, and its other
end forms a snap bolt in position to enter the eye of the link of the padlock, when
the link is shut down, and when the locking plate is in its advanced or locking
position. The said lever bolt is pressed forward into its locking position by a
suitable spiral or other spring, the advance motion of the bolt lever being limited
by a suitable stud or stop, projecting ribs or plates are affixed upon the locking
plate near the bolt lever pin or centre and the bolt spring so as to protect these
parts.
Above the keyhole is a series of several tumblers pressed into position by a bent
copper spring formed of a copper plate or band, the lower or acting end of which
spring is divided like a comb, so as to form a series of longitudinal teeth, each of
which teeth presses upon one of the tumblers and acts as a spring to it. The said
tumblers are formed with three instead of four notches or gatings, the usual lower
notch on the side furthest from the bolt being unnecessary, and the upper notch on

page_text: the same side being rounded, so as to facilitate its passage over the stump when the
padlock is being unlocked. The tumblers are jointed to the plate of the padlock
case.
To open the said padlock the key having been inserted into the keyhole is
turned round and raises the tumblers, and then draws back the locking plate and
bolt, when the padlock link is released and may be opened. The key is then
turned back in a contrary direction, and the locking plate and bolt are shot back and
lock the padlock. If then it be required to close the padlock, the link is shut
down into its place and forces back the bolt, which immediately snaps into its
locked position and closes the padlock.
Instead of the lever bolt herein-before described, a horizontal snap bolt may be.
mounted in slides upon the locking plate with similar effect to that herein-before
described.