IM- PROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Dominic Coffey, of Newton Moor, near Hyde, in
the County of Chester, Roller Coverer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LOCKS."
Sealed the 1st December 1868, and dated the 8th June 1868..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dominic Coffey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th June 1868.
I, DOMINIC COFFEY, of Newton Moor, near Hyde, in the County of
Chester, Roller Coverer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that class of locks in which tumblers are
used, and consists in the first place in making the faces of the tumblers
against which the stump works of a peculiar shape, the effect of which
is that should pressure be applied against the bolt, so as to tend to force
it back, the stump (instead of merely bearing against the faces of the
tumblers, so as to retain them in the positions to which they may be
pushed, and thus assisting in the picking of the lock) holds them down

page_text: and fastens them in such a way that so long as the pressure is on the
bolt they cannot be moved; this might also be accomplished by a
separate stump.
My improvements consist in the second place in using a loose socket,
into which the key fits; this socket turns with the key, and has an
eccentric or cam formed upon it. The effect of this arrangement is
that should the loose socket be turned by any other instrument than
the proper key, and the bolt be pressed back at the same time, and the
tumblers thus locked by the stump, the cam or eccentric will prevent
the socket being turned round further than a certain position, and so
obstruct the application of any instruments to the tumblers. A spring
acts on this socket in such a way as to retain it in the position to which
it may be turned, and this spring may be arranged so as to lock the
socket in certain positions, so as to necessitate its being forced out of
its place before the socket can be turned by any but the proper key.
Another part of my Invention consists in introducing a series of
springs to act on the tumblers so arranged that should any of the
tumblers be raised too high when tampering with the lock it will be
caught by the spring and retained in that position, and will thus
prevent the stump from entering the gate, although all the others may
be in the proper position. When the proper key is used all the tumblers
are released by the stump coming in contact with the springs and
forcing them out, but should the bolt be moved by any other means it
allows a catch to fall into position, which prevents the stump from
acting on the springs, which are then free to catch any of the tumblers
which may be raised too high, and I prefer to use one silent tumbler,
which if moved at all will be caught up by its spring, and thus interfere
with the bolt being forced back. A separate stump may be used to act
on the springs.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand cight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Dominic Coffey, Her special licence that I,
the said Dominic Coffey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Dominic Coffey, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, excrcise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Dominic Coffey, 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 immediately after the date

page_text: My improvements consist in the second place in using a loose socket
into which the key fits in connection with the tumblers above described.
This socket turns with the key, and has an eccentric or cam formed
upon it. The effect of this arrangement is that should the loose socket
be turned by any other instrument than the proper key, and the bolt
be pressed back at the same time, and the tumblers thus locked by the
stump, the cam or eccentric will prevent the socket being turned round
further than a certain position, and so obstruct the application of any
instruments to the tumblers. A spring acts on this socket in such
a way as to retain it in the position to which it may be turned, and
this spring may be arranged so as to lock the socket in certain positions,
so as to necessitate its being forced out of its place before the socket
can be turned by any instrument but the proper key. Figs. 2, 3, and 4
are views of the socket and spring, Fig. 2 being a front view, Fig. 3 a
back view, and Fig. 4 a plan view with the key shewn in it and supposed
to be turned half way round. Before this socket can be turned round
the spring A must be pressed back clear of the recesses, as shewn
in Fig. 4.
Another part of my Invention consists in introducing a series of
springs to act on the tumblers so arranged that should any of the
tumblers be raised too high when tampering with the lock it will be
caught by the spring and retained in that position, and will thus prevent
the stump from entering the gate although all the others may be in
the proper positions. When the proper key is used all the tumblers
are released by the stump coming in contact with the springs and
forcing them out, but should the bolt be moved by any other means
it allows a catch to fall into position, which prevents the stump from
acting on the springs, which are then free to catch any of the tumblers
which may be raised too high; and I prefer to use one silent tumbler,
which if moved at all will be caught up by its spring and thus interfere
with the bolt being forced back. A separate stump may be used to act
on the springs. In Figs. 5 and 6 A is one of the springs. If the
tumbler B should be raised too high it is caught up into the position
shewn in Fig. 6. If the bolt should be pressed back by any other
means than the proper key, the catch C on the tumbler D (shewn for
the sake of distinction in dotted lines) falls into the position shewn in
Fig. 6. and thus prevents the stump E from releasing the spring A.
Fig. 7 shews the bolt, when the proper key is used it raises the tumbler D

page_text: (Figs. 5 and 6) and by pressing on the projection on the bolt at F it
brings the stump in contact with the springs and releases any of the
tumblers that have been previously caught up by the springs; the
lock may then be unlocked in the usual way. In making my lock I
prefer to use a spring the tendency of which is to press the bolt back,
such a spring is shewn at G. Fig. 8 is the silent tumbler, which if
moved even very little will be caught up by the spring A.
In witness whereof, I, the said Dominic Coffey, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
DOMINIC COFFEY. (L.S.)