IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND
LATCHES."-A communication.
Sealed the 11th November 1858, and dated the 6th July 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th July 1853.
J, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES" to be as
follows:-
This Invention applies more particularly to locks and latches for
doors, but may also be adapted to drawer, box, and other locks, and
also to padlocks.
The facility with which common locks may be opened surrepti-
tiously renders them very unsafe, and, in fact, useless for all purposes of
protection; on the other hand, the great cost of even moderately safe
locks has hitherto prevented them from being used very generally.
The object of the present Invention is to produce a moderately safe

page_text: lock that it would be difficult to pick or open with false keys, but
which, owing to its extreme simplicity, may be made at so reasonable a
cost as to supersede the necessity of using the common sort of locks or
fastenings of the ordinary construction, and which can be opened with
the greatest care without the proper key. In the improved locks
or fastening the bolt is held by another bolt or stud, and cannot
be shot either way until such additional bolt or stud is removed
or turned back out of the way. This may be done either by means
of a separate instrument or by the proper key which is employed
to shoot back the principal bolt. The lever or arm whereby the
bolt is to be moved rests on a spring, which must be pressed down
by the key before the latter can act upon the different parts of the
lock to actuate the same. The object may be also effected by means
of a detached drop catch, stud, or lever, which can only be acted
upon from one side, as, for instance, from the inside of a room, so
as to render it necessary to lift up this drop catch before even the
right key can turn or shoot the bolt. In some cases I employ two
principal bolts, one of which must be shot back before the other can
be moved; these two bolts may be actuated either by the same or
different keys or instruments, and the parts may also, if required, be so
combined as to be moved by the same instrument, and without remov-
ing the latter from the lock and re-introducing it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal
Patent Office, on the 6th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant, unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Edward Newton, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES,"
being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the sanie to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imine-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, 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, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
This Invention of "Improvements in Locks and Latches" applies
more particularly to locks and latches for doors, but may also be adapted
to drawer, box, and other locks, and also to padlocks.
pro-
The facility with which common locks may be opened surreptitiously
renders them very unsafe, and, in fact, useless for all
purposes of
tection; on the other hand, the great cost of even moderately safe
locks has hitherto prevented them from being used very generally.
The object of the present Invention is to produce a moderately
safe lock that it would be difficult to pick or open with false keys, but
which, owing to its extreme simplicity, may be made at so reasonable
a cost as to supersede the necessity of using the commoner sort of
locks or fastenings of the ordinary construction, and which can be
opened with the greatest ease without the proper key. In the im-

page_text: proved locks or fastenings the bolt is held by another bolt or stu<l,
and cannot be shot either way until such additional bolt or. stud is
removed or turned back out of the way. This may be done either
by means of a separate instrument or by the proper key which is
employed to shoot back the principal bolt. The lever or arni
whereby the bolt is to be moved rests on a spring, which must be
pressed down by the key before the latter can act upon the different
parts of the lock to actuate the same. The object may be also effected
by means of a detached drop catch, stud, or lever, which can only be
acted upon from one side, as, for instance, from the inside of a room,
so as to render it necessary to lift up the drop catch before even the
right key can turn or shoot the bolt. In some cases I employ two
principal bolts, one of which must be shot back before the other can
be moved; these two bolts may be actuated either by the same or
different keys or instruments, and the parts may also, if required, be
so combined as to be moved by the same instrument, and without
removing the latter from the lock and re-introducing it.
Fig. 1, is a plan view, and Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the
simplest form of lock or spring latch which it is intended to apply to a
door.
a, a, is the box of the lock; b, the bolt or catch, which is
attached by a screw or stud c, to the bolt frame d, in such a manner
that it may be detached and turned round, if required, so that the lock
or latch may be used either for a door to open either right or left-
handed. This will be found a great convenience.
The bolt frame d, and bolt b, are drawn back by means of the cam
or lever piece c, which is attached to the spindle f, of the handle of
the door. The bolt is kept shot forward by means of the back spring
g, as in other locks. Two projecting blocks h, h, serve as guides for
the bolt frame d, and also to receive screws whereby the side plate or
cover, not shewn in the Drawing, is attached to the box. This lock is
intended more particularly for chambers, and the bolt may be locked so
as to prevent it from being shot or moved either way by simply turning
the small lever i, which will cause the pin j, to enter a notch made
in the top of the bolt frame, as shewn in Fig. 1.
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, are different views of a modification of the

page_text: above, with the addition of an arrangement for locking the bolt from
the outside, an operation that could not be performed with the lock
shewn at Fig. 1.
In order to prevent repetition I have marked similar letters of
reference on corresponding parts, and will therefore only describe the
additional parts. k, is a bolt or stop, which is mounted on a spindle 7,
in the tube or cannon m, Fig. 4, which receives the key, Fig. 6. The
key is provided at each side with two grooves o, o, which are made for
the purpose of passing the projecting studs n, n, placed inside the
cannon or tube m.
The key is also provided with a central hole, into
which the spindle 7, cuters when the key is inserted in the lock. At
the bottom of the tube m, is a moveable cross piece p, which is kept up
by means of the coiled spring 9. When the key is inserted the cross
piece 2, is pushed back into a groove cut in the stop k, as shown in
Fig. 5, and then the stop k, can be turned on its centre, and the bolt
moved back by the lever piece e.
Fig. 7, is a plan view, and Fig. 8, a sectional view of a three bolt
drawer lock. In this lock a tumbling lever is employed for shooting
back the bolts; 1, 1, is the tumbling lever, shown by dots in Fig. 7;
it is mounted on the central spindle Z, which is attached to the flat
spring 7.
A groove, shewn by dots in Fig. 7, is made on the under
side of the tumbling lever 7, and receives the cross piece s, at the
bottom of the spindle. One end of the tumbling lever acts against a
block t, attached to the catch , and the other end acts against the
lower edge d', of the bolt frame d, d, which is provided with two
notches d², d, for the purpose of receiving the end of the catch *. It
will now be seen that when the key, Fig. 9, is inserted, the spindle 7,
and with the cross piece s, and spring q, will be pushed back so as to
leave the tumbling lever free to turn on its centre in the direction of
the arrow; and when this is done the block t, and catch t, will be forced
back from the notches 3, of the bolt frame, which can then be pushed
back by the other tail of the tumbling lever.
Fig. 10, is a plan view, Fig. 11, a vertical section, and Fig. 12, a
horizontal section of a lock constructed according to the present
improvements, and adapted for a pair of folding doors, with handles to

page_text: The bolt or catch is
work the spring bolt or catch, and capable also of being locked from
the opposite side. This construction combines the spring catch of
Figures 1, and 3, and the fixed bolt of Fig. 7.
actuated by a tumbling lever 1, r, as in Fig. 7.
to and is actuated by the handle or knob u, on
turned by means of a key on the other.
This lever is attached
one side, but may be
Fig. 13, represents an arrangement of lock in which only half a
turn is required to shoot the bolt. a, is the box; e, the lever which
drives the bolt b, the plate c, of which has a notch d², for the reception
of the safety catch t. 1, is an additional bolt, which requires one and
a half turn to shoot it. A slot is made in the tumbling lever 1, for
the reception of the cross piece s, which prevents the key from turning,
as before explained; the cross piece is fixed upon the spring. t*, is
a catch or tumbler which serves to prevent the opening of the lock
and render the bolt immoveable until the catch is removed from the
notch d. This catch *, will be forced back when the lever e*, is
turned, the rotation of which will disengage the catch from the bolt,
and allow it again to fall into the other notch when the lock has been
opened.
Fig. 14, represents a cupboard lock, which arrangement may be s
applied for the construction of all kinds of locks, and more especially
mortice locks.
In the middle of the box a, is fixed a flat spring q, upon which is
rivetted a cross piece which prevents the rotation of the lever e, and
supports it when the key has disengaged the cross piece. When it is
desired to simplify this lock, and at the same time render it less liable
to be picked, instead of the flat spring, and cross piece, a spindle is
fixed in the middle of the box which merely serves to support the lever
e, in its rotation.
Fig. 15, represents another modification of a lock, drawn to the real
size. This lock is intended to be opened or closed by turning the key
one revolution and a half. a, is the box of the lock; d, the tail of the
bolt, which is of an entirely novel construction, and allows all the parts
to touch the box, and also allows of the tumbling lever r, and the tail
of the bolt being made thicker. On the rotation of the tumbler 1º, §

page_text: the projecting piece 1, below acts on the catch lever t, and by depressing
it relieves the bolt.
On again turning the knob or key a turn and a half from right to
left the catch lever t, being again acted on will again be caused to
fall into the notch 2*, and hold the bolt.
Fig. 16, represents a key suitable for opening locks of the construc-
tion above described. It is provided with cylindrical grooves for the
passage of the studs n, inside the tube or cannon m, of the above-
mentioned Figures. 0, 0, are two slots on each side of the large grooves;
these latter allow the key to pass the studs n, n, and drive back the
projecting pins of the cross piece, and thereby cause the cross piece
to descend to the desired degree; there is a spring 9, which serves, as
in the other Figures, to drive the cross piece away from the bolt or
turn plate.
In Figures 17, 8, represents the head of the bolt connected with
the tail d, which is of a novel construction; a, is the box; v, and w,
are the arms of the turnplate, which are set at an angle, and act upon
the two end pieces of the tail d. The spindle 7, which runs through
these two arms is provided with two clamps or hooks. On turning
from left to right the arm v, will be caused to move from left to right,
and the arm w, will be driven round in the same direction by the tail d,
of the bolt. The arrangement of these two arms allows the "bitts" to
be made as narrow as possible.
Figures 18, represent various views of a round padlock; a, is the
box, in the edge of which there is a part cut away in order to allow of
the insertion of the cover. 1, is a cylindrical boss, having a groove
cut in it for the insertion of the crosshead 3; it has also a cylindrical
recess to allow of the bolt 4, turning. 2, is a spring, acting against
the bolt 4. The crosshead 3, has two studs or pins, and a central
spindle, as in the other locks, and is imbedded half in the groove 1,
and half in the groove of the bolt 4; this latter has a hook 8, which
enters the hasp which passes through the opening 7; this bolt has also
a groove of a depth equal to the thickness of the crosshead 3, into
which this latter is pressed down by the pressure of the key 12; 6, is
a slot for the reception of a spring, having a small round hole to receive

page_text: one end of the crosshead 3; 6, is a spring which acts upon the cross-
head. This spring will not prevent a false key from depressing the cross-
head too much or too little, and in either case the opening of the lock
would be prevented; if depressed too much it would, indeed, clear the
groove 1, but would meet with an obstacle in the small stud 10. 7, is
an opening for the reception of the screw ring by which the padlock
is attached to the portmanteau. Instead of passing the handle through
it, as in ordinary padlocks, the screw ring enters the padlock. This
arrangement prevents the shaking of the padlock. 13, is a cylindrical
groove in the key, as in the former instances, and allows of the rota-
tion of the key when it has passed the studs in the barrel of the
padlock. 16, is a hooked pin for preventing the opening of a door.
It is introduced into the opening 7, of the padlock, and the hook 8,
will prevent the pin from being drawn back. 17, is a hook which
allows the pin 16, to pass freely. When this hook is raised the
look 19, is introduced into the hole in the lock by turning it in
either direction; this being done, the hook 18, is lowered into the hole;
the opening in the padlock is then placed opposite the screw ring,
and the padlock closed.
Fig. 19, represents another arrangement. d, is the tail of the bolt;
b, the bolt screwed or rivetted on to it as before; k, is a lever, which is
rounded at its extremities, and has a cylindrical projection underneath
for attaching the handle inside the apartment. This lever k, is pro-
vided with a spring underneath, and also a spindle 7. It has also
a recess for the reception of a small cross, which has a spring under-
neath which presses it upwards when the key is withdrawn.
The lever, is prevented from descending too low by means of a
projection behind, which also acts upon the catch piece t*, when the
lock is required to be opened. Notches are made in the tail picco d,
in which the catch lever t, engages when the lock is closed.
The lower end of the key is provided with a projection 6, which
takes into a groove in the cannon or tube. When the key has passed
down the cannon the required distance the hook will find a point of
resistance in the groove in the lever piece ; on turning the key from
left to right the lock will be opened. If the person inside the apart-

page_text: ment wishes to prevent the lock from being opened from the outside
with the key he must turn the lever piece ; one quarter round; the
bolt will then be shot, but the cross piece being no longer opposite the
opening, the key cannot enter.
In the half turn arrangement represented in Fig. 20, after opening
the fixed bolt the key may be turned in either direction in order to
open the lock. This effect is obtained by means of the two lever
pieces e, and e, situate one above the other. The tail, of the bolt
6, is slightly separated from the box of the lock to allow of the move-
ment of the lever piece e. k, is a lever piece for locking the two bolts
b, and 6. j, is a button, shewn by lots in the Figure, and is inside
the apartment for withdrawing the fixed bolt b. The peculiar construc-
tion of the tumbling lever piece e, allows of the key or handle opening
both bolts at once. When the lever, presses upon the arme, its
other end presses against the raised edge on the under side of the tail;
by this means the bolts are shot back. The opening of this lever piece c,
is circular, in order that it may act without imparting motion to the
lever f. As this latter is also capable of acting in any direction by
reason of the square spindle g, passing through it, it does not impart
any movement to the lever e, underneath it, but acts against the tail
, of the bolt *.
Having now described the various improvements in locks which
has been communicated to me as aforesaid, and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I claim, in
conclusion, the arrangement and construction of parts herein shewn
and described, or any mere modification thereof. I claim particularly
attaching the bolt or catch b, to its tail picce or bolt frame d, by screws
or otherwise, so that it may be taken off or removed, and put on again
in a reversed or inverted position, so that a lock when constructed
according to the improved plan herein shewn may be adapted to either
a right or left handed door. I also claim the method or methods
herein shewn and described of actuating the bolt or bolt frame, and
also the use of the cross piece and spring for preventing the bolt from
being shot, except when the said cross piece is depressed exactly to the
proper position. I further claim the arrangement and construction of

page_text: parts herein shewn and described for locking the bolt, at pleasure.
Lastly, I claim the construction and arrangement of padlocks herein
shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Sixth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four.
Witness,
F. CHAMPION.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)