IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Summerfield, of Aston near Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Lock Manufacturer, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCKS AND LATCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Summerfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st March 1882.
DAVID SUMMERFIELD, of Aston near Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Lock Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
"
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of locks and
latches in the manner hereinafter described, whereby the use of springs is
dispensed with and one weight is made to operate both the lock and latch
bolts.
The lock bolt and the latch bolt as well as the key hole and the spindle occupy
respectively their ordinary positions. But instead of employing on the spindle, a
follower" of the common kind for actuating the latch bolt, I employ what is
commonly called the "palace lock" action, that is a follower the two arms of
which are at right angles instead of being in the same line as in the common
follower.
Near the middle of the lock case I fix a pin or axis on which the weight which
operates the lock and latch bolts turns. The said weight has the general figure of
an arch, one limb of the arch being jointed to the pin or axis described. The other
limb of the arch when the weight is in its lowest position rests on the bottom of
the lock case. The spindle and the bush through which it passes are situated
under the arched weight but are free of the said arch.
The weight is made to operate the latch bolt and the lock bolt in the following
manner. The bushthrough which the spindle passes has two arms one of which is
nearly horizontal, the other nearly vertical. The horizontal arm engages under a
shoulder in the arch of the weight and the vertical arm engages against a cross
piece at the end of the latch bolt. The jointed limb of the arched weight has an
arm which is connected to the middle of the latch bolt. When the spindle is
CD 071

page_text: turned in one direction, the horizontal arm on the bush of the spindle lifts the
weight and the arm of the weight connected to the middle of the latch bolt draws
back the latch When the spindle is turned in the other direction the vertical arm
on the bush of the spindle draws back the bolt, the weight in this case being raised
by its connection with the middle of the latch bolt. Thus whichever way the
spindle is turned the latch bolt is drawn back and the weight raised the weight
restoring the latch to its shot position when the hand is removed from the
knob.
The
The weight is made to operate the lock bolt in the following manner. On the
outer edge of the weight, and near the pin on which it turns, is a short arm.
end of this arm bears against the underside of the heel of the tumbler of the lock
bolt. When by the motion of the key the tumbler is raised its heel is depressed
and depressing the said short arm raises the weight. The raised weight by its
tendency to fall restores the raised tumbler to its normal position when by the
motion of the key it is at liberty to take that position

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Summerfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th September 1882.
DAVID SUMMERFIELD of Aston near Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Lock Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES'
"
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of locks and
latches in the mauner hereinafter described, whereby the use of springs is
dispensed with and one weight is made to operate both the lock and la ch
bolts.
The lock bolt and the latch bolt as well as the key hole and the spindle occupy
respectively their ordinary positions. But instead of employing on the spindle
a "follower" of the common kind for actuating the latch bolt, I employ what
is commonly called the "palace lock" action; that is, a follower the two arms of
which are at right angles instead of being in the same line as in the common
follower.
Near the middle of the lock case, I fix a pin or axis on which the weight which
operates the lock and latch bolts turns. The said weight has the general figure of
an arch, one limb of the arch being jointed to the pin or axis described. The other
limb of the arch when the weight in its lowest position rests on the bottom of
the lock case. The sp
nd the follower through which it passes are situated
under the arched weight out are free of the said arch.
The weight is made to operate the latch bolt and the tumbler of the lock bolt in
the following manner. The follower through which the spindle passes has two arms
one of which is nearly horizontal the other nearly vertical. The horizontal arm
engages under a shoulder in the arch of the weight and the vertical arni engages
against a cross piece at the end of the latch bolt. The limb of the arched weight
near the joint has an arm which is connected to the middle of the latch bolt.
When the spindle is turned in one direction the horizontal arm on the follower
lifts the weight and the arm of the weight connected to the middle of the latch
.bolt draws back the latch. When the spindle is turned in the other direction the
vertical arm on the follower draws back the bolt, the weight in this case being
raised by its connection with the middle of the latch bolt. Thus, whichever way
the spindle is turned, the latch bolt is drawn back and the weight raised, the
weight restoring the latch to its shot position when the hand is removed from the
knob.
The weight is made to operate the tumbler of the lock bolt in the following
manner. On the outer edge of the weight and near the pin on which it turns is a
short arm. The end of this arm bears against the underside of the heel of the
tumbler of the lock bolt. When by the motion of the key the tumbler is raised its
heel is depressed and depressing the said short arm raises the weight. The raised
weight by its tendency to fall restores the raised tumbler to its normal position
when by the motion of the key it is at liberty to take that position.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in front elevation (the plate of the lock case being
removed) and Figure 3 in longitudinal section, a combined lock and latch, the
latch bolt of which is operated or shot by means of a weight according to my
invention. In Figures 1 and 3 the latch bolt is represented in its shot or normal
position and in Figure 2 in its withdrawn position.
Figure 4 represents the weight of the latch bolt detached and Figure 5 represents
the latch bolt separately.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 2 2 A

page_text: a is the latch bolt the inner end of which has a crosshead or cross piece a² for
one of the arms of the follower to act against.-The follower b has two arms c, d
at right angles to one another. This follower is of the kind called the "palace
lock" action. The latch spindle passes through the follower b as usual; e, e² is the
arched weight by which the latch bolt a is operated or shot. This weight e, e
turns on the pin or centre e³ on the lock case and the limb e² of the said weight is
jointed to the latch bolt a by a pin f on the arm f2 of the weight passing through
à hole g in the said bolt. The other limb e of the arched weight, when in its
norinal position, bears against the cross head a² of the latch bolt a and rests against
the bottom of the lock case. It will be seen by an examination of the drawings
that the arched part of the weight e, e encircles a portion of the follower b through
which the spindle passes, but the said follower is free of the said weight.
The vertical arm c of the follower bears against the cross head a² of the latch
bolt a and when the arched weight is in the position Figure 1 the horizontal
arm d of the follower bears against the shoulder e in the arch of the weight.
When the spindle of the latch bolt is turned to the left hand, as indicated by the
arrow in Figure 1, the vertical arm c of the follower acting on the cross head a² of
the latch bolt a withdraws the said bolt and the latter acting upon the arm f² of
the arched weight raises the said weight into the position represented in Figure 2;
and when the spindle is turned to the right hand, or in a direction contrary to
that indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, the arm d of the follower acting upon the
shoulder of the weight e, e² lifts the said weight and the latter withdraws the
latch bolt a into the position shown in Figure 2, the descent of the weight, when
the knob of the spindle is loosed, returning the latch bolt a into its shot position
Figures 1 and 3.
65
Figure 6 represents a modification of my invention in which the arched weight
is unconnected with the latch bolt. In this modification the joint e3 of the arched
weight is situated at the upper part of the said weight and I use in addition to the
palace lock" follower b, c, d, a cranked lever h, i, turning on the centre kthe
vertical arm of the lever being jointed to the latch bolt a at a³ and the horizontal
arm being situated between the horizontal arm d of the follower and the limb e²
of the weight.
When the spindle is turned to the left hand the latch bolt a is withdrawn and
the weight raised as before described, but when the spindle is turned to the right
hand, the arm d of the follower operates upon the arin i of the cranked lever h., i
and withdraws the latch bolt. The lifting of the arm i also raising the weight.
The descent of the weight shoots the latch bolt as before described.
Figures 7 and 8 represent a combined lock and latch in which the arched weight
is made to operate the latch bolt and the tumbler of the lock bolt. In Figure 7
the lock and latch bolts are represented in their shot positions and in Figure 8 in
their withdrawn positions, the said Fignre 8 also exhibiting the action of the lock
tumbler upon the arched weight; Figure 9 represents the arched weight separately
aud Figure 10 the tumbler separately.
The latch bolt a, follower b, c, d and arched weight are constructed and combined
in the manner described with respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3, but the arched weight
is provided near its joint e with a shoulder or short arm e5 for operating the
tumbler of the lock bolt m. The said tumbler is provided with a heel n for
operating upon and raising the weight e, e. When the tumbler is lifted by the
key as represented in Figure 8 for disengaging its stump from the gating in
the lock bolt m as is well understood, for shooting or withdrawing the lock bolt,
the heel n of the tumbler is depressed and acting upon the short arm 5 of the
weight raises the latter into the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8.
The raised weight in its tendency to fall restores the raised tumbler Z to its normal
position, when by the motion of the key it is at liberty to take that position, and
the stump is thereby made to engage with the gating of the lock bolt for fixing
.the said bolt in its shot or withdrawn position.
The action of the tumbler on the arched weight lifts it only to a very limited·

page_text: extent, hence the latch bolt is only withdrawn to such a degree as not to affect its
security in its staple.
Figure 11 represents a latch in which the latch bolt is situated at the top of the
case and the descent of the horizontal arm of the follower is made to raise the
weight; a is the latch bolt and e is the weight centred at e³; its upper end is con-
nected by the pin or stud e with the latch bolt a; c is the vertical arm of the
follower working in a slot a² in the end of the latch bolt a and d is the horizontal
arm of the follower acting upon the shoulder et on the weight e.
When the spindle, passed through the follower b, turned to the right as
indicated by the arrow, the latch bolt a is withdrawn by the action of the follower
arm c on the rear end of the slot a² the said latch bolt in its motion raising the
weight e the descent of the said weight when the knob is loosed, restoring the
latch bolt to its shot position. When the spindle is turned to the left, the follower
arm d acting upon the shoulder et raises the weight. The weight as it rises with-
draws the latch bolt a which is restored to its shot position by the descent of the
said weight.
Instead of the arm c of the follower engaging in the slot a³ in the latch bolt as
described and represented, the engaging of the said part may be effected by the
cross head arrangement represented in Figure 3.
Figures 12 and 13 represent the arrangement shown in Figure 11 modified
and adapted to a Cottage Lock.
a is the bolt; e is the weight turning on the centre e³ and connected with the
bolt a; e is the vertical arm of the follower b, and d is the horizontal arm of the
follower situated outside the lock and having a knob upon its end. When the
arm & is depressed the bolt a is withdrawn by the arm cand the weight e is raised,
the descent of the weight restoring the bolt a to its shot position as represented.
The bolt a is locked by shooting the lock bolt q by a key in the ordinary way as
represented in Figure 13.
Figure 14 represents a front elevation and Figure 15 a cross section of a Cottage
Lock to which a thumb latch or lever of the kind called a Norfolk latch is adapted
to lift the weight on the latch bolt; a is the latch bolt and b the lock bolt; e is
the weight having the form represented and centered at e² to the lock case and con-
nected at e³ to the side of the latch bolt a. Passing under and crossing the
weight e is a thumb latch or lever f turning on the centre f. This thumb latch
or lever may be operated either outside the door by depressing the thumb plate ƒ³
or inside the room or apartment by raising it by means of the protruding
enlarged part f⭑.
When the thumb latch or lever f is raised, it lifts the weight e and the latter
withdraws the latch bolt a. On loosing the thumb latch f, the weight e falls and
restores the latch bolt a to its shot position.
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 claim as my invention of
"Improvements in locks and latches."
First The construction of the arched weight marked e, e², es, e¹ in Figures 1,
2. 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings, jointed to the lock or latch case and to
the latch bolt and having the position described and represented, in combination
with the follower b, c, d for restoring the latch bolt to its shot or normal position
when the hand is removed from the knob substantially as described and
illustrated.
Secondly-The modification herein before described and illustrated in Figure 6
in which the arched weight is unconnected with the latch bolt.
Thirdly The modification herein before described and illustrated in Figure 11
in which the descent of the horizontal arm of the follower is made to raise the
weight.
Fourthly The construction and combination of parts herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings in which the
arched weight is made to actuate both the latch bolt and the tumbler of the lock

page_text: bolt;
that is to say constructing the arched weight with a short arm near its joint
upon which the heel of the tumbler acts and raises the weight, when the said tumbler
is lifted by the key to shoot or withdraw the lock bolt substantially as described
and illustrated.
.
Lastly. The combinations or arrangements of parts hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the accompanying Drawings for
operating or shooting and withdrawing the bolts of cottage locks.
In witness whereof I the said David Summerfield have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourth-day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
37 Temple Street
Birmingham.
DAVID SUMMERFIELD. (L.S.)