IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firin of A M and
W Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents,
from abroad
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
"
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th April 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A M and W Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS"
[A communication from abroad by Achille Parise of Paris, France and Clovis
Flandin, of Naples, Italy.]
This invention relates to improvements in locks for boxes and travelling trunks,
safes, drawers, padlocks, and other purposes.
The invention affords the most perfect security as well as great simplicity and
economy in the manufacture of the lock.
I have illustrated the improvements as applied to several examples of locks in
the annexed drawings by which all the advantages of this improved lock and the
great simplicity of its action will be readily understood
Figure 1 shows an exterior view of a trunk lock.
Figure 2 represents a rear view with the case enclosing the mechanism removed
to show the latter.
Figure 3 represents the key.
Figure 4 shows a slight modification. In these figures, like letters refer to
like parts.
The principal characteristic point of the invention is the arrangement of the
tumblers under the control of the key.
In the case of a trunk lock the bolt is replaced by a sliding staple a attached to
two riveted pins 6 sliding in slots c in the plate h This staple a has a central
stump & which projects into the interior of the lock through a slot in plate /
(shown in dotted lines in the figures 1 and 2) in which it slides

page_text: The basp is pivoted to a plate e, rivetted or fixed in any other convenient way
to the cover of the trunk or box and a spring f is arranged under the hasp in
order to raise it the moment that the lock is opened.
The lower end of the hasp is curved backwards in such a way as to form two
lugs which enter corresponding holes g in the plate h. When the hasp and staple
are in the position shown in figure 1 the staple covers the lower end of the hasp
and keeps these lugs engaged in the holes g from which the hasp cannot be released
except by sliding down the staple a which is prevented by the mechanism of the
lock obstructing the motion of the stump d This mechanism consists of a certain
number of superposed tumblers i pivoted on a pink (which also serves to secure
the cover or case) and a free circular spring . The tumblers i can all be shaped
or cut out at once since they are exactly alike except as regards the position of the
gates or notches m which differ in each. The arrangement of the notches m of the
tumblers and of the steps of the key bit n (figure 3) is such that by a quarter turn
of the key the tumblers i are placed in such position that all these notches m
coincide and allow the stump d to enter them and until the notches thus coincide
the staple a cannot be drawn down to release the hasp.
The key turns in the aperture o of the tumblers and in making its quarter turn
it overcomes the spring but as soon as the key ceases to act and the stump & is
disengaged from the notches m by the sliding upwards of the staple & the spring
causes the tumblers themselves to coincide as shown in figure 2 in which position
their notches m do not coincide and consequently the stump & cannot enter again.
The key is therefore not required in locking.
The spring is merely to facilitate the action of breaking the coincidence of the
notches and the lock will act equally well without it in the event of it being
broken as the tumblers will by their own weight take such positions that their
notches do not coincide immediately the stump of the sliding staple a or the bolt
in other locks ceases to retain them in position. The number and combination of
the tumblers may be varied at will and the staple a may be moved by the key
itself in the act of locking and unlocking.
Figure 4 shows one example of the formn which may be given to the sliding
staple & in order to obtain this result, and it is easily understood that all that is
needed in this case is to arrange the notches and the steps of the key bit
accordingly
In this lock, all projections on the hasp are carefully avoided, as it is perfectly
covered and protected at its lower part, which is a preventive against any attempt
to force it and avoids the tearing, catching, and other inconveniences inherent to
locks with ordinary hasps, and the hasp is morcover pivoted without employing
any pin or spindle, as is the case in ordinary hinged hasps Simple modifications
of the details varying according to the diverse purposes required permit the
application of the invention to all sorts of fastenings, such as ordinary bolt locks,
padlocks, etc.
Figures 5 and 6 show a slight variation of the lock for boxes or trunks, in which
the key hole is made in a rotary disc a which turns with the key in a rebated
opening in the cover plate and is kept in position on its rear side by the tumblers c.
In this case the hasp is pivoted at the upper end and is disengaged by swinging
sideways as indicated by dotted lines, and instead of a staple like slider to retain
it, a slider d is used which traverses the lock case and projects at each side as
shown and carries a stump as before and engages with a projection on the basp
which enters the lock case.
Figures 7. 8. and 9 show the same arrangement of lock except that the hasp is
dispensed with and the lock turns on itself by pivoting on a rear extension f
(figure 8) arranged in any convenient way. The act of locking is performed by
causing the lock to attach itself to a species of hook g fixed to the cover of the
box or trunk. This lock can evidently be made in a round, oval, or any other
form.
Figures 10 and 11 show the Invention as adapted to padlocks. In this case by.

page_text: means of a slider with two stumps, either lateral, exterior, or simply attached to
two round, oval, or rectangular plates h, the bow i may be in form of a nearly
complete ring which is not pivoted but turns in the lock, that is to say, the lock
will be open when in such a position as to allow the lower stump to enter the
notches of the tumblers, the upper stump descending with it will allow the ring i
to turn freely in the interior of the padlock and to disengage itself by means of
the break in it from the eye bolts to which the padlock was attached. The stump
in this case might be caused to enter the notches of the tumblers by the pressure
of the ring i which might be made of the eccentric form shown in Figure 11, the
stump being raised out of the notches when the ring is returned to its normal
position by the spring . The tumblers may be pivoted at the centre instead of
at one end and be worked directly by the hand without the aid of a key.
Figures 12 and 13 show such a padlock. In this case the padlock is provided
with points of reference at the lower part, figures being shown, but they might be
letters or any other conventional signs. To open the padlock it is necessary to bring
the points m of each tumbler or plate opposite the figures or signs agreed upon,
whereby the notches of the several tumblers are made to coincide with the stump
thus allowing it to descend and the lock to be opened.
In figure 12 the dotted lines indicate the position of the parts when the padlock
is opened. In this arrangement, the sliding piece is formed by the entire cover
plate n of the padlock.
Figure 14 shows the invention applied to a lock for doors, drawers, safes &c
In this lock double automatic locking is obtained by a combination of the form
either of the bolt and the latch independently of one another or of the latch alone,
or of the latch connected to the bolt. The lock shown is so arranged that a
quarter of a turn causes an arm of the follower p (which is of the form shown and
is turned by the handle or by the key itself after it has set the tumblers in position
for opening as in the arrangement figure 15) to engage with a shoulder o on the
latch bolt, the movement of the follower causing the retraction either by continuous
or intermittent contact of the latch q alone or the dead bolt r alone or both
together.
By the engagement of the follower with the shoulder o the protraction of the
bolts by the spring is arrested at about one third of their course and the stump 8
is prevented from wholly disengaging itself from the notches into which it had
entered. It is easily seen that in this position the lock could not be double locked
but could be opened without the aid of the key by the handle only
But if in the act of closing the door, drawer &c the latch be forced inwards by
the bevilled part t slipping it disengages the follower arm which recoils on
account of the action of the spring u. As soon as the latch with or without the
bolt arrives at the opening of the striking plate or staple being no longer subjected
to any pressure, its spring causes it to shoot out its full length at the same time
disengaging the stump from the tumblers c which are immediately returned to
their normal position by their spring v.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th October 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
" IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS.'
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents
A communication from abroad by Achille Parise of Paris, France, and Clovis
Flandin of Naples, Italy.
This Invention relates to improvements in locks for boxes, trunks. drawers,
cupboards, and safes, padlocks, and other kinds of locks, and it has for its object to
combine security with simplicity and economy in manufacture.
I have illustrated the improvements as applied to several examples of locks in
the annexed drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows an exterior view of a trunk lock.
Figure 2 represents a rear view with the case enclosing the mechanism removed to
show the latter. Figure 3 represents the key. Figure 4 shows a slight modifi-
cation. In these figures like letters refer to like parts.
In the case of a trunk lock the bolt is replaced by a sliding staple a rivetted to
two studs b sliding in slots c in the front plate h of the lock. This staple a has a
central stump d which projects into the interior of the lock through a slot in plate h
(shown in dotted lines in the figures 1 and 2) in which it slides. The hasp is
pivoted to a plate e rivetted or fixed in any other convenient way to the cover of
the trunk of box, and a spring f is arranged under the hasp in order to disengage
it from the lock immediately the staple a is drawn down. The lower end of the
hasp is bent backwards so as to form two lugs which enter corresponding holes g in
the plate h wherein they are retained by the staple covering the lower end of the
hasp, as in Figure 1. The hasp cannot be released except by sliding down the
staple a which is however prevented by the obstruction offered to the motion of
the stump d by the mechanism of the lock until it is thrown by means of the key
into the proper position to permit such motion. This mechanism consists of a
certain number of superposed tumblers i pivoted on a pink and a free circular
spring. The tumblers i can all be shaped or punched out at once since they are
exactly alike, except as regards the position of the gates or notches m, and being
otherwise symmetrical in form, the difference in position of the gates or notches in
plates which are punched out exactly alike is easily obtained by merely reversing
the one plate upon the other so that the gates or notches do not coincide. Hence
the economy of manufacture. The arrangement of the notches m of the tumblers
and of the steps of the key bit n (figure 3) is such that by a quarter turn of the
key, the notches me of all the tumblers i are made to coincide and allow the stump d
to enter, whereupon the staple a can be drawn down to release the hasp. The key
turns in the aperture o of the tumblers and moves them to right and left to make
the notches coincide. In locking, the key is not required, for by merely sliding
upwards the staple a, the stump d is disengaged from the notches m whereupon
the spring makes the tumblers themselves coincide externally as shown in
Figure 2, in which position their notches m do not coincide so that the staple is
consequently locked. The spring 1 merely assists to destroy the coincidence of the
notches m and the lock will act without it in the event of breakage as the tumblers
will by their own weight take such positions that their notches do not coincide
immediately the stump of the sliding staple a or the bolt in other locks ceases to
retain them in position. The number and combination of the tumblers may be
varied at will and the staple a may, if preferred, be thrown by the key. Figure 4
shows one form of staple a which may be used in this case, all that is needed being
to arrange the notches and the steps of the key bit accordingly. In this lock the

page_text: projection of the hasp is avoided as it is covered at its lower part and therefore
cannot be easily forced and is protected against accidents inherent to ordinary
hasps. This hasp is moreover pivoted without the use of a pin or spindle as in
ordinary hinged hasps. By slightly modifying the details according to circum-
stances, the Invention may be applied to all sorts of fastenings such as ordinary
bolt locks, padlocks, etc.
Figures 5 and 6 show a slight variation of the lock for boxes or trunks in which
the key hole is made in a rotary disc a which turns with the key in a rebated
opening in the cover plate and is kept in position on its rear side by the tumblers c.
In this case the hasp is pivoted at the upper end and is disengaged by swinging
sideways as indicated by dotted lines, and instead of a staple like slider to retain
it, a slider d is used which traverses the lock case and projects at each side as shown
and carries a stump as before and engages with a projection on the hasp which
enters the lock case.
Figures 7. 8. and 9 show the same arrangement of lock except that the hasp is
dispensed with and the lock turns on itself by pivoting on a rear extension f
(figure 8) arranged in any convenient way. The act of locking is performed by
causing the lock to attach itself to a species of hook g fixed to the cover of the box
or trunk. This lock can be made of round, oval or other form.
Figures 10 and 11 show the Invention as adapted to padlocks. In this case a
slide passes through the lock from front to back or from side to side attached to
two plates h. This slide has a stump at the underside which enters the notches of
the tumblers as before, and another stump at the upper side which engages with
the bow i. The latter is in the form of a ring with a gap at a given point just
wide enough to admit the upper stump of the slide. This bow i is not pivoted but
turns circularly in the lock to enable the gap in the ring to be exposed or with-
drawn from the case of the padlock to permit of the disengagement of the bow
from the chain or other fastenings to which it was attached.
When the upper
stump of the slide is engaged in the ring it cannot be turned, but when the tumblers
are so adjusted as to enable the lower stump to enter their notches, the upper
stump is disengaged from the ring which can then be turned round freely. The
stump might also be caused to enter the notches of the tumblers by the pressure of
the ring which might be made of the eccentric form shown in Figure 11, the
stump being raised out of the notches when the ring is returned to its normal
position by the spring . The tumblers may be pivoted at the centre instead of at
one end, and be worked directly by the hand without the aid of a key.
Figures 12 and 13 show such a padlock. In this case the padlock is provided
with points of reference at the lower part, figures being shown, but they might be
letters or any other conventional signs. To open the padlock it is necessary to
bring the points m of each tumbler or plate respectively opposite the predetermined
figures or signs, whereby the notches of the several tumblers are made to coincide
with the stump, thus allowing it to descend and the lock to be opened. In
Figure 12 the dotted lines indicate the position of the parts when the padlock is
opened. In this arrangement the sliding piece is formed by the entire cover plate n
of the padlock.
Figure 14 shows the Invention applied to a lock for doors, drawers, safes, &c.
This lock is double locked automatically by the bolt and latch combined or
separately. The lock shown is so arranged that a quarter of a turn of the follower p
which is of the form shown and is turned by the handle (or by the key itself
after it has set the tumblers in position for opening as in the arrangement
Figure 15) causes the short arm of the follower to engage with a shoulder o on the
latch, this movement of the follower causing the retraction of the latch and the
dead bolt r separately or together. By the engagement of the follower with
the shoulder o the protraction of the bolts by the spring is arrested at about one-
third of their course, and the stump 8 is prevented from wholly disengaging itself
from the notches. In this position the lock would be merely latched and could be
opened by the handle without the aid of the key. But if the door, drawer, &c, be

page_text: closed by pushing or slamming it without turning the handle, the follower arm p
becomes disengaged from the shoulder o by the action of the spring u, and the
latch, with or without the bolt, is then caused by its spring to shoot out its full
length, the stump & being at same time disengaged from the tumblers c which
are immediately returned to their normal position by their spring v.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st. In a lock the employment of a sliding piece or staple a attached to two
guide studs b sliding in slots c, substantially as specified.
2nd. The hasp pivoted to the plate e and provided with the spring f substantially
as described.
3rd. The combination of plates or tumblers i pivoted on a pink with the
spring 1, the plates and spring being arranged and constructed substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
4th. The disc a turning in a rebated opening of plate b and actuated by the key,
substantially as and for the purpose described in reference to Figures 5 and 6.
5th. The hasp e pivoted so as to swing sideways, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
6th. The lock arranged to pivot upon itself for the purpose of locking and
unlocking, in combination with a fixed hasp or catch, substantially as described
and shown in Figure 8.
7th. In a padlock the combination of the slide having a stump or stumps with a
bow in the form of an incomplete ring having a circular sliding motion, substantially
as described and shown in Figure 10 for the purpose specified.
8th. The bow i having eccentric or cam like surfaces in combination with the
tenon and spring k, substantially as shown in Figure 11.
9th. The combination in a padlock of the rotary discs or plates e provided with
lugs for adjusting them in connection with points of reference for the purpose of
disengaging the bow substantially as shown and described in reference to Figures
12 and 13.
10th. In a latch lock the combination of the two armed follower p with the
latch provided with shoulder o, the bolt r provided with stumps and with the
tumblers c, to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
specified in reference to Figures 10 and 11.
In witness whereof the said Alexander Melville
Clark have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty A. M. CLARK (L.S.)
fourth day of October, A.D. 1882.