Improvements in Prepayment Coin-freed Locks or Latches.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Prepayment Coin-freed Locks or Latches.
We, JOHN MANN LOCKERBIE and ARTHUR WELLESLEY WILKINSON trading
as Lockerbie and Wilkinson, of Exeter Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Wholesale Ironmongers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to prepayment coin-freed locks and latches, intended to be
used particularly, on the doors of water closets, at railway and other stations, and is
an improvement or improvements upon Letters Patent granted to one of the present
applicants, and numbered 1789 dated February 4th 1887.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents in front elevation partly in
section, a coin-freed water-closet-lock, constructed and arranged according to our
invention.
The left hand spindle is for the operation of the bolt of the lock from the outside
of the door, after a connection has been made between the said spindle, and the
bolt, by a joinder or junction, in the form of a coin, inserted in prepayment for the
use of the closet.
The said lock, as hereinafter described, is also provided with means for prevent-
ing the re-insertion of coins through the coin slot, during the time that the
closet is occupied.
Figure 2 represents a back view of the said lock, with the outer enclosing plate
removed, and with the parts in the positions which they assume, after the introduc-
tion of a coin into the lock, or the passage of one through the slot. The coin is
shown making the connection between the arm follower of the spindle of the outside
knob, and the bolt, in manner, that the said bolt is made to traverse, on the
turning of the knob.
Normally, the spindle and its follower, and bolt, are unconnected, that is, the
said parts are out of gear, and the union of them is only made, by a coin, which is
dropped into a position, within the path of an arm of the follower of the knob
spindle, as shown.
Figure 3 represents a like view as the upper part of the lock Figure 2, but with
the indicating plate showing "engaged" before the slot, and when in this position,
the slot is not only closed, but the bolt is incapable of motion, by being locked.
Figure 4 represents a transverse vertical section on the dotted lines A, B,
Figure 2, whilst Figure 5 represents a horizontal section upon the dotted
lines E F.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 5.
a
is a lock casing, b is a cross spindle, working within suitable bushes, and having
upon its inner end, a knob, which is turned only from the inside of the closet, and
which spindle has made fast upon it, an arm 62, adapted to engage at the back of a
stud ², of a latch bolt c, located and sliding within the interior of the lock casing,
and within a guide a², and upon a stump a³.
with-
The turning of the said arm 12, in the direction indicated by the arrow,
draws the said latch bolt, compresses the spring d, which pushes back again the
said bolt, on the spindle b, being released.
The front presented end of the said spindle b, comes in front of an outside key
hole 6, made through the front plate of the lock casing.
Directed immediately under the middle and open vertical passage part c³, of the
said bolt, is a second spindle e, carrying an outside operating knob e², upon one end

page_text: ob, and a lower, made fast upon an inner part of it, and which follower has a
connection arm 2, and an impingement arm f³.
The former 2, makes the connection of the spindle with the bolt, through the
intervention of a coin g as represented in Figure 2.
The other arm f³, has pressing upon it, a limb h, jointed at h¹, and having a
spring 2, which presses the follower spindle and its arms back, on the releasing
of the knob or handle.
The forward movement of the follower f, and its arm 72, is limited, by a standing-
out stop a, on the inside of the casing.
"
Situated immediately above the coin passage c³, within the bolt, and located
between the top side of the said bolt, and the top inside of the casing, is a shoot or
coin race i, leading from the slot j, made through the top edge of the lock casing a.
Approximate to the mouth of the slot, and disposed within the interior of the lock
casing, and at the upper part or entrance of the coin shoot, is a hinged flap k, which
normally is clear to the entrance of the slot, but crosses the said slot only when the
sliding plate, which carries the words "engaged" and "dis-engaged," is in a
position that the word "
engaged is presented to the aperture a, of the casing a.
Thus, the said flap k, is jointed at k², and is pressed into its closing position by a
spring The said flap has also a projection or nose k, which is pressed back by
an inclined plane or projection 12, of the slide 1, carrying engaged'
disengaged" when "disengaged" is before the opening a. This said slide also
works within guides 13, is made to work stiff by a pressure spring, and is operated
by a spindle m, carrying an inside knob, and having upon it an arm m², with a
slot m³, at its end, wherewith a pin, on the slide 1, takes, and further, the near
side of the bolt has a stud or stump e', which locks the said bolt, or prevents the
same from making a rear traverse, when the indicating slide is down, as in
Figure 3.
66
66
OPERATION.
66
and
C
Assuming the parts to be in their normal positions, and with the word
disengaged" displayed as in Figure 1, pass a coin through the coin slot, when
the same rolls down the shoot, and drops down the coin passage c³, of the bolt
and is intercepted and kept from falling through, by the follower f, of the spindle e,
and is disposed between the arm f2, of the said follower, and the lower part c³, of the
inner wall c, of the passage c³, of the bolt e, and which lower part co, has depending
wing cheeks e, hence the connection of the bolt, with spindle and follower made
fast on the latter.
By now turning the handle from the outside, the spindle e is turned, and in
consequence of the connection being made by the coin, the bolt c, is rearwardly
traversed, and on the same approaching the end of its stroke, the space between
arm f2, and coin abutment c³, becomes greater than the diameter of the coin, when
the penny falls into the box or receptacle made to receive it.
"
The payee then enters the closet, and when in the inside, in order to lock the
door, turns the spindle m, from a knob on the inside, which pushes down the
indicating slide 1, and brings the word "engaged " before the opening u³, and as
the said indicating slide is moved from the "disengaged" to the "engaged
position, the snug 12, comes from before the nose or projection k³, of the flap k,
when the said flap, consequent upon being pushed forward by the spring k³, is made
to cross the slot of the opening, as represented in dotted lines in Figure 4, and so
prevent the introduction of further coins into the lock, during the time the closet
is occupied.
The downward traverse of the slide also locks the bolt, by the lower part of the
same coming in front of the stud c¹, so that the whole of the traversing parts
become interlocked, and are only restored to their normal positions, by the again
turning of the spindle m, on the payee opening the door to leave the closet.
Figure 6 represents a prepayment coin-freed lock, constructed according to 5
another form of our invention, showing the said lock in operation, or the bolt of

page_text: the same connected by a coupler, carried at the extreme end of a coin lever, which
is operated for connection, by the gravitating effect of a coin, tendered in payment
for the use of a closet, to the door of which the lock is applied.
The connection in this arrangement is required to be made between a slide,
which has an outside knob or handle connected and attached to it, and a latch bolt
which is connected with a spindle, through a follower, which has an inside turning
knob or handle, so that when the said sliding knob and bolt are uncoupled, the
sliding of the outside knob has no effect upon the latch bolt.
Figure 7 represents the said lock, with a coin lever in its normal and uncoupled
position, and with the slide carrying the outside knob, and the bolt carrying the
inside knob, disconnected or being independent.
Figure 8 represents a transverse section on the dotted lines C, D, Figure 6, of
the slide, bolt, and end coupling of coin lever.
Figure 9 shows a front elevation of the inner end of the bolt, with its connecting
projection in section, and Figure 94 is an end elevation of the same.
In Figures 7, 8 and 9, a is the lock casing, having located and working within it,
a latch bolt c, pressed home by a spring d, and operated by an arm or follower b²,
of a spindle b, having upon an end, an inside knob. f is a slide, directed above, and
working parallel with, the after end of the bolt, and having connected with it, a
spindle e, having an outside knob e2, which on being traversed in the direction of
the arrow, after a coin, as hereinafter described, has been deposited, and proper
connection made, the bolt is slid rearwardly.
This said slide carries a horn or connecting projection f2, whilst the after part of
the bolt, carries a like horn or projection c³, by a web c¹, and which horns or
projections are coupled together, and the union with the slide and the bolt made, by
a box end 2, of a counterpoised coin lever t, centred at t³, to the bolt, and having a
coin box t, at the fore end of it.
The connection of the said coin lever with the stud t³, carried by the bolt, is made
by a slot t', so that all strain or pressure shall be relieved from the said pin, and
the whole come upon the connecting parts, through the box end of the lever.
The hopper shaped coin box t, is open fronted at t³, and semi open at its bottom
at to, whilst a stop t', forms a rest for the coin, when the bolt is in its shot position
as in Figure 6, but immediately the bolt is fully withdrawn inwards, by the sliding
of the outside knob, the space between the bottom of the coin box, and the fixed
stud t', is greater than the breadth of the coin, when the said coin falls into a coin
box made to receive it.
Assuming the parts to be in their normal positions; by the passing of a coin
through the coin slot, and the rolling of the same down the shoot i, it delivered
or passed into the coin box t, when the weight of the same, turns the counterpoised
coin lever into a horizontal position, and takes its box end over the horns c³, 2, of
the bolt and slide respectively, coupling the said parts together, as represented in
Figure 6, when, on sliding the knob e, in the direction as indicated by the arrow,
the latch bolt c, is then slid rearwards, and immediately the termination t³, of the
bottom edges of the said box t¹, makes a greater distance from the fixed
stop t', than the diameter of a coin, the said coin falls, and is caught in a receptacle
placed below to receive it.
Immediately the coin falls, the coin lever then resumes its normal inclined position,
and with its coupling box at its after end, removed from, and lying clear of the the
horns or projections c³, f, respectively hence the disconnection or liberation of the
slide from the bolt.
When disconnected, the slide f, is pressed back by the spring f³.
Assuming that the occupant now requires to leave, he then turns the inside
handle on the spindle b, and slides back the bolt, until the end of the latch part is
clear of the striking plate, when the door can be opened, when the bolt returns 'to
its former position by the spring d.
Figure 10 represents a modified form of the last named arrangement.
In this form the coupling is made by a peg at the after end of the coin lever

page_text: (instead of by a box form of end) taking through eyes or holes made through lugs,
or parts, carried by bolt and slide respectively.
a is the back casing, c is the bolt, f the slide carrying outside knob e², and
spindle e. The slide has a snug f¹, and a hole through it, whilst the bolt has a
snug c¹, and a hole or eye through it . is the spindle of the inside knob, having
an arm, for the taking back of the bolt c, and d is a spring of the bolt, and
f, the spring of the slide.
t is a jointed and counterpoised coin lever, and t is a peg at its after end.
Normally the eyes of the snug of both slide and bolt are coincident, and where-
through the peg t², passes, on a coin being placed within the coin box, hence the
turning of the coin lever, the rising of its after end, and the passing of the peg into
the eyes or holes as aforesaid, hence the coupling of the parts together.
Figure 11 represents the upper part of a coin freed lock, provided with fraud
prevention means, and further means for preventing the introduction of coins
through the coin slot, during the time a closet is occupied.
Figure 12 represents portions of the said upper part, showing the fraud
prevention means in operation.
The arrangement for preventing the introduction of coin is made self-acting, by
the bolting of the door from the inside, in the ordinary way (see Figure 11).
Figure 13 represents the indicating slide, moved to a position of "engaged."
Figure 14 represents a front elevation of Figure 13, and Figure 15 is a horizontal
cross section, on the dotted lines E F Figure 13.
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In Figures 11 to 13, a is the lock casing, having fitted within the interior of the
upper part of it a rising and falling indicating slide t, having upon the front side
of it, the words " engaged" or disengaged which are brought alternately in
front of an opening a³, made through the front of the outer casing, and which
slide is worked by a cranked lever m, jointed at m, and having a slot m³, up one
arm, wherethrough a pin 1, on the said plate passes. The other arm has a slot 1°,
wherethrough the inner end of a pin u², carried by a sliding bolt u, working within
guides u', passes, so that as the bolt u, is shot or withdrawn, by the knob u, the said
cranked lever is rocked upon its pivot m, and the indicating slide 1, raised or lowered.
The said bolt u also carries a stalk or stem us, with a flattened end us, which
latter when the bolt is shot, is made to come under a portion of the slot j, so as to
prevent the passing theredown, of coins, when the closet is occupied.
Thus assuming the coin to be dropped into the coin slot, and connection made
directly through the intervention of the coin, or through a limb or member
influenced by the weight of the coin, and the latch bolt of the door withdrawn,
either by a turning or by a sliding movement, the payee then enters the closet, and
bolts the door from the inside, when the shooting of the said bolt into the staple,
draws the stem us, with it, and takes its inner end u, before a part of the slot j, so
as to prevent the introduction of a further coin.
The said movement of the bolt also operates the cranked lever m², and auto-
matically depresses the indicating slide, with the word "engaged" coming before
the opening in the outer casing.
The fraud prevention means, whereby a single coin is prevented from being
introduced, and then withdrawn by a string, as in Figures 11 and 12, consists in
providing the throat, of the slot j, with counterpoised and swinging stops,
consisting of plates v, w, jointed at v², 102, and having studs v³, w³, upon one of their
faces, which hang at the lowest points of the said plates, when they are in their
normal positions as in Figure 11.
These counterpoised plates are so balanced, that a coin, passed down the coin slot,
by its own weight, presses them aside, and then passes on to the interior of the lock,
but should a coin be dropped through the coin slot, and past the plates as aforesaid
and then brought back through the intervention of a string, the edges of a coin
come against the studs ³, w³, respectively, and as the coin is drawn up, so the plates
are turned about their centres of motion, approach each other, and block the
passage to the withdrawal of a coin,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First In a prepayment coin freed lock or latch, operating the locking bolt, or
the latch bolt for unlocking a door, by a lever, turning arm, follower or turn,
carried by a turning spindle, having an outside knob or handle, when the connection
or union is made, directly by or through the medium of an inserted or deposited
coin, as set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Secondly-In a prepayment coin freed lock or latch, the combination with an
inserted or deposited coin, of a chambered or side gapped locking bolt, latch bolt,
or their equivalents as set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Thirdly-In a prepayment coin freed lock or latch, the combination with a
chambered or side gapped bolt, in which a deposited or inserted coin within the
lock, acts as the connecting medium for operating the said bolt, of an armed
turn, connected to a turning spindle, having an outside knob at one end, as set
forth in Figures 1 to 5..
Fourthly-In a prepayment coin freed indicating lock or latch, locking the
bolt, or the latch bolt, by the lower part of the indicating slide, coming against a
snug or projection on the said bolt, when the entrance to the slot is closed against
further coin insertions as described and set forth in Figures 1 to 4.
Fifthly In a prepayment coin freed indicating lock or latch, working a slot-
closing flap, by, or on, the movement of the indicating slide, when the said slide is
operated, through the intervention of a knob or handle on the inside of a door, as
described and set forth in Figures 1 to 4.
Sixthly In the operating part of coin freed locks and latches, the arrangement
and combination of the parts as described and set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Seventhly In the slot closing means of prepayment coin freed indicating locks,
the general construction, arrangement, combination and fitting of the parts as
described and set forth in Figures 1 and 4.
Eighthly In a prepayment coin freed lock or latch, as represented in Figures 6
to 10, making the connection between the outside opening knob (which may be a
sliding one or a turning one) or parts carried by it and the locking bolt, or the
locking latch bolt, by means of an embracing, infibulating, or box ended lever, or
counterpoised lever, taking over or upon horns, projections or members, (on the
said lever arm or member being operated) carried by parts in conjunction with the
said knob and bolt respectively.
Ninethly In a prepayment coin freed lock or latch, the construction and
arrangements of the parts, substantially. as described and set forth in Figures 5, 6
and 7.
Tenthly In a prepayment coin freed lock or latch, making the connection by
means, and in the way, as described and set forth in Figure 10.
Eleventhly-In the slot closing means of a prepayment coin freed lock or latch,
as represented in Figures 11, 13 and 15, closing, or partially closing the entrance of
the coin slot, by means of a stem or stalk, carried directly by the inside locking
bolt, as set forth in Figures 11, 13 and 15.
Twelfthly-In fraud preventing means of prepayment coin freed locks or
latches, locating within the throat of the coin shoot, counterpoised and pivoted
plates, or pawls as described and set forth.
Data hi h 1 T1000
JOHN MANN LOCKERBIE,
ARTHUR WELLESLEY WILKINSON,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.