Improvements in Devices for Securing a Key in a Lock to Prevent it being Tampered with from without.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Securing a Key in a Lock to Prevent
it being Tampered with from without.
I, JAMES ADDISON BEEBE, of 932, Pacific Avenue, in the City of Tacoma,
County of Pierce and State of Washington, United States of America,
Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in key fasteners and consists of a shank
for slipping into the key hole and twisted at one end and turned back upon
itself to form a loop for securing the bow of the key in a horizontal position
when in the lock.
It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and
arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set
forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,
Fig. 1. represents a perspective view of the device embodying my invention;
and
Fig. 2. represents a top plan view of the same applied to a lock securing a key
in position.
A in the drawing represents the vertical shank adapted to be slipped into the
key hole below the key after said key has been turned to lock the door or other
article to which the lock is attached. This shank consists of a flat plate. This
plate is given a quarter turn at one end to bring said end into a horizontal position.
This end is then turned back upon itself to form a loop a in which the bow b of
the key B is adapted to rest when said key and fastener are in position. The
loop a is provided with coinciding apertures a adapted to receive and hold the
securing pin C. This pin comprises a split shank having an eye c at one end.
The split portions of said shank normally set apart so that when forced through
the apertures a¹ they will bind firmly against the walls of the same and thus
secure the pin firmly in position. A chain c¹ is connected to .said eye c, and to a
portion of the shank A so that said pin C cannot be misplaced or lost when the
fastener is not in use.
When the device is to be applied to a door, the bolt of the lock is first shot by
turning the key. The key is then turned until both the bow and the bit are in a
horizontal position. The key in this position cannot be pulled out of the key hole
but can be turned. The key hole below the pin is now clear and the shank A is
slipped into the same until the bow of the key enters the loop a. The pin C is
now passed down through the bow b which prevents the fastener from being pushed
into the room from the inside. The bow of the key resting in the flat loop prevents
the key from being turned and the key cannot be pushed out of the the lock until
it is turned.
It will thus be seen that the key is effectually secured against any tampering
from without but can be instantly released from within. The different apertures
in the flat loop permit of the fastener being applied to different sized keys.
I contemplate constructing the device of metal but any other suitable material
may be employed. The plate forming the device can be made of varying width
and thickness to suit the particular construction and size of keys and locks upon
which it is intended to use it.

page_text: With this simple little device, which can readily be carried in the coat pocket,
commercial travellers and others stopping at public houses can instantly secure
their bedroom doors against all intrusion. The device can also be used of course
in any position where it is desired to secure a key in a lock so that it cannot be
tampered with by nippers and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of any said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a key fastener, the combination of a shank, for slipping into the key hole,
said shank being twisted at one end and turned back upon itself to form a loop
for securing the bow of a key in a horizontal position when in the lock, substantially
as described.
2. In a key fastener, the combination of a shank for slipping into the key hole;
said shank being apertured at one end and twisted and turned back upon itself to
form an apertured loop for securing the bow of a key in a horizontal position when
in the lock and a pin adapted to be passed through the apertures in said loop and
through the bow of the key, substantially as described.
3. In a key fastener, the combination of a flat vertical shank for slipping into
the key hole; said shank being provided with a series of apertures at one end and
twisted and turned back upon itself to form a flat apertured loop for securing the
bow of the key, and a split spring pin adapted to be passed through said apertures
in said loop and through the how of the key, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of June 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.