IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASES OF LOCKS FOR TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, AND SUCH LIKE RECEPTACLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASES OF LOCKS FOR
TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, AND SUCH LIKE RECEPTACLES." A communication from
abroad by Ernest Hofmann, of Carlsbad, in the Empire of Austria.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March 1877.
JOHN IMRAY, of Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CASES OF LOCKS FOR TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, AND SUCH
LIKE RECEPTACLES." A communication from abroad by Ernest Hofmann, of Carls-
bad, in the Empire of Austria.
The object of this Invention is to make lock cases for trunks, portmanteaus, and
such like receptacles in such a manner that the outside of the lock case will present
a perfectly closed and flat surface. For this purpose the lock case is made so that
the staple plate and the keyhole plate, which are both hinged to the case, fit, when
closed, into suitable openings or recesses in the case, so as to be flush with the case,
the outside of the case then presenting a perfectly flat surface.
The hinged keyhole plate is held down by a snap provided with a stud, which is
fitted into an opening in the lock case, so as to be flush with the outer surface of
the case.
The keyhole plate and the staple plate are each acted upon by an internal spring
which causes them to spring open as soon as they are released.
When the lock is to be opened the snap stud is pressed inwards, causing the snap
to liberate the keyhole plate, which then springs open and allows access to the key-
hole. On unlocking the lock with the key, the hinged staple plate springs open,
and the trunk can be opened.
The lock employed may have a spring latch, in which case locking is effected by
simply pushing, first, the staple plate, and then the keyhole plate into their respec-
tive onenings

page_text: When the lock is not a snap lock it is necessary to press the hinged staple plate
into its place, then to turn and withdraw the key, and finally to press the hinged
keyhole plate into its place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th September
1877.
"
IM-
JOHN IMRAY, of Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
PROVEMENTS IN THE CASES OF LOCKS FOR TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, AND SUCH
LIKE RECEPTACLES." A communication from abroad by Ernest Hoffmann, of Carls-
bad, in the Empire of Austria.
The object of this Invention is to make lock cases for trunks, or portmanteaus,
and such like receptacles in such a manner that the outside of the said lock case
will present a perfectly closed and smooth surface.
In locks constructed according to this Invention the case is made so that the
staple plate and the keyhole plate will, when shut, fit into suitable openings in the
case, so as to be flush with the case, and so that the outside of the case will then
present a perfectly smooth surface. The keyhole plate is locked by a snap provided
with a stud, fitted into an opening in the lock case, and also flush with the outer
surface of the case.
The keyhole plate and the staple plate are each provided inside with a spring, so
as to spring open as soon as released.
When the lock is to be opened, the snap stud is pressed into the lock case, thus
forcing the snap to liberate the keyhole plate, which then flies open and allows
access to the keyhole. On unlocking the lock with the key, the hinged staple
plate flies open, and the trunk can be opened. To close the trunk it is only neces-
sary to shut it, and to then push first the staple plate, and then the keyhole plate
into their respective recesses.
When the inain lock of the trunk is not a snap lock, it will be necessary to press
the hinged staple plate into its place, to then turn and withdraw the key, and finally
to press the keyhole plate into its place.
With reference to the accompanying Drawings, showing two modifications of a
lock case in or about the natural size, and constructed according to the present
Invention, Fig. 1 is a front view; Fig. 2, a side view partly in section; Fig. 3, a
back view; and Fig. 4, a vertical section of one form of lock case with lock; and
Fig. 5, a front view; Fig. 6, partly a vertical section and partly a side view;
Fig. 7, a back view; and Fig. 8, a vertical section of another form of lock case with
lock. In Figs. 5 and 6 only the keyhole plate is open; in Figs. 4 and 8 the entire
lock is open.
In all of these Figures corresponding parts are indicated by the same letters of
reference.
A is the upper part of the lock case, with the staple plate a and staple b. B is
the lower part of the lock case, with the snap stud c for releasing the keyhole plate
d. The main differences between the two forms of lock cases shown are, that
whereas in the one modification (Figs. 1 to 4) the keyhole plate d is hinged, and the
vertical staple b is caught by a snap bolt e moving sideways; in the other modifica-
tion (Figs. 5 to 8) the keyhole plate d slides in guide ways d, and the horizontal
staple is caught by a bolt e moving vertically, and flying upwards and into the
staple only when released by the staple touching and pressing backwards a spring
h, as shown in Fig. 6. In the main points, especially therein that when the lock is
closed, the outside of the lock case presents a perfectly smooth surface, and that the
keyhole plate can be opened only by pressing a snap stud c, both modifications are
alike.

page_text: The action of the mechanism for opening and closing the keyhole plate is as
follows: In the form of lock shewn in Figs. 1 to 4, when the stud c is pressed into
the lock by means of a point f¹ arranged at the top or bottom end of the key f.
the spring c is pushed back and releases the catch d² on the keyhole plate d, which
then flies open in consequence of the pressure exerted by the compressed spring d¹.
When the keyhole is to be covered, the plate d is pressed down and the catch ³
first pushes back the spring c¹, which then springs into the said catch and holds tho
keyhole plate, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. The said plate d is then flush with the
surface of the lock case.
In the second form of lock, when the keyhole is to be opened, the stud c is
pressed into the lock case, the pin c³ then leaves the hole d', and the keyhole plate
d, sliding in the guide ways ³, flies out in consequence of the pressure of the
spring d, as best seen in Fig. 5. For covering the keyhole it is only necessary to
push back the plate & until the pin & springs into the hole d. The plate d is then
Hush with the surface of the lock case. The pins g on the top piece A fit into
corresponding holes in the lower piece B, and take up any sideway pressure, thus
preventing the staple plate a from being jammed in its recess a². The action of
the mechanism for closing the lock is as follows:-
In the first form of lock shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the bolt e is an ordinary snap or
spring bolt, moving at first sideways, when the staple b is pressed into the lock and
comes in contact with it, and then finally snapping into the opening of the said
staple, and holding the staple plate a in its recess a², and flush with the surface of
the lock case.
In the second form shewn in Figs. 5 to 8 the bolte does not spring into the
staple b until the said staple touches the spring h, which is provided with a pro-
jecting piece, Fig. 8, holding back the bolt when unlocked, and only releasing it
when the said spring his pushed backwards. The staple plate a when locked is
held in its recess a³, and flush with the surface of the lock case.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim the construction of lock for trunks, portmanteaus, and the like, substantially
as herein described, wherein a staple plate and a keyhole plate are arranged to close
into recesses, so that the exterior of the lock case presents a flat surface.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TATTAT 110 XT
JOHN IMRAY, (L.S.).