Year: 1887

page_text: I, WILLIAM TRIPP MILLIKEN of Cheney, Washington Territory, in the United
States of America, Farmer, 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 an improvement in locks; and it consists in the peculiar
construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter,
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lock embodying my
improvements, showing the same connected to the mouth of the mail-bag. Figure 2
is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal
sectional view of my improved lock. Figure 4 is an elevation showing the inner side
of one side of the lock-case. Figure 5 is a detached perspective view of the pinion
and of the tubular sleeve.
A represents the lock-case, which is made of two parts B, and C, the part B having
a groove D, around its perimeter, and the part C being provided with a flange E,
adapted to fit in the said groove.
.F represents a longitudinally-movable bolt, which is arranged in a longitudinal
groove or recess G, made between the opposing sides of the lock-case. H represents
a spring, which is arranged in one end of the said groove and bears against one end of
the bolt. The bolt is provided on its lower side with a series of rack-teeth I, and at
different points throughout its length is provided with vertical longitudinal slots K.
In the said slots are pivoted arms L, the outer ends of which are provided with
latching-heads M, which work in recesses N, with which the lock-case is provided.
The outer sides of the latching-heads are curved or bevelled, as at O.

page_text: P represents springs, which are secured in the slots K and bear against the rear
sides of the latching-heads.
R represents the key-hole, which is made in one side of the lock at a suitable
distance below the bolt F.
S represents a tubular sleeve, which has one end secured in the circular portion of
the key-hole and the opposite end secured in a correspondingly aligned opening in the
opposite side of the lock case. One side of the sleeve is provided with a slotted
opening, as shown.
T represents a pinion which is journalled on the sleeve and provided on one side
with ratchet-teeth adapted to engage the teeth of the bolt F. The remaining portion
of the pinion is unprovided with teeth, and against the plane edge of the pinion
presses the end of a detent spring U. The said spring is secured to one side of the
lock-case by a screw, V. The front side of the pinion is provided with a disk W,
having a notch X, which registers with the slot in the sleeve."
Y represents a series of openings which are made in the rear side of the lock-case,
near the upper edge thereof, and communicate with the front upper corners of the
recesses N. The said openings are adapted to receive hasps Z, as will be more fully
described hereinafter.
My improved lock is particularly adapted to be used in connection with mail-bags.
but may also be used for trunks, boxes, valises, and similar articles.
In order to fully explain the operation of the lock it is shown in the accompanying
drawings as attached to a mail-bag, a, the mouth of which is provided with the usual
flap, b.
The lock is secured to one side of the mouth of the mail-bag by means
of screws and the mail-bag is provided with openings & near its upper edges, which
coincide with the openings Y in the lock-case. The said openings & in the outer side
of the mail-bag are provided with plates or escutcheons e. The hasps Z are provided
at their outer ends with reduced shanks, which extend through aligned openings made
in the flap band in plates f, which are rivetted on opposite sides of the said flap, and
the said shanks are provided at their outer ends with washer-plates or nuts which
secure the hasps firmly to the flap. The inner ends of the hasps are adapted to pass
through the aligned openings in the sides of the mouth of the mail-bag and into the
openings Y of the lock-case, so as to strike against the curved or bevelled sides of
the spring-actuated latches, and thereby force the said latches rearwardly to permit
the hasps to enter the front upper corners of the recesses N, and the said hasps are
provided at their outer ends with openings i, into which the spring actuated latches
snap as soon as the ends of the hasps enter the recesses N, thereby firmly locking the
flap over the mouth of the bag.
•
9,
k represents a series of coiled volute springs, one of which is arranged around each
of the hasps and is secured to the base thereof, the said springs bearing between the
outer side of the mouth of the bag and the opposing inner side of the face thereof
when the latter is closed and locked in position.
When the flap is folded in closing the same over the mouth of the bag, the hasps
are pressed one at a time into the openings Y of the lock-case and are engaged
successively by the spring actuated latches. When it is desired to open the bag, a
suitable key is inserted in the key-hole and caused to engage the pinion, and when the
key is turned the pinion is partly rotated, and as it meshes with the rack-teeth of the
bolt F it moves the latter endwise against the pressure of the spring H and thereby
causes the spring-actuated latches to be simultaneously disengaged from the hasps,
and the instant that the said latches disengage the said hasps the springs k withdraw
the hasps from the openings Y, as will be very readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination, in a lock, of the longitudinally-movable bolt F, having the
rack-teeth, the spring bearing against the said bolt to move it in one direction, the

page_text: spring actuated latches pivoted to the bolt F, and the pinion engaging the rack-teeth
of the bolt, and adapted to be turned by a key, for the purpose set forth, and the
hasps to engage the latches, substantially as described.
2. In a lock, the combination of the movable bolt F, the independently-movable
spring actuated latches connected thereto and movable therewith simultaneously in one
direction, the hasps adapted to engage with the said latches, and the springs to with-
draw the keepers from the lock-case when the bolt F is moved to disengage the latches
from the keepers, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day or
1001.
W. T. MILLIKEN.
By Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.