IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKING OR BOLTING MECHANISM
Year: 1884

page_text: •
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"
I JOHN MATTHIAS HART of the firm of Hobbs, Hart and Company of
76 Cheapside in the City of London, Manufacturer of locks and safes do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKING OR
BOLTING MECHANISM to be as follows:
The object of the invention is to necessitate the attendance of two or more
persons to engages or disengage the securing means and thereby to enable a gate,
door box or other article to be opened or closed.
I accomplish these results First, by a series of locks or bolts, each of which
requires two or more hands to operate, with the keys or controlling movements
acting simultaneously, in engaging or disengaging the locking or unlocking
arrangements.
Second; By means of continuously connected bolts I vary the position of the
several locks and by certain arrangements of the lock bolts I block the lock into
locked and unlocked positions.
Third By means of a continuity or projecting portion of the frame I block the
action of the bolting and locking means until the door is fully closed until which
the bolts cannot be traversed, nor the keys be removed from the locks.
Fourth I sometimes provide the keys used for operating these locks with
spherical handles or with globe or pear shaped ends instead of with the usual key
bows in order to prevent attachments being connected to the keys, by which means
I render it much more difficult to employ illicit means to operate the locks instead
of operating the same by the hands of two or more persons.
The improvements consist of movements so devised as to compel the use and
co-operation of two or more hands for the purpose of operating with or without
addenda movement the locking and unlocking of a lock. Also ofa combination by
means of continuous or connecting bolts or bolt of two or more locks with either
single or double handed actions, in order to compel the co-operation of two or more
persons each time the door, gate, lid or other article is locked or unlocked.
The lock with double handed action may be constructed with two or more spring
or dead locking bolts actuated by keys, or with one dead or spring lock bolt in
combination with an independent blocking bolt forming a stop catch.
In order to operate the lock it is necessary to draw and hold back the spring
bolt, or to withdraw the dead lock bolt by means of its key holding it back by the

page_text: key with one hand, and at the same time to operate the blocking bolt stop catch
by means of a knob or otherwise with the other hand.
The heads of the spring or dead lock bolts are so constructed as to fit into and
retain the connecting or continuous bolt or bolts either in a locked or unlocked
position.
By means of one or a series of connecting bolts or plates with suitable movements
for directing their motion vertically, horizontally or diagonally, various locks may
be arranged to work simultaneously.
The exterior locking and connecting bolts are operated by various means,
single, dual or other multiple action, for example by a toothed wheel, or by single
movement as a key propels a lock bolt, or by compound crank actions, the
connecting and locking bolts are simultaneously traversed, when acted on by
suitable propellor, (handle, key or nozzle) and they can only be traversed while the
connecting bolts and blocking bolts, forming stop catches of the several locks with
which they are connected are simultaneously in action, as already described.
When the blocking and connecting bolts are in unlocked position, they are so
retained as long as the door, gate, lid or other article is open, and until the door,
gate, lid or other article is again closed, and the connecting and blocking bolts are
fully thrown into the frame of the door, gate, lid or other article when in locked
position. Also the act of locking is ensured by the withdrawal of the key or keys,
which is only possible when the door, gate, lid or other article is fully closed,
thereby preventing the illicit or accidental locking of a door, gate, lid or other
article when ajar, that is to say to prevent the bolts from being shot outwards,
before the dour, gate, lid or other article is actually closed.
In the case of doors and gates by means of the exterior locking or blocking bolts
being retained, that is blocked in, by means of a flange plato extending from the
door or other frame, the possibility of the bolt being thrown until the door or gate
is close shut is prevented, when the bolts cannot pass into the frame in the usual
way; also by this arrangement the key or keys cannot be withdrawn until the
perfect locking is effected, thus guaranteeing the absolute certainty of the door
being locked, which is only possible by coupling or bolting the door, or other
article, and its frame together.
In order that officials, entering the strong room or other rooms, cellars and other
places may be able to secure themselves inside a room, while examining securities and
other contents, an inner bolt is provided which prevents the door from being locked
from the outside, and also prevents intruders from entering.
For boxes and such like articles the lock may be provided with a stop which,
until the lid is properly closed, acts to prevent the shooting of the bolt, which when
the lid is properly closed, is by the lid moved out of the way of the locking bolt.
The several arrangements hereinbefore mentioned to make locks secure, are
applicable to a series of levers and sliders and to combination (letter or numerical)
locks whether placed vertically horizontally or diagonally.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN MATTHIAS HART of the firm of Hobbs, Hart and Company of
76 Cheapside in the City of London. Manufacturers of locks and safes, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKING
OR BOLTING MECHANISM and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the invention is to necessitate the attendance of two or more
persons to engage or disengage the securing means and thereby to enable a gate,
door, box or other article to be opened or closed.
I accomplish these results First, by a series of locks or bolts, each of which
requires two or more hands to operate, with the keys or controlling movements
acting simultaneously in engaging or disengaging the locking or unlocking arrange-
ments.
Second; By means of continuously connected bolts I vary the position of the
several locks and by certain arrangements of the lock bolts I block the lock into
locked and unlocked positions.
Third; By means of a continuity or projecting portion of the frame I block the
action of the bolting and locking means until the door is fully closed until which
the bolts cannot be traversed, nor the keys be removed from the locks.
Fourth; I sometimes provide the keys used for operating these locks with
spherical handles or with globe or pear shaped ends instead of with the usual key
bows in order to prevent attachments being connected to the keys, by which means
I render it much more difficult to employ illicit means to operate the locks instead.
of operating the same by the hands of two or more persons.
The improvements consist of movements so devised as to compel the use and
co-operation of two or more persons for the purpose of operating with or without
addenda movement the locking and unlocking of a lock. Also of a combination by
means of continuous or connecting bolts or bolt of two or more locks with either
single or double handed actions, in order to compel the co-operation of two or more'
persons each time the door, gate, lid or other article is locked or unlocked.
The lock with double handed action may be constructed with two or more spring
or dead locking bolts actuated by keys, or with one dead or spring lock bolt in
combination with an independent blocking bolt forming a stop catch.
In order to operate the lock it is necessary to draw and hold back the spring bolt
or to withdraw the dead lock bolt by means of its key holding it back by the key
with one hand, and at the same time to operate the blocking bolt stop catch
by means of a knob or otherwise with the other hand.
The heads of the spring or dead lock bolts are so constructed as to fit into and
retain the connecting or continuous bolt or bolts either in a locked or unlocked
position.
By means of one or a series of connecting bolts or plates with suitable movements
for directing their motion vertically, horizontally or diagonally, various locks may
be arranged to work simultaneously.
The exterior locking and connecting bolts are operated by various means, single,
dual or other niultiple action, for example by a toothed wheel, or by single move-
ment as a key propels a lock bolt, or by compound crank actions, the connecting.

page_text: and locking bolts are simultaneously traversed, when acted on by suitable propellor,
(Handle key or nozzle) and they can only be traversed while the connecting bolts
and blocking bolts, forming stop catches of the several locks with which they are
connected are simultaneously in action, as already described.
When the blocking and connecting bolts are in unlocked position, they are so
retained as long as the door, gate, lid or other article is open, and until the door,
gate, lid or other article is again closed, and the connecting and blocking bolts are
fully thrown into the frame of the door, gate, lid or other article when in locked
position. Also the act of locking is ensured by the withdrawal of the key or keys,
which is only possible when the door, gate, lid or other article is fully closed,
thereby preventing the illicit or accidental locking of a door, gate, lid or other
article when ajar, that is to say to prevent the bolts from being shot outwards before
the door, gate, lid or other articlo is actually closed.
"
In the case of doors and gates by means of the exterior locking or blocking bolts
being retained, that is blocked in, by means of a flange plate extending from the
door or other frame, the possibility of the bolt being thrown until the door or gate
is close shut, is prevented when the bolts cannot pass into the frame in the usual
way; also by this arrangement the key or keys cannot be withdrawn until the
perfect locking is effected, thus guaranteeing the absolute certainty of the door being
locked, which is only possible by coupling or bolting the door, or other article, and
its frame together.
In order that officials, entering the strong room or other rooms, cellars and other
places may be able to secure themselves inside a room, while examining securities
and other contents, an inner bolt is provided which prevents the door from being
locked from the outside, and also prevents intruders from entering.
For boxes and such like articles the lock may be provided with a stop which,
until the lid is properly closed, acts to prevent the shooting of the bolt, which when
the lid is properly closed, is by the lid moved out of the way of the locking bolt.
The several arrangements herein before mentioned to make locks secure are
applicable to a series of levers and sliders, and to combination (letter or numerical)
locks whether placed vertically horizontally or diagonally.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings

page_text: of the same showing the parts in the position they would assume when the box is
unlocked; Figure 34 is a cross section of Figure 32 and Figures 85 to 38 are
different views of separate parts.
"I will first describe the arrangement represented at Figures 1 to 24.
In this arrangement two bolts A. B are employed for securing the door from the
outside thereof and a bolt C is employed in order that officials and others on
entering the strong room may lock themselves in and be thus secured against
intrusion and at the same time block the bolts A, B, in their unlocked positions so
as to prevent such persons being locked in from the outside. The bolts A, C, are
fitted within a case D and act to lock the door at points on its vertical edge-and
the bolt B is fitted in a case E and acts to lock the door on its top edge; the stem a
of the bolt A, has formed on its underside a toothed rack a¹ which is taken into by .
and receives motion from a toothed pinion b on the shaft b' of which is fixed
a handle 61 (shown by dotted lines) by which such bolt A is operated. The pinion b
also takes into a rack d formed on one edge of a blocking bolt d which is formed
with a projection d' which when the parts are in the position shown at Figure 1
permits the locking bolt C to be moved to and fro by the handle o³ for locking and
unlocking from the inside of the strong or other room but when the parts are in the
position shown at Figure 2 the projection d' comes against the stud c¹ on the stem c
of the locking bolt C and thereby blocks the said bolt C. The blocking bolt d is
acted upon by a spring arm d³ the end of which passes into one or other of the
recesses d' d' of such bolt and the stem c of the bolt C is acted upon by a spring c³
the end of which passes into one or the other of the recesses c c².
The stem a of the locking bolt A is connected by a rod e with a slide e¹ to which
it gives motion and such slide e¹ through a forked or double bitted lever f mounted
on an axis of motion f¹ gives motion to a vertical slide g which by a rod g' is
connected to a slide to which the bolt B is fixed. By theso means the locking
bolts A and B are caused to move in unison for locking and unlocking but other
suitable means of connection may be employed.
The slides e¹ and g are fitted in a case F.
The slide is formed on one side with a projection & above and below which the
blocking bolt or stop catch his caused to bear by means of a spring except when
such blocking bolt or stop catch his removed therefrom by turning its handle h³.
The slide is formed broader at its upper than at its lower part and in such broad
part is formed a space or recess 13. In connection with this space or recess 18
and with the underside of the broad part 2 of the slide 7 a blocking bolt or catch i
is caused to act for the locking and unlocking positions by means of a spring
lever in the one direction, and by a key in the other; a spring * acts in one
or other of the notches in the edge of the slide 2.
The blocking bolt d in case D, is by a connecting rod or bar d³ connected to a
blocking bolt which is formed with a projection j³ to act in combination with a
space or recess formed in the thickened head of the blocking bolt / or below
such thickened head. This blocking bolt k is acted upon in the one direction by
a spring lever ³ and in the other by a key k. These blocking bolts j k and their
fittings and connections are fitted within a case G.
The cases D, E, F; and G are connected together by tubular stays H, through
which the connecting rods d³, e and g' pass.
This arrangement assists in maintaining the various parts of the locking or
bolting mechanism in correct relative position and affords protection to the
connecting rods d³, e, and g².
In the modification represented at Figures 25 to 30 I have shown the slide 7 to
be blocked on one side in either its locked or unlocked position by a blocking
bolti operated by a key i' in a similar manner to that shown at Figures 1 and 2
but on the opposite side instead of employing a blocking bolt or stop catch h
operated by a spring h' and handle as in the arrangement before described I
bave shown a blocking bolt of very similar character to that of the blocking
bolti aud similarly operated by a key **.

page_text: This blocking bolt i acts in combination with the projection on a block
fixed to the slide Z.
In the arrangements of locking or bolting mechanism above described some of
the blocking bolts are shown in combination with "levers" working in a similar
manner to those of ordinary locks. I have therefore not thought it necessary to
give a detailed description of these "levers" and their fittings as such will be
readily understood from an inspection of the drawings by a competent mechanic
and such levers separately considered form no part of my Invention.
In order to unlock a door provided with the locking or bolting mechanism shown
at Figures 1 and 2 the attendance and co-operation of two persons with the proper
keys is necessary as four hands are required to effect this object. One of such
persons would with one hand apply the key and with the other hand would
grasp the handle h of the locking mechanism contained in the case E; the other
person would with one hand apply the key k to the locking mechanism contained
in the case G, and with the other he would grasp the handle 6 of the toothed
pinion b operating the locking mechanism contained in case D such persons will
then turn the keys and and the handle h in the required directions to release
the various blocking bolts, the handle 62 is then turned, and by operating upon the
various connections herein before described will withdraw the locking bolts A and B
from their recesses in the door frame. In the unlocked position of the locking
mechanism the keys cannot be withdrawn therefrom as the notches in their
co-acting bolts are formed as shown and the motion of the bolts is so limited us to
permit the keys being withdrawn only in one direction, and when the door is open
the locking bolts A, B, cannot be shot as a solid projection, 1¹ from the upper part I
of the door frame extends over the area traversed by the bolt B and thereby
prevents such bolt being shot so long as the door is open and until it is again
correctly closed. On entering the room, cellar or other place the officials can secure
themselves against intruders by shooting the bolt C which bolt at the same time
blocks the action of the other locking mechanism and thereby prevents the
possibility of their being locked in from the outside.
When employing the modification shown at Figures 25 to 30 the person
operating the mechanism contained in the case E will take a key **** in cach
hand instead of a key in one hand and a handle in the other as in the arrangement
first described.
I will now describe the arrangement of locking or bolting mechanism shown at
Figures 32 to 38. In this instance m is a sliding bolt which is formed with
heads m' which act within the notches or openings of the hasps n. The lower
edge of the sliding bolt m is formed with notches or recesses m² m² with which
the blocking bolt o acts to block the bolt m in its locked and unlocked positions
and such blocking bolt o is provided with levers o' and is operated by a key o² and
a spring o³. The bolt m is also formed with a notch or recess m' on its lower edge
to receive a lever or arm p¹ extending from the rotating false key-nozzle p by
which the said lever or arm p' is operated.
The bolt m is also formed on its lower edge with recesses or notches m³ into
which enters the nose of the stop catch q¹ to block the bolt m in either its locked
or unlocked position.
The stop catch q¹ is connected with the rotating false key-nozzle q and is
operated thereby in one direction and by a spring q' in the other direction.
The bolt m is also formed with notches or recesses me to receive the head of a
blocking bolt which is provided with levers r¹ and is operated in one direction by
a key and in the other by a spring ³.
The case of the lock carries a spring lever stop m7 which acts to prevent the
shooting of the bolt m until the lid of the box is fully closed. This is effected by
the end of such stop m² coming in the path of the projection m³ on the bolt m as
shown at Figure 33 until the lid is fully closed when one of the hasps n will
depress the stop m' as shown at Figure 32 and thus permit the shooting of the
bolt m.

page_text: With the arrangement of locking or bolting mechanism shown at Figures 32
to 38 it is also necessary that two persons should be present for the unlocking and
locking operations. One of such persons would with one hand operate the key o'
and with the other hand the rotating false key-nozzlo p.
The other person will with one hand operate the rotating false key-nozzle q and
with the other hand the key r².
Thus by withdrawing the blocking bolts o and r and the stop catch q¹ from the
locking bolt m, the lever or arm p' can then be operated by the nozzle to shoot
the bolt m in the one direction for locking the box and in the reverse direction for
unlocking the same.
The notches in the bolts are also in this last described arrangement so formed
and the motion of the bolts is so limited as to prevent the withdrawal of the keys
except in the locked position of the locking or bolting mechanism.
Instead of employing the rotating false key nozzle p and lever or arm pl to
move the bolt m to and fro and instead of employing the rotating falso key
nozzle 9 and stop catch g' suitable locking arrangeinents operated by keys may be
substituted for such parts in which case four koys would be required to lock and
unlock the lock instead of two keys and two handles as above described.
I would here remark that the arrangements of locking or bolting mechanism
represented in the drawings are only given as examples of various methods in
which my Invention can be carried into effect, and I would further remark that I
do not confine myself to the details of construction and arrangement of the various
locking and blocking bolts, stop catches, connections and fittings represented in
the drawings, as other constructions and arrangements may be adopted without
departing from the peculiar character of my invention. The numbers and arrange-
ments of the locking and blocking bolts and connections may also be varied and
locking or bolting mechanism may be constructed and arranged according to my
Invention in such manner as to necessitate the attendance of more than two
persons for effecting the locking and unlocking operations. I have not thought it
necessary to show such an arrangement in the drawings as it is only necessary to
increase the number of parts and keys or handles to operate the same and such will
be readily understood by a competent mechanic aided by the accompanying
drawings and by the description hereinbefore given.
I also preferably employ stops such as those shown at Figures 1, 2, 25 and 26
in order to prevent the rotation of the keys in the wrong direction for locking.
Instead of employing the lever locking arrangements hereinbefore described to
operate the various locking and blocking bolts other arrangements of locking
mechanism such as the "Bramah" or slider (either vertical or radial) or the
"combination" (letter or numerical) luck may be employed as will be readily
understood provided they are so arranged and combined as to necessitate the
presence and co-operation of two or more persons to effect the locking and
unlocking of the locking or bolting mechanism.
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 of a series of locking and blocking bolts in such manner as
to necessitate the presence and co-operation of two or more persons whenever it is
required to operate the same for locking and unlocking substantially as hercin
shown and described.
2. In combination with a series of locking and blocking bolts, necessitating tho
presence and co-operation of two or more persons to operate the same, the use of a
locking bolt operated from the inside of the strong rooin or other chamber to which
the locking or bolting mechanism is applied in order to secure the officials or others
inside such room or chamber against intrusion and at the same time block the
action of the other locks or bolts so as to prevent such persons being locked in
from the outside substantially as herein shown and described,

page_text: 3. In locking or bolting mechanism necessitating the presence and co-operation
of two or more persons for operating the same, the employment of means to
prevent the withdrawal of the key or keys when the locking or bolting mechanism
is in its unlocked position and for preventing the shooting of the locking bolts
until the door or lid carrying such locking or bolting mechanism is fully closed
substantially as herein shown and described.