Improvements in Padlocks and other Locks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
Improvements in Padlocks and other Locks.
We, LOFTUS BALFOUR MORETON, trading as John Moreton and Company, of
Horseley Fields, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Merchant, WILLIAM
OAKLEY, of Excelsior Works, Willenhall in the said County, Locksmith, and
JOHN STOKES, of 174 Lord Street, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, Merchant's Clerk,
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, more especially, to padlocks; but is applicable also to
other locks, as will be presently shown.
In what are known as spring padlocks, the key can usually be turned only a
sufficient distance to unlock the bolt, and has to be turned back again in the
opposite direction to bring the bit into coincidence with the key hole so that the
key may be withdrawn from the lock. This is inconvenient in practice, and
the sudden stop to the turning of the key in unlocking is liable to strain the parts i
and one of the objects of this invention is the construction and employment of
spring-bolt mechanism for a spring padlock by the employment of which the key
may be turned completely round without interfering with the self-locking action.
The spring employed in a self-locking padlock, to shoot forwards the bolt, is
liable to break owing to the extent of its movement which corresponds with that of
the bolt head; and this invention has for a further object means by which a small
movement of the spring suffices to throw the bolt head forwards the usual distance
required in locking.
When a curtain is used for a padlock it is usual merely to fit the front end of the
curtain within the round portion of the key hole through the front plate, and to
carry the hinder portion of the curtain simply to bed against the inner face or back
plate of the case, and when a solid, pin key is employed therewith the end of the
key pin passes into and projects to some extent through a hole drilled therefor in
the back of the case. According to this arrangement, the curtain is not only
somewhat unsteady, having a bearing only at its forward end, but rain and dust is
liable to enter the case through the hole in the back thereof; and this invention
has the further object of constructing and mounting the curtain in such a manner
that it is more firmly steadied in position, and is utilized to close in the opening
through the back of the case.
In order that the nature of this invention, together with practical means of
carrying it out, may be readily understood, we will proceed to describe it with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front elevation,
with the cap-plate removed to shew the interior mechanism, of a padlock fitted
with locking mechanism according to a modification of the invention in which a
pivoted bolt is employed, the shackle being shewn as locked; Figure 2 is a view
corresponding to Figure 1, but shewing a modification of the locking mechanism in
which a straight-sliding bolt is employed; and Figure 3 is a vertical section, taken
on line of Figure 1, for the purpose, more especially, of illustrating the
invention as it relates to the construction and mounting of a curtain.
Referring first to the modification shewn by Figure 1, a bolt A is pivoted at a
within the case B, and is pressed forwards by means of a spring b. The bolt is
key-gated to allow of it being not only moved back by the key, but to allow the
key to be completely turned round in the direction in which it is turned in
unlocking the bolt (being turned, for such purpose, in the usual direction in which
a key is turned in unlocking), and thus as the key is turned it first moves back the
bolt and unlocks the shackle C, and as it is continued to be turned in the same

page_text: direction it passes out of contact with the bolt and allows the bolt to return again
into its locked position. The key-gating is formed, in the bolt illustrated, as a
curved edge mi, of which the portion towards the right-hand side is, preferably,
concentric or approximately so, when the bolt is drawn back clear of the shackle,
with the shank of the key, so that as the key bit moves along such portion, when
the bolt is in such position, it simply holds the bolt back without moving it
backwards, and thus the spring is not further compressed during such movement
of the key. When, however, the bit passes down clear of the gating the bolt of
course moves forwards again into its locked position. The key-gating of the bolt
is, preferably, formed shouldered up at its hinder end, as shewn at e, so that
immediately the key has passed out of contact with the gating the bolt springs
suddenly forwards into its locked position. A lever or levers (one of which only
is shewn, by broken lines Figure 1, but two of which are shewn in section by
Figure 3) are pivoted within the case and gated in the usual manner to gear with a
stump carried by the bolt A.
f;
According to the arrangement of pivoted bolt A and spring shown by Figure 1,
the bolt head is much more remote from the pivot centre a than is the outer end of
the spring, and consequently a much smaller movement of the spring takes place
as the bolt is drawn back and shot forwards than when a spring is used, as usual,
with a straight-sliding bolt, and thus the liability of the spring snapping is very
materially reduced.
Referring to the modification shown by Figure 2, a straight-sliding bolt A',
guided by means of stumps /, carried by the case, projecting into slots through the
bolt, or in other convenient manner, is substituted for the pivoted bolt A of the
first described modification. The bolt is gated, as shewn, so that it may be moved
back by the key to unlock the shackle, and as the key passes down clear of the
gating the bolt is pressed forwards again by means of the spring 1. In this
modification also the right hand side of the gating is, preferably, shaped so that as
the key bit passes along it it simply holds back the bolt.
In each modification above described the nose of the shackle is, of course, thrown
out by means of a spring, such as the spring, immediately the bolt is drawn clear
of the spoon end.
Referring now to Figure 3, which is shewn more especially to illustrate in
longitudinal section the curtain D, it will be seen that the curtain is formed with
the usual portion to enter the round portion of the key hole through the front
plate E, and with the usual flange i which bears against the inside of the plate.
According to this invention, however, the inner or hinder end j is formed close-
ended, as shewn, and is fitted to turn within a hole drilled through the back plate F
of the case and which corresponds to, but is of larger diameter than, the hole usually
formed to receive, and act as the bearing for, the point or inner end of the key pin.
The portion of the curtain which enters the hole in the plate F may either be
shouldered down slightly from the main portion of the curtain, or a collar & be
formed around the body of the curtain, to form an end way bearing against the inner
face of the plate F and prevent the curtain from slipping out of place endways.
The pin of the key may be formed to stop short level with the outer end of the
key bit; or it may be made to project somewhat beyond, in which case a hole / is
formed, for a part of the distance down the axis of the portion of the curtain which
enters the hole in the plate F, to receive such: end of the pin. The curtain being
carried in a bearing at each end, is much steadier than when mounted in the usual
way; and, by forming the end j closed, rain and dust is excluded from the opening
through the back plate of the case.
The locking mechanism above described, for the purpose of allowing the key to
be turned right round, is applicable to other descriptions of spring locks, such as
hasp locks and the combination of pivoted bolt and spring described with reference
to Figure 1, is applicable to self-locking locks generally.
The improved construction of curtain above described (whether close ended or
not) may be mounted in the mauner described in any description of lock which is

page_text: constructed to be operated by a key from only one side thereof; and the
curtain may be formed open at both ends and mounted in the manner above
described, in mortise, rim, and other locks which are required to be locked and
unlocked from both sides.
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 :-
1. In a spring padlock or other lock in which the part which engages with the
bolt is automatically thrown out of the lock case when unlocked, a spring bolt key-
gated to allow of the key being turned completely round without interfering withi
the self-locking action, substantially as described.
2. In a spring padlock or other lock in which the part which engages with the
bolt is automatically thrown out of the lock case when unlocked, and in which the
key may be turned completely round in the direction in which it is turned in
unlocking a spring bolt having a portion of the edge thereof formed to a curve
which when the bolt has been moved back by the key is concentric with the key
shank, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
3. A spring padlock provided with self-locking mechanism constructed and
operating substantially as described and shewn (according to two modifications, in
one of which the bolt is pivoted within the case, and in the other of which it is
carried to slide in a straight line) by the drawings herewith, whereby the key may
be turned completely round without interfering with the self-locking action.
4. In a self-locking padlock or other lock, the combination of pivoted bolt such
as A and spring such as 6, for the purpose of minimising or lessening the movement
of the spring compared with that of the bolt head, substantially as described.
5. In a padlock or other lock, a curtain fitted to turn within both plates of the
case, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
6. In a padlock or other lock which is constructed to be operated by a key from
only one side thereof, a curtain having its hinder or inner end closed and fitted to
turn within a hole drilled through the back plate of the case, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 28th day of November 1891.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.