IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLTS FOR FASTENING DOORS, GATES, AND WINDOWS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Pitt Eastman, of Newark, New Jersey,
U. S. America, and temporary of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLTS FOR
FASTENING DOORS, GATES, AND WINDOWS."-A communication from abroad
by Henry Burt, of Newark, New Jersey. U. S. America.
Sealed the 14th December 1860, and dated the 21st June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Pitt Eastman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st June 1860.
I, WILLIAM PITT EASTMAN, of Newark, New Jersey, U. S. America, and
temporary of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLTS, POR
FASTENING DOORS, GATES, AND WINDOWS," to be as follows, that is to say:
The Invention communicated to me consists in a peculiar construction of
bolt, by which greater security is obtained than by those now in use. The
bolt is formed of a metal frame, with a part of its back removed, and cast with a
foot plate, to enable it to be fixed to a door post, gate, or window, by means of
spurs and screws. The bolt which plays in this frame is provided on its outer
side with a button, of the same width and length as the opening in the back of
the frame in which it partly rotates, being rivetted at one of its ends to the

page_text: bolt so as to permit of its movement. This bolt is put in action by moving
the button, which throws the bolt out, and in both operations securing the bolt
as placed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Pitt Eastman in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PITT EASTMAN, of Newark, New Jersey, U. S. America, and temporarily
of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
'me, the said William Pitt Eastman, Her special licence that I, the said
William Pitt Eastman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Pitt Eastman, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLTS FOR FASTENING DOORS, GATES, AND
WINDOWS," (a communication from abroad by Henry Burt, of Newark, New
Jersey, U. S. America,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
'William Pitt Eastman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
'describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Pitt Eastman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and
to the letters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The Invention communicated to me consists in a peculiar construction of
bolt, by which greater security is obtained than by those now in use.

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a front view of the complete
bolt; Figure 2 is a back view of the same; Figure 3 represents the mode of
application, with the position of the bolt at rest; Figure 4 shews the same
application, with the position of the revolving button when the bolt is shot.
In all these Figures the corresponding parts of the mechanism are indicated
by the same letters of reference.
This bolt is composed of three pieces, viz., the metal frame A, A, the
bolt B, and the revolving button C, the stalk of which passes through the
frame and bolt, and is so rivetted behind the latter as to admit of freely
turning. The metal frame A, A, is usually attached to that part of the door
post which is covered by the edge of the door when closed, and is fixed by
means of cast spurs or projections (as in a, a,) which are sunk into the wood,
with the addition of one or more screws. The bolt is put in action by turning
the button C, above named, which button not only throws the bolt out and in,
but in both operations secures it as placed, as seen in Figures 3 and 4.
This bolt is novel from its simplicity, cheapness of construction, its ready
application, and its great powers of resistance from external pressure, entitling
it to be called the "safety bolt" when applied to a door, gate, or window, as
above described. A thin flat plate of metal may be affixed to the door, upon
which the bolt may slide, and not a staple, as in ordinary cases. By this
means the rising and falling of the door from shrinking is prevented from
affecting the operation of the bolt.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said improvements,
and the manner of carrying them into effect, I would have it understood that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details of form, dimensions, or con-
struction laid down and shewn, as these may obviously be modified without
deviating from the principles or main features of the Invention; but what I
claim is, the general construction and arrangement of a permanent bolt or
fastener for doors, gates, and windows, composed, operated, and secured sub-
stantially as above described and represented by the Figures of the accom-
panying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Pitt Eastman, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
WILLIAM PITT EASTMAN. (L.S.)