IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gibbons, of Kennet Works, Hungerford, in the
County of Berks, and Alfred Anthony, of Hungerford aforesaid, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gibbons and Alfred
Anthony at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th November
1881.
HENRY GIBBONS, of Kennet Works, Hungerford, in the County of Berks, and
ALFRED ANTHONY, of Hungerford, aforesaid. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND
LATCHES."
This Invention relates more particularly to "flush" door locks or latches, that is,
locks or latches in which the handles consist of hinged rings or loops that hang in
recesses in the outer door plate, so as to be flush therewith, out of which recesses
they have to be lifted in order to turn them for opening or closing the lock.
Our Invention has for its object a very simple and inexpensive construction of
such locks or latches that shall be more certain in its action, and less liable to get
out of order than those now in use. For this purpose we construct the locks or
latches as follows:-
A locking bolt works through a hole in one end of a lock box in the usual
manner. The said box is closed by a cover fixed by small bolts with screw
countersunk heads, the nuts being sunk into recesses in the back of the lock box so
as to be flush with it. On the underside of the bolt at the further end are two
notches which drop on a stud cast on the inside of the box, the end notch when the
bolt is shot forward, the inner one when the bolt is withdrawn. On the inside of
the box cover is a stud which takes into a slot in the bolt, so that when the cover
is in place the bolt cannot be removed. In the side of the lock box is a circular
hole, and in the cover exactly opposite it is a similar hole. In these holes, and
guided by them work two small discs, to each of which are fixed two small studs.
The said discs are rivetted or otherwise fixed to swivels working in outer plates
sunk into either side of the door. The studs on the discs are made to pass only

page_text: half way across the lock box, so that when both discs are in place the studs of the
one disc do not touch those of the opposite one. The swivels to which the discs
are attached are rotated for locking or unlocking on either side of the door either
by rings hinged to the swivels, and dropping into recesses in the outside plate so as
to be flush with it, or by knobs, by a key, or by any description of handle.
The action of the lock is as follows:-For shooting the bolt forward the handle
on either side of the door is turned round half a turn in the direction towards the
outer end of the bolt, whereby one of the studs on the one disc enters a third
notch suitably formed on the underside of the bolt, raises it till the inner of the
two notches before mentioned is clear of the stud on which it rested, and then after
shooting it forward lets it drop, whereby its end notch is made to drop on the
fixed stud which thus holds the bolt in the locked position. To unfasten the bolt
the handle is turned back half a turn, whereby the above operation is reversed and
the bolt withdrawn. There being two studs on the discs, both handles are always
in position to either fasten or unfasten, and as the studs of the two discs do not
touch each other, the handles work independently and without interfering with
one another's action, so that the one handle can remain stationary while the lock
is being opened or closed by the other handle.
Although we have described the said construction of locks or latches as parti-
cularly applicable to flush locks, yet it may be used with equal advantage for
locks or latches, the handles of which are not necessarily flush, or that are oponed
by keys instead of handles, and it may be employed for any purpose where a
simple lock that will not get out of order is needed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Gibbons and Alfred Anthony in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd May 1882.
HENRY GIBBONS, of Kennet Works, Hungerford, in the County of Berks, and
ALFRED ANTHONY, of Hungerford, aforesaid. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND
LATCHES."
This Invention relates more particularly to "flush" door locks or latches, that is,
locks or latches in which the handles consist of hinged rings or loops that hang in
recesses in the outer door plate, so as to be flush therewith, out of which recesses
they have to be lifted in order to turn them for opening or closing the lock. Our
Invention has for its object a very simple and inexpensive construction of such
locks or latches that shall be more certain in its action, and less liable to get out of
order than those now in use. For this purpose we construct the locks or latches
as follows:-
:-
On the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mortise latch con-
structed according to our Invention with cover removed.
A bolt A works through
a hole in one end of a lock box B in the usual manner. The box B is closed by a
cover C shewn detached at Fig. 2, fixed by two small bolts with screw countersunk
heads, the nuts being sunk into recesses in the back of the lock box, so as to be
flush with it. On the underside of the bolt A are two notches a, a', which drop
on a stud D cast or otherwise fixed on the inside of the lock box; the notch a
drops on the stud when the bolt is shot forward, the notch a¹ when the bolt is
withdrawn. On the inside of the lock box B, or of the cover C, is a stud c' which
enters a slot in the bolt A, so that when the cover is in place the bolt cannot be
withdrawn. In the side of the lock box B, and in the cover exactly opposite it are
two holes c, c. In these holes and guided by them work small discs E, E, to each
of which are fixed two small studs e, e. These discs are fixed to swivels F working
in outside plates sunk into either side of the door. The studs e, e, in the discs E
are made to pass only half through the lock box, so that when both plates are in
place, the studs do not touch one another. The swivels F to which the discs E are
attached, are worked on either side of the door by drop rings hinged to them, and
dropping into recesses in the outside plate, so as to be flush with the door. Or
they may be worked by knobs, finger plates, cross bars, or any description of
handle. Fig. 3 shews a front view of the recessed outside plate and drop handle;
and Fig. 4 shews a side view of the same, also shewing the disc E and studs e.
The action of the latch is as follows:-For shooting the bolt forwards one of the
handles on the outside of the door is turned round half a turn in the direction of
the outer end of the bolt, whereby one of the studs e in the disc E enters a notch a²
suitably placed on the underside of the bolt A, raises it till the notch a' is clear of
the stud D on which it rested, shoots it forward, and lets it drop with the notch a
on stud D, which holds it in place. To unfasten it it is only necessary to turn the
handle back half a turn, when the above operation is reversed and the bolt with-
drawn. There being two studs on the discs, both handles are always in position to
either fasten or unfasten, and as the studs of the two discs do not touch each other,
the handles work independently, and without interfering with one another's action,
so that the one handle can remain stationary while the lock is being opened or
closed by the other handle.
Although we have described the said construction of locks or latches, as
particularly applicable to flush locks, yet it may be used with equal advantage for
locks or latches, the handles of which are not necessarily flusb, or that are opened

page_text: by keys instead of handles, and it may be employed for any purpose where a
simple lock that will not get out of order is needed.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we claim, —
Constructing locks or latches with a bolt that is held in the locked or unlocked
position by a stud in the lock box, taking into a notch on its underside, the bolt
being raised off such stud, and moved backwards or forwards by studs on a disc
plate rotatable in the lock box by a handle, which studs take into other notches in
the bolt, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gibbons, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TTY AUDDova
TTY
HY. GIBBONS. (L.S.)