IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN ATTACHING THE KNOBS AND HANDLES OF DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES TO THEIR SPINDLES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Mackey at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1879.
CHARLES MACKEY, of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Accountant Clerk.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN ATTACHING THE KNOBS
AND HANDLES OF DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES TO THEIR SPINDLES."
My Invention has reference to both mortice locks and rim locks and latches, and
consists of the improvements hereinafter described, whereby great steadiness in the
motion of the knob or handle of the lock or latch is obtained, and a more secure
connection of the lock or latch to the door effected than can be effected with locks
and latches of the ordinary kind fixed to the door in the ordinary way.
In locks and latches of the ordinary construction, the follower of the lock has an
axial hole square in cross section through which hole the spindle of like figure is
passed, the knobs or handles being fixed to the ends of the spindle respectively.
As the spindle rarely fits the hole in the follower accurately, there is a slight play
between the spindle and follower which gives an unpleasant unsteadiness to the
turning of the knob or handle. Instead of making the follower with an axial hole
for the spindle to pass through, I make the said follower solid, and cast on one end
and in one piece therewith a short spindle, to which one of the knobs or handles
is firmly fixed by rivetting or otherwise. To the other end of the follower a pro-
longation or short axis is cast, having a square axial hole, in which hole a short
square spindle is fixed, to which last named spindle the adjustable knob or handle
is attached. Or the last named short spindle may be cast in one piece with the
follower and first named short spindle. By this method of construction the loose-
ness and play which is common in the fixed knob or handle is avoided.
Where a ring handle is employed, and where for any reason the handle or knob
is required to project as little as may be from the woodside of the lock, I dispense
with the prolongation or short hollow axis and obtain the required means of
adjustment by making the follower hollow through the greater part of its length.
The end of the follower most distant from the woodside of the lock is closed, and
has cast upon it the short spindle herein before referred to for the fixed knob.
In fixing mortice locks the roses by which the knobs or handles are frequently
connected to the door are attached to the door by woodscrews. The thickness of the
wood left by the mortice is sometimes insufficient to give a firm hold to the wood
screws by which the roses are attached, and the knobs or handles frequently
becomes detached.

page_text: To prevent this I fix the roses by screws, which passing through the wood take
into the case of the lock and thereby bind the roses to the said case. The roses
_ and the knobs connected with them are thereby securely fixed to the door.
In order to make the holes in the wood through which the screws pass exactly
opposite the holes in the lock case-I employ a guide. This guide consists of a plate-
of metal having a square hole at its middle-fitting on the square spindle, and holes
at the same distance apart as the-holes-in the lock case.
The guide being placed on the spindle, holes are bored in the door by a tool
passed through the holes in the guide. In this way the holes in the door are made
coincident with the holes in the lock case, and the screws in passing through the
holes in the door are accurately guided to the screwed holes in the lock case.