Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 31st Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
I, RICHARD GEORGE OWEN of 40 Warwick Road, Earls Court West Kensington in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to remove the objectionable feature of ordinary locks
namely the projection of the bolt beyond the edge of the door when the door is open
whereby accidents often occur.
In lieu of the ordinary latch of the lock which is pressed forward by the action of a
spring and projects beyond the face of the lock, a special bolt (A) is used which is
held back by a spring in such a position that when at rest it is about an inch
within the face of the lock. When the handle of the lock is turned this bolt (A)
presses forward until its extremity lies flush with the face of the lock. Its function is
simply to throw back a bolt which is projected into the lock from the box staple.
As it accomplishes this the door opens and the bolt (A) returns to its normal
position by the action of the spring. It will thus be seen that there is nothing
projecting from the lock when the door is open.
In place of the ordinary box staple a special staple is requisite. This contains in the
middle the usual opening to receive the locking bolt. Above this opening is a stud or
button the nose of which is round or bevelled or fitted with a small roller. This
button or stud is the end of a small bolt (B) which is pressed forward by a spring in
its rear.
Beneath the aforesaid bolt opening is a bolt (c) similar in size to the bolt (A) in the
lock. This bolt (c) is under the bolt (B) and so placed that the door when closing
strikes first on the stud or end of (B). Between (B) and (C) is a small lever so
arranged that when (B) is depressed one-quarter or three-eighths of an inch, (C) is
The result of this
projected half an inch, or in any other required proportion.

page_text: arrangement is that when the door closes, the stud of (B) being depressed, the bolt
(C) is thrust into the aperture of the bolt (A) and the door is fast until the handle of
the lock is turned, when the bolt (A) pushes back the bolt (c) and allows the
door to open.
It is probable that the stud of B will require an inclined plane in the face of the
lock to facilitate its working. This can easily be provided if found requisite, or the
stud of the bolt (B) may be confronted with a flush spring strong enough to overcome
the resistance of the spring behind (B) but not strong enough to resist the pressure
communicated by the hand, when opening the door, by turning the handle and
pushing out the bolt (A).

page_text: I RICHARD GEORGE OWEN of 40 Warwick Road, Earls Court, South Kensington,
Civil Engineer, 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 is designed to remove an objectionable feature of ordinary locks, and
latches, namely, the projection of the latch bolt beyond the edge of the door, whereby
when the door is open accidents often occur. In lieu of the ordinary latch bolt, of a
door lock or latch, which is pressed forward by the action of a spring, and projects
beyond the face of the lock, a special latch bolt A is used, which is held back by a
spring, in such a position, that when at rest it is about inch within the face of the
lock. When the handle of the lock is turned this bolt A is pressed forward, until its
extremity lies flush with the face of the lock.
Its function is simply, to throw back a bolt B, which is projected into the lock,
from a special form of catch, placed in the door post. When the bolt A pushes back
this opposing bolt B, the door can be opened and the bolt A returns to its normal
position by the action of its spring. It will thus be seen that there is nothing projecting
from the lock, when the door is open, nor is there any projection from the door post,
as the sloping catch is placed in the recess of the rabbet of the jamb. This special
catch plate is used in place of the ordinary box staple or striking plate. It contains
in the middle the usual opening to receive the locking bolt. Above this opening is
the bolt B, which is projected against the face of the bolt A. The end of this bolt B
may be rounded or bevelled or fitted with a small roller. This bolt B can be pressed
forward by a spring (as shewn in Fig. 6.) or can be moved backwards and forwards
by a small lever or spring, the other end of which is acted upon by a small trigger
bolt C.
This bolt C is under the bolt B, and so placed that the door when closing presses it
in. When C is depressed, one quarter or three-eights of an inch, by the closing of the
door, B is projected against the face of the lock, ready to fall into its mortice when it
comes opposite, to a depth of half an inch or thereabouts, or in any other required
proportion.
The result of this arrangement is that when the door closes, the end of C being
depressed, the bolt B is thrust into the aperture of the bolt A, and the door is held
fast until the handle of the lock is turned, when the bolt A, pushes back the bolt B,
and allows the door to open. It is possible that the end C, will require a small wheel
or roller or an inclined plane in the face of the lock to facilitate its working. This
can easily, be provided if found requisite, or the end of the bolt C, may be confronted
with a flush spring strong enough to overcome the resistance of the spring
behind C, but not strong enough to resist the pressure communicated by the hand
when opening the door by turning the handle and pushing out the bolt A.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. Shew's a door lock adapted to my improved principle.
Fig. 2. Shows the special Catch plate, employed in the form most preferred for
ordinary use.
Figs. 3 and 5. Show the trigger bolt C, with an extended tail forming a rigid
lever T, which thrusts forward the bolt B, on the trigger bolt (being depressed.
Fig. 4. resembles Fig. 2, but has no lower spring and carries a roller G in the
nose of the trigger bolt, C.
Fig. 6. is a catch plate in which the bolt B, is projected by means of a small
coiled spring contained in the tubular box W.
Fig. 7. is a front view of the catch plates shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5. It will
be observed that the trigger bolt C is not depressed untill the door is nearly closed.
A. is the latch bolt of the lock.
B. is the opposing bolt in the catch plate.
C. is the trigger bolt in the same.
D. is the locking bolt of the lock.
E', E2, E3, are springs in the catch plate.
F. is the pivot of the lever action between the bolts B & C.
G. is a roller which can be added to C if desired.
T. is a rigid lever connecting bolts B & C.
W. is the box containing the coiled spring.
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. An improved door lock or latch furnished with a non-projecting latch bolt, as
herein described and set forth.
2. A special form of catch plate, furnished with a projecting spring bolt, or
with two bolts working by a reciprocal movement so that one bolt engages with
the latch bolt of the lock, as herein explained and set forth.
3. The employment of a spring as part of the lever action between the bolts
B & C as herein described and set forth.
4. The combination of the improved door lock with non-projecting bolts, and of the
special catch plate, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 21st day of January 1887.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C.,
Patent Agent.