Improvements in Locks and Keys therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1899-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Locks and Keys therefor.
I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES, GIBBONS, of St. John's Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in locks and keys therefor, and the
object of it is, greater security against the possibility of an ordinary key being
filed into a skeleton one or otherwise converted into a master-key that will
open with equal facility other locks not intended to be opened by the ordinary
key.
In order that my invention may be the better defined and understood it may
be advantageous to first explain that the present method of differing locks and
keys for a set of locks in a building, of which a master-key has to pass all
the locks, is to vary the wards or bushes of the locks, but make the levers all
practically alike. The master-key is skeletoned out, passing over the wards,
and is made to take the levers only. Where there are a great number to differ
with the master-key, what is known as an open-lever is used; in some cases
two open-levers. This means that the ordinary key of the lock need not
then be stepped as a master-key. One of the steps on the bit of the key can
be made longer or shorter and the lock having been made to this key, the gating
The
in the lever can be opened wider to allow the master-key to pass the lock.
effect of this is, that a person having a key of the lock of one room in a
building, can, by filing it out into a skeleton, go over most of the locks in
the building.
According to my invention to obviate the above, I construct the lock with
two key-holes, a large one for the ordinary key and a smaller one for the master-
key. I also provide the lock with a long lever with two bellies or bulgings.
There are likewise two gatings in the bolt. The second bellies of the levers
are filed off sufficiently or gated to allow the master-key to open the lock.
The result of this construction is that the ordinary key opens the lock in the
ordinary way, whilst I can differ the levers any way I please. It therefore
follows that an ordinary key cannot be made into a master-key, and that the
stepping of both keys can absolutely differ from that on the levers.
At present, in buildings where there are a great number of locks and al!
the keys are required to be different, such for instance as in asylums, each key
has distinguishing letters marked thereon: F.A. (Female Attendant), M.A. (Male
Attendant), F.M. (Female Master), M.M. (Male Master) and G.M. (Grand Master).
All these keys are required to be absolutely different, and likewise the F.A.
and M.A. to open the lock once, the F.M. and M.M. to open their own locks
twice, and the G.M. to open all the locks.
The present method is to make the lock to a F.A. key and then a F.M. key
is put into it and the gating of the levers opened to allow it to open the lock;
then the master key is inserted and the gatings have to be further opened. The
result is that when this is likewise done on the male side, the security of the
locks is much reduced,

page_text: The difference between the F.A. and M.A. keys is considerable, but that
between the F.M. and M.M. is not very great; they likewise much resemble
the G.M.
According to my present invention the F.A. and M.A. keys would be inserted
through one and the same keyhole and the levers gated tight to it, leaving
full security to the lock and the M.M. and F.M. keys would go into the
other keyhole, and work upon the second belly of the lever, and only one lever
would be required to be opened to make the variation between the Male and
Female Attendant's keys, and the Grand Master's would still be made very unlike
any of the keys and yet be able to pass and double lock all the locks.
A modification of the above would be to have one keyhole and two sets of
levers, one top and one bottom set. The master key would be put in upside down
and work on the bottom levers and these bottom levers would work a bottom
bolt, upon which the pin of the ordinary lock bolt levers would work. In this
way the bottom bolt with the stump of the ordinary or top bolt levers would be
carried backwards taking with it the top levers which would, by means of the
stump in their gating, draw back the main or top bolt. Of course by this
arrangement however, the ordinary key could not re-lock the lock and the
master key would have to be employed for that purpose, which would, in some
cases, be rather a disadvantage, but is mentioned as being within the scope of
this invention.
Dated the 20th are of Anthon 1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH.
Agents for the Applicant.
po LOCKS anu neys therefor,
I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS, of St. John's Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, 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 to improvements, in locks and keys therefor, and the
object of it is, greater security against the possibility of an ordinary key being
filed into a skeleton one or otherwise converted into a master key that will
open with equal facility other locks not intended to be opened by the ordinary
key.
In order that my invention may be the better defined and understood it may
be advantageous to first explain that the present method of differing locks and
keys for a set of locks in a building, of which a master key has to pass all
the locks, is to vary the wards or bushes of the locks, but make the levers all
practically alike. The master-key is skeletoned out, passing over the wards,
and is made to take the levers only. Where there are a great number to differ
with the master-key, what is known as an open-lever is used; in some cases
two open-levers. This means that the ordinary key of the lock need not
then be stepped as a master-key. One of the steps on the bit of the key can
be made longer or shorter and the lock having been made to this key, the gating
in the lever can be opened wider to allow the master-key to pass the lock. The
effect of this is, that a person having a key of the lock of one room in a
building, can, by filing it out into a skeleton, go over most of the locks in
the building.
According to my invention to obviate the above, I construct the lock with
two key-holes, a large one for the ordinary key and a smaller one for the master-

page_text: key. I also provide the lock with a long lever with two bellies or bulgings.
There are likewise two gatings in the bolt. The second bellies of the levers
are filed off sufficiently or gated to allow the master-key to open the lock.
The result of this construction is that the ordinary key opens the lock in the
ordinary way, whilst I can differ the levers any way I please. It therefore
follows that an ordinary key cannot be made into a master-key, and that the
stepping of both keys can absolutely differ from that on the levers.
At present, in buildings where there are a great number of locks and all
the keys are required to be different, such for instance as in asylums, each key
has distinguishing letters marked thereon: F.A. (Female Attendant), M.A. (Male
Attendant), F.M. (Female Master), M.M. (Male Master) and G.M. (Grand Master).
All these keys are required to be absolutely different, and likewise the F.A.
and M.A. to open their respective locks once, (one turn of the key) the F.M.
and M.M. to open their own locks twice, and the G.M. to open all the locks.
The present method is to make the lock to a F.A. key and then a F.M. key
is put into it and the gating of the levers opened to allow it to open the lock;
then the master key is inserted and the gatings have to be further opened. The
result. is that when this is likewise done on the male side, the security of the
locks is much reduced.
The difference between the F.A. and M.A. keys is considerable, but that
between the F.M. and M.M. is not very great; they likewise much resemble
the G.M.
I will now proceed to describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying
drawings illustrating it, in which:
Figure is a plan of the two-keyhole dead-bolt lock with the cover-plate
removed the mechanism being shown in the position it assumes when locked
only by the ordinary key.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the ordinary key as used in the lock shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the master key as used in the lock shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of one of the levers as used in the lock shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan of a two-keyhole spring-pressed bolt lock with the cover
removed the mechanism being shown in the position it assumes when locked
by the master key.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the locking bolt.
Figure is a plan view of one of the levers as used in the lock shown in
Figure 5.
Figure S is a plan view of the ordinary key as used in the lock shown in
Figure 5.
Figure 9 is a plan view of the master key as used in the lock shown in
Figure 5.
Figure 10 is an exterior view of Figure 5.
Figure 11 is a plan of the one-keyhole lock with levers and bolt above and
below the keyhole.
Figure 12 is an exterior elevation of Figure 11.
According to my present invention the F.A. and M.A. keys a, a-in this
specification also called the ordinary keys-would be inserted through one and
the same key-hole b, 1, and the levers c, d (Figures 4 and 7) gated tight to it,
leaving full security to the lock; and the M.M. and F.M. keys d, would
go into the other keyhole f, fl and work upon the second belly of the lever,
and only one lever would be required to be opened to make the variation between
the Male and Female Attendant's keys, and the Grand Master's would still be
made very unlike any of the keys and yet be able to pass and double-lock all
the locks.
A modification of the above would be to have one keyhole, as shewn in

page_text: Figures 11 and 12, and two sets of levers, one at the top 2 and one bottom set c³.
In this case the master key would be put in upside down and work on the
bottom levers and these bottom levers would work both the bottom and top
bolts e, e, upon the latter of which the pin of the ordinary lock bolt levers
would work. In this way the two bolts together with the stump of the ordinary
or top bolt levers would be carried backwards taking with it the top levers
which would, by means of the stump in their gating, draw back the main or top
bolt 2. Of course by this arrangement, the ordinary key could not re-lock the
lock because the stump on the bottom bolt would be still caught in the gating
and the master key would have to be employed to release it for that purpose.
However, it is mentioned as being within the scope of this invention.
When the lock, shewn in Figure 1, is unlocked, the stump / rests in the
notch of the levers and when single-locked, that is, by the ordinary key a,
which is inserted in the ordinary keyhole the bolt e is of course advanced,
raising in its passage the levers c, and on arriving at the end of the stroke the
said levers drop again, bringing the notch of the said levers around the stump :
this being the position shewn in Figure 1. The ordinary key can not operate
the bolt any further. To doubly lock this lock, or in other words, shoot the
bolt still further, the master key must be used (or, of course, the grand-master
key which locks and unlocks all the locks). This key is inserted in the master
keyhole f, and turning it, raises the levers and by engaging in the notch n¹ of
the bolt, moves the latter forward still further, as desired, bringing the stump h
opposite the third notch 2 of the levers c which thereupon drop down as before.
In Figures 5 and 10 are shown a modification wherein the two keyholes are
in opposite sides of the lock one of them passing completely through the lock
and the other only to the backplate, and the ordinary bolt c¹ is spring-pressed
by the springs. There is also a special locking-bolt which is operated by the
keys and serves as the medium through which the ordinary bolt el is operated.
In its unlocked condition the ordinary bolt is maintained shot by the spring
A handle is fitted on one end of the spindle only, the usual handle on the
other end being dispensed with and a keyhole 1 substituted therefor, so that the
ordinary bolt can be operated on one side of the door by the handle only and on
the other side by either the ordinary or the master-key. There is also on the
keyhole side another keyhole f¹ for the master-key only, and on the insertion and
turning of the master-key, its bit raises the levers and enters the notch »¹ in the
locking-bolt, and advances the latter forward until the slot in the lever e
coincides with the fixed stump h. The locked condition of this lock is that shown
in Figure 5. The locking-bolt is shown detached in Figure 6, and one of the
levers in Figure 7.
8.
To prevent the ordinary key being used as the master key in both the above
modifications, the keyholes are of different sizes in addition to the wards being
varied.
In Figures 11 and 12 is shewn a further modification wherein the bolt and
levers above the keyhole are duplicated below it. In this lock there is but one
keyhole for the two keys, (the ordinary and the master). The ordinary key is
inserted the reverse way up to the master key, and it will be observed that a
stud or pin p is provided at one end of this keyhole so that one or other of the
keys must have a hole in the barrel to permit of its entrance into the keyhole.
The wards are also varied as an extra safeguard.
In the lock under description it is assumed that the ordinary key has no hole
in the barrel and therefore can only be inserted in the keyhole the ordinary way
up, and then it can only reach and operate the upper set of levers and bolt, and
lock the lock once, and the master key must have a hole in the barrel to go
over the pin or stud and must be inserted upside down or the reverse way to the
usual, and then by acting on the lower set of levers and bolt can unlock and
relock the lock. Therefore in this case also only the master key can re-lock the
lock after the said key has once been used to unlock it;

page_text: The lock shewn in Figure 1 can be double-locked, but that shewn in Figures
and 11 can only be single-locked or locked once, because although the lock from
one side of the door would need to be unlocked, that is, simply held back by
a key as explained, that is only because there is no handle provided on that side
but the bolt is only held shot by the springs and is therefore not locked but only
latched.
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. In locks of the class herein referred to, the combination with the case,
the bolt, the fixed stump and the two-bellied levers, of two separate and different
keyholes on one side of the lock and one on the other, substantially as and for
the purposes described and set forth.
2. In a lock of the class herein referred to, the combination with the case,
the ordinary spring-pressed bolt, the levers and the fixed stump, of the locking-
bolt and two separate and different keyholes on one side and one on the opposite
side of the lock, substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated
in Figure 5 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a lock of the class herein referred to, the double-ended keyhole and two
sets of locking mechanism, one of which is situated above and the other beneath
the keyhole, the one set consisting of a bolt capable of being projected beyond
the front plate, a longitudinal slot in the tail end of said bolt, one or more gated
pivoted levers pivotally and bodily movable, and a stump on said bolt engaged in
The gating in the levers; the other set consisting of a bolt, a longitudinal slot
in the tail end thereof, a fixed pin on the casing engaged in said slot, lateral
extension of said bolt, fixed pin on said extension engaged in slot in first mentioned
bolt, one or more gated levers only pivotally movable on fixed pin in case, and
stump on said bolt engaged in the gating in the levers, all constructed operated
and working as and for the purposes described and set forth.
Thabal 1914 T... 1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.