Improvements in or relating to Locks, Latches, or the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Locks, Latches, or the like.
We, SCOTT HOUSER, JOHN TYLER ROUNTREE, and GEORGE FREDERICK MUSSER,
all of Bellefonte, in the County of Center, and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, 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:-
-
Our invention relates to locks, and particularly to a combined lock, knob-latch,
and dead-latch, and has for its object to provide a compact, durable, and efficient
lock comprising the minimum number of parts, particularly of the dead-latch
member, said parts being combined for operation without the use of springs.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
In the drawing,
Figure 1 is a view of a lock constructed in accordance with our invention, with
the side-plate of the casing omitted.
Figure 2 is a face view of the lock.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by the line 3--3 of
Figure 1, the parts being shown in operative relation with the catch-plate.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the locking-bolt, detached.
Figure 5 is a similar view of one of the bolt-tumbler members.
Figure 6 is a similar view of the dead-latch.
Figures 7 and 8 are similar views of the knob-tumblers or buttons.
Figure 9 is a detail view of the contiguous extremities of the spindle-members
disengaged.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
of the drawing.
1 designates a casing having its face-plate 2 provided with a locking-bolt
opening 3 and a latch-bolt opening 4, through the former of which is adapted
to project the nose of the locking-bolt 5 having a reduced web or. blade-portion 6,
provided with a longitudinal slot 7. Said slot is provided with terminal engaging
and false seats 8 and 9, to receive inwardly-projecting locking-studs 10 on bolt-
tumbler members 11, which are pivotally mounted at their rear ends upon a
stud 12, fixed in the casing. The locking-bolt is also slotted contiguous to its
rear end, as shown at 13, to fit a guide-pin 14 fixed in the casing, and formed in
the lower edge of the locking-bolt, contiguous to a key-hole 15 in the casing,
is a kerf or key-seat 16. The tumbler-members 11 are arranged in contact at
their free weighted ends, and have their body-portions reduced to occupy positions
upon opposite sides of the plane of the blade G of the locking-bolt, the exterior
surfaces of the tumbler-members and the bolt-nose being flush, whereby each of
said members serves to guide the others.
Pivotally mounted upon a stud 17, contiguous to the plane of the face-plate, is
a latch-bolt 18 having a weighted rear end 19, and a projecting bevel-faced

page_text: nose 20 for operation through the bolt-opening 4 in the face-plate. The locking-
bolt 5 carries a stop consisting of a projection 21, which is arranged contiguous
to a tail 22 formed as an extension of the weighted end of the latch-bolt, and
when the locking-bolt is advanced to its locked position, as shown in dotted lines
in Figure 1, for engagement with a suitable fixed catch-plate 23, said stop 21
is located in the path of the tail 22, and hence secures the latch-bolt in its extended
or operative position. When the locking-bolt is in its retracted position, as
shown in full lines in Figure 1, the stop 21 is withdrawn from the path of the
tail 22 of the lateh-bolt, and hence the latter is free to swing pivotally, when the
projecting bevelled surface of its nose comes in contact with a double-bevelled
or V-cam 24 on said catch-plate.
The latch-bolt is also adapted for manual operation, and for this purpose we
employ two parallel latch-tumblers or buttons 25 and 26, co-axially mounted in
the casing and having their blades disposed in operative relation with a con-
tiguous cam-face 27 of the latch-bolt. The blade of the latch-tumbler 25 is of
smooth or unbroken contour, and is shorter than the blade of the latch-tumbler 26,
and the latter is provided in its periphery with a notch or seat 28 for engagement
by a rib 29 on a dead-latch 30, which is fulcrummed at an intermediate point
upon a fixed pin 31 in the casing. The latch-tumblers or buttons are mounted
for actuation respectively by the members 32 and 33 of a sectional knob-spindle,
seid members being arranged in axial alinement, and being connected at ileir
contiguous extremities by a swivel joint, whereby either is capable of rotary
movement independently of the other. As in the ordinary construction, the
knob-spindle members are of cross-sectionally rectangular construction to fit in
correspondingly shaped openings in the hubs of the tumblers or buttons 25
and 26, and the abrupt meeting ends of said knob-spindle members are located
in the plane of the contiguous surfaces of said tumblers or buttons, whereby the
operation of one spindle-member will not affect the tumbler or button which is
fitted upon the other member. Also, in order to prevent inward slipping of the
knob-spindle members relatively to the tumblers or buttons, one of said members
is preferably made of larger cross-sectional area than the other. For instance, in
the drawing, the member 33 is of greater cross-sectional area than the member 32,
and, obviously, the opening in the hub of the tumbler or button 26 is of larger
diameter than that in the tumbler or button 25. In the construction illustrated
the swivel joint which is formed between the spindle-members consists of a
headed pin 34 on the spindle-member 32, projecting into a laterally open seat or
bearing 35 in the end of the spindle-member 33, the said seat or bearing being
contracted at the end of the spindle-member 33 to fit the neck or reduced portion
of the headed pin and prevent the endwise displacement of the headed pin, and
hence the axial independent movement of either of the spindle-members. The
spindle-members may be interlocked by a relative lateral movement thereof,
causing the headed pin to enter the socket or bearing in the member 33 through
the T-shaped side opening therein. Obviously, when the spindle members are
engaged with the openings in the tumblers or buttons, the relative lateral move-
ment thereof is prevented, and hence the accidental disengagement of said
members is avoided.
In order to insure the yielding maintenance of the tumblers or buttons 25, 26,
in their normal positions we prefer to attach the knobs 36 to the spindle-
members eccentrically, to form weights which assist the weights of the tumblers
or buttons in holding the latter normally in a pendent position. The outer ends
of the spindle-members are preferably fitted in the thimbles 37 on the knobs, and
are secured therein by means of fastening-screws 38 inserted axially from the
outer surfaces of the knobs, through perforations communicating with the sockets
in the thimbles, said screws being threaded into axial sockets in the ends of the
spindle-members.
The dead-latch 30 is provided with a cam or key-seat 39, arranged contiguous
to a key-hole 40 in the lock-casing, whereby the rib 29 may be disengaged from

page_text: the notch 28 of the latch-tumbler or button 26 and carried by the other arm of
the dead-latch is a holding-pin 41 which extends terminally through an open-
ing 42 in the face-plate. This opening is elongated parallel with the swinging
movement of the dead-latch and is terminally enlarged to form upper and lower
spaced seats 42° connected by a reduced neck-portion 42b, and the holding-
pin 41 is terminally split for transverse expansion and contraction, whereby when
it is arranged in either of the terminal enlargements or seats 42ª of the opening 42
it maintains the latch in either its engaged or its inoperative position, said split
outer end of the holding-pin being contracted during its passage through the
reduced neck-portion of the opening 42. This construction provides for positively
maintaining the dead-latch in either of its adjusted positions without the use of
auxiliary holding means. The downward adjustment of the free end of the
holding-pin, in order to cause the engagement of the rib 29 with the notch of the
tumbler or button 26, may be accomplished exteriorly of the lock by downward
manual pressure applied to the projecting extremity of said pin, but disengage-
ment of the dead-latch from the tumbler 26, from the outside of the door, may
be accomplished by inserting the proper key through the key-hole 40 and turning
it to engage the cam 39. In order, however, that the holding-pin 41 may not be
severely strained by reason of the disengagement of the latch from the tumbler
or button, said latch is provided with a forward extension 43, located contiguous
to and parallel with the pin and adapted to bear against the under side thereof
when the inner or rear end of the latch is depressed by means of the key.
Furthermore, in order to provide a comparatively noiseless lock, particularly
in so far as it relates to the operation of the latch-bolt, we employ a stop 14,
arranged in the path of the latch-bolt, and preferably between two spaced
shoulders thereof, as illustrated in the drawing, whereby a common stop limits
the movement of the latch-bolt in opposite directions, and fit said stop with a
sheath or cushion 45 of soft material, such as rubber, leather, or the equivalent
thereof.
It will be understood, furthermore, that the operating parts of the lock embody-
ing our invention are adapted for use in connection with either a mortise casing
or a rim casing, as may be preferred, and that the reversal thereof, to adapt it
for either right or left hand doors, may be accomplished without change in the
interior construction.
Moreover, various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of
construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing
any of the advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a lock, the combination with a swinging latch-bolt, of a stop mounted
for sliding movement across the path of a contiguous portion of the latch-bolt, and
terminally held from engagement in the direction of said contiguous portion of
the latch-bolt, substantially as specified.
2. In a lock, the combination with a pivotal latch-bolt, of a locking-bolt
mounted for sliding movement in a path transverse to that of a contiguous
portion of the latch-bolt, and carrying a stop for lateral movement into and out
of the path of said contiguous portion of the latch-bolt, and held by the locking-
bolt from movement parallel therewith, substantially as specified.
3. In a lock, the combination with a pivotal lateh-bolt, of a locking-bolt having
terminal fixed guides whereby it is adapted for linear movement in a direction
transverse to that of a contiguous portion of the latch-bolt, and a stop carried by
the locking-bolt for arrangement in the path of a projecting tail-portion of the
latch-bolt, the movement of said stop being in a direction transverse to the path of
srid projecting or tail-portion of the latch-bolt, substantially as specified.

page_text: 4. In a lock, the combination with a pivotal latch-bolt, of a locking-bolt mounted
upon fixed guides for sliding movement in a path transverse to that of a contiguous
tail-portion of the latch-bolt, and carrying a stop for arrangement in the path of
said tail-portion, and locking devices for the locking-bolt including two tumblers,
arranged upon opposite sides of the plane of a reduced blade portion of the locking-
bolt, and flush at their outer sides with the surfaces of the nose of the locking-
bolt, substantially as specified.
5. In a lock, the combination with a pivotal latch-bolt, of a locking-bolt
mounted upon fixed guides for movement transverse to the path of a contiguous
tail-portion of the latch-bolt, and carrying a stop for arrangement in the path
of said tail-portion, said locking-bolt having a reduced body or blade-portion
provided with a longitudinal slot terminating in seats, and two separate, inde-
pendently movable tumblers, pivoted at one end and enlarged at their free ends
to lie in contact at their contiguous surfaces, the body-portions of said tumblers
occupying positions upon opposite sides of the blade or body-portion of the locking-
bolt, and being flush at their outer sides with the surfaces of the nose of the
locking-bolt, substantially as specified.
6. In a lock, the combination with a pivotal latch-bolt, of a locking-bolt mounted
for sliding movement and carrying a stop for arrangement in the path of a tail-
portion of the latch-bolt, tumblers for securing the locking-bolt in its adjusted
positions, and a cushioned stop arranged between spaced shoulders of the latch-
bolt, substantially as specified.
7. In a lock, the combination of a pivotal latch-bolt, yieldingly held in its
operative position and provided with a bevel-faced nose or projecting portion,
with a catch-plate having a double-beveled or V-shaped cam 24 for contact
contiguous to its apex with the beveled face of said latch-bolt, substantially as
specified.
8. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt yieldingly held in its normal
position, of two latch-tumblers or buttons arranged in operative relation with the
latch-bolt, and independent exposed means for respectively operating said tumblers
or buttons, substantially as specified.
9. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, of two swinging buttons
arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt, and independently movable
knob-spindle sections respectively connected to said buttons, substantially as
specified.
10. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, of two independently movable
swinging buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt, independently
movable knob-spindle sections respectively connected to said buttons, and a lock-
ing device for securing one of said buttons in an adjusted position, substantially
as specified.
11. In a lock, the combination of a latch-bolt, independently movable swinging
buttons operatively connected with the latch-bolt, independently movable knob
spindle sections respectively connected with said buttons, a dead-latch for
engagement with one of said buttons, and exterior means for adjusting the dead-
latch, substantially as specified.
12. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, of independently movable co-
axially mounted buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt,
independently movable knob-spindle sections respectively connected with said
buttons, and a dead-latch for engagement with one of the buttons to secure it
in an adjusted position, substantially as specified.
13. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, of independently movable
co-axial buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt, independently
movable knob-spindle sections respectively connected with said buttons, one of
the buttons having its blade provided with a notch or seat, and a dead-latch having
a rib for engagement with said notch or seat, substantially as specified.
14. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, of independently movable
buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt and connected with

page_text: exposed independently movable operating means, a pivotal dead-latch for engage
ment with one of said buttons, and a split pin carried by the dead-latch and
fitting in a terminally-enlarged and centrally contracted guide-opening in a fixed
part of the latch casing, substantially as specified.
15. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, co-axial independently movable
buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt, and means for locking
one of said buttons in an adjusted position, of a sectional knob-spindle having its
members arranged in alinement and respectively fitted in the hubs of said buttons,
and a swivel connection between the spindle-sections, substantially as specified.
16. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, co-axial independently movable
buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt, and means for locking
one of the buttons in an adjusted position, of a sectional knob-spindle having
alined members of different cross-sectional areas respectively fitted in openings
in the hubs of said buttons, and a swivel connection between the contiguous
extremities of said spindle-members, substantially as specified.
17. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, co-axial independently movable
buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt, and means for securing
one of the buttons in an adjusted position, of a sectional knob-spindle having the
contiguous extremities of its members fitted respectively in the hubs of said
buttons, one of the members being provided with an axial headed pin, and the
other member being provided with a terminally contracted socket, substantially
as specified.
18. In a lock, the combination with a latch-bolt, co-axial independently movable
buttons arranged in operative relation with the latch-bolt and means for securing
one of the buttons in an adjusted position, of a sectional knob-spindle having
the contiguous extremities of its members fitted respectively in the hubs of the
buttons, one of said members being provided with an axial headed pin, and the
other member being provided with a terminally contracted laterally open socket
for the reception of said pin, substantially as specified.
19. In a lock, the combination with latch mechanism, of a pivotal dead-latch
provided with means for engagement with a member of said latch mechanism,
and a longitudinally split holding-pin carried by the dead-latch and fitted in a
centrally contracted guide-opening in a fixed part of the latch casing, substan-
tially as specified.
20. In a lock, the combination with latch mechanism of a dead-latch fulcrumed
at an intermediate point and provided on one arm with means for engagement
with a member of said latch mechanism, and a longitudinally split holding-pin
carried by the other arm of the dead-latch and fitting in a centrally contracted
guide-opening in a fixed part of the latch casing, substantially as specified.
21. In a lock, the combination with latch mechanism, of a pivotal dead-latch
provided with means for engagement with a member of said latch mechanism,
and a split holding-pin carried by the dead-latch and fitted in a centrally con-
tracted guide-opening in a fixed part of the latch casing, said dead-latch having
a projecting bearing portion for lateral contact with the holding-pin, substantially
as specified.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.