IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN ATTACHING THE KNOBS OF PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Dawes, of Northfield, in the County of
Worcester, Civil Engineer, and John Robbins, of Wolverhampton, .in
the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer; for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN ATTACHING THE KNOBS OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Dawes
and John Robbins at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 19th December 1865.
We, JOHN THOMAS DAWES, of Northfield, in the County of Worcester,
Civil Engineer, and JOHN ROBBINS, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN ATTACHING THE
KNOBS OF LOCKS AND LATCHES AND OTHER KNOBS TO THEIR SPINDLES," to be as
follows:-
Our improvements in locks and latches consist in connecting therewith
mechanism for the purpose of indicating when the room or place to the door
of which the lock or latch is attached is engaged or occupied, or for giving
other required indications. Our Invention is especially applicable to locks
and latches for waterclosets and for rooms in hotels.

page_text: In carrying our Invention into effect we attach to the follower of the lock
or latch a plate on which the word "engaged" is inscribed, or any other
word that the use to which the room is put renders desirable. In the lock or
latch plate is an opening, to which that portion of the plate on the follower car-
rying the word "engaged" is brought when the belt of the lock or latch is shot.
Or the word "engaged" or any other required word may be inscribed on a fixed
portion of the lock or latch case, or on a fixed plate in a lock or latch, and
the plate attached to the follower may be made to cover or uncover the said
fixed word by the motion of the follower. The motion of the plate may be
effected by the key in the case of locks having no latches, and where required
the exposure of the word "engaged or other word may be effected only
when the key has been introduced into the lock on the inside of the room.
"
Our improvements in attaching the knobs of locks and latches and other
knobs to their spindles are as follows:-We cut a screw on the angles of the
spindle and near one or both ends thereof, and we make a cylindrical collar or
screw box work upon the said screw. By turning the said collar in one or
other direction it may be made to advance or retire upon the end of the
spindle. The neck of the knob has an angular hole in it fitting the spindle,
the knob can consequently slide upon but cannot turn on the spindle. - The
front end of the hole in the knob is made cylindrical, and of such a size that
part of the screw collar on the spindle can enter it. A knob having-been
fixed on one end of the spindle, the spindle is passed through the door or
other article, and the screw collar is screwed upon the end of the spindle until
it is brought against the surface of the door or other article. The moveable
knob is then placed upon the spindle and pushed up to the screw collar, a
portion of the screw collar entering the cylindrical hole in the end of the neck
of the knob. A screw being passed through the side of the neck of the knob
into the screw collar, the knob and screw collar are connected together. The
screw collar being unable to rotate, the knob is fixed in its required position.
Instead of making the screw collar engage in a cylindrical hole in the neck of
the knob, the end of the neck of the knob may be made cylindrical, and may
engage in a cylindrical hole in the collar, and the collar and neck of the knob
may be connected by a screw. The knob and screw collar can be connected.
together in various ways with the same effect.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Thomas Dawes and John Robbins in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we JOHN
THOMAS DAWES, of Northfield, in the County of Worcester, Civil Engineer,
and JOHN ROBBINS, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Lock
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Thomas Dawes and John Robbins, Her special licence that we,
the said John Thomas Dawes and John Robbins, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Thomas Dawes
and John Robbins, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN ATTACHING THE KNOBS OF LOCKS AND
LATCHES AND OTHER KNOBS TO THEIR SPINDLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said John Thomas Dawes and John Robbins, our execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Thomas Dawes and John
Robbins, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our improvements in locks and latches consist in connecting therewith
mechanism for the purpose of indicating when the room or place to the door
of which the lock or latch is attached is engaged or occupied, or for giving
other required indications. Our Invention is especially applicable to locks
and latches for waterclosets and for rooms in hotels.
In carrying our Invention into effect we inscribe on a fixed portion of the

page_text: lock or latch case, or on a fixed plate in the lock or latch, the word " engaged,"
or any other word that the use to which the room is put renders desirable,
and we connect to the lock or latch mechanism a plate or shield, which plate
or shield by the shooting or withdrawing of the lock or latch bolt is made to
uncover or cover the said fixed word. The motion of the plate or shield may
be effected by the key in the case of locks having no latches, and where
required the exposure of the word "engaged" or other word may be effected
only when the key has been introduced into the lock on the inside of the
room.
Our improvements in attaching the knobs of locks and latches and other
knobs to their spindles are as follows:-We cut a screw on the angles. of the
spindle and near one or both ends thereof, and we make a cylindrical collar
or screw box work upon the said screw. By turning the said collar in one
or other direction it may be made to advance or retire upon the end of the
spindle. The neck of the knob has an angular hole in it fitting the spindle,
the knob can consequently slide upon but cannot turn on the spindle.
The front end of the neck of the knob is made cylindrical, and is provided
with an annular groove and cross groove, and the front of the screw collar
is provided with a cylindrical hole of a size proper to receive the end of the
neck of the knob. In this cylindrical hole is a pin or projection for engaging
in the grooves in the end of the knob. The fixed knob having been secured
on one end of the spindle, the spindle is passed through the door or other
article, and the screw collar is screwed upon the end of the spindle until
it is brought against the surface of the door or other article. The moveable
knob is then placed upon the spindle and pushed up to the screw collar, the
end of the knob entering the cylindrical hole in the said screw collar, and
the pin or projection of the screw collar engaging in the annular groove in
the end of the knob. By now turning the screw collar a portion of a rotation
the knob is fixed to the spindle. Instead of a projection on the screw
collar for fixing the knob the screw collar may be provided with an inner
collar having a projection upon it for engaging with and fixing the knob.
Having explained the nature of our Invention we will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of a latch constructed according to our
Invention, the latch bolt being represented shot, and Figure 2 is the same
with the plate of the latch removed; Figure 3 is an elevation of the latch
with the latch bolt withdrawn, and Figure 4 is the same with the plate of the
latch removed; Figures 5 and 6 are parts of the latch, as herein-after

page_text: explained. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
a is the latch bolt, and 6 the head of the same; c is the follower of the
latch connected by the pin and slot at d to the said bolt a. By turning the
knob e connected by the axis f of the follower the bolt a can be shot or
withdrawn in the ordinary way. Over the bolt a is a fixed plate g; this plate
is represented separately in Figure 6, and is provided with pins or projections
h, h, for the purpose of fixing it to the latch case. On the said plate the
word "engaged" (or other word) is inscribed. In the latch plate i, and
opposite the fixed plate g, an opening k is cut, through which the word on the
plate g may be seen. A similar opening to that in the latch plate is made
in the door to which the latch is attached. On the latch case is a fixed pin
7, upon which the covering plate or shield m turns as a centre.
The plate
or shield m is shown separately in Figure 5. In the moveable plate or shield
m is an inclined slot n, in which slot a pin p fixed on the latch bolt works.
The plate or shield m is pressed upon in the manner represented by the
spring q. The plate or shield m is capable by the motion of the latch a of
covering or uncovering the plate g, upon which the word "engaged" (or other
word) is inscribed. When the latch a is withdrawn by the turning of the
knob e, the moveable plate or shield m is made to turn upon its centre and
cover the fixed word at g, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. When, however,
the latch is shot by the turning of the knob e, the said moveable plate or
shield m is turned upon its centre and descends into a position at right angles
to the latch bolt, and is thereby made to uncover the fixed word at 9, as
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The rising and falling motions of the moveable
plate or shield m to cover and uncover the fixed word on the plate g are
effected by the curved side of the pin p, carried backwards and forwards by
the shooting and withdrawing of the latch bolt, bearing against the sides of the
inclined slot n in the said moveable plate or shield. The end of the spring q,
by falling in the notches on the joint end of the plate or shield m, maintains
the raised or depressed plate or shield in its position with some force. The
shooting of the latch bolt by pressure upon the moveable plate or shield m
from the outside of the door is prevented by means of a notch n³ in the side
of the slot n, which notch when the shield is pressed down engages with the
pin p, and thus fixes the said shield. Instead of the word " engaged" on the
fixed plate g, the said plate may have any other word inscribed upon it that
the use to which the room is put renders desirable.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 represent our Invention applied to a lock,
which the shooting or withdrawing of the lock bolt by the key is made to

page_text: uncover or cover the fixed word carried by the lock, Figure 7 being an
elevation of the lock (with the top plate removed), showing the bolt shot and
the fixed-word "engaged" uncovered; Figure 8 is the same with the bolt
withdrawn and the fixed word covered; Figure 9 represents the lock with the
top plate applied thereto; and Figure 10 represents the lock applied to a
door; Figure 11 is a portion of the lock; and Figure 12 is the key. The
same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
a is the lock bolt, and 6 the levers of the lock, the said bolt being shot and
withdrawn by the action of the key upon the levers and bolt in the ordinary
way; c is the fixed plate on which the word "engaged" (or other word) is
inscribed. An opening c³ is made in the lock plate (see Figure 9) as well as
in the door to which the lock is affixed, through which openings the fixed word
at c may be seen when required. The opening in the door is surrounded by
an ornamental plate d, as represented in Figure 10. is the moveable plate
or shield for covering or uncovering the fixed word at c, the said plate or
shield turning as a centre on the pin ffixed to the free end of the upper
lever g of the lock. The said upper lever g has no other function than the
actuating and fixing of the plate or shield e. On the lock case is a fixed pin h,
which works in slots in the lock bolt a and levers b, and also engages in an
inclined slot i in the said plate or shield e. The upper lever g is shown
separately in Figure 11. When the key of the lock is introduced and turned
the levers bare raised to the respective heights necessary to shoot the bolt,
the part k of the key (Figure 12) at the same time acts upon the top lever g,
and raises the said lever. By the raising of the said lever the plate or shield e
is turned upon its centre f, and by the fixed pin h working in the inclined slot i
in the said plate or shield the plate or shield is depressed into the position
represented in Figure 7, and the fixed word at c is thereby exposed, and is
seen through the opening in the door, as illustrated in Figure 10. When the
bolt a is withdrawn, the lever g being no longer supported by the key is
pressed down by its spring, and the part k of the key now acting against the
incline of the moveable plate or shield raises the said plate or shield into
the position represented in Figure 8, and covers the fixed word at c. The
plate or shield e is fixed in its raised and depressed positions by means of the
stamp of the lock bolt a engaging with the gatings of the lever g. Instead
of covering and uncovering the fixed word of the lock, Figures 7, 8, 9,
and 10, by means of a plate or shield actuated by the shooting or withdrawing
of the lock bolt, the fixed word may be so situated that it may be covered and
uncovered by a plate or shield worked by the latch bolt of a combined lock and
latch, in the manner described with respect to the latch Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.

page_text: Figure 18 represents the moveable knob of a pair of knobs connected to its
spindle according to our Invention, the said moveable knob and parts
connected with it being represented in section; Figure 14 is an elevation of
the moveable knob separately; and Figure 15 is an elevation and section of
the screw collar which we employ. The same letters indicate the same parts
in Figures 18, 14, and 15.
is a screw
a is the knob, fixed permanently to one end of the screwed spindle; b and c is
the moveable knob. The neck of the knob c has an angular hole in it fitting
the spindle b, the said knob can consequently slide upon but cannot turn on
the spindle. Working upon the screwed end of the spindle
collar d; by turning this collar in one or other direction it may be made to
advance or retire upon the spindle b. The front of the screw collar d has a
cylindrical hole d' in it of such a size that the cylindrical end of the knob c
is capable of fitting therein. Projecting into the cylindrical hole d' in the
screw collar is a pin or projection e, and in the cylindrical end of the neck of
the knob is an annular groove c³, opening into which is a cross slot or groove c³,
the said grooves being of a size proper to receive the pin or projection e of the
screw collar d. The knob a having been fixed on one end of the spindle b,
the said spindle is passed through the door or other article, and the screw
collar dis screwed upon the end of the spindle until it is brought against the
surface of the door or other article. The moveable knob c is then placed
upon the spindle and pushed up so that its cylindrical end c³ may enter the
cylindrical hole in the screw collar d, the pin or projection e in the said screw
collar being placed in such a position with respect to the cylindrical end of
the knob that it may pass through the cross slot c' in the said end and enter
the annular groove or slot c. By now partly rotating the screw collar d so as
to remove its pin or projection e from.opposite the cross slot c*, the moveable
knob c is connected to the screw collar d and to the spindle in the manner
represented in Figure 13. The knobs at both ends of the spindle may be
connected in the manner described and represented.
Instead of effecting the engagement of the projection on the screw collar
with the annular groove in the end of the knob by the rotation of the screw
collar, as described and represented in Figures 13, 14, and 15, the cylindrical
hole in the screw collar may be provided with an inner collar having a pro-
jection, which projection by the rotation of the said inner collar may engage
with the annular groove of the knob, and thus fix the knob to the screw collar
and to the spindle. This arrangement of our Invention is represented in
Figures 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Drawings. Figure 16 represents in longi-

page_text: tudinal section the knob attached to the spindle; Figure 17 is an elevation
of the knob Figure 18 is an elevation and section of the screw collar with
its inner collar; and Figure 19 is the inner collar separately.
6 is the spindlė; c, the moveable knob; and d, the screw collar. In the
cylindrical opening of the screw collar d is an inner collar f provided with a
projection e. The said collar f is capable of rotating within the said screw
collar d, its motion being limited and the said collar maintained in its place
by stop pins on the screw collar engaging in slots in the inner collar. At the
back of the cylindrical hole in the screw collar d is a fixed stump or projec-
tion 9,
which I passes through a slot in the inner collar f. This stump g; when
the end of the knob has been introduced into the inner collar f, occupies the
cross slot c* in the said end of the knob and prevents the rotation of the screw
collar d. When the knob c has been placed upon the spindle 6 and pushed
up so that its end may enter, the inner collar f and the projection e of the said
collar pass through the cross slot c* into the annular groove c³, the inner
collar f is turned within the screw collar d by a key or pointed tool placed in
the notch of the said collar, so as to remove its projection e from opposite the
cross slot in the end of the knob. The knob c is thereby fixed to the screw
collar d and to the spindle b, the said screw collar being incapable of rotation
by the stump g occupying the cross slot c. When the knob c is required to
be removed from the spindle 6 the inner collar fis turned so as to bring its
projection e opposite the cross slot c in the end of the knob, when the knob
can be withdrawn by the passage of the said projection e of the inner collar
through the said cross slot c. The end of the knob may be provided with
more than one cross slot for the purpose of obtaining a nicer adjustment of
the knob to the thickness of the door or other article. By the use of the
inner collar f, carrying the projection e for engaging with the annular groove
of the knob, and the stump 9 for occupying the cross slot, the risk of the
detachment of the knob from the spindle by the accidental turning of the
screw collar d, as in the first described arrangement, is avoided.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do
not limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated in
the Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of our Invention; but we claim as our Invention,―
Firstly, the improvements in locks and latches herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings, for
the purpose of indicating when the room or place to the door of which the lock
"

page_text: or latch is attached is engaged or occupied, or for giving other required indi-
cations, that is to say, combining with the said locks and latches mechanism
for raising and lowering a moveable plate or shield in such a manner that on
the shooting of the bolt of the lock or latch the said plate or shield shall be
depressed and the word "engaged" or other word on a fixed plate exposed
to view, and on the withdrawing of the bolt of the lock or latch the said plate
or shield shall be raised, and the said fixed word covered, substantially in the
manner described and illustrated.
Secondly, the arrangements or combinations of the parts herein-before
described, and illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the
accompanying Drawings, for attaching the knobs of locks and latches and
other knobs to their spindles.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Thomas Dawes and John Robbins,
have bereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOHN THOMAS DAWES. (L.S.)
JOHN ROBBINS.
(L.S.)