IMPROVEMENTS IN LATCHES AND LOCKS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Sharpe, of Swadlincote, in the County of
Derby, Earthenware Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LATCHES AND LOCKS,"
Sealed the 12th April 1861, and dated the 26th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Sharpe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
October 1860.
T, WILLIAM SHARPE, of Swadlincote, in the County of Derby, Earthenware
Manufacturer,do hereby declare the nature of thesaid Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LATCHES AND LOCKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in the construction of latches in such manner
that the latch itself forms a cranked lever, and is supported by one or more
suitable bearings on which it rocks. This cranked lever latch is loaded or
heavier on one side of the fulcrum or bearing than it is at the other, and is so
constructed that the latch cannot be released from the catch without raising
the loaded or heavier end of the lever, while on the return of the latch to the
catch the loaded or heavier end of the lever falls, and by its weight keeps the
latch secure against the catch.
Secondly, I construct the catches for latches so as to give way or yield to
the pressure of the latch when passing over the catch in the act of closing, but
immediately the latch has passed the catch it assumes the right position for
holding the latch secure. In this case I make the catch to rock on a fulcrum

page_text: or other suitable bearings, and load it heavier on one side the fulcrum than
the other, and on the latch passing it the heavier end of the lever catch is
raised, but as soon as the latch has passed the catch the weighted end of the
catch falls and secures the latch in its proper place.
In some cases I find it convenient to place behind the catch,or in a suitable
position thereto, a projecting plate or guide for the purpose of directing the
course and ensuring the fastening of the latch on its first contact with the
catch.
Thirdly, in order further to secure the fastening of the latches her ein-before
described, I attach thereto a slidecliporotherequivalent contrivance, by which
means I connect the latch and catch together, or one or both of them to a stud,
staple, or other suitable stay placed conveniently for the purpose, and in this
case I employ a key which acts upon a screw or other well known locking
apparatus, to prevent the latch being opened indiscriminately.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Sharpe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SHARPE, of Swadlincote, in the County of Derby, Earthenware Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Herreign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Sharpe, Her special licence that I, the said William Sharpe, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said William
Sharpe, my 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, the Isle of Man, au Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LATCHES AND
Locks:" upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Sharpe,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what mauner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Sharpe, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement. :-
Firstly, my Invention has for its object the construction of latches and locks
suitable for field gates, out-buildings, entrance gates and doors in similar
exposed situations, and where there is liability for the gates or doors to sink
upon their hinges, and as a consequence leave their latches unfastened. For
these purposes I construct the latches in such manuer that the latch itself
forms a cranked lever, supported by one or more suitable bearings. This
crank lever latch is loaded or made heavier on one side of the fulcrum or
bearings than it is at the other, and is so constructed that the latch cannot
be released from the catch without raising or moving the loaded or heavier
end of the lever, while on the return of the latch to the catch the loaded
or heavier end of the lever falls or returns to its former position, and by
its weight keeps the latch secure against the catch.
Secondly, I construct the catches for latches so as to give way on the latch
passing the catch in the act of closing, but immediately the latch has passed
the catch the catch returns to the right position for holding the latch secure.
In this case I make the catch to rock on a fulcrum or move on bearings, and
load or cause it to be heavier on one side of the fulcrum or bearings than it is
at the other, and on the latch passing the catch in closing, the heavier end of
the lever catch is raised or moved from its normal position, but as soon as the
latch has passed the catch the weighted end of the catch falls or obtains
its original position and secures the latch in its proper place.
For the purpose of insuring the fastening of the latch on its first contact
with the catch, I sometimes place behind the catch, or in a suitable position
thereto, a plate, which, for distinction, I call a guide plate. And in order
further to secure the latch in its position and prevent its being indiscriminately
opened, I connect the latch and catch together by a slide, clip, or other
mechanical contrivance, or I connect the latch or catch, or both of them, to a
stud plate or stay placed conveniently for the purpose. In either of these
cases I secure the desired parts together by a screw or other well known
locking apparatus which requires a key or a separate instrument to open it.
The guide plate for securing the latch against the catch on its first contact
therewith, and also the slide clip, screw, or other appliance above referred
to for locking, are applicable alike to either the first or second part of my

page_text: Invention. I would observe that I do not claim as of my Invention any
peculiar form or description of lock or locking apparatus, except when
used in connection with the improved latches herein described.
Fig. 1 is a front, and Fig. 2, a side elevation, of one of my improved
latches as it appears when closed; Fig. 3 is a front, and Fig. 4, a side
elevation, of the same latch as it appears when open, that is, when the latch
is released from the catch. In these, four views similar letters refer to
similar parts in all.
1
The parts A, D, E, G, H, constitute the cranked lever latch, supported by
bearings B, B, on which it is free to turn; these bearings are attached to a
plate C. The cranked part 1 of the lever carries a projecting piece E; F is
the catch fixed to a separate plate C¹; G, the loaded or heavier end of the
lever, also cranked, and connected therewith is the handle H. When this
latch is in its position, as fixed to a gate or door, the loaded or heavier end G
of the cranked lever by its superior gravitating force falls to its place, as
seen at Figs. 1 and 2, and as it falls raises the opposite but lighter end D
until the projecting piece E is secure behind the catch at F. When the
latch is required to be opened or released from the catch, the handle His
raised, and the act of raising the handle releases the latch from the catch,
and it appears as represented at Figs. 3 and 4.
A latch slightly modified from that herein-before described is represented
at Fig. 5 in front, and Fig. 6 in side clevation, as it is seen when closed, and
at Fig. 7 in front, and Fig. 8 in side elevation, as it appears when open.
In this latch the cranked lever is supported on bearings B, B, which are
placed diagonally across the plate C, while the catch F is in the form of a
staple, which may be boxed or open as preferred, and well understood.
The action of this latch is very similar to that represented at Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, and need not be again described, as the same letters and descriptions
refer to and describe.corresponding parts in the different views.
Fig. 9 is a side clevation of an improved catch constructed according to
the second part of my Invention, exhibiting its position when closed;
Fig. 10 is an elevation also of the same catch, shewing its position when
the latch is passing it; Fig. 11 is a plan of Fig. 9.
A, A, is a frame; B, the lever catch fixed to the frame by the pin C, on
which it rocks. This lever catch is heavier on the side a of the fulcrum C,
than it is on the side a; D, the latch (shewn in section); E, a spring secured
to the frame A. The action of this catch is as follows:-Ou the latch D
first striking the catch B in the act of closing, the part a of the catch is
depressed, while the part a¹ is raised, and the spring E coming into action

page_text: on a further depression of the lever catch, aids the return of the heavier
end a when the latch has passed the catch, and as the end a rises the latch
is held secure. The guide plate is shewn at K, Figs. 2 and 4, and the lever
latch is seen locked at S, Figs. 5 and 7, by means of a screw T, which
connects the part G to a stud I.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the said latches and locks are constructed, I would observe that I do not
confine myself to the precise details described or shewn in the Drawings,
as they may be varied without departing from my Invention, nor do I con-
fine myself in their application to outside gates and doors, as there are
many other situations where these latches and locks are available; but
what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,
First, a cranked lever latch working on one or more bearings so con-
structed as to be heavier on one side of its bearings than it is on the
other, and employing its gravitating force to keep the latch in any
position with respect to the catch.
desired
Second, the construction of a lever catch substantially as described.
Third, the application of a guide plate as shewn at K, Figs. 2 and 4,
for securing latches on their first contact with the catch, as described.
Fourth, uniting latches and catches (constructed as herein-before described)
together, or one or both of them, to some fixed suitable part of the latch or
catch, so as to require the aid of a key or other separate instrument to
open them.
in witness whereof, I, the said William Sharpe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
JOSEPH SKERTCIILY.
WILLIAM SHARPE. (L.S.)