A NEW SYSTEM OF LOCKS AND KEYS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to. Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, of Fitzroy
Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A NEW
SYSTEM OF LOCKS AND KEYS."
Sealed the 27th December 1864, and dated the 6th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Bernhard Baron
Von Rathen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th July 1864.
I, ANTHONY BERNHARD BARON VON RATHEN, of Fitzroy Square, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW SYSTEM OF LOCKS AND KEYS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in locks with keys with two bits or arms, to which
the construction of the locks is adapted, in order that both bits of the key can
work simultaneously. Each bit throws a separate bolt in such manner that
the main bolt is fastened by the other bolt, which acts as a wedge, and may
also act as an additional bolt.
The novelty of the system consists in the keys with two bits. but I reserve
the right to use more than two bits. The novelty in the locks in combination
with the new keys is, that two bolts are moved simultaneously, but not in the
same moment of time.
One of the most striking features in my new system of locks with keys with
two bits is, that the key makes only a half turn to close or to open the lock,
that is to say, both bolts, and after each accomplishment of a half turn the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: key with two bits can be removed, which cannot be done with keys with one
bit, such one bit keys without the help of intermediate contrivances can only
move one bolt, and must accomplish a whole turn or circle in opening as well
as closing the lock before they can be removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
יור
Fig. 1 is an exterior view of the lock, showing the keyhole a, b, for my
key with two bits; Fig. 2 is a view of the lock with the lock plate removed;
C is the main bolt; D is the second or wedge bolt; E is an additional bolt
for closing the latch. If the lock be opened, as shown at Fig. 2, the key
shown with its two bits A and B at Fig. 4 is inserted, in such manner that
the bit A enters at a of the keyhole, and the bit B at b. Then the key is
moved to the left, and after describing a half turn the bit B of the key will be
in the keyhole at a, and the bit A at b, and can be taken out.
By this
movement of a half turn the main bolt C has been closed, the wedge bolt D
has been moved upwards and securely fixes the main bolt, and the additional
bolt has moved downwards and fastened the latch. If it is required to open
the lock shown closed at Fig. 3, the key bit B must be inserted at a of the
keyhole, the key must then be moved to the right a half turn, and when the
key bit B stands in a line with the opening b in the keyhole then the key
can be taken out and the lock is opened, by this half turn to the right at first
the bolt D has released the main bolt C which has been drawn back by the
bit A at the end of the half turn, and at about the middle of this turn it has
raised the additional bolt E, and thus released the latch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTHONY
BERNHARD BARON VON RATHEN, of Fitzroy Square, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me, the said
Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, Her special licence that I, the said
Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as T, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen,
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, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW SYSTEM OF LOCKS AND KEYS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Yon
Rathen, 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 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 immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My system of locks and keys is particularly applicable for houses and
rooms, but also with local arrangements for every other purpose.
I call my Invention a new system, because it is not a special improvement.
but it forms an entirely new set of locks on certain fundamental principles of
construction, which may be retained, but the appertaining details and con-
trivances may be altered or improved ad infinitum.
The nature of this Invention consists in locks with keys with two bits,
adapted and combined to suit one the other, and this union I call the system.
The locks are so constructed that they must have keys with two bits to attain
the object of the Invention, and keys with two bits can only be usefully
employed in locks constructed on the principles and modes I will now explain.
One of the objects of this Invention is to give the main bolt the strongest
resistance, by fastening the same by another bolt which acts as a wedge, and
may also serve as a second bolt; both these bolts must be moved simul-
taneously, but in different directions and times; the main bolt must first be
closed before the second bolt can fasten it as a wedge; to obtain this end it
was necessary to have two bits on the key fitted in a straight line, one opposite
to the other on the shaft; the keyhole is also a novelty, and the shaft of the
key is in the centre of the two bits, as will be seen in the accompanying
Drawings.
It must be here remarked that this lock can only be opened or closed by

page_text: inserting the proper bit in the proper keyhole, and turning the key in the
proper direction; for instance, if the lock is to be unclosed, the bit A in the
keyhole a, and move the key to the left, after the key has performed a half
revolution the lock is closed at every part, and the key can be taken out. If
the lock is to be opened insert the bit B'in the keyhole a, and move the key
to the right through a half circle, the lock is then open, and the key can be
taken out.
These three novel and unusual arrangements or principles form the new
system of locks and keys which I claim as my Invention, and so long as they
are preserved together in any lock or key I claim the exclusive right to make
any addition or any alteration or change in the other parts. I reserve to
myself the right to give the bits of the key any form, and to make any wards
therein which I deem necessary to protect the lock more against the possibility
of being picked, and of course to make contrivances in the locks to meet the
altered forms or wards in the key bits; for instance, in the Sheet of Drawings
No. 1 at E an additional bolt is shewn secured by the bit A of the key.
In Sheet No. II. I have shewn a lock, which, preserving the three united
features, videlicet, the keys with two bits, the moving of two bolts, one of
which serves as a wedge to fasten the main bolt, and to close or open with
only a half turn of the key. This lock has besides the addition of the con-
trivance to close the latch also another change, videlicet, the same bolt which
fastens the main bolt works also as a separate bolt of the lock, which in this
case is fastened with three bolts, and has also changes in the forms of the bits
of the key as well as in the interior of the lock, both to provide against
picking, and has also a contrivance to hold fast the second bolt.
I refer to Sheet No. II. as an example of different variations which might
be introduced in the key bits and in the locks without altering or departing
from the principles or features of the united system, particularly the wards in
the key bits could be varied ad infinitum, even each of the bits could be
Again
doubled, each having a lower or a higher bit, thus having four bits.
the shaft of the key can turn in the keyhole, or being bored can turn round
a pin.
Another contrivance is also introduced in the lock shewn in Sheet II., by
which the bolt of the wedge is kept firmly in its place when moved for closing.
Sheet No. I.-This Drawing shows the system of locks and keys in the
most simple form, the bits of the key are without any wards, and the second
bolt acts only as a wedge bolt. At W, Figure 3, wedge bolt is shewn as an
indication that this bolt could also be made useful as a bolt. Figure 1 is an
exterior view of my lock shewing the keyhole for a key with two bits a, b

page_text: At L, H, the handle is indicated for turning the latch. Figure 2 represents
the lock with the plate removed. The lock is shewn here as opened and the
latch L thrown back. C is the main bolt in repose: D. the second or
wedge bolt: E, an additional bolt for closing the latch. All the bolts are now
represented as opened. Supposing the lock has to be closed, then the key
must be inserted in such manner that the bit A is lodged in the keyhole
at a, and the bit B in the keyhole at b, the key must be moved to the left,
and after having described a half turn of the circle the key can be taken out.
It will then be found that the bit A has moved into the keyhole at b, and the
bit B in the keyhole at a, and each of the bolts has made a movement for
closing the bolts. The main bolt C has been projected outside in the wall or
other firm body, the wedge bolt D has been moved upwards and fastened the
main bolt, and the lock E has moved towards and fastened the latch, and by
those movements the open lock has been closed on all sides, and has been
changed to the positions indicated at Figure 3. Figure 3 represents the lock
fully closed. It may be here remarked the keyhole a was in Figure 2
when opened in the first incision of the bolt C, but now here when closed it is
in the second incision of the same bolt. The wedge bolt has only moved to
the red line at W, the bolt passing beyond the red line as part of the wedge
bolt is hereby meant only as an indication, and is not really in operation in
the lock of this plate. It is supposed that the key was taken out from the
lock of Figure 2 after it had been closed, as represented in this Figure. Now
when it should be opened again the key bit B must be put in the keyhole
at a, and the key bit A in the keyhole at b, and the key must then be turned
to the right, and after having been moved a half turn the lock will be opened
entirely, and the key can be taken out, and the lock will be again in the state
represented in Figure 2. It may be here remarked that all the locks of my
new system are so constructed that they can only be opened or closed from
the outside, but if used on a room or house door, then they can be closed
from the inside by a handle M, as shewn in Figure 5, which is fitted to the
main bolt, and when the key is taken outside out of the lock at a time when
of course it cannot be closed, then the main bolt can by this handle be closed
and fastened inside the room.
Sheet II.-The Figures 1, 2, 3 represent the same views as described at
Sheet I. The letters C, D, E, and L, or L, H. refer to the same parts as in
the Sheet I. The key in which the bits are altered must be used for opening
and closing the locks in the same way and manner as has been described with
reference to Sheet I. This lock, however, is more complicated, and has

page_text: several additions, and the bits of the key are also differently formed, as
required for the different additional contrivances in the lock, in order better
to protect it from being picked, and also to shew one of the many variations
to be possible, and to be in the Patent right of the Inventor to select, invent.
and carry out in the formation of the bits of the key and the construction of
the lock. One of the principal variations of this lock in comparison to that
shewn at Sheet I. is, that the wedge bolt D is here not alone used as a wedge
but also as a real bolt to fasten the lock to the wall or to another firm holder,
and to prevent its being pressed down by any means it is held fast when once
closed by the metal piece S by a spring, which is dissolved by opening through
the higher part of the key bit B; the same key bit is formed with wards to
pass over a ring at g, and under two pieces of metal, formed as shewn in
Figure 5, f. f. to farther protect the lock against picking. As a superpro-
tection for the same purpose a piece of metal h is fixed to the cover or plate
of the lock. The key bit A is also protected by a similar piece of metal k,
fixed to the cover and fitting to a ward of this key bit, a circular incision lin
the bolt for closing the allows the pin of the key bit A to move this bolt
greatly protected against picking. This lock like all the others of my system
can only be opened and closed from outside, there is no keyhole inside, but
the same contrivance is also here provided to remove and close the main bolt
from inside by a handle M, as has been described with reference to Sheet I.,
Figure 5.
I intend the foregoing explanation to serve for a definition upon what I
form the claims for my Invention of a "New System of Lock and Keys," I
claim in consequence as my Invention,-
1. Locks and keys with two bits when united together in such a way as
herein-before explained, and as shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
2. Locks so constructed as shewn in the accompanying Drawings, by which
one bolt acts as a wedge to the main bolt, and in which a key with two bits
can be taken out at a half turn of the circle, and I reserve to myself the right
to make additions or alterations in the other parts of the locks if those
principal parts of construction are retained.
3. Keys with two or more bits (but I disclaim them generally when used
for different purposes or different locks) when so adapted as to suit locks of
the aforesaid construction, and by which those keys with two or more bits can
be taken out after closing or opening the lock at a half turn of the circle, and
I reserve to myself the right and liberty to make these bits of the key of any
form or dimensions adapted to the dimensions and uses of the locks, and to

page_text: give to the bits any wards which I may think best adapted for the nature of
the lock if used as a house or door lock, or for chests and boxes, or for any
purpose whatever.
I reserve to myself the right to divide each bit in two bits, or to fit two bits
on each side of the shaft of the key, one below the other. And I further
reserve the right to use the shaft of the key as a whole turning in the hole, or
having the shaft bored and turned round a pin.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron von Rathen,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
ANTHONY BERNHARD BARON VON RATHEN. (L.S.)