Improvements in or relating to Locks and Latches.
Year: 1891

page_text: ate of Application, 19th May, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Locks and Latches.
I GEORGE HENRY VAN WINKLE of Rochester in the County of Monroe and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 an improvement in combined locks and latches, the
primary object being to provide an absolutely burglar proof lock capable of being
secured from either the inside or outside so that the knob upon the outside is made
fast, but the inside knob is so constructed that the door may be released from this
side by simply pushing on the knob or turning its periphery. Secondary objects
are as follows; to furnish a neat, durable lock and latch of easy and automatic
adaptability to doors of different thicknesses, and requiring only ordinary skill and
ingenuity in affixing it to doors; to furnish a lock of such construction that the
key will be just as effectual in accomplishing its work either edge up and having
its various wards so arranged that a different set operates upon the tumblers when
inserted from the inside than from the outside thus admitting of innumerable
varieties of keys being made without a great deal of study or unusual complicity;
and finally to so construct the various parts that the outside knob cannot be
removed until the inside one has first been removed, and to provide for holding
the key in the inside so that it cannot be pushed out or turned from the
outside.
With these ends in view this invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter
fully described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a door and its jamb showing the
internal mechanism, with the lock locked.
Fig. 2 is a view showing the mechanism unlatched.
Fig. 3 is a detached view in perspective of the latch casing.
Fig. 4 is a similar view of the strike plate.
Fig. 5 is a detached view of the shank 54.
Fig. 6 shows the various parts of the knob deassembled.
Fig. 7 is a view of one of the knob roses.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the door, lock and escutcheon plates.
Fig. 9 is an interior view of the lock.
Fig. 10. is a front view of the key hole cover, and
Fig. 11 is a view of the key.
A represents a two part cylinder or casing recessed and slotted as will be
described and as the drawings indicate in order to secure the complete and accurate
performance of the functions of the latch. The two parts are secured together by
a screw which passes through a countersunk opening in one section and enters a
screw threaded opening in the other section. The section 2 of the casing A. is
provided with..a face plate 3, the latter having screw holes 4, 4, to receive screws
which secure the casing within the mortise formed in the edge of the door; and
with a recessed portion in which the latch 6.rests when in a closed position.
Semicircular depressious formed in the edge of this section form part bearings
for the trunnions of the latch 6, and, the operating lever, and the complement of
bearings is made by corresponding depressions in the meeting edge of the. other
section of the latch casing.
The latch 6 is shaped substantially as shown in the drawings and it is pivotally
supported by laterally projecting, trunnions 8, 8. on the bearings just described.

page_text: This latch is provided at its extreme inner end with a hook 9 in which the rounded
outer end 12 of the connecting lever 10 is retained. To make room for its length
and thickness this hook enters a slot in lever 10 when in one position and its back
enters a slot or recess in the casing when in opposite position. This construction
permits of sufficient length and thickness to the hook, without weakening the con-
necting lever 10, where it joins the latch 6, so that when desiring to close or open
the door without a snap the lever 10 is drawn back by means of its connection
with the knob stems; there is no danger of the joint formed by the connection of
latch 6 and lever 10 being disconnected. The connecting lever 10 is provided
with a longitudinal slot 11, through which the screw 1 passes and is provided at
its rear end with a bearing 13 which enters a socket 14 in the operating lever 15.
Said lever is formed substantially as shown and pivoted at 16 within the casing A
with its rear end projecting out through the opening in the rear end of the casing
to constitute a tripping toe 17, and also with trip lug 18 on one side which
lies just within the slot 19 in the side of, and banks against, the casing, thus
relieving part of the strain on the pivots. A spring plate 20 is located within the
casing and one end 21 is bifurcated and extends through and bears upon the
outside of the casing. This gives a broadened bearing and increased length and
elasticity to the spring so that its full strength is preserved. The opposite end
of the spring exerts its pressure directly against the connecting lever 10 forming
a yielding fulcrum for said lever. A slot 23 in the spring permits the screw.to
pass. Now it will be seen that when the toe 17 of the lever 15 is moved the
length of its stroke or the lug 18 is depressed the end of the lever 10 adjacent to
the operating lever 15 will move a short distance in the operation and consequently
cause the outer end of said lever 10 to bear against the portion of the latch 6
behind its trunnions. As soon as the outer end of the lever 10 passes behind the
center of the trunnions of the pivoted latch the spring 20 forces the lever 10 away
from said spring and turns the pivotal latch around to a closed position.
When the
pivoted latch is in an open or locked position the lever 10 which connects the latch
and lever 15 rests in such a position as to prevent the possibility of the latch 6
moving to a closed position without first moving the lever 15 and hence when the
latch is automatically opened by coming in contact with the keeper, as will be
hereinafter described, it will remain open until the position of the lever 15 is
changed so as to admit of the slight backward movement of the lever 10.
The latch casing is applied to the door, without reference to the thickness of
said door, by bringing the outer edge of the recessed portion 5 of the face plate 4
on a line or flush with the outer face of the door. The strike plate 24 shown in
Fig. 4 is secured in position corresponding to the position of the pivoted latch,
and is provided preferably, at or near its longitudinal center with an outwardly
projecting lug 25 on the strike plate. The lug 25 projects outwardly sufficiently
far to allow for the shrinkage of the door and engage or come in contact with the
convex back of the pivoted latch 6 and by projecting a short distance into the
opening in the plate, the accidental displacement of the latch is absolutely
prevented. By thus placing the latch casing in the door as above described, and
providing the strike plate with lug 25, and the latch casing with recess 5, the
pivoted lever can be operated from the lug 25 and no unsightly and otherwise
objectionable lug projecting from the heel of the latch is required.
When the door is to be closed the friction roller 27 on the toe of the latch
engages first with Jug 25 and the latch is forced by this contact and the movement
of the door to turn on its trunnions when by reason of this circular action of the
latch the roller is relieved from contact with the lug, the turning of the latch is
continued to that point where the spring can force it to a locked position by its
convex back sliding against said lug, and thus progressively with the closing action
of the door the latch enters the opening in the strike plate or keeper. Its beveled
face having contact with said keeper, and thus being entered and secured by the
mechanism enclosed in the latch casing it is impossible for the reaction caused by
slamming the door to take place enough to displace the bolt.

page_text: When the pivoted lever is in the above described open or locked position, the
lever 10 which connects. the latch and lever 15, rests in such a position as to prevent
the possibility of the latch 6 moving to a closed position until the lever 15 is first
moved by the longitudinal action of the knob stems.
The latch thus formed is operated by means of the inside and outside knobs 30
and 31 and a detailed description of these knobs and the immediately connected
parts will follow. As the two knobs are substantially alike, one only will be
described. It consists substantially in five separable parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
The parts 32, 33, are similar in external appearance and they go together to form
the shell of the knob but they are held slightly separated by spacing blocks 34, 34,
in section 32 and to prevent their turning independently of each other the
points 35, 35 enter recesses 36, 36, formed in the spacing blocks. The part 32 has
a circular hole 37 in its center and surrounding the latter and integral with the
inner wall of the part, is an open sleeve 38. The button 39 by means of which the
latch is operated is located within this sleeve 38, its outer end projecting loosely
through the hole 37 where it is yieldingly held by the back pressure of a spring 40
interposed between the buttons of the two knobs. In addition to this feature of
operating the latch by a simple pressure on the buttons, the acquired impulse being
to turn the knob, in order to open a door, means is provided whereby a turn of the
knob will also withdraw the catch. To this end a peripheral ring 41 is interposed
between the parts 32, 33. A web 42 is formed integral with this ring and it lies in
the space just outside of the sleeve 38 and is concentric with the inner wall of the
ring and the outer wall of the sleeve. This web carries a pair of oppositely extending
inclines 43, 43. which impinge against the laterally projecting lug 44 on the side
of the button 39 lying in the slot 45 of the sleeve when the ring is turned in either
direction, thus forcing the button in, just the same as though direct pressure were
exerted upon it. The ends 46, 46 of the web where it joins the ring, abut against
the spacing blocks 34, 34 to limit the turns of the ring. To return the ring to its
normal position a spring 47 extends loosely around the sleeve 38 and into the
perforation 48 in the feather 49 on the sleeve. The ends 50 50 of the spring are
bent outwardly and the lug 50 on the ring lies between these ends so that as the
ring is turned in either direction its movement is counteracted by the spring, the
result being to return the ring immediately upon being released to its normal
position. The rose 52 fits closely around the sleeve 38 and is provided with
lugs 53, 53, which enter openings in the part 33. Its end also extends slightly
into the part 33 so that when the parts of the knob are assembled the appearance
is as though the parts 32, 33 and 52 were all one integral piece. The sleeve 38
is screw threaded inside in order to screw onto the hollow shank 54. The button 39
has a screw threaded shank 55 which screws into the pusher 56. The latter forms
an automatically adjustable extension on the end of the shank of the button, and
entering the shank 54, abuts against the spiral spring 40 previously referred to.
A feature of novelty in this present invention exists in this automatic adjustability
of parts.
It is necessary that two things should be provided for in the construction
of a lock of this character; namely, that it should be applicable to doors of different
thickness without requiring refitting and other adjustment by those unskilled in
handling such parts and also it is essential that the pusher should retain sub-
stantially the same relative position within the shank all the time the inner knob
is being screwed onto the latter. By this construction both of these essentials are
provided for. The threaded stem is first screwed a short distance into the pusher,
say about five turns, the knob then is screwed onto the shank, the stem taking care
of itself the rest of the way, as the stem threads are so made that the pusher
recedes just as fast as the knob advances, so that the knobs may be quickly applied
to doors of any thickness.
The shank 54 is hollow and screw threaded at each end to receive the knobs.
The end 57 is provided with an elongated slot 58 in which the rib 59 and the
trippi g lung 60 on the pusher lie and are guided as they are moved back and forth.
A recess 61 is made in the side of the shank opposite the inner end of the stct 58

page_text: to form a seat 62 for the end of the latch casing. Two lugs 62 one on either side
of the elongated slot and the rib at the end of said slot, forming the walls of said
seat, firmly hold the rear end of the latch casing against lateral motion and thus
the pusher lug has unobstructed access to the tripping lug 18, thus constituting an
essential feature where the device is to be used on thin doors....The inner toe 17
of the operating lever 15 extends into the shank in proximity to the end 63 of the
stem 64 of the outside knob button so that it is operated by the latter, and the
lug 18 is in position to be struck by the lug 60 on the pusher from the other
button. Instead of the stem of the outside button being screw threaded it is not
adjustable but has two collars thereon which normally lie opposite the opening 65
in the shank, to receive the lock bolt. There is also a like opening 65 on the
opposite side of the shank so that the bolt may be received on either right or left
hand doors. The shank is provided with ribs 66 which prevent its turning in the
hole made for it in the door. The outside knob is first screwed to the shank and
the latter is inserted in the door where it is held fast by a lug 67 entering a recess 68
so that it cannot be removed from the outside until the inside knob has first
been taken off. When the knobs are on they are essentially rigid, the only
movable parts being the buttons and the rings. The spring 40 of course throws
the buttons out as far as possible in the knobs, removing the tripping device from
the latch mechanism. But the primary use of the spring 40 is to return the outer
push button stem to a position where the lock bolt can enter when the door is open
and the lever 15 could not return it. A pair of oblong escutcheon plates 69 and 70
are placed on the door. These plates are substantially alike in construction, they
having circular openings 71 at their upper ends through which the shank of the
knobs pass and in which the inner ends of the roses of the knob are fitted. The
contact of these roses is sufficient to hold the plates fast to the door and as
previously stated the outer knob is held fast always until the inner one is removed
and the appearance is as if the knobs were absolutely rigid. The lower ends are
held securely in place by means of a single screw 72 which enters the internally
threaded post 7 projecting inwardly from the outer plate 70, so that the screw is
invisible from the outside and hence the latch and lock are both proof from being
picked or broken from the outside when locked.
The lock is affixed to the inner face of the outside escutcheon plate 70. Of this
lock 78" is the side bolt. Portions of the edges 75 and 76 are parallel and confined
between the lugs 77, 77, while the rear end is guided by the post 73. The outer
or free end 78 of the bolt 78" is recessed and extends part way across the
opening 71 in position to enter the opening 65 in the shank and engage the stem of
the outer knob to lock the latter. A shoulder 79 on one edge of the bolt limits
its outer movement and a shoulder 80 on the rear end abuts against the post to
limit the rearward movement. The broadened portion of the bolt is cut away so
that the portion left extends about half across the keyway and in the middle of
this portion the V-shaped notch 81 is formed to constitute a bearing for the key
whereby the bolt is slid back and forth. The movement of the bolt is controlled
by a pair of spring actuated tumblers 82 and 83 which are pivoted at one end on
the post 73 and spread outward normally by the tension of the springs 84, 84.
The outer or free ends of these tumblers are each provided with an L-shaped
notch 85 which extends in opposite directions from each other and are normally
held out of alignment by the action of the two springs. The tumblers are cut out
in the middle to receive the key and this portion constitutes wards for the
engagement of the key by means of which the notches are made to register and
the bolt is thrown out or in by the contact in the V-shaped notch. The case 86 of
the lock encompasses these parts and it is retained in position by the post 73
which enters a hole in it and the lugs 77, 77 the outer edges of which fit against
the inner edge of the casing and is fastened by nut 77". The rotary disk 87 of
this casing being inside the door and out of reach its slot is retained in vertical
alignment with the slots in the outer and inner disks, by a small spring 88 and
wards 89 and 90, are formed on either side of the disk. Also the edges of the

page_text: outer escutcheon plate around the keyway forms a ward. Rotary slotted disks 91
and 92 are placed on the escutcheon plates to act in conjunction with the inner disk
as rotary bearings for the key.
The key 93 has duplicate sides so that it will operate equally well with either
edge. Furthermore the key is divided as it were into two parts separated by the
projections 94, 94, near the middle, so that the end of the key operates upon the
tumblers and bolt when inserted from the inside and the inner portions perform
when inserted from the outside thus different portions of the key operate from
opposite sides on the same tumblers to lock or unlock the latch.
The inside rotary disk is provided with a pin 94 and a key hole cover 95
pivoted to the piece which holds the disk in place, is provided with a semicircular
recess 96 which receives the pin as it is turned over the hole. This cover is also
furnished with a notch 97 which receives the pin to lock it so that a key cannot be
inserted from the outside thus taking the place of a dead lock. The key is thus
fastened by locking the door as usual without quite completing the half turn.
The cover is then turned until the notch or recess 97 in the edge drops over the
pin which has the effect of locking the key against turning. Not only is the disk
locked but the key is held when in this position by the wards in the lock so that it
cannot be pushed out from the outside.
It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrange-
ment of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of
this invention and hence it is not desired to limit the invention to the. exact
construction herein set forth, but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1st. The combination with a strike plate having an opening therein and a
rectangular lug integral with one side of the plate said lug extending partly across
the opening and a short distance into the opening, of a pivotal latch having an
anti-friction roller therein adapted to strike the lug when the door is closed whereby
the latch is swung outward on its pivot and locked in such position, substantially
as set forth.
2nd. The combination with a latch casing having a slot therein and a pivoted
latch having a hook therein near its end, of an operating lever pivoted within the
casing, a lever connecting the operating lever and latch, and a spring bent at or
near its center and having one end protruding through the slot in the casing and
bearing at the other end against the connecting lever for holding the latch open or
closed, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The combination with a latch casing having an opening in its rear end and
side, and a pivoted latch having a hook thereon near its pivoted end, of an
operating lever pivoted within the casing and having tripping tocs extending
through the opening in the rear end and side knobs having devices connected
therewith for striking these tripping toes protruding through the side and end of
the casing, a lever connecting the operating lever and latch, and a spring bearing
against the connecting lever for holding the latch open or closed, substantially as
set forth.
4th. The combination with a strike plate having an outwardly projecting lug
thereon, of a casing, a pivoted latch, a connecting lever and an operating lever
having tripping toes protruding through a side and end of the casing and mechanism
for striking said lever from its side or end in order to close the latch, substantially
as set forth.
5th. The combination with a latch casing, and a pivoted latch having a hook
therein near the pivotal point, of an operating lever pivoted within the casing and
projecting through one end and side thereof, a lever connecting the operating
lever and latch, a spring bearing against and forming a fulcrum for said connecting
lever, and longitudinally sliding spindles or stems having devices thereon adapted

page_text: to have contact with the operating lever at the side and end to close the latch,
substantially as set forth.
6th. The combination with a two part casing having openings and bearings
therein, and a latch pivoted therein of an operating lever partly located within
said casing and projecting through one end and side thereof, a lever connecting
the latch and operating lever, a screw connecting the two parts of the casing and
passing through a slot in the connecting lever, and a bent spring one end of
which protrudes loosely through a slot in the casing and a spring bearing against
and forming a fulcrum for the connecting lever, substantially as set forth.
7th. The combination with a two part casing having slots therein and bearings
in its meeting edges, of a pivoted bevel faced and a convex back latch having
a roller in its outer end and a hook in its pivoted end, an operating lever
having a toe on its side and one on its end projecting through slots in the casing,
a lever connecting the pivoted latch and the operating lever, a spring bent near
its middle and extending into a narrow slot in the casing and at its opposite or free
end bearing upon and forming a fulcrum for the connecting lever, and a screw
extending through the slots in the connecting lever and a spring for holding the
parts together, substantially as set forth.
8th. The combination with a latch and longitudinally spring actuated sliding
spindles or stems for operating the latch, of a bolt having a movement at right
angles to the spindles and adapted to directly engage one spindle and lock it against
movement, substantially as set forth.
9th. The combination with a latch, and a pair of longitudinally sliding spindles
having an interposed spring between them, of a sliding bolt having a movement in
a plane at right angles to the plane in which the spindles move and adapted to
lock one of them against movement, substantially as set forth.
10th. The combination with a latch, of a pair of knobs and a screw threaded
shank to which they are removably attached, one of the knobs having an extensible
stem adapted to automatically regulate itself to suit doors of different thicknesses,
substantially as set forth.
11th. The combination with a latch of a pair of knobs, a shank to which are
removably attached, and spring cushioned buttons in the knobs, one of said buttons
having an extensible stem adapted to automatically accommodate itself to suit
doors of different thicknesses, substantially as set forth.
12th. The combination with a latch a hollow screw threaded shank, and a pair
of knobs removably. secured to said shank, of push buttons in the knobs for
operating the latch, and a peripheral ring on the knobs having oppositely
extending inclines for operating the buttons, and springs for returning the rings
and buttons to their normal positions upon being released, substantially as set
forth.
13th. The combination with a latch, a hollow screw threaded shank, and a
pair of knobs removably secured to the shank, of push buttons in the knobs, one
of said buttons having a screw threaded stem, and a pusher therein adapted to
recede in the shank proportionately as the knob advances, substantially as set
forth.
14th. The combination with a latch casing, and a latch, of a hollow screw
threaded shank having a recess therein to form a seat for the end of the casing,
push buttons, one of said buttons having a screw threaded stem, a pusher thereon
adapted to recede in the shank as the knob advances, and the other stem having
an opening therein, and a locking bolt adapted to enter said opening to prevent
the movement of the button, substantially as set forth.
15th. The combination with a latch casing, and a latch pivoted therein, of a
hollow slotted screw threaded shank having a seat formed in one side for the inner
end of the casing, knobs removably secured to the shank, said knobs having push
buttons therein and peripheral rings capable of operating the buttons, and springs
for forcing the said buttons and peripheral rings to their normal positions, one of
said stems being screw threaded and having a pusher which fits inside the hollow

page_text: shank and its clongated slot and the other having a recess to receive a locking
bolt, substantially as set forth.
16th. The combination with a shank, of a knob consisting of a two part shell,
a rose, a peripheral ring, a button having a lateral lug thereon, and oppositely
extending inclines for operating said button, substantially as set forth.
17th. The combination with a shank, of a knob consisting of a two part shell
the parts interlocking with each other and separated by suitable spacing blocks, a
peripheral ring having oppositely extending inclines therein, a spring having
outwardly projecting ends adapted to be engaged by a lug on the ring to return
the latter to its normal position, a rose, a button having a threaded stem, and a
self adjusting pusher on the stem, substantially as set forth.
18th. The combination with a latch having an operating lever and knob, of
a sliding locking bolt, tumblers, and a key adapted to operate on the same
tumblers from either side of the lock to release or secure the bolt, substantially as
set. forth.
19th. The combination with a latch having an operating lever, and knobs for
controlling said latch, of a sliding locking bolt, spring actuated tumblers adapted
to engage or release the bolt, and a key having duplicate edges and one end
adapted to operate on the tumblers when the lock is operated from one side and
the other end or part of the key to control the same tumblers when operated upon
from the other side of the door, substantially as set forth.
20th. The combination with a slide bolt having a lug thereon, and a pair of
spring actuated tumblers having L-shaped notches in their outer ends to receive
or release the lug on the bolt, of rotary slotted bearings on either side of the
tumblers, and a key adapted to slide the bolt and operate on the same tumblers
from either side of the door, substantially as set forth.
21st. The combination with a slide bolt having a lug thereon, and guides and
shoulders for controlling its movements, of a pair of pivoted spring actuated
tumblers having oppositely extending L-shaped notches in their outer ends for
engaging or releasing the lug, rotary bearings on each side of the tumblers, and a
key having duplicate edges and adapted to operate on the same tumblers from
cither side of the door, substantially as set forth.
22nd. The combination with a latch and reciprocating stems for controlling
the latter, of a reciprocating slide bolt moving at right angles to the movement
of the stems and adapted for engagement with the stem or one of the stem's,
spring actuated tumblers and a key for operating the tumblers and sliding the
bolt, substantially as set forth.
23rd. The combination with a pair of escutcheon plates, one of which has a
threaded post thereon on one side, and a rotary disk held by a spring on the
other, a slide bolt held loosely between the lugs and post, spring actuated tumblers,
and a key for operating the tumblers, substantially as set forth.
24th. The combination with an escutcheon plate, of a rotary disk having a pin
thereon, of a pivoted key hole cover having a notch therein adapted to receive
the pin when the disk is turned in a certain direction, substantially as set forth.
25th. The combination with the wards, and rotary slotted disks, one of said disks
having a pin therein, of a key, and a key hole cover adapted to engage the pin and
prevent the removal of the key, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of Mar 1801
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.