IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FASTENINGS FOR GATES AND DOORS, DRAWERS, LIDS, AND DESKS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Brodie, of Bow of Fife, in the County of
Fife, North Britain, Clerk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FASTENINGS FOR GATES AND DOORS, DRAWERS, LIDS, AND
DESKS."
Scaled the 28th January 1873, and dated the 20th August 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Brodie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th August 1872.
I, JAMES BRODIE, of Bow of Fife, in the County of Fife, North
Britain, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FASTENINGS FOR GATES AND DOORS,
DRAWERS, LIDS, AND DESKS," to be as follows:-
-
My Invention relates in the first place to latches and catches, and in
the second place to locks and padlocks.
With reference to latches and catches my Invention consists in the
use of a catch adapted to move on a hinge or on a spring supplying the

page_text: place of a hinge, by which it is fastened to a plate of metal fixed to
the door (or gate), post or pillar, such plate having a hole cut in it to
allow of the catch moving outwards from the door post, or inwards into a
recess cut for it in the door post. The catch is made to project outwards
by the action of the spring or springs, and the part of it which projects 5
beyond the door post forms an inclined plane. The catch lies in a
horizontal position. When the gate or door is being closed the latch
which is fastened thereto is brought against the catch and caused to
push it back into the recess prepared to receive it.
The catch may be varied in form and arrangement.
In one variety the hinge on which the catch moves is fixed to that
part of the post or pillar against which the gate or door is brought when
it is being closed. This variety has the joint or hinge on which it moves
a little below the surface of the plate to which it is fastened.
1
In a second variety the hinge on which the catch moves is placed 1
towards the other side of the door, post, or pillar, and may be either
above or below the level of the plate to which it is fastened.
And in a third variety the catch is fastened to the plate by a spring
which extends back a little behind the catch and is there fixed to the
plate.
When it is desired to make the gate or door open and shut at pleasure
in either direction the catch is made double, that is to say, there are
two catches, one pointing in one direction and the other in the opposite
one, and when the gate or door is closed the latch is caused to enter the
space between the two catches.
The latch is fixed to the gate or door, and is made to project outwards
by the action of a spring (as usual in fastenings for room doors and
sometimes in those for gates), but it pushes back the moveable catch
above described, until the gate or door is completely closed when it
passes behind the catch, which is then projected outwards by a spring a
or springs and keeps the door fastened. This latch is drawn back again
when required to open the door.
And with reference to locks my Invention consists in making spring
fastening locks for padlocks and desk locks by forming the end of the
spring bolt or fastcuer and the catch on either of them with an incline
or bevil, so that by pressing down the catch the bolt may be pressed
2
2

page_text: back, and afterwards by the action of the spring be projected through
a hole in the catch.and thereby effect the locking. When applied to a.
desk a portion of the catch is fixed to the upper part of the desk.
The distinguishing feature of my Invention consists in the employ-
ment of the spring catch which is pushed back by the pressure of the
other part of the fastening against it while it is pushed out by a spring.
The opening is effected by drawing back one or other of the parts of the
fastening.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said James Brodie in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 19th February 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BRODIE, of Bow of Fife, in the County of Fife, North Britain, Clerk,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenticth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Brodie, Her special licence
that I, the said James Brodie, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Brodie, 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, tho
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FASTENINGS FOR GATES AND DOORS, DRAWERS, LIDS,
AND DESKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Brodie, 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

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Brodic, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to i
say) :—
My Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Fastenings
for Gates and Doors, Drawers, Lids, and Desks," relates in the first place
to latches and catches, and in the second place to locks and padlocks.
With reference to latches and catches my Invention consists in the
use of a catch adapted to move on a hinge, or on a spring supplying the
place of a hinge, by which it is fastened to a plate of metal fixed to
the door (or gate), post or pillar, such plate having a hole cut in it to
allow of the catch moving outwards from the door post, or inwards into
a recess cut for it in the door post. The catch is made to project out-
wards by the action of a spring or springs, and the part of it which
projects beyond the door post forms an inclined plane. The catch lies in
a horizontal position. When the gate or door is being closed the latch
which is fastened thereto is brought against the catch and caused to
push it back into the recess prepared to receive it.
The catch may be varied in form and arrangement.
In oue variety the hinge on which the catch moves is fixed to that
part of the post or pillar against which the gate or door is brought when
it is being closed. This variety has the joint or hinge on which the
catch moves a little below the surface of the plate to which it is fastened.
In a second variety the hinge on which the catch moves is placed
towards the other side of the door post or pillar, and may be either above
or below the level of the plate to which it is fastened.
And in a third variety the catch is fastened to the plate by a spring
which extends back behind the catch, and is there fixed to the plate.
When it is desired to make the gate or door open and shut at pleasure
in either direction the catch is mado double, that is to say, there are
two catches, one pointing in one direction, and the other in the opposite
one, and when the gate or door is closed the latch is caused to enter the
space between the two catches.

page_text: The latch is fixed to the gate or door and is made to project outwards.
by the action of a spring (as usual in fastenings for room doors and
sometimes in those for gates), but it pushes back the moveable catch
above described until the gate or door is completely closed, when it
passes behind-the catch which is then projected outwards by a spring or .
springs and keeps the door fastened. This latch is drawn back again
when it is required to open the door.
And with reference to locks my Invention consists in making spring
fastening locks for padlocks and desk locks by forming the end of the.
spring bolt or fastener, and the catch, or either of them, with an incline
or bevil, so that by pressing down the catch the bolt may be pressed
back, and afterwards by the action of the spring be projected through a
hole in the catch, or made to take hold of a projection from the catch, ·
and thereby effect the locking. When applied to a desk a portion of the
catch is fixed to the upper part of the desk.
J
The distinguishing feature of my Invention consists in the employ-
ment of the spring bolt which is pushed back by the pressure of the
catch or other part of the fastening against it while it is pushed out by
a spring. The opening is effected by drawing back one or other of the
parts of the fastening.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed
by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented
different varieties of the latches and catches and locks above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a catch of the first variety. p, p, is the plate by
which the catch is fastened to the post of the door or gate, the dotted lines
showing the portion of the plate which is cut out in order to allow of
the motion of the catch; m is the pin on which the catch moves. The
small plate g, g, fastened to p, p, is turned round the pin m like the half.
of a common hinge, as represented by the dotted circular line; 8, 8, are
the springs that press the catch outwards; n is a pin round which the
ends of the springs are turned. These pins rest on the back of the catch
and press it out, or they may be affixed to the side of the catch and
there be acted upon by the springs, or the springs themselves may be
made to act directly upon the back of the catch. 1, 2, represents the

page_text: end of the latch which presses back the catch, and after passing over it
goes in behind it when the door is shut. While the door is being shut
the latch is caused to pass in the direction indicated by the arrow, and
to press back the catch to a level with the plate p, p; but as soon as
the latch has passed over the point a the reaction of the spring forces
out the catch and prevents the opening of the door.
Fig. 2 represents a catch of the second variety. This catch is fastened
to the plate p, p, by a hinge, shewn in dots at h, which supports the
pin m on which the catch turns. The catch is pressed outwards by a
spring 8, 8, which acts on the back thereof. The catch first passes
through behind the plate p, p, and then that part of it which is made in
the form of an inclined plane and on which the latch acts passes up
through an opening made for it in the plate p, p. If the pin m is raised
a little higher (that is, nearer the door) than the plate p, p, it will cause
that part of the catch represented by the line a, c, to move in a direction
nearly at right angles to the plate p, p. The line g, g, shews the hollow
that is cut out in order to allow the catch to be pushed back. All that
is seen of the catch when it is properly fitted into its place is the part
a, b, c. The parts at m are covered by the wooden check against which
the door comes when it is closed.
Fig. 3 represents a catch of the third variety. a, b, c, is the catch;
P, p, is the plate by which it is fixed to the post; 8, 8, is the spring on
which it moves instead of on a hinge. This spring is either fastened
directly to the plate by rivets o, o, or a piece of wood or metal may be
placed between the spring and the plate. The further the rivets o, o,
can be conveniently carried back from the point a the easier will be the
motion of the catch.
Fig. 4 shews another example of the third variety of catch. In this
case the catch may be considered as part of the spring, the whole being
made of a piece of clastic metal resembling the fastenings of umbrellas.
Fig. 5 represents a latch suited for catches of the kind described. The
latch is shewn with its appendages in the case or box which encloses
them. It may be thus used without a lock and key for bed rooms. The
latch,, is pressed outwards by the spring 8, 8, and is drawn back as
required by means of a rod or small bar of metal having a "lock follow"
and handles connected with it. The "lock fllow" is represented at t, t,
aud is the square hole therein through which the rod or bar passes.

page_text: The handles are fixed to the end of the rod. r is a check or stop which
may be turned like a key by a person within the room so as to prevent
the door from being opened. When this stop is in the position shewn
by the dotted lines it prevents the latch from being drawn back and
keeps the door closed, but when turned the other way it allows the la tch
to be drawn fully back. m is a stop to prevent the latch from being
pushed too far out. A lock and key may be combined with the latch.
The lock may be of the usual construction, only thinner than those
commonly made.
Fig. 6 represents a spring catch padlock. d, d, is the catch or pro-
jecting part of the fastening which is made of the usual form, and has a
hole o, o, to receive the bolt. When the padlock is being closed the
bolt c is pushed back by the lower part of the catch or fastening d
pressing against its inclined part until the part of the bolt pressed
forward by the spring & is caused to enter the hole o of the catch or
fastening d and holds the padlock closed, which it will be seen is effected
by merely pushing inwards the catch or fastening d. The padlock is
opened by means of a key at k. The bolt c moves on a pin w.
Fig. 7 represents a spring catch desk lock. c is the bolt moving on
the pin w, and being acted upon by the spring a. The catch or projecting
part of the fastening is shewn by the letters a, m, n, n. The part a is
fastened to the upper part of the desk by screws at a and m. The under
part folds up when the desk is not locked into a recess cut for it in the
upper part of the desk. This recess is shewn by dotted lines in the
3 Figure.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim
as of my Invention is,—
First. The adaptation and application to doors or gates of spring
O catches of the different varieties shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and
described, in which the spring catch is pushed back by the pressure of
the latch, and afterwards projected forwards by the reaction of a spring
or springs, in such a manner as to hold the latch and secure the door or
gate until it is released by acting on the catch from without.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of the parts represented
in Fig. 5, and described, adapted for mortice locks as well as for other
Ivka

page_text: And, lastly. The spring catch lock for padlocks and desk locks, as
represented in Figures 6 and 7, and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Brodie, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-throc.
G
Witness,
WILLIAM ARTHUR,
Bow of Fife,
Gardener.
JAMES BRODIE. (L.S.)