CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOCKS OR SIMILAR FASTENINGS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Redford, of Radcliffe, in the County of
Lancaster, Pattern Designer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCKS OR SIMILAR FASTENINGS."
Sealed the 8th August 1864, and dated the 13th February 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Redford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th February 1864.
I, JOSEPH REDFORD, of Radcliffe, in the County of Lancaster, Pattern
Designer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR SIMILAR FASTENINGS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the use of one, two, or more levers supported on
a fulcrum or pin about the centre of their length, to one end of each of these
levers a vertical piece is hinged, from which a stud projects at right angles,
thus
; these projecting studs are placed at different heights
on the vertical piece, and until they are brought into line or level they will not
enter a slot formed in the bolt of the lock, and thus prevent the bolt from
being withdrawn. The opposite ends of these levers are to be depressed
to unequal depths to bring the said projections level, which is effected by
means of a key having vertical "wards" to act on the levers, such lower
part of the key and "wards" remaining stationary depressing the levers, whilst

page_text: a single upper "ward" is turned round to shoot the bolt, the lower "wards
being loose and the upper one fast, and forming part of the key.
A second part of the Invention consists in the use of a plate or shield
attached beneath the bolt in such a manner that when pressure is exerted on
the bolt (in endeavouring to "pick" the lock), the bolt slides partly back,
t'he plate also sliding and covering the keyhole, which prevents the entrance
of instruments or false keys.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Redford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
REDFORD, of Radcliffe, in the County of Lancaster, Pattern Designer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Redford, IIer special license that I, the said Joseph Redford,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Redford, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
OR SIMILAR FASTENINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Joseph Redford, 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 Joseph Redford, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My Invention consists in the use of one, two, or more levers supported on

page_text: a fulcrum or pin about the centre of their length; to one end of each of these
levers a vertical piece is hinged, from which a stud projects at right angles.
These projecting studs are placed at different heights on the vertical piece,
and until they are brought into line or level they will not enter a slot formed
in the bolt of the lock, and thus prevent the bolt from being withdrawn. The
opposite ends of these levers are to be depressed to unequal depths to bring
the said projections level, which is effected by means of a key and "wards"
remaining stationary, depressing the levers, whilst a single upper ward is
turned round to shoot the bolt, the lower "wards" being loose and the upper
one fast, and forming part of the key.
A second part of the Invention consists in the use of a plate or shield
attached beneath the bolt in such a manner that when pressure is exerted on
the bolt (in endeavouring to "pick" the lock), the bolt slides partly back, the
plate also sliding and covering the keyhole, which prevents the entrance of
instruments or false keys..
″
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made about full size.
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the lock, showing the sliding plate or
guard for protecting the keyhole, also the arrangement for securing such
plates to the bolt of the lock; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the plate or
cover protecting the levers or tumblers; Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the
lock having the upper plates removed exposing the levers or tumblers; Fig. 4
is a longitudinal section of the lock, shewing the general internal arrangement,
also the formation of recess in the bolt for the reception or insertion of the
projecting ends of the levers or tumblers; and Fig. 5 is a view of the key
fitting such lock, shewing the arrangement of moveable and fixed wards.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a, a, is the case or outer covering of the lock, to
which is secured the pin or fulcrum of the levers or tumblers b. The ends of
the levers upon which the key acts are protected by the plate c, such plate,
along with the springs d (when the key is withdrawn), causing the pro-
jections 6 of the levers 6 to assume an uneven and irregular line, preventing
the withdrawal or unlocking of the bolt e; but when the wards f of the key
are inserted in the lock, and press upon the levers 6, their projections 6¹ are
brought into a line or level with the slot or recess g in the bolt, allowing such
bolt, when acted upon through the sliding plate h by the moveable ward i of
the key, to be withdrawn or unlocked, the projections 6¹ of the levers at such
times fitting into the slot or recess formed in the bolt. In the event of
pressure being put upon the bolt, or the bolt plate to "feel" the tumblers, as
it is termed, the keyhole becomes closed by the piece of metal h¹ of the

page_text: sliding plate, and thereby the entrance of tools is prevented, the two key-
.holes at each end of the piece h¹ being provided for the entrance and with-
.drawal of the key, and the spring k is employed to act against the curved
piece to keep the bolt pressed forward.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
'understood that I claim,-
First, the novel employment and use of the levers having uneven pro-
jections which will not permit the bolt to be withdrawn until they assume an
even line or position, in which form alone they can enter the recess in the
'bolt, and into which position they are brought by the pressure of vertical wards
in the key.
Secondly, the use of the sliding plate to cover the keyhole.
And, lastly, I claim the novel construction and arrangement of the lock and
key, as herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Redford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOSEPH REDFORD. (L.S.)