Improvements in Spring-bolt Door Locks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 9th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring-bolt Door Locks.
I, ALOYS REVILLIOD DE MURALT of 2 Rue des Granges, Geneva, in the
Republic of Switzerland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention consists of an improved system of spring-bolt-locks for house and
other doors. They offer the following advantages: the lock is able to be applied
indifferently to a door opening either right hand or left hand.
The main spring of the lock is a spiral-spring of nickel which offers a constant
resistance while still working very smoothly and is not liable to rust and is also
very cheap.
The locks of this system have moreover the great advantage of working very
smoothly and easily even if the door is somewhat warped or displaced with regard
to its frame and to be liable to be fastened with a small key even when constructed
for large doors and provided with strong bolts.
The main feature of my said invention is that the locks have their springbolt
placed in the catch fixed to the frame of the door and that the said springbolt is
acted upon by means of a pin or other small intermediate piece placed in the lock-
box affixed to the door itself and intended to transmit the action of the handle to
the above mentioned spring bolt; the said pin or other small intermediate piece
being able to be displaced by a suitable key so as to be put into or out of action.
The key therefore has not to overcome the resistance of the bolt but only a very
small resistance occasioned by the displacement of the pin or other small inter-
mediate piece.
This system of locks is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figures 1 to 19 show a lock intended to be mortised in a door opening either
right or left hand and not able to be keyed.
Figures 1 and 2 show the said lock ready to be placed as left-hand lock and the
Figures 3 and 4 show the same lock ready to be placed as a right-hand lock.
Figures 5, 6, 7 & 8 show four different views of the lock-box for the left-
hand lock.
Figures 11 to 15 show different views of the catch with and without its
spring bolt.
Figures 16 to 19 show separately some detached pieces belonging to the
aforesaid lock.
Figures 20 to 24 show five different positions of a lock constructed so as to no
mortised either as left-hand lock or right-hand lock which is not able to be keyed
or operated by means of a key.
Figure 20 shows the said lock at rest placed right-hand to one who opens in
pushing the door and provided with a hinged push-piece.
Figure 21 shows the same lock as Figure 20 but in action that is to sav with its
handle supposed to be depressed.
Figure 22 shows a similar lock at rest, but with its push-piece disposed in a slider,
placed left hand in pushing the door.
Figure 23 shows the same lock also at rest but placed right hand in pushing the
door.
Figure 24 shows the same lock as Figure 23 but in action.
Figure 25 shows a similar lock without key but provided with a box which may
be lengthened at will.
Figure 26 shows separately two detached parts of the lock shown in Figure 25.

page_text: screwed pin.
Figure 28 shows detached parts belonging to the lock shown in Figure 27.
Figures 29 & 30 show a lock similar to that of the Figures 1 to 4 but liable to be
keyed.
In the Figure 29 the lock is keyed.
In the Figure 30 the lock is unkeyed.
The Figures 31 & 32 show a lock similar to that of the Figures 29 & 30 but
having an adjustable box.
The Figures 33 and 34 show a lock similar to that of the Figures 22 to 24 but
which is able to be keyed. In Figure 33 the lock is keyed, in Figure 34 it is
unkeyed.
Figure 35 shows a detached part of the lock shown in Figures 33 and 34.
Figure 36 shows a lock similar to that shown in Figures 29 & 30 provided with
an intermediate piece.
The Figures 37 & 38 show also the same lock as the Figures 29 & 30 provided
with a safety-device. In Figure 37 the lock is unkeyed in Figure 38 it is
keyed.
The Figures 39 & 40 show two different positions of the safety-device shown in
the Figures 37 and 38.
Figure 41 shows a lock similar to that of the Figures 29 & 30, with safety-
device.
The Figures 42 to 44 show detached parts of the lock shown in Figure 41.
In all the figures the same letters of reference refer to the same pieces.
As all the models of locks shown in the drawings belong to the same system I
will now first proceed to describe those parts of the lock which are to be formed in
all those models and then I will describe those parts which are special to each
model.
The box or casing of the lock A consists of a frame A with the plates B having
screw-studs 6 by means of which another plate C may be secured in the ordinary
manner. The plate C is withdrawn in most of the figures in view of having the
mechanism of the lock visible.
Inside the box or case a lever D is provided in the square hole of which the square
rod of the handle E engages, F is a spiral spring formed of nickel-wire and acting
upon the lever D.
G is a push-piece intended to transmit to the spring-bolt H the
action of the lever D.
The spring-bolt H is made of suitable form as shown in Figures 14 & 15 and
placed in the catch plate or striking plate on the door frame I it is acted upon by a
spring which tends to project the bolt out of the catch a screw being provided
to limit its stroke in that sense. The said springbolt H is pivoted on one of its
edges formed like a knife-blade in a corresponding recess of the catch plate 1. It
therefore plays with the utmost facility and nearly without friction; but according
to its shape it is of a very great resistance when engaged half in the catch and half
in the lock. By depressing the handle E the lever is caused to push the push-
piece G against the springbolt H which is then pressed into the catchplate I so as
to allow the door to be opened.
The pushpiece G may be hinged to the lever D as shown in Figures 20 & 21 or
it may be fixed to a sliding frame G¹ sliding on suitable projections of the box B
or frame A as shown in the Figures 22 and 24.
I sometimes provide an adjustable box for the lock as shown in the Figures 25
& 27 the frame plate A being made in two parts one of the said parts having
suitable projections a adapted to engage in holes b in the other part B. The push
piece is then made of sufficient length to suit the largest extension of the box
and it is cut to any suitable length by the workman who places the lock on the
door.
The head of the pushpiece G may take various forms such as for instance a
screw-nut g screwed upon a pin G as shown in Figure 28 or a screw gl screwed into

page_text: any of the, holes of the pin G as shown in Figure 26 or as an independent piece
pivoted to the frame A as shown in Figure 32.
As above mentioned the keying of the locks of my improved system is obtained
by merely displacing the push-piece G so as to put it out of reach of the lever D.
The action of the latter is then no longer transmitted to the springbolt H and on
the depression of the handle E the said spring bolt is not acted upon.
The Figures 29 to 44 show different constructions of locks in which the push-
piece G may be displaced by means of a key L.
For this purpose I provide a sliding piece K having a suitable hole or notch K'
in which the bit of the key L engages a spring & bearing against the inner wall
of the box B to maintain the said sliding-piece K in the position in which it has
been placed by means of the key.
In this
I sometimes however as shown in Figures 33 to 35 form the sliding piece K so
that it shall not directly displace the pushpiece G but provide it with a notch or
recess K which prevents any action of the said sliding piece K upon the push-
piece G when the piece K is in its locked position shown in Figure 33.
form of lock the lever acts on a frame Q sliding horizontally to which the said
sliding piece K is connected by means of a projection K* so as to be able to slide
vertically in the said frame Q."
The said sliding piece K can be moved by means of a key, into such a position
that it presents a full part in front of the pushpiece G and transmits therefore to
the latter any displacement of the frame Q acted upon by the lever D.
shown in Figure 34.
This is
The sliding piece K may be combined as shown in the Figures 37 to 40 with a
safety-hook K hinged to said piece K and having a projection which engages a
suitable opening of the box or casing B under the action of a spring when the
said sliding piece K is in the position shown in Figure 37 that is to say when the
lock is unkeyed.
The projection k³ thus prevents any action of the key upon the said sliding
piece K.
But there is provided to the pin or push piece G a circular projection g' bearing
against the head of the hook K' and adapted to press the same backward into
the lock when the said pin or pusher G bears against the springbolt H that is to
say when the door is shut, (Figure 39).
For this purpose the spring of the spring bolt H is of course, made stronger
than the spring k¹ of the hook K'.
When the door is open, the pusher G not bearing against the springbolt Hits
projection g' does not act upon the head of the hook K' and the hook spring k¹
therefore presses the projection into the opening of the casing B (Figure 40).
This device has for its object to prevent the possibility of having the lock keyed
whilst the door is open. Should this be possible it might happen that the person
who shuts the door would be locked in without any possibility of acting upon the
spring bolt if the key is placed outside the door.
I sometimes provide a lock as shown in Figures 41 to 44 with a safety box L'
(Figure 43) into which the key L is placed a projection of which engages a
suitable notch l' formed in the said box L¹.
The circumference of the latter engages with suitable outcuts of the piece K
so as to hold the same either in the position shown in Figure 37 or in that of the
Figure 38.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring-bolt Door Locks.
I ALOYS REVILLIOD DE MURALT of 2 Rue des Granges, Geneva, in the
Republic of Switzerland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of an improved arrangement of spring-bolt locks for house
and other doors. They offer the following advantages:
The improved lock may be applied to doors which are so hung that they open
either from the right hand or from the left-hand side.
The main spring of the lock consists of a spiral spring of nickel, which offers a
constant resistance while still working very smoothly, it is not liable to rust and is
moreover very cheaply made.
The improved locks have moreover the great advantage of working very
smoothly and easily even if the door is somewhat warped or displaced with regard
to its frame, and the said locks may be fastened with a very small key even when
constructed for large doors and provided with strong bolts.
The main feature of my said invention consists in arranging the springbolt of
the lock in the catch fixed to the frame of the door, the said springbolt being acted
upon by means of a pin or other small intermediate piece placed in the lock case
or box affixed to the door itself and intended to transmit the action of the handle
to the abovementioned springbolt. The said pin or other small intermediate piece
is adapted to be displaced by a suitable key so as to be put into or out of action.
The key therefore has not to overcome the resistance of the bolt but only a very
small resistance occasioned by the displacement of the pin or other small inter-
mediate piece.
The improved lock is illustrated in the drawings left with my Provisional
Specification, and in the drawing filed for the Complete Specification in which
Figures 1 to 19 show a lock intended to be mortised in a door opening either
right or left hand and not being liable to be keyed.
Figures 1 and 2 show the improved lock adapted to be used as left-hand lock.
Figures 3 and 4 show the same lock adapted to be used as a right-hand lock.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show four different views of the lock-box or case for a left-
hand lock.
Figures 9 and 10 show perspective views of the plates forming part of the frame
of the lock.
Figures 11 to 15 show different views of the catch with and without its spring-
bolt.
Figures 16 to 19 show separately some of the details of the aforesaid lock.
Figures 20 to 24 show five different positions of a lock constructed so as to be
used either as a left-hand lock or as a right hand lock which is not intended to be
operated by means of a key.
Figure 20 shows the said lock at rest and placed on the right-hand side, and
provided with a hinged pushpiece.
Figure 21 shows the same lock as Figure 20, but in action, that is to say, with its
handle supposed to be depressed.
Figure 22 shows a similar lock at rest, but with its pushpiece disposed in a slide,
arranged on the left-hand in pushing the door.
Figure 23 shows the same lock also at rest but arranged right-hand in pushing
the door.
Figure 24 shows the same lock as Figure 23 but in action.
Figure 25 shows a similar lock without a key but provided with a box which
may be lengthened at will.
Figure 26 shows separately two detached parts of the lock shown in Figure 25.

page_text: Figure 27 shows a lock which is similar to that of Figure 25 but with a screwed
pin.
Figure 28 shows detached parts belonging to the lock shown in Figure 27.
Figures 29 and 30 show a lock similar to that of the Figures 1 to 4 but adapted
to be operated by a key.
Figure 29 showing the lock keyed and
Figure 30 showing the lock unkeyed.
Figures 31 and 32 show a lock similar to that of the Figures 29 and 30 but
having an adjustable box.
Figures 33 and 34 show a lock similar to that of the Figures 22 to 24 but which
is adapted to be keyed, Figure 33 showing the lock keyed and Figure 34 showing
the same unkeyed.
Figure 35 shows a detached part of the lock shown in Figures 33 and 34.
Figure 36 shows a lock similar to that shown in Figures 29 and 30, provided
with an intermediate piece.
Figures 37 and 38 show also the same lock as Figures 29 and 30 provided
with a safety-device. In Figure 37 the lock is unkeyed in Figure 38 it is keyed.
Figures 39 and 40 show two different positions of the safety-device shown in the
Figures 37 and 38.
Figure 41 shows a lock similar to that of Figures 29 and 30 with safety-device.
Figures 42 to 44 show detached parts of the lock shown in Figure 41.
Figures 45 to 48 show details explanatory of the movement of the key cylinder.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
As all the models of locks shown in the drawings belong to the same system, 1
will first proceed to describe those parts of the lock which are common to all the
modified forms of lock shown, and then describe those parts which are peculiar
to each.
The box or casing of the lock consists of a frame A with the plates B, having
screw studs b by means of which another plate C may be secured in the ordinary
manner. The plate C is omitted in most of the figures in order to show the
mechanism of the lock more clearly. Inside the box or case a lever D is provided
in the square hole of which the square rod of the handle E engages. F is a spiral
spring formed of nickel-wire and acting upon the lever D. & is a push-piece
intended to transmit to the spring-bolt H the action of the lever D.
The spring-bolt H is formed as shown in Figures 14 and 15 and placed in the
catch-plate or stringing plate on the door frame I. It is acted upon by a spring h
(Figure 17) which tends to force the bolt out of the catch, a screw ¹ being provided
to limit its movement. The said spring-bolt H is pivoted on one of its edges formed
like a knife blade in a corresponding recess of the catch plate I. It therefore plays
with the utmost facility and with very little friction; but according to its shape it
is of a very great resistance when engaged half in the catch and half in the lock.
According to its form it is moreover reversible provided that the catch case be
provided with suitable recesses for the knife shaped edge of the catch. By
depressing the handle E the lever D is caused to force the pushpiece G against the
springbolt H which is then pressed into the catch plate I so as to allow the door
to be opened.
The pushpiece G may be hinged to the lever D as shown in the Figures 20
and 21 or it may be fixed to a sliding frame G' sliding on suitable projections of
the box B or frame A as shown in the Figures 22 and 24.
I sometimes provide an adjustable box for the lock as shown in the Figures 25
and 27 the frame plate A being made in two parts one of the said parts having
suitable projections a adapted to engage in holes b in the other part B. The push-
piece G is then made of sufficient length to suit the largest extension of the box
and it is cut to any suitable length by the workman who places the lock on
the door.
The head of the pushpiece G may take various forms such as for instance a

page_text: g
screw-nut 9 screwed upon a pin G as shown in Figure 28 or a screw gl screwed into
any of the holes of the pin Ġ as shown in Figure 26 or as an independent piece G¹
pivoted to the frame A. as shown in Figure 32.
As above mentioned the keying of the locks of my improved system is obtained
by merely displacing the push-piece G so as to put it out of reach of the lever D.
The action of the latter is then no longer transmitted to the springbolt H and on
the depression of the handle E the said spring bolt is not acted upon.
The Figures 29 to 44 show different constructions of locks in which the push-
piece G may be displaced by means of a key L.
For this purpose I provide a sliding-piece K having a suitable hole or notch K³
in which the bit of the key L engages a spring k bearing against the inner wall of
the box B to maintain the said sliding-piece K in the position in which it has been
placed by means of the key.
The pusher G engages a suitable notch K* of the piece K. When the sliding
piece K has been placed by the action of the key into its lower position as shown in
Figure 29 the said pusher G is out of reach of the lever D and therefore a
depression of the handle will be actionless, that is to say, the lock will be keyed.
When the sliding piece K is placed, by means of the key into the position shown
in Figure 30 the push piece G is in working position that is to say the lock is
unkeyed. The Figures 31 and 32 show the combination of the lock described with
reference to the Figures 29 and 30 with an adjustable box A formed of two parts
which are screwed together by means of two screws, liable to be engaged into any
of the holes of two corresponding series of tapered holes provided to the said two
parts. In the front plate of the casing A there is moreover provided a tongue G
hinged to A and recovering the passage of the push piece G when the latter is
retracted, the said tongue G₁ being lifted by said push piece when the latter is
thrown out of the casing by the lever D.
I sometimes however as shown in Figures 33 to 35 form the sliding piece K so
that it shall not directly displace the push-piece G but provide it with a notch or
recess K³ which prevents any action of the said sliding piece K upon the push-
piece G when the piece K is in its locked position; shown in Figure 33.
In this
form of lock the lever acts on a frame Q sliding horizontally to which the said
sliding piece K is connected by means of a projection K on the spring k
Figures 33 to 35 so as to be able to slide vertically in the said frame Q, the spring k
engaging either a notch q¹ or a notch q³ of the frame Q.
The said sliding-picce K can be moved by means of a key the bit of which
engages the notch K³ or said piece K into the position shown in Figure 34 so that
it presents a full part in front of the push-piece G and transmits therefore to the
latter any displacement of the frame Q acted upon by the lever D, the spring k
then engages the notch q' as shown in Figure 34. The push piece G is guided by
pins g as shown.
The sliding piece K may be combined, as shown in the Figures 37 to 40 with a
safety hook Ki hinged to said piece K. and having a projection ³ which engages a
Buitable opening of the box or casing B under the action of a spring k' when the
said sliding-piece K is in the position shown in Figure 37 that is to say when the
lock is unkeyed.
The projection thus prevents any action of the key upon the said sliding
piece K.
But there is provided to the pin or push piece G a circular projection bearing
against the head k of the hook K' and adapted to press the same backward into
the lock when the said pin or pusher G bears against the spring bolt H that is to
say when the door is shut, (Figure 39).
For this purpose the spring 7 of the spring bolt H is of course, made stronger
than the spring k' of the hook K¹.
When the door is open, the pusher G not bearing against the spring bolt Hits
projection does not act upon the head of the hook K' and the hook spring k¹
therefore presses the projection k² into the opening of the casing B (Figure 40).

page_text: This device has for its object to prevent the possibility of having the lock keyed
whilst the door is open. Should this be possible it might happen that the person
who shuts the door would be locked in without any possibility of acting upon the
spring bolt if the key is placed outside the door.
I sometimes provide a lock as shewn in Figures 41 to 44 with a key cylinder L'
(Figure 43) into which the key L is placed, a projection of which engages a
suitable notch formed in the said cylinder L'. The circumference of the latter
engages with suitable recesses x, y z of the piece K as shown in Figures 45 to 48,
so as to hold the same either in the position shown in Figure 37 or in that shown in
Figure 38.
The key-cylinder L' plays in a suitable socket M fixed to the casing of the lock
and the key-bit must be formed so as to project out of the cylinder L and to have
its parts projecting out of said cylinder formed so as to be liable to rotate in the
socket M the shape of which may be made at will more or less complicated,
according as one wishes to have a key of a more or less complicated shape.
According as the key-cylinder L¹ engages its circumference either into the
notch or y of the sliding piece k the latter is firmly fixed by it either in the
locking or in the unlocking position as shown in the Figures 45 and 48. When
rotated by means of the key L the edges of the cylinder L' engage with the
projections or y' of piece K and the key-bit engages the notch or outcut z of said
piece K and causes the latter to be shifted either from its position of Figure 45 to
that of Figure 48 or inverse.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what we
claim is:
1. A lock having its spring-bolt arranged in the catch fixed to the frame of the
door and acted upon by means of a push-piece transmitting to the said springbolt
the pressure of a lever acted upon by hand and provided with suitable devices for
putting the said pushpiece in or out of action by means of a key, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
2. In a spring-bolt lock the combination of a springbolt H shaped and arranged
as shown in the Figures 14, 15 and 17.
3. In a spring bolt lock the combination with a springbolt H, placed in the
catch of a pin or pusher G, a spiral spring of nickel-wire F and a lever D,
substantially as shown and described.
4. In a spring bolt lock the combination of a pusher G, lever D and spring F
with a sliding frame G¹ or Q substantially as shown in Figures 22, 23, 24, 33 and 34.
5. In a spring bolt lock the combination of the frame A with the box B for
enabling the lengthening of the lock at will, substantially as shown in
Figures 25, 26, 31, 32.
6. In a spring bolt lock the combination of the pushpiece G with a sliding piece K
acted upon by the key L substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In a spring-bolt lock the combination with the frame Q (Figures 33 and 34)
which transmits the action of the lever D to the pusher G of a sliding piece K
having a notch or recess K' substantially as and for the purpose specified with
reference to Figures 33 and 34.
8. In a spring bolt lock the combination of the sliding-piece K acted upon by the
key L of a hook K' acted upon by a spring for the purpose of securing itself to
the casing of the lock and by the projection 92 of the pusher G for the purpose of
releasing it from the said casing substantially as shown and described with reference
to Figures 37 and 38.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.