Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1887
Complete Left, 20th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1888

page_text: Improvements in Landau Head Locks.
I, FREDERICK LOVETT of No. 8 St. James's Gardens, St. James's Street, Brighton,
in the County of Sussex, Coach Trimmer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
An improvement on the two head locks ordinarily used to fasten Landau Spring
Heads when closed, in which case my Invention will dispense with the occupant's
trouble of having to reach from one side of the carriage to the other to fasten or
unfasten the two locks as used at the present time to fasten the head when closed, as
this lock can be fastened or unfastened by the occupant, merely by pulling the same
handle inside which they use to open or close the head with.
A person opening or closing the head from the outside of the carriage will not have
either to traverse, or to reach inside, the carriage as is necessary in the case of the
two head locks now used, but simply pull a small handle fixed on the cant rail above
the cornice which releases three fastenings at the same time, and enables the person to
throw the head open, and the same with fastening the head when closed. This lock
will fasten the head in the centre of the hoop-sticks, also in two places at a suitable
distance from the cant rails, (as it would be by the two head locks used at the present
time), as hereinafter described.
In making this lock, one of my principal objects has been freedom of action, there-
fore I have introduced a series of wheels for the bearings to work upon, so making it
very free in its action worked from inside or outside the carriage. The said wheels,
being fixed with steel screws, can easily be released at any time, if required.
This lock can be thoroughly taken apart and put together again by an ordinary
mechanic, as all the parts are fitted together by means of screws.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, sheet 1, represents the top outside centre
part of a Landau Head, thus showing the tops of the four central hoop-sticks A 1,
A 2, A 3, A 4, cant rails B, pillar tops and rule joints C. The lock D as shown fixed
in its position, in the centre of hoop-stick A 1. The hoop-stick A 1 shown on sheet 1
Figure 1 represents the front hoop-stick on the behind part of the head. The lock
plate E is fixed on the front edge, and runs parallel with, hoop-stick A 2. The lock
and lock-plate caps F (sheet 2) and G (sheet 1) being removed, show the lock-bolt H
and lock-plate bolts 1 in their position when the head is closed and fastened.
The lock-bolt H, as shown in Figure 1 sheet 1, is fitted with a slot J, so that when
the lock-plate cap G is fixed, the bolt-slot J is confined in roller K on the lock-plate
cap G, so preventing hoop-stick A 1 from rising or drawing away from hoop-stick A 2
in the centre.
The lock-bolt H, as shown in Figure 1, has pushed the lock-plate bolts I to their
position and confined the bolt-points L in the eyes M.
The eyes M are fitted with a shelf at the bottom part and grooved downwards, as
shown on sheet 1, thus keeping the bolt points L in one position also fastening hoop-
sticks A 1 and A 2 securely together.

page_text: The eyes M are fixed on front edge of hoop-stick A 1, and when the head is
closed, the eyes M are confined in sockets N and kept in that position by the
lock-plate bolt points L, until bolt H is withdrawn.
The sockets N are attached to lock-plate E, and thus let into the front edge of
hoop stick A 2.
The handle O represents the outside pull to fasten or unfasten the head when
closed. The handle O, as shown on sheet 1 Figure 1 is fixed on the near hind
cant-rail B, above the cornice and attached to rod P, which runs through a brass tube
parallel with the back edge of hoop-stick A 1. The draught-rod P is connected to
chain Q. Chain Q is coupled with lever R. When the handle O is pulled, draught-
rod P and chain Q bring their action to bear on lever R, which raises arm S. The
arm S is attached to bolt T. Bolt T runs parallel to, and on top of, bolt H and is
fitted with a flange Z (Figure 3) on each side, the flanges covering the sides of
bolt H, thus bolt T is kept in a direct position, assisted by inside-handle bolt W.
Bolt W is fitted with a small nut U. Nut U is fitted with a flange on each side, the
flanges working in the side grooves of bolt T. Nut U is fitted with four small rollers,
so giving it a thorough free action, the flanges keeping nut U in one position.
The inside-handle bolt W passes through the two lock bolts H and T, also the
lock-case X. The inside handle V is then secured to bolt. W inside the carriage by a
screw Y.
Figure 2, as shown on sheet 2, represents a section of hoop-sticks A 1 and A 2,
cant rails B; the hoop-stick A 1 and near hind cant rail B slightly raised, as when
the head is being opened, showing the eye M released from socket N, the lock-plate
bolts I in their position when lock-bolt His withdrawn. Outside handle O is shown
pulled, lever R and arm S raised. The bolt T being drawn, the bearing-wheel a in
its draught is brought to bear against the lock-cap F, thereby forcing spring b to fall,
and releasing bolt H, slot J, from its connection with roller K. Lock-bolt H being
thus freed, can be drawn to clear roller K on cap G, and the head can then be thrown
open.
When outside handle O is drawn, the bolt T is brought to bear against a projection
or "stop" on each side of bolt H, and the two bolts Hand T then travel together.
On the handle O being released, the bolt T re-traverses to its former position on
bolt H, being forced back by a small spiral spring d. Spring d rides on spindle e.
Spindle e is attached to centre of bolt T, the spindle e traversing through trigger f
which is attached to bolt H. Spiral spring d takes its bearings against trigger f, and
the shoulders of spindle e.
Figure 3, as shown on sheet 2, represents a side view of lock D, showing bolts T.
and H in their position as when lock is fastened, the bolts T and H driven home by
spiral springs d and g, also showing bearing wheel a, trigger f, spring b, travelling
wheels, flange Z, and side view of inside-handle V.
Figure 4, as shown on sheet 1, represents the back-view of lock-plate E showing.
the position of bolts I; bolt-springs (with the cap of one removed), and the
sockets N.
Figure 5, as shewn on sheet 1, represents the back and outside part of lock-case X,
showing end i of bolt H projecting, the end i being tapped, and a nut; fitted, so that
the two bolts T and H can be shifted either way, if required, for slot J to fit roller K,
in case of any contraction in hoop-sticks A 1 and A 2, end of bolt H having some
small holes drilled through it and nut j being slotted a small linch-pin can be passed.
through the two so keeping the nut j in one position; also showing the bottom part of.
arm S and lever R.
Figure 6, as shown on sheet 1, represents the under-side of lock-case ✗, the
outside end of bolt H, the scutcheon plate k, the end of inside-handle bolt W with.
the handle screw Y in its position as when inside-handle is fixed. The dots as
shown here, also those shown on the front edge of lock D in Figure 2, represent
small holes drilled, so that a piece of American Cloth, or other material, can be.
fixed, sewn on with a stout thread. The American cloth can be carried back to
the second hoop-stick and there fixed, thus allowing the trimmer to finish fixing

page_text: his lace and cloth securely on the front edge of hoop-stick A 1. The scutcheon
plate can then be fixed with two small screws, also the handle V can be attached
in its proper position to bolt W by the screw Y.
Figure 7 on sheet 1 represents the upper and fixing part of inside handle V,
showing the socket m of the bolt W, also two small rollers inserted so that when
inside-handle W is pulled, they take their bearings against scutcheon k, and assist
handle V to work freely.
for
Number 1 as shown on sheet 2, represents cap F of lock D, showing slot
wheel a; 2, arm S; 3, lever R showing wheel n attached, the latter being grooved
to fit arm S, so keeping arm S direct in its action. 4, inside-handle bolt W with
nut U and screw Y attached. 5, spring b, the spring being kept in its position by
two auxiliary springs attached to case X by screws. The screw-holes, as shown,
being slotted, so allowing the spring to vibrate freely. 6, bolt H, showing the four
rollers upon which bolt T travels; the four wheels h upon which bolt H travels; the
bolt T flange-stops o; nut j; trigger f; and slot J. 7, Bolt T, showing spindle e,
and wheel a in their respective positions, also two small wheels p_fitted in front part
of bolt T, the wheels assisting the bolt to travel freely on bolt H. The two wheels,
when home, are partly confined in two small slots in bolt H, the object of said slots
being to make the body of the lock as compact as possible, and so to avoid weakening
the hoop-stick unnecessarily.
The substance of hoop-stick A1 required for this lock would be 11 inches. The
body of lock (including case ✗ and the lock-cap F) when fixed being inch full.
The width of lock-case inside being 3 inches, the hoop-stick A1 will require to be
3 inches wide, the lock-case being well drilled with screw holes on bottom part, also
front and back edges, the lock can be tightly fitted into the hoop-stick and perfectly
secured by screws, the back edge of lock-case X being extended about 12 inches each
side of the lock-case, as a strengthening plate, which would follow the back edge of
hoop-stick A 1, and be secured by screws, so helping to prevent any contraction that
may be brought to bear against the hoop-stick while the carriage is being.
trimmed.
The caps for the two springs of lock-plate bolts I, and that for chain Q are furnished
at their bearing end with a small roller to facilitate their working.
Having now practically described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. That this one lock will thoroughly fasten a Landau Spring Head when closed,
and that it can be very easily unfastened, which is an improvement on the two locks
as used to fasten the head at the present time, in which case it is necessary for a
person to reach from his or her seat in two opposite directions to unfasten the two
locks, often to the inconvenience of other occupants. In some instances, too, the
occupant is required to use some force to fasten or unfasten the two locks."
In case
they should be indifferently fixed on the oarriage, they do not clear their bearings
properly, thereby requiring an amount of force to fasten or unfasten them, and should
the locks be so fitted, they have a tendency to throw the cant rails out of square, and
so to prevent the glass frames from following into their proper grooves in cant rails.
I claim that this lock will not affect the cant rails.
2. As mentioned in my introduction, an occupant of the carriage has merely to.
reach from his or her seat in one position and draw the one inside-handle, (the same as
used to raise the head at the present time,) and that this handle, upon being drawn,
will unfasten the lock completely, and the head can be thrown open. I claim this one
fastening, requiring but one movement, to be an advantage to the occupant, and an
improvement on the two locks, entailing two movements, at present used.
3. A person can fasten or unfasten this lock from the outside, by pulling a small
handle fixed outside above the cornice, and consequently one will not have to go
round or to reach inside the carriage, as now required to do in the case of the two
locks.
4. This lock secures the head in three different places, one being in the centre of

page_text: the hoop-sticks, the other two at the sides. The additional central fastening I claim
as an improvement on the two locks now used. This lock, fastening centrally, will
help to prevent the two hoop-sticks from drawing apart in the centre of head, and also
help to secure the carriage from unnecessary draught. This lock cannot become
unfastened, unless either the inside or outside handle is pulled, as the one central bolt
must be drawn first to release the two side fastenings.
5. This lock can be fixed in its proper position before the trimmer commences his
work, and the lock being thus fixed, the front and hind part of head can be attached
while trimming the carriage if necessary. Should the head require to be opened, the
same can be done by passing a garnish awl, or anything suitable, through the
screw Y hole, and withdraw the bolt W, as the inside-handle does not require fixing
until the trimmer has finished.