Improvements in the Construction of Padlocks.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Padlocks.
1, JAMES FRAKES, of 19 Spout Lane, Walsall in the County of Stafford, lock
manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction of
padlocks, and relates to improved methods of carrying and guiding the bolt by which
the locking and unlocking is effected.
This invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings,
the
of which figure 1 is a front elevation, with the cap-plate removed so as to expose
interior mechanism, of a padlock constructed according to this invention, in which,
as is usual in the commoner description of such locks, a tumbler is dispensed with
and the hinder end of the bolt is first raised as it is shot forwards or backwards so
that a downward projection thereon may pass over an obstruction fixed within the
case and is afterwards depressed by means of a spring so that such downwardly
projecting part may be prevented from moving backwards or forwards and thus
maintain the bolt in the position into which it has been moved. Figure 2 is a corre-
sponding view of figure 1 but illustrates a padlock, constructed according to this
invention, in which a tumbler is employed in combination with the bolt. Figure 3
is a detached plan of the bolt shewn by figure 1. Figure 4 is a transverse section
taken on line of figure 2. Figure 5 is a front end or flat view of the turned-
down part (hereinafter described) of the roundabout or rim of the case; and figure 6
is a detached front view of the tumbler shewn by figures 2 and 4.
Referring now to figures 1, 2 and 5, the bolt a is carried at its forward end through
an opening b in a turned-down part c of the roundabout or rim d of the case, in lieu
of being carried through a separate check rivetted to the case, and thus the expense
of rivetting the cheek to the case is avoided and the construction of this part of the
lock simplified.

page_text: Referring now to figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that a V-shaped downward
projection of a character usual in the commoner description of padlocks, is formed
on the hinder end of the holt, and that the hinder end of the bolt is carried upon a
plain stud ffixed within the case. When the bolt is shot back, as shewn by figure 1,
the V'd projection eis pressed down behind such stud, (just as such a projection is pressed
down behind the check in the ordinary construction of padlcok by means of a spring g
which bears upon the hinder end of the bolt. The bolt is thus maintained in its
unlocked position. As the bolt is shot forwards the forward side of the V-shaped
projection causes the hinder end of the bolt to rise over the stud f, against the pressure
of the spring g, and when the centre of such projection has passed over the stud the
rear side of the projection slides down the stud sufficiently to maintain the bolt in its
locked position, just as the rear side of such a projection slides down the check in the
ordinary construction of padlock. The hinder end of the bolt is thus carried upon a
plain stud, and the usual check which is of a more expensive construction, and which
requires rivetting over the front edges of the bolt in addition to being rivetted to the
case, is dispensed with, the V-d projection locking itself on the forward and rear
side of the stud, alternatively, just as such a projection interlocks with the cheek in
the ordinary construction of padlock. To enable the bolt to be carried simply upon
the stud, as described, a plate h is formed across the back of the bolt-tail, of a width
to fit easily between the front and back plates of the case or otherwise of a sufficient
width to keep the hinder end of the bolt in position sideways, and the end of the
spring bears upon such plate and is formed of the width thereof, or approximately
so, or otherwise to a considerable width, so as to prevent the plate and consequently
the bolt from turning sideways; and it is preferred to make the spring the same width
throughout.
Referring now to figures 2, 4 and 6, the hinder end of the bolt is formed with a
straight part which bears upon a plain stud f. The tumbler is fulcrumed to the
stud, and acts as a guide or guard to the hinder end of the bolt by being formed
with a part by which it is fulcrumed to the stud f and which passes up in front
of the bolt, with a part which passes over or bridges across the top of the bolt, and
thus prevents the bolt rising out of proper gear with the key, and with a part m
which passes down behind the bolt and which is operated by the key. A lugn, of the
usual character, projects forwards from the part m for engagement with the corre-
sponding lug on the bolt so as to maintain it in its locked or unlocked position as
may be desired. It will be seen that, according to this part of the invention, one
stud answers both for carrying the tumbler and supporting the hinder end of the
bolt, and that by forming the tumbler so as, in combination with the stud f, to guide
the hinder end of the bolt, the usual hinder cheek may be dispensed with. It is
preferred to turn back the hinder end of the part i so as to form a distance piece¿¹
between itself and the back plate of the case, and thus give additional steadiness to
the bolt.
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 I
claim is :-
1. In a padlock, a turned-down end of the roundabout or rim having an opening
therethrough and acting as a support and guide to the forward end of the bolt,
substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
2. In a padlock in which the hinder end of the bolt is formed with a downward
projection which rises over an obstacle fixed within the case as the bolt is shot forwards
or backwards, a plate formed across the bolt to act as a guide sideways between the
front and back of the case, in combination with a broad-ended spring which bears
upon such plate and prevents the turning of the bolt, substantially as described for
the purpose set forth.
3. In a padlock, a tumbler which acts, in combination with the stud to which it is
pivotted, as a guide or guard to the bolt, substantially as described for the purpose set
forth.

page_text: 4. In a padlock, a tumbler having a part thereof which passes in front of the bolt-
tail and is pivotted to a stud which carries such tail. a part which bridges across the
top of the bolt, and a part which passes down behind the bolt and is operated by the
key, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
5. A tumbler substantially as described and shewn by figures 2, 4 and 6 of the
drawings herewith, for the purpose set forth.