IMPROVEMENTS IN Locks OR FASTENINGS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrington, of Ryde, Isle of Wight,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN Locks OR
FASTENINGS."
Sealed the 19th June 1874, and dated the 3rd January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd January 1874.
I, JOHN HARRINGTON, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR
FASTENINGS," to be as follows:-
-
The Invention has for its object improvements in locks or fastenings,
and relates to a novel form of lock or fastening to be used as a substitute
for the ordinary padlock. For this purpose I construct the lock or
fastening somewhat in the form of a "dumb bell," that is to say, in the
form of a rod or bar with an enlargement at each end thereof. This
lock or fastening is formed in two parts, one of which is capable of

page_text: being screwed or slidden into the other part. On the end of the male
part of the lock or fastening teeth or indentations are formed in the case
of the parts being screwed together, or an annular or other chase or
recess is formed on the end thereof in the case of the parts being slidden
together, and in connection with these teeth or indentations or with the
chase or recess a spring catch is employed, so that when the two parts
of the lock are placed in correct juxtaposition with each other the spring
catch will enter the teeth, indentations, chase, or recess, and thereby
prevent the possibility of separating the two parts of the lock until such
spring catch is raised.
And in order to facilitate the unlocking of my improved lock or
fastening and at the same time to protect the parts, I form the enlarge-
ment on the socket portion of the lock or fastening hollow and with a
keyhole therein, so that by inserting a properly shaped key the catch
may be raised and the two parts of the lock or fastening released from
each other.
If desired this hollow enlargement may be provided with "wards,"
"tumblers," or "levers," as with ordinary locks in order to prevent
any surreptitious opening or unlocking thereof with any but the proper
key.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Harrington in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HARRINGTON, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Harrington, Her special license that
I, the said John Harrington, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Harrington, my executors, admini-
strators, 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,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR
FASTENINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Harrington, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Harrington, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
The Invention has for its object improvements in locks or fastenings,
and relates to a novel form of lock or fastening to be used as a substitute
for the ordinary padlock. For this purpose I construct the lock or
fastening somewhat in the form of a "dumb bell," that is to say, in the
form of a rod or bar with an enlargement at each end thereof. This
lock or fastening is formed in two parts, one of which is capable of being
screwed or slidden into the other part. On the end of the male part of
the lock or fastening teeth or indentations are formed in the case of the
parts being screwed together, or an annular or other chase or recess is
formed on the end thereof in the case of the parts being slidden together,
and in connection with these teeth or indentations, or with the chase or
recess a spring catch is employed, so that when the two parts of the
lock are placed in correct juxtaposition with each other the spring catch
will enter the teeth, indentations, chase, or recess, and thereby prevent
the possibility of separating the two parts of the lock until such spring
catch is raised.
And in order to facilitate the unlocking of my improved lock or
fastening and at the same time to protect the parts, I form the enlarge-
ment on the socket portion of the lock or fastening hollow and with a
keyhole therein, so that by inserting a properly shaped key the catch
may be raised and the two parts of the lock or fastening released from
each other.
If desired this hollow enlargement may be provided with "wards,"
"tumblers," or "levers," as with ordinary locks in order to prevent any

page_text: surreptitious opening or unlocking thereof with any but the proper
key.
I have not thought it necessary to give Drawings of the mode in
which I propose to carry my said Invention into effect, as aided by the
accompanying description such will be readily understood by a com-
petent mechanic.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is, the construction of locks or fastenings, in manner sub-
stantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
JOHN HARRINGTON. (L.B.)