An Automatic Cupboard Latch.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Cupboard Latch.
I SAMUEL COOMBS of No. 11 Wincott Street, Kennington Road, in the County of
Surrey, Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
A fish-tail plato A A of brass, iron, or other suitable material, free to turn to
a limited extent upon an axis C passing through it, and supported by a plate B B
suitably shaped with bracketed sides, fixed to the door, the preponderance of
weight to be on the portion nearest the fish-tail, so that when slightly turned by
means of the arm E, will fall back again into a perpendicular position upon being
released.
A keep D suitably shaped, fixed to the post or lining of the door-frame, engages
either end of the fish-tail, according to the door being right or left handed, and
keeps the door latched. Upon pulling the small arm E of the movable plate, it
turns slightly, releasing itself from the keep, so that the door can be pulled open.
Upon closing the door, the same movement of the movable plate, causes the latch
to fasten automatically.
Dated this Seventh day of August One thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Cupboard Latch.
1, SAMUEL COOMBS, of No. 11 Wincott Street, Kennington Road, in the County of
Surrey, Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the sheet of drawings filed with
my provisional specification, that is to say :-
In the aforesaid drawings, the uppermost Figure is a side view of the latch, the left
hand lower Figure is a front view of same with its catch or keep, and the right hand
lower Figure is a separate perspective view of the catch or keep.
Bis a metallic base-plate fixed to the door, and provided with bracketted sides or
cheeks, between which the latch piece A is free to oscillate, to a limited extent, on the
axis C passing through the said bracketted sides or checks and through the outer part of
the latch piece A. The inner part of the latch-piece A, which comes next to the plate B,
is formed somewhat in the shape of a fish-tail, or T, that is to say with a lateral branch
to the right, and a lateral branch to the left, as shown clearly in the left hand lower
Figure, to enable the latch to be used at pleasure either for a right-handed or for
a left-handed door; the outer part of the latch-piece A terminates above in an arm or
handle E by which the latch can be operated to open the door, and below in a pro-
jecting part which comes against the lower part of the plate B so as to limit the
motion of the latch piece A round its axis C. D is the catch or keep fixed to the
post or lining of the door-frame, and having at the upper end, or preferably at both
the upper and lower ends of its projecting part, a notch into which one of the afore-
said branches of the latch-piece A engages when the door is closed. The said catch or
keep D, when provided with a notch at both ends of its projecting part, is reversible,
so that it may be used for either a right-handed or a left-handed door, being thus
adapted to receive either the right or left branch of the latch-piece A, according as the
latter is mounted on a right or left-handed door.
On pulling the arm or handle E outwards, the latch-piece A turns slightly on
its axis C, being prevented from turning further than is necessary by the lower

page_text: projecting portion of the outer part of the latch coming against the plate B. The
branch of the latch, which is engaged in the notch of the catch or keep D, is thereby
raised out of the said notch; and the door can then be pulled open by continuing to
pull on the arm or handle E. On closing the door, the branch of the latch-piece rides
up over the top of the projecting part of the catch or keep D and drops into the notch
behind, the latch-piece A turning on its axis C as before to allow of that action taking
place. The latch thus fastens the door automatically.
The portion of the latch-piece next the plate B, that is to say the part where the
branches are formed, should have a preponderance of weight, so that when the latch
piece is turned by the arm or handle E, it will fall back again into the vertical
position when released, and the said branched part comes to rest against the
plate B, as shown in the upper Figure.
It is obvious that, if preferred, the latch-piece A may be made with a single
lateral branch, either right or left-handed, instead of two lateral branches, one
right and one left, as shown in the drawings.
The several parts of the latch may be of brass, iron, or other suitable material,
according to circumstances.
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
The automatic cupboard latch, consisting of a latch-piece A arranged to turn
on an axis carried by the plate B, the said latch-piece being provided with
two lateral branches or, if preferred, with a single lateral branch adapted to take
into the notch of a catch or keep secured to the post or lining of the door frame,
also with an arm or handle by which it may be operated, and a projecting part
whereby the motion on its axis may be limited, arranged, combined, and
operating, substantially as hereinbofore described, and illustrated in the drawings
referred to.
Dated this 7th day of May 1890