IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS AND IN APPLIANCES FOR ASSISTING IN USING THE SAME
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN HORNBY KING at the Office for Patents 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS AND IN APPLIANCES FOR ASSISTING IN USING THE
SAME" to be as follows:―
If a key sticks in a lock and efforts are made to turn it or get it out, it is very
desirable to be able to see at a glance which is the right side up. To enable one
to do this I make the upper lobe of the handle of different shapo to the lower, or
cut a cross groove or other mark in the upper or the lower lobe, it is immaterial
which so long as it is always the upper or always the lower lobe that is nicked.
In safe keys and keys well got up, I stamp "top" on the upper lobe and groove
the lower. This groove I introduce however on all keys as it is the simplest
appliance for showing the position of the key wards, and can be put with the stroke
of a file upon any key. This groove is useful not merely for this purpose but for
use with a little applianco hereafter described for turning the key when stiff. This
appliance consists of a fork with one long prong and one short one, the long prong
fits in the eye of the key, the short prong into the groove, and thus is prevented
from turning to one side. This appliance will turn any key in a lock or break it.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
I JOHN HORNBY KING, Office for Patents, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Lancashire
Watch Maker-Personal address: 04 Linthorp Road, Middlesbro'-on-Tees, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS AND IN
APPLIANCES FOR ASSISTING IN Using the same," and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
The object of this Invention is to provide a means to indicate the direction in
which the wards of a key point when they are in a lock, and the head only exposed

page_text: to view. This will be found of considerable value and convenience where a key
sticks in a lock, in which case, before efforts are made to turn, it is always desirable
to know, and of great advantage to see at a glance which side of the key is turned
uppermost. In carrying this into effect, I make the upper lobe of the handle
different in shapo to the lower or of different size, or I cut a cross groove or other
mark in one lobe, preferably the lower, to indicate which is which.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings:-
Fig. 1 shews a key with lobes of head constructed of different shapes,
Fig. 2 key with groove in bottom.
Fig. 3 key marked with the word "top."
Fig. 4 instrument for turning keys when stuck or tight.
I do not confine myself to the exact arrangements shewn in the Drawings, as the
head A of the key may be made of a variety of shapes, but that shewn is what
I most prefer. Likewise the groove a may be placed on top or bottom, or another
mark may be employed, but I prefer it as shown in the Drawings, and always used
on the same lobe so that no confusion may occur. In keys for safes and others
highly finished, I may stamp the one lobe with the word "top" and groove the
other.
The groove a I prefer to introduce however on all keys as it is the simplest
appliance for showing the position of the key wards, and can be put with the stroke
of a file upon any key.
The groove is also useful too in connection with the instrument shewn in Fig. 4
for use in turning a key when stiff, or stuck in a lock. It consists of a fork B
with one long prong band a short one b¹; the long prong fits in the eye of the
key, the short prong pressing against the head of the key at the other sido, and the
groove prevents it from turning to one side. This appliance will turn any key in
a lock or break it.
Having now particularly 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:-
1st. A key for locks constructed with one lobe of the head of a different shape
or size to the other, or marked with a groove or other mark, to. indicate which is
the top or bottom side of the key, substantially as described and shewn.
2nd. An instrument to be employed in turning keys in locks, of fork shape
with one prōng oxtonding longer than the other, substantially as described and
shown.
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