IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Carl Glaser, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS." A communication from Fredrich
Hasdenteufel, of Iserlohn, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1881.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire
of Germany, Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN Locks."
A communication from Fredrich Hasdenteufel, of Iserlohn, in the Empire of
Germany.
The improvements relate chiefly to the means of operating and securing the
bolts of mortice and padlocks, and comprise several varieties of construction.
The first type is a door lock provided with a sliding bolt which serves as a day
bolt and as a night bolt, the bolt being operated from outside (of the door) by
turning a day key, and from inside by pulling a slide. The bolt has a transverse
opening, into which projects the short arm of a balance lever, the longer arm of
which carries a weight, the fulcrum of the balance lever being so placed that the
weight serves to close the bolt. The day key withdraws the bolt by turning a
cam so as to lift the said balance lever. If the lock is to be closed from inside
(night bolt) a revolving cam is turned by the night key, which cam is guided
over a ring concentric with the key hole, and bears against the recessed underside
of the bolt, so as to close the latter by turning the cam. For guiding the key a
guide tube or cap may be provided at the outside of the lock plate, besides the
internal key hole fitting, said guide tube having a slit for the key bit.
In the second type of lock the bolt, together with the balance lever, is closed by
the revolving cam, the travel of the bolt when used for the night being made
larger than when used as a day bolt. An intermediate lover is provided which is
linked to the balance lever and operated by the revolving cam.

page_text: The third type of lock is constructed with two bolts. The first or day bolt has
at its inner end a pin or projection which fits in a slot at the end of an auxiliary
lever which slightly withdraws the bolt when the door is thrown in its lock, the
subsequent closing of the bolt being effected by means of the balance lever.
The revolving cam bears against the balance lever and also against a short arm
of the auxiliary lever when the lock is closed, thereby retaining the bolt in its
position.
The night bolt has at its inner end a pin which fits in a curved slot of the
revolving cam and is operated by the latter.
Instead of sliding day bolt a rotary or lifting bolt may be used which is operated
by the revolving cam and kept in its locking position by a projection applied at
the back of the cam.
In this, as in the previous types of locks, the night bolt may be further secured
by turning a nut or small cam placed between the lock plates.
For cabinet locks it is preferred to use only one bolt, provided with a transverse
slot, into which enters the short arm of a balance lever, the closing being also
effected by turning a cam.
For furniture-locks the inner portion of the bolt (that which always remains
between the lock plates) may be enlarged and provided with a recess so as to form
two arms or beams upon which the revolving part of the lock operates, the revolving
part being for this purpose provided with suitable projections.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th February 1882.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire
of Germany, Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS."
A communication from Fredrich Hasdenteufel, of Iserlohn, in the Empire of
Germany.
This system of locks has the distinguishing feauture that the motion of the loosely
fitted-locking parts or of the parts which impart motion to the latter, emanates
from the centre of their circular guide. The system may be divided into the
following classes :—
1. The simple or direct acting lock for doors of houses and railway-carriages,
covers of pianos, desks, trunks, &c., as illustrated by Figs. 1-8, 24 and 25.
2. The indirect acting or compound lock for doors, safes, windows, and other
places.
In this class the direct circular locking action is either transmitted upon one or
more straight bolts, or it serves to lock the specially constructed lever mechanisms
and rotary devices adapted to operate the latch, or for the locking of bolts or
hooks; Figs. 3, 4, illustrate the second arrangement.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents an inside view of a direct
acting lock when closed, and Fig. 2 the same when open, this lock consisting of
the main bolt A, the night-bolt B, the actuating lever C moved by the handle of
the door, the balance lever D, the latch (day bolt) E, the guide ring F, and
the key hole fittings G.
The movable parts A, B, C, D, E, have all the same width at their circumference,
are fitted loosely in the lock, and guided on their faces by the lock plates. The
bolt A is guided around the ring F fixed to the bottom plate of the lock. The
ring F is cut out at the top corresponding to the motion of the bolt A, and as deep.
as the thickness of the projection a of the bolt A. The two ends of the recess thus
formed in the ring F stop the motion of the bolt A when the lock is closed, and
when it is open by their contact with the projection a. The bolt A is turned by
means of the projection a which comes in contact with the bit of the key, the
latter being guided concentrically with F by the key hole fitting G and the two
lock plates. As shown by Fig. 1 the bolt A of the closed lock fits at the top
into the bottom of the door-handle-lever C and fixes the latter in its position,
thereby also locking the latch E which is actuated by C. The latch E is guided
with its lateral stumps e in slots of the two lock plates, corresponding in length
to the motion of E. The lever C holds by means of its weight and shape the
latch E in its locking position. In order to balance the weight of the door-handles
the lever C is acted upon by the lever D, which pivots on a pin fixed to the base
plate of the lock. The night bolt B, guided in its circular motion by two journals
passing through the lock plates, serves to lock the bolt A in its extreme position,
the latter being cut out at its circumference to form a notch, into which fits the
larger part of the circumference of B, thus preventing completely the use of the
key. In each of the two extreme positions the night bolt rests against a pin
fixed to the base plate of the lock, and is retained in this position by its own
weight.
The key hole fittings G, G, consist of two round discs cut out to receive the key
and rivetted on the two lock plates. Figs. 3 and 4 show these discs in cross
section and perspective view. The upper or inner portion of the key bit may
have any suitable shape, but is of such a width as to fit between the two discs G, G,

page_text: the lower or outer portion of the key bit is made of such a width as to fit between
the two lock plates and turned around the two discs G, G, against the projection a
of the bolt A. Because the projection a is thinner than either of the discs G, G,
a hook or pick lock introduced between these two discs would have no effect on
the projection a, nor could it, owing to the fixed ring F, reach the inner wall of the
bolt A. The guide ring F serves therefore also as a guard.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the direct acting circular bolt passing through the closing
plate of a lock suitable for desks, pianos, trunks, boxes, &c., Fig. 5 being closed
and Fig. 6 open (the key and its guide are like those shown by Figs. 16 and 17).
Locks of this description with circular bolts passing through the closing plate are
also applicable for doors..
Figs. 7 and 8 show an indirect acting mortice door lock. E is the sliding bolt
(day bolt), C the actuating lever, Fig. 7 showing the lock when open, and Fig. 8
when closed. The only difference between this lock and the former one is, that
the cam A serves exclusively for actuating the sliding bolt E.
Figs. 9 and 10 show an indirect acting mortice lock with night bolt when open
and when closed.
In this lock the cam A (guided in a circle by the ring F) acts upon the front
arm of the straight sliding bolt H by the segmental edges Z which come in
contact with and shift the front part of the bolt H. By this geometrically planned
arrangement the motion of the cam A serves not only to move the sliding bolt H but
also to retain it in its position without using either a spring or a weight, because
after the locking motion has been completed the segmental face Z of the cam A
rests perpendicularly against the rear face of the (perpendicular) front arm of the
straight bolt H, Fig. 9. To prevent an accidental shifting of the bolt H when
the lock is open the lower end of its rear arm is made to rest against a segmental
face of the cam A, as shown in Fig. 10. As will be seen in Fig. 9 the projection a,
which is shaped, as shown, and forms the point of application of the key when
closing the lock, touches now the outer (straight) face of the rear arm of the bolt H
and contributes to retain the latter in position when the lock is closed. In this
lock the sliding bolt H causes also to close the day bolt as soon as the upwardly
projecting part of H has been placed under the flat side of the lower nose of the
lever C (see Fig. 9). When the lock is open, as in Fig. 10, the upper projection of
the sliding bolt H is behind the nose of the lever C and does not prevent its
turning motion. By means of the loading piece or counterweight J, shaped as
shown, the lever motion is adapted for heavy door handles. The counterweight J
is guided in slots of the lock plate and hangs always on the extremity of the
balance lever D, formed as shown, by which arrangement a uniform effect of the
counterweight and a constant equilibrium with heavy doorhandles is established.
The indirect acting double lock just described may be used for cellar doors or
cupboards, &c., if the sliding bolt H is placed horizontal, and for chests of drawers
if the said bolt is vertical, the bolt H having in the latter case only one perpen-
dicular arm (the front one). Figs. 11 and 12 represent a double indirect acting
mortice door lock provided with a night bolt, Fig. 11, showing the lock closed, and
Fig. 12 the same open. The mechanism of this lock differs from the former one
by the mode of transmitting the motion of the cam A on the sliding bolt H. In
order to obtain for the bolt any travel desired the parts transmitting this motion
are placed outside the guide ring E, which latter has no abnormal size.
The cam A has a segmental slot into which enters a round pin or projection of
the sliding bolt H, whereby the latter is moved forward and backward by turning
the cam A, the bolt being retained in its extreme positions by the weight of the
cam A, shaped as shown, and the segmental slot of which is continued concen-
trically at each end. The sliding bolt H is either guided with its round projection
in slots of the lock plates, or it is provided with a slot into which projects a pin
fastened to the lock plate. This arrangement of indirect acting circular locks is
also applicable with various modifications.
The bolt E is retained by means of the drop slide K, formed as shown, and

page_text: guided vertically in slots of the lock plate, said slide resting on the cam A when the
lock is open, but falling down when the cam is turned so as to close the lock. In
this position of the cam the slide K rests on the obliquely faced nut of the door
handle lever C, while its top part is placed behind the bolt E. By opening the
lock the drop slide K is again lifted by the cam A and permits the motion of the
handle lever C necessary to displace the bolt E. In this lock the bolt E, shaped as
shown, is actuated by the handle lever C, not directly, but by means of the
weight J, shaped as shown, resting on the extremity of the lever C and lifted by
the latter, said weight being guided vertically in slots of the lock-plate.
If the lock is open the bolt E is therefore allowed to enter the lock when the
door is thrown back into its closing position without moving the weight J and
the lever C by this violent motion, the loading lever D only being lifted so as to
throw the bolt E forward into its locking position. By this arrangement the lever
mechanism is made very durable.
The weight J serves therefore both as a balance weight for the door-handle
connected with the lever C, and for opening the bolt E by means of the lever C.
For the application of a night bolt, constructed as described, the cam A is adapted
and shaped as shown in the Drawing.
Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate an open padlock with loose coverplate, while Figs.
15 and 16 show the same construction of locks for trunks or similar receptacles
when closed; Fig. 15 being a plan, and Fig. 16 a cross section; Fig. 17 is a section
of the key. The cam A retains the locking hook in its closing position so as to
render any further locking mechanism unnecessary.
Figs. 18, 19, and 20 show a lock with two rotary bolts for desks, work boxes,
pianos, &c., when open and when closed, together with the coverplate. For closing
the lock the longer beak of the cam A, formed as shown, turns the rotary bolt
located above it and shaped as shown, said beak sliding along the curved underside
of the bolt until it reaches the position of Fig. 19.
The said rotary bolt has during its turning motion caused the closing of the
other rotary bolt by pressing with its lever upon the lower lever of the other
rotary bolt.
The opening of the lock is effected by turning the cam A in the opposite direction
and by the shorter beak of the same.
In this lock as well as in all locks constructed according to Figs. 5, 6, 13, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, in which the key is guided over a pin secured to the bottom plate,
the guide ring F is secured to the cover plate, as may be seen from Figs. 14
and 20.
The key hole fitting consists of a ring (Figs. 5, 6, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19) forming a
second guide to the key, the bit of which is recessed corresponding to the thickness
of the said guide (Figs. 16 and 17). In large locks several of these annular
guides and corresponding recesses in the key bit may be used. The ring is again
higher than the thickness of the projection a movable between the recess of the
guide ring F (Fig. 14) and the bottom plate of the lock, which arrangement
constitutes a safeguard against the opening of the lock by means of a pick
lock.
Figs. 21-27 represent a cabinet lock combined from known parts of this system,.
and applicable to house and passage doors, &c., provided with day and night
locking action, and in which the night locking action renders the day looking
action absolutely inoperative.
Fig. 21 is an inside view of the open lock.
Fig. 22 is an inside view of the lock when closed.
Fig. 23 shows the coverplate with rotary cam for opening the day locking
action, as well as the guide ring and pin for the night-locking action.
Fig. 24 shows the same coverplate from outside, with key guide for the day-
locking action.
.
Fig. 25 is a view of the lock with front cap for the night-locking action.
Fig. 26 is a section of this cap with the hollow key in it.

page_text: Fig. 27 shows how the key is inserted into the guide, which also serves as a
front-cap for the day-locking action,
Both the day and the night-locking action are one-sided, and provided with the
key hole fittings peculiar to one-sided locks of this system. The day key with
corresponding central pin and key hole fitting is placed on the bottom-plate at
(see Figs. 21 and 22) in order to agree with the guide ring z situated on the top-
plate in Fig. 23.
The central pin and key hole fitting for the night key are placed at y on the
top-plate (see Fig. 23) in order to correspond with the guide ring situated on
the bottom plate in Figs. 21 and 22. In order to render the day-key unfit for
operating the night-locking action, the contact face (or projection against which
the key acts) on the rotary part of the nigh locking-action (Figs. 21 and 22) is
made lower than the contact-face b of the rotary part B of the day-locking action,
Fig. 23, and cannot therefore be reached by the bit of the day key, which is shorter
than the bit of the night key. But the night key can also be used for operating
the day-locking action, because its bit is as high as the clear width of the lock,
and because the width of the bit and of its notch are always such as to allow the
key to pass into key hole fitting of the day key, while the day key which suits
exactly its own key hole fitting cannot be introduced into the night locking action.
By varying the length of the central pin and the bore of the key, as well as the
thickness of the key bits, a great number of different locking actions may be
produced. The lock is provided with a sliding bolt A formed as shown in Figs. 21
and 22, and serving for the day as well as for the night locking action. The.
bolt A is moved from outside (of the door) by the day key (Fig. 27), while from
the interior it can only be moved by a draw-ring connected with the bolt, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Into the transverse slot of the bolt A projects the short arm of the balance
lever-C, which is held down by the counterweight D (Fig. 22), whereby the locking
of the bolt A for the day is determined. The day key moves the bolt A by
turning the rotary part or cam B (Fig. 23) which lifts the balance lever C at c,
thereby withdrawing the bolt and opening the door. The locking of the latch A
for the night is effected by means of a cam (Figs. 21 and 22) turning around the
guide ring z, and actuated from the inside of the door by a night-key (Figs. 25
and 26), the extremity of the lever C being provided with a recess corresponding
to the periphery of the cam, so that the latter when turned upward fits into the
said recess and prevents any return motion of the lever C and latch A. In this
position of the mechanism the day locking action cannot be opened either from
the interior by the draw bolt, or from outside by the day or night-key, picklock,
&c., so that the lock is now perfectly safe and the door can only be opened by
breaking. If the lock need not secure the door against being opened from the
inside, it may be provided with a simple night bolt of this system without locking
action. In order to provide a further guide for the key, and render the application
of picklocks more difficult, the key hole may be fitted with a tubular cap, illustrated
by Figs. 24 and 27, and having a longitudinal slot for the introduction of the key
bit, which slot, instead of being in a straight line with the key hole, forms a broken
line, so that after introducing the key into the outer part of the guide, it must be
turned through a right angle before it can enter the key hole of the lock plate. In
the arrangement represented by Figs. 24 and 27, the key bit is placed vertically
for introducing it into the hole, and must afterward be turned horizontal to
correspond with the position of the key-hole, Figs. 21-24, and 28-35.
In the cap for one sided locks without tubular key guide, such as illustrated by
Figs. 25 and 26, the lock-pin does not completely prescribe the position of the
hollow key for entering the key-hole of the lock plate, which key-hole may be
horizontal, as in Figs. 21 and 22, or in any other suitable position. This want is
supplied by providing the inside of the cap with a partition or projection E (see
Fig. 26 and dotted lines in Fig. 25) placed above the key-hole. When the key
comes in contact with this projection it is pushed down to penetrate into the lock.

page_text: As the projection E is hidden from view and the turning of the key must be
interrupted, these key guides form, in combination with the inner key hole fittings,
a sort of puzzle, besides rendering the application of pick locks impossible.
Figs. 28, 29, and 30, show a doorlock with nightholt, where the latch A with the
balance lever C is locked by the rotary cam, the latch A being at the same time
shot into the counterplate further than is the case for the day locking action.
Fig. 28 shows the lock open; Fig. 29 shows the day locking action, where the
lever B which moves the balance lever rests on the small projection of the rotary
cam. When the rotary cam is turned into the locking position, Fig. 30, the
lever B, together with the balance lever, an arm of which is movable in a slot of
the lever B has been lowered, whereby the latch is shot into the counter plate, and
the balance lever C is locked by the rotary cam, as shown. A nose of the rotary
cam has at the same time been placed under the lever B, so as to prevent its further
motion. After the latch A has been further locked by applying the night bolt to
the balance lever C, the lock is closed by four actions. In this lock, as well as in
the locks Figs. 34, 35, 38, 39, and 40, the lifting levers and latches are moved by
a small depressing cam, in consequence of which their fulcrums may be placed at
will, and their length need not be reduced where there is little space.
Figs. 31, 32, and 33, illustrate a doorlock with sliding latch, compound locking
action, and nightbolt, Fig. 31 showing the lock open, Fig. 32 the same closed, and
Fig. 33 the cover plate. The sliding latch A is movable with its round stump in
the slot of the lever B. Because the slot is at the extremity of the lever B, the
latch A enters very easily into the lock when the door is rapidly closed, being
afterwards again shot by the weight of the balance lever C. In short locks of this
construction the lever B is moved by a depressing cam for retaining its length, as
mentioned above. In the locking position the rotary cam rests against the balance
lever C, as well as against the nose 6 of the lever B, whereby the latch A is also
locked. The night bolt secures the lock completely against opening from outside.
Figs. 34 and 35 represent a surface doorlock with lifting latch, indirect locking
action, and nightbolt when open and when closed. In this lock, as in the preceding
one, the rotary cam is provided at the back with a nose or projection, which in its
locking position prevents the motion of the lifting latch, whereby the drop-slide
formerly used by the inventor has become unnecessary.
Figs. 36 and 37 represent a cabinet lock with sliding bolt, which can only be
locked from the inside by means of a simple night-bolt constructed according to
the inventor's system, Fig. 36 showing the lock open, and Fig. 37 closed.
Figs. 38, 39, and 40, represent a mortice door-lock with night-bolt, where by
turning the rotary cam into its locking position the sliding bolt A is locked
together with the lever B, the latch A being at the same time shot into the counter-
plate further than is the case for the day locking action. Fig. 38 shows the lock
open. The latch A is arrested for the day locking action, as shown in Fig. 39, by
coming in contact with a nut E. The nut E rests against the nose of the rotary
CAM. As soon as the rotary cam is turned into its locking position, its nose goes
away from the nut E, whereby its stopping action for the latch A ceases, the latter
being shot by means of the arm of the lever B, shaped as shown, and locked
together with this arm by the rotary cam. The counterweight against the door-
handle is formed by the lever C, which is moved over the stump 6 of the lever B,
and loaded at its extremity by the vertically guided piece D.
Figs. 41-45 represent a furniture lock with indirect locking action, applicable in
horizontal and vertical positions, and having the peculiar feature that the segments
of the rotary cam are replaced by a round disc of sheet metal provided with a
nose n and with recesses a for introducing the key bit which acts against their
walls. Fig. 41 shows the lock open; Fig. 42, the same closed; Fig. 43, the cover-
plate; Fig. 44, lock with the latch removed; Fig. 45, latch.
The rotary motion of the disc is transmitted upon the latch by the nose n, which
during its revolution pushes the latch forward or backward, until it abuts against
the arm p of the latch, whereby the rotary motion is limited.

page_text: The latch A moves forward and backward within certain limits, being guided
during its motion by the stump 7 (Fig. 45) projecting into the slot k (Fig. 44). As
shown in Fig. 41 the lock is open; if by the revolution of the disc its nose n has
drawn back the latch A by acting on its rear arm 8, until the front arm p of the
latch has arrived behind the nose n. The lock is closed, as shown by Fig. 42. If 5
by the opposite turning of the diso the nose n has pushed the latch A forward until
it has arrived behind the arm which is recessed to fit the nose.
CLAIMS.
1. The system of circular locks illustrated by Figs. 1-20, and having loosely
fitted locking parts, but no springs, in particular the various locking actions and 1
lever mechanisms described and illustrated, and the specially adapted key hole
fittings corresponding to the guide ring F for the various types of locks described
and illustrated by Figs. 1-20.
2. The application of the simple locking action of Figs. 21, 22, 28, 29, 30, 36,
37, 38, 39, 40, for simultaneously locking the latches and operating levers.
3. The combination of parts forming a safety draw-lock with day and night
locking action, illustrated by Figs. 21, 22, and 23.
4. The simplified locking of latches and operating levers by the indirect locking
action illustrated by Figs. 31, 32, 34, and 35.
5. The new construction of the rotary cam illustrated by Figs. 28, 29, 30, 38,
39, 40, for causing the latch A to close when the cam is turned.
6. The new arrangement of the indirect locking action for furniture locks,
Fig. 41 to 45.
1
2
7. The method of guiding the key by means of caps and guide tubes, illustrated
by Figs. 24 to 27, for locks which can be opened from one side or from both sides. 2
8. The method of moving the sliding bolt or latch A of Figs. 31 and 32, by
means of the lever B, as well as the peculiar shapes of the new parts of locks
comprised in the combinations or locking actions described and illustrated.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Carl Glaser, have hereunto set my 3
hand and seal, this Fourth day of February, A.D. 1882.
TRIEDRICH CARL CLASER