IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR CARRIAGE AND OTHER DOORS, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO FASTENINGS FOR PURSES, GARTERS, BRACES, BELTS, AND CHAINS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Lowenstein, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturing Jeweller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR CARRIAGE AND OTHER DOORS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO FASTENINGS FOR PURSES, GARTERS, BRACES,
BELTS, AND CHAINS."
Sealed the 17th May 1878, and dated the 27th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Lowenstein at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1877.
MARTIN LOWENSTEIN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturing
Jeweller. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR CARRIAGE AND OTHER
DOORS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO FASTENINGS FOR PURSES,
GARTERS, BRACES, BELTS, AND CHAINS."
My Invention consists of the arrangement or combination herein-after described
of the parts of a lock or fastening for carriage and other doors, which arrangement
or combination of parts is also applicable to fastenings for purses, garters, braces,
belts, and chains.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a lock or fastening for a carriage door.
The axis of the lock or fastening, to the outer end of which the handle is attached,
is square in cross section in that part which passes through the case of the lock.
Within the lock case two nearly straight and parallel flat springs are fixed, between
which springs the axis passes. These springs press on opposite flat sides of the
axis, and tend to prevent its rotation. By the action of the hand upon the handle
the axis may be turned. As it commences to move from the position described two
of its angles are made to press upon and open the springs. When, however, the
axis has been turned through an angle of 45 degrees, the opening of the springs
has attained a maximum; and on the further turning of the axis, the action of the
springs no longer tends to prevent its motion, but urges it in the direction in which
it is moving. When the axis has moved through an angle of 45 degrees the springs
again press on two opposite flat sides of the axis, and tend to keep the axis in that
[Povice 11

page_text: position. The two positions described are the two positions respectively of the
axis when the tongue is in its shot position for locking the carriage door, and its
withdrawn position for unlocking it.
In order to prevent access of dust or moisture into the interior of the lock case at
the opening through which the tongue passes, I adopt the following arrangement :-
On the inside of that face of the lock case in which the said opening is situated, a
covering plate or curtain is placed, the said covering plate turning upon a joint, and
being urged by a spring into the position in which it covers the said opening. The
end of the tongue of the lock is inclined, and the free end of the covering plate is
also inclined. When the handle is turned so as to cause the tongue to pass out of
the lock case its inclined end acts upon the inclined end of the covering plate,
and turns it aside, so as to permit the tongue to pass freely out of the lock case.
When the tongue is withdrawn by the turning of the handle, the covering plate
slides over the opening in the lock case, and the said opening is closed. The staple
or plate in which the tongue engages is of the ordinary kind.
The two springs described may be made of one strip of steel, bent at its middle,
so as to bring the two halves parrallel.
In order to make the tongue snap more readily into its advanced and withdrawn
positions, a third spring may be made to act on the heel of the tongue after the
manner of the action of a pocket knife spring.
The arrangement of parts described is applicable to cupboard turns and to locks
or fastenings for doors generally, but the covering plate described may in many
cases be dispensed with.
In applying my Invention as a purse fastening, the case carrying the parallel
springs is fixed in a hole in the flap of the purse, the axis with a suitable handle
being on the outside of the flap. The inner end of the axis carries a cross head or
tongue which takes into an opening in a plate fixed to the body of the purse.
The use of my Invention as a fastening for garters, braces, belts, and chains,
differs in no essential respect from its use as a purse fastening.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Martin Lowenstein in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th May
1878.
MARTIN LOWENSTEIN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturing
Jeweller. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR CARRIAGE AND OTHER
DOORS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO FASTENINGS FOR PURSES,
GARTERS, BRACES, BELTS, AND CHAINS."
My Invention consists of the arrangement or combination herein-after described
of the parts of a lock or fastening for carriage and other doors, which arrangement
or combination of parts is also applicable to fastenings for purses, garters, braces,
belts, and chains.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a lock or fastening for a carriage door.
The axis of the lock or fastening, to the outer end of which the handle is attached,
is square in cross section in that part which passes through the case of the lock.
Within the lock case two nearly straight and parallel flat springs are fixed, between
which springs the axis passes. These springs press on opposite flat sides of the
axis and tend to prevent its rotation. By the action of the hand upon the handle
the axis may be turned. As it commences to move from the position described two
of its angles are made to press upon and open the springs. When, however, the
axis has been turned through an angle of forty-five degrees, the opening of the
springs has attained a maximum; and on the further turning of the axis, the action
of the springs no longer tends to prevent its motion, but urges it in the direction in
which it is moving. When the axis has further moved through an angle of forty-
five degrees, the springs again press on two opposite flat sides of the axis, and tend
to keep the axis in that position. The two positions described are the two positions
respectively of the axis when the tongue is in its shot position for locking the
carriage door, and its withdrawn position for unlocking it.
In order to prevent access of dust or moisture into the interior of the lock case
at the opening through which the tongue passes, I adopt the following arrange-
ment: On the inside of that face of the lock case in which the said opening is
situated, a covering plate or curtain is placed, the said covering plate turning upon
a joint, and being urged by a spring into the position in which it covers the said
opening. The end of the tongue of the lock is inclined, and a portion of the covering
plate is also inclined. When the handle is turned so as to cause the tongue to pass
out of the lock case its inclined end acts upon the inclined part of the covering
plate and turns it aside, so as to permit the tongue to pass freely out of the lock
case. When the tongue is withdrawn by the turning of the handle, the covering
plate slides over the opening in the lock case, and the said opening is closed. The
staple or plate in which the tongue engages is of the ordinary kind.
The two springs described may either be made of independent strips of steel, or of
one strip of steel, bent at its middle, so as to bring the two halves parallel.
The arrangement of parts described is applicable to cupboard turns and to locks
or fastenings for doors generally, but the covering plate described may in many cases
be dispensed with.
In applying my Invention as a purse fastening, the case carrying the parallel
springs is fixed in a hole in the flap of the purse, the axis with a suitable handle
being on the outside of the flap. The inner end of the axis carries a cross head
or tongue which takes into an opening in a plate fixed to the body of the
purse.
The use of my Invention as a fastening for garters, braces, belts, and chains, differs
in no essential respect from its use as a purse fastening.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the
manner in which my Invention may be perforined.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent longitudinal vertical sections of a lock or fastening

page_text: for a carriage or other door, constructed according to my Invention; and Figure
4 is a transverse vertical section of the same; Figures 5, 6, and 7 are parts of the
same as herein-after described.
In Figure 1 the tongue or jointed bolt of the lock or fastening is represented in
its shot position; in Figure 2, the said tongue or bolt is represented in its with-
drawn position; and in Figure 3, the said tongue or bolt is represented in the
position in which it withdraws the bevilled latch, which I prefer to combine with
the lock.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7.
<represents a portion of the carriage (or other) door to which the lock case b is
fixed, and e represents a portion of the door frame or post to which the staple or
staple plate d is fixed; e is the axis or spindle of the lock, the greater part of which
is square in cross section, as represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5. On one end of
the axis or spindle e the outside handle f is affixed, and to the opposite end the
inside handle g is affixed; h is the tongue or bolt of the lock fixed on the square
part of the axis or spindle e. When the said tongue or bolt h is shot, it passes
through a slot in the staple plate and takes into a recess / made in the door
frame c, as seen in Figure 1; is an ordinary sliding bevilled latch, which I prefer
to use with my improved lock. The said latch is pressed home by the
spring, the bevilled head of the said bolt passing through a slot in the
staple plate d, and snapping into the recess m in the door frame, as seen in Figures
1 and 2.
The withdrawal of the latch is effected by the action of the tongue h, as herein-
after explained. Within the lock case b two nearly straight or slightly bow-shaped
springs n, n, are fixed, the ends of the said springs being secured in slots or openings
in the fixing blocks p, p, attached to the lock case. The said springs n, n,
press on the opposite flat sides of the axis or spindle e, and tend to prevent its
rotation.
By the action of the hand upon one or other of the handles for g, the
axis or spindle e may be turned, and the tongue h on the said axis or spindle
may be moved from the position represented in Figure 1 to that represented
in Figure 2, or by the further motion of the spindle to that represented in
Figure 3.
By moving the tongue from the position represented in Figure 1 to that:
represented in Figure 2, the said tongue is withdrawn from its staple plate d and
the door is unbolted, and by the further movement of the tongue in the same
direction to the position represented in Figure 3, its head strikes against the tail 13
of the latch l, and withdraws the said latch from the staple plate d, when the door
is unfastened and may be opened. The springs n, n, pressing on the opposite flat
sides of the square spindle or axis e hold the tongue h firmly in its shot and with-
drawn positions. The said springs, in addition to holding or binding the spindle,
also assist in shooting and withdrawing the tongue h, when the latter is moved in
the direction proper for shooting or withdrawing the said tongue. The said springs
also, when the handle of the door is loosed after the latch has been withdrawn, 4
as seen in Figure 3 brings the tongue to its withdrawn position, Figure 2, and
allows the latch Z to be shot by its spring 1³.
The action of the springs n, n, upon the square axis or spindle e is as follows:-
As the axis or spindle e cominences to move from the position represented in
Figure 1 to that represented in Figure 2, two of its angles are made to press upon 5
and open the springs n, n, as illustrated in Figure 5. When, however, the axis or
spindle has been turned through an angle of forty-five degrees, the opening of the
springs has attained a maximum, and on the further turning of the said axis the
action of the springs no longer tends to prevent its motion, but urges it in the
direction in which it is moving, and throws the tongue into its unfastened position,
Figure 2. When the axis or spindle has moved through a further angle of forty-
five degrees, or to the position, Figure 2, the springs again close on the two opposite

page_text: flat sides of the said axis, and tend to keep the axis in that position. The opening
of the springs n, n, takes place, but in a lesser degree, when the axis is turned for
withdrawing the latch 7, the said springs when the handle is loosed returning the
tongue to its withdrawn position, Figure 2. The same action of the springs n, n,
takes place when the spindle or axis is turned for shooting the tongue h
In order to make the tongue h snap more readily into its advanced and with-
drawn positions, a third spring may be made to act on the heel of the tongue, after
the manner of the action of a pocket knife spring.
Access of dirt or moisture into the interior of the lock case b at the opening q,
through which the tongue h passes, is prevented in the following way:―r is a
covering plate or curtain situated in the lock case, and working over the opening q
in the said case. The said covering plate or curtain r turns on the joint or centre.
at 3, and is pressed into its closing position by the spring ³. The said closing
plate or curtain is best shown in front elevation in Figure 7, and cross section
in Figure 6. The inner face of the curtain or closing plate is rounded or inclined,
and the end of the tongue h is also inclined (see Figure 6). When the handle f
org is turned, so as to cause the tongue h to pass out of the lock case b for
locking the door, the inclined end of the said tongue h acts upon the inclined or
rounded part of the covering plate r, and lifts or turns the latter aside, so
as to. permit the tongue to pass freely out of the lock case, as illustrated in
Figure 1.
In Figure 6 the lifted or raised covering plate is indicated in dotted lines.
When the tongue is withdrawn into the lock case, as seen in Figures 2 and 6,
the covering plater slides over the opening o̟ in the lock case, and closes the said
opening.
The lock mechanism represented may be used without the latch Z.
Figures 8 and 9 represent in elevation a purse, to which a fastening constructed
according to my Invention is applied; Figure 8 representing the purse fastened,
and Figure 9 the same unfastened and the flap raised.
Figures 10 and 11 represent longitudinal sections of the fastening, and a portion
of the purse drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 12 represents a cross section of the case and springs of the fastening, drawn
to the same scale as Figures 10 and 11.
The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
a is the case containing the parallel springs b, b, the said caso being fixed in the
leather or material of the flap o of the purse. The said springs b, b, press upon the
opposite flat sides of the square axis d, which axis passes through the front of the
flap c, and has fixed on its external end a handle e (made in the form of an arrow,
a hand, or of other form). The inner end of the axis d carries a cross head or
tongue f of an elliptical or oblong figure.
On the body g of the purse is a small metal box or case h, having an elliptical
opening i in its front, of a size and shape suitable for the passage through it of the
cross head or tongue ƒ on the axis d of the fastening. By the pressure of the
springs b, b, on the square part of the axis d, carrying the head or tongue f, the said
head is held firmly either in the position in which it can pass into the opening i
in the box h, or crosses the said opening.
In the first-described position the purse is unfastened, as illustrated in Figures 9
and 11, and in the last-described position the purse is fastened, as illustrated in
Figures 8 and 10.
The axis d, carrying the head f, is turned into either of the positions represented
by means of the handle e. The fastening being in the position represented in
Figure 9, the flap c is pressed down on to the body g of the purse, so as to cause the
elliptical head f to pass into the elliptical opening i in the case or box h, as illus-
trated in Figure 11. By now turning the axis & through a semi-rotation by means
of the handle e, the head fis made to cross the opening i, and its inner face engages
with the inside of the box or case h, as illustrated in Figure 10, and thereby
fastens the purse, the head ƒ being held in its fastening position by the action of the

page_text: springs b, b, on the square axis, the said action of the springs, both for retaining
the head in its two positions and for assisting in urging it into its fastening
position or unfastening position, being the same as that of the springs in the lock
or door fastening, herein-before described.
I apply the fastening, represented in Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, to garters, braces,
belts, and chains, by connecting the two parts of the fastening respectively to the
ends of the garter or article to be fastened together, substantially as described with
respect to the purse fastening.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention,-
First. The improvements in locks or fastenings for carriage and other doors
herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the
accompanying Drawings; that is to say, arranging on opposite sides of the square
part of the axis or spindle, carrying the tongue or bolt of the fastening, nearly
straight, and parallel springs marked n, n, which said springs press on the opposite
flat sides of the said axis or spindle, and tend to prevent its rotation and also assist,
by their elasticity, when the axis or spindle has been turned through the required
angle in shooting or withdrawing the tongue or bolt, the said springs being com-
bined with the other parts of the lock or fastening, and operating substantially as
described and illustrated; also the combination with locks or fastenings of the kind
described of a jointed covering plate or curtain, marked ", for preventing access of
dirt or moisture into the interior of the lock at the opening through which the
tongue passes, the said covering plate or curtain being lifted from the opening in the
lock case by the shooting of the said tongue for fastening the door, substantially as
described and illustrated; also the combination with locks or fastenings of the kind
described of a latch, marked l, which is withdrawn by the operation of the tongue
of the lock or fastening, as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The improvements in fastenings for purses, garters, braces, belts, and
chains, herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the arrangement or combination of the
springs b, b, pressing on opposite sides of the square part of an axis with a cross
head or tongue f fixed on the said axis, the said parts b and f being combined
with the other parts of the fastening, and operating substantially as described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Lowenstein, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
MARTIN LOWENSTEIN. (L.S.)