IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCK FURNITURE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Sutherland, of the City of Manchester, Decorator
and Glass Painter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCK FURNITURE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Sutherland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1876.
WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, of the City of Manchester, Decorator and Glass Painter.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCK FURNITURE."
My Invention consists in improvements in constructing lock furniture, whereby
knobs or handles are secured to their spindles in a more secure manner than hitherto,
and with less liability to get out of order.
To carry out my Invention I take an ordinary lock spindle and cut a screw thread
upon each end of the same. I employ a screw nut having a projecting cylinder, the
inside of the cylinder of the nut having a female screw thread cut therein to fit the
screw thread upon the end of the spindle; this nut has two holes for screws and
two ears. The base of the knob or handle is formed with a projection with a screw
thread cut upon the outside, and the projection has a cavity hollowed out of its
centre sufficiently large in diameter to receive the said screw nut.
The cup or spherical portion of the knob or handle has a cavity cut with a screw
thread which screws upon the projecting screw on the bore of the knob; or instead
of cutting the screw threads on the base and cap of the knob, as herein-before
described, I enlarge the screw nut and form the cylinder with an outer thread (as
well as an inner thread) to screw on to the cap. These handles may be made of
wood, brass, earthenware, horn, or glass, and may be fitted to old as well as new
locks.
In putting the new handle together I first put the spindle through the base of
the knob, then screw on the nut, and fasten it to the base with two small screws;
I then screw on the cap, and make it secure with a small screw underneath; I now
put the spindle through the lock, put on the base, then screw on the nut as far as
required, fasten with the two screws, put on the cap, and fasten it either with a small
screw or with glue or other cement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Sutherland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th May
1877.
WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, of the City of Manchester, Decorator and Glass Painter.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCK FURNITURE."
My Invention consists of improvements in the construction of lock furniture,
whereby door knobs or handles are affixed and secured to their spindles in a simple,
inexpensive, and secure manner. The action being direct from side to side of the
door, and not depending for its firmness on being screwed to the door in the usual
manner, but being self-contained, depends only on itself, and is not liable to get out
of order with the ordinary use and wear.
The improvements are applicable to wood, brass, china, and glass knobs or
handles.
To carry out my Invention I take an ordinary spindle and cut a screw thread
upon each end of the same. I employ a screw nut having a projecting cylinder, the
inside of which cylinder has a female screw thread cut therein to fit the herein-
before described screw thread upon the end of the spindle; this nut is also formed
with a flange on one end having two holes for screws to fasten the screw nut to the
neck of the knob when it is adjusted accurately to the lock or door. The base or
neck of the knob or handle is formed with a projecting male screw, inside of
which is a cavity large enough to receive the herein-before described cylindrical
screw nut.
The cap or spherical portion of the knob or handle is formed with a cavity to
receive the screw-nut end of the spindle, and has also a female screw thread made
to fit the male screw upon the neck of the knob.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, the various Figures of which shew the
manner of carrving the Invention into effect.
Figure 1 represents half in elevation and half in section a pair of wooden knobs
or handles attached to their spindle according to my improvements; Figures 2, 3,
4, 5, and 6, details.
Figure 7 is a section of a wooden knob with both screws at the base of the knob.
Figure 8, section shewing my improvements as applied to a china or glass knob
with metal fittings at the base of the knob.
Figure 9, a similar view of a hollow metal knob.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, details of some of the parts.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
I will first describe my improvements by reference to Figure 1.
a is an ordinary lock spindle cut with a screw thread on each end of same; c is
the screw nut (shown detached in end and side elevations at Figures 5 and 6) having
a projecting cylinder d, with a female screw thread cut therein to fit the screw
thread b, on the end of the spindle a; the flange c of the said nut is formed with
two screw holes for the screws i fixing the screw nut to the base or neck e of the
knob;
the flange has also two slots or notches / for screwing and unscrewing the
nut; the base e of the knob or handle, shewn also separately at Figure 2, is formed
with a projecting male screw f and with a cavity or recess sufficiently large to
receive the herein-before described screw nut c, as shewn also in Figure 4, which is
an end view of Figure 2, with nut and spindle applied thereto. The cap or spherical
portion g of the knob or handle, shewn also detached at Figure 3, has a cavity h
cut with a female screw thread which screws upon the projecting male screw ƒ of
the base e of the knob.
In putting the new lock furniture together I first pass the spindle a through the

page_text: base e of the knob, then screw on the nut c, and fasten it to the base e with the
two small screws i, i; I then screw on the cap g, and make it secure with a small
screw j underneath, or this screw may be dispensed with. I now put the spindle a
through the lock, put on the base e of the other knob, then screw on the nut cas
far as required, fasten with the two screws i, i, as before, put on the cap g, and
fasten it if required with the small screw j.
In Figure 7 it will be seen that the wooden knob has the male and female screw
threads at the base of the neck of the knob, the male screw being cut upon a
wooden boss x fixed to the bush y, or the boss may be formed of metal and in one
piece with the bush y.
Figure 8 shews a similar arrangement to that shewn in Figure 7, except that the
knob g is formed of china or glass, with metal fittings or base 2; this metal base is
shewn detached in sectional elevation at Figure 10, shewing the female screw
therein, into which screws the male screw f.
"
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a similar arrangement to that shewn in
Figure 8 applied to a hollow metal knob.
It will be observed in Figures 7, 8, and 9, that the spindle is square throughout
its length, the screw thread being cut upon its angles, which arrangement allows of
a wedge or sprig being inserted in the space between the spindle and nut, thereby
fixing the screw nut c, and prevents it turning on the spindle, thus avoiding the use
of the screws i, i, shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 12 is a detached view of part of a spindle shewing this arrangement for
fixing the screw nut c to the spindle by means of a sprig or wedge l.
Figure 11 is a detached side view of the male screw f of Figure 9.
Instead of fixing the screw nut c on the spindle a by means of the sprig or
wedge, as herein-before described, I sometimes screw on the said spindle a
vulcanized india-rubber washer m, Figure 13, which prevents the nut from turning
on the spindle.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in
the Drawing, nor to the exact form of knob, as these may be varied without
departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do claim is,―
Firstly. The method of securing wooden knobs to their spindles by means of a
cylindrical screw nut to screw on to the end of the spindle and fasten to the base of
the knob with the two small screws in combination with a male and female screw
on the neck and cap of the knob respectively, or otherwise, substantially as herein-
before described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly. The modification of the said arrangement as herein-before described
and shewn in Figure 7 of the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The modifications of the herein-before described improvements adapting
them for the employment of china and glass or hollow metal knobs, substantially as
herein-before described and represented in Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the accom-
panying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Sutherland, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM SUTHERLAND. (L.S.)