An Improved Lock.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
An Improved Lock.
We EDMOND DRAULLETTE of 9 Rue des Reservoirs, Officer, and AUGUSTE
ERNEST CATOIs, of 9 Rue de Clichy Merchant both of Paris in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
In all the locks heretofore constructed the parts have always been operated by
means of the bit of a key, the ring of which represents a very small lever and
therefore requires a comparatively great force. In the interior of the room the
small force required for moving the spring bolt is produced by means of a knob or
handle generally of rather large size (the other parts being always actuated by the
bit of the key). Accordingly a much greater force is needed for the key (small
lever) than for the knob (larger lever). This anomaly appears greater if it is
considered that the action required for the large lever is further diminished by
reason of the fact of the frequent repetition of the to-and-fro movement which
renders the movement easier.
Starting from these considerations we have wished to arrange things in
accordance with logic, and proportion the power of the levers to the forces to be
exerted. We will therefore mention at the commencement that besides the con-
stituent parts of our lock we also provide a new combination which consists in
actuating all the lock bolts by means of a large handle capable of giving a large
force, whilst the key (which we invariably make small) has only for its object to
cause the handle to pass from its place, which requires only an insignificant force.
From this combination ensues another considerable advantage, namely that of very
large keys being replaced by keys of very small dimensions (which advantage it
has not heretofore been possible to obtain except with so-called safety locks
presenting in a still higher degree the inconveniences herein before stated).
This lock which is of the ordinary size, may be operated at will from the interior
and from the outside, or from the interior only, by means of a small key having
balanced bits. The key has no other object than to enable the exterior operating
handle to project from its place and thus present a comparatively large lever well
in hand for the operation of the lock. By means of this handle, and by causing it
to make a very small movement (about one-eighth of a turn), we effect the dis-
engagement of the spring bolt and the so called double-turning bolts in known
locks.
Besides these combinations and advantages, the lock which forms the subject of
the present invention may be optionally arranged right hand or left hand by the
simple reversal of one of the parts of the mechanism, as will hereinafter be
explained.
In order that the arrangement and operation of this.lock may be properly under-
stood we have represented it by way of example in the accompanying drawing in
which
Fig. 1 is a front view of the lock without apparent screws with its cover-
plate. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same (side of the lock bolts). .Fig. 3 represents
the same in vertical section passing through the axis of the operating handles.
Fig. 4 is an end view representing the projecting exterior handle. Fig. 5 is a
section thereof passing through the axis of the handles.

page_text: Fig. 5 shows in section and detached parts the movable and exterior rose.
Figs. 6 and 7 show front views of the interior mechanism in an open and closed
position, the lock bolts being blocked.
Fig. 6bs shows the mechanism for operating the spring bolt above.
Fig. 7 is a plan and section showing the handle a and the parts which depend
thereon.
Fig. 8 represents a front view and plan of the cover plate.
Fig. 9. shows an elevation and plans of the cylinder of the safety device and
stop tappet of the exterior handle. Fig. 10 shows a side view of the same.
Fig. 11. illustrates the same provided with safety strips. Fig. 12 is a plan of the
same showing one of the two plates placed upon the safety strips and serving to
guide the key.
Fig. 13 is a plan of one of the safety strips.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a spring let into the cylinder, Figs. 9, 10, 11,
and which has the effect of causing the stop tappet to pass from its cavity or
place.
Fig. 15 shows the star rod connecting the exterior knob with the mechanism.
Fig. 16 shows the interior of the staple and the means for fixing it.
Fig. 17 is a transverse section of the staple.
Fig. 18 shows full size the key actuating the aforesaid lock.
By the particular arrangement of this lock and the employment of a stop handle
for the lock bolts we can obtain several combinations for the opening and closing
operations. (1) Operation of the spring bolt alone by optionally turning the
handle from right to left or from left to right. (2) Operation of the spring bolt
and of the lock bults. (3) Blocking the three lock bolts in the closed position,
these bolts being adapted to be disengaged from the exterior as from the interior
only with the aid of the key.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 7 the lock is actuated from the interior of the room by
the handle A which is connected with the lever b which actuates the spring bolt
and the lock bolts unless the movement of the latter is opposed by means of an
exterior handle a connected with a rectangular piece a¹. The exterior knob B is
made after the manner of a pump, that is to say an antagonistic spring e arranged
in the interior knob A exerts a constant pressure upon it through the intervention
of a star rod C, Figs. 3,5 and 15. In the closed position the head of the handle B
is sunk into a rose F fixed to the door and is not adapted for any operation. At
the centre of this handle is arranged the aperture for the key d with a double bit,
which actuates the safety strips. Behind the aperture for the insertion of the key
and in the cylindrical body of the handle we arrange two plates e Fig. 12, serving
as guides for the key; these plates are placed by the side of the safety strips
which are perforated and notched as follows; A hole ƒ (Fig. 13) serves as a
passage for the pivot f of the cylinder E Figs. 9, 10, 11, a hole g of appropriate
form for the passage and operation of the key and lastly a notch h Fig. 13 with
which engages a pin h' fixed to the tappet E of the cylinder E. The tappet E' is
formed with a dove-tail upon the cylinder and always tends to become eccentric
to the latter under the constant action of the special spring i Fig. 14, arranged in
the grooves provided in the cylinder Figs. 9 aud 10, and is held in place by the
body of the handle B Figs. 3, 5, 5bs which surrounds it.
A notch m Fig. 5bs formed in the body of the movable handle serves for the
passage of the tappet E' which may extend from the same about 2 millimetres and
keep the knob sunk in the rose F by bearing against the inner edge o of this rose.
For returning into the notch m the pin h' connected with the tappet E' is obliged
to pass again into the notches Fig. 13 in the safety strips which being suspended
by the pivot are never in a position favourable to this admission. The key
alone can place the strips and their notches in this position Figs. 11 and 13.
It will be easily understood that in order to cause the movable handle to pass
out it will be necessary to have a key suitable for the lock (the combinations being
capable of varying infinitely). The receding movement of the tappet is effected

page_text: by the extremne bit of the key. This receding movement being obtained the handle
leaves of itself, pushed as it is by the spring c and the star rod C, its movement is.
limited by a pin n which butts against the edge o of the cap. Figs. 3 an 1 5.
The before mentioned rod is maintained at one extremity at the cylinder E by
the pin n, then becomes cylindrico-conical and terminates in a star, and this star
penetrating into the lever b renders the operation of the bolts possible. Fig. 6..
On the other hand when the button B is sunk into the rose, the cylindrical part of
the rod C is in the lever band of course has no influence upon this part.
On reference to Figs. 3 and 15 it will be understood that the thickness of the
door may be optional, it is sufficient to cut the rod C to a suitable length according
to the thickness of the wood. For this purpose we pierce holes at intervals iu.
this rod.
Referring to Figs. 1, 6, 6bis, 7 and 70s, it will beseen that the part a¹ operated'
by the handle a is provided with a neck a carrying a head a2 having upon its
periphery a stud a³. The neck a' is eccentric with respect to the pivoted centre
of the handle a and passes through a slot a' in the bolt operating plate L. By this
means the said plate is held in different positions for operation by the tenons 6¹
on the lever b. The movement of the handle a is confined to a quarter of a turn
by the stud or stop a³ moving in the recessed slot S of the blocking plate P.
When the handle a is horizontai Fig. 1 the part a presents its longer side.
vertically, and being wider than the slot o' in the bolt carrier plate O, prevents the
bolts from leaving. When thus arranged the spring bolt only is capable of locking.
with the staple and is withdrawn therefrom when desirable by the operating
plate L the latter being held in such a position by the eccentric neck a', that one
of its slots engages with one or other of the tenons & of the lever b. The lever b.
in any one of its movements operates the parts L, M & N. The part N actuates
the spring bolt which continually tends to pass to the locked position under the
action of the spring a. This spring also bears against an arm ¹ which in turn
bears against the block a' holding it normally in one of its positions.
When desirable to operate all the bolts to the locked position the handle a is
placed vertically downwards fro.n its pivot bringing the short sides of the rect-
angular block a to the vertical position. In this position the block a' will slide in
the groove o' and enable the plate o connected with the bolts to pass to and fro in
a direction parallel to the longer sides of the block a¹. This arrangement being
given to the mechanism, of a turn of the handle A or B will cause the bolts to
enter or leave the lock staple as required.
The bolts may be blocked when in the closed position by the oscillating plate P,.
Figs. 3 and 6, turning about the button a² and forming a stop at pl. This plate is
placed eccentrically with regard to the centre of the rod C Fig. 3, when the
exterior handle B is sunk into its cap and the small diameter of the rod allows it
to turn into its closed position.
The bolts are thus blocked by the plate and it is therefore necessary to have
the key for opening from the interior as from the outside. When the key is.
introduced from the interior of the room and caused to make a quarter turn the
oscillatory part P is raised and the bolts liberated, they are then unlocked by
turning the handle A.
When desired to unlock from the outside the movable handle is caused to.
protrude with the aid of the key the thickened part of the rod C passing through
the hole R in the plate P and causing the same to turn until its stop p is raised
sufficiently to liberate the bolts wbich are then acted upon by the handle as
hereinbefore described.
The part P is constantly pushed against one of the bolts by a springy (Fig. 6)..
For keeping the bolts in the open position a small depressiou 2 is formed in the
metal near the rear end of each bolt, such depression receiving a thickened part z¹
on the part P.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown a right-handed lock; but for
obtaining instantly a left handed lock it is sufficient to reverse the oscillatory

page_text: part P. Its opening S which serves as a chamber and stop for the stud a³ is also
turned round. The movement of the handle a, owing to this reversal, is always
obtained in the direction of the fall of the bodies.
For putting on this lock we provide a hole n' in the door, then the holes for the
screws designed to fix the cap and the cover plate K to the door.
The staple shown in Figs. 16 and 17 is fixed to the upright of the door by a
screw t placed beforehand at a predetermined distance from the edge in such a
manner that its head having passed into the round hole u of a square v connected
with and in the interior of the staple, if we move back the staple to make it flush
the shaft of the screw is in the narrow part and forms a bayonet joint. After this
the staple is fixed to the upright by two screws.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An improved lock characterized, by
(1.) A mechanism actuating at will either the spring bolt alone in both
directions or the bolts only, or the spring bolt and bolts together.
(2.) A movable handle in which is located a safety device with multiple com-
binations, which handle leaves its place under the action of a small key and,
having left, enables the mechanism of the bolts and of the spring bolt
to be operated; this handle being adapted to be made in various forms
suitable for those of its chamber.
(3.) A handle connected with an interior rectangular part designed to leave
the bolts free or to keep them in the closed position.
(4.) The mechanism which enables the lock to be placed optionally on a door
opening to the right or on a door opening to the left.
Dated this 30th day of May 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.