Improvements in Locks and Keys.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Keys.
We, FREDERICK MANN of 154 Elthorne Road, Hornsey Rise, in the County of
Middlesex, Cabinet Manufacturer, and HENRY HERBERT AKERS of 53 Elthorne
Road, Hornsey Rise, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in locks and keys and may be carried out
in the following manner. First as to the key, the usual wards and hollow barrel
are or may be dispensed with and we can use a key consisting simply of a round
stem with any suitable form of loop or handle to turn it by. Upon the working
end of this we provide any suitably shaped projection say for convenience square,
oblong, triangular or the like and in the stem we form peripheral grooves of
different widths and depths which act to some extent in the same way as the wards
of an ordinary key. Instead of providing the end with a square or other projection
the same result may be attained by forming a small hole in it adapted to fit over a
corresponding projection in the lock; we prefer however the former plan, as the
hole is liable to be choked with dust and dirt.
The lock in its general principles may be of some well known kind say preferably
the ordinary tumbler lock; the tumblers may be substantially similar to those in
ordinary use, but other details of the construction of the lock would vary. The
bolt may be of the usual construction but instead of operating this directly by the
wards of the key in the usual manner we provide within the lock a plate provided
preferably with a recess into which the end of the key fits and carrying upon it a
projection which operates the bolt in the manner of the wards of an ordinary
key. This projection has the advantage of serving as an absolute stop to prevent
the bolt from being forced in when the lock is "locked" as it lies in a manner to
prevent the movement of the bolt.
The plate which carries this projection, and which as already explained is turned
by the key we will call for convenience the reciprocating plate; it turns about a
centre but may be carried in the lock in any convenient manner say for instance by
means of a stud upon it projecting through the back plate of the lock which forms
a convenient means for accommodating the recess in the plate into which the key
fits. This plate acts as a rotary cam plate and in certain positions operates a lever
which carries the stop that passes through openings in all of the tumblers in the
usual manner, and lifts them out of engagement with the previously described
recess in the key into which they enter when allowed to do so. Upon this lever
the tumblers lie being carried upon a pin in the usual manner.
The operation of this key and lock is as follows:-The stem of the key being.
circular enters the lock through a circular hole which may be of small diameter
the end of the key enters the cam plate and upon turning this the lever under the
action of a spring follows the cam plate thus moving this pin nearer to the key and
allowing the tumblers also to approach the key in doing which suitable portions of
them enter the grooves in the key and prevent it from being withdrawn. It will
be understood that if the wrong key be inserted the tumblers cannot move sufficiently
far to allow the bolt to be moved as its pin will in the usual manner be prevented
from travelling by the grooves in the tumblers not being in the proper line. Upon
turning the key the cam plate turns with it and the projection thereon acts upon
the bolt in the manner of an ordinary key sliding the bolt which as previously
explained is locked in its outward or inward position, by this projection of the cam
plate

page_text: The cam plate may be arranged to turn in a suitable recess and may be provided
with a spring-controlled bolt so arranged that as soon as the cam plate is turned
the bolt engaging by a portion of the case or some other part of the lock is forced
inwards and enters a recess and otherwise grips the key which cannot then be
withdrawn until the operation is entirely finished; this is an additional precaution
because if a key, even correct in everything except the provision of this particular
recess in the proper place, be employed, the lock cannot be operated.
The details may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Dated this 25th day of February 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Looks and Keys.
We, FREDERICK MANN of 154 Elthorne Road, Hornsey Rise, in the County
of Middlesex, Cabinet Manufacturer, and HENRY HERBERT ÅKERS, of 53 Elthorne
Road, Hornsey Rise, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in locks and keys and will be best under-
stood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is an elevation of the lock in its unlocked condition, the cover-plate
being removed.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the lock with the bolt in its locked position, and
the key, shown in section, in the lock.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the lock in its locked condition, and with
the key removed; the lock in Figures 2 and 3, like that shown in Figure 1, is
represented without a cover plate.
Figure 4 is a cross section of a portion of the lock on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,
with the cover-plate shown in position.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the underside of the lowermost of the
tumbler levers.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively an elevation and edge view of the bolt.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the cam-plate.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lever by which the tumbler levers are
raised.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the lock-casing which may be of any desired construction and provided
with a cover-plate A¹ (Figure 4) secured to the casing A in any convenient
manner. The casing A is provided with studs or projections A' for guiding the
bolt B, the locking end of which in the ordinary manner is adapted to slide in and
out through an opening in one of the walls of the casing A as shown for example
in Figures 2 and 3. The bolt B is provided with slots or recesses B' B' for working
on the studs A³, and with a recess B' for enabling it to be shot backwards and
forwards as hereinafter described. The bolt B is moreover provided with a
projection B in conjunction with which the tumbler levers operate as hereinafter
described.
Between the bolt B and wall A' of lock casing A the cam plate C is so arranged
that it can be freely rotated, said cam plate for this purpose being conveniently
provided with a boss C'; Figure 4, (also shown in dotted lines in Figure 8) which is
received in a circular hole in the plate A and may be secured therein in any
suitable manner; or would necessarily remain there if, as shown in Figure 4, the
cam-plate bolt and tumblers filled the whole space between the plates A A' of the
The cam-plate C is formed with a cam slot C' which engages with a pin
сабе.

page_text: or projection D', Figures 1, 2 and 4, fitted in or forming part of a key-locking
arm D which is pivotted at D' to the casing plate A' and may be provided with
a spring D' bearing against or secured to a fixed pin A so as to tend always to
move the operative end of the arm D inwards towards the key. The arm D is
provided with a pin or projection D' which works in contact with the plate A* of
the casing A so as to keep said arm in its proper operative position, a pin A
secured in the cover plate A¹ similarly operating on the upper surface of the arm D
as shown in Figure 4.
The cam-plate C is also provided with cam surfaces C' C' and with a pro-
jection C which latter fulfils the function of the bit of an ordinary key; the
cam-plate C is moreover provided with a square, triangular, oblong, or equivalent
non-circular recess C into which the operative end of the key is adapted to fit as
shown in Figure 4, and if desired with a circular perforation or recess C7 in which
the extreme end of the key is received.
E E E are the tumbler levers, three in number, but of which there may be
any desired number. These tumbler levers are all pivotted on the same pin A*
secured in the plate A' and, when the bolt is in its unlocked position, passing
through the recess B' of the bolt B. Each of these tumbler levers is provided
with a tail spring E³, in the manner common to such tumbler levers, which springs
bear against a fixed pin A' secured in the lock-casing, each of the tumbler levers
being provided with a recess E and gate E for engaging with or releasing the
stud or projection B₁ of bolt B. Each tumbler lever is provided with an
opening E in which is located a pin or projection F¹ mounted rigidly in or forming
part of a lever F pivotted at F to the plate A³. The lever F is acted upon by
a spring F in such manner as to tend always to move its operative end, that is
to say the left-hand end shown in Figures 1 and 2 inwards towards the key. The
heel or projection F of lever F is always pressed by the spring against the
outer surface of the cam-plate C the cam surfaces C³ C of which serve for
moving the lever F outwards and through it and its pin F¹, the tumbler
levers E E' E'. The lowermost of the tumbler levers viz. E, as shown in
Figure 5, is provided at its underside with pins E' which, by bearing upon the
lever F, serve to retain the tumbler lever E', as also E' and E, in their proper
working position.
G is the key which may be provided with the usual bow G¹ or other handle by
means of which it may be turned and is provided with a projection G' of shape
corresponding with that of the before-mentioned recess C in the cam-plate C, and,
if the recess or opening C' be provided, with a projection G³ to correspond with
it. The stem of the key is formed with one or more annular recesses G₁ and one
or more annular ribs G with which the before-described arm D and tumbler
levers E E E engage.
In the key illustrated in Figure 4, there are represented
two annular recesses G' with which the arm D and tumbler levers E E' are
adapted to engage the arm D on the side opposite to the levers E E', and one
annular rib G in conjunction with which the tumbler lever E' is adapted to
operate. The rib G' and reduced portions at either side of it are of such diameter
that when the tumbler levers E E E are pressed by the springs E into their
innermost positions, that is to say, when the recesses E³ of these levers bear against
the appropriate rib or reduced portion of the key, the gates E of the tumbler
levers E E E will all coincide with each other and the stud B of the bolt B is
free to pass through the gates E³.
The key-locking arm D is formed with a recess D' which engages with the
annular recess G' of the key stem and serves to lock the key in the lock until the
operation either of locking or unlocking is completed.
The cover-plate A is preferably provided with a cylindrical projection A³
which forms an extended bearing for the key.
The operation of the before described lock is as follows;-The key is passed
through the projection A and pressed inwards until its non-circular projection G'
engages with the corresponding recess C° of the cam-plate C and the key is

page_text: turned in the usual manner in the direction necessary for shooting forward the
bolt supposing the bolt to occupy its unlocked position before the operation com-
menced. During this rotary movement of the key the cam slot C by acting on
the pin D of key-locking arm D draws the arm D inwards towards the key so
that its recess D engages with the annular recess G of the key G so that until
this arm D is again moved outwards from the key, the key cannot be withdrawn
from the lock, this outward movement of the arm D being next effected at the
completion of the locking operation. The arm D as before described is retained
in its proper position by the pins D and A' so that should an attempt be made
to pull the key out of the lock when D is in engagement with G₁ the pin A³ will
prevent the arm D being strained. Before the key is turned for shooting forward
the bolt the lever F supported by the cam-plate C in its outermost position so
that by the pin F' engaging with the outer ends of the openings E the tumbler
levers E E E are all held in their outermost position, as shown in Figure 1, but
when the cam-plate C is turned the smaller diameter of the cam-plate C is presented
to the heel F of the lever F. which is thereby allowed to move inwards under the
influence of its spring F and in so doing releases the tumbler levers E E' E' so
that under the influence of their springs E³ they are similarly pressed inwards,
their inward motion being limited by the surrounding edges of the recesses E³
bearing against the recessed or ribbed portions of the key G at which time the
gates E all coincide. At this part of the operation the bit C has come against"
the edge B of recess B³ and moves the bolt forward towards the position shown
in Figures 2 and 3.
Up to this stage the key is held in the lock by the arm D and tumbler
levers E E E within the casing and cannot be withdrawn, but upon the further
rotation of the key and through it of the cam-plate C when the bolt has nearly
arrived at the limit of its locking stroke the outwardly curved end of the cam
slot C moves the pin D' of arm D outwards from the key, which releases said arın
from the recess G and at the same time that this release is being effected the
larger diameter of the cam-plate C being brought into operation upon the lever F
causes said lever F to be pressed outwards from the key and through its pin F' to
draw the tumbler levers E E' E' outwards so that the gates E³ are thrown out of
coincidence and withdrawn from the back of the stud B of bolt B which thereby
is locked in its shot-forward position as shown in Figure 3. The arm D and
tumbler levers E E' E' now being disengaged from the ribs or recesses of the
key G allow of its being freely withdrawn from the lock.
The unlocking of the bolt is effected in substantially the reverse of the manner
before described with regard to the locking or shooting forward of the bolt, that is
to say, the key is inserted and turned in the proper direction so as to allow the
arm D and tumbler levers E E E to be moved towards or approach the key and
thereby for the time being secure the key in the lock and bring the gates E' into
proper coincidence, at which time the bit C by bearing against the side B of bolt
recess B³, moves the bolt into its unlocked position, after which the arm D, and,
through the lever F, the tumbler levers E E' E' are moved outwards so that the
key is once again released and can be withdrawn from the lock.
It will be seen that unless the ribs and reduced portions of the key are of proper
size the tumbler levers E E E will either be allowed to move too far or not
sufficiently inwards so that the gates E³ will not be brought into proper coincidence
to allow of the passage of the bolt stud B so that a lock constructed according to
this invention will present very considerable difficulty should an attempt be made
to open it with any key but one specially provided for it.
An important feature which by itself would distinguish the before described lock
from ordinary lever locks is that whereas in locking or unlocking an ordinary lever
lock the release of the bolt is effected by the movement outwards from the key of
the tumbler levers by the direct action thereon of the key and the locking of the
bolt is effected by the movement inwards towards the key of the tumbler levers
under the influence of their springs, the release of the bolt in the present invention

page_text: is effected by the movement inwards towards the key of the tumbler levers under
the influence of their springs and not by the direct operation thereon of the key
and the locking of the bolt is effected by the movement outwards from the key of
the tumbler levers also without the direct action of the key thereon.
The lock may be provided with any desired number of tumbler levers and with
one or more arms D, the key G being correspondingly provided with a suitable
number of annular ribs and recesses. Besides this, various other modifications may
be made without departing from the essential features of the invention, for example
the arm D and the parts co-operating therewith may be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1. In a lock the combination with a sliding bolt of one or more tumbler levers
such as E pivotted to the lock case and provided with springs for moving them
inwards towards the key for releasing the bolt and a cam-plate such as C C C C
and spring controlled lever F F' for moving them outwards from the key and
"shooting" the bolt substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. The combination with a lock such as claimed in the preceding claim of one or
more spring-controlled key-locking arms such as D and a cam such as C' with
which a portion of D engages substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete lock
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of December 1893.