Improvements in and connected with Hasps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1896
Improvements in and connected with Hasps.
I, EDMUND LAMPRELL of Turweston, in the County of Buckingham,
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 hasps as used for fastening and securing gates, doors,
box covers, and the like, and consists of improvements in such hasps whereby the
fastening tongue or equivalent part drops automatically into a position which
secures the gate, door, or cover to a post, frame, box, or the like in such manner
that all "play" between the tongue and the staple is avoided. I call my invention
the "Hunters' Catch "it being peculiarly suitable for application to gates, as it can
easily be operated by a hunting "crop or riding whip.
When used with a door or gate swinging on a vertical post the tongue of the
hasp is pivoted on its upper limb, but when used on a box or the like in which the
cover fits on a horizontal or approximately horizontal box, the tongue is pivoted on
a cross bar, in each case the tongue swinging freely in a vertical plane.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters refer to similar parts, or
parts fulfilling like functions:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of a hasp according to my invention as applied to a gate
or door.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the tongue open, and
Fig. 4 an enlarged view of the tongue closed.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew methods of preventing lateral movement of the tongue.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of my hasp as applied to a box or the like.
A designates the vertical bar or stile of a gate which when the gate is closed
comes into close proximity to the gate post B. In the stile or bar A is fixed a
ring or staple a forming a hinge sufficiently large to allow the ring c and the
hasp C to move freely in it, thus allowing the loop end c' of the hasp to be passed
over or removed from the staple & with facility the latter being driven into or
otherwise rigidly attached to the gate post B. To the upper limb c of the hasp
is attached (in such manner as to swing freely in a vertical plane round the upper
limb) the tongue or catch D which is shaped as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4. The
length of the outside point d of the catch is such that even when the hasp C is
pressed closely to the gate post, and the lower limb c3 raised so as to touch the
staple 6 (as in the position shewn in Fig. 3) the point d cannot easily pass over the
part of the staple b. On the other hand the inner point is of such a length
that it can (in the position of the hasp shewn in Fig. 3) be easily passed over the
part of the staple. The recess d' rests upon and engages the part 6.
When the position shewn in Fig. 4 is assumed a perfectly firm and safe fastening
of the gate is secured, the weight of the hasp and tongue tending to thrust the
recess of the tongue D into close contact with the staple, and the pivot end d³
forcing the hasp into close contact with the gate post. No pulling or pushing of
the gate or basp will effect this position in the slightest until the hasp has been
lifted far enough for the part d' of the tongue D to pass clear of the part b¹ of the
staple.
A firm, rigid, and secure fastening being once obtained, when the parts are
arranged as shewn in Fig. 4 it is necessary only to lift the hasp sufficiently high to

page_text: enable its inner point d¹ to pass over the staple, for the gate to be swung freely
open. When open it is sufficient to push the hasp over the staple and lift it at the
same time; then upon releasing it the tongue drops automatically into the position
shewn in Fig. 4, and the gate is securely and firmly held in the closed position.
In Fig. 7 is shewn a modified form of hasp as applied to a box, chest, corn-bin,
or the like, in which the cover A fits upon the top of the box B. The tongue D
is of a similar shape to that shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, but it is attached to a
bar which serves the same purpose as the upper limb of the horizontally
disposed hasp. To close or open the box it is necessary to raise the hasp as before,
but in this case the lifting movement is a longitudinal one the whole hasp being
caused to slide, the staple a being made sufficiently large to allow of this.
Otherwise the principle remains the same, and the operation is otherwise similar.
In all the preceding figures the tongue is free to slide laterally on the part ²,
but in Fig. 5 are shewn two collars g and in Fig. 6 a recess g' by the use of either
of which the tongue D can be prevented from moving laterally upon either the
upper limb or the cross bar e. 1 prefer to employ this system as it makes certain
that, when the hasp is placed on the staple, the tongue shall engage the staple.
In some cases I limit the circular movement of the tongue by a stop or stops,
thus preventing it from swinging over and coming between the gate post and the
hasp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A hasp for gates, doors, boxes, and the like, in which a tongue is pivoted to
the hasp, and the recessed end of this tongue engages with a staple upon the gate
post in such manner that the weight of the hasp and tongue tends to force the hasp
into close contact with the gate post, substantially as shewn and described.
2. A hasp for gates, doors, and the like which consists essentially of a hasp loop
one end of which is loosely fastened to a gate or door, and the other end of which
when the gate or door is closed fits loosely over a staple fixed in the gate or door
post, and a tongue pivoted and depending from the upper limb of the hasp in such
manner that a recess in the free end of the tongue engages with the staple on the
door or gate post substantially as shewn and described.
3. A hasp for gates, doors, and the like substantially as shewn and described
with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
4. A hasp for boxes, corn-bins, and the like substantially as shewn and described
with reference to Fig. 7.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1896.
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
106 Priory Park Road, Kilburn, London, N.W.,
Ageut for the Applicant.