A GUARDED LOCK, BOLT, OR BOX, TO BE APPLIED TO THE BOLT FOR THE BETTER SECURING OF LOCKS, LATCHES, BARS, AND TURNBUCKLES
Year: 1790

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MOSES
BIRD, late of Tyler's Court, Wardour Street, in the Parish of Saint James, in
the Liberty of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, but now of Walsall,
in the County of Stafford, Locksmith, send greeting.
WHEREAS by His present Majesty King George the Third's Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October now last past, reciting
therein that the said Moses Bird had, by his Petition, humbly represented to
His said Majesty that he, by great labor, application, and expence, hail invented,
found out, and brought to better perfection "A GUARDED LOCK, BOLT, OR BOX, TO
BE APPLIED TO THE BOLT FOR THE BETTER SECURING OF LOCKS, LATCHES, BARS, AND
TURNBUCKLES," which he apprehends will be of great use and benefit to His said
Majesty's subjects, in securing sashes in the frames, doors, drawers, desks,
and bureaus frorn being opened by any picklock or false instrument; and in
regard of his being the first and true inventor thereof he therefore most
humbly prayed His said Majesty that He would be graciously pleased to grant
unto him, his exors, adñiors, and assigns, His said Majesty's Royal Letters
Patent under His Majesty's Great Seal of Great Britain, for the sole use and
benefit of his said Invention within that part of His Majesty's Kingdom of
Great Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, for the term of fourteen years, according to the form of the
Statute in that case made and provided; and His said Majesty, being willing to

page_text: give encouragement to all arts and inventions which might be for the public
good, was graciously pleased to condescend to the said Moses Bird the
l'etitioner's request; therefore is said Majesty, of His special grace. certain
knowledge, & mere motion, did give and grant unto the said Moses Bird,
his exors, aditiors, and assigns, His special licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that he, the said Moses Bird, his exors, aditiors, and assigns, and
every of them, by himself and themselves, or by his or their deputy or deputies.
or servants or agents, or such others as he, the said Moses Bird, his exors,
aliiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from timo
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend his said Invention within that
part of the Kingdom of Great Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales,
and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such mammer as to him, the said
Moses Bird, his exors, adñiors, and assigns, or any of them, should in his or
their discretions seem meet, and that the said Moses Bird, his exors, aditiors,
and assigns, should and lawfully might have and enjoy the whole profit, benefit,
commodity, and advantage from time to time coming, growing, accruing, and
arising by reason of the said Invention for and during the term of years therein
I mentioned, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said licences, powers, privi-
leges, and advantages therein-before granted or mentioned to be granted unto
the said Moses Bird, his exors, aditiors, and assigns, for and during and unto
the full end and term of fourteen years from the date thereof next immediately
ensuing, and fully to be compleat and ended according to the Statute in such
case made and provided; and to the end that he, the said Moses Bird, his
exors, adiñors, and assigns, and every of them, might have and enjoy the full
benefit, and the sole use and exercise of the said Invention, according to Tlis
said Majestie's gracious intention therein-before declared, His said Majority
did thereby, for Himself. His heirs and successors, require and strictly com-
mand all and every person and persons, bodies politic and corporate, and all
other His subjects whatsoever, of what estate, quality, degree, name, or
condition soever they be, within that said part of the Kingdom of Great
Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed aforesaid, that neither they nor any of them at any time during the
continuance of the said term of fourteen years thereby granted, either directly
or indirectly do make, use, or put in practice the said Invention or any part of
tlie same so attained unto by the said Moses Bird as aforesaid, nor in anywise
counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the same, nor shall make or cause to be made
any addition thereunto or substraction from the same, whereby to pretend him-
self or themselves the inventors or inventor, devisor or devisors thereof, without

page_text: the licence, consent, or agreement of the said Moses Bird, his exors, aduiors,
or assigns, in writing, under his or their hands and seals, first had and obtained
in that behalf, in such pains and penalties as could or might be justly inflicted
on such offenders for their contempt of His Majesty's Royal command; and
further, to be answerable to the said Moses Bird, his exors, adñiors, and
assigns, according to law, for his and their damage thereby occasioned: And
moreover, His said Majesty did thereby, for Himself, His heirs and successors,
will and command all and singular the justices of the peace, mayors,
sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, headboroughs, and all other officers and ministers
whatsoever, of Him, His heirs and successors, for the time being, that
they or any of them did not or should at any time thereafter, during the
said term thereby granted, in any wise molest, trouble, or hinder the said
Moses Bird, his exors, adñiors, and assigns, or any of them, or his or their
deputies, servants, or agents, in or about the due and lawful use or exercise
of the aforesaid Invention or anything relating thereto; provided always, and
the said Letters Patent were and should be upon condition, that if at any time
during the term thereby granted it should be mado appear to his said Majesty,
His heirs or successors, or any six or more of His or their Privy Council, that
His said Majesty's grant was contrary to law, prejudicial or inconvenient to
their subjects in general, or that the said Invention is not a New Invention as
to the public use or exercise thereof in that said part of His said Majesty's
Kingdom commonly called England, the Dominion of Wales, or Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed aforesaid, or not invented or found out by the snid
Moses Bird as aforesaid, then, upon signification or declaration thereof to be
made by His said Majesty, His heirs and successors, under their or any of their
Signet or Privy Seal, or by the Lords and others of their Privy Council, or any
six or more of them, under their hands, then His said Majesty's Letters
Patent shall forthwith cease, determine, and be utterly void to all intents
and purposes, anything therein-before contained to the contrary thereof in
anywise notwithstanding; provided also, that His said Majesty's Letters
Patent, or anything therein contained, should not extend or be construed to
extend to give priviledge unto the said Moses Bird, his exors, adiñors,
or assigns, or any of them, to use or imitate any Invention or work what-
soever which had theretofore been found out or invented by any other of His
said Majesty's subjects whatsoever, or publickly used or exercised in the said
part of His Majesty's Kingdom called England, Dominion of Wales, or Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed aforesaid, unto whom like Letters Patent or priviledge
had been already granted for the sole usc, exercise, and benefit thereof; it

page_text: being is said Majesty's will and pleasure that the said Moses Bird, his exors,
aduiors, and assigns, and all and every person or persons to whom like Letters
Patent or privilege had been already granted as aforesaid, should distinctly use
and practice their several Inventions, by them invented and found out, accord-
ing to the true intent and meaning of the same respective Letters Patent;
provided likewise, nevertheless, and His said Majesty's Letters Patent were
upon that express condition, that if the said Moses Bird, his exors or admiors,
or any person or persons which should or might, at any time or times there-
after during the continuance of the said grant, have or claim any right, title,
or interest, in law or equity, of, in, or to the power, privilege, and authority of
the sole use and benefit of the said Invention thereby granted, should make
any transfer or assignment, or any pretended transfer or assignment, of the said
liberty or priviledge, or any share or shares of the benefit or profit thereof, or
should declare any trust thereof to or for any number of persons exceeding
the number of five; or should open or cause to be opened any book or books
for public subscription to be made by any number of persons exceeding the
number of five, in order to the raising any sum or sums of money, uniler
pretence of carrying on the said liberty thereby granted; or should, by him or
themselves, or his or their agent or servants, receive any sum or sums of
money whatsoever, of nuy number of persons exceeding in the whole the
number of five, for such or the like intents or purposes, or shall presume to
act as a corporate body, or should divide the benefit of His said Majesty's
Letters Patent, or the liberty and priviledge thereby granted, into any number
of shares exceeding the number of five, or should commit or do, or procure to
be committed or donc, any act, matter, or thing whatsoever, during such time
as such person or persons sould have any right or title, either in law or equity,
in or to the said premises, which would be contrary to the true intent and meaning
of a certain Act of Parliament made in the sixth year of the reign of His Majesty's
late Royal Great Grandfather King George the First, intituled An Act for the
better securing certain Powers and Privileges intended to be granted by His
Majesty by two Charters for Assurance of Ships and Merchandize at Sea, and
for lending Money upon Bottomree, and for restraining several extravagant
and unwarrantable Practices therein mentioned; or in case the said power,
privilege, or authority should at any time thereafter become vested in or in
trust for more than the number of five persons, or their representatives,
at any one time, reckoning the exors or adiñiors as and for the single
person who they represent; as to such interest as they were of, should
be intitled to, in right of such their testator or intestate, that then and

page_text: in any of the said cases His said Majesty's Letters Patent, and all
liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease,
determine, and become void, anything herein before contained to the con-
trary thereof in anywise notwithstanding: It is therein also provided, that
if the said Moses Bird should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of his said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, by
an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the same to be
inrolled in His said Majestie's High Court of Chancery within one calendar
month next and immediately after the date of Ilis said Majesty's Letters Patent,
that then His said Majesty's Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages
whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease, determine, and become void,
anything therein-before contained to the contrary thereof in anywise notwith-
standing; and is said Majesty, by His said Letters Patent, for Himself, His
heirs and successors, did grant unto the said Moses Bird, his exors, adiñiors,
and assigns, that Ilis said Majesty's Letters Patent, or the enrollment or
exemplification, should be in and by all things good, firm, valid, sufficient, and
effectual in the law according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and
should be taken, construed, and adjudged in the most favorable and beneficial
sense, for the best advantage of the said Moses Bird, his exors, adñiors, and
assigns, as well in all His Majesty's Courts of Record as elsewhere, and by all
and singular the officers and ministers whatsoever of His said Majesty, His
heirs and successors, in that part of His Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain
called England, His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed
aforesaid, and amongst all and every the subjects of His said Majesty, His heirs
and successors whatsoever and wheresoever, notwithstanding the not full and
certain describing the nature or quality of the said Juvention, or of the materials
thereto conducing and belonging, as by the said Letters Patent, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said provisoe, I, the said
Moses Bird, do hereby declare my said new Invention (respecting the said lock,
bolt, or box to be applied to the bolt for securing of sashes in the frames, doors,
drawers, desks, and bureaus from being opened by any picklock or false
instrument) to be in form according to the Plan drawn and hereunto annexed,
and which I described more particularly as follows, viz' :—
Imprimis. This construction of a bolt, or box to be applied to a bolt, differs from
all others in respect of its having a hollow cavity or box made upon or affixed to
it, for the purpose of containing levers or sliders which have a motion in their
frames, or upon their centres or pivots when acted upon by their corresponding

page_text: keys, and which motion always tends to cross the progressivo motion of the bolt
or bar they are intended to secure, likewise in latches or turnbuckles which have
a circular motion about their own centres; this box of levers or sliders may
be applied by fastening it to tho said latch, turnbucklo, or bar, in such
a manner that the levers may tend to strike a circle (when acted upon by
the key) in a direction contrary to the latch, turnbuckle, or bar, though
they move on a pivot or centre fixed to the said latch, turnbuckle, or bar,
as at Figure 10; this double motion is communicated by the bits of the key
projecting through a grating composed of parrarel'd bars or divisions cut in a
plate of iron or other metal, steel, or wood, so as to correspond and mutually
receive and admit the divisions of the key-bit, which will then come in contact
with the bellies of the levers and raise them up previous to its action on the
bolt, bar, latel, or turnbuckle to which they are joined, and of which they
compose a moving part; this double motion of the bolt, bar, latch, and turn-
buckle, and its moving levers or sliders (together with the key's motion round
its own centre). gives so particular a form to the bit ends or extremities of
the divisions on the key.bit, which together with their being cut so exactly
to correspond with the grating, and that being fixed or made to move before
the bellies of the levers or sliders, will prevent any false key or instrument
from moving the bolt, bar, latch, or turnbuckle, which does not exhibit these
divisions and modifications as represented on the key-bit or bits. The above
principle of a key, box, bolt, grating, levers, and sliders, are capable of being
applied to any lock, bar, latch, turnbuckle, or any other fastening for their
security, I thus make. First I make a key, the bit of which I cut or divide
by slits parallel to each other, the bottom of which slits terminate near the
shank or hind end of the key, but may be left higher or lower as variation
may require. I then make slits in a piece of iron or other metal, steel, or
wood, of sufficient breadth to admit the divisions or bits of my key thro' them,
whilst the bars in this plate are made to pass in the slits of my key; these
bars I call a grating, with a hole at each end to fasten it to the bolt, bar,
latch, or turnbuckle, or any other fastening, leaving a long notch under the
bottom bar to admit that division of my key that I mean to work in the
talons of my bolt, in order to move it backwards or forwards. I then make
a bolt, to the edges of which I fasten a rim, making with the head of the bolt an
oblong or square cavity, the bolt being turned with what is commonly called its top
side downwards, the tail then forming the bottom of the box or cavity, through
which I make two slits parallel to each other near the head of the bolt, extend-
ing the slits towards the hinder end or tail of my bolt as far as I intend it shall

page_text: lock out; then, laying my bolt on the plate upon which I intend it to move, I
make two marks upon the plate through the slits of my bolt; upon those marks
I make two holes wherein I rivett fast two stumps, being pieces of iron or other
metal, steel, or wood, of sufficient substance to prevent my bolt from being
moved back when locked, their length being equal to the whole thickness of
the bolt; I then lay my bolt upon the plate, letting the stumps project
through the slits into the cavity so that the bolt may be moved backwards and
forwards freely upon them; I then fix a centre or pin on the lock-plate
for my key to move on, which centre or pin I fix so near the edge of the
bolt that nearly the whole length of my key-bit may project into the cavity
of the bolt, in the side and bottom of which I make my talons by which
my key will move the bolt backwards or forwards; I then make a lever
of the shape as in Figure 1, Letter C, one or more of which I place in the
cavity of my bolt, letting the projecting bit or bits or their curved heads
rest upon the stump, so that one half of the crossed head may drop before the
stump, then by putting a pivot through the hole at the other end of the
lever, which pivot or pin I make fast to the bottom of the bolt, though my
lever moves upon it when raised up. These levers, reaching from the fast
pivot in the bolt, are brought down by means of a spring or springs acting on
their back edge in such a manner that their cross heads may fall as a stop
against the stump in the plate, and prevent the bolt from being moved forward.
until raised up by the key-bits or divisions as they project. into the hollow of
the bolt when moved round on its pin or centre; these bits or divisions are of
irregular or regular lengths, to which lengths the bellies or heads of the levers
and sliders are made so to correspond that, when they are raised to the greatest
height the key is capable of, it may in moving the bolt forward conduct them
exactly between the two stumps fixed to the plate, in such a manner that when
the bolt is locked out they may fall with their notches (cut in the edge) upon
the stump, and thereby prevent the bolt from moving back till a second
operation of the key takes place. I then fix my grating before the bellics of
the levers and in such a manner that the divisions or bits of the key and the
I then
divisions and bars of the grating may mutually pass betwixt each other.
fasten a cover to my bolt, that its internal parts may not be seen or approached
except betwixt the bars of the grating, which are bent a little inwards the better
to prevent any impression being taken of their surface. I likewise make use
of a bolt wherein there is but one slit, which is projected along the middle of
the bolt bottom or cavity towards the bolt head; the length of this slit is as

page_text: the shoot of the bolt and the thickness of the stump, which is a rule for all
the other bolts or boxes for the length of the slits which admits the stump
into their cavities. The levers and sliders which I make use of in those bolts
which have but one slit have not cross heads, but are slit towards their pivots
or centre, which slit admits the fast stump along it when the key raises the
levers to unlock the bolt, as in Figure 4; a small notch is made at the bottom
of the slit in the lever, which the spring brings down upon the stump, and
provents its locking without being raised. I likewise use sliders or flat
pieces of square iron or other metal, steel, or wood, or likewise of any other
shape, which I place in a corresponding frame, so as they may be raised by the
key, and brought down with a spring fastened to the bolt (as in the levers);
this framo or square rim may be fastened to the bolt, having one side taken
away to admit the spring, as in Figure 8, and the grating fix'd on tho
opposite side; to fit which grating and to fill up a great length of its slits,
I make use of a barrel, in the outside of which is turned groves, which
admit the bars of the grating into their recesses, in order to prevent any
admission (through the grating) to false keys or instruments; this barr
moves on each end between the top and bottom plate of the lock, and has
a piece or pieces cut out of its side to admit the key-bit or bits down its
length. I likewise make use of a square box to contain sliders, levers,
or springs, through the bottom of which box are one or two slits or more, as
in Figure 6 and 7, for the purpose of receiving a stump or stumps into
their cavities. These boxes I make use of to fasten upon any bolt, bar, latch,
or turnbuckle, whether in locks or upon doors, drawers, desk, or bureaus.
I then cut a slit or slits through my bolt or bar to correspond with the slit
in the bottom of the box, for the purpose of receiving a stump into its
cavity, which stump I rivet fast to my luck plate, or that plate whereon my
bolt, bar, latch, or turnbuckle moves, which plate must always be made fast to
the lock, drawer, desk, or bureau which the bolt is intended to secure.
The centre for the key to move on must also be in or upon this fast plato
(except in new locks), when the key may turn betwixt the cap and plate as
usual. I likewise occasionally combine my levers, as in Figure 9, Letters
B and C, that lever being the depth of whatsoever levers or sliders may be
contained in the bolt; when acted upon by any instrument but its corresponding
key, it would take all the other levers or sliders.with it, and thereby prevents
their slits being brought opposite the stump. The cross-headed lovers may
be made to fasten on both stumps at once, by combining them in fastning

page_text: one lever upon the other or others, and making their springs of equal power;
as in Figure 9, Letter F.
In witness whereof, I, the said Moses Bird, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of Our
Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety.

page_text: www
which the Key with its divisions passes C. the
lever as represented in the Bolt at D. with its Spring acting upon it E. the
plate in which Bolt I moves on two Sumps fixt in plate at F.F. Fig 2nd
on tive screws at B.B. fixt
on
1. a Bolt with its Bars or Grating working.
front of Bolt C. C. the Bars or
Grating D. the Cap or Cover of Bolt with its
Spring that keeps the Bars or Grating down E. the Lever with slit to recive
the Stump through Bolt at F. C. the Spring which acts on Lever B. H the
pivett on which Lever works. Fig 3rd a Bolt with square part cut out of
the middle at A to admit the slide B. to work in C. The Slit to receive
the Stump through Bott at E. F. the Spring which acts on slides. Fig: 4th
A Bolt with its Lever and Spring working through a Stump at 1. B.
the Cap
Grating to Bitto Bolt. Fig 5. a
Key with its divisions at B. the width of the Bitt at 1.1. Figo t
or
or Cover with the Bars or
square
Frame to contain one or more Levers
large
as Letter A.
Box
which Lever work on pivot B. C. the Spring D. the Stump which works
through slit in Box E. the Bars or Grating which Box is to be fixed
on Bolt by two Screws at F.F. Fig 7th a small Key with its frame
and slides at A. B. the Slide C. the Stump which the Slides move in
D. the Bars or Grating Fig 8th A Bott with its Frame slides and
Spring at A. B. The Stump on which the Bolt moves l the
Staple at the head of the Bolt D. the Barrell with its notches in
which moves in the Bars or Grating and fills up the open part
thereef at F.F. C. top of Barrell Fig 9th a Bolt with its Lever Latch
against Stump A. B. a Lever which acts against the Lever at C .
which screws the other D. The Bolt as shewn with its Bottom r
upwards representing the Lever in Bolt at E. F. a
Compound Lever
Frig: 10th a Latch working on its Center at 1 with Square frame
at BC. The Bars or Grating D The Lever acting agamst a Stump
in plate A. with its Spring F. The center of
Key whole G. The
Catch Spring. -