Improvements in or relating to Lifting Latches.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1891-Accepted. 7th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Lifting Latches.
I, HERBERT HENRY GREEN, of Gothic Works, Herrick Street, Wolverhampton
in the County of Stafford, Odd Work Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object simple means whereby the latching bar, or latch
proper, of a lifting latch, such as a "Norfolk," "Suffolk," or "Lancashire" latch,
may be securely fastened down in its latched position from the inside of a door to
which it may be attached, and whereby such may be effected also even (as is not
the case with some of the devices now used for securing latches on the inside) when
the door has sunk or fallen considerably at its front edge in relation to the jamb
against which it closes.
The above object is effected, according to this invention, by forming a projection
at the outer face of the portion of the latching bar which passes through the keep,
and screwing a pin through the front of the keep in position so that when the
latching bar is latched the screw may be advanced to bring its inner end over the
projection of the bar and thus prevent the bar being raised. The pin has a large
round head with a milled edge, or is otherwise provided with suitable means for
conveniently screwing it inwards and outwards. The projection on the bar may be
dispensed with, and the pin be in position to admit of its inner end being advanced
over the top of the bar to secure it against being raised from the outside. If the
front edge of the door should sink sufficiently to prevent the inner end of the pin
from being advanced over the top of the projection, or of the bar, the bar may be
securely held by screwing the pin tightly up against the face thereof or of the
projection. A further modification consists in advancing the pin into a hole formed
in the bar.
To insure that the invention may be readily understood, I have annexed hereto a
sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a latch fitted with my improvements, according
to the preferred application thereof, so much only of the latch being shewn as is
required to make the invention clear; and
Figure 2 is a section taken on linex of Figure 1.
A is the latching bar, B the catch, and C the keep. A projection u, consisting
preferably of a rib running for a short distance lengthways of the bar, as shewn,
is formed at the front face of the bar. This projection may be conveniently formed
by pressing the metal out in suitable dies, whereby a hollow bis left at the back
or inner face of the bar. A pin c, having a head d of large diameter milled around
its edge, or other provision for readily turning it, is screwed through the front
plate of the keep in position as shewn so that when the bar A is latched the pin
may be screwed in and its inner end come over the upper side of the projection a
and thus securely prevent the bar from being lifted from the outside of the door.
In Figure 2 the pin is shewn to be screwed in over the projection. A boss e is
formed on the front plate of the keep, so as to allow for a considerable length of
screw within the hole through which the pin passes. It is preferred to make the
keep in malleable cast iron or brass, with a rivet f near each end by which to
rivet it to the back or inside plate g, and with an ear h at each end through which
the screws i, for fixing the keep to the door, pass in addition to passing through
the plate g; but no claim for novelty is made in respect of this. The inner end
of the hole through which the pin c passes is, preferably, countersunk, and the
inner end of the pin slightly riveted up before riveting the front part of the keep
▸ to the plate g, so that when the pin has been unscrewed clear of the projection a
.

page_text: the riveted end of the pin, while entering within the countersunk portion of the
hole, and thus allowing the end of the pin to be drawn back flush with the inner
face of the outer plate of the keep, prevents the pin from being further unscrewed.
The modifications of my invention in which a projection on the bar is dispensed
with, and in which the pin is advanced over the top of the bar or into a hole
therein, will now be clearly understood without special illustration. It will now
also be readily understood that, in any of the modifications, the pin may be screwed
tightly up against the face of the bar or of the projection thereon, in case the
front edge of the door sinks sufficiently to prevent the end of the bolt being
advanced over the bar or projection or into the hole in the bar, as the case may
be; and the screw may of course be originally used for tightening up against the
bar simply to retain it in its latched position by frictional hold, but this is not
recommended as greater force is required to secure the bar in this manner than
when the screw is advanced over the bar or projection or into a hole in the bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A lifting latch, such as a "Norfolk," "Suffolk," or "Lancashire" latch, fitted
with a screw by which the latching bar may be securely prevented from being lifted
from the outside of a door to which it may be applied, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a pin screwed through the front of the keep of a lifting
latch, such as a "Norfolk," "Suffolk," or "Lancashire" latch, with a latching bar
formed either plain as usual or with a projection at the face thereof or with a hole
therein, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
3. The means, substantially as described and illustrated, by which the latching
bar of a lifting latch, such as a "Norfolk," "Suffolk," or "Lancashire" latch,
may be securely prevented from being lifted from the outside of a door to which it
may be applied.
Dated the let day of Letober 201
Dated
the Let
of Letober 1XQ
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.