IMPROVED LOCK AND KEY
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
SANDERS, of Burton-on-Trent, in the County of Stafford, Gentleman, send:
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twelfth day of June, in the second year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph
Sanders, Her especial licence, that I, the said Joseph Sanders, my exors,
admors, or assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Sanders, my exors,
adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVED LOCK
AND KEY;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me,
the said Joseph Sanders, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in Her. said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Joseph
Sanders, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to consist,--

page_text: First, in a door or other lock, in which the tumbler or tumblers (for
there may be more than one if required) are attached to and move to and
fro with the main bolt, and the tail end of which tumbler is adjusted by the
proper key to a particular position, in which position alone it will pass through
a certain opening in what I call a fender, in which that opening is contrived,
and to which said fender is attached a sliding catch or bar, so contrived that
when in its proper position it will just admit the tail end of the lever and bolt
into or through the opening in the said fender.
Secondly, in a peculiar arrangement of springs and tumblers applied to
and connected with what is technically called the pin of the lock, and which
tumblers and springs are brought into the necessary correspondence by nierely
pushing the pipe of the key used with this apparatus (and which is of course
what is called a thick-pinned key) on to the said pin. And,
Thirdly and lastly, in a peculiar arrangement of spring or other device in
the pipe of the said key, constituting an improved key.
And in further compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Joseph Sanders,
do hereby describe the manner in which my said Invention is to be performed,
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawing an-
nexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is an outer elevation of a door lock. Fig. 2 is an interior view of
the same as it would appear when locked, the covering plate A being removed.
Figures 3 and 4 are interior views of the lock; the former is shewn as
unlocked, and the latter is intended to exhibit the action of the detector,
supposing a false key to have been introduced with the intention of picking
the lock. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the lock taken vertically, exhibiting also
the key to which it belongs. In all the Figures similar letters of reference
are used to denote similar parts. In Fig. 2 the key B is shewn as being
about to elevate the tumbler C if moved in the direction of the arrow. And
I would here observe, that in order to make my Invention more clearly under-
stood, I have only shewn the lock as fitted with one tumbler; but I do not
intend to confine myself to this, as two or more are equally applicable. The
tumbler C turns on a pivot D, which pivot is fixed to the main bolt G, and
thus the tumbler and bolt move together. The tumbler is of a peculiar form,
and at one end has two notches cut in it, upon which the spring E acts. The
opposite end is formed so that when at rest it may fall over a fixed part of the
lock at F, forming a stop to the draught of the latch spring S, as in Fig. 3,
and also that when elevated it may pass through a space corresponding with

page_text: it in width. H is a sliding catch or detector bolt, shewn detached in perspec-
tive in Fig. 6, which forms a space at I, through which the tumbler passes.
This space is regulated by the upper surface of the tumbler coming in contact
with the catch, when the bolt is being locked, which moves it so as just to
allow itself to pass through, thus leaving the space properly corresponding with
the width of the end of the tumbler; but should a false key be introduced and
the tumbler raised too high, it will come in contact with the back of the
sliding catch, and thus be prevented from passing through the space. J is a
fish-tailed lever which moves on a pin at K, and its forked ends L, L 1, are
acted upon by the key, so that its opposite end M, which works in a notch in
the sliding catch, will bring it into its proper position before the bolt is thrown
forward by the key. N is a moveable piece, which I term a fender, which
serves as a guide for the sliding catch, and also for a stop to the latch. O is a
spring fixed to the fender, which presses the sliding catch close upon the
segmental portion of it to keep its action perfectly steady. The fender is made
so that it may be lifted from the Jock when occasion may require, and when
placed in the lock is held fast between the points P, P, P. The general form
of the fender will be more clearly understood by referring to the detached
Fig. 7, where I have shown it in perspective. At one end of the main bolt is
a notch Q, which serves as a further security to the lock. On referring to
Fig. 2 it will be seen that this notch is brought exactly opposite a projection R
of the sliding catch when it is locked; and should a false key or picklock be
introduced and touch the tail L 1 of the lever J, it will force this projection R
into the notch of the bolt, and there hold it fast. S is a spring, which throws
the latch forward, and is attached at one end to the case of the lock, and at
the opposite end to the bolt. T is a lever attached to the handle U, which
moves the latch backwards. X is an ordinary finger bolt for securing the
lock when the main bolt is moved forward, as in Fig. 2; to the thicker part
of the main bolt is fixed a spring E, which acts upon the lower notch of the
tumbler so as to throw its opposite end down upon the projecting part of the
fender when the bolt is locked, as in Fig. 2, thus preventing it from being
forced back again. It has also another action upon the tumbler, throwing up
the detector, which will be more clearly understood by reference to Fig. 4.
In this Figure I have supposed a false key or picklock has been introduced,
and its first action upon the lock will be to lift the tumbler so that the bolt
may be shot; but should the tumbler be raised beyond its exact position, the
spring will pass on to the upper notch, and instantly throw up the tumbler
against a projection on the sliding catch, and carry with it the catch, the
projection R upon it being also carried into the notch in the under side of the

page_text: bolt, holding it securely, where the lever and the sliding catch, with its projec-
tion, will remain, and thus the owner will know that an attempt has been
made to open the lock. The party attempting to open the lock finding he
could not bring down the tumbler to its former position, would probably turn
his false key or picklock the reverse way, where he would come in contact
with the end I of the fish-tailed lever J, which would bring down the sliding
catch and the tumbler until the spring E pressed upon the lower notch of the
tumbler, which would throw it down upon the fender, as in Fig. 2, leaving it
in the same position as before he attempted to pick the lock, and would throw
the sliding catch below its proper position for unlocking, so as to form a
detector; but, in order to withdraw his key from the lock, he would have to
pass the tail L' of the lever J, which would now be in the position as in
Figures 2 and 3; and in the event of coming against its surface it would
probably again throw the projection R of the sliding catch into the notch in
the lower part of the bolt, and there leave it fixed. This also serves as a
detector, for the owner of the lock will find, on applying the proper key, that he
cannot move the bolt in consequence of the projection R having been left in it.
In either case of the improper position of the sliding catch, or if the lever be
left out of the reach of the proper key, the key must be turned as if for locking,
and in bringing it back again the lock will be brought into its proper state by
the action of the key on the points L and L1 of the fish-tailed lever. W, W,
are the screws, which fix the covering plate to the lock; and V, V, are holes
for screws, which fix the lock to the door. Y is a spring fixed to the casing
of the lock, by which, as a further security, I can double-lock the bolt if it is
required. As soon as the main bolt is locked, by turning the key until it passes
the point of the spring it will press against the tail L 1 of the lever J, and throw
the projection R of the sliding catch into the notch of the main bolt, by which
it will be firmly held, when the key is turned back and brought out; and on
bringing out the key after adjusting the sliding catch in the manner above
described, for the purpose of unlocking, it will just pass the point of the spring,
which is sufficiently elastic for, that purpose. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of
the under side of the bolt, shewing the spring which acts upon the notches of
the lever, and the recess in which the lever J works; Fig. 9 is a perspectivo
view of the under side of the tumbler; and Fig. 10 is a similar view of the
fish-tailed lever J, and the pivot on which it turns.
Another feature of my Invention refers to an entirely new construction of
key, and an apparatus, attached to and constituting a part of the pin of the
lock, which can be attached to a lock of the ordinary construction, but which
in the Drawing annexed I have shewn as attached to one of my tumbler locks,

page_text: somewhat similar to that last described. Fig. 11 is an outer elevation of the
lock on the keyhole side; Fig. 12, an interior view of the same; Fig. 13 is
a vertical section on the line A, B; and Fig. 14, a horizontal section, shewing
the upper part of the lock and taken on the line C, D. a, a, is a cylinder
which forms the keyhole, and is fixed to the moveable plate of the lock. The
key, as represented in the Drawing, consists of an inner tube b, Fig. 14, and
A, Fig. 18, and of an outer tube c, Fig.. 14, and B, Fig. 18, on the former of
which is fixed a handle, and on the latter the projecting end or nib of the key,
which raises the tumbler and throws the bolt to and fro. The inner tube:b
has an aperture made on one side, whilst in the process of manufacture; and
this space I have shewn in the Drawing annexed as filled up by the introduc-
tion of a spring, see d, Fig. 14, and A, Fig. 18 (but it may be left open, or it
may be partly or wholly filled up by a spring or springs, as may be thought
advisable). If filled up with a spring, the spring is soldered at one end to the
outside of the tube, and the other left loose; and it will be seen that at the
centre it projects (by being curved) slightly into the tube, as will be hereafter
explained. The inner tube having been thus finished is placed within the
outer tube c, Fig. 14, and B, Fig. 18, and firmly united to it, either by rivets
or bard solder, or other ineans, so that the tubes shall become as one piece of
metal. In the Drawing of the key I have shewn two tubes for the purpose of
shewing the aperture and spring, which could not be used in one tube, but I
do not mean to confine myself to two tubes, as one containing a hollow or
hollows, or an indentment or indentments in the side may be used if desirable.
e is a conical piece of metal extending across the interior of the lock, with an
opening wholly or partly through the side for the nib of the key, as may be
requisite, and is held in its place by the covering plate f. To this piece is
fixed a spindle g, forming the pin of the lock, a portion of which is removed to
form a space for the spring levers h, h, h, to work in. Each of the spring levers
is fixed at one end to the spindle i, and the other end is loose and pointed for
the purpose of dropping into small holes in each of the sliding pieces or bolts
jj, j k is a cap screwed to the casing of the lock at 1, l. This cap fits on
the bottom end of the conical pice e, forming a bearing for it to turn in, and
has two recesses corresponding in width with the sliding bolts j, j, j (which in
fact may be called the tumblers of the pin); this will be better understood by
referring to the detached Fig. 15, where I have shewn it in perspective. The
cap is so arranged that when the key is being withdrawn these recesses will be
exactly opposite the ends of the three tumblers j, and the spring levers on
which they are placed will immediately, when the key is withdrawn, project

page_text: the bolts into one of the recesses of the cap, and thus prevent the conical
piece from being turned, save by the proper key. On applying the key to the
lock for the purpose of opening it, the spring in the inner tube b will press
upon the projections m of the spring levers h, which are so regulated that their
opposite ends or points will bring the outer edges of the sliding bolts j in a
line with the outside of the conical piece e, where it fits in the cap, withdrawing
them from the recesses in the cap, and thus allow the key to turn freely; but
should a false key be introduced, and either of the sliding bolts j not be acted
upon with the proper pressure, it will still project into the recess and not
allow the conical piece or the key to turn. The spring levers are so arranged
that they shall all press the bolts j unequally into the recess; and although I
have shewn three levers and three bolts, yet any number may be used as they
may be required. n is the tumbler of the lock, and P the space, through
which the tumbler must pass before the bolt can be locked. The spring used,
as shewn on the tumbler in Fig. 12 is the kind of spring I shall use to the
tumblers when no detector is required. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the
conical piece e, the spindle g, with the spring levers attached, and the sliding
bolts jjj, in the position they will be with the full pressure of the spring
levers upon them, or when the bolt is locked. Fig. 17 shows the three bolts
detached, and the spaces or slots left in the lower ones for the spring levers to
pass through and adjust themselves in; and Fig. 19 represents the key com-
plete, as composed of two tubes, when the two parts A and B, shewn at
Fig. 18, have been put together and soldered.
Now whereas I claim as my Invention, first, the lock shown by Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, with its tumbler attached to and moving to
and fro with the main bolt G, and its fender Fig. 7, forming the opening for
the tail end of the tumbler to pass through, and also the detector bolt;
secondly, the conical piece and its appendages, Figures 15, 16, and 17, applied
to any lock; and thirdly, the key shewn in Figures 18 and 14, applicable to
turning the said conical piece, either with a spring in the pipe, as herein-before
shewn, or with any other contrivance acting in like manner on the spring
levers.
And such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her said
Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare
this to be my Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my
said Specification doth comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or

page_text: disguise, with the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent contained; wherefore I hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and
privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Sanders, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
JOSEPH (L.S.) SANDERS.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of August, in
the year of our Lord 1839, the aforesaid Joseph Saunders came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord Oue.
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.