Improvements in Locks, which are Fitted with both Locking and Latching Bolts, and in Latches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks, which are Fitted with both Locking and
Latching Bolts, and in Latches.
We, THOMAS BENTON and JOHN WORMINGTON BENTON, trading together as
Thomas Benton and Son, of Victoria Works, Victoria Street, Willenhall, in the
County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
A lock constructed according to this invention is provided with a latching plate
which is drawn back in the usual manner by the follower, and is pressed out-
wards by a spring. This plate, however, instead of extending forwards from the
follower only about half the distance therefrom to the fore-end of the case, extends
forwards right up, or nearly, to the fore-end, but has a portion of its front end
cut away to clear the locking bolt head and lias an opening formed through it
for the passage therethrough of the key, and also for the purpose of lightening
out the plate. The latching-bolt head is formed with a web or plate which pro-
jects backwards at the middle thereof, and this web has two holes formed there-
through which engage with two corresponding studs which stand out from the
face of the latching plate at the front end thereof. The web comes flat against the
plate when in place, and tne bolt head may be readily reversed by disengaging
the web from the studs of the plate and re-engaging the same after turning the
bolt head a half turn.
According to the invention as thus far described, the latching plate forms, in
effect, the latching-bolt tail, and the somewhat lengthy tail usually formed with
the latching-bolt head and by means of which it is connected with the latching
plate, is thus superseded by the web above described; moreover, the connection of
the bolt head with the plate through the medium of two studs gives a connection
of double strength compared with the usual connection by means of one stud
only, and prevents, also, any liability of the bolt to twist.
The studs by means of which the latching-bolt head is connected with the
latching plate project some distance beyond the outer face of the web, when the
same is in position thereover, and a plate formed also with two holes for engage-
ment with the studs is passed down thereover, and, being kept in position upon
the studs by means of the cap-plate of the case, itself keeps the web of the latch-
ing-bolt head properly in place, with one side flat against the latching plate.
The plate which engages with the studs is formed with a shank, and the lever or
tumbler of the locking bolt is formed with a downwardly or inwardly projecting
arm from its hinder or pivoted end, through a hole in the lower or inner end of
which the shank aforesaid passes. This lever or tumbler is conveniently formed
from sheet or thin plate metal, in which case it is convenient to flange down a
portion of one of the sides of the downwardly or inwardly projecting arm, and to
form the hole through the flange for the passage of the shank. A spiral spring

page_text: is placed around the shank, aforesaid, between shoulders which are formed at its
junction with the plate which engages with the studs of the latching plate and the
forward side of the downwardly or inwardly projecting arm of the lever or tumbler
of the locking mechanism.
The latching plate, and consequently the latching-bolt head, are drawn inwards
against the resistance of the spring which is around the shank aforesaid, and are
automatically returned by the re-acting pressure of the spring, and the lifting
or outward movement of the lever or tumbler of the locking mechanism, produced
by turning the key within the lock, is effected against the pressure also of such
spiral spring, which answers, therefore, as the spring for both the locking and
latching mechanisms.
The locking-bolt tail is situated between the outer face of the latching plate
and the inner face of the lever or tumbler, and its back face slides, consequently,
flat against the front face of the plate.
The latching plate is conveniently formed of sheet or thin plate metal, and has
the usual slot to clear the boss of the follower, and has the projections against
which the follower horns bear formed by flanging the metal of the plate at right
angles to the plane thereof.
The invention may obviously be applied to a latch only, in which case a fixed
abutment is provided to receive the backward pressure of the spring, and act as
a guide for the shank around which the spring is placed.
The plate which is passed over the two studs, aforesaid, after the latch-bolt has
been engaged therewith, forms a packing or distance-piece between the outer
face of the web of the bolt head and the cap plate, and this plate may be formed
without a shank, if desired, and any convenient arrangement be adopted for
ensuring that the latching bolt shall be drawn in against the force of a spring, and
for ensuring, in the case of a lock, that the same spring shall, if desired, act as
the spring for the lever or tumbler also.
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicants..
. Improvements in Locks, which are Fitted with both Locking and
Latching Bolts, and in Latches.
We, THOMAS, BENTON and JOHN WORMINGTON BENTON, trading together as
Thomas Benton and Son, of Victoria Works, Victoria Street, Willenhall, in the
County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturers, 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:-
A lock constructed according to this invention is provided with a. latch plate
which is drawn back by the follower, and is pressed outwards by a spring. This
plate extends forwards right up, or nearly, to the fore-end of the case or to the
latch bolt head, but has a portion of its front end cut away to clear the lock-bolt
head, and has an opening formed through it for the passage therethrough of the
key, and also for the purpose of lightening out the plate and to provide clearance
for other parts of the mechanism. The latch-bolt head is formed with a web or
plate which projects backwards at the middle thereof, and this web has two holes
formed therethrough which engage with two corresponding studs which stand
out from the face of the latch plate at the front end thereof. The web comes flat
against the plate when in place, and the bolt head may be readily reversed by dis-

page_text: engaging the web from the studs of the plate and re-engaging the same anter
turning the bolt head a half turn.
According to the invention as thus far described, the latch plate forms, in
effect, the latch-bolt tail, and the somewhat lengthy tail usually formed with the
latch-bolt head is thus superseded by the web above described; moreover, the con-
nection of the bolt head with the plate through the medium of two studs gives a
connection of double strength, compared with the usual connection by means of
one stud only, between a latch bolt and the part which is operated by the follower
and prevents, also, any liability of the bolt to twist; but the connection may, of
course, be by means of a single stud only, if desired.
The studs by means of which the latch-bolt head is connected with the latch-
plate project some distance beyond the outer face of the web when the same is in
position thereover, and a plate formed also with two holes for engagement with
the studs is passed down thereover, and, being kept in position upon the studs
by means of the cap-plate of the case, itself keeps the web of the latch-bolt head
properly in place, with one side flat against the latch plate. The plate which
engages with the studs is formed with a shank, and the lever or tumbler of the
lock bolt is formed with a downwardly or inwardly projecting arm from its hinder
or pivoted end, through a hole in the lower or inner end of which the shank afore-
said passes. This lever or tumbler is conveniently formed from sheet or thin plate
metal, in which case it is convenient to flange back a portion of one of the sides
of the downwardly or inwardly projecting arm, and to form the hole through the
flange for the passage of the shank. A spiral spring is placed around the shank,
aforesaid, between shoulders which are formed at its junction with the plate
which engages with the studs of the latch plate and the forward side of the down-
wardly or inwardly projecting arm of the lever or tumbler of the lock mechanism.
The latch plate, and consequently the latch-bolt head, are drawn inwards against
the resistance of the spring which is around the shank aforesaid, and are auto-
matically returned by the re-acting pressure of the spring, and the lifting or out-
ward movement of the lever or tumbler of the lock mechanism, produced by turn-
ing the key within the lock, is effected against the pressure also of such spiral
spring, which answers, therefore, as the spring for both the lock and latch
mechanism.
The lock-bolt tail is situated between the outer face of the latch plate and the
inner face of the lever or tumbler and its back face slides, consequently, flat against
the front face of the plate.
The latch plate is conveniently formed of sheet or thin plate metal, and has a
slot to clear the boss of the follower, and has the projections against which the
follower horns bear formed by flanging the metal of the plate at right angles to
the plane thereof.
The invention may obviously be applied to a latch only, in which case a fixed
abutment is provided to receive the backward pressure of the spring, and act as
a guide for the shank around which the spring is placed.
The plate which is passed over the two studs aforesaid after the latch-bolt has
been engaged therewith, forms a packing or distance-piece between the outer face
of the web of the bolt head and the cap-plate, and this plate may be formed with-
out a shank, if desired, and any convenient arrangement, such as has previously
been used for a similar purpose, be adopted for ensuring that the latch-bolt shall
be drawn in against the force of a spring, and for ensuring, in the case of a lock
that the same spring shall, if desired, act as a spring for the lever or tumbler also.
According to a modification of the invention, a spring is used for the lever or
tumbler which is separate from and independent of the spring which is used for
the latch bolt, but both the springs may bear against the same abutment or stump.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we will proceed to des-
cribe practical applications thereof by reference to the drawings herewith, of
which Figure 1 is a front view of a lock fitted with a latch bolt, the cap being
removed to expose the interior mechanism. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section

page_text: taken in the plane indicated by line of Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 are, respect-
ively, an elevation and a plan of the latch bolt head and web; and Figure 5 is a
corresponding view to Figure 1, shewing a modified form of mechanism.
Referring first to the invention as illustrated by Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, A A
indicate the latch plate, formed preferably of thin wrought iron or steel plate.
This plate extends, as shewn, to nearly the front of the case,
that is to say.
substantially as far as the rear end of the latch-bolt head but has a portion cut
out from its upper corner to clear the lock bolt head 13, and has lugs or flanges a
bent outwards at right angles at its hinder end for the horns of the follower C
to bear against. A slotted opening is cut through the hinder end of the plate
to allow the plate to be moved endways in relation to the boss of the follower, and
the hinder end of the plate is guided by the boss of the follower. The latch bolt
head D is formed with a web c, which is situated at the middle of the depth or
thickness of the head so that it comes into the same position whether the head is
placed for use right or left hand. This web has formed therethrough two holes d
which are passed over corresponding studs e which project from the forward face
of the latch plate A. These studs project, as shewn, from the forward face of the
web c when the same has been passed over the studs and is against the face of the
plate A; and over these projecting ends of the studs e is passed an outer plate E,
and this plate is kept by the cap of the case from being shaken off the studs. The
lever G (or it might be a tumbler in lieu thereof) is formed with a downwardly
projecting arm H, and a portion of the lower end of this arm is bent back at right
angles to form a flange or lug f. The plate E is formed with a shank g, and
the inner end of the plate is bent or cranked back, as shewn, to bring the shank g
into the middle of the depth or thickness of the case. The hinder end of this
shank passes through the lug or flange f of the arm H of the lever, and a spiral
springh is placed around the shank and is compressed between the hinder end of
the plate E and the forward face of the lug f. The latchbolt D) is thus moved
inwards against the elastic force of the spring h, and the lever G is raised by
the key also against the elastic force of this spring. The plate A has a large
opening J cut through the middle thereof to admit of the passage of the key
therethrough, to provide clearance for the lug f of the arm H of the lever, for
the spring, for the lever stump or pin i, and for the purpose, also, of lightening
out the plate.
If it is desired to reverse the latch bolt D, the cap plate F and also the plate E
are removed, and, when the latch plate A has been moved in sufficiently, the
web of the bolt head may be moved out from off the studs e. The bolt head
may then be reversed and the web.re-engaged with the studs e, but with its
reverse face towards the plate A.
Referring now to the modification shewn by Figure 5, it will be seen that the
only difference between this and the lock illustrated by Figure 1 is in the means
by which the spring pressure is applied in connection with the latch-bolt and lever
(or tumbler in lieu thereof). In this case, a stump or cheek K is fixed within the
case, and the shank g of the plate E is guided therethrough at its hinder end, and
the spring bears at its hinder end thereagainst; and in lieu of forming the
lever G with a downward arm, it is provided with a spring which bears against
the back or opposite face of the cheek K to that against which the spring bears.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a lock or latch, a latch bolt head formed with a web or lug, in lieu of
the ordinary bolt tail, by means of which it is detachably connected with the
forward end of a sliding piece which extends forwards substantially as far as the
inner end of the head and is moved hack by means of a follower, the said web
or lug being substantially of such length only as is required for its connection
with the sliding-piece, all substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. In a lock or latch, a latch bolt head formed with a web or lug situated at the
middle of the thickness of the head and by means of which the head is detachably
connected with the forward end of a sliding-piece which is capable of being drawn
inwards by the follower, the connection being effected by passing the web over a
stud or studs which project from the face of the sliding-piece, and an outer plate
which is passed over said stud or studs and is (when the cap is fixed) between the
web and the cap of the case, substantially as described.
3. In a lock or latch, a latch bolt head formed with a web or lug which is
detachably connected with the forward end of a sliding-piece which is capable
of being drawn inwards by the follower, by passing it over a stud or studs which
project from the face of the sliding piece, an outer plate which may be passed
over said stud or studs, a shank from such outer plate, and a spiral spring
around such shank by means of which the plate from which it projects and con-
sequently the bolt head are pressed in an outward direction, substantially as
described.
4. In a lock or latch, a sliding plate which is capable of being moved inwards
by the follower, in combination with a latch bolt which is detachably connected
therewith and is set forward by means of a spiral spring which lies partly within
an opening of the plate, substantially as described.
5. In a lock or latch, a sliding plate which is capable of being moved inwards
by the follower, in combination with a latch bolt which is detachably connected
therewith, an opening being formed through the said plate for the passage there-
through of the key, substantially as described.
6. The combination and arrangement of latching mechanism substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings herewith.
7. The combination and arrangement of latching mechanism substantially as
described with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings herewith.
Dated this 9th day of Wal 1000
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Chartered Patent Agents,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicants.