IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS, LATCHES, AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENINGS;
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I, PHILIP
SMITH, of High Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Locksmith, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-second day of December, in the ninth year of
Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Philip Smith, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and au-
thority that I, the said Philip Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said Philip Smith, my executors, administrators, 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 mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS, LATCHES,
AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENINGS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso obliging me, the said Philip Smith, 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 Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Philip Smith, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of Improvements in Locks, Latches, and other similar Fasten-
ings, consists in certain novel arrangements or combinations of parts, whereby
doors, drawers, portmanteaus, travelling bags, &c. may be secured from being
surreptitiously opened. The Invention refers principally to a simple and efficient
adaptation to locks of sliding pieces or wards, which must be raised to a certain
given height before the bolt or catch can be moved. In the accompanying
Drawing, at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, I have shewn an arrangement of lock for a
desk or portmanteau, whereby a double security is obtained, the barrel of the key
baving first to act upon a Bramah barrel lock before being able to turn and
raise the sliding wards before mentioned. Fig. 1 is a front view of the lock
complete; Fig. 2 is a similar view with some portions removed to shew the
construction of the lock more clearly; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken in
the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken in the line 3, 4,
of Fig. 1. A, A, is the back plate of the lock. B, B, is a frame attached
to the plate, and intended to receive the cap or plate C, which preserves the
working parts of the lock in their places. D is a sliding plate to which is
attached the bolt E, and a guide or check piece F. Spaces are cut in the frame
B to allow the bolt and check piece to move freely backwards and forwards.
This sliding plate D is provided at its lower edge with a shelf or ledge a, a,
on which any given number of sliding pieces or moveable wards b rest, and at
about the middle of its length the ledge a has an opening formed in it to
receive the tail of the wards b. These sliding pieces or wards, one of which
is shewn detached at Fig. 1*, are formed of sheet metal, and are each pro-
vided with a vertical slot, through which a bar or pin c, attached to and
projecting from the plate D, passes for the purpose of securing them to that
plate. The wards 6 are also furnished with two other vertical slots, which
are brought into connection with each other by a horizontal slot. These
three slots, which together are somewhat similar in shape to the letter H, are
intended to receive a pin d, attached to the plate A, and projecting through
a horizontal slot in the sliding plate D. The three vertical slots in all the
sliding wards are made so as to coincide when the wards rest upon the ledge a;
but the horizontal slot should differ in position in all the wards, a sufficient
width being preserved in the slots to allow the wards to move backwards or
forwards without interruption from the fixed pin d. e is a plate screwed on
to the ledge a in order to keep the wards .parallel to each other. is a

page_text: series of springs for resisting any upward pressure communicated to the wards,.
and for returning them to their original position on the ledge of the sliding
plate D. One end of the springs is attached to a stud in the plate D, and
the other end rides over a projection on the upper edge of the wards. The-
Bramah barrel (the construction of which it will be unnecessary here to explain)
is represented at G, and to it is attached a circular plate having a tail piece
or tappet g, which when made to turn round by means of a key comes against
one of the inclined sides of a recess formed in the lower edge of the sliding
plate D, and drives that plate and the bolt attached thereto either backwards
or forwards, when the sliding wards b are adjusted so as to pass the fixed
pin d. In order to raise the sliding ward to the proper height for bringing
the horizontal slot of the wards into coincidence, suitable tappets are formed
on the key, and when brought by the rotation of the key under the tail of
the sliding wards they will lift up the wards to the required position so as to
allow the bolt to pass freely. At Figures 5, 6, and 7, I have shewn my
improved combination of Bramah barrel and moveable wards as applied to a
padlock. Fig. 5 is a view with the side plate removed to shew the interior
construction more clearly; Fig. 6 is a similar view, with an inner plate
removed; and Fig. 7 is a section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 5. In this
arrangement the sliding wards 6 (one of which is shewn detached at Fig. 5*)
are formed of rectangular plates of metal, and are provided only with the
H-shaped slots before mentioned. The wards are placed between two vertical
guides attached to or forming part with the sliding plate D, which, as in the.
former instance, carries the wards b. This plate D has horizontal slots cut
in it to receive short studs h, which project from the side plate, and serve as
guides and stops to the plate; and it is also provided with a horizontal slot
through which the fixed pin d projects, as in the former arrangement.
the upper part of the sliding plate a lip or flange is provided, which takes into.
a notch cut in the end of the shackles I, and forms the bolt of the padlock.
The other parts being similar in arrangement to the lock above described, and
corresponding letters being placed on the same parts, any further description
will be unnecessary. Figs. 8 and 9 represent an arrangement of lock suitable
The
for securing iron safes, drawers, portable desks, and cupboards.
Bramah principle is not in this case employed, but the sliding plate which
carries the bolt is provided with a given number of moving wards. Fig. 8
is a view of the lock with a side plate removed, and Fig. 9 is a section
taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 8. A is the sliding plate, which, as in
the arrangement of the padlock, carries the moveable wards 6 between
vertical guides. The sliding plate A is furnished with a slot, through which
On

page_text: a fixed pin d protrudes into the slots of the wards b, as before mentioned.
K, K, are the two bolts placed one on each side of the ordinary bolt E.
These bolts K are somewhat similar in form to a bell-crank lever, and are
respectively attached at one end to the side plate of the lock by a fixed stud i,
on which they vibrate. The bolts K are also connected to the sliding plate A,
by the studs k, in order that they may receive motion therefrom. When the
key is applied to this lock, and the bolt E is forced forwards, the ends of the
side bolts will spread out laterally as shewn at Fig. 8, and suitably formed
openings having been made in the striking plate of the lock, they will enter
therein, and as it were grasp that plate, and hold it with a greater security
than the ordinary straight bolt. These curved bolts may be employed either
by themselves, or together with the straight bolt, as shown in the Drawing.
Instead of the tail piece or tappet g, which is used in the previously described
arrangements for sliding the plate D backwards and forwards, the key must be
made to press against the inclines on the lower edge of the plate A, and thus
propel and draw back the bolts. Figures 10 and 11 shew a novel construc
tion of mortice latch, more particularly applicable to the doors of banking
houses, taverns, and places of public resort. Fig. 10 is a view of the
improved latch, having the side plate removed to shew the interior con-
struction; and Fig. 11 is a cross section of the same, taken in the line 1, 2,
of Fig. 10. A is the latch which slides in a guide a, and is projected
forwards by a spring b. The inner end of the latch is formed into a right
angle, and its vertical part is provided with a steep incline c, against which
a plate d, having a bevelled edge, is in contact. Through this plate the
spindle on which the handles e, e*, are mounted, is passed and secured thereto,
and on each side of the door a socket f, f*, is formed, to receive the inner end
of the handles. When the door is required to be opened the handle e is
pushed forward, which motion drives the bevilled edge of the plate d against
the incline c of the latch, and draws the latch out of contact with the box
staple, or striking plate, or the door jam. The same effect is produced on
the other side of the door by pulling the handle e* forwards. The last part of
this Invention consists in a novel arrangement of mortice lock which com-
bines the principle of a latch, bolt, and lock. This improved fastening is
shewn in edge view at Fig. 12, and in side view, with some of the parts
removed, at Fig. 13. A Bramah barrel is set into the middle of the lock,
and attached to the side plate. On the under face of the barrel a short pin
projects (see the detached view Fig. 12*) into a peculiarly shaped opening 1,
in the sliding plate A, which carries the bolt B. This opening or space 1
in the plate A is so formed that the plate will not come in contact with

page_text: the pin on the under face of the Bramah barrel when the lock is used merely
as a latch or bolt. 2, 2, are the inclined sides of an opening in the.
plate A, and against these sides the pin 3, of an arm 4 (see the detached
view Fig. 13), affixed to the socket of the spindle, which carries the han-
dles of the lock, works; when, therefore, the handle of the lock is turned,
whether to the right or left, the latch will be drawn back.
5 is a pin.
attached to the sliding plate A, and 6 is a stop on the side plate of the lock.
7 is a stud, also attached to the side plate, and upon it a lever 8 works,
which is sufficiently long for its end to abut against the pin 5. The end of
the lever 8 is pressed against the pin by a spring 9, and by this means the
bolt is pressed forward as far as the stop 6 will allow the lever 8 to move.
10 is a knob projecting from a socket, which turns in the side plates of the
lock, and is intended to receive a short square spindle 11, provided with a
handle. This handle when turned will bring the knob 10 against the back
of the latch bolt, and prevent the large handles from turning and drawing
back the latch. When the door is intended to be locked the key is applied
to the Bramah barrel, and the pin on the under face of the barrel is brought
against one side of the space I in the sliding plate A. By this means the
latch is protruded to its furthest distance, and the handles will then have no
effect upon it. A horizontal slit is made in the plate A, in connection with
the inclined slides 2, 2, to allow that plate to pass forward without any inter-
ruption from the pin 3 on the arm 4. The peculiar construction, therefore,
of this lock admits of a latch, bolt, and lock fastening, being obtained by the
employment only of one bolt. At Fig. 14 I have shewn a mode of protecting
the bolt of a drawer lock from its being sawn off, or forced out of connection
with the striking plate. It consists in casting a right-angled piece a on the
outer edge of the "selvage" of the lock, and thus the insertion of a chisel or
saw blade will be prevented. The same kind of security will be obtained in
desk and box locks, by forming the "selvage" and striking plate as shewn at.
Fig. 15.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim under the above in part
recited Letters Patent,-
First, the peculiar arrangements and combinations of parts for forming a
secure lock or fastening as described, with reference to Figs. 1, 5, and 8,
wherein a series of moveable wards, supported by the sliding plate which
carries the bolt, are made to pass over a fixed pin in the lock plate, and when
not raised to their proper height so as to pass that pin will prevent the
movement of the bolt, as before explained.

page_text: Secondly, I claim the combination of the Bramah barrel and moveable
wards, whereby a double check is given to any attempts at surreptitiously
opening the lock or fastening.
Thirdly, I claim the application of the vibrating side bolts, shewn at Fig. S,
to locks in general, where a strong hold is required to be taken of the striking
plate or hasp of a door jam or of a folding door.
Fourthly, I claim the peculiar construction of latch lock shewn at
Figs. 10 and 11, or any modification thereof, wherein the withdrawal of the
latch from the box plate or catch on the door jam is effected by thrusting
one inclined surface against another inclined surface.
And, lastly, I claim the peculiar arrangement, construction, and combination
of parts, as shewn at Figs. 12 and 13, whereby I am enabled to obtain a
latch bolt and lock fastening with the employment of but one latch or bolt.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.