Improvements in Checks or Locks for Baggage and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Checks or Locks for Baggage and the like.
1 WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn and Son of 151 Strand in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from John K. Lockard of Bloomsburg in the County of
Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Inventor) to be as
follows:-
This my invention consists, first, in the combination of a sliding bar having a
double tapered upper end and a spear-shaped locking head below said double
tapered end with the guide and guard pins or studs and with the tumblers and cam
like locking jaws, whereby the said tumblers are caused to remain either in their
unlocking or locking positions until the dogs or tumblers are actuated respectively
by the key that is attached to the connecting strap or chain, and by the unlocking
key, and when locked there is no possible means for the introduction of picking
instruments between the tumblers, which is not the case with locks or checks which
are not provided with the said double tapered and spear headed bar: and it
consists, second, in a locking case provided with a series of studs or guiding-pins
arranged at different altitudes and at different distances from the vertical centre of
said case in combination with a locking mechanism comprising the pivoted tumblers,
pivoted dogs and a spear headed sliding bar whereby greater safety against
unauthorised unlocking of the checks is insured, this construction enabling a number
of combinations to be adopted.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation of the check or lock as in use.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with its cap-plate removed, the tumblers being
locked.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, the tumblers being unlocked, and the locking-
key still in its position and the strap or chain key out of position, whereas in Fig. 2
the strap or chain key is in position and the unlocking key out of position.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the check or lock.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate keys with different numbers of wards for various com-
binations.
A designates the body of the check or lock comprising a back plate a, edges a¹
and a cap plate B the latter being secured in position by rivets c and when thus
secured there is a space d between the back and front plates which forms a chamber
for the locking mechanism and for the insertion and withdrawal of the keys, the
edges a¹ being cut away at top and bottom to form the key-insertion passages. The
face or front plate B is provided on the outer edges with flanges e, open at the upper
end and closed at the lower end and between these flanges the destination card fcan
be inserted.
C represents pivoted tumblers, and D pivoted cam-like locking dogs.
E is a sliding bar applied between the lever arms C¹ of the tumblers.
Fare springs arranged to bear upon the lever-arms C' of the tumblers, the lever
arms D' of the locking dogs and also upon shoulders e' of the sliding bar E.
G. G are guiding and guard pins which enter the wards of the strap or chain
connecting key H and the unlocking key H¹. The keys H H' in Figs. 2 and 3
have but a single ward f1 respectively while the keys shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 have
in one instance, two wards ff and in the latter instance three wards f¹ƒª ƒ³.
The tumblers C have angular locking notches 9 and the dogs D have stops h for
the springs F to abut against while the sliding bar E has two shoulders e¹ for said
springs to rest upon and bear against.

page_text: j
The lever arms of the tumblers have shoulders j about midway of their height.
The sliding bar is tapered upwardly on both sides from its shoulders, and this
tapered portion extends up between the cam-like surfaces k of the dogs D, and below
the shoulders e' an arrow-shaped head is formed on the bar, and at the extremity of
the bar it is terminated into a V-form as shewn. With this construction the device,
if it is locked as in Fig. 2. can be unlocked by inserting the key H' and pressing
against the lever arm C¹ this action causing the upper ends of the tumblers to move
from the position shewn in Fig. 2 to the position shewn in Fig. 3 and the dogs D to
assume the oblique locking position shewn in said Fig. 3, said action also causing the
tapered part of the sliding bar E to pass up between the cam-surfaces of the dogs D
and the spear-head to rise above the shoulders ; of the lever arms, and by this
means the tumblers are held in their unlocked position and the dogs retained in the
position against the tumblers (shewn in Fig. 3). If the lock or check is in the
unlocked position shewn in Fig. 3 it can be locked, as shewn in Fig. 2 by inserting
the strap or chain-key H and thereby acting upon the lever ends of the dogs D and
moving them out of locking position with the tumblers whereupon the springs F
are allowed to depress the lever arms of the tumblers and release the sliding bar E
from said arms and allow its spear-head to pass down into the narrower space
between said lever-arms, and thus retain the tumblers positively locked. The parts
being in the position shewn in Fig. 2. cannot be reached by any implement inserted
between the lever arms of the tumblers, because the pin G¹ acts as a guard against
the insertion of such instrument and so long as this sliding bar remains in the
position shewn in Fig. 2 it will be impossible for the tumblers to be unlocked, and
only a key adapted for unlocking them will accomplish the result.
The side edges of the case A are made of concavo convex form, in order to give
the tumblers a chance to move on their pivots within the case and also afford a
firmer hold upon the exterior of the case, and thus prevent the case slipping in the
band, this latter benefit being secured by widening the case at its upper end and
giving its corners an approximately quadrantal form whereby said corners are made
to serve as stops for preventing the case moving up and down in the hand while
clasped therein.
In the drawings Fig. 2 a series of pins or studs similar to the one G are shewn by
dotted circles. These pins are to be in number and arrangement so as to work with
keys such as shewn in Figs. and 6 and by this means a number of combinations
may be employed.
Dated this 30th day of September 1890.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Checks or Locks for Baggage and the like.
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
a communication to me from John K. Lockard of Bloomsburg in the County of
Columbia State of Pennsylvania United States of America Inventor and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to improvements in checks or locks for baggage and the like
and my invention consists in the details and combination of parts hereinafter
described and set forth.
My invention consists in a check or lock adapted to be used for securing a bag
or other article by means of a chain, strap or other fastening the ends of which are
attached to or connected with the said lock; and my invention is so constructed
that upon the device being unfastened the unlocking key remaius fast in the lock
and cannot be removed except by the insertion of the chain key as will be readily

page_text: understood by the following description. The device may be also used as a baggage
check by the addition of a distinguishing number or other sign by which the article
may be identified when thus used.
In the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lock or check as in use.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lock or check with its cap-plate removed the
tumblers being locked.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 the tumblers being unlocked and the locking
key still in its position and the strap or chain-key out of position whereas in Fig. 2
the strap or chain key is in position and the unlocking key out of position.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the lock or check.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate keys with different numbers of wards for various com-
binations.
A designates the body of the lock or check comprising a back plate a edges a¹
and a cap plate B the latter being secured in position by rivets c and when thus
secured there is a space d between the back and front plates which forms a chamber
for the locking mechanism and for the insertion and withdrawal of the keys, the
edges a¹ being cut away at top and bottom to form the key-insertion passages. The
face or front plate B is provided on the outer edges with flanges e open at the
upper end and closed at the lower end and between these flanges the destination or
other card can be inserted thus forming a baggage check or a direction label
or tag.
C represents pivotted tumblers, and D pivotted cam like locking dogs.
E is a sliding bar applied between the lever-arms C' of the tumblers.
F are springs arranged to bear upon the lever arms C' of the tumblers, the lever
arms D' of the locking-dogs and also upon shoulders e¹ of the sliding bar E.
G. Gare guiding and guard pins which enter the wards of the strap or chain
connecting key H and the unlocking key H'.
The keys H H in Figs. 2 & 3 have but a single ward f' respectively while the
keys shown in Figs. 5 and 6 have in one instance 2 wards f¹and f' and in the latter
instance 3 wards f¹ƒ³ and ƒ³.
g
The tumblers C have angular locking notches 9 and the dogs D have stops h for
the springs F to abut against whilst the sliding bar E has two shoulders e¹ for said
springs to rest upon and bear against. The lever arms of the tumblers have
shoulders about midway of their height.
The sliding bar is tapered upwardly on both sides from its shoulders and this
tapered portion extends up between the cam like surfaces k of the dogs D and
below the shoulders e' an arrow shaped head is formed on the bar, and at the
extremity of the bar it is terminated into a V form as shown. With this con-
struction the check or lock, if locked as in Fig. 2 can be unlocked by inserting the
key Hand pressing against the lever arm C₁ this action causing the upper ends of
the tumblers to move from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in
Fig. 3 and the dogs D to assume the oblique locking position shown in said Fig. 3
said action also causing the tapered part of the sliding bar E to pass up between
the cam surfaces of the dogs D and the spear-head to rise above the shoulders j of
the lever arms, and by this means the tumblers are held in their unlocked position
and the dogs retained in the position against the tumblers (shown in Fig. 3).
If the lock is in the unlocked position shown in Fig. 3, it can be locked as shown
in Fig. 2, by inserting the strap or chain connecting key H and thereby acting
upon the lever ends of the dogs D and moving them out of locking position with
the tumblers whereupon the springs F are allowed to depress the lever arms of the
tumblers and release the sliding bar E from said arms and allow its spear-head / to
pass down into the narrower space between said lever-arms, and thus retain the
tumblers positively locked. The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2 cannot
be reached by any implement inserted between the lever-arms of the tumblers
because the pin G acts as a guard against the insertion of such instrument, and so
long as this sliding bar remains in the position shown in Fig. 2 it will be impossible

page_text: for the tumblers to be unlocked, and only a key adapted for unlocking them will
accomplish the result.
The side edges of the case A are made of concavo-convex form, in order to give
the tumblers a chance to move on their pivots within the case and also afford a
firmer hold of the hand upon the exterior of the case, and thus prevent the case
slipping up or down in the hand this latter benefit being secured by widening the
case at its upper end and giving its corners an approximately quadrantal form,
whereby said corners are made to serve as stops for preventing the case moving up
and down in the hand while clasped therein.
In Fig. 2, a series of pins or studs similar to the one G are shown by dotted
circles. These pins are to be in number and arrangement so as to work with keys
such as are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and by this means a number of combinations can
be employed.
One end of the strap or chain which is used in combination with the device is
secured to the chain key H and the other end is secured to a staple, rivet or eye
upon the case in any suitable position. Thus when the lock or check is required for
use the end of the strap or chain is passed around the bag or other article and the
key at the extremity of the said chain inserted in the lock thus fastening the strap
and releasing the unlocking key.
As may be understood from the foregoing description the key employed for
unlocking the device remains in the lock when the latter is unfastened and cannot
therefore be lost or mislaid.
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. In a baggage lock or check, in combination the sliding locking bar, spring
actuated pivotted tumblers, and pivotted dogs, the said bar being arranged between
the tumblers, substantially as described.
2. In a baggage lock or check the spear-headed sliding bar in combination with
the spring actuated pivotted dogs, and spring actuated pivotted tumblers having
shouldered lever arms, substantially as described.
3. In a baggage lock or check in combination a case provided with a series of
studs or guiding pins arranged at different altitudes and at different distances from
the vertical centre of the case, the pivotted tumblers, the pivotted dogs and the
spear headed sliding bar, the said combination being adapted to be operated by a
key with a plurality of wards, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of June 1892.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.