An Improved Lock for Trunks, Boxes, and like purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lock for Trunks, Boxes, and like purposes.
I, WILLIAM JOHN HENRY, of Portland, in the County of Cumberland, and
State of Maine, United States of America, Salesman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new and novel device in trunk-lid fastenings; and the
objects of my invention are to secure a fastening for trunk-lids which can be easily
and quickly operated, simplicity in construction and in every way efficient for
giving complete security.
The bottom or bed plate of the device is of elongated shape, and is composed of
any desired metal or composition. It is divided into two sections, each section being
provided with ears through which holes are pierced for the insertion of nails, screws,
or rivets for securely fastening each section of the plate to the body and lid of a
trunk.
A top cap or cover rising from the edges of the bottom plate is given an oval or
rounding shape, and completely incloses the operating mechanisms of the device.
This top cap or cover can be secured to the bottom plate by casting, riveting, or
any convenient means, and is also divided into two sections to correspond to the two
sections of the bottom plate.
Passing to the consideration of the internal mechanism of the fastening is a
V-shaped stop or projection cast on the lid-section of the bottom plate and
extending from the surface of the plate to the inner surface of the top cap or cover.
Guide braces are cast solid to the lid section of the bottom plate and curved to
fit and brace against the rounding inside surface of the trunk section of the top
plate. A slot or elongated perforation is cast in the lower part of the trunk
section of the top cap or cover. In this slot or perforation is placed a part which
I have denominated a "press-bolt," which is rectangular in the upper part and its
lower face is provided with a circular projection. At each side of this projection
are notches.
A guide projects from the face of the press bolt through a proper recess or slot
provided on the back plate.
Suitable cross arms work on a pivot located at the place of crossing and having
their upper or clamp ends properly turned or formed into teeth to clamp over the
upper edge of the V-shaped stop or projection. The lower or opposite ends of
these arms are properly bevelled or convexed to correspond with a rounded
bevelled surface of the press bolt.
A circular spring is placed within the arbors of the cross arms and having its
ends confined in holes pierced in the cross arms in such a way that it will press the
clamp or upper ends of the arms together.
A pin or projection is cast to the bottom plate and extends upwardly between
the upper cross arms to steady and prevent their swaying from side to side. In the
lid section is located a lock, which has the end of the lock-bolt notched out, so as
to fit over the ends of the cross arms and hold them securely in place; said lock-
bolt is adapted to be thrown back and forth by a key.
The operation of my device is easily understood and is as follows:
The lid and trunk sections of the device are respectively fastened to the lid and
body of the trunk bringing their divided ends flush with the edges of the lid and
body of the trunk, respectively, and directly opposed or opposite to each other.
After the sections are so attached the trunk is closed by pressing downward on the
lid, and as the lid moves toward the body of the trunk the guide braces enter and
are brought in contact with the rounding inside surface of the cap or cover and so

page_text: guide the lid to its proper seat on the body of the trunk. As the lid of the trunk
carrying the lid section of the device moves downward toward the body of the trunk
the small or wedge end of the V-shaped stop is brought in contact with the teeth
of the cross arms forcing the said arms apart against the power of the spring until
the lower edges of the teeth reach the top surface of the V-shaped stop when
contact with the sloping sides of the stop is suspended and the power of the spring
forces the arms together, and the teeth securely clamp over and upon the top
surface of the V-shaped stop. It is then only necessary to turn the key in the
locking device to force the notched lock-bolt downward over the ends of the upper
cross arms to securely lock them in this position. When it is desired to open the
trunk, the key in the locking device is turned to release the notched lock-bolt.
The press bolt is then pressed inward, when its bevelled end, coming in contact
with the corresponding bevelled ends of the lower cross arms, forces them apart
and in turn opens the upper or teeth ends of the arms and releases the stop from
the teeth. The lid of the trunk can then be lifted and the trunk opened. When
the pressure is removed from the press bolt the spring again forces the cross arms
together, closing the teeth and throwing the press bolt outward again flush with the
outside surface of the top cap or cover.
Dated this 13th day of February 1893
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lock for Trunks, Boxes, and like purposes.
I, WILLIAM JOHN HENRY, of Portland, in the County of Cumberland, and
State of Maine, United States of America, Salesman, 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 :-
My invention relates to a new and novel device in trunk-lid fastenings; and the
objects of my invention are to provide a fastening for trunk-lids which can be easily
and quickly operated, simple in construction, and in every way efficient for
giving complete security. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a view of the fastening or catch with the top cap or cover partially
broken out to show the catch unlocked.
Fig. 2 shows same view as Fig. 1, the catch locked.
Fig. 3 is a detail of the press-bolt.
Fig. 4 is a detail showing the cross-arm separated or unlocked.
Fig. 5 is a detail showing the cross-arms when the device is locked.
Similar reference letters point to similar parts throughout the several figures of
the drawings.
A represents the bottom or bed plate of the device. This plate is of elongated
shape, as represented in the drawings, and composed of any desired metal or
composition. It is divided into two sections at the lines a a, each section having
ears bb, through which holes c c are pierced for the insertion of nails, screws, or
rivets, for securely fastening each section of the plate to the body and lid of the
trunk.
B is a top cap or cover, which rises from the edges of the bottom plate A and
to which is given an oval or rounding shape. It completely incloses the operating
mechanisms of the device. This top cap or cover can be secured to the bottom
plate A by casting, riveting, or any convenient means. This top cap or cover is
also divided into two sections at the lines a a to correspond to the two sections of
the bottom plate A.
Passing to the consideration of the internal mechanism of the fastening, C is
a V-shaped stop or projection cast on the lid section of the bottom plate A and

page_text: extending from the surface of the plate A to the inner surface of the top cap or
cover B.
DD are guide braces cast solid to the lid section of the bottom plate A and
curved to fit and brace against the rounding inside surface of the trunk section of
the top plate B. A slot or elongated perforation is cast in the lower part of the
trunk section of the top cap or cover B. In this slot or perforation is placed a
part K, which I have denominated a press-bolt." The bolt K is rectangular in
the upper part. Its lower face is provided with a circular projection L. At
each side of the projection L are notches m.
re
e is a guide, which projects from the face of the press-bolt K through a proper
recess or slot provided on the back plate A.
FF are cross arms working on a pivot f, located at the place of crossing and
having their upper or clamp ends properly turned or formed into teeth to clamp
over the upper edge of the V-shaped stop or projection C. The lower or opposite
ends of these arms F F are properly bevelled or convexed to correspond with
the rounded bevelled surface L of the press-bolt K. The cross arms are spread,
as shown in Fig. 1, by pressing the bolt K in the position shown in Fig. 4..
His a circular spring placed within the arbors of the cross arms F F and
having its ends confined in holes pierced in the cross arms in such a way that it
will press the clamp or upper ends of the arms together.
Gis a pin or projection cast to the bottom plate A and extending upwardly
between the upper cross arms to steady them and prevent swaying from side to
side. In the lid-section is located a lock, which has the end of the lock bolt
notched out, so as to fit over the ends of the cross arms F and hold them securely in
place. In the drawings I show such a lock bolt, which can be thrown back and
forth by a key.
The operation of my device is easily understood and is as follows:-
The lid and trunk sections of the device are respectively fastened to the lid and
body of the trunk bringing their divided ends flush with the edges of the lid and
body of the trunk, respectively, and directly opposed or opposite to each other.
After the sections are so attached the trunk is closed by pressing downward on
the lid, and as the lid moves toward the body of the trunk the guide braces D D
enter and are brought in contact with the rounding inside surface of the cap or
cover B and so guide the lid to its proper seat on the body of the trunk. As the
lid of the trunk carrying the lid section of the device moves downward toward the
body of the trunk the small or wedge end of the V-shaped stop C is brought in
contact with the teeth of the cross arms F F, its wedge shape forcing the arms
apart against the power of the spring until the lower edges of the teeth reach
the top surface of the V-shaped stop C when contact with the sloping sides of the
stop is suspended, and the power of the spring forces the arms together, and the
teeth securely clamp over and upon the top surface of the V-shaped stop C. It
is then only necessary to turn the key in the locking device to force the notched
lock bolt downward over the ends of the upper cross arms to securely lock them
in this position. When it is desired to open the trunk, the key in the locking
device is turned to release the notched lock bolt I. The press-bolt K is then
pressed inward, when its bevelled end, coming in contact with the corresponding
bevelled ends of the lower cross-arms, forces them apart and in turn opens the
upper or teeth ends of the arms and releases the stop C from the teeth. The lid
of the trunk can then be lifted and the trunk opened. When the pressure is
removed from the press-bolt K the spring f again forces the cross arms together,
closing the teeth and throwing the press-bolt outward again flush with the outside
surface of the top cap or cover B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a trunk fastening, the herein described cross
arms
nivotally connected

page_text: to the back plate and having suitable spring mechanism in the arbors about the
pivot point for automatically drawing the extremities of the cross arms together
when the same are forced apart, and the press bolt K, having an inner bevelled
face to engage the lower bevelled extremities of said cross arms, and notches at
the sides of said bevelled face to receive said lower extremities, substantially as
above set forth.
2. In a trunk fastening, the pivotally operating cross arms F, the actuating
spring, the pressbolt K, the V-shaped stop C, and lock-bolt I, with its attendant
locking mechanism, substantially as set forth.
3. In a trunk fastening, the combination, with the spring actuated arms F,
of the herein described press bolt K, provided with a guide projection e and having
the curved face L for spreading apart the cross arms F, and notches m for holding
the cross arms apart, substantially as set out.
4. An improved lock for trunks, boxes, and like purposes, substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described, set forth, and illustrated in the
drawings annexed.
D: 19th day of November 1902
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.