CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS AND LATCHES, APPLICABLE TO DOORS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FLETCHER, of Moreton House, in the County of Buckingham, Clerk, 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 Thirtieth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-four, in the seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Fletcher, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said William Fletcher, my exors, adñiors, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said William Fletcher, my exors, adñiors, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times hereafter during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of Her said
Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands of
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her said Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS AND LATCHES, APPLICABLE TO DOORS AND OTHER
PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging
me, the said William Fletcher, to particularly describe and ascertain the nature
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be
of

page_text: enrolled in Her said 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
William Fletcher, do hereby declare that my Invention consists in the
principles of construction, and the modes of arrangement of the mechanical
parts, and the several combinations thereof, as herein-after described, as
regards my application of the same to the objects set forth, in and by the title
of the Letters Patent granted to me, as herein-before recited. The particular
nature and intention of my said Invention is the formation of locks and
latches of security for doors, openings, and all constructions and arrangements
usually requiring such modes of secure fastening, such locks and latches being
of more simple arrangement and construction, and more efficient in their action,
than such locks and latches have hitherto been made. And I declare that the
following Specification, taken together with its accompanying Drawings, which
form part of and belong to the said Specification, does truly describe and set
forth the modes of arrangement and construction, which I prefer and adopt,
and in practice find best suited to effect the required end.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the Drawing No. 1, Figure 1 represents a top edge view of a lock; in
which A, A, is a portion of the door or woodwork in which it is set; and B, B,
the metal box of the lock; C, C, is the bolt; and D, a metal roller set thereon
or attached to it by a centre pin d, on which it is at liberty to revolve freely;
E, E, is an indented bar, presenting by its indentation e two short inclined
plane edges, which, acting upon and against the roller D; when the bar E is
pressed either forward or backward; press the bolt C, to which the roller is
attached, into or out of the staple or recess in which it is intended to be shot.
This action of the bar E, E, upon the bolt can, however, only be produced by
previously releasing the bolt from its retention by the moveable levers forined,
'arranged, and set for that purpose. Three of these levers are shewn in an
edge view at G, G, G, and they are divided or separated from each other, and
kept in clear and distinct action by the separating plates H, H: These move-
able levers are governed in their action on the bolt C, C, through the agency
of the key F.
The Figure 2 shews a profile or side view of the lock, with one of
its side plates taken off to expose its construction and parts. The same
parts are marked respectively with the same letters of reference as in the

page_text: Figure 1. B, B, is the box of the lock; C, C, the bolt; D, the roller; E, a
portion of the lever acting on the roller; F, the key-hole; G, one of the
moveable levers shewn in the Figure 1; H, one of the separating plates; and
I, a double-armed spring, fixed in the box on a pin K, and acting against the
heel of the bolt at k to hold the bolt in steady motion; L is one of three other
levers, set immediately under the three upper levers G, G, G, shewn in
Figure 1. The action of these compound levers as regards their effects on the
bolt C, C, is thus: The lower levers L are each hung on a centre pin l, and
the upper levers G are each hung on a centre pin g, and they are each respec-
tively moveable on those centres by the action of the extremity of each of the
bars or arms of the key marked x, y, z, in the separate view of the key at
Figure 4, the arms of the key acting on the inner curved edges of the levers
respectively, and such arms may for additional security be made of different
lengths. The bolt C, C, has a deep notch N, seen in Figure 2, into which the
heel of the lower lever L will engage when by the action of the key its upper
extremity is released from the holding back of the upper lever G. When the
levers L are engaged in the notch of the bolt, the bar E, E, has no room of
action or power on the bolt, but when the bolt is released from the levers L
the bar E, E, will act upon the bolt, as described. In this Figure the red
lines shew the second action of the levers.
The Figure 3 is a modification of these levers, by giving them edges
of different curvature, and assigning to the action of the key a more con-
fined range. If the key be made with a slot, as shewn at e, the centre
pin O will be connected with the wards at c, and then the key will only
move so much either way as to enable the levers to confine or release
the bolt. In this Figure also the red lines shew the second action of
the levers. The Figure 5 shews an end view of the key seen in profile in
Figure 4. The Figures 1 and 2 represent the. combination of both.lock and
latch in one. The action may be produced as described by the direct motion
of the bar E, when it is deeply indented, as shewn at d in Figure 2; or such
indentation may be of any assigned form or quantity of depth, at pleasure, the
principle of its construction and, action remaining unchanged by any such
variations. The projection or shooting action of the bolt may also be pro-
duced by the agency of the bar E, if it be formed: without any such in-
dentation as that described. If the bar be made without indentation,
then its action on the bolt will be, as a lever acting obliquely and trans-
versely either backwards or forwards, using the fixed points of the box
at S, S, as fulcra in the operation, which will be either by the operator
drawing the outer extremity of the lever towards him, or, on the contrary,

page_text: thrusting it from him. Its action, in this mode of using and applying it,
thus becomes universal in the same plane. The combination of the levers
G and L, as above described, is effected in the same way as in the case of an
indented bar.
The Figures 6 and 7 represent sections of a bolt latch of simple and
effective construction. A, A, is the box of the bolt latch; B, the bolt, in
which there is fixed a projecting stud C near its heel or inner extremity.
A straight lever D passes transversely through the structure, as shewn in the
Figure 6, in close contact with the stud C, terminating on its inner and outer
extremities in handles E, E. F, F, are face plates fixed on the door, having
each a longitudinal slot of sufficient length to allow an oblique traversing
motion to be performed by the lever D through their length, either by pulling
the handle towards the operator or pressing it from him, as before described in
Figures 1 and 2; the bolt B is acted upon by this oblique traversing motion
of D by the stud C. I is a helical spring, set immediately behind the heel of
the bolt B to produce a steady and uniform action; the red lines of this Figure
shew the range of action of the traversing motion of D.
The Figure 7 shews the Figure 6 in profile or side view, the same parts
being in each Figure respectively marked with the same letters of reference;
the Figure 8 is an exterior edge view of the same, the same letters of reference
being used to the same parts respectively: Figure 9 is an exterior view of
the outer face of the same. The bolt B and its spring I may also be inserted
in a cavity formed for their reception in the woodwork of the "door, making
slots on the sides for the admission and action of the bar D.
In the Drawing No. 2, the Figure 10 represents a profile or side view of a
latch of simple and effective construction on the same principles, the simplicity of
its construction and action effecting economy of cost and an equable and silent
operation. A, A, is the outer face of the latch; and B, B, the box; C is the
bolt; and D, D, a lever bar, acting upon a projecting stud fixed in or on the
bolt, using the ends of a longitudinal slot as fulcra; E, E, are the terminating
handles for operation. Figure 11 shews the inner face or side of the latch,
having its cover removed in order to shew its arrangement and combination.
A, A, A, A, is the outer face, and B, B, the box; C, C, is the bolt; and D, the
lever bar, acting upon the stud E. Figure 12 shews the same view of the
latch, having the cover G replaced. The Figure 13 shews the latch complete,
in an exterior view, the same parts being respectively marked with the same
letters of reference. The Figures 15 and 16 are respectively top views and
profile views of the bolt C, C, with its stud E. The Figure 14 shews an end
view of the latch

page_text: The Figure 17 shews a view of the inner face of a latch of yet more
simple and economical construction than the latch last above described,
having its acting lever and the handle thereof of single action and on one
side only. A, A, is the outer face; and C, the bolt; E is the handle of
the lever bar; and F, a face plate, in which there is cut a longitudinal slot G,
in which the opening action of the lever bar takes place. Figure 18 shews
a view of the inner face, with its cover removed to shew the internal arrange-
ment. C is the bolt; D, the lever bar; and E, the stud of the bolt; I is the
helical spring, as in the construction shewn in Figure 10, &c. Figure 19 shews
the inner face,, having the outer cover replaced. Figure 20 shews a profile
view of the latch, in which the single action of the lever bar D and its termi-
nating handle is seen at D, D, and E. Figure 21 shews an end view of
the same, the same parts being in the Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21,
respectively marked with the same letters of reference. Figures 22 and 23
are respectively profile and top views of the bolt C.
Figure 23 is a side elevation of a securing hook or catch to be applied
to the jamb of a door, to which a lock is affixed for the purpose of
receiving and securing the toe of the bolt when it is shot into its staple
or recess. A, A, is its foundation plate, by which it is to be attached to
the door jamb; B, the hook, moving on a centre pin b; C is a flat spring,
fixed by one extremity to the plate A, and by its other extremity receiv
ing the rise of the hook B and returning it to its action upon the toe
of the bolt; Figure 24 is a plan view of the same; and Figure 25 an end
view; the same parts in each of these Figures 23, 24, and 25, are respec-
tively marked with the same letters of reference. By the introduction of
a small roller at the toe x of this hook its action on the bolt will be rendered
more smooth and equable.
Figure 26 shews a more simple modification of a securing hook for
the same purpose, in which A is the plate by which it is attached to
the door jamb; and B, the hook, moving on a pin joint at b. Figure 27
shews a plan view, and Figure 28 a back profile view of the same. Figure
29, in Drawing No. 1, shews a differently modified method of securing the
bolt of a lock or latch after it is shot into its staple or recess by any of the
above-described constructions, and affording also the means of an internal
fastening for the bolt when such is required. A is the box of a lock fixed in
a door B; and C, its bult; D is a hole cut through the woodwork and outer
face of the box of the lock; and E, a corresponding notch or recess cut in the
bolt C. When the bolt, by being shot into its staple, has the recess E brought
opposite to the hole D, a male screw F, working in a female screw cut within

page_text: the bolt, is made to enter by its toe at H into the opposite side of the box
of the lock; this is effected by turning the screw F the amount or distance of
one of its .threads forward by the application of a key to its head at D.
I now declare that I claim as of my Invention the combinations and
arrangements of mechanical: parts, and the organisations of the same to carry
into practical effect..the principles of construction on which such combinations
and arrangements and such organisations are made, as the same are herein set
forth and described, and that..when formed and constructed of any suitable
material whatsoever, as applied to the objects and intentions of my herein-
before recited Patent.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Fletcher, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
GRAHAM, Extra.
WILLIAM (L.s.) FLETCHER.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of July, in
the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid William Fletcher 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.
Enrolled the Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand