Improvements in Key Receptacles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug,, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Key Receptacles.
I THOMAS B. JEFFERY of Ravenswood, Cook County, State of Illinois, United States
of America, Mechanical Engineer 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 :-
The purpose of this invention is to provide convenient means for preserving an
extra key pertaining to the lock of a door, cabinet drawer or box, by forming
preferably, though not necessarily, in one of the two parts which are locked together,
a receptacle for such key, which will not be accessible when the parts are thus locked;
that is when the door, box or cabinet is closed, the entrance to such receptacle being
in that case, at the plane of the abutting edges or surfaces of the locked parts. One
part of my invention however, relates to the construction of such a receptacle, whether
located as above stated or elsewhere, and it is often convenient to use such receptacle
for the deposit of a key which is to be used by a number of persons, all of whom are
advised of its location, the receptacle being not necessarily in or contiguous to the
locked parts, but in any inconspicuous location. Another part of my invention relates
to means for withdrawing the key from the receptacle, and specifically to devices
whereby the cover of the receptacle serves the purpose of withdrawing the key. A
specific form of niy invention relates to the formation of such a key receptacle within
the case of the lock, whereby the locked parts are secured together, such receptacle in
that event serving the further purpose of affording means for keeping the proper keys
pertaining to the lock associated therewith while the locks are on sale or in store
before being put to use being thereby a convenience to dealers, and oftimes saving the
necessity of special packing boxes, the only advantage of which is that they prevent
the keys being separated from the locks.
In the drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the lock, within the case of
which is formed a receptacle embodying my invention, this section being made
through the lock case and key receptacle therein in a plano at right angles to the
abutting edges of the door and jamb.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of a key receptacle dis-associated from any lock,
the same being shown in connection with the two abutting parts which are supposed
to be locked together by the lock to which the key in the receptacle pertains.
Section in this case is made in a plane at right angles to the abutting edges adjacent
to the side of the receptacle showing the latter and key therein fully in side
elevation.
Fig. 3 is a similar view, except that one of the abutting parts is absent and the
receptacle is shown open in position for inserting or withdrawing the key which is shown
partly inserted.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the receptacle in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3
removed from the door and viewed from the inner end.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a lock having the receptacle formed within it.
Fig. 6 is a section at 6. 6. on Fig. 1.
A represents a portion of one of the locked parts as the door or door jamb, box face
or cover, drawer head or cabinet front. A' is a chamber or cavity constituting a key
receptacle; it is represented in Fig. 1 as formed in the lock case A². When made as
an independent receptacle it is preferably provided with a metallic lining B. Metallic
lining for the receptacle however, whether it be an independent receptacle or
pertaining to the lock case may be omitted but if employed it is preferably attached
to the face plate C. as it would naturally be when formed in the lock case, the face
plate of the lock case being extended and constituting the equivalent of the plate C.
The difference between the construction illustrated in Figs. 1. 5 and 6 and that

page_text: illustrated in the other figures are that the receptacle for the key in Figs. 1. 5 and 6
is associated with the case. In all other respects the same features and variations may
pertain to both forms although I have illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 means of with-
drawing the key not shown in Figs. 1. 5 and 6 and in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 means of
retaining the key not shown in the other figures. But it should be understood
that both the withdrawing and retaining device might be embodied in the same
receptacle, whether that receptacle be in a lock case or in an independent case.
I will from this point make my description relate to the independent receptacle
which is illustrated in Figs. 2. 3 and 4.
The face plate C is designed to be let into and secured flush with the abutting
surface of the locked part A. In Figs. 1 and 2 the other part is indicated by
the letter E. Through the face plate C whether it is a continuation of the face
plate of the lock or is an independent part I make the opening C' of such size as
to admit one or more keys, which may be inserted preferably edgewise through
the face plate C. I connect the lever 02 to the face plate by a pivot and
preferably make said lever wide enough to close the opening C. I prefer to fit
it into said opening so that when closed, its surface will be flush with the surface
of the face plate C. I prefer also to pivot the lever (2 to the face plate by means
of the lug on the lever and the lugs c¹ thrown up on the inner surface of the
plate the pivot pin c³ passing through the three lugs and forming a hinge which
is entirely within, that is, on the inner surface of the face plate so that nothing
protrudes from the outer surface either of the face plate or of the lever. From
the lever a projection (20 extends into the cavity a when the lever is in the
position in which its outer surface is flush with the face plate.
The projection C20 has a lateral projection C21 extending transversely with respect
to the cavity or receptacle A¹ and a convenient method of formning this projection
is that which is illustrated, viz. by making it consist of a small screw inserted
through the projection 020, and preferably allowed to protrude on both sides of it.
More than one hole may be made in the projection C adapted to receive the
screw so that the screw may be inserted in different positions in the projection (20
according to the size of the key. The lever (2 extends below its pivot c³ a short
distance forming the tail or heel and to the inner side of the face plate C
there is secured the spring D having one end bearing against the tail (22 and
tending to force the lever toward the face plate, and hold it with the projection C²
extending into the cavity or receptacle A', the spring resisting elastically the
outward movement of the projection. F represents the key which is put in place
in the receptacle by first being longitudinally inserted through the opening in
the face plate into the receptacle A¹ far enough so that the projection (21 may
enter the customary opening F¹ in the key stem. The lover C being then allowed
to close under the action of the spring D, carries the key longitudinally inward
into the receptacle, and if said lever is made as I prefer to make it, wide enough
to answer as a cover, that is wide enough to close the opening C¹ it, in this
position conceals the key in the receptacle. Whether or not it is made to serve
as a cover it will hold the key safely in the receptacle. When it is desired to
withdraw the key, the lever may be rocked outward, uncovering the opening C¹,
if it has been covered by the lever, and, in that movement it will withdraw the
key to the extent shown in Fig. 3 sufficiently so that it may be seized and removed.
Preferably the projection (1 should be long enough to touch the sides of the
cavity A so that the key cannot slip off or become disengaged from the said
projection while it is in the receptacle. Preferably the spring D is of such form
and made to bear against the heel C22, of the lover at such point that said lever
will at no position to which it can be rocked be free from the action of the spring
which will always tend to throw the lever up into the position shown in Fig. 2.
It is only necessary that the lever should rock out far enough to permit the key to be
withdrawn past the projections C20 and C21 and to prevent it being rocked farther and so
possibly straining or becoming disconnected from the spring, shoulders are made
on the lugs C² to stop the lever at the extreme outward position indicated. By this

page_text: means the lever is prevented from ever being left projecting and thereby being broken
off in the closing of the door.
As a further means of retaining the key in the receptacle and also to prevent it
from rattling therein when the door is opened and shut, the spring G¹ may be provided
secured to the case at G and reacting laterally to hold the key against the side of the
case. This spring may as shown have two branches and may retain a key against
each or either side wall of the receptacle.
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 combination with two abutting parts adapted to be locked together a key
receptacle in one of said parts having its entrance at the plane of their abutting edges,
and a cover adapted to close said entrance substantially as set forth.
2. In a key receptacle in combination with the face plate having an opening which
serves as the entrance to said receptacle, a lever pivoted to the plate and having a
projection adapted to engage the key and to enter said opening when the lever is
rocked toward the plate substantially as set forth.
3. In a key receptacle in combination with a face plate having an opening which
serves as an entrance to the receptacle, a lever pivoted to the face plate and adapted
to close the opening in the face plate and having a projection adapted to engage the
key and entering the opening when the lever is rocked toward the plate substantially
as set forth.
4. In a key receptacle in combination with a face plate having an opening which
serves as an entrance to the receptacle, a lever pivoted to the face plate and adapted to
engage the key to carry it into and out of the receptacle when the lever is rocked and
a spring reacting between the lever and the face plate and tending to rock the lever
toward the plate substantially as set forth.
5. In combination with two abutting parts adapted to be locked together, a key
receptacle in one of said parts having its entrance at the plane of their abutting edges
and a key-withdrawing device jointed to the abutting part which contains the receptacle
and entering the same and adapted to engage the key substantially as set forth.
6. In a key receptacle in combination with the face plate having an opening which
forms the entrance into the receptacle, a key withdrawing device jointed to the face
plate and adapted to protrude through said opening into the receptacle and to engage
the key substantially as set forth.
7. In a lock, in combination with two abutting parts which are secured together by
it the lock case having a key receptacle formed within it such receptacle having its
entrance at the plane of the abutting edges of the locked parts substantially as
set forth.
8. In combination with the case containing a key receptacle a spring located in such
receptacle and operating upon the key to retain it therein substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of June 1889.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant