Improvements in Panic Locks.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Panic Locks.
I, THOMAS JONES, of 9 Southampton Row, in the Administrative County of
London, Manufacturer's Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Panic Locks.
In carrying it into effect the lock bolt is provided with a projection behind which
an automatic spring detent engages when the bolt is shot against the resilience of
its unlocking spring. This detent carries a stud which projects through the lock
case far enough to stand out from the inside face of the door. The usual yielding
pressure bar or surface is provided which will push the stud in and disengage the
detent from behind the projection on the lock bolt when the said bar or surface is
pushed towards the door.
I insert a sliding plate between the lever and the bolt. This plate is guided in
its travel and connected with the bolt in any convenient way, e.g., by a stud on the
bolt which enters a longitudinal slot in it, and also by a slot in the rear end of it
which embraces the pin upon which the lever turns. The stud which passes to and
fro through the gate in the lever is carried by this intermediate plate. The bolt is
shot by the key from the outside. It is unlocked by the key from the outside by
the web of the key rocking a lever pivotted upon the bolt, and which disengages
the detent above mentioned by inserting an inclined edge behind it, thereby moving
it in the same way as the pressure plate does. The notch heretofore cut in the bolt
in which the web engages is transferred to the intermediate plate. A follower is
also provided by which the bolt can be shot back without the key.
When there are a pair of doors, I combine with the above described lock, an
automatic device for holding the first leaf to the frame or floor, or both, which
device is actuated by the closure of the second leaf-the one on which the lock is
fixed, and withdrawn automatically from its socket.
Dated this 4th day of September 1893.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Panic Locks.
1, THOMAS JONES, of 9 Southampton Row, in the Administrative County of
London, Manufacturer's Agent, 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 Improvements in Panic Locks and the object of it is to
provide improved mechanisms by which pressure from the inside of a locked door
can automatically unlock it, thereby leaving it free to swing open outwards against a
continuance of the same pressure.
In order that the invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe it and them in

page_text: detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as
part of this Specification and read therewith.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the inside face of a door fitted with my improved
panic lock.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the interior of the lock as well as of the adjoining
portion of the pressure bar.
Figure 3 is a plan of the intermediate plate.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-1 of Figure 2.
a is the door; a³ its closing edge; a³ its axis; and as the bar against which it
shuts.
b is the lock and 6¹ the lock staple. The former is represented as a rim lock but
the invention is equally applicable to a mortise lock.
c is the lock bolt. It is under the constant influence of retracting springs c', c¹.
There are no bolt protruding springs. c³, c are the levers; e³ their post fast to the
lock case, and c, their stump standing up through them in the well known way.
The stump is not fast to the bolt c but to an intermediate plate d. is a
longitudinal slot in the bolt c and is provided to allow of the motion of the latter
past the stump c*. c is a second slot to allow of the bolt's motion past the post c*.
The plate d is capable of reciprocating linear motion parallel with that of the
bolt c.
It is shewn as situated between the bolt and the lock case but this position'
may be varied. There is a special provision consisting of a stud d' fast to the lock
case and a horizontal slot in the plate d for guiding the latter as well as for
limiting its travel.
ds is a hole in the lock case to receive the nose of the key shank. The key can
be used only from the outside of the door. The notch d' in which its web engages
disengage the detent f (described further on) is cut in the intermediate plate d.
The bottom edge of the bolt c is cut away to make room for the travel of the key
web.
e is a follower and e', a spindle by which the bolt c can be protruded from either
side of the door independently of the key.
When the bolt has been locked against the strength of the springs c', c', it is held
in that position by the engagement of an automatic detent behind a shoulder f¹
fast on the bolt. This detent must, for the purpose of my invention, be releasable
by a push from the inside of the door. So long as this condition is provided for,
the detent may be of any type. f' is a stud upon the detent and f³ is a spring
adapted to make the detent present the stud beyond the lock. The detent is
conveniently supported by the axis f* of a knuckle joint, one member of which is
that end of the detent which is opposite to the operative nose thereof, the other
being fast to the lock case.
9 is the pressure or push bar. It extends across the door at a suitable height to
be instinctively grasped and pushed by anyone inside the door and more than eager
to open the door like a flash and rush through. It is supported by its ends fitting
loosely in two cups g', g². The former is fast to the door while the latter is
supported in a nozzle g which projects from the lock b (to which it is made fast)
about and beyond the stud f. 9 is a neck on the cup g. It fits loosely within
the nozzle 9. 9 is a reduced prolongation of it and is continued through a circular
shelf 9, beyond which it terminates in an enlargement 9 larger than the hole in
the said shelf. 98 is a spiral spring surrounding the said reduced prolongation and
exerting its energy between the shelf and the shoulder which connects the
neck g and the prolongation g³. The said parts are so adjusted that the resilience
of the spring 9 keeps the enlargement 9' clear of the stud, and that the cup g³ can
be moved towards the lock against the resilience of the spring y³ for a distance
sufficient to disengage the detent f from the shoulder f¹. Provided that this
condition is fulfilled any modifications of the parts specified may be made.
The bolt c may be unlocked, from the outside of the door by the key engaging in
the notch and moving the plate d forward, thereby pushing the incline d³ fast on
the said plate behind the detent f, thereby disengaging it from the shoulder f¹..

page_text: 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. The combination of spring retracted bolt, automatic detent adapted to hold the-
bolt locked against. its retracting springs, and intermediate plate and incline adapted
to disengage the detent from the said bolt, as set forth.
2. The combination of a spring retracted bolt, intermediate plate having a notch:
to receive the web of the key for the purpose of disengaging the bolt detent and the-
stump and longitudinal slot connection of the said plate and bolt, as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of June 1894.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.