IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES AND IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Frank Hayward, of the City and County
of Norwich, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES AND
IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 1st August 1873, and dated the 10th June 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Frank Hayward
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th June 1873.
I, WALTER FRANK HAYWARD, of the City and County of Norwich,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN IRON SAFES AND IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to make iron safes and other
depositories or furniture or other objects or places secure against
thieves.
I strengthen iron safes by means of angle pieces of iron or steel at
the corners or angles of the safe, all round, and at the back. The

page_text: angle-piece section consists of two sides or legs at right angles to each
other and rivetted or otherwise fastened to the safe, and of a piece
between the two which covers the edges of the plates forming the body
of the safe, or in some cases is made to clasp one or both of the walls
of the safe meeting at this point; in some cases one leg of the anglo
iron section may be outside the safe, in the other cases both are
inside.
I strengthen fire-proof safes by materially decreasing the size of the
door as compared with existing fire-proof safes, and I make the door
but slightly, say less than an inch, larger all round than the interior
of the safe, the door being recessed in the door frame to that
extent only, and the door frame rivetted or welded together at the
four corners,
and if preferred overlapping the sides and the top and
bottom outside.
"
My improvements in locks are as follows:-I employ a suitably
formed piece or pieces having a sliding motion alone or in combination
with the ordinary "lever or "tumbler," for the purpose of locking or
securing the bolt or bar. The bar or bolt is withdrawn or forced back,
or unlocks by means of a spring or by the weight of the bar itself, or
by a key and lever.
My locks as constructed especially adapted for iron safes are as
follows: I place the lock itself with the bar or bolt some distance
from the keyhole part, and I actuate the sliding part or parts or levers
of the lock by means of a lever, or by means of a bar, by preference
having a sliding motion and uniting or connecting the two. I thus
greatly augment the difficulty of finding, picking, forcing, or drilling to
the lock from the outside. The aforesaid connecting bar may be in
one or more pieces and is loosely connected to the lock part and the
keyhole part, or it may be in one piece with the latter, or in one
with both.
I employ a special locking lever or slide which actuates the bolt or
bar, and is worked by a separate key or separate handle, or by the same
handle that shoots the bolts of the safe.
According to one
tinuation out to one
mode the locking plate has an arm or con-
side, and this arm has a notch into which a 3
special locking lever works, actuated by means of a separate key or
handle.

page_text: According to another mode I apply the end of the locking lever
or arm directly to the bolt, and work the said lever by a key or
handle.
Another mode is to make the one end of the said locking lever work
against the end of the bar, while its other end operates the ordinary safe
bolt which shoots into the side of the safe.
Another mode is to make the key for the lock actuate the locking
lever from the ordinary keyhole itself, that end of the locking lever
being formed to suit.
Another mode is to make the key for the lock actuate a locking slide
from the ordinary keyhole.
The following is a modification:-The keyhole part is placed some
suitable or conveinent distance from the bolt or bar as before, and I
lock the bolt by means of a spring forming part of the locking lever,
which is actuated by the lock key from the ordinary keyhole. The
nose at the outer end of this spring lever may have a projection on
the back, which in case the spring be bent by the use of a wrong key
would come in contact with a fixed stop and relieve the bolt of all
"back pressure."
"
The "casting or body of the safe lock I prefer to form so that the
"slide" or slides may be placed in many different positions, and this
I accomplish by forming the recessed part to suit the slide or slides
when reversed or turned about in various directions, the keyhole in all
cases remaining in the same place and position, thereby increasing the
difficulty in finding the vital or locking part of the lock.
66
or lover" of the lock with a
In some cases I form the "tumbler"
tail piece or arm against which the end of the aforesaid connecting bar
is operated by the key in order to unlock the lock.
In applying my Invention to night latch locks I prefer to construct
them as follows:-The slide (or slides) works in a recess across the bolt
and has a spring which keeps it in position against the nozzle or socket
which contains the keyhole; another spring at the back of the bolt
keeps it shot or locked. The nozzle has one or more cross pieces
underneath formed in any suitable manner to suit the key; the bolt is
also formed with a notch or notches to suit the key; the latch can be
withdrawn by a knob from the inside in the usual manner, but it

page_text: "
cannot be withdrawn or unlocked from the outside by any key except
the proper one. The "stump " is fixed or placed on one of the plates
of the lock against the back of the bolt, which as well as the slide is
notched out to suit, but the stump cannot enter the notch of the bolt,
allowing it to be drawn back or unlocked, unless the "slide at the
same time with its notch stands fair with the notch in the bolt, and this
only takes place when the proper key is used. The first effect of
turning the key a quarter of a turn is to turn the nozzle a quarter of a
turn and to raise the slide, the cross piece or pieces on the under side
of the nozzle pressing against the bottom of the slide and thus raising
it and securing or wedging it in the locked position; on turning further
another quarter of a turn the said cross piece on the nozzle comes down
and allows the slide to fall again into the above-described normal
position but resting on the key, the key then comes into operation on
the bolt and draws back or unlocks it.
I use a somewhat similar lock for cabinets and doors; the nozzle
as just described is then left out and the key itself both lifts the
slido or slides and draws the bolt backwards or forwards, unlocking
or locking.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Walter Frank Hayward in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
FRANK HAYWARD, of the City and County of Norwich, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Walter Frank Hayward, Her special
licence that I, the said Walter Frank Hayward, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Walter Frank
Hayward, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great

page_text: Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES AND IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR
THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Walter Frank
Hayward, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing,
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Frank Hayward, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say :-
The object of my Invention is to make iron safes and other deposi-
tories or furniture or other objects or places secure against thieves.
The first part of this Invention refers to safes, and is illustrated by
Figures 54 to 59, Sheet 1. I strengthen iron safes by means of angle
pieces of iron or steel at the angles of the safe all round and at the back.
The angle piece section consists of two sides or legs a and b at right
angles to each other, and rivetted or otherwise fastened to the safe, and
of a piece N between the two which covers the edges of the plates c and
d, forming the body of the safe, or in some cases, as shewn at Figures 55
and 59 is made to clasp one or both of the walls of the safe, meeting at
this point. In some cases, as shown at Figure 58, one leg a of the angle
iron section is outside the safe, forming a band, while the other leg 6 is
inside. In the other cases both legs a and b are inside. Instead of
having the two ends a and N on Fig. 58 of different lengths, an
ordinary Tiron may be used, in which case a and N of course would be
equal in length, and b would form the leg or bottom member of the
T picce. The width of the top members N and a of the T piece would
vary with the thickness or number of plates.
The next part of my Invention refers to the manner in which I arrange
the dcors of iron safes and parts connected therewith, and is illus
trated by Figs. 60 to 72, Sheet 2. I strengthen fire-proof safes by

page_text: materially decreasing the size of the door as compared with existing
fire-proof safes, and I make the door but slightly, say less than an inch,
larger all round than the interior of the safe, the door being recessed in
the door frame to that extent only, if at all recessed, and the door frame
rivetted or welded together at the four corners, and if preferred over-
lapping the sides and the top and bottom outside.
Fig. 60 shews a section of a door frame W, which is rivetted to the
outside plate S and the inside plate N; F being the space for the fire-
proof material. The door D is, as will be seen, but slightly larger than
the inside of the safe.
Fig. 61 illustrates the application of a door frame W of an angle iron
section, one leg of same forming a band outside, and the other being
slightly recessed for the door D.
Fig. 62 shews an angle iron door frame similar to the preceding one,
but with one leg stouter to avoid the use of a special angle iron A, as
shewn at Fig. 61, screws B being substituted therefor.
In Fig. 63 I shew a door frame of a U or channel iron section, one
leg A being fastened to the inner shell N, and the other C to the outer
shell S, the intermediate part W not being recessed. The lengths of the
parts C and A may be varied as required.
Fig. 64 shews an arrangement similar to that shewn at Fig. 61, but
the angle piece is stronger in one leg or side, and is formed with a
slanting recess for the door, whereby wedging is rendered more difficult.
Fig. 65 shews the application of an ordinary sharp cornered angle
iron W for the door frame.
Fig. 66 shews a novel application of a T iron, with the two pieces E
and E¹ of unequal length. These proportions however must vary
according to the dimensions of the outer shell S and the fire-proof
space F. The angle iron piece G unites the inner shell to the door
frame, while it at the same time protects the inner shell, and forms the
recess for the door.
Fig. 67 shews a modification of the arrangement shewn at Fig. 60, the
frame W being formed with a flange E, which protects the edge of the

page_text: Fig. 68 illustrates a similar arrangement, but the frame W has here
also an inside flange E¹, into which the door is recessed, and which is
joined to the inner shell by means of angle iron A.
In Fig. 69 the door frame is made of T iron, as at Fig. 66, but the
recess for the door is wholly in the door frame, and is made slanting.
Fig. 70 shews an angle iron door frame, with one leg or member
stouter than the other. I here employ an angle iron protecting piece G,
as described with reference to Fig. 66.
of
Fig. 71 represents in outline a safe constructed according to this part
Invention, but without shewing lock case on the door.
my
Fig. 72 is a horizontal section through the front part of a safe con-
structed according to this part of my Invention. S, S, are the outer
sides; N, N, the inner sides; F, F, F, the fire-proof parts on safe. and
door; D is the door; P, a steel plate on the inside of same; L, the lock;
B, one of the safe bolts; M is the handle for shooting the safe bolts;
K is the key; N', handle with lever A at the other end for locking the
lock; W, W, are the angle irons for the corners of the safe.
The next part of my Invention refers to improvements in locks, and
is as follows:-I employ a suitably formed piece or pieces, having a
sliding motion, alone or in combination with the ordinary "lever" or
"tumbler for the purpose of locking or securing the bolt or bar. The
latter is withdrawn or forced back, or unlocks by means of a spring or
by the weight of the bar itself, or by a key and lever.
"
My locks as constructed especially adapted for iron safes are as
follows:-I place the lock itself with the bar or bolt some distance from
the keyhole part, and I actuate the sliding part or parts or ❝ levers" of
the lock by means of a lever or by means of a bar by preference having
a sliding motion, and uniting or connecting the two. I thus greatly
augment the difficulty of finding, picking, forcing, or drilling to the lock
from the outside, as the situation of the keyhole part only is known, but
the other or lock part is in some other to the outside observer entirely
unknown part of the door. These safe lock improvements are illustrated
by Figs. 10 to 53 on Sheets 1 and 3.
Fig. 10, Sheet 3, is a plan of the lock. C is the casting or body, also
shewn separately at Fig. 24. This body is cut out, as shewn at D, D, D, D,
Fig. 24, for the slide S to work in. This slide $ connects the keyhole

page_text: part K and the locking part. By reversing and turning over the body
or casting, the bolt may be put in any of the four positions shewn at
Fig. 24, and the slide will then assume one of the four positions illus-
trated by Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17. The slide at the keyhole is here
made somewhat in the shape of the letter H, the central or cross part
being broad enough to allow the key going inside. The key pin, if any,
is also in this space, and in continuation of one of its corners or legs is
the part H¹, containing the slot or "gating," to allow of the part known
as the "stump" in other locks going inside to unlock. B is the bolt,
which is locked by means of the lever H and a handle connected thereto
on the outside of the safe. The position of the lever H is different in
different safes, though otherwise similar, in order not to afford a clue for
finding the position of the lock. In some cases I connect the bolt B
and the lever H by means of a loose joint, as will be described further on.
The bolt in this case unlocks by means of a spring on the back, not
shewn here, or by its own weight, if in the position to do so. 8 is the
spring for bringing the slide S to its position of rest. The dotted lines
shew its position when unlocked, full lines the position when locked.
Fig. 11 is a similar lock, but made to unlock with a reverse motion
of the key, although the bolt is on the same side of keyhole, as shewn
at Fig. 10, but locking at the bottom instead of at the top.
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the bolt on Fig. 10, and Fig. 13 is a side view,
shewing a piece B¹ projecting from it, which goes through the back
plate of the lock to allow the spring S' on Fig. 25 (which represents the
back plate of the lock) to actuate the bolt in unlocking.
From Fig. 14 it will be further observed that the spring & may be put
on either side, as shewn in dotted lines. This Figure also illustrates the
application of having one or more breaks or joints, as at F in the part of
the slide S, which connects the keyhole part to the lock part. On
reference to Figs. 18 to 23, which shew these parts separately and con- 3
nected together, it will be seen that the keyhole part and the lock part
of the slide by this means for instance may be connected together,
although placed any desired distance apart.
Fig. 20 shews the keyhole part of a slide, in which the key is placed
outside, as shewn in dotted lines. Fig. 21 shews a slide with two breaks 3
or joints at F, F. Fig. 23 shews a slide with a plain square keyhole

page_text: Fig. 25 represents the back of a lock of the just described construc-
tion, but instead of the locking lever H, Fig. 10, I here employ a sliding
locking plate M for actuating the bolt B; this sliding plate M has an
arm or continuation out to one side, as shewn, and this arm has a notch
or other contrivance for a small special locking lever A to catch hold of.
The spindle of this lever A passes out through the safe door, and has a
recessed hole in its outer end D, as shewn at Figs. 26 and 29, and by
inserting the corresponding part E on the key, shewn at Fig. 27, or by a
special key, shewn at Fig. 28, the lever A may be turned, thus actuating
the locking plate M (Fig. 25), which is guided by the screws R in the
slot E. The lock plate P has a slot W; the projection N on the bolt B
works in this slot. The spring S for unlocking goes against one side
of N, and the locking plate M against the other, or the spring may be
done away with by connecting, loosely or otherwise, the bolt and the
locking plate.
Fig. 30 is a separate view of the locking plate M, Fig. 25. The dotted
lines at Fig. 25 shew the bolt in the locked position.
Another mode of actuating the bolt, although here shewn as applied
to a lock of a somewhat different construction, as will be hereafter des-
cribed, is illustrated by Fig. 31, where one end N of the locking lever
actuates the bolt B, while the other end F operates the ordinary safe
bolt Y, which shoots into the side of the safe.
Another mode is shewn at Fig. 46, Sheet 1, where the key for the lock
actuates the locking lever B¹ (which turns on a fulcrum N) from the
ordinary keyhole itself, here shewn in dotted lines, that end K of the locking
lever being formed to suit. The other end W works in a notch in the
bolt B. In some cases the notch is made wider, extending to D, as shewn
in red lines. In such cases a spring H becomes necessary for unlocking.
The dotted lines shew the bolt in its unlocked position. Fig. 47 is a
separate view of the locking lever.
Fig. 53 shews another mode of carrying out this part of the Inven-
tion. The key here actuates the slide D, the other end of which takes
into a slanting notch P in the bolt B, which is unlocked by the spring S.
Another mode is shewn at Fig. 48, where the key actuates the locking
slide X and also a lever L, which comes in contact with its end Y with
the "lever" R, the spring S unlocking the bolt B. Figs. 49 and 50 are
separate views of the lever L and locking slide X.

page_text: Fig. 51 shows a modification.
The key hole part R is here placed
some suitable and convenient distance from the bolt or bar B, as before,
and I lock the bolt B by means of a spring S forming part of the locking
lever, which is actuated by the lock key coming against the parts marked
A from the ordinary keyhole, which is here shewn in dotted lines. The
nose at the outer end of this spring lever may have a projection F on
the back, which in case the spring be bent by the use of a wrong key,
would come in contact with a fixed stop W, and relieve the bolt of all
"back pressure." The dotted lines shew the bolt in its unlocked position.
Fig. 52 shows a locking lever of similar construction, but without the
projection F.
to a
Fig. 31, Sheet 3 (part of which has already been described, namely,
the arrangement of the locking lever R in connection with the safe
bolts Y), shews an adaptation of my Invention as regards the slide
"lever lock" in order to produce the result aimed at, namely,
removing the keyhole part from the lock part, so as to render the latter
secure against picking. D is the "slide," the length of which may be as
desired or required. Lis the "lever," and B the bar; C is the "casting;"
S, the unlocking spring. Fig. 32, Sheet 1, shews the same lock in the
locked position.
Fig. 37, Sheet 3, is a separate view of the "slide." Fig. 35 shews a
modified shape of slide, and Fig. 36 shews the "lever" separately.
Fig. 33, Sheet 1, shews a lock similar to those just described, only
that there is a separate lever F to actuate the bolts of the safe, and a
separate locking lever R, which if desired may be loosely jointed at A to
the bolt B for unlocking as well as locking by means of the said lever R.
As shewn here the bolt unlocks by means of a spring.
In cases where it is desired to place the keyhole part and the lock
part some considerable distance apart, I prefer the arrangement shewn at
Fig. 38, Sheet 1, the slide connecting the two parts, which are altogether
separate.
Fig. 34, Sheet 3, shews an arrangement of slide having the key to
work in a space in the same, while the other end of the slide is jointed
on to the "lever" of the lock. The slide is moved in the direction of
the arrow when unlocking.
"
In some cases I form the tumbler or
"lever with a tail piece or
arm, as shewn at Fig. 45. The tail piece is operated against by the

page_text: end of the aforesaid connecting bar by the key in order to unlock the
lock.
Figs. 39 and 40, Sheet 1, shew in the locked and unlocked position an
arrangement of lock, where the slide D is guided by the studs P and the
pieces N, N, N, N¹. The slide is parted in two, as shewn at W. S is
the spring for unlocking the bolt B when the upper part of the slide
comes up free of the guide piece N¹. The spring R, which is fastened
on to the bolt B serves to keep the slides down.
manner.
Fig. 41 is a very simple arrangement of lock. The slide F is guided
by the stud P in the slot N, or it may be guided in any other suitable
The key comes against the under side of the slide, or the latter
may be formed with a space or eye for the key to work inside the slide
itself. The stump R on the bolt B falls into the corresponding "gating'
in the slide when unlocked, which is done by the spring S. Figs. 42 and
43 shew a slide made in two parts, so as to render it more difficult to
pick.
Fig. 44 shews a slide of a somewhat different shape.
"
In applying my Invention to night latch locks I prefer to construct
them, as illustrated by Fig. 7, Sheet 3, (which shows such a lock in the
shut position. The slide S (or it may be slides) works in a recess formed
across the bolt B, and a spring 8 keeps it in position against the cross
piece C on the nozzle D, or the cross piece C may be formed with steps,
the key being made to suit, as shewn at Figs. 9 and 8, the latter repre-
senting the nozzle in side view. The dotted lines D in both shew how
steps may be arranged when more than one slide are employed. The
nozzle contains the keyhole; another spring S₁ at the back of the bolt B
keeps it shot or locked. The bolt B is formed with a notch in its
lower edge, as shewn in dotted lines to suit the key, or it may have more
than one notch. The bolt or latch can be withdrawn by a knob from
the inside in the usual manner, but it cannot be withdrawn or unlocked
from the outside by any key except the proper one. The stump T is
fixed or formed on one of the plates of the lock against the bolt B,
which, as well as the slide S, is notched out to suit, but the stump
cannot enter the notch of the bolt, allowing it to be drawn back or
unlocked, unless the slide S at the same time, with its notch or gating,
stands fair with the notch in the bolt B, as shown, and this only takes
place when the proper key is used. The first effect of turning the key a

page_text: Fourth. The construction of locks in general, and the various modes
and means herein set forth, whereby the keyhole parts are or may be
placed at any desired distance from the lock part, for the purposes set
forth.
"
Fifth. The employment of a "
"
slide or "slides" and connecting bar
or bars for locks, also their combination with the "tumbler
all substantially as herein-before set forth.
or "lever,"
Sixth. The employment of the herein-described contrivances for
locking the bolt of the lock, and in some cases also shooting the safe
bolts.
Seventh. The various herein-described constructions of lock bolts as
applied to safe locks and other locks.
Eighth. The various modes and means herein set forth, whereby the
bolt is unlocked.
Ninth. The adaptation of my lock improvements to latch, cabinet, and
other locks, all substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The application of the herein-described "nozzle" to my latch
locks and to other latch locks.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Frank Hayward, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
WATTER DANTZ TTAVIADD
WALTER FRANK HAYWARD. (L.S.)