Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLISTON ISAAC ALVORD, residing at 167, Maple Street, Bridgeport, in the
County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, in the United States of America,
gentleman, 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 certain novel and useful improvements in knob attach-
ments and has for its object to provide a knob which shall be readily and securely
attached to the spindle without the use of screws, and with these ends in view, my
invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements
hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may
understand how to make and use the same I will proceed to describe it in detail
referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification
in which
Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section showing a pair of knobs arranged in
accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 a detail perspective of the spindle.
Fig. 3 a view in elevation of the inside of the outer knob and
Fig. 4 a detail perspective showing the inner knob shank in abutment against
the spindle and
Fig. 5 is a detail section of the inner knob shank.
Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.
A is the spindle having at the inner extremity, a shoulder Band at the outer end
a head C. This spindle is square in cross section at those parts which are intended
in assembled position to remain within the latch hub Ĺ and the inner knob as
seen at a, b, and between these intervenes a short portion circular in shape and of
a diameter less than that of the said square parts as seen at a. Between the
portion a and the head C, the spindle is of the same shape and diameter as at c.
The knobs are metallic the outer knob D having in its shank M a recess G, shaped
like an eight pointed star as seen at Fig. 3. Within the inner knob shank is
formed a circular opening, d, extending from the rear nearly to the outer end
thereof, and e is an opening square in cross section extending from the outer end
of the circular recess d to the end of the knob shank, a distance which is equal to
or less than the length of the circular portion of the spindle between a. and b.
The diameter of the circular opening d'is equal to the diagonal of the square
opening e. In assembling my devices I first insert the spindle within the inner
knob shank E placing between the shoulder B and the bottom of the knob, a coil
spring F.
The shank N is then forced against the action of the spring until the rear
shoulder of the part a is beyond the knob shank the circular portion o lying
within the square opening e of the knob shank, when the spindle is given a slight
DC31

page_text: turn carrying the angles of said shoulder out of coincidence with the angles of the
square opening c. when the shoulder is allowed to abut by the spring action against
the knob shank. The device is now ready to be applied to the latch hub and the
manner of doing this is as follows :-
The knob D has extending through its shank, an opening H square in cross
section, the angles of which are coincident with four alternate angles of the star
recess G, but not with the other four so that it will be readily understood that a
square head of the same diameter as the opening may be withdrawn through the
latter provided the angles of said head are coincident with the angles of the
opening. The manner of applying the device to a latch is as follows:-
The spindle is passed through the latch hub in the usual manner and inserted
within the outer knob through the aforesaid square opening until the hoad C
projects beyond the bottom of the knob shell, the spindle is now given an eighth of
a turn in either direction so as to throw the corners of the head out of coincidence
with the angles of said opening and into coincidence with the other points of the
recess the head of the spindle is now thrown within the recess and will abut
against the bottom thereof, the shank of the knob E is now released from abutment
against the spindle by turning the angles of the abutment in coincidence with the
angles of the opening e, the resiliency of the spring will draw both knobs tightly
against the latch hub.
In removing the knob D, it is simply necessary to force the shank against the
action of the spring and effect the abutment of the part a. against the shank of the
knob E as previously set forth when the head C is projected without the recess G
and brought into proper relative position with regard to the opening H, and the
knob D readily withdrawn. I do not wish to be confined to any particular shape
of spindle and head as it is obvious that any shape other than a circle will
accomplish the end aimed at the shape of the recess being of course couformed to
the head.
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 combination with the latch hub of a lock, the spindle having a shoulder at
one extremity and a head at the other and extending, when the parts are in
assembled position, through the knobs and hub, coil spring between said shoulder
and the inner knob shank, recess formned within the outer knob shank adapted to
permit of the withdrawal of the spindle and at the same time affording an abutment
for the head of the spindle whereby the latter may be held against retraction, said
spindle being adapted near its centre to sustain the abutment of the inner knob
shank against the resiliency of the spring, all arranged and operating substantially
as aud for the purposes herein before set forth.
2. The combination of the hub L, spindle A, having at its extremities shoulder B,
and square head C, knob E, spring F placed between said knob and shoulder,
stop a, on the spindle against which the inner knob shank may abut, and knob D
having through its shank an opening H square in cross section and at the outer
mouth of said opening recess G, shaped like an eight pointed star, four alternate
angles of which are coincident with the angles of the opening substantially as set
forth.