Improvements Comprising Combinations of Locks and Latches with Keys for the same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
COMPLEIE STEUITICATION.
Improvements Comprising Combinations of Locks and Latches with
Keys for the same.
We, THE CO-OPERATIVE PADLOCK SOCIETY, LIMITED, of Neale Street,
Walsall in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturers, and HIRAM LOWE,
Foreman in the employment of the said Society, 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:-
This invention has for its object improved methods of inserting a key within the
key-hole of a lock or latch, and improved adaptations of parts therefor. The key-
hole is made shorter from the pin axis thereof to its lower ends (or the end which
corresponds with what is usually the lower end) than the distance from the axis of
the key to the nose of the bit, and the key is inserted either by holding it first in a
vertical or vertically inclined position and gradually raising it as it is passed
forward into the case and the nose of the bit brought down inside the case below
or beyond the end of the key-hole, or by pushing it straight into the case and
moving the bit down below the end of the key hole. In either case the bit must
be specially shaped to allow of the insertion of the key. The lock or latch is thus
secure against the use of a key not specially adapted for insertion in the peculiar
manner described.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we will proceed to describe
it with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention,
according to different modifications, as applied specially to a padlock. The
invention is, however, applicable to other forms of lock or latch, as will be readily
understood without need for further illustration.
One modification of this invention is illustrated by Figures 1 to 12 inclusive. Of
these figures, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lock case shewing the shape of the
key-hole; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the key; and Figure 3 is a plan of
Figure 2, shewing an edge view of the key.
Figures 4, 6, 8, and 10 shew, in side elevation, different positions of the key as it
is being inserted into the lock case and moved into the position, shewn by Figure 12,
in which it may be turned to operate the mechanism; and Figures 5, 7, 9 and 11
are front elevations of the key and portion of the lock case, in which the positions
of the key correspond, respectively, with the positions in which it is shewn by
Figures 4, 6, 8 and 10.
The
The key-hole A is shorter from the pin or key axis a (shewn by broken line
Figure 4) to the end 6 than the distance from the axis a' (shewn by broken line,
Figure 2) of the key pin to the nose b¹ of the bit, so that when the key is in
position to be turned for operating the mechanism (as shewn by Figure 12) a
portion of the bit extends beyond the end of the key-hole inside the lock case.
narrow portion of the key hole is extended upwards or beyond the axis of the key
pin as a notch or slot c, for a short distance, as shewn. The bit of the key is curved
downwards along its inner edge d (see Figure 2) from near its outer end to the pin
or shanke to enable it to be turned down within the case in the manner hereinafter
described; and the portion of the key pin into which the bit joins, and also the
projecting end g of such pin, are formed flattened at the sides to make them of the
same width as the bit and thus adapt them to pass through the extended portion
of the key hole. Side wings h may be formed on the pin of the key extending from
the flattened portion thereof towards the bow, but of such length that when the
key is properly inserted within the key hole they will pass round inside the case
behind the plate through which the bit of the key has been passed; and side
notches are, in such case, formed to radiate from the axis of the key hole so as
C

page_text: to admit of the passage of the wings h therethrough. A back wing i, of the width
of the flattened portion f of the key pin, may be formed on the key pin also, and
may pass along to the outer end of such flattened portion and thus be continuous
therewith. The wings on the key pin, however, and the side notches
of the
key hole, form no essential part of the invention, as they may be dispensed with if
desired.
To insert the key within the lock into position in which it may be turned to
operate the mechanism, it is held in a vertical or in a vertically inclined position, as
shewu by Figure 4, while the nose of the bit is entered through the key hole, as
shewn also by such figure. The bow end of the key is then gradually moved upwards
while the bit is entered further within the lock case and is pulled down therein
partially below the bottom of the key hole; and the flat end of the key pin is
passed through the narrow upward extension c of the key hole, as the drawing
down of the bit within the case allows of the pin end to pass under the top of such
upward extension, as shewn by Figure 6. The outer end of the key is then further
raised into the position shewn by Figure 8, to bring the side wings h into position
just, entering within the notches 1 (see also Figure 9), the wing passing through
the upward extension c of the key-hole. The key is then continued to be raised,
and when in the position shewn by Figure 10 the end y of the pin is just about to
enter the hole j formed in the back of the case to receive it, and the back and
side wings are not quite clear of the upward extension c of the key-hole and the
sideway notches, respectively. Figure 12 shews the key in position with the end
of the pin inserted within the hole j, and the wings to be completely passed
within the case. The key is then in proper position for being turned to operate
the mechanism.
A further modification of this invention is illustrated by Figures 13, 14 and 15,
of which Figure 13 is a front view of a padlock case shewing the shape of the key-
hole A, Figure 14 a side elevation of the key in position partially inserted within
the key hole, and Figure 15 a corresponding view. to Figure 14, but shewing the
key to be in position due to the pipe or hollow shank being about to be pushed
over a short drill pin m projecting from the back of the case. The edge d.of the key
bit is shaped as the corresponding edge of the key bit of the former described
modification; but the key hole is made somewhat large in the round portion thereof,
and is not required to be extended upwards in the manner previously described as
there is no projection at the back of the key shank and no projection of the shank
beyond the key bit; and it may here be remarked that, if the round portion of the
key-hole in the former described modification be made sufficiently large, the key
pin or shank may, be formed round to the bottom or outer end of the bit..
A modification of the invention in which, notwithstanding that the key bit
projects further from the key pin axis than the distance from the corresponding
axis of the key hole to the bottom thereof, the key may be inserted straight and
moved down whilst a portion of it is within the case, is. illustrated by Figures 16
to 19 inclusive. Of these figures, Figure 16 is a front view of a padlock case
shewing the shape of the key-hole A.; Figure 17 shews a side elevation of the key
pushed sufficiently into the case to allow of its being moved down therein to, it's
proper level; Figure 18 shews the key in its proper position for being pushed back
to enter the projecting end of the pin or shank into a hole formed, in the back of
the case to receive it; and Figure 19 shews the key, in the position in which it may
be turned to operate the mechanism. In this modification, the key-hole is formed
with an upward extension c as in the modification first described, and the key, bit is
formed with a part of which the nose is further from the pin axis of the key than
the distance from the corresponding axis of the key-hole, to the bottom thereof, and
with a part which will pass through the key. hole when the key is at its proper
level for operating the mechanism. The portion of the shank of the key, which
must be pushed through the key hole to pass the portion of the bit, therethrough
is made of the same thickness.as.the bit. To put the key into position within the
case in which it may be turned to operate the mechanism, it is held in a horizontal

page_text: position and the portion k of the bit is first passed through the key hole into the
position shewn by Figure 17; the key is then moved down, into the position shewn
by Figure 18, to bring the end g of the shank opposite the hole ; in the back plate,
the nose of the portion k of the bit passing of course below the bottom of the key
hole. The key is then pushed back into the position shewn by Figure 19 to enter
the end within the hole j and pass the portion of the bit inside the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of a key-hole and key (of a lock or latch) in which the key-
hole is shorter from the pin axis thereof to its lower end (or end which corresponds
with what is usually the lower end) than the distance from the axis of the key to
the nose of the bit, substantially as described.
2. The means according to which a key, having a bit of greater projection from
the axis of the key pin or shank than the distance from the corresponding axis of
the key hole to the bottom thereof, may be inserted into position within the lock or
latch case in which it may be turned to operate the mechanism, substantially as
described.
Dated this 17th day of December 1892
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.