Improvements in Safety Locks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
VODIT DELE
Improvements in Safety Locks.
I, GUSTAVE FEITZINGER, IV Schwindgasse 5 Vienna Austria 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 object of my invention is the construction of an improved safety and
controlling lock which may be opened from either side by a suitable key of the
common kind, or by preference by peculiarly formed keys, and which is closed
automatically by the shutting of the door to which it is attached.
When fitted
for the aforesaid keys, the lock is so constructed that it will retain and collect these
keys in the order in which they were inserted into the lock. The lock may also
be connected with an electric battery in such manner as to cause a bell or bells
to ring and also eventually an electric lamp to glow as long as it remains
unlocked.
This lock is specially intended for being attached to entrance doors of buildings
as an addition to the lock or locks already existing, but it may, as will be shown
hereinafter also be employed for other purposes.
The lock is by preference constructed for flat or push keys, that is, for keys
which will open the lock by being pushed into the lock with a rectilinear movement
only, without having to be turned around in the lock. This new lock which may
be opened either from the outside or the inside of the door, essentially consists of
a bolt, situated and guided in any suitable manner, and which by a lever movably
connected to the rocking latch of the lock.
A slide directly or indirectly connected with or attached to, the bolt, runs in a
guide which carries the tumblers. Below this guide the receptacle for controlling
the keys may be arranged.. The keys are short flat pieces of metal, by preference
of steel, only just long enough to bring the tumblers into their unlocking position,
when pushed into the lock to their full length, so far in fact, that it becomes
impossible, to withdraw the keys again. By a suitable support provided in the
lock, the key, when introduced, is held in proper position until the tumblers are
adjusted and the bolt begins to recede whereupon the said support is withdrawn
and the key is pushed aside by a suitable pin or projection attached to, and receding
with the bolt, which causes the key to drop into a receptacle provided below. This
receptacle is by preference provided with two pins or prongs upon which the keys,
which are for this purpose provided with a suitable hole are caught and collected in
the order in which they were employed, those inserted from the outside of the door
upon one pin and those from the inside upon the other.
By the opening or receding of the bolt which is effected by a suitable spring
within the lock, the current of an electric battery may be closed so as to cause a
bell or bells to ring at any desired point in or out of the house by which a watch-
man for instance or any other person is informed when the door is being opened
and whether it is closed and locked again. An incandescent light, also operated by
the closing of the aforesaid current may be attached to or near the lock, principally
for the purpose of indicating either by extinguishing or glowing to the person
entering the door, whether the lock has closed again automatically or not, the alarm
bell being as a rule too far away from the door to be heard by the person
entering.
The closing of the door may be effected by any of the numerous and well known
automatic (spring or pneumatic) closing devices or by hand with the common door
handle. The lock may be fitted for either one or for both of these arrangements.
In either case the mere shutting of the door suffices for also closing the lock, which

page_text: is effected by the latch of the latter in passing over an inclined surface on or in the
peculiarly constructed striking plate.
The latch being lifted in travelling over this inclined surface causes by the
before described lever connections with the bolt, the latter to advance or close,
whereby the electric current is also broken so as to stop the ringing of the bell
when the door is completely locked.
As will be shown in a modification of this lock, the bolt may be also caused
to advance or close by means of a spring instead of by the direct action of the
latch.
In the annexed drawings a lock of this kind is shown in different views, positions
and details.
Fig. 1. is an elevation of the lock with the bolt withdrawn.
Fig. 2. is the same view with the bolt in its locked position.
Fig. 3. shows an inside view of the lock.
Fig. 4 is a brim view of the lock.
Fig. 5. is a front and
Fig. 6 a rear view of the outside door plate.
Fig. 64 shows in perspective view the automatic closing device for the key holo
in its closed position.
Fig. 6B shows the same in open position.
Fig. 7. show's the interior of the lock in open position with the tumbler mechanism
removed.
Fig. 8 shows the same view with the lock in closed position.
Fig. 9. is a brim view of the lock with the latch opening closed.
Figs. 10. 11. 12. 13 show the bolt with slide and key support in bottom, top,
and rear view, in the latter the key support has been left away for the sake of
clearness.
Fig. 134 shows in a longitudinal vertical section through the slide follower the
key catcher or holder.
Fig. 14 shows a key in three views.
Figs. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. show in front, top, bottom as well as in right and left
side view the guide of the bolt slide and follower with the tumblers, the view shown
in Fig. 1 is supposed to be the front.
Fig. 20 shows in top view the guide for the bolt slide, the top part removed to
show the tumblers.
Fig. 21. shows in two views a single tumbler.
Fig. 22 is a side view of the lock with opened key receptacle.
Figs. 23. 24. 25. show an interior view of the lock brim with the slide for the
latch in open middle and closed positions.
Fig. 26. is an interior view of the striking plate with angular part broken off
showing guide for the latch and hinged nab for the bolt for the bolt in closed
position.
Fig. 27. is the same view with the latch guide and hinged bolt nab in open
position.
Fig. 28. is an exterior view of the striking plate.
Fig. 29 is a transverse section of the same.
Fig. 30 shows a modification of the lock.
In all figures similar letters indicate like parts.
A is the box or frame of the lock and A' is the brim, through the corresponding
apertures of which bolt B and latch C are movable.
Bolt B is guided in the lock in any suitable manner, here for example by slot
and pin.
Latch C rocks or swings upon a pin or pivot C in such manner that when being
raised it will operate a lever D, which is hy preference supported by the same
pivot C, while the dropping of the latch is independent of said lever D. Lever D
is at its other free end, by a pin d movably connected with bolt B and is acted
upon by a spring. E in such manner that the lever D always has the tendency to

page_text: draw or push bolt B back into the lock that is to open it. The natural or resting
position of the bolt consequently is the open one.
When latch C is raised it causes,
by striking and operating lever D the bolt to be pushed out or locked.
In order to retain the bolt in this locking position, suitable tumblers are provided.
Attached to bolt B, there is the so called slide F which carries the follower G, the
whole being rigidly connected with bolt B naturally must take part in the recipro-
cating movement of the bolt. Immediately below follower G, the holder for the
tumblers is rigidly attached to the frame of the lock and at the same time forms a
guide for the bolt slide F. This holder and guide consists of two plates H and H₁
rigidly connected one above the other and provided with two corresponding slits h
in which slide F is guided. Between these plates H and H¹ the tumblers I are
arranged one on top of the other in any desired and suitable number. In the
annexed drawing five tumblers are shown. These tumblers are sliding ones and are
by preference guided between two webs in such manner that they can only
make a rectilinear parallel movement. The tumblers are as shown placed in a
horizontal position but they may of course be arranged in any other suitable
position. At either side of the lock the tumblers are by preference provided with.
springs K which serve to keep them always in a central position in the holder.
a direction parallel to the slits in the holder H H¹ the tumblers are provided
with two slits ii, which however are so arranged, that in the normal or central
position of the tumblers, they will not correspond with the guide slits 4. Conse-.
quently these slits h are, when the lock is at rest in its closed position, covered or
barred by the tumblers in such manner that slide F and with it bolt B are
prevented from moving backwards.
In
The same as in all locks of this kind, the slits in the different tumblers occupy
different positions so that each of the tumblers requires to be displaced by the key
differently to the other in order to bring all the slits in correspondence with
each other and with the slits hand thus to permit slide F and bolt B to slide
back or open. This displacement of the tumblers can only be effected by a key
provided with the proper teeth and recesses as shown in Figure 14. The tumblers
may be formed symmetrically so that the same key will open the lock from
either side or they may be so formed that a different key is required for each side.
The tumblers may also be provided with four slits instead of two, if a double or
forked slide is to be employed. The number and form of the tumblers which
may be chosen at will as a matter of course permits of an indefinite number of
combinations which may still be enlarged by giving to the tumblers, at the point
where they are operated upon by the key, different thicknesses, so that not only the
depth of the recesses in the key conditions its fitting, but also their width, as shown
in Figures 1 & 15. Instead of being in a horizontal position as shown the tumblers
may also be arranged vertically in which case of course the key holes have to be
placed accordingly. The one key hole m is in the inside lock plate and the
other m' either in the outside lock plate or as shown in the drawings Figure 5
in the outside keyhole plate as escutcheon. Each of the keyholes is on its outside
provided with a funnel-shaped cup u (u') for facilitating the introduction of the
key.
The lock as described so far is a complete safety-door-lock which may be opened
from the inside or outside by means of a common suitable push-key and which
shoots its bolt or locks itself by raising of the latch as the door is closing. The
lock operates as follows.
A proper key being introduced from either one side into the closed lock, the tumblers
are thereby arranged as before described so that all their slits are in correspondence
with the guide slits h whereupon lever D operated upon by spring E withdraws the
bolt and thus opens the lock. Latch C being in this direction independent of the
movement of the lever D, during this operation remained in its horizontal position.
When the door is being closed, which may be effected automatically by any of the
well known spring or pneumatic devices or simply by hand, latch C arriving at the
striking plate, encounters an inclined plane with which the latter is provided by

page_text: the passing of which as the door continues being closed latch C is raised. By the
raising of latch C lever D is swung forward and operates or shoots bolt B. As
this forward movement of the bolt is gradual in proportion to the gradual raising
of the latch and begins at the moment the latter arrives at the striking plate, the
bolt opening in the striking plate must have a width corresponding to the way made
by the door from the moment when the bolt begins to advance until it is completely
closed.
Although this way is very short the half opening in the striking plate would
however, be too large and the door instead of being closed tightly would have a
certain amount of slack which must be prevented. On the other hand the latch
having dropped behind the incline as the door closed home, would prevent the door
from being opened again. In order to permit these movements and to ensure a
tight closing of the door, the striking plate shown in Figures 26, 27, 28 & 29 has
been proved. S is the striking plate, S' is the opening for the bolt and S" that for
the latch. The width of the half opening corresponds to the length of way
described by the door in its final closing movement as above described. This
opening however is provided with a hinged flap T operated by a spring t
which when closed reduces the bolt opening to its proper width. When the door
is being closed and the bolt commences to advance it swings flap T to the rear and
continues to do so until the door is closed home and the bolt completely shot
i.e. arrived in its proper place in the opening of the striking plate. Arrived there
plate T becomes free to swing back into its proper position and thus reduces the
bolt opening to its proper width Figures 26 & 28. The latch guide or incline
consists of a movable or hinged pieces which is provided with the inclined
surfaces and which is by a springs kept in the position shown in Figure 26.
The upward movement of piece s is limited by preference by a pin or shoulder st
while it may freely swing downward, always brought back however into the
above position by spring S". Latch Chaving ascended incline s drops behind
pieces and when the door is being opened again, latch C turns down pieces Fig. 27
so that it may freely pass over it whereupon pieces under the influence of its
spring returns to its upright position.
In order to employ the lock just described as a controlling and key collecting
lock certain modifications and adaptions are required. First of all short keys of
the kind shown in Figure 14 must be employed. These keys L I provide by
preference one or both sides with one or more longitudinal ribs or grooves l.
In this manner a variety of different cross sections may be given to the keys of
different locks, whereby the key holes being formed correspondingly the introduc-
tion of a wrong key and also the introduction of the proper key in a wrong way
will be prevented. The length of the key is fixed in such a manner that when
pushed into the lock sufficiently far for opening same the key will stand about
Hush with the edge of the key hole so that it impossible to withdraw it again. In
order to make doubly sure against withdrawing the key after it has unlocked,
so called key catchers or retainers are provided inside the lock. These catchers
one of which is provided for either side of the lock, consists of an
provided with a tooth g' and swinging upon a pin G¹ upon the slide head G where
they are held down by a spring gas shown in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 & 134:
arm y
Tooth y' is slanting towards the outside of the lock but angular towards the
inside key L being provided with a corresponding notch or recess ¹¹.
When
the key is inserted it raises the catcher until tooth is allowed to enter recess
where it is held fast by spring g" thus preventing the key from being withdrawn again.
In order to keep the key in proper position when being inserted, it is guided in
the lock at on its lower edge and at G on its upper edge as shown. For
preventing the lock from being opened by a long key not provided with the notch
or recess (with a view to permit its withdrawal after it would have opened the
lock) a fixed stop o is provided at either side of the lock attached to the inside of
the lock plate al or frame Figure 6 in which position that arm or catcher g, which
is attached to the sliding head G when raised by the key as before described, will

page_text: rest against stop o so as to prevent head G and with it the bolt of the lock from
sliding back, although the tumblers are brought into their opening position by the
key. In this manner any other key is prevented from opening the lock except one
provided with a proper notch or recess, which will permit the entrance of tooth g'
of the catcher. The proper key which, when introduced far enough to open the
lock, stands with its end just about flush with the outer surface of the lock plate, is
removed from the key hole and brought into the receptacle inside of the lock by the
retrograde movement of the bolt in following manner. Besides the top and bottom
guides and G for the key a lateral guide is provided in the form of a wing N
which, when the bolt is in its locking position, closes up the rear of the tumbler
frame H H in such a manner as to form a central support for the key. When the
key has been pushed in far enough to bring the tumblers into their locking position,
the bolt under the influence of lever D and spring E commences its retrograde
movement and with it of course slide F, and its head G which former enters into
the slots of the tumblers. Head G is at either side provided with a lug or ejecting
pin p which, as the head recedes with the bolt, laterally strikes the key and pushes
it aside, thereby removing it from the key hole altogether. The key is now carried
along by pin p until it has lost its support upon lower plate H' when it drops by
its own weight into a receptacle provided below in the lock. This receptacle may
be of any convenient size or form and is by preference divided by a suitable
partition into two compartments, the one serving to receive the keys used
from the outside and the other for those used from the inside.
The keys
may, according to the purpose for which they are intended, be provided with
marks, numbers or signs, so as to form a control of the persons using them.
If it is desired also to determine the order in which the keys have been used,
one or two pins or prongs a g¹ may be provided in the receptacle Q upon which
the keys, which for this purpose must be provided with a hole are collected.
Prongs gg which are fastened to the bottom of receptacle Q are pointed and reach
with their points close to the place where the keys are introduced. In order to be
caught by the said prongs the key in leaving the tumblers must receive a slight
lateral tip and this movement is imparted to it by the ejector p. This however
would be prevented by wing N if it were rigid as in the case when no collecting
prongs are used. Wing N is therefore in the present case not only hinged to head G,
but is by means of a second hinge n' movably attached to an intermediate piece Ni
which is again hinged to the frame of the lock, as for instance at n as shown.
By means of this device wing N is swung away from head G as the latter recedes
with the bolt, whereby the lateral support of the key is removed and it may, under
the influence of ejector p, be dropped or pushed over and on to the collecting
prong. The next advance of the bolt brings wing N again into its vertical
position ready to serve as the lateral support for the next key as described. The
keys used for opening the lock from the outside are here for instance collected upon
prong, g, those used from the inside upon g'. Receptacle Q is so constructed that
it may be taken from the lock partly or entirely in order to permit of removing the
keys collected therein. By preference I fix receptacle Q to the lock by means of
a hinge and provide it with a small lock Q₁ and key q" for retaining it in the lock.
When small lock Q' is opene receptacle as shown in Figure 22 may be turned
down and the keys removed. If it is desired to keep the keys in the order in
which they were used, they may be slipped from prongs y q' upon a pair of corre-
sponding wires.
Either of the two key holes m m² is protected against the entrance of dust,
dirt, etc. by an inside cover movable upon a hinge and held closed by a suitable
spring as shown in Figs. 6, 6A, 6B, & 7, by the introduction of the key cover r,
is brought into the position shown in Fig. 68 and closed again. when the key has
passed.
If a lock of kind just now described is to be attached to an entrance door which
is to remain open during a certain of the day, or which, during this time, is to be
closed by means of the common latch without being locked, it is in the first case

page_text: desirable, in the second however indispensable to withdraw or remove latch C of the
safety lock during this time in order to allow the free opening and closing of the
door without having to use a key. If as supposed in the first case, the door is to
remain open altogether for a certain time, dirt, etc. might be introduced intentionally
or accidentally into the lock through the latch opening in the brim. In order to
permit a temporary withdrawing of latch C for the above reasons, I make the latch
opening in the brim long enough to permit the latch to swing down into the lock
when not required, and provide a slide upon the inner face of the brim for closing
the latch opening. This slide V swings upon a pivot and is operated by a small key
by means of which it may be set in three different positions. In its upper part
slide V is provided with a shoulder or recess V which serves to support the latch in
its proper position when the slide is set accordingly. This is the middle one of
three positions of the slide as shown in Figs. 4 & 24. If the latch is to be removed
from the outside of the lock for the purposes above stated, slide V is first swung
aside by means of key q" into the position shown in Fig. 23. In this opening the
lateh opening in the brim is unobstructed and the latch is permitted to swing back
into the lock by its own weight, where it takes the position indicated by dotted
lines in Fig. 7. By turning the key twice slide V is now brought to cover up the
latch opening entirely, and in this position it remains until the lock is to be set into
operation again. When this is the case slide V is locked back into its open position
again, whereupon the latch is raised up out of the lock, and slide V is locked into
its middle supporting position.
The raising of the latch may be effected by the key q" or any other suitable
instrument, a recess or a projection being provided upon the latch for offering a
suitable purchase. Or the latch may be connected to a sliding button or knob
anywhere upon the outside of the lock by means of which it may be raised. This
device being immaterial to the operation of the lock and subject to any desired:
modification, I have not considered it necessary to illustrate it in the drawings. The
lock may also be fitted with a knob or knobs for operating the bolt by hand when
for some reason or other the spring should not prove sufficient. The knob may be
connected with the bolt in the well known way as for instance at b.
If it is desired to provide the lock with the alarm and illuminating devices,
already mentioned in the introduction to this Specification, a movable contact
is placed in the lock and connected with an electric battery; the battery
already existing in most houses for operating the door bell may be used for
this purpose.
In Figs. 1. 2, 3 & 8 a device of this kind is shown. W is the
movable contact connected with and operated by slide head G of the bolt, w, w, is
the bell connection and a, a, a, the connection for an incandescent lamp, which is
by preference placed inside in the top part of the lock as shown in Fig. 3. The
same as the alarm bell, the lamp may also be placed at any desired distance from
the lock.
Arm W is set in such a manner that the contact is broken only when the bolt is
completely locked; as soon as the bolt commences to recede the contact is closed
and the bell rings and the lamp glows until the bolt has completely locked again.
The bell may thus announce to the porter, watchman etc. that someone is entering
while the light, when attached to the lock will serve to draw the person to the
eventual fact that the door has remained unclosed. The movable contact may of
course be so placed in or outside of the lock, as to be operated by any moving part
of the lock or locking plate.
.
In Figure 30 a modification is shown. This lock is essentially constructed in the
same manner as the one just described, with the only difference, that here. the
shooting of the bolt is not to be effected by the direct action of the latch but also
by a spring the same as the withdrawing. Latch C is in this case by preference
rigidly connected with lever D and spring E continually tends to keep lever D in
the position shown in Fig. 30. This spring serves here for shooting the bolt, while
for withdrawing it another spring, by preference the coiled spring Y is provided.
Spring rests against a fixed point. y. in the lock, while in the rear it presses

page_text: against a shoulder y of the bolt B. This lock is provided with a nut Z and a
suitable knob or knobs, so that the bolt may also be operated by hand. Bolt B is
on its side facing lever C provided with a spring catch which is let into the bolt
in such manner, that it may be pressed into the bolt flush with its surface, which in
its free position however stands out from the bolt, so as to form a stop or
shoulder.
If the door provided with a lock of this kind is closed latch C, in passing over
the inclined surface of the locking plate S₁ Fig. 26 is raised and thereby swings
lever D rearward at the same time compressing spring E. Lever D in swinging
back as indicated passes over and depresses part b', which rises again after the
lever has passed and forms an abutment for the latter. When lever D stands in
the position indicated by dotted lines, latch C has arrived at its highest point upon
the inclined surface S₁ Fig. 6 behind which it may now drop, so that spring E is
free to swing lever D forward and latch C down into their original positions.
Lever D striking against the shoulder of part which latter is attached to the
bolt, carries the bolt forward and thereby locks it. As the bolt is passing through
the aperture in the rim, part is gradually depressed again so that when the bolt
is completely shot and the tumblers have taken up their locking position, lever D
loses its hold on part 6 and is carried forward a little farther so as to pass the
shoulder of said part 1. The bolt in moving forward has by means of shoulder y
tightened spring Y and the whole mechanism remains in this position until a key is
introduced and the tumblers are set, so that the bolt can be drawn by the force of
spring Y, part sliding underneath lever D and leaving it in its position. In this
lock there may also a knob be used for assisting the bolt spring. As in this con-
struction the bolt does not commence its forward movement until the latch has
reached the highest point of the inclined surface in the locking plate, the opening
in the latter for the bolt may be of the proper size instead of being made larger
and provided with the narrowing device described in the former construction. All
the other parts of the construction of the first lock may be employed also for the
second one. In either construction the latch may be placed in the top or bottom
part of the lock at will and it may be made to operate the bolt either by its upward or
downward movement. In the latter case the inclined surface in the locking plate
must be reversed.
The tumblers described may be substituted by any other known system of
tumblers so that eventually and when the keys are not to be collected in the lock,
the common turning key may be employed. In this case the tumblers have to act
upon the bolt in such manner, that they only prevent its withdrawing movement
while they permit its free forward movement by the latch in the manner
described.
The locks herein described may be fitted to serve different purposes, and are
especially suited for doors which are to be opened from either side, but as a matter
of course the locks may also be made to work but from one side as for instance for
safes, etc.
When constructed for collecting the keys in the manner described, the lock may
be employed for the entrance to exhibitions, factories, offices and other places,
when the keys may serve as tickets of admission, or as means for controlling the
persons entering these places.
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. A lock essentially consisting of a bolt B and latch C, the two connected by a
lever D in such manner, that a raising or lowering of the latch will cause the
forward or locking movement of the bolt.
2. In a lock, the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch, a
spring E placed in such position as to be tightened by the forward movement of the
bolt so as to serve for withdrawing the same.

page_text: 3. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch and its
rearward movement by a spring a slide F directly or indirectly connected with the
bolt and by preference running in a guide H H in combination with a series of
tumblers I, provided with slits i i¹.
4. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch and its
rearward movenient by a spring in combination with the tumblers I, keys of any
desired cross section, with or without a recess and hole land of such length
that in order to set the tumblers said keys have to be introduced so far into the
lock that they cannot be any more withdrawn.
5. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement, by a latch and its
rearward movement by a spring a key retaining device consisting of a movable
army held down by a spring and provided with catch g¹ to fit recess 11 of
the keys.
6. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch and its
rearward movement by a spring a head or follower G connected with the bolt and
carrying the ejecting pin or pins p for removing the keys from the tumblers as the
bolt recedes.
7. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch and its
rearward movement by a spring a rigid or hinged wing N serving as a lateral
guide to the key when introduced into the lock.
8. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch and its
rearward movement by a spring or receptacle Q for collecting the keys in the lock,
by preference provided with a central partition or substituted by one or more
prongs (9) reaching with their points near the key guide; so as to receive and
collect the keys upon them when they are ejected from the tumblers.
9. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch and its
rearward movement by a spring; a stop o fixed in the lock near arm g in such a
manner as to prevent arm and with it the bolt from receding when army is in its
raised position.
10. In combination with a lock, the bolt of which receives its forward movement
by a latch and its rearward movement by a spring a locking plate with a wide bolt
opening which is closed to the proper width by a swinging plate T. provided with
a spring t.
11. In a lock the bolt of which receives its forward movement by a latch and its
rearward movement by a spring a slide V actuated by preference by a key in such
manner as to take up three different positions, an open one, a closed one and an
intermediate one for supporting the latch.
12. In a lock essentially consisting of a bolt B latch C, lever D and spring E,
a spring for withdrawing the bolt; bolt B provided with a spring catch ',
serving as an abutment for lever D in shooting the bolt.
13. In combination with locks the bolt of which receives its forward movement
by a latch a locking plate provided with a swinging pieces with inclined
surface S.
The whole substantially as described.
ד
י.
" T
2001