Improvements in Locks and Latches.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
Improvements in Locks and Latches.
I, JAMES WOODWARD, of the Firm of B. Walters and Company, of 154 North
Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Lock and Latch Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates, firstly, to the cases of rim and dead locks and latches, of
which the bodies are each formed in one piece of sheet metal, and chiefly to such
which have the rims and fore ends formed by bending up portions from flat plates
or blanks, but is applicable also to stamped cases; and has for its object, in
relation thereto, to improve the construction of the cap-plates and the means of
fitting them and the bodies together, whereby the cases are strengthened and their
appearance improved. And this invention relates, secondly, to two-bolt rim and
dead locks and latches, that is to say, to such locks and latches each fitted with a
bolt which is operated by the key and with a bolt which is operated by means of
the lock furniture to unlatch it; and more especially to such locks and latches
when made double-handed by fitting them each with a locking bolt which has an
opening formed through the tail which is key-gated both upwards and downwards
so that it may be shot by the key whichever way the same is inserted through a
key-hole formed with an eye at each end for the pin of the key, and by fitting
them each with both a tumbler and arm with the former of which the key engages
when inserted with the pin through one eye of the key-hole and turned and with
the latter of which the key engages, and causes it to operate the tumbler, when the
And this
key is inserted with the pin through the other eye of the key hole.
invention has for its object, in relation to two-bolt rim and dead locks and latches,
an improved method of utilizing a single spring to press the tumbler into gear or
engagement with the bolt and to press the latch bolt outwards, whereby an
extremely easy action of the parts is ensured and the liability of fracture of the
spring greatly reduced.
According to the first part of this invention, the cap-plate is made with the top
and bottom edges thickened so that they appear as fillets standing outwards from
the outer or back face of the plate. The fillets project, along each edge, for the
thickness of the rim beyond the width of the plate thus forming a rebate along
each edge. The cap-plate is made of a size to fit just easily inside the body of
the case, and the projecting portions of the fillets bear against the top and bottom
edges of the body and thus conceal the longitudinal joints between the cap-plate
and body from shewing in a back elevation of the case. The edge of the hinder
end of the rim stands out flush with the face of the cap-plate. The method of
forming the cap-plate and fitting it into and against the rim strengthens the case,
besides giving a very neat appearance, more especially if (as is preferred) the faces
of the fillets are made bright while the case is japanned.
The cap-plate may be formed with thickened top and bottom edges without
rebates and be fitted to the body of the case in the usual manner, but the above
described method of fitting the cap-plate and case together is much preferred, as it
gives greater strength to the rim of the case.
According to the second part of this invention, a single spring is curved around
a stud at a point near to its hinder end. The hinder end presses against the lower
or inner end of a back follower with the other end of which the latch bolt is
connected, and the portion of the spring passing away on the other side of the stud
is carried along towards the forward end of the case and bears at its end against

page_text: the rim of the case or other fixed abutment, and is formed near to such end to a
curve of which the convex side bears against the tumbler (or, in the case of a
double-handed lock or latch, it may bear against the lever, aforesaid, through the
medium of which the tumbler may be operated by the key). According to a
convenient application of this part of the invention, the stud may be carried by
the back follower which, in such arrangement, is pivoted to the case at its lower or
inner end, and the spring is thus pulled out of its normal shape by the backward
movement of the stud as the back follower is moved back in unlatching the latch
bolt ;
but the stud is stationary when the lock bolt mechanism only is being operated.
Α very long spring may thus be used, of which the change of form is comparatively
small in relation to its length, and thus a very easy action of the parts results; and
such a spring has very little liability to fracture.
Dated this 10th day of October 1893.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Locks and Latches.
I, JAMES WOODWARD, of the Firm of B. Walters and Company, of 154 North
Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Lock and Latch Manufacturers,
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 relates, firstly, to the cases of rim and dead locks and latches, of
which the bodies are each formed in one piece of sheet metal, and chiefly to such
as have the rims and fore-ends formed by bending up portions from flat plates or
blanks, but is applicable also to stamped cases; and has for its object, in relation
thereto, to improve the construction of the cap-plates and the means of fitting
them and the bodies together, whereby the cases are strengthened and their
appearance improved. And this invention relates, secondly, to two-bolt rim and
dead locks and latches, that is to say, to such locks and latches each fitted with a
bolt which is operated by the key and with a bolt which is operated by means of
the lock furniture to unlatch it, and more especially to such locks and latches when
made double-handed by fitting them each with a locking bolt which has an opening
formed through the tail which is key-gated both upwards and downwards so that it
may be shot by the key whichever way the same is inserted through a key-hole
formed with an eye at each end for the pin of the key, and by fitting them each
with both a tumbler and arm with the former of which the key engages when
inserted with the pin through one eye of the key-hole and turned, and with the
latter of which the key engages, and causes it to operate the tumbler, when the key
is inserted with the pin through the other eye of the key-hole. And this invention
has for its object, in relation to two-bolt rim and dead locks and latches, an
improved method of utilizing a single spring to press the tumbler into gear or
engagement with the bolt and to press the latch bolt outwards, whereby an
extremely easy action of the parts is ensured and the liability of the fracture of the
spring greatly reduced.
The first part of this invention in illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings
herewith which are, respectively, a vertical section through a sheet metal lock case
of which the body is formed in one piece of sheet metal, and a view of the hinder
end of such case as seen looking towards the face of the cap-plate. The particular
case illustrated (by way of example) has the rim a a' a, and also the fore-end (not
shown), bent up from the plate of the body. The top and bottom edges of the
cap-plate care thickened up so that they appear as fillets d standing outwards from

page_text: the outer or back face of such plate. The fillets d project, along each edge d', for
the thickness of the portions a of the rim, beyond the width of the cap-plate c, thus
forming a rebate along each edge of the cap-plate. The cap-plate c made of a
size to fit just easily inside the body of the case, and the projecting portions d¹ of
the fillets d bear against the top and bottom edges of the body and thus conceal the
longitudinal joints between the cap-plate and body from shewing in a back elevation
of the case.
It is preferred that the edge of the hinder end a' of the rim shall
stand out flush with the outer faces of the fillets d, as shewn by Figure 1, and in
such case the hinder edge of the part a¹ of the rim may be notched down at each
end for the depth of the thickness of a fillet d, and for a distance corresponding to
the width thereof, and the fillets d be left to project beyond the back end of the
cap-plate c for the width of the part a' of the rim so as to fit within the notches of
such part, as shewn by the drawings. I find it convenient to rivet the fillets d to
the cap-plate c, but they may be fixed thereto in any convenient manner, or be
formed therewith in the process of rolling.
The method above described of forming the cap-plate and fitting it into and
against the rim strengthens the case, and gives a very neat appearance, more
especially if (as is preferred) the faces of the fillets and the exposed edge of the
hinder end of the rim are made bright while the remainder of the case is japanned.
The cap-plate may be formed with thickened top and bottom edges without rebates,.
and be fitted to the body of the case in the usual manner, but the above described
method of fitting the cap-plate and case together is much preferred, as it gives
greater strength to the rim of the case.
The second part of this invention is illustrated by Figure 3 which shew, by way
of example, a two-bolt rim or dead lock made doubled-handed in the manner above
described. (The lock shewn is really a four-handed one, as the latch bolt is made
reversible.) The cap-plate is shewn removed in order to expose the interior
mechanism. A is the latch bolt; B is the locking bolt having an opening C
through the tail thereof, which is key-gated upwards and downwards as shewn ;
D is the back-follower fulcrumed within the case at e at one end and connected at
its other end with the tail of the latch bolt A; E is the key-hole formed with an
eye at each end for the pin of the key; F is the tumbler for the locking-bolt ;
and E the arm with which the key bit engages when the key is turned round within
the lock whilst the key-pin passes through the eye of the key-hole, and through
the medium of which the tumbler is consequently, in such case, operated. The
lever E is prevented from falling unduly inwards, when the lock is used in the
position shewn, by a stop i. The spring G which is utilized, according to this part
of the invention, in both pressing outwards the latching bolt A and in pressing
inwards the tumbler F, is fixed to the fulcrummed end of the back-follower and
is carried forwards to press against the tumbler. The tension which the reacting
pressure of the tumbler thus puts on the spring causes the back follower to be
constantly pressed in a forward direction under an elastic strain, and thus both the
back follower and tumbler are moved backwards against the elastic force of the
spring. A very long spring, as shewn, may be used, of which the changes of form
due to its movements are comparatively small in relation to its length, and thus a
very easy action of the parts results; and such a spring has very little liability to
fracture. It will be obvious that the spring might be utilized to press against the
arm E instead of against the tumbler, if the arm and tumbler were made to change
places in the lock mechanism. Moreover, the spring may, of course, be utilized in
the manner shewn in the case of a tumbler used apart from association with an arm
such as E, as when used for a single-handed lock.
According to a convenient and preferred method of fixing the spring G to the
back-follower, a stud g is formed to project from a lug which stands forwards
from the inner or forward edge of the back follower. The inner end of the
spring G passes behind the stud g and thence around the forward side of the
fulcrummed end of the back follower, as shewn.

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. A cap-plate, for a sheet metal case of a rim or dead lock or latch, formed with
filleted edges, substantially as described.
2. A cap-plate, for a sheet metal case of a rim or dead lock or latch, formed with
filleted and rebated edges, and adapted to fit within the case, substantially as
described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
3. In a two-bolt rim or dead lock or latch, a spring fixed at one end to the
fulcrummed end of a back follower and pressing at its other end against the
tumbler or against a part through the medium of which the tumbler is operated by
the key, said spring operating both to press the tumbler into gear or engagement
with the locking bolt and to press the latch bolt outwards, substantially as
.described.
4. In a two-bolt rim or dead lock or latch, a stud (y) projecting from a back
follower (D), and a spring G passing at its hinder end behind such stud and
around the forward side of the fulcrummed end of the back-follower, and pressing
at its forward end against a tumbler (F) (or other part through the medium of
which the tumbler is operated by the key), substantially as described and shewn by
Figure 3, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of July 1894.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.