IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND KEYS FOR THE SAME APPLICABLE FOR USE WITH LATCHES, SAFES, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN HORNBY KING at the Office for Patents 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND KEYS FOR THE SAME APPLICABLE FOR USE
WITH LATCHES, SAFES, AND OTHER ARTICLES" to be as follows:-
:-
.
This invention consists in a key with two sets of wards on opposite sides of the
stem, and in a lock having two tumblers on opposite sides of the key, each working
on projections on the same branched bolt. In this way it is impossible to shoot
the bolt unless both tumblers are pressed" back to the right degree, and the projecting
portion of the key of right length to push the bolt.
In place of having the two tumblers. to work on the same bolt one of the
tumblers could work on a subsidiary bolt, locking the main bolt, and the effect
would be the same but more complicated. If the two tumblers be arranged to
work with equal wards and in the centre of the key (the two wards. being exactly
opposite each other) the key can be made with both sides alike and to work from
either side of the lock so that no matter how.it be inserted in either keyhole, it
will lock and unlock; if however the tumblers require a different length of ward,
I prefer to stamp the words "lock" "unlock" or their equivalent on tho key
handle on opposite sides so that the user can see at a glance which side should be
inserted uppermost for locking or unlocking respectively.
It will be obvious, too, that as both tumblers lock the bolt unless both be
turned to the right degree at the right moment the lock cannot be opened. This
will therefore be a very difficult lock to pick,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
•
4
I, JOHN HORNBY KING, Office for Patents 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Lancashire,
Jeweller do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCKS, AND KEYS FOR THE SAME, APPLICABLE FOR USE WITH LATCHES BAFES
AND OTHER ARTICLES" 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 to that class of lock which are known as lever locks in
which levers or tumblers have to be raised or lowered by the key before the bolt
of the lock can be moved. It consists in forming the lock with two or more sets
of levers or tumblers placed on either side of or at any angle with the key hole or
stem each controlling the same bolt, and in forming the key with a set of wards 1
on two or more sides of the stem to operate the sets of levers or tumblers in
the lock.
Referring to the drawings-
Fig 1 is a front view of a lock with the plato removed shewing double set of
levers or tumblers arranged according to my invention.
Fig 2. top view of same.
1
Fig 3. view of key with two sets of wards to correspond with the lock. In these
A is the framework of the lock. B the bolt. C the latch. D tappet for actuating
the latch. & spring of same. E lever working between the spring and latch. B¹ plate
attached to and which carries the bolt B. F set of levers or tumblers placed and
constructed in the usual way. G second set of levers or tumblers placed at the
opposite side of the key hole h; these levers or tumblers are operated or worked in
the usual way. H is the key with wards I, J, placed at opposite sides of the stem.
These are shewn to actuate two levers in each set, though any number of levers or
tumblers may be employed as desired. The set of wards J are shown shorter than 2
the set I, but the length of the wards is immaterial as they can be varied to suit
the position in which the levers or tumblers may be placed, those in the under
side of the lock shewn being so arranged as to leave room for the working of the
latch C.
The lock is operated in the usual way, one set of wards of the key only pressing 3
tlie bolt backwards or forwards (or upwards or downwards according to the
position of the lock) the function of the second or other set if they be added
being merely to raise or depress the extra set or sets of levers or tumblers. In this
way it is impossible to shoot the bolt, unless. both or all of the sets of levers or
tumblers are pressed back to the right degree, and the projecting portion of the key 8
of right length to push the bolt. The key only turns half way round in the lock
or proportionately according to the number of flanges, instead of a complete turn
as in ordinary locks. In place of having the two or more sets of tumblors to work
on the same bolt, one of the sets of tumblers could work on a subsidiary bolt
locking the main bolt, and the effect would be the same, but more complicated. 4
If the sets of lovers or tumblers be arranged to work with equal wards and in
the centre of the key (the two wards being exactly opposite each other) the key

page_text: can be made with both sides alike and to work from either side of the lock, so that
no matter how it be inserted in the key hole it will lock and unlock. If however
the levers or tumblers require a different length of ward, I prefer to stamp the
words" "lock"
""unlock" or their equivalent, on the key handle on opposite sides,
or otherwise mark it as set forth in the specification of the Letters Patent granted
to me No 6785 of 1884, so that the user can see at a glance which side should be
inserted uppermost for locking or unlocking respectively.
It will be obvious too that as the sets of levers or tumblers lock the bolt unless
they all be turned to the right degree at the right moment, the lock cannot be
opened. This will therefore be a very difficult lock to pick.
Two levers only are shewn in each set in the drawings, but it is obvious that any
number of levers or tumblers may be used in each set, or one set may be made
with more or less than the other, and the shape of the levers may be varied at
pleasure, or one set may be made so as only to prevent the return of the bolt,
without departing from the nature of my invention.
One feature of the lock shewn, though no claim is made for it, is that by tho
end b of the bolt plate B¹ abutting against the inner side c of the latch C when the
bolt is shot the handle cannot be turned, and thus adds to the strength and security
of the lock,
This ingenious arrangement in lever locks, I claim as my invention, and so long
as the principal parts of contruction are retained and preserved together in any
lock or latch, I claim the exclusive right to make any addition or alteration or
change in the other parts.
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
1st. A lock constructed with two or more sets of levers or tumblers placed at
different points round the key hole or stem, requiring a key with two or more
corresponding sets of wards to operate them and release the bolt, substantially as
described and shewn.
2nd. In a lever lock the combination of a bolt having a bolt plate or shank
carrying studs or projections operated upon by two or more sets of levers or
tumblers, and a key having two or more sets of wards, substantially as described
and shewn.
3rd. In a lever lock a second or more sets of levers or tumblers operated by the
same key as the first set, and locking the bolt of the first set, substantially as
described.