Improvements in Padlocks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
Improvements in Padlocks.
I, ARTHUR MILLS, of the firm of Mills Brothers, of 10 to 13 Upper Hall Lane,
Walsall in the County of Stafford, Lock 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 :-
A padlock constructed according to this invention, has its bolt formed as a vertical,
or approximately vertical, arm. The arm is pivoted within the case, and the upper end
has a head for engagement direct with a staple or other part to which the padlock is
intended to be locked, or with the spoon end of a shackle. The tail of the bolt, or a
portion of the lower end thereof, is made thin from front to back, and the head may be
thin also when it is intended to interlock with the spoon end of a shackle; and through
a portion of the thin bolt tail, or of the thin part of the bolt tail, made specially
broad therefor, an opening is made through which a portion of the key bit may be
passed. The portion of the bolt through which such opening is formed stands some
distance from the back plate, and acts as a bridge to the key bit by allowing a
portion thereof to pass between itself and the back plate as the key is turned after
insertion into the lock. A lever (or levers) pivoted within the case, engages with a
stump which projects at the front of the bolt tail, and two talons or projections
stand backwards from the rear face of the bolt tail in such position that as the key
is turned in one direction it bears, whilst holding up the lever (or levers), against
one of such talons and moves back and thus unlocks the bolt, and as it is turned in
the opposite direction it bears, whilst holding up the lever (or levers), against the
other talon and locks the bolt. These talons may answer the purpose also of
distancing the bolt tail from the back plate. The opening through the bolt tail
may be gated, so as to be operated by the key, in lieu of using the talons for such
purpose, and, in such case, the bolt tail does not require to be distanced from the
back of the case, though it may be and especially if it is desired to be used as a
bridge.
A tumbler, or a spring of a character previously used in cheap locks, that is to
say, a spring shaped with a curved portion with which a stump on the bolt tail
engages to lift the spring as the bolt is moved to-and-fro by the key, and by which
the stump and consequently the bolt are maintained in position normally, such spring
being also formed with a curved end to prevent the bolt being shot too far in locking,
may be used in lieu of a lever or levers.
When the bolt is intended to interlock direct with a staple or other part to which
the padlock is to be fastened, the case is formed on one side to project upwards and
form an abutment against which the bolt head closes when locked, and the bolt may
project through an opening in the top of the case so that the head may be moved
to and from the abutment; but the case is formed, preferably, on the side at which
the upper end of the bolt operates, to a corresponding shape to the other side, so as
to form a pocket or enclosure into which the head is moved when unlocked and
within which the upper portion of the bolt (except the portion of the head which
engages with the staple or corresponding part) is concealed whether the bolt is
locked or unlocked.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will describe it with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figures 1 to 5, inclusive,
illustrate a convenient application of the invention in the case of a padlock in which
the bolt engages direct with the staple or other part to which the padlock is to be
locked, and the remaining figures illustrate a convenient application of the invention
in the case of a padlock in which the bolt engages with the ordinary shackle.

page_text: Referring first to, Higures 1 to 5, inclusive; Figure 1 is a front elevation of the
lock with the cap removed to expose the interior mechanism, the bolt being shewn
as locked; Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line of Figure 1, looking in
the direction of the arrow; Figure 3 is a detached elevation of the back of the
bolt; Figure 4- is a section; looking upwards, on line ¹ of Figure 1; and
Figure 5 is a view of the bit end of a key suitable for use with the lock. The
arm A forming the bolt has a sideway bolt head a, and is pivoted at 6 within the
lower end of the case B. The tail of the bolt is formed thin at a part e thereof (and
preferably to some distance above, as shewn) which is widened out, and has an
opening c formed therethrough. This part of the tail stands back from the back
plate of the case, being distanced off therefrom by the ferrule faround the pivot pin h,
by talons, or projections, gh, and by the head or thickened upper end of the bolt. The
drill pin i projects through the opening c; and the portion d of the key bit passes
through this opening as the key is pushed into the key hole, and as the key is turned
the portion d passes under the edge of the opening and engages with one or other
of the talons gh to unlock or lock the bolt, as the case may be. The tail thus acts
as a bridge to the key, and forms a safeguard against the lock being tampered.with,
by requiring a key of more special construction than would otherwise be the case.
Agated lever C (or set of. levers, one only being shewn in the illustrations for con-
venience) of the usual character, engages with a stump; on the bolt tail, just as,
and for the purpose for which, a lever usually engages with a bolt in what is known
as.a. lever lock; and this lever (or set of levers) is of course held up, against the
pressure of the lever springs, by the portion k of the bit of the key which turns at
the front of the tail, while the bolt is moved by the portion d of the bit. The
upper. end. of the arm A operates within a pocket 7, forming an upward extension
of the case on one side and having an opening through which the head a is shot out
and drawn. back; and an abutment of corresponding, shape, is. formed on. the
opposite side of the case, against. which the nose of the bolt closes when locked.
The nose of the bolt is formed, preferably, with a projection. m which enters. a
corresponding hole in the abutment . A space n. is, of course, left between the
pocket and abutment. I, and between the head a when locked and the top of the
case, to receive the portion of the staple or other part over which the head a.is
intended to lock.
Referring, now to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, Figure 6 is a corresponding. view to
Figure 1; Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on line y y of Figure 6, looking in
the direction of the arrow; Figure 8 is a detached back elevation of the bolt; and
Figure 9 is a section, looking upwards, on line y¹¹ of Figure 6. In this modifica
tion as illustrated, a sideway head a' on an arm.A¹ corresponding to the arm A, but
preferably made thin throughout, is used to lock and unlock, a shackle Di of the
usual description. A widened out parte of the arm is shewn to have an opening.c
therethrough, formed with notches o for the purpose of using a double-bitted key
which is inserted into the key-hole with the bits held horizontally, as is. usual with
double-bitted keys; but the opening c¹ may be formed to receive other description
of key, if desired. The key bit moves the bolt, to unlock or lock, it as may. be
desired, by pressing against one or other of the talons.g¹ h¹.
In this. modification, also, a. lever or levers may engage with a stump on the
bolt; but as. this lock is intended more especially as a.cheap lock, a. spring pis
substituted for the lover or levers. This spring is of a character which has.before
been used with cheap locks, and has a downwardly curved part 7 against which the
sturapy bears.as the arm is moved by the key, and thus raises the spring and allows
the stump to pass under the curve. The downward curve normally maintains the
bolt in the position to which it may have been moved, as some force is required to
raise the spring in the manner described. An upward curve.ris.formed.in the outer
endiof, the spring, to prevent the bolt being shot, too far forward.
This latter modification, may, be adapted as a self-locking padlock, by employing
a.lever or levers.or a tumbler of the character employed in such locks; and pressing
forwards-the-bolt, by means of a spring, and forming a suitable curve.or bevel: on
:

page_text: the nose of the bolt and of the shackle, as is done in the case of such locks; and
in this case the talon h¹ is not required for the purpose of locking the bolt.
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. Padlocks constructed and operating substantially in the manner herein
described.
2. In a padlock, a bolt formed as an arm with a head at its upper end, and
pivoted within the case, and having an opening through it, within which the key is
turned to operate the bolt, substantially as described.
3. In a padlock, a bolt formed as an arm with a head at its upper end, and
pivoted within the lower part of the case, and having an opening through it, in
position between the pivoted end and the head, within which the key is turned to
operate the bolt, substantially as described.
4. In a padlock, a bolt formed as an arm with a head at its upper end, and
pivoted within the case, and having an opening through it, through which the key
is inserted and when turned operates against one or other of two talons at the back
of the arm to lock or unlock the bolt, or in the case of the alternative or self-locking
arrangement described with reference to the second modification, operates against a
talon at the back of the arm to unlock the bolt, substantially as described.
5. In a padlock, a bolt formed as an arm with a head at its upper end, and pivoted
within the case, and adapted to act as a bridge to the key by which it is operated,
substantially as described.
6. In a padlock, a bolt formed as an arm with a head at its upper end, and pivoted
within the case, and having an opening through the tail within which the key is
turned to operate the bolt, in combination with a lever or spring (or corresponding
part or parts) which engages with the said arm, substantially as described, for the
purpose set forth.
7. In a padlock, the combination of the bolt A, constructed and operated sub-
stantially as described, with the abutment m, for the purpose set forth.
8. In a padlock, the combination of the bolt A, constructed and operated sub-
stantially as described, with the abutment m and pocket Z, substantially as described,
for the purpose set forth.
9. In a padlock, the bolt A¹ constructed and operating substantially as described,
for the purpose of locking the spoon end of a shackle D.
Dated this 26th day of September 1891
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.