IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATCHING BOLTS OF LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Woodward of the firm of B. Walters and Company
of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, lock manufacturers for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATCHING BOLTS OF LOCKS AND LATCHES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Woodward at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1882.
"
JAMES WOODWARD, of the firm of B. Walters and Company of Wolverhampton
in the County of Stafford, lock manufacturers,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
LATCHING BOLTS OF LOCKS AND LATCHES,"
The object of this invention is to construct the outer end of the latching bolt of
a lock or latch so as to combine the advantages arising from the employment of a
dome-ended bolt with the security arising from the employment of a bolt having a
parallel-sided end.
$
The present invention may be regarded to some extent in the light of an
improvement on the spherical-ended bolt for which (and for other improvements) I
received Letters Patent No 717 dated the 19th day of February A.D. 1881. The
part of such spherical bolt-end projecting beyond the fore-plate or case of a lock or
latch answers admirably in closing a door or other part fitted therewith, exposes no
sharp corners when the door or other part is open, and permits of the lock or latch
being readily fixed either-handed as may be desired, but it has the disadvantage of
allowing the door or other part to be opened by pressure, without the bolt being
first drawn back by the handle or key if sufficient force is used.
Now according to my present invention the extreme outer end of the bolt is
semi-spherical or dome-shaped, and in addition thereto and in combination there-
with, a short length of parallel-sided part, either cylindrical, square, or of other
convenient section, projects forwards from the fore-plate or case when the bolt is
out. This formation of bolt end is used in conjunction with a striking-plate or
staple which has a striker of suitable depth and proportions to allow for the greater
distance inwards to which the bolt has to be pushed.in striking, in excess of that
required in the case of the descriptions of bolt ordinarily in use.

page_text: This formation of bolt has all the advantages described as resulting from the
employment of the spherical-ended bolt, and in addition thereto the parallel-sided
part holds securely within the striking-plate or staple when the door or other part
is shut, and thus prevents the door or other part from being pushed open until the
bolt is drawn back by the handle or key. The remaining parts of the bolt may be
constructed, and the bolt itself operated, in any known convenient manner.
the bolt is made cylindrical throughout, or is otherwise capable of turning axially,
the closing of the door or other part causes the bolt to turn slightly and thus
occasions a more even wear on the dome-end, as in the case of the spherical-ended
bolt.
If
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Woodward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June
1883.
JAMES WOODWARD, of the firm of B. Walters and Company of Wolverhampton in
the County of Stafford, lock manufacturers, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATCHING
BOLTS OF LOCKS AND LATCHES
The object of this invention is to construct the outer end of the latching bolt of
a lock or latch so as to combine the advantages arising from the employment of a
dome-ended bolt with the security arising from the employment of a bolt having a
parallel-sided end.
I
Previously to the date of this invention latch bolts have been employed, known as
"Bales' patent," consisting of a ball carried within a cylindrical cup in the interior
of the case, or consisting of a hemi-spherical outer end in combination with a
cylindrical bolt tail, and there has also been employed a latch bolt known as the
"Globe patent," consisting of a ball carried within a hemispherical cup in the
interior of the case and which is described in the specification of an Invention for
which I received Letters Patent N° 717 dated the 19th day of February A.D. 1881,
but in each of these cases a hemi-spherical part only (or a part less than a
hemisphere) has projected beyond the fore-plate when the bolt has been in its
latched position. The hemi-spherical part of such bolts projecting (either wholly
or in part) beyond the fore-plate or case of a lock or latch, answers admirably in
closing a door or other part fitted therewith, exposes no sharp corners when the
door or other part is open, and permits of the lock or latch being readily fixed
either-handed as may be desired, but it has the dis-advantage of allowing the door
or other part to be opened by pressure without the bolt being first drawn back by
the handle or key; if sufficient force is used.
1..
Now according to my present invention the extreme outer end of the bolt is
semi-spherical or dome shaped, and in addition thereto and in combination therewith,
a short length of parallel sided part, either cylindrical, rectangular, or of other con-
venient section, projects forwards from the fore-plate or case when the bolt is out.
This formation of bolt-end is used in conjunction with a striking plate or staple
1. L
Cr

page_text: which has a striker of suitable depth and proportions to allow for the greater
distance inwards to which the bolt has to be pushed in striking, in excess of that
required in the case of the descriptions of bolt ordinarily in use.
This formation of bolt has all the advantages described as resulting from the
employment of the spherical or hemi-spherical ended bolts previously in use, and
in addition thereto the parallel-sided part holds securely within the striking-plate
or staple when the door or other part is shut, and thus prevents the door or other
part from being pushed open until the bolt is drawn back by the handle or key.
The remaining parts of the bolt may be constructed, and the bolt itself operated, in
any known convenient manner. If the bolt is made cylindrical throughout, or is
otherwise capable of turning axially, the closing of the door or other part causes
the bolt to turn slightly and thus occasions a more even wear on the dome-end; as
in the case of the spherical and hemi-spherical ended bolts previously in use.
Having thus stated the nature of the said invention I will now proceed more
particularly to describe and ascertain the manner of performing the same with
reference to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked
thereon.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rim lock, having a latching bolt constructed
according to this invention, and a box staple therefor, the cap plate of the lock
being removed so as to clearly shew the interior of the lock. Figure 2 is a front-
end elevation of the lock case; figure 3 a horizontal section on line y y of figure 1;
and figure 4 a section on line x x of figure 1, with the follower removed for
simplicity of illustration. The same letters occurring upon different views indicate
corresponding parts.
AA is the lock case, B the staple, C the latching bolt, D the back follower and E
the follower. The latch-bolt-head is formed dome-ended as shewn at a and has
also a parallel-sided part bb projecting from the fore-plate of the case when the bolt
is in its latched position, and passing also through the fore plate. In the illustration
the bolt head and the whole of the bolt throughout is shewn circular in cross-
section, but it may be rectangular or of other convenient shape provided that the
outer end of the head is dome-shaped or rounded over as shewn and that a parallel-
sided part (either cylindrical, rectangular or other convenient shape in section) is
formed between the dome-end and the fore-plate when the bolt is in its latched
position, such parallel-sided part passing also through the fore-plate. The dome-
end a may be hemi-spherical if desired, but is preferred of a flatter shape, as shewn,
as the head in such case requires less projection. The box-staple B is of the section
shewn by figure 3, being constructed to give a deep striking part c to allow for the
increased projection of the latching bolt. In closing a door to which the lock
illustrated is attached the dome end a readily strikes and runs down the striker c
and after the bolt is shot forward into the staple the parallel-sided part b 6 holds
firmly against the inner edge d of the staple and securely prevents the door from
being pushed open until the bolt is withdrawn. If the bolt is made cylindrical,
and thus capable of turning on its axis, it is found that as it strikes, in closing, a
slight axial turn is given to it, on account of which the point of the dome end
which strikes the staple continually varies in position giving a more equal wear on
the dome-end than if the bolt remained in the same axial position. The mechanism
for actuating the latching bolt may be of any convenient description. I find the
method illustrated, and which is of a well known type, to answer the purpose
admirably. The bolt is shot forwards by means of a feather spring F and is pulled
back by means of the follower E and back-follower D, the latter having recess e
for the reception of the reduced cylindrical part f of the bolt-tail. This reduced
part turns in the recess e as the bolt-head is turned in striking. The back-
follower D bears against a collar g on the back end of the bolt-tail, by which it
forces back the bolt. The locking bolt is shewn in position by the drawing, but
such bolt forms no part of this invention. To fix the lock illustrated opposite-
handed to the position shewn, it is simply turned round with its outer face against
the door,

page_text: The invention is illustrated specially as applied to a rim-lock, but its application
to a mortise or other lock or latch will now be readily understood without need for
further illustration. In the case of a mortise lock the striker must of course be
made sufficiently. deep to allow for the projection of the bolt.
The construction of latching-bolt described is specially suitable in the case of
swing doors, as the bolt strikes readily either handed. In such case of course the
door into which the bolt shoots must be provided with a double-lipped striker.
Having now stated the nature of the said invention, and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, I declare that what I claim as
my invention and desire to secure by the herein-before in-part-recited Letters
Patent, is
'
In a latching bolt of a lock or latch the combination of the dome-ended head
with a short length of parallel-sided part, either cylindrical, rectangular or of other
convenient section (but preferably cylindrical for the purpose stated), such parallel-
sided part projecting forwards from the fore-plate of the case when, such bolt is in
its latched position and also passing through such fore-plate, substantially as and
for the purpose herein described and shewn, by the drawings.
'In witness whereof I, the said James Woodward have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
JAMES WOODWARD (L.S.)
Witness:
JOHN THOM
Clerk to Stephen Watkins, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E..
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.