IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaiah Ash, of Number 17, Great Bridport Street,
Blandford Square, in the County of Middlesex, Locksmith, for the
⚫ Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS AND LATCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaiah Ash at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th March 1859.
I, ISAIAH ASH, of Number 17, Great Bridport Street, Blandford Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Locksmith, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS AND LATCHES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements applicable to tumbler or
lever locks and latches, whereby the difficulty of picking or unlocking the
same without the proper key is greatly increased. One or more levers, and
which are herein called lever guards, working on a pin, and formed at one end
with notched or toothed pieces or segments, are so placed as to be acted upon.
by the tumblers or levers when elevated for the purpose of shooting the bolt ;.
the toothed pieces or segments, upon the bolt being shot, falling, so as to-
prevent the same from being pushed back unless the obstruction offered by the
lever guards is removed. The bolt is provided with a suitable projection or
stop adapted to take into the notches or teeth of the said lever guards. If

page_text: when the lever guards have fallen any one or more of the tumblers or levers
be lifted, the bolt is prevented from being moved by the projection or stop
taking into the notches or teeth of the lever guards which have not been
raised, the same result taking place upon any one of the tumblers or levers
being moved with the pick. In order that the bolt may be shot back, all the
tumblers or levers must be lifted so that the bolt stump will pass through the
several slots or gatings therein, the lever guards being at the same time lifted
by the tumblers or levers, and allowing the bolt to return to its position within
the lock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by. the said Isaiah Ash in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th September 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAIAH
ASH, of No. 17, Great Bridport Street, Blandford Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Locksmith, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Isaiah Ash, Her special licence that I, the said Isaiah
Ash, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Isaiah Ash, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS AND LATCHES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said Isaiah Ash, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Isaiah Ash, 'do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements applicable to tumbler or
lever locks and latches, whereby much greater security is obtained than
heretofore, and the difficulty of picking or unlocking the same without the
proper key is greatly increased. The improvements consist in the addition
and arrangement of certain levers, which are herein called lever guards.
I will first describe my Invention so far as it relates to locks. One or more
levers, or, as I call them, lever guards, the same working on a pin either in the
centre or at one end thereof, are placed above the bolt. One end of each lever
guard is formed with a notched or toothed piece or segment, such pieces or
segments being of different radii, and each lever guard being of the thickness of
two of the ordinary levers or tumblers. The bolt is provided with a projection or
stop adapted to take into the notches or teeth of the lever guards, and which
I call the bolt stop. Upon the key being applied to shoot the bolt, the levers
or tumblers are elevated thereby in the usual manner, raising with them the
said lever guards, which, being clear of the bolt stop, allow the bolt to be shot.
If, however, an attempt be made to pick the lock by the ordinary method of
raising the tumblers one by one with the pick and forcing the bolt back to
meet the gatings, the object is defeated by the bolt stop taking into the
notches or teeth of the lever guards which have not been raised, the samo
result taking place upon any one of the tumblers or levers being moved with
the pick. In order to allow of the bolt stop being forced into the notched or
toothed segments of the lever guards, the foremost chamber of the levers or
tumblers is enlarged to admit of the motion of the main bolt stump. In order
that the bolt may be shot back, all the tumblers or levers must be lifted
simultaneously, so that the bolt stump will pass through the several slots or
gatings therein, the lever guards being at the same time lifted by the tumblers
or levers, and allowing the bolt to return to its position within the lock.
My Invention as applied to latches is similar in all essential particulars to
the foregoing description, with such modifications only as are rendered
necessary by the purposes for which latches, as distinguished from locks, are
required. In latches constructed in accordance with my Invention the latch
bolt can be operated by the handle on one side in the ordinary way, a spring
bolt or catch bolding back the bolt within the case until the door is shut, when
the spring bolt or catch striking upon the striking plate, is raised and liberates
the main bolt. For the purposes of locking, an additional bolt plate is placed
above the main bolt, and bearing upon it, the ordinary stump and a projection
or bolt stop for the purpose of taking into the toothed segments of the lever

page_text: guards. When the handle only is required to be used the additional bolt
plate is drawn back (the same being only actuated by the key), the main stump
occupying the hinder chamber of the tumblers or levers, and the bolt stop
being behind the toothed segments of the lever guards, and in no way interfering
with their action when elevated by the motion of the handle. When, however,
it is desired to render the lock secure against all attempts to open it without
the proper key, the key is applied and the additional bolt plate shot forward,
the stump being thereby moved into the forward chamber of the tumblers or
levers, and the bolt stop placed in front of the lever guards, and taking into
the toothed segments thereof upon any attempt being made to pick the lock,
the action being in fact precisely similar to that of the lock herein-before
described. It will not fail to be observed that in the foregoing arrangements
the lever guards are placed entirely out of the reach of any instrument which
may be introduced through the key-hole.
My Invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Drawings. Figure 1 is a lock constructed with my improvements, the
parts being in their normal state, but with the bolt partly shot to bring the
stump opposite the gatings. A is the bolt, shewing the before-mentioned
projection or bolt stop; a, the stump; B are the levers or tumblers; C are the
lever guards; d, the drill pin for the reception of the key. The curtain is
removed in order that the mechanism of the lock may be more clearly
exhibited. Figure 2 is the lock after the bolt has been shot, the same letters
of reference being employed. The lever guards are shewn detached. Figure 3
is a latch. A is the bolt; B, the additional bolt plate, with the stump b, and
bolt stop c; C are the levers or tumblers; D, the lever guards; d, the drill
pin; e, the spring bolt or catch. The mechanism is shewn as it appears when
is the latch in its locked state, the same
letters of reference being used. The keys of the lock and latch are also
represented.
the latch is unlocked. Figure 4
In explaining my improvements I have purposely abstained from describing
those parts of the mechanism of locks and latches which form no part of my
Invention, inasmuch as they are already well understood by persons conversant
with the manufacture of locks and latches.
Having thus described and explained the nature of the said Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe, in conclusion,
that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements
which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made therefrom
without deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; neither
do I claim all the several and distinct parts of the mechanism hercin-before

page_text: described as being of my Invention; but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as my Invention, are, the use and application of lever guards
in the construction of locks and latches as herein-before described, or any
mere modifications thereof, and also the use and application of the additional
bolt plate with its stump and bolt stop, herein-before described, in the con-
struction of latches for the purposes aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaiah Ash, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
E. P. H. Vaughan,
15, Southampton Buildings,
Agent for the Patentee.
ISAIAH ASH. (L.S.)