Improvements in Locks and Latches.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1898--Accepted, 16th July, 1898
CORT DELETEVITICATION
Improvements in Locks and Latches.
We, GEORGE HARDING INNES and AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE INNES, both of Hitchin,
in the County of Herts. Engineers, 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: --
The invention relates to improvements in locks & latches & the improvements
consist in providing mortice locks & latches which shall have no handles or other
projections on either side standing out beyond the sides of the doors on which
the said locks or latches may be fixed the said projections such as handles & the
like being in many ways inconvenient & dangerous. And also in providing latches
which shall have no hinges, pivots, or parts, liable to wear.
And also in providing a means for locking the said latches or other suitable
latches or bolts without the employment of springs or anything of a like nature.
According to our invention we employ a circular disc of metal having its outer
edge bevelled in one direction all round, the said disc being arranged within an
outer casing of metal similar to an ordinary lock case so that the disc stands on
its edge upon an inclined plane or surface in the case & so continually tends to
roll forward to its lowest position by reason of its weight; the disc being provided
with a hole in its centre by means of which it may be rolled back to its highest
position in the case by the insertion of a finger. When the disc is in its lowest
position a part of it projects through the case & engages with a suitable slot in
the doorpost in the same way as the bolt of an ordinary lock or latch; the disc
is locked in this lowest position by a piece, or lever of suitably shaped metal
pivoted in the lock case & arranged so that it may be moved by means of a key
into a position such that it will come into contact with the back edge of the
disc & prevent it being moved backward & so prevent the door from being
unlocked.
To enable our invention to be fully understood we will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents
a side elevation of the lock & latch with the outer side of the case removed in
order to show the parts more clearly & Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, Fig. 3 is a
cross section of the disc.
a is the case of the lock & b is the disc which forms the bolt or latch, the bevelled
edge of the disc being clearly shown at c Fig. 2, d is the inclined plane or surface
in the case upon which the disc stands upon its edge the disc being shown in
full lines in its lowest position that is the position in which it would be when
locked & in dotted lines at its highest position. e is the locking piece or lever
which is pivoted af & is provided with suitable slots or projections to enable it
to be turned about f by a suitable key; the piece e is shown in full lines in position
for locking the disc 6 & in dotted lines in its other position. Stops g & h are
provided in the case for the piece e to rest against the said piece e being kept in
either position by its own weight; it will be seen that when the piece e is in its
backward position resting against stop h that the disc b may be used as an ordinary

page_text: latch, a moveable stop as is provided to keep the disc in its highest position &
prevent it from latching when so desired.
It will be understood that the lever or piece e may be of various shapes instead
of the shape of a sector of a circle as shown on the drawing & may further be
modified in many ways to suit different keys, which keys may have either solid
or pipe stems.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1) In a lock the use of a disc of metal or other hard substance with a bevelled
edge & standing on its edge on an inclined plane or surface in the lock case
so as to roll outwards & act as the latch or bolt of a lock by its own weight, and
of a lever or piece of metal or other hard substance suitably pivoted in the lock
case so as to rest in either of two positions by its own weight, in one of which
positions it will come into contact with & lock the said disc substantially as herein-
before described & represented in the accompanying drawing.
2) In a latch the use of a disc of metal or other hard substance with a bevelled
edge & standing on its edge on an inclined plane or surface in a case so as to roll
outwards & act as a latch by its own weight substantially as hereinbefore described
& represented in the accompanying drawing.
3) In a lock the use of a lever or piece of metal or other hard substance pivoted
in the lock case suitably for being turned by a key & arranged so as to rest in
either of two positions by its own weight & so that in one of the said positions
it will come into contact with & lock the bolt or latch of the lock, substantially
as hereinbefore described.