Improvements in Locks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks.
I, JAMES STONE DUMBELL, of The Phoenix Lock and Metal Works,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in locks employed for separately securing
the corks or stoppers in bottles, decanters, and other vessels.
The object of my invention is to construct a stopper in combination with a
locking case, for the purpose of securing under lock the contents, such as wine,
spirits, scents or poisons, of the bottle or other vessel to which my combined stopper
and locking case is attached.
In order that my invention and the method of carrying the same into effect
may be the more readily understood, I append hereunto one sheet of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my combined stopper and locking case.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the case opened or turned back, revealing the
stopper and internal mechanism.
Figure 3 is a plan of the combined stopper and locking case, and
Figure 4 is a sectional plan on the line a, b, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an illustration showing the combined stopper and locking case as
secured to the neck of a bottle.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of another form of my improved locking case,
with the stopper removed therefrom.
Figure 7 is a part view showing the interior of the locking case illustrated by
Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a plan of the same, with the top plate or cover removed
to show the locking mechanism.
The same indicating or reference letters and numbers in the different views refer
to the same parts.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, I form the lock casing in two halves A
and B, from brass or other metal, and hinge them together at C, in order that
they may be turned back as shown at Figure 2. Upon the part A, I form a
sleeve D, to receive a bolt or pin E, the point of which is pressed against the
action of a spiral spring carried in the sleeve D, into a hole formed within the
lug or projection F, on the half casing B, when such part is turned on its hinge
and brought into the position shown at Figure 1. A nose or projecting piece e, is
formed at the upper part of the bolt or pin E, and when E is pressed down into
the position shown at Figure 1, the nose e, forces back the projecting piece g, of
the lock bolt or bar G against the action of the spring 9'. When the nose e, is
pressed below the projection g, the spring g¹ forces the lock bolt or bar G forward,
and causes the projecting piece g, to pass over the nose e, and thus by preventing
the return of the bolt E to lock or fasten the two parts A and B of the casing
securely together. The casing may be unlocked by inserting a key in the key
hole H of the top plate, (Figure 3) and by turning the key and causing its engage-
ment with the lock bolt or bar G, the projecting piece g, will be withdrawn, and
the bolt E forced upwards by the internal spiral spring into the position shown at
Figure 2. The two parts A and B of the casing may then be freely turned on the
At the lower part of the casing I rivet or otherwise attach spring clips J, J',
for the purpose of clinning or grasning the neck of the bottle or other like
hinged joint C.

page_text: vessel, beneath the shoulder formed at the upper part of the neck as shown at
Figure 5, and thus enabling the lock case to be fixed to bottles having necks of
varying dimensions.
I form the bottle stopper which is enclosed within the casing by employing a
conically shaped pad or plug such as K of gutta-percha or other suitable elastic
material, in combination with a spring preferably such as L (Figure 2). The
lower end of this spring bears directly against the plug K, whilst its upper end
takes its bearing against the bottom plate of the lock chamber formed at the top
of the casing. The length of the spring is such that when the case is clasped over
a bottle neck, the plug K, must be pressed back against the action of the spring
to give space for the neck within the case; the plug is thus pressed into the mouth
or-opening of the bottle by the elastic force of the spring, in its tendency to return
to its original or normal length. When the case is closed and locked. by the
depression of the bolt E, the spring will be prevented from returning to its normal
length, and thus the plug K will be kept continually pressed into the mouth of the
bottle. On unlocking and opening the case, the spring clips J, J', will be released
from the bottle neck, and the spring will then release the pressure on the plug K
and 'return to its normal length. The spring stopper may then be removed with
the casing from the neck of the bottle.
In the modification of my improved lock casing as shown at Figures 6, 7 and 8,
I dispense with the side or vertical spring bolt for securing together the two halves
of the hinged casing, and arrange that they shall be secured when brought into
position by the catch piece N engaging with the pivoted lock bolt or lever O.
N can be released when required by the insertion of the lock key, and by its
operation causing the bolt or lever Ŏ to slightly turn on its pivot in a direction
away from the catch piece N. The lock chamber M, is secured to one half of the
hinged casing at the upper end of the same, as shown at Figures 6 and 7. The
spring stopper is omitted from the drawings Figures 6, 7 and 8, but its construction
and arrangement within the casing is substantially the same as the spring stopper.
bereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any one form or arrangement
of lock casing, or to any particular type of elastic or spring stopper, but
modify such parts and other details connected therewith, to suit varying services. or
requirements.
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. The construction of a lock for attachment to the neck of a bottle or other
like vessel, having a stopper in combination with the locking case, substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. The construction of a spring stopper for a bottle or other like vessel, suitably
for fixing and enclosing within a locking case, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3 The combination of a hinged locking case for attachment to the neck of a
bottle or other like vessel, with a spring or elastic stopper enclosed within the casing,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and 13, Temple Street,
Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
F