improvements in Door and like Knobs and Latches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
improvements in Door and like Knobs and Latches.
HENRY LOMAX, of 9, Railway Road, Darwen, Mechanical Engineer, and Joux
TOMLINSON, of Kay Street, Darwen, Colliery Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
By this invention the construction of the knob permanently secures the knob to
the spindle, and provides immediate adjustment of the same to the thickness
of the door.
By this invention, we construct latches antifrictional in their working so that
when the door is closed, they will automatically act and fasten the same.
This is accomplished by constructing the knob and spindle as follows.
The spindle or bar may be square or any form having one or more flat sides, to
which a disc containing a hole of corresponding size and form is provided, so that
the spindle or bar may slide through the same, which prevents the disc turning
1ound upon the spindle or bai There is a groove in the periphery of this disc,
which receives a locking bai hinged upon a similar disc formed upon the adjoining
part of the knob This knob, which is of the ordinary formi, contains a hole
tapped or threaded to screw on to the spindle or bar, also threaded with a screw.
By this arrangement, the knob can be screwed on to the spindle or bar to any
extent requisite for the thickness of the door.
The hinged locking bar is carried on the disc of the knob, so that when screwed
up to the required extent, the hinged locking bar will enter the groove in the
other disc, and firmly lock the knob to the bar There are no screws or loose parts
as in other arrangements that can get loose or lost. By this invention the knob
and spindle are so provided as to answer the purpose of other door handles and
latch-lifters for opening and closing doors. By this arrangement we use one knob
and spindle only.
The screwed spindle is cast into the knob forming one part only. At the
loose end of the spindle, a bar is screwed on; upon which another hinged bar
is attached, which opens and closes like a pocket knife blade
When the hinged bar is open, it allows the other bar to be screwed on to
the spindle, and by closing the hinged bat, it locks and fastens the other bai cross-
wise upon the spindle, and when the knob is turned. this bar lifts the latch, and
unfastens the door whether turned right or left.
This invention also relates to an improved form of latch, whereby breakage or
damage is prevented This is achieved by two inclined planes being formed on
the loose end of the latch so that when it encounters the inclined plane of the
catch, it will raise the latch more easily, with less frictional resistance, and will
not be struck at right angles, which is of common occurence and the frequent
cause of destruction
The next part of our invention relates to a means of locking the latch, by an
improved latch-guard, and is so formed, as to act as an additional bar, or bolt to..
the door.

page_text: This is accomplished by making one end of the latch-guard to swivel or slide,
so that it will both lock the latch, and form a bolt or bai for fastening the door.
This invention further relates to a door latch, which is so constructed as to work
on two centres, one at each side the door.
These centres are so placed, as will keep the latch in position, and prevent all
frictional resistance in its working by rubbing against the door, and requires
no latch-guard. It is self-acting, and effects great saving in cost and durability.
Dated this 11th day of February 1899.
HENRY LOMAX,
9. Railway Road, Darwen.
JOHN TOMLINSON,
Kay Street, Darwen.
Improvements in Door and like Knobs and Latches.
We, HENRY Loxx, Mechanical Engineer, of 9, Railway Road, and JOHN
TOMLINSON, Colliery Agent, of Hay Street, both in Darwen, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 door knobs and latches and has for
its chief object to rectify defects at present existing in such articles.
The first part of our invention has reference to the securing of knobs and similar
handles to then spindles and the second part of our invention has reference chiefly
to the lifting and securing of the latch.
In order that our invention may be more readily understood we have attached
hereunto thee sheets of drawings to which we will now lefer.
In the said drawings Figure represents a side elevation of a spindle provided
with knobs one of which is made detachable and adjustable in accordance with
out invention, mounted in position upon a door. Figure 2 represents a side view
of the knob and what we term the lock-plate partly in section, Figure 3 a plan
of the base of the knob, Figure 4 a plan of the lock plate, and Figure 5 a plan
of the knob partly in section and the lock plate secured to a spindle. Figure 6
represents a similar view to Figuie of a modified arrangement: Figure 7 a
plan of the lock plate and Figure 8 a plan of the base of the detachable knob
which is shewn partly in section Figure 9 represents one view of a knob and
spindle fitted with a button made and secured in accordance with our inven-
tion, and Figure 10 a plan of the same in position fixed to a door Figures 11
"
and 12 are two similar views of a modification of our invention. Both these
"buttons are also applicable as latch lifters Figure 13 represents in elevation
and unlatched a latch made in accordance with our invention: Figure 14 a similar
view in which the latch is closed and locked. Figure 15 an end elevation of the
same and Figure 16 a plan of the same mounted in position upon a door and frame.
In carrying out our invention and with reference to Figures 1 to 5, the spindle a
is permanently fixed at one end to one of the knobs b, t The said spindle may
be of any suitable angular form in section that will receive a screw thread
the purpose of this invention a spindle having two or four longitudinal flats,
the corners formed thereby being screwed is preferable. In the drawing the
spindle a is shewn as having four flats a¹ Upon the spindle at the screwed end
is placed a disc or plate e having a central hole c¹ corresponding in form to the
For

page_text: "
This
cross section of the spindle in this case square and made to slide thereon
disc or plate is hereinafter referred to as lock plate." The lock plate is prefer-
atly formed with an annular time standing out from the surface but cut away to
torm a notch, and is provided with a hinged locking bar d having a tongue .
The locking bar is provided with a screw screwed thereinto which screw has a
nose formed to enter the hole in the lock plate c. The nose of this screw is
rivetted over in order to prevent its coming out of the tapped hole in 'the bar d.
The base or flange 2 of the knob is formed with a notch upon its underside
Preferably several of these notches are formed as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5
in order to enable finer adjustment to be made. This knob is tapped so as to screw
upon the spindle and when it is adjusted thereby upon the spindle, the locking
bar d is closed up so that its tongue d' engages one of the notches 63, and is secured
in position by turning the screw round so that its nose enters the hole d'
above
In the modification illustrated by Figures 6, 7 and 8, the lock plate c which is
preferably dished is formed with a notch and upon it is preferably hinged a
spring-bar for the purpose of covering the notch. The base 62 of the knob is
formed with a hinged tongue & for the purpose of engaging in the notch
referred to. According to this arrangement as also in the case illustrated by
Figures 1 to 5 the lock plate e is first slid upon the spindle and afterwards the
knob is screwed thereon After longitudinal adjustment is made the tongue 4
is entered into the notch and is retained therem by the spring. The
knob b as heretofore is permanently fixed to the other end of the spindle a.
In some cases a swivel bar or button for preventing a door opening or for lifting
a latch is used in place of one knob or in conjunction with one of the knobs. In
the latter case one of the knobs would be secured to the said bar or button or
formed so that it would turn therewith Now according to our invention, and
with reference to Figures 9 and 10, the bar or button e hereafter termed swivel
bar is screwed on to the spindle, the latter having a flat or more than one as
heretofore. At one end e¹ of the swivel bar is hinged a locking bare formed
with a slot or notch e for the purpose of engaging with the flat or flats upon
the spindle in order that the spindle shall not turn without the swivel bar after
the parts have been locked together. In order to retain the locking bai e² in its
closed position a tongue or projection and notch are employed preferably, a notch c¹
being cut in the locking bar e2, and a tongue or projection being formed upon
the swivel bar e. In locking the two parts together the part 2 is sprung past the
projection e' of the part e. In the modified construction of swivel bar or latch
lifter illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. the locking bar e2 is hinged so to open
laterally, and is secured in closed position by friction due to the spring of the
metal or by a slight projection e' on the part e
Referring now to our improvements in the construction of latches as illus-
trated by Figures 13 to 16 the latch fis hinged at one end f' as usual, and at the
other or fice end is formed with an inclined striking face f which upon the
closing of the door comes in contact with the catch f which as is usual, is formed
with an inclined striking face or edge f. The latch is lifted by means of the
spindle having a knob b fixed to the spindle a on the outside of the door, the
atch being, as is customary, and for obvious reasons. fixed upon the inside of the
door
To the spindle a upon the inside of the door is fixed a bar or button e here-
inafter termed in its application to latches, latch lifter. This is preferably of the
kind hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings.
For the purpose of locking the latch from the inside of the door, we make the
latch guard g, act as a locking means by preventing the latch from lifting. This
we prefer to do by pivoting the latch guard upon a pin gl at the top end thereof
and governing its movement by means of a slot formed in the lower end
through which a headed pin or screw g³ passes into the door of a fixture thereto.
A notch is formed in the side of the latch guard, which notch engages with a
stud or pin f in the latch f when it is desired to lock the latch in the catch f'.
We also propose to form a projection f upon the inside face of the catch f³ with

page_text: which the front edge of the latch guard g engages at the same time that it locks
the latch, thus obtaining a double hold of the catch f³.
In order to prevent the latch guard g from becoming disengaged with the pin fa
and the catch f³, a tumble is provided and lunged upon a stud h' so that when
not in use it can lie in the position indicated in Figure 13 Figure 13 illustrates
the latch lifted and Figure 14 latched and locked with the tumbler / engaged.
The part consists of a box fixed to or formed with the latch guard and caries
a ball forming an anti-friction roller. This 1oller bears against the top of the
box and also against the latch and obviates the necessity for side play to prevent
the latch from sticking by corrosion or dirt. This arrangement however does not
form part of our invention.
Having now particularly descubed and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:-
Fust. The improvements in the construction of knobs for doors and the like
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated with
reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings.
Second. The improvements in the construction of knobs for doors and the like
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated with
reference to Figures 6 to 8 of the drawings
Thud The improvements in securing knobs to fasteners for doors and the like
substantially as and for the purpose herembefore described and illustrated with
reference to Figures 9 to 12 of the drawings
Fourth The improvements in the construction of latches which consist in
hinging the guard plate at one end to the door, providing it with a lateral slot
through which a pin passes at the other end, and forming the edge of the guard
plate to engage with a stud upon the latch and behind a projection formed upon
the catch when locked, the slot permitting the guard plate to pass into and out of
engagement with the said stud and catch substantially as and for the purpose
here before described and illustrated with reference to Figures 13 to 16 of the
diawings.
Dated this 11th day of November 1899.
RJ. URQUHART, C.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent Manchester & Liverpool