Improved Means of Attachment Between the Knobs and Bolts of Night Latches and other Draw-back Latches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1899 -Accepted, 25th Mar.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Attachment Between the Knobs and Bolts of
Night Latches and other Draw-back Latches.
I, JOSEPII LEGGE, of Colonial Works, Willenhall in the County of Stafford, Lock
and Latch Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:---
According to the ordinary method of attaching a knob to the bolt of a night
latch, or other draw-back latch, the bolt tail is formed with a stud which passes
through the slotted opening which is formed through the front plate of the case,
and the knob is screwed upon the stud and thereby tightened up against a shoulder
thereof. This method of attachment, however, is subject to the inconveniences
that the knob is liable to become loose upon the stud, especially if attempts are
made, as frequently happens, to turn the knob instead of pulling it back, and that
if, as is commonly the case, the stud is cast in one piece of metal with the bolt,
the bolt itself must be renewed to renew the stud.
Now, this invention has for its object to avoid the above inconveniences.
In accomplishing this object, the stud by means of which the attachment of the
knob to the bolt is effected is formed with the knob. This stud is formed with a
part which is of a square or corresponding shape in section which will prevent it
turning in a hole of corresponding shape within which it fits or within the slot
which is formed through the front plate of the case, and such part of the stud fits
within the hole of the bolt through which the stud passes or within a part which
moves with the bolt but is itself prevented from turning, or is a sliding fit within
the slot through the front plate of the case. If the square or correspondingly
shaped part of the stud is to fit only within the hole of the bolt, the bolt is con-
veniently provided with a fillet or distance-piece which is somewhat thicker than
the front plate of the case and is an easy sliding fit within the slot which is formed
through such plate, and the stud passes of course through such fillet. If the square
or correspondingly shaped part of the stud is to fit within the slot of the plate, it
is itself utilized as a fillet or distance-piece between the knob and bolt. Such part
of the stud may, however, fit within a loose washer which forms a fillet between the
knob and bolt and is itself a sliding fit along the slot of the plate and of a shape
which prevents it turning therein. The square or correspondingly shaped part of
the stud may fit partly within the slot of the plate, or partly within the loose washer,
and partly within the bolt, and the portions of such part of the stud which fit.
respectively, within the slot, or within the washer, and within the bolt, may be of
different sizes. The outer end of the stud projects beyond the inner face of the
bolt, and the parts may be securely tightened together by screwing up a nut upon
such end of the stud or by riveting over such end, or by any convenient equivalent
means.
The formation of a part of the stud of a shape which prevents it turning within
a hole through which it passes, avoids the tendency to unscrew the knob from the
bolt which is incidental to the ordinary method of attaching a knob to a bolt, when

page_text: an attempt is made to turn the knob; and the stud being formed with the knob,
should it become spoilt, it and the knob can readily be replaced without need for
replacing the bolt with a new one.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated con-
venient applications of the same (by way of example, as applied to a night latch)
by the accompanying drawings, of which Figure is a longitudinal sectional plan
taken through the hinder end of the bolt tail and through a short length of the
front plate of the case of the latch, along a line which passes through the axis of
the joint or connection between the knob and bolt, the knob and stud being shewn
simply in plan, but with a nut on the end of the stud shewn in section. Figure 2
is a back or inner face view of a portion of the front of the case, shewing a fillet
which passes through the slot therein as in section, and the stud of the knob in
end view and Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, shewing a somewhat
different form of the invention.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, A is the front plate of the case, and a the slotted
opening therethrough through which the connection is made between the knob
and bolt and which allows the parts which pass therethrough to be drawn back end-
ways in unlatching the bolt. B is the hinder end of the bolt tail, which is shewn
as provided with a fillet 6 which passes through the slot a of the plate A and is a
sliding fit therealong, and this fillet extends slightly beyond the outer face of the
plate. C is the knob having a shank c which passes through the fillet and pro-
jects beyond the inner face of the bolt tail B, and a nut e is run on the projecting
end of this stud and is tightened up to securely fix the knob to the bolt. A part d
of the stud c, which is within the hole of the bolt through which the stud passes, is
formed of a square or other shape in section which prevents it turning therein.
When the parts are tightened together by means of the nut e, the inner end or
collar of the knob C is pressed against the outer face of the fillet b, and as the
fillet projects slightly beyond the outer face of the plate A the knob is prevented
from rubbing hard against the outer face of the plate, and the knob and bolt are
prevented from binding against the opposite faces of the plate.
In Figure 3 the inner end of the stud c is formed with a rectangular shaped
portion which is a sliding fit within the slot a of the plate A. This portion d¹
of the stud securely prevents the stud from turning and acts as a fillet or distance-
piece in lieu of the fillet 6 shewn by Figures 1 and 2. The stud may be formed
also with a square or correspondingly shaped portion g to fit within the hole through
the bolt tail B, whereby a larger bearing surface is secured against any tendency of
the stud to turn.
In lieu of the fillet which passes through the slotted hole a of the plate A and
acts as the distance-piece between the bolt tail and the inner face or collar f of
the knob, a loose washer may be used, in which case, if made of a rectangular
shape so that it will not turn in the slot, the square or corresponding portion of
the stud may be within such washer only; but such washer would not be so con-
venient as a fillet formed with the bolt tail or as a part of the stud.
As above explained, the end of the stud may be riveted at the back or inner
face of the bolt, if desired, or the stud may be secured to the bolt in any convenient
equivalent manner.
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 improved means of attachment between a knob and bolt of a night latch
or other draw-back latch, which comprise a stud formed integral or rigid with the
knob, a fillet or distance-piece between the knob and bolt, and passing through the
slotted opening formed through the front plate, and means by which the stud
is securely attached to the bolt, substantially as described.
2. The improved means of attachment between a knob and bolt of a night latch

page_text: or other draw-back latch, which comprise a stud formed integral or rigid with the
knob and having a portion thereof which fits within a hole formed in the bolt, or in
a part which moves with the bolt and which is itself prevented from turning, or
is a sliding fit within the slot through the front plate of the case, and is of such
shape that it cannot turn within such hole or within such slot, and means by which
the stud is securely attached to the bolt, substantially as described.
3. The improved means of attachment between a knob and bolt of a night latch
or other draw-back latch, which comprise a stud formed integral or rigid with the
knob and having a portion thereof of such shape that it will not turn within a
hole through which it passes, and a distance-piece between the knob and bolt which
passes through the slotted opening formed through the front plate, such distance-
piece being formed separately from the stud or constituted by a portion thereof, and
means by which the stud is securely attached to the bolt, substantially as described.
4. The improved means of attachment between a knob and bolt of a night latch
or other draw-back latch, which comprise a stud formed integral or rigid with the
knob and having a portion thereof which passes through the bolt of a shape which
prevents it turning in the hole through the bolt, a fillet or distance-piece between
the knob and bolt and, preferably, integral with either the knob or bolt, and means
by which the stud is securely attached to the bolt, substantially as described.
5. The improved means of attachment between the knobs and bolts of night
latches or other draw-back latches, substantially as described and shewn (by way of
example, as applied to night latches) by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 17th day of Walkman
1800
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.