IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGLESS LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HECTOR GLENDINING, of 40 Lowther Street, Carlisle, in the County of
Cumberland, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGLESS LOCKS AND LATCHES and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of my Invention is security with simplicity, durability and economy
in construction. In carrying out my invention the necessity for the use of springs
is avoided, The Levers I employ are weighted, working on a pin or pivot, or held
to lock case by screws, The lever for latch bolt hinges or works on a pin or screw
fixed in case, in the rim of which a slot opening is provided to receive the projec-
tion on the top end of lever, to hold it in an upright position, The top part of
lever is recessed to admit of the latch bolt lying under it, the end of which is
provided with a pin to work in hole in the recessed part of lever. The knob to
work latch has its neck passing through lock case, and with square hole therein
to receive spindle from knob on opposite side of door. Part of the neck of knob is
square, to receive the clawed latch tumbler, and the end screwed to receive nut,
thus securing the knob and tumbler to the lock case, In the latch lever a space is
provided to admit the knob tumbler, on which are two projecting hooks or claws,
the short claw works against the hook or projection formed on the lever, and above
the pin or axis on which lever works, the long projection or claw bears against the
heel or lower corner of lever, and below the lever pin or axis. In order to open the
latch, the short and long claws are brought in contact with the hook and heel of
the lever respectively, when the knob is turned either to the right or left hand,
thus raising the weighted lever, which draws back the latch bolt and allows the door
to open. On releasing hold of the knob the weighted lever falls forward and places
the latch bolt in its proper position. In closing a door the latch bolt and lever work
independently of the clawed tumbler and knobs. By the rounded form of the
latch bolt end through lock case, the friction on the lock staple is greatly reduced.
The levers for lock bolt are also weighted, to avoid the use of springs, and work on
a pin or pivot fixed in lock case, Each lever has a longitudinal slot or opening

page_text: varying in height, with vertical enlargements at each end to admit the pin or pro-
jection from the bolt, and another opening for the key. The key in acting on the
bolt to lock or unlock it raises these weighted levers, so that the bolt pin or projec-
tion may be relieved from the vertical enlargements therein to a line with the
longitudinal slots, thus admitting of the free passage of the bolt. In case of a wrong
key being introduced so as to raise the levers too high, or not high enough, the pin
or projection on the bolt will not pass correctly into the longitudinal openings in
the levers, and consequently the bolt will not be released. The opening in each of
the levers for the key, when the proper key is introduced, acts on the bottom parts
of the levers, thereby bringing them down on the bolt pin or projection in the
event of their sticking or otherwise not falling to their respective positions on the
bolt pin or projection, thus securing the proper locking or unlocking of the bolt
before the key can be withdrawn from the lock.
In making lock cases of malleable cast or of common cast iron, the bolt or face
plates, are liable to breakage in their usage, and to obviate this I substitute a bolt
or face plate made of steel plate, attached or revetted to the cast-iron case. In the
latch bolt applied to mortice locks, the end is so formed and an opening made to
receive it in the latch lever so that it may be reversed, thus making the lock suit-
able for doors opening to the right or left hand. The knob tumbler for mortice locks
is improved in the form of the hole provided for knob spindle, by making it wider
at the ends and tapering to the middle or centre, thereby giving more freedom to
the spindle and preventing the binding or sticking of the knobs when not fixed
directly opposite to each other on the door.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. View of 6 inch Rim lock, with cover removed to shew interior arrange-
ment.
Figs. 2, and 3. Two opposite side views of the same.
Fig. 4. Transverse sectional view of the knob collar through lock case, and the
end view of knob tumbler and latch lever.
Fig. 5. Transverse section through key-hole shewing guide slot in luck bolt, and
recess to receive key, also key openings in levers.
Fig. 6. Transverse section sbewing ends of levers at rest on bolt pin, when bolt
is locked.
Fig. 7. View of latch lever and section of same through hole in latch pin and
hole for fixing same to case.
Fig. 8. Front view of knob tumbler and section of same through hole thats fits
on knob.
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Shew front, side, and end views of parts of Rim
lock separately.
Fig. 15. Is side view of knob for outside of door, the neck of which works in
brass rose, and having washer and nut to secure it to same.
Fig. 16. Side view of knob through lock case, the neck of which is made to
receive the square hole in latch tumbler, and end screwed to receive sexagon nut.
Figures 17 and 18. Are sections of the necks of knobs and spindle holes, the
parts to receive clawed tumbler and the screw to receive nut.
Fig. 19. Front view of spindle hole, and neck of kuob.
Fig. 20. Sexagon nut for knobs.
Fig. 21. Front view of knob rose, with holes for screws for. fixing same to
outside of door.
Fig. 22. Internal view of 6 inch mortice lock, shewing form of the inner end of
latch bolt and the opening provided for it in the lever.
Fig. 23. Front view of face plate.
Fig. 24. Front and side views of latch bolt, shewing rounded shape of the ends
of same.

page_text: Fig. 25. Front and sectional views of mortice lock tumblers shewing the spindle
hole enlarged on each side, and tapering to size of spindle in the centre.
In each of the views the same letters indicate corresponding parts.
a, is the latch bolt, b, the clawed tumbler, the claws of which lift the latch
lever C, when knobs are turned either to the right or left hand, c, is the weighted
latch lever, and c¹, the pin or screw on which it works. d, is the lock bolt recessed
at d', for the action of the key thereon in the usual way d², is the pin or projection
on bolt which passes through the longitudinal openings, e¹ and f¹, in the weighted
lock levers, e and f. e² and f*, are openings in the levers for the key, the upper
parts of which are acted on by the key by raising them to their respective heights
and bringing the longitudinal slots, e¹, and f¹ opposite the bolt pin d³, and allowing
it to pass through in locking or unlocking the bolt. The key on its withdrawal
from the lock acts on the lower portions of the openings e³, and f³, bringing the
levers down to their proper places, in the event of their sticking. g, represents the
steel bolt or face plate for rim locks, and gl are the two revets fixing it to cast lock
case, h, is the latch lever for mortice locks, having round hole in upper part, and
slotted at one side to receive the rounded end of latch bolt, i, by which means the
bevelled end of bolt can be reversed. j is the tumbler for mortice locks, and
and j', the enlarged parts of hole for knob spindle.
I would remark that although, I have only shewn my improvements as applied
to rim and mortice locks and latches combined, it will be evident that they are
equally applicable to any kind of locks or latches, separately. I would also have
it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangements of parts
shewn and described, as the same may be varied without departing from the
peculiar character of the Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st That by my invention, I arrange and combine the parts of knobs of Rim
locks and Latches, and the Latch-bolt tumbler together, whereby I secure the knobs
and tumblers to the cases independently of the spindle from opposite knob on
door, I, also claim that my method can be applied to the fixing together of any
form of tumbler and knobs, the necks of which are of the precise form as described
by the accompanying Specification and drawings.
2nd The Latch lever I employ is so formed that it acts by its weight, whereby
I dispense with the use of springs. The knob tumbler is provided with a short
and a long claw or projection the peculiar character of which is to act on the hook
above and the heel below the centre or axis of motion in the latch lever, thereby
lifting or turning the latch lever in a backward direction only, and at the same
time withdrawing the latch bolt from the staple on door case, This I accomplish
by a very slight turning of the knobs, consequently little or no friction, This
Lever and tumbler action and the attaching of knob and tumbler together to lock
case, I claim as new and my Invention.
3rd Another feature of novelty is in the Levers I use for the lock bolts, by the
addition I make to the bottom parts thereof, which gives weight to them, thus
enabling me to dispense with the use of springs, and further by the peculiar form
of the openings to receive key, I can by the action of the key on the lower parts
of levers effectually bring them down on the bolt pin, to secure the bolt before key
can be withdrawn from the lock. I also make the deepened parts in the key
openings in levers, opposite the keyhole, to serve the purpose of wards; inasmuch
that when a key differing in the form of the web from that belonging to the lock
is introduced, it will not pass out of the deepened slots, and any attempt to turn
the key is thus prevented.
4th The advantage I gain as regards strength by adopting a steel face or bolt
plate to lock or latch cases, made of cast-iron.

page_text: 5th By the peculiar form of the latch bolt ends I employ I considerably reduce
'the friction on lock staples or strike plates.
F
6th That I am enabled to reverse the latch bolts in mortice locks, by the shape
I make the inner ends of same, and the openings to receive them in the lever.
7th That I prevent the "binding" of tumblers and knobs used in mortice locks,
by the peculiar shape I make the spindle hole in tumbler.
Dated this Twenty-girth day of August 1885