Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
I WILLIAM THEODORE JOSEPH PARKES of 31 Store Street, Bedford Square,
London W.C. and 13 Nevill's Court, Fetter Lane, London E.C. Artist and
Author, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For the purposes of economy and safety, it is frequently necessary to limit the
consumption of gas; this is effected at present by the turning of it down at the
meter, or by cutting it off from the taps where its use is not permitted for the time
being; this entails expense and trouble when the gas at such taps may be again
required.
There are also other taps which lack the facility of protection from waste; such
as wine taps spirit and oil taps, and taps in distilleries refineries laboratories &c.
and though safety locks have been set as fixtures to certain taps; I do
not known of a safety lock yet introduced, that is portable, and effective as a
check on taps that will accomodate itself to taps of various forms and sizes; my
invention, intended to supply that want is as follows.
I take a piece of oak 14 in. long, by 14 in. wide, and in. thick, and through its
thickness, lengthways, I cut a slot . in. wide, to within about in. of the opposite
side, thereby forming a gripper to keep the thumb bit of tap in position.
I then prepare four pieces of oak in. square by 4 in. long, and in. from the
end of each, I reduce the thickness in. deep by in. long, and beginning at said
depression, I cut a row of about sixteen square teeth or cogs, occupying the
remaining length of each of said pieces, leaving the in. solid, at the other end of
each to act as a flange.
When turning two of said toothed sides uppermost, I cut on the inner sides,
facing each other, a like row of sixteen cogs or teeth, and the remaining pieces I
cut in the same manner. 1 have now four pieces, cogged, each on two sides.
I then glue two of the said pieces by the flanged ends to the exterior of one lip of
the gripper in. apart, the third and fourth piece, I set on the opposite lip, taking
care in each case that the cogs, or teeth are turned inwards. I then prepare a bolt,
thin enough to pass through the cogs, and wide enough to be held by thein on either
side. At one end of said bolt, I put a flange to act as check, the other end is
pierced for small padlock. The bolt may now be passed through the cogs, at any
distance required, on any one of the four sides of toothed uprights.
The manner of putting it in use is as follows. The thumb-bit of tap is set in
the lips of the gripper, the toothed uprights will then extend to the opposite side
of the pipe, close to which the bolt will be passed thro the cogs or teeth, and
secured at other side with small padlock. It will then act as a safeguard against any
tampering or illegal use of the tap.
The lock herein described, will fit a large variety of taps; but the proportions
given must vary at times, according to the size and formation of the tap. From
such inodel of my invention, herein set forth, the lock may be manufactured in two
pieces of cast iron or other suitable metal.
Dated this 27th day of January 1896.

page_text: An Improvement in Tap Locks.
I WILLIAM THEODORE JOSEPH PARKES of 27 Gower Street Bedford Square
London W.C. and 13 Nevill's Court London E.C., late of 31 Store Street,
Artist and Author, 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 an improved arrangement of lock in connection with
taps and like articles, and has for its object to provide a lock which can be used in
securing various forms of taps, and which will be more generally of service than
those which are at present in use.
In carrying out my invention a frame is made of wood or metal with a head
fashioned box-like and is formed square, cruciform or slot-like with various
modifications as required, at each of its four corners is a limb made to a certain
proportionate length, and each limb is grooved on its inner side or sides with
cogs, or teeth.
Those limbs with box-like head are intended to slip over the
tube of the tap, and when the box portion covers the key of the tap a flat bolt is
passed through the cogs on the opposite side of the tube as close as possible, and
fixed in its place with a small padlock.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a simple form of my invention, with the tap fixed
as expressed by the dotted line.
Fig. 2 a plan of the interior of the box head.
Fig. 3 the bolt.
Fig. 4 a modified form of my invention.
Fig. 5 a further modification with padlock.
Fig. 6 a plan of the interior of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 a gas tap locked.
Fig. 8 my invention fixed to the tap of a cooking stove.
Fig. 9 fixed to a tap under gas jet.
Referring to Fig. 1 the article is made with a square box top a. of a depth at b.
sufficient to completely cover the thumb bit or key of the tap, perpendicular with
the sides of the box, and at each of its four corners is a limb c. c. c. c. and inside of
each limb are cogs or teeth through which the bolt d. is fixed to keep the tape in
position. Fig. 2 is the plan of the interior of the head of the frame with the
limbs c. c. c. c. at the corners. In Fig. 3 is shewn a flat bolt with hole for padlock
and flange and lips g for the purpose of gripping the screw of the key
underneath.
In Fig. 4 a different arrangement of limb is employed, on each of the ends of an
elongated box head-with extensions-the limbs are reduced in thickness, but they
expand in width at h. the teeth are closer and flanges or lips are placed inside each
of the limbs at i to keep the tap firmly fixed.
A more complete arrangement is Fig. 5 each of the limbs are cogged on the
two inner sides, so that the bolt may be used in any one of the four sides, it has a.
box extension for the purpose of keeping rigid a key fixed under the jet as shewn
in Fig. 9, and on the head at k Fig. 5 are two leaves or extensions applicable in
certain cases to cooking stove taps. Fig. 6 is a plan of the inside of the frame
head spaced to accomodate various sizes and and forms of the key of the tap.
In Fig. 7 the tap-lock is secured on the key of a gas bracket, and in Fig. 8 is shewn its
adaptation to the tap key of a cooking stove. In Fig. 9 the bolt g is curved at the
top for the purpose of gripping the gas tube and keeping the lock rigid when in

page_text: use on a key set perpendicularly under the jet it is also supplied with flanges m m
for ordinary use.
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 new, or improved combination tap-lock consisting of a square box head
having four limbs-cogged with teeth,-between which the tap is set and a bolt-
with flange lips and padlock-to make the tap secure substantially as described
and for the purposes specified.
2. An improved combination tap lock consisting of a frame with elongated box-
head having extensions at either end for the accomodation of larger keys limbs
reduced in thickness but wide midway with lips on the inside of each to keep tap
firm, a bolt with flange, lips, and lock as described and shewn in Fig. 4 and for the
purposes specified.
3. An improved lock for taps with box head formed to hold tap keys of various
forms and sizes, with leaf exteusions on one side of box head and box extension on
the opposite side of head to accomodate the tap lock to various positions of the
keys of taps, its four limbs set equal distance and cogged with teeth on each of
their inside surfaces to enable the bolt to be used in any one of the four sides as
shewn in Fig. 5 7. 8. & 9 and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 27th day of October 1896.
WILLIAM THEODORE JOSEPH PARKES.