Improvements in Locks.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Locks.
I, HEINRICH HALT AUF DER HEIDE, of 6A, Gneisenaustrasse, Berlin, Engineer,
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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention relates to locks and it has for its object to improve the construe-
tion of the locking mechanism.
The characteristic features of my invention are, as compared with other lock-
ing mechanism, (1) that the locking levers are uniformly acted upon on their
sides to which the springs are fitted by means of a removable key or fixed tumbler,
and, (2) that although they can be so acted upon they cannot be brought to the
proper position for unlocking the bolt without the aid of an additional check key
or slide.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings whereon:
Fig. 1 shows a section of a lock with the locking plates in the locked position
whilst Fig. 2 shows the same lock with the plates in the unlocked position.
Fig. 3 is a section of the mechanism on the line n n Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows a check key for the lock illustrated at Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 5 shows a padlock made in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 6 shows a key for same.
Fig. 7 shows a combination check key.
Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 2 shows a method of using the combination key Fig. 7.
On the drawings:
The locking mechanism, as shown at Figs. 1 to 7, consists of any suitable number
of locking levers a, b, c, d, so arranged that one of them, preferably the lowest
one a, serves to move, or take along with it, the other levers b, c, d, for which
purpose the lever a is, on both its longitudinal sides e e, f f, provided with angled
or bent up parts or flanges (see also Fig. 3).
All the locking levers, which are disposed one on top of the other, are arranged
to turn on the pin g and are normally held pressed upwards against the bent
flange f, f, of the lever a by means of the spring h which bears against them and
which is secured at its lower end to the flange e of the lever a. When held
in the position shown at Fig. 1 the levers cover one another with the exception of
the curved parts b', c', which lie over one another like steps. In this position
the recesses of the levers do not coincide so that the holt k cannot be retracted.
The turning of the tumbler is not sufficient to open the lock as it merely acts
on the lever a and cannot alter the relative positions of the levers b, c, d, as it does
not come in contact with them. When it is desired to open the lock it is necessary
to alter the relative positions of the levers b, c, d. (as shown at Fig. 2) in order to
make their recesses 1 coincide and thereby allow the locking bolt to movet
backwards and the projection i on it to enter the recesses p¹. When the levers
are in the position shown at Fig. 1 the projection & serves as a stop.

page_text: The levers could not be brought to the proper position for unlocking by merely
turning the tumbler / even although the plate a was dispensed with and each
lever had its own spring against which the tumbler, acted.
In order to open the lock, (i.e., to draw back the bolts k, m,) it is necessary to
first insert a check key n (see Fig. 4) in the grooves of the guides o and then turn
the tumbler whereupon all the levers can be raised to the exact height necessary
to make all the slots p₁ coincide. The key n, which is provided with a number
of step-like wards, as shown, serves the purpose of a checking device whereby the
tongue p of one lever is allowed to rise up in the wards of the key, higher or not
so high (as may be necessary to make the slots p₁ coincide), as the, tongue of the
next lever. When the slots p¹ of all the levers coincide the tumbler can be
turned so as to draw back the bolt k and at the same time draw back the bolt m
through the action of the projection g of the bolt k against the end m¹ of the
bolt m.
When the levers are in the locked position, Fig. 1, their lower edges lie in one
plane and the spring h bears uniformly against all the levers and presses them
against the flange f whereas the spring only bears against the curved part 61
of the lever b. When the levers are in the unlocked position Fig. 2 their edges
are not in the same plane and the spring merely acts on one of the levers whereas
their curved parts are in the same plane and are uniformly pressed upwards
against the wards of the check key n by the spring v. It will thus be seen that
the combined action of the springs h and v give the proper relative movements
io the levers.
The bolt m can be so arranged as to be capable of being drawn back, from the
inside of the door, by means of a handle which acts on a tumbler m² provided with
arms m³, m³, the latter of which works in a slot in the bolt. This bolt m and its
mechanism constitutes no part of my invention and it is to be clearly understood
that I make no claim therefor.
The arrangement of tumbler / Figs. 1 and 2 can be turned by a handle at the
outside of the door. If preferred however, an ordinary latch key may be used
instead of a handle and tumbler... In either case the turning of the tumbler or
key does not interfere with the safety of the lock.
An ordinary key provided with wards so as to be capable of stopping the
tongues of the levers can be used instead of the key n.
w is the usual-spring for accelerating the locking movement of the bolt m.
When the bolt k is retracted it remains in that position, being held by the
tumbler 1, until the handle is released when the bolt is shot forward again by the
action of the spring w through the bolt m and projection 9, so that the key n
can be withdrawn.
P
Fig. 5 shows a padlock having the new locking mechanism applied to it. In this
lock the tongue p of the lowest lever, is made to cover the tongues of all the rest
during the insertion of the key in the key hole. In the lock shown at Figs. 1 and 2
the tongue of the upper-most lever is always made to cover the other tongues, this
lever for the sake of clearness has been omitted in the drawing.
The combination key shown in Fig. 7 consists of the key n provided with wards
and also with a socket n¹, in which the ordinary revoluble key s is arranged to
move. Figs. 1 and 2 show a method of using the combination key. In these
figures the locking mechanism is the same as that at Figs. 1 and 2 with the excep-
tion that the levers are made with bent extensions d. The bolt is drawn at
Fig 1 and shot at Fig. 2. To draw back the bolt and unlock the levers the
cbination key is inserted, the stepped part n catching in the. usual slot of the
plate 6. The part e¹ of the key is then turned from the position at Fig. 2* round
to the right so as to lift up the levers from the position shown at Fig. 2 to that
at Fig. 1 when the bent extensions d' will be held in the proper relative position
so as to bring their recesses in line with the stop i by means of the part n as shown
at Fig. 1.
.
"

page_text: 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
consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. Locking mechanism wherein the levers are actuated from the spring side by
a tumbler or key and also wherein a second check key or slide is used for enabling
the levers to be brought into the proper position for unlocking the bolt or bolts,
substantially as herein before described.
2. Check keys for the purpose hereinbefore set forth made substantially as
herein before described and as shown on the drawings annexed in Figs. 4, 6 and 7.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the improved locking
mechanism substantially as herein before described and shown on the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 20th day of March 1807
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.