IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1884

page_text: I EDWIN ROBERT WETHERED Lieutt Colonel, of 100 Herbert Road Woolwich,
County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENT
IN LOCKS AND LATCHES to be as follows:-
This invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of locks and
latches, whereby the use of springs may be dispensed with, or not.
This invention consists of an L or angular shaped bolt
which is
suspended in the lock case by a pin or axis which passes through a slot in the heel
of the bolt, and is secured to the upper part and near the front edge of the lock
case, as the bolt rides on this pin, the long or horizontal arm falls by its own
weight and causes the nose of the bolt to protrude through the lock case, and enter
the socket on the door post, and this is the position the bolt assumes when the door
is closed. The end of the protruding nose circles at the lower edge, and is provided
with a slot or tooth.
I place within the lock case a spindle and follower in such a position that on
turning the handle either way the long heavy arm of the bolt is raised, and
withdraws the nose within the lock case.
As the lower circular edge of the nose of bolt enters the lock plate the heel of
the bolt which rides on the pin as above described, is raised until the lower part of
the slot is forced up to the pin, and as soon as the nose of bolt is fully withdrawn
the slot or tooth in the bolt allows it again to drop, and this slot or tooth falls
behind a stud in the lock case and is retained in that position while the door
is open.
As the door is shut the lifting of the nose or fore end of the bolt is effected by
an incline on the striking plate fixed to the door post which enters a recess in the
look plate and the nose of the bolt then at once moves forward, by the falling
weight of the long arm of the bolt, and enters the socket on door post.
Instead of the fore end of bolt being operated on by the falling weight of its long
arm as above described, I may do away with this long arm, and in lieu thereof affix
o the spindle either within or without the lock case a lever arm which by its
weight will cause the spindle to turn making the follower project the bolt, and
when the door is thereby closed the bolt can be again withdrawn by turning the
andle until the nose of the bolt enters the lock case and drops behind the
etaining stud.
.

page_text: In this latter case the heel of the bolt instead of riding on the pin as above
described, would ride on the spindle or axis of follower, a sufficient slot being made
in the bolt to allow of its raising and falling.
Or I may affix the weighted arm or lever separately at its fore end, by a pin or
axis to the lock case the said fore end being provided with cogs, corresponding cogs
being placed on the spindle, follower, or heel of bolt, which would operate on the
fore end of bolt, as the weighted lever or long arm fell.
Or instead of either the weighted arms or levers above described, I may apply a
spring or springs as their equivalent to project the bolt, such spring or springs
being so arranged that they may if necessary also force the bolt down to insure the
nose being caught in the retaining stud in the lock case and admit of the lock
being used upside down-This latter form of lock would be very suitable for
railway or carriage locks.
Lock mechanism of any ordinary construction can be provided to prevent the
door being opened except by a key.

page_text: I EDWIN ROBERT WETHERED, Lieut Colonel of 100 Herbert Road Woolwich in
the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES" and in what manner the same is to be perforined,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of an L or angular shaped bolt which is suspended in the
lock case by a pin or axis which passes through a slot in the heel of bolt, and is
secured to the upper part and near the front edge of the lock case-as the bolt rides
on this pin, the long or horizontal arm falls by its own weight and causes the nose
of the bolt to protrude through the lock case, and enter the socket on the door
post, and this is the position the bolt assumes when the door is closed, the end of
this protruding nose circles at the lower edge and is provided with a stud or tooth.
I place within the lock case a spindle and follower in such a position that on
turning the handle either way the long heavy arm of the bolt is raised and with-
draws the nose within the lock case.
As the lower circular edge of the nose of bolt enters the lock case the heel of the
bolt which rides on the pin as above described, is raised until the lower part of the
slot is forced up to the pin, and as soon as the nose of the bolt is fully withdrawn,
the slot in the bolt allows it again to drop, and the notch or tooth falls behind a
stud in the lock case, and is retained in that position while the door is open.
As the door is shut the lifting of the nose or fore end of the bolt is effected by an
incline on the striking plate fixed to the door post, and the nose of the bolt then at
once moves forward, by the falling weight of the long arm of the bolt, and enters
the socket on the door post.
Instead of the forend of the bolt being operated on by the falling weight of its
long arin as above described, I may do away with the long arm, and in lieu thereof
affix to the spindle, either within or without the lock case, a lever arm which by its
weight will cause the spindle to turn making the follower project the bolt, and
when the door is thereby closed the bolt can be again withdrawn by turning the
handle until the nose of the bolt enters the lock case and drops behind the
retaining stud. In this latter case the heel of the bolt instead of riding on the pin
as above described, would ride on the spindle or axis of follower, a sufficient slot
being made in the bolt to allow of its raising and falling or I may affix the
weighted arm or lever separately at its fore-end by a pin or axis, the said fore-end
being provided with cogs, corresponding cogs being placed on the spindle, follower,
or heel of the bolt which would operate on the fore-end of the bolt as the weighted
lever or long arm fell.
Or instead of either the weighted arms or levers above described I may apply a
spring or springs as their equivalent to project the bolt, such spring or springs
being so arranged that if necessary they may also force the bolt down to ensure
the nose being caught in the retaining stud in the lock case, and admit of the lock.
being used upside down.
The latter form of lock would be very suitable for railway or carriage locks.
Lock mechanism of any ordinary construction can be provided to prevent the
1.

page_text: Fige 1 and 2 are views of the lock case A having the side plate removed to
shew the position of the bolt and lever arm when the door is open and closed-
B-C are the bolt and lever arm in one piece riding on the pin and slot D. E is
the follower which raises the lever arm-F is the recess in lock case which allows
the incline G on striking plate Fig. 3. to pass, and raise the bolt to free it from the
retaining stud in lock case, when the nose of the bolt circles out as far as the
falling lever arm will admit.
Fig. 4 and 5. are similar views of a lock case with side plate removed, shewing
the position of the bolt and lever arm when the door is open and closed-A is the
lock case B is the bolt separate from the lever arm C but connected to it at b, so
that when the lever arm falls, the bolt is caused to slide forward, instead of circling
as in Figs 1 and 2-this bolt being short, I provide a pawl or moveable stud D
which falls by its own weight into a slot or tooth, on the upper side of bolt and
retains the bolt within the lock case until the door is closed, when the incline G on
striking plate Fig. 6 enters the recess F. in lock case and raises the pawl or stud D
and allows the bolt to slide forward, and close the door; by turning the handle
either way the follower E raises the lever or weighted arm, the bolt is then
withdrawn within the lock case and held by the retaining pawl or stud as the door
is pulled open.
Figs 7 and 8. are similar views of a lock case having the side plate removed
shewing the position of the bolt and lever arm when the door is open and closed
A is the lock case, B is the circling or turn over bolt provided with cogs around
the spindle follower or heel E. C is the lever arm separate from the bolt (the fore
end of which is provided with corresponding cogs) and works on a pin or axis b
D is a block of metal having a slot working on a stud d. in the lock case, and
having a tooth or notch which falls behind a corresponding tooth or notch in the
bolt, and retains the latter within the lock case, this block or moveable stud has a
projection which enters the recess F-on closing the door the incline G on striking
plate Fig 9 enters the recess F in lock case raises the block, and frees the bolt
from the retaining stud, when the falling lever arm by means of the cogs forces the
bolt forward into the slot provided on door post Fig 9-or the projection on the
block D may protrude from the lock case, projecting into the door post, and be
similarly acted on by a recessed incline on the striking plate instead of the recess
on lock case.
To prevent the bolt accidentally shooting and remaining out when the door is
opened, as well as to insure the bolt reaching the incline in the event of the door
shrinking, I place a short bevilled projecting nose b to the bolt so that the door
cannot be opened until the bolt is withdrawn beyond the retaining stud. This lock
is specially adapted for railway or other carriage doors, but may be applied to
ordinary house door locks or gate latches-by increasing the diameter of cog circle
on pivot end of lever arm, its fall may be restricted-Cogs may also be used to
cause a bolt to slide forward, and the lever arm may work outside the lock case,
by a square pin passing from the pivot of cog circle to it, or in other ways or the
lever the lever ärm cog circle may work over the bolt cogs on different centres.
When used as a house lock or gate latch the bolt may work on a pin instead
of spindle follower the bolt being withdrawn by raising the lever arm, by a spindle
and follower placed as in Fig 1 and 2-or by lifting the end of lever arm with
the hand.
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 The construction of a lock with a circling or turnover bolt having a lever
arm in one piece, the weighted lever arm being employed to project and withdraw
the bolt substantially as described Fig 1 & 2.
2nd The construction of a lock having a similar lever or weighted arm, and
separate sliding bolt connected thereto, combined with a retaining pawl or moveable
stud for retaining and freeing the bolt substantially as described Fig 4 5-7 and 8

page_text: 3rd The construction of a lock in which cogs are employed for the purpose of
projecting and withdrawing the bolt substantially as described Fig 7 and 8.
4th My improvements in door locks and latches substantially as above described
in combination with an incline on the striking plate projecting into the door
way, and received into a corresponding recess in the lock case (or vice versa as
above described) being an essential feature in the Specification of my Patent
No 482 31st January 1882.
5th The combination of a bevilled projecting nose, with a bolt held back in the
lock case substantially as and for the purpose described.