AN IMPROVED SELF ACTING FASTENER FOR DOORS, WINDOW-SASHES, AND FRAMES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Woodward, 154, North Street, Wolverhampton,
County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
SELF ACTING FASTENER FOR DOORS, WINDOW-SASHES, AND FRAMES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Woodward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1881.
JAMES WOODWARD, 154, North Street, Wolverhampton, County of Stafford, Lock
Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED SELF ACTING FASTENER FOR DOORS, WINDOW-
SASHES, AND FRAMES."
The object of my Invention is to simplify the construction in the action and self-
action of the existing spherical ball latches applied to doors, sashes, and frames
when shut or closed, and to greatly cheapen the cost of production of such apparatus
for retaining doors, sashes, and frames in position; also to apply the spherical iron
or steel ball to flush-latches and mortice locks by an arrangement of spring and
fittings connected therewith differing from the method hitherto adopted, and which
accomplishes the two-fold object to be attained.
For mortise locks I fix on one end of the bolt a brass cup corresponding in its
interior with a section of the circumference of the sphere or ball which seats itself
in the cup. In the fore-end I make a seat corresponding with the sectional circum-
ference of the sphere so as to prevent its escape from the cup, thereby securing the
sphere in its true position for action and re-action when the sash, door, or frame is
opened or closed either by the turning of the knob or handle or by pressure upon the
sash, door, or frame when required to be opened or closed. The other parts of the
interior of such locks are arranged and constructed in the usual way hitherto
made.
For some mortice locks I do not apply the ordinary bolt, but in place of it I fix
a brass cup upon a bar of brass or iron, which works upon a centre at its opposite
end, and is governed by a spring placed in an inverted position and nearly parallel
with it, and which adjusts the sphere in its correct position seated in the fore-end
for action and self action in closing and opening the door, sash, or frame.

page_text: For the flush-latch I connect the cup on a steel spring similar to the arrangement
as described in the second description of mortice locks, that is, with an inverted
spring placed nearly parallel with the bar, on which is fixed or cast the brass cup,
so that the sphere shall be loosely seated in the cup and in the fore-end for action
and re-action and rotation in its use.
For a mortise latch to occupy the least possible indenture in the door, sash, or
frame I have a different arrangement of the spring for its action, which I thus
describe: The fore-end is countersunk on its inside surface to correspond with the
outer side or section of the circumference of the sphere, so that it may be seated in
it without any possibility of escape. Upon the inner side or section of the circum-
ference of the sphere I countersink and seat a small flat brass plate, to which I
connect a flat wide steel spring placed above and nearly parallel with the fore-end
and connected to it by a tubular rivet, through which the screw is made to in
connecting the fore-end with the door, sash, or frame, thus occupying the least
possible space for the action of the sphere and the mortising of the wood to receive
the flush-latch.
pass

page_text: SPECIFICATION in. pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Woodward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
July 1881.
JAMES WOODWARD, of No. 154, North Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Lock Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING FASTENER FOR
DOORS, WINDOW SASHES, AND FRAMES."
The object of my Invention is to simplify the construction in the action and self-
action of the existing spherical ball-latches applied to doors, sashes, and frames when
shut or closed, and to greatly cheapen the cost of production of such apparatus for
retaining doors, sashes, and frames in position; also to apply the spherical iron or
steel ball to flush latches and mortise locks by an arrangement of spring and fittings
connected therewith differing from the method hitherto adopted, and which accom-
plishes the two-fold object to be attained.
For mortise locks I fix on one end of the bolt a brass cup corresponding in its
interior with a section of the circumference of the sphere or ball which seats itself
in the cup. In the fore-end I make a seat corresponding with the sectional circum-
ference of the sphere so as to prevent its escape from the cup, thereby securing the
sphere in its true position for action and re-action when the said door or frame is
opened or closed either by the turning of the knob or handle, or by pressure upon
the sash, door, or frame when required to be opened or closed. The end of the
cup-bolt opposite to the ball-end has a loose tailpiece connected with it by a joint,
which tailpiece is acted upon by a spring, and which produces the action and
re-action of the cup-bolt and ball for closing and opening the door, sash, or
frame.
To produce a double and simultaneous action of the cup-bolt and the ordinary
square bolt in opening and closing the door, sash, or frame, I extend my arrange-
ment of the parts of the lock, so that when the ball strikes against the striking
plate (which has no hole in it to receive the ball) the square bolt will spring out
and secure the door, sash, or frame, and when the knob or handle is turned back-
ward the door may be opened, and then the cup-bolt and ball will spring forward
into its original position. The several parts I thus arrange:-The cup-bolt is
placed in the frame of lock, as before described. Upon this cup-bolt, I place a
spiral wire spring, which bears against the cup at one end and against the metal
plate placed at about two-thirds down its length. At the end of the cup-bolt I
connect an arm which works on a centre, and which arm has a tailpiece; this
holds the square bolt, so that when the ball strikes against the striking plate the
square bolt is released, passes into the hole in the striking plate, and thus holds the
door securely in its place.
I construct a two lever mortise lock by this arrangement :-I countersink the
interior of the fore end at the part where the ball rests against it; the cup-bolt is
then placed in position. Near the end of the cup-bolt I connect a crank, which is
brought into connection with a follower and a back follower acted upon by a spring
which regulates the action and position of the cup-bolt and ball, and which is fully
illustrated in Figure 3.
In some mortise locks I apply the ball and cup-bolt, and upon the cup-bolt
place a spiral spring which bears against a brass or iron plate at the end opposite
the cup. There are two stumps or runners, one on each side of the cup-bolt on the
backside of the bearing plate, through and between which the cup-bolt passes,
thus allowing the ball free rotation and motion, and which is illustrated in Figure 4.
For a flush-latch to occupy the least possible indenture in the door, sash, or
frame I have a different arrangement of the spring for its action, which I thus

page_text: describe: The fore-end is countersunk on its inside surface to correspond with the
outside or section of the circumference of the sphere, so that it may be seated in it
without any possibility of escape. Upon the inner side or section of the circum-
ference of the sphere I countersink and seat a small flat brass plate to receive the
ball. To the plate I connect a flat wide steel spring fixed to the fore-end upon a
tubular rivet, through which the screw is passed in fixing the fore-end upon the
door, sash, or frame.
For the flush-latch I also connect the cup with a steel spring in an inverted
position placed nearly parallel with the fore-end, thus leaving the sphere loosely
seated in the cup and in the fore-end for action, re-action, and rotation in its
application, as shown in Figure 7.
Now in order that my said Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to illustrate by the Figures and Drawings here-
unto annexed.
Figure 1 shews a perspective view of the parts of the interior of a mortise lock,
a is the
referring to my arrangement for the self-action of the cup-bolt and ball.
ball which strikes the striking-plate; b, the cup in which the ball is seated, and in
which it rotates; c is the cup-bolt, d is the loose tail, e is the spring, f is the
fore-end.
Figure 2 shews the plan of a mortise lock for producing the simultaneous action
and re-action of the cup-bolt and straight ordinary bolt. a is the ball; b, the cup;
c, the cup-bolt; j, the arm and tail; g, the follower; h, the crank; i, i, the springs;
k, the straight bolt.
Figure 3 is a plan of a two lever mortise lock with followers. a is the ball;
b, the cup; c, the cup-bolt; d, the crank; e, the follower; f, the back follower;
g, the spring.
Figure 4 shews the plan of mortise lock with spiral spring on cup-bolt in position.
a is the ball; b, the cup; n, n, the stumps or runners; p, the brass or metal bearing
plate; 8, the spiral spring; c, the cup-bolt.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the backside of a mortise latch. a is the ball;
b, the brass or metal plate connected with the broad spring i; f, the fore-end.
Figure 6 is a section of the mortise latch at n, n, Figure 5. a is the ball; b, the
brass or metal cup; i, the broad spring; f, the fore-end.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a flush-latch. a is the ball; b, the cup; i, the
spring; f, the fore-end.
In witness whereof, I, the said James. Woodward, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one.
JAMES WOODWARD. (L.S.)