Improvements in Bow Latches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May., 1899
Improvements in Bow Latches.
I, HUMPHREY Fox, trading as H. and J. Fox, of Moat Street, Willenhall, in
the County of Stafford, Latch Manufacturer, 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:-
In bow latches, as ordinarily constructed, the staple or keep by means of which
the outer end of the lifting latch (and also the outer end of the sliding bolt.
when such bolt is employed) is guided, is formed separately from the plate and
is subsequently riveted thereto. The rivets are liable to give way, however, and
render the staple useless. The means also of pressing down the lifting latch are
unsatisfactory, owing to the risk of failure of the rivets by which the spring andl
the arm through which its pressure is transmitted to the latch are fixed to the
plate, and to the harshness of the action which results from the stiffness of the
spring rendered necessary by the shortness of the leverage through which it acts
upon the latch. In such latches, also, as ordinarily constructed, separate rivets
have to be employed for fixing, respectively, the guide for the hinder end of the
sliding bolt (when such bolt is employed) and the spring which is interposed
between such bolt and plate to prevent the bolt being shaken or accidentally
moved and the finger-piece or projection, for use in moving the sliding bolt, is
formed separately from the bolt and riveted thereto.
Now, this invention has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction
of such latches, and increase their durability and security.
of
According to this invention, the staple or keep for guiding the outer end of
the lifting latch, and the outer end of the sliding bolt (when such bolt is used)
is formed in the same piece of metal with the plate: and this is accomplished.
preferably. by forming the plate of such length as will admit of a sufficient width
one end thereof being doubled back to form the staple. The bent back portion
is, of course, spaced at such distance from the plate as will just allow of the
easy passage of the latch and bolt between them, and the forward edges of the bent
back part and plate are joined by a strip of the metal which is at right-angles
to the plate. Holes are, of course, formed through this strip for the passage
therethrough, and vertical movement, of the outer end of the latch, and for the
passage therethrough of the bolt. For the purpose of preventing the staple being
pressed inwards, a margin of the metal thereof is bent back at right angles thereto
at each end, and such margins of metal bear, at their edges, against the plate,
and form distance-pieces between the main portion of the staple and the plate.
Separate staples may, of course, be formed, in the manner described. for the
lifting latch and bolt, respectively, if desired, but it is much preferred to form
a single staple to answer the double purpose, when the bolt is used as well as the
latch.
The spring by means of which, the lifting latch is pressed down. is formed,
according to this invention, of a length of steel, phosphor bronze, or other suitably
elastic, strip or wire, which is conveniently of flat or thin rectangular section.
One end of the spring is rigidly fixed to the lifting latch and the other or free

page_text: end bears against a suitable stop which is carried by the plate. This adaptation
of spring avoids the use of the lever ordinarily interposed between the spring
and latch, and avoids also riveting the spring to the plate; and, in addition
thereto, permits of a spring being conveniently used of greater length and
flexibility than heretofore, with, consequently, less friction and increased smooth-
ness in operation.
The hinder end of the sliding bolt is guided, and the spring which is inter-
posed between the bolt and plate is kept in place, according to this invention;
by means of a pin, which is formed with a head which comes against the outer
face of the bolt, and with a shank which passes through a slotted opening formed
through the bolt, and through holes formed,, respectively, through the spring and
plate, and is riveted at the back of the plate. The portion of the pin which
passes through the plate is reduced in diameter to form a shoulder which rests
against the plate and thus prevents the sliding bolt and spring from being
gripped too tightly between the head of the pin and the plate. The bolt may be
guided in the manner described in this paragraph independently of the means of
fastening the spring, which may be fixed in the ordinary or any convenient
manner. In order to avoid riveting the finger-piece to the bolt, the hinder end
of the bolt is bent or cast outwards at right angles to form such finger-piece,
which is thus integral or in the same piece of metal with the bolt.
According to a modification of the part of the invention which relates to the
staple or keep for the outer ends of the latch and bolt, such staple or keep is
formed by pressing a strap or band out from the plate. This is, preferably,
effected in such manner that the strap is cut away from the plate along both
sides, while it remains connected therewith at the ends. If the staple is formed of
sufficient length to answer for both the latch and bolt, a suitable stop must,
of course, be provided to the downward movement of the latch, and suitable means
must be provided to prevent the bolt rising but separate staples may be pressed
out for the bolt and latch, respectively.
The hinder end of the sliding bolt may be guided by a staple or keep formed
in the manner described in the last preceding paragraph, in lieu of by the pin
passing through the slotted hole of the bolt as above described; but in such
case the spring which is situated between the bolt and plate cannot be fixed in
the manner of this invention, and means, such as a stud carried by the bolt in
position between the two staples or keeps, must be provided to prevent the bolt
being withdrawn from the staples.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings; of which
Figure 1 is a front view of a bow latch fitted with both a lifting latch and
sliding bolt, and shews also, by broken lines, the shape of the plate prior to
the staple or keep being bent to shape as hereinafter described. Figure 2 is an
end view of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Figures 3 and 4
are longitudinal sections through the latch taken, respectively, on lines and yY
of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a front view of the plate shewing modified forms of
staples or keeps for guiding the latch and bolt. Figure 6 is an end view of
Figure 5 and Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 6, but shews separate
staples for the forward ends of the latch and bolt.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, A is the latch plate, B the lifting
latch and the sliding bolt. The forward end of the plate A is first formed of.
the shape shewn by broken lines Figure 1, that is to say, with a portion B',
having inclined edges b. to form, when turned up, chiefly a fore-end f to the
staple, with a portion A¹ which extends from the inner ends of the inclined
edges 6 of the portion B for a width corresponding to that of the outer face of the
intended staple from the back of the fore-end to the rear edge of the staple, and
with ends a to the portion A¹ which are bent at right angles to such portion A¹
and form the ends e of the staple, their edges coming against the plate A while
their forward ends come up to the back of the fore-end f. Holes c d for the

page_text: passage of the lifting latch and holt, respectively, are formed through the strip
which has the inclined sides b. The end of the plate which is shewn by broken
lines is bent into shape to form the staple D with the turned back ends e, of
which the back edges are against the plate, and with the rim or fore-end f
through which pass the lifting latch and bolt.
The spring by which the lifting-latch is pressed down, is formed from a
length of wire of steel, phosphor bronze, or other suitable metal, conveniently of
flat or thin rectangular section. One end is rigidly connected to the rear end
of the lifting latch, conveniently as shewn at h, while the other end bears against
the under side of the upper end e of the staple.
The hinder end of the sliding bolt C is guided, and the spring held in place
between the bolt and plate, by a pin having a head which comes against the
outer face of the sliding bolt, a shrank which passes through a slot formed
through the bolt and passes through the spring, and a reduced portion 7 which
passes through a hole in the plate and is riveted over at the back of the plate.
The finger-piece m for use in operating the bolt, is simply bent or cast at right
angles to the main portion thereof, and is thus integral or in the same piece of
metal therewith.
Referring, now, to Figures 5, and 6, the staple D is formed in the same
piece of metal as the plate A, by pressing it out as a strap or band from the plate
in a manner, as will be readily understood, which leaves it connected thereto at
its ends. In case a single staple is employed for both the lifting latch and sliding
bolt, a proper stop must, as above described, be provided to the downward move-
ment of the latch, and against any tendency of the bolt to rise at the forward
end but separate staples may be pressed out for the bolt and latch, respectively,
as shewn by Figure 7. If the bolt is not used, a staple is, of course, formed for
the lifting latch only. If desired, the rear end of the sliding bolt may, instead of
being guided in the manner above described, be guided by means of a staple
or keep n which is pressed outwards from the plate A similarly as is the staple D¹,
provision being made, as above stated, against the bolt being withdrawn from the
staples.
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:-
1. A bow latch having a staple or keep formed integral with or in the same piece
of metal as the plate, substantially as described.
2. A bow latch having a staple or keep formed by bending or doubling over
a portion left for such purpose on the forward end of the plate, substantially as
described.
3. A bow latch having a staple or keep formed by bending or doubling over
a portion left for such purpose on the forward end of the plate and turning
the ends down to come against the plate, substantially as described.
4. A bow latch having a staple or keep formed by bending or doubling over
a portion left for such purpose on the forward end of the plate, and separate
holes for the latch and bolt, respectively, formed through the strip or portion
of metal which joins together the staple or keep and the forward edge of the
plate; substantially as described.
5. Bow latches having staples or keeps formed substantially in the manner
described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
6. A bow latch having the spring for pressing down the lifting latch fixed.
directly to the lifting latch and its outer or free end bearing against a fixed part
carried by the plate, the arm ordinarily interposed between the spring and latch
being dispensed with, substantially as described.
7. The means of guiding the hinder end of the sliding bolt of a bow latch,
which comprise a pin having a head to come against the outer face of the bolt,

page_text: and a shank which passes through a slot formed through the bolt and is fixed to
the plate, substantially as described.
8. The combined means of guiding the hinder end of the sliding bolt of a
bow latch and maintaining the spring which is interposed between such bolt
and the plate in position, substantially as described and shewn by Figures 1 and 4
of the drawings herewith.
9. The sliding bolt of a bow latch having the finger-piece by means of which it
is operated formed integral or in the same piece of mictal therewith, substantially as
described.
230
1
1000
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.