Improvements in Door Knob Locks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
Improvements in Door Knob Locks.
We, GEORGE LINCOLN BARNEY, and JOHN LYLE CLOUGH, of 81 Newman
Street, Indianapolis, County of Marion, State of Indiana, United States of
America, Manufacturers, 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 :-
The invention relates to keyless door-knob locks, and it has for its object to
provide a door-knob with keyless locking devices embraced within the knob, so
that the knob is adapted to be attached to the ordinary spindles used in connection
with ordinary door latches or locks, and may be used to operate such latches or
locks to control the movements of the door or other device to which they may be
applied, and to these ends the invention consists in the various features of construction
and arrangement of parts, having the mode of operation substantially as hereinafter
more fully pointed out.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein are illustrated the general
principles of the invention, together with several embodiments thereof, sufficient to
enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention ;—
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a knob applied to a door having the usual
knob on the other side;
Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the knob ;
Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, enlarged details;
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. are, respectively, vertical longitudinal sections of
modifications;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail of the endless spindle;
Fig. 11 is details of parts of the keyless locking-devices used in connection with
the construction shown in Fig. 8, and
Fig. 12 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the knob.
Heretofore it has been usual to provide doors and the like with a latching device
controlled by the knob or knobs usually projecting on both sides of the door, and
to provide a supplemental locking device controlled by a key, necessitating the
manipulation of the lock with the key, and then the turning of the knob in order
that the door may be opened; it is old to provide a single latching or securing
device, and to so arrange the same that it may be operated both by the knob or
knobs and by the key; it has been proposed to have a single latch or other locking
device which may be controlled by a knob on one side, for instance, and by a key
passing into an opening in the knob on the other side, so that the outer knob and
key-hole are combined in one structure; and it has been proposed to make locks in
which one of the knobs is provided with what may be termed keyless locking
devices, but all such devices require a special construction of lock, as well as knob,
and they are, therefore, very expensive and impracticable, so that as far as known
they have not been used.
One of the essential objects of this invention is to provide a knob adapted for
attachment to an ordinary lock or latch, and which is provided with keyless
locking devices embraced within itself, so that it can be attached to the ordinary
spindles or other parts of the usual form of locking or latching devices, and when
properly adjusted will not operate the latch, but which when the keyless locking
levices are properly manipulated will engage with the spindle or other part
controlling the latch, so that the latch may be operated and the door unlocked,

page_text: Thus, the door-knob may be made and sold as an article of manufacture if desired
and shall contain within itself the keyless locking devices by means of which the
knob may be used to release the latch or not, according to whether the locking
devices are properly manipulated.
It is evident that this main object may be accomplished in various ways, and hy
various details of construction and arrangement of parts, and the invention consists
broadly in a knob having a keyless locking device or devices adapted to be used in
connection with ordinary latches or locks to control their operation, as well as in
the knobs having the various features of construction and arrangement of parts
substantially as hereinafter indicated.
It will be understood that various features of the invention may be used together
in combination with each other, or separately, or in combination with other
equivalent devices without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, A represents a portion of a door having
what is known as a mortise lock or latch A', not shown in detail, which is provided
with a spindle B, passing through the latch and the door, and is adapted to have
the knobs C, C' secured thereto on either side of the door, so that the latch may
be manipulated and the door opened or closed from the inside or outside. The
knob C in the present instance, represents any usual knob as commonly employed,
while the knob C, embraces the invention of the present application, and while the
spindle B is shown as a common rectangular spindle, it is evident that this is only
given as a typical device, and any other well-known form of latch and spindle or other
operating device may be used, and the knob embodying the invention hereinafter
described be adapted and arranged to be applied thereto in any usual way.
The knob C comprises a casing, which may be made in any ordinary way,
preferably being formed of two or more parts ce¹ for convenience, properly
secured together, and which may be of any shape or design desired. Of course, it
is preferable to so secure the parts of the casing that they cannot be separated
when the knob is in position, to prevent surreptitious examination or manipulation
of the knob, and in the present instance the part c represents the outer covering or
face of the knob, while the part c¹ is the rear portion or body of the knob. This
body portion is provided with a flange c² which is utilised for the reception of the
keys or push-buttons, and is shown as recessed at c³, for the reception of the edge
of the face c, and these parts may be united by screwing them together or otherwise,
or as in the present instance, by a brace or bracket c', secured to the inner portion
of the flange c², and secured to the inner recessed face of the face plate c, said face
plate having an extension fitting a recess in the brace or bracket c', for better
security, the parts being united by a screw or otherwise, as shown. It will thus
be seen that when the parts are assembled, the body and face plates are securely
united together, and when applied in position, cannot be separated, except by
destruction of the knob.
'
The shank C2 of the knob is made hollow and is provided with suitable means
to secure the same to the spindle, depending, of course, upon the particular
character of the latter. In Fig. 1, there is a ring e, embracing the reduced end
of the spindle B, and secured within the hollow shank, and the outer portion of
the shank is preferably reduced and is provided with a collar C³, the outer surface of
which is preferably expanded to furnish a substantial bearing against the escutcheon
plate E, of the ordinary lock. This escutcheon plate is preferably provided with a
ring-like flange e to receive the end of the shank of the knob, and this construction
provides a simple and effective means of attaching, and preventing twisting or
manipulation of the knob.
The spindle B is provided with one member of some sort of a clutch device,
and while various forms may be used, Fig. 1 shows an enlarged head F, attached
to the end of the spindle, having a notched or recessed clutch face, while in
Fig. 10 is shown another form, in which the end of the spindle is provided with a
series of perforations, and from this it will be understood that the clutch may be of
any desired and well-known form. The knob is also provided with a clutch

page_text: member, adapted to co-operate with the clutch member on the spindle, and in
Fig. 1 is shown such a member F1, having recesses and projections corresponding
to the clutch member on the spindle, and in the various other figures different
forms of clutches are shown, as for instance in Fig. 8 there is a pin F arranged
to engage one of the holes in the clutch member shown in Fig. 10, and it will be
seen that it is only necessary to provide the spindle with one portion or member
of any suitable clutching device, and the knob with another member, -and this
portion in the knob is arranged to be moved into and out of engagement by any
suitable mechanism, it being shown as sliding in the shank of the knob.
This sliding member F1 of the clutch is controlled by what may be termed a
plunger G, which may be a part of the clutch or connected therewith, and is
arranged to slide in the recess in the knob body and to control the movement of
the clutch. This plunger is preferably spring-controlled, at least in one direction,
and in Fig. 1, it is normally under tension of a spring J, tending to maintain the
clutch members in operative connection, while, for instance in Fig. 8, the spring J
tends to maintain the plunger G in such a position as to disengage the clutch
members.
66
°
This plunger or equivalent device is controlled by the keyless locking devices
arranged in the body of the knob, and some of these devices are what are termed
true" keyless locking devices, and some are what are termed "false" keyless
locking devices, and there may be any number of each kind, and they may be
arranged in any order or series desired, and it will be understood that in order
to properly manipulate the knob, the true keyless locking devices must be operated,
and none others, and the operation of any of the false keyless locking devices will
ensure the knob remaining in an inoperative condition, so that the lock or latch
of the door or other device can only be operated when all of the true keyless
locking devices are manipulated, and no others. These keyless operating devices
may be of various forms and construction and may be arranged in various ways,
but are shown herein as comprising a series of push-buttons H, H', H, representing
the true push-buttons and H₁ the false. These push-buttons are mounted in the
knob either in recesses in the flange or body, or otherwise, and are preferably
under stress of a spring h, which normally keeps them distended, and this spring
may be a separate one for each button, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 7 and 8, surrounding
the spindle of the button, or may be otherwise constructed, as shown in Fig. 9, the
object being to have each button subjected to substantially the same tension, so that
the distinction between the false and true buttons cannot be determined by the
variations of pressure required to properly manipulate them, and in some instances
it is obvious that the tension of the retracting springs for the push-buttons will have
to vary, as will be seen hereinafter.
These push-buttons may be arranged so that they will directly control the
plunger or clutch-member, without the intervention of any intermediate devices,
but it has been found more practicable to interpose certain levers, tumblers,
locking plates, pins, or other equivalent devices, which are arranged to be
manipulated by the keys or push-buttons, and which in turn directly control the
movements of the plunger or clutch-member, and it is obvious that many and
various devices may be used for accomplishing this result.
Thus, in Figs. 1 and 2, the plunger G is shown as provided with a series of
recesses I, some of which, as It, may be empty, or may, if deemed necessary, be
provided with small springs (not shown in the drawings) against which the ends of
the spindles of the false push-buttons impinge, while others are provided with
springs supporting pins 2. These pins are arranged so that in their normal
position they extend partly into the recesses in the plunger, and partly into
openings in the flange of the body of the knob, the spindles of the true push-
buttons being shortened for this purpose, and it will be seen that they operate to
hold the plunger in position with relation to the body of the knob. When,
however, the true push-buttons are pressed, the pins will be forced inward, com-
pressing the small springs so that their outer ends shall be coincident with the

page_text: surface of the plunger, and the plunger is unlocked, and is forced forward by the
spring J, or otherwise, to cause the clutch to engage with the spindle. If,
however, one of the false push-buttons is depressed its spindle which is normally
coincident with the inner surface of the plunger, is pushed into one of the false
recesses I of the plunger, aud it will be seen that the plunger is then locked and
prevented from operating. As before intimated, these false recesses may be empty,
but when desired the previously referred to springs may be used to ensure the same
resistance to the pressure of the false keys as to the true keys or buttons. This
enables all the springs h to be of the same strength, and is a mere matter of
construction.
From this it will be seen that when the proper push-buttons or keys are pressed,
the pins will be forced inward, releasing the plunger, and there may be any
desired number of these pins, four being shown in Fig. 2, the other push-buttons
representing the false buttons.
In Fig. 3 is shown another construction of plunger, where the pins bear on
the arms of an annular spring, the plunger in this case being made of separate
parts, as indicated, for convenience of construction, and the false recesses I' may
also be provided with short pins, as shown in dotted lines, if desired. In Fig. 4,
a similar arrangement of the plunger G and an equivalent form of spring is
shown.
Some means must be provided for restoring the plunger to its normal position so
that it can become locked after having been once manipulated, and in Fig. 1, the
rods K project through the body of the knob, along the shank, and by pushing
them outward, the plunger can be restored. In Fig. 5 instead of the rods K, a
sleeve K' is used, there being a slot in the shank, by means of which the sleeve is
connected to the plunger or clutch. In Fig. 8, the plunger is normally pressed
outward by the spring J', and when it is desired to engage the clutch after the
proper keyless locking devices have been manipulated, the outer end of the
plunger must be pressed to force it inward to engage the clutch.
It will thus be seen that the knob embraces a clutch-member, some means for
operating the clutch-member, and false and true keyless locking devices con-
trolling the operation of the clutch-member, and it is obvious that these may
differ in details of construction and arrangement and still embrace the main
invention.
In Fig. 5 the face plate c, is shown secured to the body or rear portion c¹ by
screws, and while this is a satisfactory way, in some instances, it is evident that
the screws might possibly be manipulated by unauthorised persons, so that access
could be obtained to the inner portion of the knob. In this construction also the
plunger G is provided with a flanged head G', against which a series of levers L L'
are arranged to engage, L being the levers connected to be operated by the true
push-buttons H, and L', the levers to be operated by the false push-buttons H',
and the operation will be obvious by inspection. If the proper push-buttons are
operated, the levers L are disengaged from the flanged head of the plunger, and
the spring engages the clutch with the clutch of the spindle, but if a false push-
button is operated, a lever L' will engage the flanged head and prevent its
operating. These levers may be made interchangeable, so that their number and
order can be varied to suit.
In Fig. 6 a somewhat different arrangement is shown, in which the body portion
of the knob slides on the shank. In this case, the shank C is enlarged at C,
and the plunger is attached to the body of the knob and moves therewith. Mounted
in the recess are springs 26 and 27 the former being arranged so that their free ends
normally abut against the enlarged portion of the shank near its inner edge while
the latter are arranged normally to bear on the recessed portion of the body
just out of contact with the shank. All the push-buttons have spindles bearing
against these springs, and when a true button H is pressed, the spring i is forced
inward so that it will be disengaged from the enlarged portion of the shank, and
if a false button H' is forced inward, its spring will engage the face of the

page_text: enlarged portion of the shank and prevent the body of the knob being forced
forward to engage the clutch.
In Fig. 7 the plunger head H2 is recessed, and provided with a number of
openings g in its periphery, these openings having an enlarged portion and a
reduced portion, and the true push-buttons H, have their stems provided with an
enlarged head, and a recess hand these heads normally engage the enlarged
portion of the openings g in the plunger, but when the button is pressed sufficiently
the reduced portion 2 permits the plunger head to move inward under the stress
of the spring, or otherwise. The false push buttons H' are provided with enlarged
spindles which on being depressed enter the enlarged openings in the plunger
and prevent its movement. In Fig. 8 the plunger G is in the form of a bar,
having reduced portions g' which may be of various widths and sizes, and embracing
the plunger are a series of plates H3 H³, which are connected to the different
push-buttons H. H¹. These plates are provided with openings having an enlarged
portion and a reduced portion, and they are so arranged that when the true
buttons are pressed, the enlarged portion embraces the plunger and it can be
forced inward, but when any of the false buttons are pressed, the reduced portion
of the opening embraces the plunger and prevents its operation.
As above intimated, with this construction not only do the proper push-buttons
have to be manipulated, but the plunger has to be manually forced inward to
engage the clutch.
In Fig. 9 a similar arrangement of plates is shown attached to or forming the
spindles of the push-buttons and embracing the plunger, which is notched or
recessed, as before. The plates in this instance are controlled by springs h*,
arranged within the main recess of the knob, and portions of these springs are
arranged to bear upon a collar g² on the plunger G. The spring J2 in this
instance tends to maintain the clutch out of position, but when the several true
keys are depressed, the springs bearing on the collar g² are sufficient to overcome
the resistance of the spring J2 and engage the clutch. The springs connected
with the false buttons offer substantially the same resistance to their movement to
prevent detection.
The push-buttons may have any indicator mark so as to aid the initiated in
operating the proper buttons, and in Fig. 12 is shown one of the buttons as
provided with a slight projection or the face plate may have thereon a series of
numerals, or any other well-known means may be adopted to operate as an
indicator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1. A knob adapted for attachment to an ordinary lock or latch operating spindle
provided with keyless locking devices arranged to control the operation of the knob
substantially as described.
2. A knob adapted for attachment to an ordinary lock or latch operating
spindle provided with keyless locking devices and clutch controlled by said devices
substantially as described.
3. A knob adapted for attachment to an ordinary lock or latch provided with
keyless locking devices a clutch and meaus for moving the clutch automatically
when the proper keyless locking devices are operated substantially as described.
4. The combination with an ordinary spindle, of a knob provided with keyless
locking devices means for securing the knob with relation to the spindle so that
the knob can be moved without operating the same and a clutch device arranged to
engage the spindle so that it will be operated with the knob the clutch being
controlled by the keyless locking devices substantially as described.
5. A knob provided with a series of push-buttons radially mounted in the knob,
a clutch device, and intermediate connections between the push-buttons and
clutch device for controlling the latter substantially as described.

page_text: 6. A knob provided with a series of push-buttons and a clutch device a plunger
connected to the clutch device and locking devices controlling the plunger and
controlled by the push-buttons substantially as described.
7. A knob provided with a series of push-buttons and a plunger a series of
locking devices normally engaging the plunger and disengaged by the push-buttons
and another series of locking devices disengaging the plunger and engaged therewith
by the push-buttons substantially as described.
8. A knob provided with a series of keyless locking devices a clutch member
and a plunger means for automatically moving the plunger in one direction and
means for restoring it to its position substantially as described.
9. A knob provided with keyless locking devices a plunger controlled by the
keyless locking devices the plunger being provided with a series of recesses and
pins for the recesses substantially as described.
10. A knob having the characteristics of construction arrangement and mode of
operation substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 21st day of September 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.