Improvements in Night Latches Constructed to be Operated by Keys which are Not Passed Through the Thicknesses of the Doors to which the Latches are Fixed.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8:h Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Night Latches Constructed to be Operated by Keys
which are Not Passed Through the Thicknesses of the Doors to
which the Latches are Fixed.
We, HENRY VAUGHAN, trading as H. and T. Vaughan, of Standard Works,
Willenhall in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, and SAMUEL SMITH,
of 135 Bloxwich Road, Willenhall, aforesaid, Locksmith, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention applies to the kind of night latch in which a case containing the
latching bolt is intended to be fixed to the inside of a door, and in which a case
containing mechanism which is directly operated by the key, and through the
medium of which the latch bolt is drawn back against the pressure of a spring or
springs and such bolt securely automatically locked when shot out by the pressure
of such spring or springs, is intended to be fixed to the opposite side of the door;
the purpose of such form of latch being to enable a small key to be used for
unlocking it, in lieu of a long key which has to be provided in the case of a night
latch which necessitates the key being passed through the thickness of the door
from the outside.
The invention has for its object improved means for use in fixing the outer case
to the door, novel or improved means for adjusting the length of the means of
communication between the key and the latch bolt, and novel or improved locking
mechanism for use in the outer case of the latch.
For fixing the outer case, or case into which the key is inserted, to the front of a
door, a small plate which is independent of the latch bolt case is screwed to the
inside of the door, and screws are passed through holes in such plate and are
screwed into lugs formed at the inner face of the outer or key case of the latch.
In order to allow for considerable variation in the thickness of doors for which a
latch may be adapted, the lugs may be formed each with a part projecting inwards
and with a sideway head through which the fixing screw is screwed. If the door
to which the latch is applied is a thin one, the fixing screws for the outer case will
almost touch the inner face of such case, but if the door is a thick one the screws
will pass only just through the heads of the lugs, and with any intermediate
thickness the inner ends of the screws will reach some point intermediate between
the heads and the case, and thus a given length of screw may answer for doors
varying considerably in thickness. The inner case containing the latching bolt is
simply placed over the plate aforesaid which fixed to the inner face of the door,
and is fixed to the door by ordinary screws. The cap-plate of the latch bolt case
is, preferably, let somewhat into the case as is common with latch cases, and thus
the plate aforesaid, which is fixed to the inner face of the door, may be in position
within the space between the outer face of the cap-plate and the inner face of the
door. If the cap-plate is not let into the latch bolt case, the fixing plate for the
outer case must of course be let into the joinery. By this arrangement the latch
bolt case has not to be opened to enable any part of the latch to be fixed in
place.
The adjustment as to the length of the means of communication between the key
and the latch bolt is made automatic, according to this invention, so that without
any alteration of parts for such purpose a latch may be fixed to doors varying

page_text: considerably in thickness. In accomplishing this part of the invention, the loose
piece of flat steel usually employed, and which engages at one end with a turning-
piece which is directly operated by the key and at the other end with the double-
horned follower which moves back the latch bolt, is dispensed with, and the turning
piece which is directly operated by the key is made to engage direct with a spindle
or projection which is formed with or rigidly fixed to the follower; the parts being
shaped, and engaging with one another in such manner, that the one cannot turn
independently of the other when the latch is fixed in place. The turning piece
which is directly turned by the key is formed with a part which is of a shape which
permits of the latch spindle or projection from the follower sliding longitudinally
therein, or vice versa, one of such parts being formed conveniently Hat shaped for a
considerable distance from its outer end, and the other with a slot or sluice formed
in for a considerable distance from its outer or corresponding end within which the
flat portion of the other part is capable of sliding end ways. The one part may, of
course, engage more or less deeply with the other part, according to the thickness
of the door with which the latch is used, and thus the same latch may, without any
alteration of parts, be fixed to doors varying considerably in thickness.
The novel or improved locking mechanism, for use in the outer case of the latch,
consists of an arm on the turning piece which is directly operated by the key, of a
stump carried by such arm, and of a lever or set of levers having a gating or
gatings therethrough with which the stump engages. The longitudinal alot of the
gating or each gating is curved to suit the movement in a curved direction of the
stump.
Dated this 7th day of February 1895
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Night Latches Constructed to be Operated by Keys
which are Not Passed Through the Thicknesses of the Doors to
which the Latches are Fixed.
We,
HENRY VAUGHAN, trading as H. and T. Vaughan, of Standard Works,
Willenhall in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturer, and SAMUEL SMITH,
of 135 Bloxwich Road, Willenhall, aforesaid, Locksmith, 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 :-
This invention applies to the kind of night latch in which a case containing the
latching bolt is intended to be fixed to the inside of a door, and in which a case
containing mechanism which is directly operated by the key, and through the
medium of which the latch bolt is drawn back against the pressure of a spring or
springs and such bolt securely automatically locked when shot out, against any
attempt to open it from the outside of the door, is intended to be fixed to the
opposite side of the door; the purpose of such form of latch being to enable a
small key to be used for unlocking it, in lieu of a long key which has to be provided
in the case of a night latch which necessitates the key being passed through the
thickness of the door from the outside.
The invention has for its object improved means for use in fixing the outer case
to the door, novel or improved means for adjusting the length of the means
of communication between the key and the latch bolt, and novel or improved
locking mechanism for use in the outer case of the latch.
For fixing the outer case, or case into which the key is inserted, to the front of
a door, a small plate which is independent of the latch bolt case is screwed to the

page_text: inside of the door, and screws are passed through holes in such plate and are
screwed into lugs formed at the inner face of the outer or key case of the latch.
In order to allow for considerable variation in the thickness of doors for which a
latch may be adapted, the lugs may consist each of a part projecting inwards and
of a sideway head through which the fixing screw is screwed. If the door to which
the latch is applied is a thin one, the fixing screws for the outer case will almost
touch the inner face of such case, but if the door is a thick one the screws will pass
only just through the heads of the lugs, and with any intermediate thickness the
inner ends of the screws will reach some point intermediate between the heads and
the case, and thus a given length of screw may answer for doors varying
considerably in thickness. The inner case containing the latching bolt is simply
placed over the plate aforesaid which is fixed to the inner face of the door, and is
fixed to the door by ordinary screws. The cap-plate of the latch bolt case is,
preferably, let somewhat into the case, as is common with latch cases, and thus the
plate aforesaid which is fixed to the inner face of the door, may be in position
within the space between the outer face of the cap-plate and the inner face of the
door. If the cap-plate is not let into the latch bolt case, the fixing plate for
the outer case should, of course, be let into the joinery. By this arrangement, the
latch bolt case has not to be opened to enable any part of the latch to be
fixed in place.
The adjustment as to the length of the means of communication between the key
and the latch bolt is made automatically according to this invention, so that
without any alteration of parts for such purpose a latch may be fixed to doors
varying considerably in thickness. In accomplishing this part of the invention,
the loose piece of flat steel usually employed, and which engages at one end with a
turning-piece which is directly operated by the key and at the other end with the
follower which moves back the latch bolt when the key is turned, is dispensed with,
and the turning piece which is directly operated by the key is made to engage
direct with a spindle or projection which is formed with or rigidly fixed to
the follower; the parts being shaped, and engaging with one another is such manner,
that the one cannot turn independently of the other when the latch is fixed in place.
The turning piece which is directly turned by the key is formed with a part which
is of a shape which permits of the latch spindle or projection from the follower
sliding longitudinally therein, or rice versa, one of such parts being formed
conveniently flat-shaped for a considerable distance from its outer end, and the
other with a slot or sluice formed in for a considerable distance from its onter or
corresponding end, within which the flat portion of the other part is capable of
sliding endways. The one part may, of course, engage more or less deeply with
the other part, according to the thickness of the door with which the latch is used,
and thus the same latch may, without any alteration of parts, be fixed to doors
varying considerably in thickness.
The novel or improved locking mechanism, for use in the outer case of the latch,
consists of an arm on the turning piece which is directly operated by the key, of a
stump carried by such arm, and of a lever or set of levers having a gating or
gatings therethrough with which the stump engages. The longitudinal slot of the
gating, or each gating, is curved to suit the movement in a curved path of the
stump.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we have illustrated the
same on the drawings herewith. Of these drawings
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a latch constructed according to this inven-
tion taken on the vertical plane which passes through the axis of the turning-piece
through the medium of which the latch bolt is moved back by the key.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the latch taken at the level indicated by the
linex of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detached face view of the fixing plate.
Figure 4 is a front view of the outer portion of the latch, with the front plate
cut away to expose the mechanism.

page_text: & detached side view of the turning-piece and arm; and
Figure 6 is a transverse section through such turning-piece taken on line yy 01
Figure 5.
In Figures 1 and 2 the latch is shewn fixed to a door, of which of course only a
small portion is shewn.
A is the cuter case, which is let as usual into the joinery and has the front
plate a projecting all round beyond the body to form a rim or flange which bears
against the outer face of the door. B is a flat plate which is fixed, by means of
screws passed through the holes b (Figure 3), to the inner face of the door. The
case A is securely fixed by means of screws c which are passed through holes d in
the plate B and are screwed up tightly into lugs e of the case A. Each lug is
formed with a sideway head through which the corresponding piu c is screwed,
whereby the same length of screw may be used for doors varying considerably in
thickness. C is the inner case containing the latch bolt D. The cap-plate E of
this case, being let somewhat into the case, leaves space for the plate B between
itself and the door. It will now be obvious that if it is desired to remove the
outer case A, it is simply necessary to remove the inner case C, without unfixing
the cap from the case, and to unscrew the pins e from the lugs of the case A.
The lugs formed with sideway heads may be used though the fixing screws c are
held at their outer ends by the cap-piate E as in the ordinary method of fixing the
outer case, as the advantage is still secured of enabling a given length of screws to
be used for varying thicknesses of doors.
F is a collar formed with a part which is a turning fit within the cap-plate E of
the case C, and is fixed at its inner end to a follower g of the usual character by
which the latch bolt D may be moved back; and G is the turning-piece carried by
the case A which is turned by the key. The collar F is formed with a tongue h,
and the turning-piece has a slot i into which the tongue & enters when the parts are
put together. As the collar F, and consequently the follower g, are turned by the
turning-piece G whatever distance the tongue enters within the slot i, the parts
will, without any alteration, properly engi with one another in the case of
latches of exactly the same construction being used for doors varying considerably
in thickness.
This
The turning-piece G has a portion which passes through the case A, and such
portion is formed as or to answer the purpose of a barrel, having a part j of
reduced diameter which is a turning fit within the cap a of such case.
portion of the turning-piece carries an arm k, preferably formed in the same piece
of metal, and a stump projects from the face of the arm into gatings formed
through levers m. These levers are omitted in Figure 2, and the front lever only
is shewn in Figure 4, for the sake of clearness of illustration. The longitudinal
slot of each lever is curved, as shewn, to allow of the movement in a curved path
of the stump as the arm k is turned with the turning-piece. As it is necessary to
raise the levers before turning the turning-piece, a space o is formed in the part of
the turning piece which is within the case A, so that the key-bit may be turned
sufficiently to raise the levers and bring the forward ends of the slots n into
coincidence with the stump before it commences to turn the turning-piece and
thus move the arm and stump.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A night latch, of the kind above defined, having an independent plate for use
(in lieu of the cap plate of the case carrying the latching bolt) in holding the
outer ends of the screws used in fixing the outer or key case, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
2. A uight latch, of the kind above defined, having lugs projecting at the back
of the outer or key case formed with sideway heads through which the ends of the

page_text: pins used in fixing such case may be screwed, substantially as described for the
purpose set forth.
3. A night latch, of the kind above defined, in which the adjustment as to the
length of the means of communication between the kev and the latch bolt is
automatically affected by forming the turning-piece which is directly operated by
the key with a part which engages directly with a part which is connected with the
follower through the medium of which the key moves back the latching bolt,
the engaging parts being of a shape which permits of one of them sliding
longitudinally within the other without being capable of turning therein,
substantially as described.
4. A night latch, of the kind above defined, in which the adjustment as to the
length of the means of communication between the key and the latch bolt is
automatically effected, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings
herewith.
5. In a night latch of the kind above defined, the combination of a turning-piece
which is directly operated by the key with an arm projecting from such turning
piece and carrying a stump and with a lever or levers with which the stump
engages, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.