Improvements in Door-locks or Latches, and Keys therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Door-locks or Latches, and Keys therefor.
I, WRAY COCKROFT, of 12, Lane End Terrace, Hipperholme, near Halifax, Wire-
drawer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
a
-
This invention relates to improvements in door-locks or latches and keys for
locking and unlocking the same, and consists in providing locking bolt or lever
pivoted at its rear end to and within a case fixed to the door the said bolt or lever
engaging at its front end with a locking plate or catch on the door frame when in
its locked position.
A strong spring acts upon the rear end of the bolt to keep it in its locked position,
the said spring also acting upon one arm of a pivoted bell crank lever whose other
arm is formed with a projection bearing against the under side of the bolt for the
purpose of raising the latter or turning it on its pivot, when unlocking it. The
end of this arm is also formed with a tooth which engages with another tooth or
catch on the end of one arm of a small bell crank or locking lever acted upon by a
spring to keep the said teeth engaged with each other in the locked position of the
bolt. This second or small bell crank is acted upon by a key of special construction
for unlocking the said teeth or catches and raising the bolt out of gear with the
locking plate or catch. The shank of the said improved key is formed with a slot
at its end within which is pivoted a small plate or tongue formed with recesses on
each side or edge forming wards of different design. Two of these recesses may be
on one side or edge and one on the other and upon one side of the key hole in the
case are fixed two pins whilst a third one is carried by a bracket behind and
between the others, the said pins constituting wards corresponding in position with
the recesses in the pivoted tongue.
In order to unlock the bolt from outside the key is pushed through the hole
in the door, in position to permit the side of the pivoted plate in which the two
recesses are formed to fall down level with the front plate of the lock-case, thus
permitting the key being turned by reason of the recesses on each side of the tongue
clearing the pins or wards and enabling the tongue to act upon the spring catch
or locking lever.
The back pin or ward is connected to its bracket or support by a slide and set-
screw so that its position may be adjusted to a nicety to agree with the recess in
the tongue. The locking lever is arranged so that a long or short key may act
upon it with equal facility, and in order to lock the door from the inside the
locking bolt or lever is pushed down into gear with its catch thereby forcing
down the bell-crank lever into its locked position with the catch on
locking lever. The door is unlocked from the inside by pressing down an arm or
lever connected to the locking lever. The key-hole is only just large enough to
permit of the passage of the key shank, thus preventing the lock being picked by
the insertion of a bent wire or skeleton keys. Should the tongue fall in the wrong
the

page_text: irection upon inserting the key it is simply necessary to push the key further in
and give it a half turn when the tongue will fall in the contrary or right direction.
Dated this 1st day of September 1897.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
I, WRAY COCKROFT, of 12, Lane End Terrace, Hipperholme, near Halifax, Wire-
drawer, 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 relates to improvements in door-locks or latches and keys for
locking and unlocking the same.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a view of my improved lock or latch with cover removed and showing
the bar or bolt in a locked position.
Fig. 2 is an. end view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view of my improved lock or latch with cover removed and showing
the bar or bolt withdrawn or in an unlocked position.
Fig. 4 is a front view of lock or catch showing mechanism for locking or
unlocking the same from the inside.
Fig. 5 is a side view of key employed for locking and unlocking my improved
lock or latch.
I employ a locking bolt or lever A fixed within slides or
and within a case C fixed to the door, the said bolt or lever A engaging at its front
guide brackets B upon
end with a locking plate or catch on the door frame when in its locked position.
A strong spring 1) acts upon the rear end of the bolt A to keep it in its locked
position, a second stronger spring E fixed upon the lock case also acting upon one
arm F of a pivotted bell crank lever whose other arm G bears against the under side
of the bolt A for the purpose of moving the latter when unlocking it. The end
of this arm is also formed with a tooth or catch H which engages with another tooth
or catch on the end of one arm of a small bell crank or locking lever K acted upon
by a spring L to keep the said teeth or catches, H, J, engaged with each other in
the locked position of the bolt. This second or small bell crank lever K is acted
upon by a key M. of special construction for unlocking the said teeth or catches and
moving the bolt A out of gear with the locking plate or catch as shown in dotted
lines at Fig. 1.
The shank of the said improved key is formed with a slot P at its end within
which is pivotted a small plate or tongue R formed with recesses S on each side
or edge forming wards of different design. Two of these recesses may be on one
side or edge and one on the other, and upon one side of the key hole in the case
are fixed two pins T whilst a third one U preferably adjustable is carried by a
bracket V behind and between the others, the said pins constituting wards corre-
sponding in position with the recesses in the pivotted tongue of the key.
In order to unlock the bolt from outside the key is pushed through the hole in
the door in position to permit the side of the pivotted plate R in which the two
recesses are formed to fall down level with the front plate of the lock-case C, thus
permitting the key being turned by reason of the recesses on each side of the
tongue clearing the pins or wards T and U and enabling the tongue R to act upon

page_text: the spring catch or locking lever K moving the same on its pivot and disengaging
the catches H and J, releasing the bell crank lever which by means of the spring E
immediately forces back the bolt A and unlocks the door."
The back pin or ward U is connected to its bracket or support V by a slide X
and set screw Y so that its position may be adjusted to a nicety to agree with the
recess in the tongue.
The locking lever K is arranged so that a long or short key may act upon it
with equal facility, and in order to lock the door from the inside the locking bolt
or lever A is moved into contact with its locking plate or catch on the door frame
(by means of a screwed stud A¹ extending through the lock case and on which is
a knob or handle A2) simultaneously forcing down the arm G of the bell-crank
lever into its locked. position with the catch on the locking lever K. The door
is unlocked from the inside by a handle or knob K¹ whose forked shank engages
with the locking lever and moves the catch J clear of the catch H on the bell
crank lever, the spring E acting on the arm F of the bell crank lever as before
described.
The keyhole is only just large enough to permit of the passage of the key shank,
thus preventing the lock being picked by the insertion of a bent wire or skeleton
keys. Should the tongue fall in the wrong direction upon inserting the key it
is simply necessary to push the key further in and give it a half turn when the
tongue will fall in the contrary or right direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
―:
1. In the construction of locks or latches the use and employment of a bell crank
lever, having arms F, G, locking lever K, catches H and J and key M operating
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.
2. In locks or latches, the combination with the bolt A bell crank lever having
arms F and G and locking lever K, of handles or knobs A2 and K' in the manner
and for the purposes substantially as set forth.
3. In locks or latches the employment of an adjustable pin U for the purposes
substantially as set forth.
4. In locks or latches the use and employment of a key M having pivotted or
hinged tongue R slot P and grooves S substantially as set forth.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March 1898
JOHN E. WALSH,
Waterhouse Chambers, Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.