IMPROVEMENTS IN LATCHES BOLTS, OR FASTENINGS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF A SIMILAR CHARACTER."
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Daniel Sprague of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in
tho County of Surroy for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LATCHES BOLTS,
OR FASTENINGS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF A SIMILAR
CHARACTER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Daniel Sprague at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th Juno 1883.
JOHN DANIEL SPRAGUE of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LATCHES, BOLTS, OR FASTENINGS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS, AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF A SIMILAR CHARACTER,"
This invention has for its object the construction of latches bolts or fastenings
for doors, windows and articles of furniture, and especially to such doors or
windows as are commonly known as folding, the closing of one door or window
being automatically secured by the closing of the other
The invention consists of a hollow rectangular shell or case having projecting
flanges at each end by which when the said shell or caso is mortised, or let into the
woodwork it may be secured by ordinary screws. The shell has two slots one at
the top and the other at the side. Within the shell thero is pivotted a tumbler or
latch so weighted, arranged and bevilled that on closing the door or window the
latch will impinge upon a slotted striking plate in the top of the frame of the
doorway and be pushed down, but on the door being pressed home, the latch will
rise by virtue of its weight at the opposite end and enter the slot in the striking
plate and mortise cut to receive it, and there it will remain until it is desired to
open the door, when on the insertion of the finger nail in a suitable indent the
latch may be withdrawn. The foregoing refers to the construction of the top latch
or bolt. The bottom one is made slightly different. The case or shell is of the
same form and has similar slots. The bottom of the frame of the doorway has also
a similar mortise cut to receive the latch or bolt. The latch is however in this
case so pivotted, weighted and bevilled that on closing the second door the catch

page_text: attached to the first is pressed down into the mortise in the bottom of the doorway
thus holding the first door securely while the second is being locked into it.
When the locking is completed it is impossible to open either door without the
application of the key or other locking and unlocking instrument, but on unlocking
and opening the second door the bottom latch will be withdrawn from the mortise,
and on the application of the finger to the top latch as before described it may be
withdrawn and the first door opened without hindrance.
The top latch may also be so weighted and bevilled as not to need the
application of the finger at all for the purpose of withdrawing it, and the opening
of the door to which it is attached may be performed in the usual way.
These latches bolts or fastenings may be made of iron,-brass-or-any-other_suitable_
metal or allow
E
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page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Daniel Sprague in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1883.
JOHN DANIEL SPRAGUE formerly of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in the County
of Surrey, but now of N°. 20 Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LATCHES, BOLTS OR FASTENINGS FOR DOORS, WINDOWS AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF A SIMILAR CHARACTER,"
This invention has for its object the construction of latches, bolts or fastenings
for doors, windows and articles of furniture and especially to such doors or
windows as are commonly known as "folding," the closing of one door or window
being automatically secured either by completely closing it, or by the closing of the '
other door.
The invention consists of a hollow rectangular shell or case having projecting
flanges at each end, by which, when the said shell or caso is mortised or let into
the woodwork it may be secured by ordinary screws. The shell has two slots, one
at the top and the other at the side. Within the shell there is pivotted a tumbler
or latch so weighted, arranged and bevilled that on closing the door or window the
latch will impinge upon a slotted striking plate in the top of the frame of the
doorway and be pushed down, but on the door being pressed home the latch will
rise by virtue of its weight at the opposite end, and enter the slot in the striking
plate and mortise cut to receive it, and there it will remain until it is desired to
open the door, when on the insertion of the finger nail in a suitable indent the
latch may be withdrawn. The foregoing refers to the construction of the top latch
or bolt. The bottom one is mado slightly different. The case or shell is of the
same form and has similar slots. The bottom of the frame of the doorway has also
a similar mortise cut to receive the latch or bolt. The latch is however in this case
so pivotted weighted and bevilled that on closing the second door the catch
attached to the first is pressed down into the mortise in the bottom of the doorway,
thus holding the first door securely, both while the second is being locked into it,
subsequently, and till released by opening the second door. When the locking is
completed, it is impossible to open either door without the application of the key
or other locking and unlocking instrument, but on unlocking and opening the
second door the bottom latch withdraws itself from the mortise, and on the
application of the finger to the top latch as before described it may be withdrawn
and the first door opened without hindrance.
The top latch may also be weighted and bevilled so as not to need the application
of the finger at all for the purpose of withdrawing it, and the opening of the door
to which it is attached may be performed in the usual way.
These latches bolts or fastenings may be made of iron, brass, or any other
suitable metal or alloy.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood drawings are attached
hereto of which the following is a description, similar letters in each of the views
indicating the same parts. Fig 1 is a front elevation of the top self locking
fastening, in which A is the shell or case, B, B its flanges and C the bolt or latch in
the position which it assumes when the door is open and also when the door is
closed home and it has entered the mortise. Fig 2 is a section of Fig 1.-Fig 3 is
a side elevation showing the direction in which the latch C is bevilled and the
finger indent D by means of which the latch can be withdrawn from the mortise.
Fig 4 is a plan of the shell and latch, E being one of the holes to receive a screw
For fastening the shell or case to the door. Fig 5 is an elevation of the bottom

page_text: fastening the latch being bevilled at the bottom as seen in Fig 7-Fig 6 is a
section of the same. Fig 7 is a plan of the bottom of Fig 5, and Fig 8 is a side
elevation of Fig 5, the latch being bevilled, so that in case it does not enter the
mortise by its own weight, the closing of the second door when it impinges upon
the bolt or latch will thrust the other end of the said bolt or catch into the mortise 5
as shown by the dotted line. Figs 9 to 16 both inclusive are modifications of the
foregoing, Fig. 9. being a sido elevation of 'a 'top fastening with latch so bevilled
and arranged that the closing of the second door as it strikes the latch will cause
its opposite end to enter the mortise cut to receive it. Fig 10 is a section of
Fig 9. Fig 11 is a plan of it, and Fig 12 is a side elevation of the same. Fig 13 is 1
an, elevation' of a self locking bottom fastening, Fig 14 being a section of it, Fig 15
a side elevation, and Fig 16-a-plan-of-the-same-arrangement. Fig_17_is_a_plan_of
the striking plate with mortise hole F
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would 1
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may bo-made.
therefrom without deviating, from the principles or, main features of this invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the invention,
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-The 20
construction, of latches, bolts, or fastenings as herein described, and shown on
the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Daniel Spraguo-have-here--
unto set my hand and seal this Twentieth day of December, in the
year of our Lord-One Thousand Eight hundred and Eighty three..
•
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RACHEמצית זיין"
Gol
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