Improved Method of Constructing Locks, Padlocks, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Constructing Locks, Padlocks, and the like.
We, JAMES MILNE, Milton House Works, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh, Engineer, and
HENRY O'CONNOR, Milton House Works, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A strip of metal, either solid or hollow, and bearing on its inner or outer sides
suitable springs is inserted within a case through a convenient opening therein,
in such a manner that, when the strip is being pushed into the case, the springs
are compressed to permit its entering, but immediately the strip is pushed home,
they open outwards so as to prevent the withdrawal of the strip. A key inserted
in a suitable opening is made to compress the springs so as to permit of the with-
drawal of the strip with the springs. Suitable provision is made by the use
of stops among the springs to prevent the use of instruments other than the key
for compressing the springs. Alternatively, two or more strips may be used,
and, if necessary, the number of openings into the case increased, or the springs
may be attached to the case instead of to the strip, suitable catches being provided
to engage with the springs. In use the strip is attached to either of the two
articles or parts to be locked together. The case is similarly attached to the other
article or part in such a relative position that, when the two articles or parts
are brought quite close together, the strip is, at the same moment, pushed com-
pletely home into the case, and is locked in that position by the opening out of the
springs, so that it cannot be withdrawn, nor the two articles or parts separated,
without the application of the key.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Constructing Locks, Padlocks, and the like.
We, JAMES MILNE, Engineer, Milton House Works, Edinburgh, and HENRY
O'CONNOR, Civil Engineer, Milton House Works, Abbey Hill, Edinburgh, 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 lock consists of two parts, an outer case and a strip fitting into same.
of these may be attached to the door, and the other to the door post.
Either

page_text: (a). The case of the lock, which may be made either round, square, or other
convenient shape, is partially closed at one end, leaving an opening of such shape
and size as will admit the entrance of the strip of metal, to be afterwards described,
with its accompanying springs, when these latter are compressed, but which pre-
vents the withdrawal of the strip once it has been pushed home and the springs
permitted to open out.
The strip of metal above referred to may be bifurcated for a portion of its
length, and has upon its outer sides three springs of rounded wire or flat metal
attached at one end and free to open out towards the unattached end. One of the
springs is a double one, having its bifurcation in coincidence with that of the strip,
the other two, which are upon the opposite side of the strip, are single, and are
placed one on either side of the bifurcation in the strip.
The key is formed of a flat piece of metal having at one end three projections
at right angles to the flat of the key. Two are upon one side of the flat, and one
upon the other, and the two former are placed at such a distance apart that, when
the key is pressed into the lock, they will gradually press the double and one of
the single springs towards the strip, while at the same time the remaining pro-
jection, which is placed exactly opposite one of the other projections, serves to
press the other single spring in the same direction and to the same extent. The
flat of the key travels down the bifurcation in the strip and the double spring and
between the two single springs.
Between the two single springs and at the end nearest their points, a pin or stop
is fixed to the strip, and extends a portion of the length of the bifurcation in same.
The key is slotted between the opposing projections so that the latter may pass,
one upon each side of the stop, in order to complete the pressure at the ends of the
springs.
When the key has completed its travel, the springs are so far compressed as
to be simultaneously disengaged from the retaining edges of the opening in closed
end of the case, permitting the withdrawal of the strip and the separation of the
door and door post or other articles to be held together by the lock.
(b). Alternatively we attach the springs to the inside of the case, these springs
being fixed opposite each other, so that their free ends approach one another.
Fitted to the strip are two flat arms having stops or returns on their ends, so that
when it is being pushed into the case, these stops press the springs outwards until
the former are home, when they will just have pressed the end of the springs, which
latter, springing inwards, engage with the stops and prevent the withdrawal of the
strip or the separation of the two parts, viz., the case and the strip.
The key, which is a flat piece of metal with projections on each side, is pushed
in between the flat arms, and when home, is turned, the flat arms having suitable
openings to permit the projections of the key to pass, and on the keys being turned,
these projections engage with and press the springs, so that they are freed from
tho stops and the strip may then be withdrawn from the case and the two parts
separated.
(c). Alternatively we make the strip of metal in the form of four pins with a
shaped passage between them, and with a double spring, bifurcated as described
in (a), attached to the outer sides of each pair of the pins at the free ends thereof.
Over the fixed ends of the pins is placed a disc which is free to revolve and
contains a keyhole which is shapen somewhat like the letter Z. The key, which
is flat in shape similar to that in (a), has projections at its point similar to the Z
shape of the keyhole. Wlien it has been pushed home, these projections have
passed beyond the points of the pins, and the key is turned a portion of a circle.
It is then partly withdrawn when the projections in returning compress the springs
and so permit the withdrawal of the springs as in section (a). Stops or wards are
inserted in the case which prevent any key not furnished with corresponding slots
from being turned in the lock.

page_text: (d). When it is desired to use any of the three previously described arrange-
ments as a padlock, we attach to one end of the case by a hinge or swivel a strip
of metal bent to form a U-shaped loop, and having at its free end a catch or recess
so as to engage with a suitable projection attached to the outer end of the inner
portion of the lock, so that when the loop is swung or swivelled into position and
the inner portion of the lock pushed home, the loop cannot be disengaged until
the compression of the springs by the key has permitted the withdrawal of the
inner portion of the lock.
In the drawing, Figures 1, 2 & 3 represent the strip as described in section (a)
of the foregoing specification. A is the strip, B the springs, those shewn in
Figure 1 being joined at their free end. C is the stop. Figure 4 shews a section
through the case, D being the entrance for strip and E the keyhole. Figures 5
and 6 shew D and E respectively in elevation: Figures 7, 8 & 9 are views of the
kev.
Figure 10 shews a section of the lock as in section (b). F is the case with the
springs G fixed within it: H are the flat arms with the stops J at their ends; K is
the keyhole. Figure 11 is an elevation of one of the flat arms, shewing the open-
ings in same made to admit the corresponding projections in the key, Figure 12.
Figure 13 is a section of the lock as in section (c). KK are the pins forming
the strips with the springs L attached to them on their outer side. N is the
revolving disc containing the keyhole. Figures 14, 15 & 16 shew the key.
Figure 17 shews the arrangement in the form of a padlock. A is the case,
B the U-shaped loop hinged or swivelled at C, and having a catch at D engaging
with the projection E on the inner portion of the lock, which may be constructed
in any of the three forms described in (a), (b) and (c) respectively.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
(1). The use of springs arranged as described attached to one of the two parts
in which the lock is made, and which, when completely inserted in the other part,
expand and their points engage with projections on the other part, preventing their
withdrawal except on compression by the insertion of the specially constructed key,
all as herein before described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
(2). The use of a key constructed with projections as described in section (a) of
the foregoing specification for the purpose of compressing the springs so as to
permit their withdrawal, all as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
annexed drawings.
(3). The use of a flat key constructed as described in section (b) of the foregoing
specification, with projections fitted to pass through suitable openings in flat arms
for the purpose of disengaging the springs from the returns or stops, and so per-
mitting the withdrawal of the springs, all as herein before described and illustrated
in the annexed drawings.
(4). The use of a key constructed with projections as described in section (c) of
the foregoing specification, which, after being inserted and turned, compresses
the springs as it is being withdrawn, and so permits of their withdrawal, all as
herein before described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
(5). The use of stops or wards as hereinbefore described for the purpose of
preventing the lock being opened by any instrument other than the key provided
for the particular lock, all as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the annexed
drawings.
(6). The application to the foregoing arrangements of a U-shaped metal loop
attached at one end to the outer case, and at the other securely fastened by
engaging with the inner portion of the lock when closed, all as herein before
described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
(7). Our hereinabove described apparatus forming a lock or padlock and key-
'

page_text: the lock or padlock being constructed in two detachable parts which automatically
lock when the inner part is pushed home, necessitating the use of one or other,
as the case may be, of the keys above described, to permit of their separation;
all substantially as and for the purposes herein before described, and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.