CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPINDLES FOR LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN THE MODE OP CON- NECTING THE SAME THERETO AND TO THEIR RESPECTIVE KNOBS
Year: 1856

page_text: (This Invention received Provisional Protection, but notice to proceed with me
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Benjamin Browne at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th March
1856.
22
I, BENJAMIN BROWNE, of Stockwell, in the County of Surrey, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SPINDLES FOR LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN THE MODE OP CON-
NECTING THE SAME THERETO AND TO THEIR RESPECTIVE KNOBS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the spindles of locks and latches, and more par-
ticularly such spindles as are constructed with contrivances for varying the
distance between the knobs or handles upon the ends thereof, according to the
thickness of the door to which they are to be applied. The mode heretofore
commonly practised of effecting such adjustment has been by means of a screw
or thread cut on the spindle, and a screw inside the knob, the said spindle
being formed of one entire piece of metal; and the object and intention of
this Invention is to simplify the construction of this description of spindle,
and to render the same less expensive: than heretofore..
The peculiar feature of novelty and improvement in this Invention consists

page_text: in constructing the spindle of two separate parts or pieces of metal, constituting
a compound spindle, and in connecting such parts together in the following
manner. For example: I take a square piece of iron, and one end therecf I
reduce and form round, and cut thereon a thread or screw; I then take
another similar square piece of metal, and drill a hole in one end thereof, and
form a thread therein, corresponding in size to the before-mentioned screw,
and by these means I connect these two short spindles together, and pass a
short square tube over the points of junction thereof. The other ends of the
spindles are left plain, and have two or more holes drilled through or into
them, at, say, 8/8 to an inch distance apart, more or less, for connecting the
knobs thereto by a screw in the usual way, excepting that in one knob I form
the hole at the end of the knob, which comes near the rose in a slanting
direction. The mode of adapting the above compound spindle, say, to a
mortice lock, is by first driving the square tube in the square formed in the
lock and then inserting the spindle thereinto, withdrawing as occasion may
require one portion of the spindle, so as to lengthen or shorten the compound
spindle to suit the thickness of the door; and having done this, I fix the loose
handle on to the spindle, as above stated.
Another mode of constructing divided or compound spindles, according to
this Invention, is to halve the two separate parts one into the other for a short
distance, and to serrate or notch. the contact surfaces thereof so that they lock
into each other, and when the before-mentioned square tube is passed. over
the points of junction of the two short spindles they will be firmly held
together.
Another mode of constructing divided or compound spindles, according to
this Invention, is to take two plain square pieces of metal, and connect them
together in a straight line by a short square piece of tube, as above mentioned,
and I pass a pin through each short spindle, so that when they are placed in
the lock such pin comes against the door, and the spindle is prevented from
being drawn out of the lock by the roses, which are securely fixed to the door.
The loose knob is then fixed upon the spindle, as above stated.
Another mode of constructing spindles, according to this Invention, is as
follows: Instead of having a square hole in the lock for the spindle to pass
through, as before mentioned, I form a round screwed hole therein, into which
I screw two separate short round spindles; the other ends of these spindles
are also screwed and take into screwed collars let into each knob or handle
respectively, and this spindle is specially intended for glass knobs or handles.
There is a loose collar placed upon said spindle, and so constructed as only to

page_text: slide along the spindle, so that when the knob has been adjusted to the thick-
ness of the door, the collar is pushed into the neck of the knob, and prevents
it from turning round upon the spindle. Those parts of the spindle which are
in the lock are held by pins taking into holes or slots in said spindles, and thus
the knobs, spindle, and lock are firmly connected together.