IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Carter, of Willenhall, in the County of
Stafford, Smith, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND
Sealed the 13th October 1865, and dated the 6th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Carter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
July 1865.
I, GEORGE CARTER, of Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Smith, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCKS AND LATCHES, AND IN STAPLES AND SPINDLES FOR THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the
sliding or latch bolts of locks and latches, and in the staples with which the
said sliding or latch bolts engage; also in spindles for the sliding or latch
bolts of locks and latches. Instead of bevilling the end of the sliding or latch
bolt I leave the end square and bevil the said bolt on its upper side. The
staple consists of a vertical tubular case open at bottom. The said case is
square or rectangular in cross section. In the said case is a square or
rectangular bar capable of sliding vertically. The lower end of the said
sliding bar is bevilled, and when the bar is in its normal position the said
bevilled end projects below the tubular case. The staple is fixed on the door

page_text: frame in such a position that the bottom of the tubular case is immediately
above the latch bolt. On closing the door to which the latch bolt is attached
the bevilled upper side of the said latch bolt is brought against the bevilled
end of the sliding bar of the staple, and the said bar is raised in its case. By
the continued motion of the latch bolt it passes the raised bar, when the said 5
bar falls and prevents the return of the latch bolt. In order to disengage the
latch bolt from the staple it is necessary to withdraw the said latch bolt by a
sliding motion from behind the sliding bar; this is effected either by the
turning of the knob of the latch bolt, or by directly withdrawing the latch
bolt, according to the construction of the latch bolt. The range of motion of 1
the sliding bar is limited by a fixed pin passing through a slot in the bar.
My improvement in spindles for the sliding or latch bolts of locks and
latches consists in making the said spindles triangular instead of square in
cross section.
The hole in the follower, through which the spindle passes, is made of a 1
corresponding figure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Carter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
CARTER, of Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Smith, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Carter, Her special licence that I, the said George Carter,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Carter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES AND IN STAPLES AND SPINDLES FOR THE SAME,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Carter, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Carter, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the
sliding or latch bolts of locks and latches, and in the staples with which the
said sliding or latch bolts engage; also in spindles for the sliding or latch
bolts of locks and latches. Instead of bevilling the end of the sliding
or latch bolt I leave the end square and bevil the said bolt on its upper side.
The staple consists of a vertical tubular case open at bottom. The said
case is square or rectangular in cross section. In the said case is a square-
or rectangular bar capable of sliding vertically. The lower end of the said
sliding bar is bevilled, and when the bar is in its normal position the said
bevilled end projects below the tubular case. The staple is fixed on the door
frame in such a position that the bottom of the tubular case is immediately
above the latch bolt. On closing the door to which the latch bolt is attached,
the bevilled upper side of the said latch bolt is brought against the bevilled
end of the sliding bar of the staple, and the said bar is raised in its case.
the continued motion of the latch bolt it passes the raised bar, when the said
bar falls and prevents the return of the latch bolt. In order to disengage the
latch bolt from the staple it is necessary to withdraw the said latch bolt by a
sliding motion from behind the sliding bar. This is effected either by the
turning of the knob of the latch bolt, or by directly withdrawing the latch
bolt, according to the construction of the latch bolt. The range of motion
of the sliding bar is limited by a fixed pin passing through a slot in the
bar.
By
My improvement in spindles for the sliding or latch bolts of locks and
latches consists in making the said spindles triangular instead of square in
cross section. The hole in the follower, through which the spindle passes, is
made of a corresponding figure.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a rim lock, the latch bolt of which
is constructed according to my Invention, the said lock being used in com-

page_text: bination with a staple, also constructed according to my Invention. Figure 2:
is a side elevation of the lock; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the staple ;
and Figure 4 is a cross section of the latch bolt and staple; Figure 5
represents a side and end elevation of the latch bolt separately.
1
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5. a is the sliding latch bolt of the lock, the head or acting part a² of
which is made flat or square at its end and bevilled on its upper side, as
represented in the Drawing. The said sliding latch bolt a, a, is actuated in
the same manner as ordinary sliding latch bolts are actuated; but as the
mechanism for working the sliding bolts constitutes no part of my Invention,
I do not think it necessary either to describe or represent the said mechanism:
I wish it, however, to be understood that any convenient mechanism may be
employed for working sliding latch bolts made according to my Invention..
The staple used with the latch bolt a, a², consists of a vertical tubular case b,
open at bottom, the said case being square or of a rectangular figure in 'cross
section. The case b is carried by the staple plate or case c, which is screwed
to the door frame, and in which the lock bolt d enters. The plate or case c
of the staple is fixed on the door frame in such a position that the bottom of
the tubular case b is immediately above the plane of the latch bolt a; a³, (see
Figure 4). In the said case b is a square or rectangular bar e, capable of
sliding vertically; the lower end of the said sliding bar e is bevilled, and when
the sliding bar is in its normal position (see Figures 1, 3, and 4) the said
bevilled end projects below the tubular case b. The range of motion of the sliding
bare of the staple is limited by a fixed pin f, passing through a slot g in the
said bar. On closing the door to which the lock is attached the bevilled
upper side of the head a² of the sliding bolt a, a³, is brought against the
bevilled end of the sliding bar e of the staple, and raises the said bar in its
case sufficiently far to allow the said bolt to pass under it. When the latch
bolt has passed the raised bare the said bar falls by its own weight and
prevents the return of the latch bolt, as represented in Figures 1 and 4.
When it is wished to disengage the head a² of the latch bolt from the staple
the knob on one or other side of the door is turned, when the latch bolt is
withdrawn by a sliding motion from behind the sliding bar e, and the door
may be opened. On the closing of the door the sliding bar e is raised by the
latch bolt, and the parts resume the positions represented in Figures 1 and 4.
Instead of withdrawing the sliding latch bolt a, a, by the turning of a knob,
it may be applied to locks in which the withdrawal is effected directly instead
of by the intervention of a knob or handle. Instead of allowing the sliding
staple bare to descend in the case 6 by its own weight its descent may be

page_text: assisted by means of a coiled or other spring, but in practice I have found a
spring unnecessary.
My improved latch bolt and staple may be used either with a lock or with
a separate latch or independent of a lock.
In making spindles for the sliding or lock bolts of locks and latches I make
them of a triangular figure, instead of square in cross section, as is usual, the
hole in the follower having a similar form. By making spindles of a
triangular form the said spindles are stronger in proportion to the metal
contained in them than square spindles, and are readily fitted to the
follower.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the Drawing,
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention;
but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, the improvement or improvements in the sliding or latch bolts of
locks and latches herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, that is to say, making the head of the said sliding bolt flat or square
at its end and bevilled on its upper side, the said bevilled side being
turned towards the door to which the lock or latch containing the bolt is
fixed.
Secondly, the improvements in staples for the sliding latch bolts of locks
and latches, herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, that is to say, making the said staples of a tubular case open at
bottom, in which a bar slides vertically, the said bar being raised into its case
by the latch bolt and allowed to fall when the bolt has passed it, and thus
prevent the return of the said bolt.
Thirdly, the improvement in spindles for the sliding or latch bolts of locks
and latches herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Carter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
GEORGE CARTER. (L.S.)