IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS."-A communication from abroad by
Charles Herrman Eiffler, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th February 1868.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS," a communication, to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to locks of that class which are generally used
on the front doors of dwelling houses, and in which the latch is

page_text: operated by two knobs, one on the outside and the other on the inside
of the door, the outside knob being constructed in such a manner that
it can be thrown in or out of gear with the latch.
The said Invention also relates to certain improvements in padlocks
or locks of any ordinary construction.
The said Invention consists, first, in arranging an adjustable screw
in the end of the spindle in such a manner that by the said screw the
length of the spindle and the position of the knob can be regulated to
suit the thickness of the door.
Secondly. In enclosing in the knob or handle the
which serves to throw the said knob in and out of gear
latch.
mechanism
with the
Thirdly. In arranging a nut on the spindle in combination with a
moveable stump and tumblers in such a manner that when the tumblers
are set and the stump made to drop into the notches thereof the knob
is thrown in gear and the door can be opened from the outside, but if
the stump is withdrawn the knob turns freely on the spindle without
any effect on the latch.
Fourthly. In arranging a safety stop in combination with the knob
and washer which form the socket for the said knob and with the
tumblers contained in the same in such a manner that when the said
tumblers and the knob are brought into the required position the stop
can be made to lock the outer knob and prevent its being turned,
while the inner knob continues to act on the latch.
Fifthly. In arranging a cam in combination with the moveable stump
and with the stop and tumblers in such a manner that by turning the
said cam the stop and stump can be thrown out of or into gear with
the tumblers, provided the said tumblers have been brought into the
required position.
Sixthly. In arranging an abutment between the keyhole and safety
stop in such a manner that the said stop cannot be reached or its
position disturbed by an instrument introduced through the keyhole.
Seventhly. In the peculiar arrangement of a lever stop in combination
with a series of loose tumblers. The latter, which are not subjected
to the action of the springs, are operated by a key inserted through an

page_text: opening in the side of the lock and act on the shackle of a padlock
or on the bolt of a common lock, so that when the said lever stop is
turned in one direction the tumblers are locked, the shackle or bolt of
the lock being securely retained in position. If the lever stop is turned
in the opposite direction the key can be inserted, and the tumblers
are thereby brought into the proper position to release the shackle
or bolt.
The case of the lock may be made of cast iron or any other suitable
material, and is constructed to form the guide and protection of the
latch and of the locking mechanism. The said latch is operated by
means of a spindle extending through the door to which the lock is
attached. To the ends of this spindle the knobs or handles are secured,
and in order to adjust the spindle to the thickness of the door it is
provided with a screw fitted into the spindle in the direction of the
axis. Through the head of this screw a hole is bored which is tapped
to receive a locking screw. By this means the length of the spindle
or the distance between the two knobs can be regulated with the
greatest nicety, so that in pulling one of the knobs the spindle will
have no longitudinal motion, while the said knobs will not interfere
with the revolving motion of the spindle. The outer end of the
spindle extends into the knob on the outer side of the door, and this
knob is provided with mechanism whereby it can be thrown into or
out of gear with the said spindle and with the latch. This mechanism
consists principally of a nut or cam which has one or more projections
aud which is secured on the spindle, so that the said nut will not
revolve independently of the latter. This nut acts on a movable stump
whose position is governed by a cam slot in a disc and by tumblers
which turn freely on the outer end of the spindle. If these tumblers
are adjusted to the proper position all their notches "register," and
the stump is permitted to enter the notches approaching the centre of
the spindle close enough to allow the said stump to come in contact
with the projections of the nut in whatever direction the knob may be
turned. The position of the tumblers is regulated by the key, which
is a piece of sheet metal provided with notches at its ends, and
which is introduced through a slit in the circumference of the knob.
The tumblers hang loosely on the outer end of the spindle, and besides
the notches for receiving the stump are provided with other notches
to receive the head of a safety stop. The latter swings on a pivot

page_text: secured in the shank of the knob, so that by turning it on its pivot its
head can be made to drop into the notches in the tumblers, provided
the latter are properly set, and by swinging it back in the opposite
direction its head releases the tumblers, its other end catching in a
notch in a washer between the knob and the door. The last described
motion of the safety stop however can only take place when the knob
is brought into the proper relation to the washer, such relation being
indicated either by centre points, ridges, or other suitable marks. The
washer is firmly secured to the door, and if the safety stop is made to
drop into the notch in the said washer the knob is firmly retained in
position and kept from being turned, whatever may be the position of
the stump. The door then cannot be opened from the outside until
by introducing the key the tumblers are brought into such a position
that their notches will admit the stump and the head of the safety
stop. After the tumblers have been thus adjusted the stump and stop
are forced into the notches of the tumblers by the action of the disc
provided with the cam slots, and which also carries a button or
projection. This disc revolves in the hollow body of the knob, its
motion being limited by a segmental recess wherein the button moves.
This button shows by its position when the stump has entered its
notch and when the end of the safety stop has left the other notch in
the washer, the knob being thrown in gear with the spindle and latch
by the action of the nut on the stump. If the mechanism is in this
position and the knob is turned the tail end of the stop is moved in
the annular recess in the washer. If the knob is thrown out of gear
with the latch and locked by the safety stop the door cannot be opened
from the outside, while the inner knob remains in gear with and
operates on the latch as usual. That portion of the spindle next to the
outer surface of the door is made round so that if the washer should
be forced from the door the said spindle cannot be readily grasped by
a wrench or other instrument with sufficient tenacity to throw the
latch back to open the door. The safety stop is also protected by an
abutment which prevents its being reached and thrown out of position
by an instrument introduced through the keyhole. By this arrange
ment of parts a latch is obtained which cannot be picked and which
can be readily changed from one door to another.
In a modification of my improvements the tumblers instead o
revolving on the end of the spindle have their fulcrum on a pivo

page_text: secured in the outer portion of the outer knob, and they are kept
separate from each other by false tumblers interposed between them
and retained in position by forked arms which enclose a stud in the
knob. The stump is dispensed with and the slotted disc contains only
one cam slot which acts on the safety stop. When the tumblers are
brought into the correct position and the disc is turned the safety stop
enters the notches of the tumblers, and also a notch in the nut or can
which is firmly secured to the spindle, and which instead of being
provided with projections is simply provided with a notch. This notch
is always in the correct position to receive the safety stop by the
action of the latch itself, and the said stop can enter its notch whenever
the tumblers are brought into the proper position. In this case the
slotted disc is so formed that it covers the slot or recess through
which the button projects, and the said disc may also be provided
with suitable shields to cover the keyhole.
In the application of my Invention to a padlock the case which
encloses the working mechanism of the lock has in its side a hole
through which the key is inserted. This key consists of a flat piece of
sheet metal, and its notched edge acts on tumblers. These tumblers
have their fulcrum on a stud which is firmly secured in the lock
plate, and they swing loosely back and forth on the said stud. The
regular tumblers are provided with hooks which catch into the end
of a shackle and retain the same in a locked condition. Between the
regular tumblers are false tumblers which have no hooks and are simply
used to prevent the regular tumblers from carrying each other along by
friction. All the tumblers are perfectly loose and are not subjected to
the action of springs. When locked the tumblers are held in position
by a lever stop. This stop is secured by a stud in the interior of the
case, and can be turned by means of a button situated on the front
plate of the lock. When this stop is properly adjusted the key cannot
be inserted, the tumblers being kept by the stop from receding and
arranging themselves in the proper position for the key. If desired
the stop may be so arranged as to permit the tumblers to recede a short
distance, but not far enough to unlock the shackle or bolt. In this
case persons not acquainted with the construction of the lock will have
great difficulty in unlocking the same even if they have the proper key.
In order to unlock the lock the stop must be first adjusted, and then
by inserting the key the tumblers are brought in the proper position

page_text: to release the shackle or bolt. The false tumblers may be provided
with bifurcated shanks which enclose a stud or other stationary portion
of the lock and keep the said false tumblers from moving with the real
tumblers. The lever stop instead of being arranged on one side of the
case is situated in the middle and operated by a lever, which when
turned down gives to the lock the appearance of an ordinary padlock.
It will be readily understood that my loose tumblers and lever stop can
be applied to an ordinary lock as well as to a padlock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the International Patent Office, No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lanc, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engincer, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates to locks of that class which are generally
used on the front doors of dwelling houses, and, in which the latch
is operated by two knobs, one on the outside and the other on the
inside of the door, the outside knob being constructed in such a manner
that it can be thrown in or out of gear with the latch.
The said Invention also relates to certain improvements in padlocks
or locks of any ordinary construction.
The said Invention consists, first, in arranging an adjustable screw
in the end of the spindle in such a manner that by the said screw
the length of the spindle and the position of the knob can be regulated
to suit the thickness of the door.
Secondly. In enclosing in the knob or handle the mechanism which
serves to throw the said knob in and out of gear with the latch.
Thirdly. In arranging a nut on the spindle in combination with a
movable stump and tumblers in such manner that when the tumblers
are set and the stump made to drop into the notches thereof the knob
is thrown in gear and the door can be opened from the outside, but
if the stump is withdrawn the knob turns freely on the spindle without
having any effect on the latch.
Fourthly. In arranging a safety stop in combination with the knob
and washer which form the socket for said knob and with the tumblers
contained in the knob in such a manner that when the said tumblers
and the knob are brought into the required position the stop can bo
made to lock the outer knob and prevent its being turned, while the
inner knob continues to act on the latch.
Fifthly. In arranging a cam in combination with the movable stump
and with the stop and tumblers in such a manner that by turning said
cam the stop and stump can be thrown out of or in gear with the
tumblers, provided said tumblers have been brought in the required
position.
Sixthly. In arranging an abutment between the keyhole and safety
stop in such a manner that the said stop cannot be reached or its
position disturbed by an instrument introduced through the keyhole.

page_text: Seventhly. In the peculiar arrangement of a lever stop in combination
with a series of loose tumblers. The latter, which are not subjected
to the action of the springs, are operated by a key inserted through
an opening in the side of the lock and act on the shackle of a padlock
or on the bolt of a common lock, so that when the said lever stop is
turned in one direction the tumblers are locked, the shackle or bolt
of the lock being securely retained in position. If the lever stop is
turned in the opposite direction the key can be inserted, and the
tumblers are thereby brought in the proper position to release the
with a series of loose tumblers. The latter, which are not subjected
to the action of the springs, are operated by a key inserted through
an opening in the side of the lock and act on the shackle of a padlock
or on the bolt of a common lock, so that when the said lever stop is
turned in one direction the tumblers are locked, the shackle or bolt
of the lock being securely retained in position. If the lever stop is
turned in the opposite direction the key can be inserted, and the
tumblers are thereby brought in the proper position to release the
shackle or bolt.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
shewing the application of my
Figure 2 is a face view of the
Figure 1 is a horizontal section
Invention to a locking knob latch;
locking mechanism in the door knob shewing the position of the
parts when the knob is in gear with the latch; Figure 3 is a similar
view of the same shewing the position of the parts when the knob
is out of gear with the latch; Figure 4 is a detached face view of the
cam disc for setting the locking mechanism in the knob; Figure 5 is
a detached face view of the washer under the door knob; Figure 6
is a section of a modification of the above; Figure 7 is a face view
of the locking mechanism in the door knob, as modified in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a section of a padlock constructed according to my In-
vention shewing the same locked; Figure 9 is a similar view of the
same unlocked; Figures 10 and 11 arc modifications thereof. Similar
letters indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A represents a case made of cast iron or other suitable material
capable of forming the guide and protection of the latch B and of
the ordinary locking mechanism, if such is to be applied. The latch B
is operated by means of the spindle C, which extends through the
door to which the lock is attached. To the inner end of this spindle
is secured the knob D, and to its outer end the knob E, and in order
to adjust the spindle to suit the thickness of the door it is provided
with a screw a, the head of which may be square or round, the said
screw being screwed into the spindle in the direction of the axis.
Through the head of the screw a a hole is bored which is tapped to
receive the set screw b. By these means the length of the spindle C
or the distance between the two knobs D, E, can be regulated with
the greatest nicety, so that in pulling one of the knobs the spindle

page_text: will have no longitudinal motion, while the said knobs will not interfere
with the revolving motion of the spindle. The outer end of the
spindle C extends into the knob E, which is provided with mechanism
by means of which it can be thrown in or out of gear with the said
spindle and with the latch. This mechanism consists principally of a
nut or cam disc c, which is provided with one or more projections, as
shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and which is secured on the spindle C
so that it cannot revolve independently of the same. This nut acts
on a movable stump d the position of which is governed by a cam
slot e in the disc f and by tumblers 9 which turn freely on the outer
end of the spindle. If these tumblers are adjusted to the position
shown in Figure 2 all their notches h register," and the stump d
I
is permitted to enter and to approach the centre of the spindle C close
enough to allow it to come in contact with the projection or projections
of the nut c, in whatever direction the knob may be revolved. The
position of the tumblers 7 is regulated by the key , which is composed
of a piece of sheet metal provided with notches at its ends, and which
is introduced through a slit in the circumference of the knob. The
said tumblers hang loosely on the outer end of the spindle, and they
are provided with notches h to receive the stump, and with notches j
to receive the head of the safety stop l. This stop swings on a pivot m
secured in the shank of the knob E, as shown in Figure 1, so that
by turning it on its pivot to the position shown in said Figure its
head can be made to drop into the notches ; in the tumblers (provided
the tumblers are properly set), and by swinging it back in the direction
of the arrow marked on it in Figure 1 its head releases the tumblers
and its tail end catches in a notch o in the washer F (see Figure 5)
which is situated between the knob E and the door. This latter motion
of the safety stop however can only take place when the knob is
brought in the proper relation to the washer, such relation being
indicated either by centre points, ridges, or other suitable marks. The
washer F is firmly secured to the door, and if the safety stop is made
to drop into the notch o the knob E is firmly retained in position and
kept from being turned, whatever the position of the stump d may be.
In this position the door cannot be opened from the outside until by
introducing the key the tumblers are brought in such a position that
their notches h, j, will admit the stump d and the head of the safety
stop 1.
After the tumblers have been thus adjusted the stump and

page_text: stop are forced into the notches of the tumblers by the action of the
disc (see Figure 4), which is provided with cam slots e, e¹, and with
a button r, and which revolves in the hollow body of the knob, its
motion being limited by the segmental recess & in which the button r
moves. If this button occupies the position shewn in Figure 2 the
stump & has entered the notch h, and the tail end of the safety stop
has left the notch o in the washer and the knob E is thrown in gear
with the spindle and latch by the action of the nut c on the stump d.
If the mechanism is in this position and the knob is turned the tail
end of the stop is moved in the annular recess in the washer F (see
Figure 5). If the knob E is thrown out of gear with the latch and
locked by the safety stop the door cannot be opened from the outside
while the inner knob remains in gear with and operates on the latch
as usual. That portion of the spindle C next to the outer surface of
the door is made round, so that if the washer F should be forced off
from the door said spindle cannot be readily grasped by a wrench or
other instrument with sufficient tenacity to throw the latch back and
to open the door. The safety stop is also protected by an abutment u
which keeps the same from being reached and thrown out of position
by an instrument introduced through the keyhole. By this arrangement
a latch is obtained which cannot be picked, and which can be readily
changed from one door to another.
In the modification of my Invention represented in Figures 6 and 7
the tumblers 9 instead of revolving on the end of the spindle C
have their fulcrum on a point secured in the outer portion of the
knob E, and they are kept separate from each other by false tumblers g*
interposed between them and retained in position by forked arms which
enclose a stud in the knob, as clearly shown in Figure 7. The
stump d is dispensed with, and disc f contains only one cam slot,
which acts on the safety stop 2. When the tumblers are brought to
the correct position and the disc f is turned the safety stop enters the
notches of the tumblers, and also a notch in the nut or disc c, which
is firmly secured to the spindle, and which instead of being provided
with projections, as shown in Figure 2, is simply provided with
a notch, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. This notch is always in
the correct position to receive the safety stop by the action of the latch
itself, and the said stop can enter the notch whenever the tumblers
are brought into the proper position. In this case the disc f is so

page_text: formed that it covers the slot or recess through which the button
projects, and said disc may also be provided with suitable shields to
cover the keyhole.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 represent the application of this Invention
to a padlock.
A' represents the case which encloses the working mechanism of
the lock. In the side of this case is the keyhole a', through which
the key is inserted. This key consists of a flat piece of sheet metal,
and its notched edge acts on the tumblers 9, 9*. These tumblers
have their fulcrum on a stud b', which is firmly secured in the lock
The
plate, and they swing loosely back and forth on said stud.
regular tumblers 9 are provided with hooks c', which catch into the
end of the shackle O and retain the same in a locked condition, as
shown in Figure 1 of the Drawing. Between the regular tumblers g
are the false tumblers g, which have no hooks and are simply used
to prevent the regular tumblers from carrying each other along by
friction. All the tumblers are perfectly loose and not subjected to the
action of springs. When locked the tumblers are held in position by
the lever stop D¹. This stop is secured by a stud in the interior
of the case, and it can be turned by means of a button, which being
situated on the front plate of the lock is shown in dotted lines. When
this stop is turned to the position shown in Figure 8 the key cannot
be inserted, the tumblers being prevented by the stop from receding
and arranging themselves in the proper position for the key.
desired the stop may be so arranged that it permits the tumblers to
recede a short distance but not far enough to unlock the shackle or
bolt, and in this case persons not acquainted with the construction of
this lock will have great difficulty in unlocking the same even if they
have the proper key. In order to unlock the lock the stop D must
be turned to the position shewn in Figure 9, and then by inserting
the key the tumblers are brought in the proper position to release the
shackle or bolt. In Figures 10 and 11 the false tumblers 9* are provided
with bifurcated shanks which enclose a stud or other stationary portion
of the lock, and prevent said false tumblers from moving with the
real tumblers g. The lever stop D' instead of being situated on one
side of the case A' is situated in the middle and operated by a lever,
which when turned down gives to the lock the appearance of an
If

page_text: ordinary padlock. In this case the form of the tumblers is such that
they afford room for the lever stop, as shown.
It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that a
lock of this kind is very difficult if not impossible to pick, since in
feeling the tumblers it is impossible to tell in what position each
of them stands, and by pressing on one of the tumblers it may be
pushed up too far, or not far enough. If pushed too far it catches
again in the shackle, and it can only be pushed back by turning
the lever stop down to the position shown in Figure 8, which will
throw all the tumblers in their locking position. It will be readily
understood that my loose tumblers and lever stop can be applied to an
ordinary lock as well as to a padlock.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, I claim,―
First. The arrangement of an adjusting screw a (provided with a
transverse holo to receive the set screw b) in combination with the
spindle C and knobs D, E, constructed and operating substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Second. Enclosing in the knob E the mechanism which serves to
throw the said knob in and out of gear with the latch, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The nut c on the spindle C in combination with the moveable
stump d, tumblers 7, knob E, and latch B, constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The safety stop in combination with the knob E, washer F,
and latch B, constructed and operating substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fifth. The disk f (provided with cam slots e, e',) in combination
with the moveable stump d, safety stop 1, and tumblers g, constructed
and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The abutment u in combination with the keyhole and safety
stop 1, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Seventh. The lever stop D' in combination with a series of loose
tumblers g, acting substantially as described, the said tumblers being

page_text: operated by a key through the opening a' in the side of the case A',
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.O..