Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1387
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Sept., 1888
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
My invention is intended to supply a reliable method of conspicuously indicating
outside a water closet or other apartment when the said closet or apartment is engaged
or occupied.
My object is to provide an efficient and durable Indicator complete in itself
capable of being readily fixed to either hand door of any thickness without skilled
assistance.
Another object is to provide an article certain in action and simple in construction
that can be produced at a cost within the reach of all classes.
My invention consists of a small spindle having a quadrant plate on one end the
other end is fitted with an adjustable tumbler this tumbler is provided with a sett
screw for regulating the length of spindle to suit any thickness door. I pass the
spindle through a plate or disc fixed on the outside of door then through the door and
bed plate of door bolt in such manner that the adjusting tumbler when sett in position
will rest on the top edge near the rear end of sliding bolt the quadrant plate then
covering the word "engaged" formed on the plate or disc above the spindle on the
outside. Directly the bolt is shot out the support is gone from underneath the tumbler
the spindle then auotomatically revolves sufficent to leave the word displayed on the
outside. When the bolt is withdrawn it preses against the tumbler readily causeing
the spindle to revolve untill the tumbler again rests on the top of the bolt.
An important advantage of this invention is that directly sight of the Indicator is
obtained it is plainly seen wither the room is engaged or not thus avoiding that
disagreeable journey to inspect the Indicator.
I have described my invention as applied to a door bolt but it will be readily
understood that it is applicable to any form of latch or Lock were an horizontal
sliding bolt or catch is employed.
Dated this 19th day of November 1887.

page_text: particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention is intended to supply a reliable method of conspicuously indicating
outside a water closet or other apartment when the said closet or apartment is engaged
or occupied.
The features of novelty in my invention consist in communicating a certain amount
of axial motion to a spindle by means of an adjustable tumbler, and in the method of
retaining the spindle in the required position by the said tumbler without the
expensive covers now in use which are not only costly but often considerably obscure
the indicator.
The tumbler may be actuated by either an horizontal or vertical sliding bolt or
catch.
The spindle which is made of round brass or other suitable metal as a plate fixed
eccentrically on the outside end the plate being of sufficient size to cover nearly one
third of the face of indicating dial.
The length of spindle being arranged to suit the maximum thickness door it can be
readily reduced when required.
I form two flats on the spindle extending about half its length the spindle passes
through the tumbler and one of these flats receive the end of sett screw which the
tumbler is provided with.
The indicating dial or plate which I fix on the outside of door may be made of
porcelain or such like substance, or enamelled metal can be employed, this dial is
peirced in its centre for the spindle to pass through and as the word "engaged"
formed upon it above the spindle. In order to avoid friction on dial I place a peice
of metal tube a short distance in the hole bored through the door allowing the one end
to pass through the dial sufficient to prevent the cover plate rubbing the face of the
said dial.
I now prefer to bring the spindle through the bed plate of door bolt of an inch
or thereabouts from the edge of sliding bolt the bolt haveing a projecting peice carrying
a pin which engages in a slot in the tumbler, when the door is unbolted the plate
covers the word on the outside and is retained there by the pin in the slot the weight
of the cover plate being then neutral, when the bolt is shot out a little way the plate
is moved from its neutral position the spindle then auotomatically revolves (steadied by
the pin in the slot) untill the tumbler attains the position shown at fig. 3 "engaged
is then displayed on the outside. The withdrawal of bolt presses against the
tumbler causeing the spindle to revolve untill the cover plate attains its neutral
position.
Inspection of the drawings will show that wither the door is unbolted or bolted the
bolt cannot be tampered with from outside.

page_text: The bolts are made of brass or other metal, the bed plates may be stamped out of
sheet metal and the staples fixed upon it, the sliding bolt being cast with the pro-
jecting peice and thumb plate complete, or the thumb plate may be omitted and a
knob fixed in the ordinary way, this bolt is cast hollow part of its length to receive a
friction spring.
Although now prefer fixing the engageing pin on a peice projecting from the
bolt the said pin may be fixed on the face of the bolt, part of the tumbler then being
made to work over the bolt, or the pin may be under the bolt and the tumbler made
to suit.
This door bolt answers for either a right or left hand door the spindle being
provided with two flats one to receive the sett screw on the right the other on the left,
it is inmaterial wither the spindle is above or below the sliding bolt.
When the bolt is required to slide vertically the flats on the spindle are formed the
reverse way.
I have only described my invention as applied to a door bolt hut it will be readily
understood that it is equally applicable to any form of latch or lock where an
horizontal or vertical sliding bolt or catch is employed.
Figs. 1 and 2 are views of inside and outside of door when unbolted.
Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views when the door is bolted.
Fig. 5 shows all parts fixed to door stile when the door is bolted-X dial, O cover
plate.
Fig. 6 is a view of cover plate showing position of flatts on the spindle for an
horizontal sliding bolt.
Fig. 7 is a similar one but showing position of flats for a vertical sliding bolt.
Figs. 8 and 12 are side and end views of sliding bolt-A friction spring, M projecting
peice H engaging pin.
Figs. 10 and 11 are two veiws of the metal tube N,
Fig. 9 is a elevation of tumbler and sett screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. The communication of a certain amount of axial motion to a spindle by means
of a tumbler, in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2nd. The method of retaining the said spindle in the required position by the said
tumbler in conjunction with a sliding bolt.
örd. I claim the indicating arrangement substantially as described and represented
in my specification an drawings.
Dated this 10th day of August 1888.