Improvements in or in connection with Locks and Latches.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Locks and Latches.
I, GEORGE HENRY WATSON, Plumber, of 132 Rodney Road, New Kent Road, in
the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in or in connection with the
construction of locks or latches whereby the lock-or-latch-bolt is held back whilst
the door or gate is open being automatically released on closing the same.
For this purpose a short metal bar with a ratchet stop (either cut in or cast with
the bar) is hinged at one end to a standard firmly fixed to the lock-or-latch-case,
whilst the other end of the bar projects through an aperture made for the purpose
in the front edge or rim of the lock-or-latch-case. There is also a spring either fixed
to the bar or to the lock-or-latch-case to force the bar forward.
A suitable piece of metal is fixed on or is cast with the lock-or-latch-bolt which
projects from the side of the bolt and passes over the bar so that when the lock-or-
lateh-bolt is drawn or turned hack the ratchet stop in the bar catches the edge of the
projecting piece and secures the lock-or-latch-bolt in that position. An adjusting
screw-stop or striking plate is fixed to the door jamb or post so that when the door
or gate is closed that part of the bar which projects is forced back so that the lock-
or-latch-bolt is released and shoots into the staple or striking plate thereby avoiding
the friction of forcing the bolt back against the staple or striking plate.
The stop bar can be made of steel and by fixing one end to the lock-or-latch-case
it can be made to act without the addition of a separate spring.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Locks and Latches.
I, GEORGE HENRY WATSON, Plumber, of 132 Rodney Road, New Kent Road, in
the County of Surrey, 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in or in connection with the
construction of locks or latches, whereby the lock-or-latch-bolt is held back whilst
the door or gate &c. is open being automatically released on closing the same.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
practice I will proceed to describe the drawings hereto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows the interior of a lock or latch having my improvements applied
thereto the bolt 6 being forced outwards.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 shew corresponding views with the holt 6 drawn back.
Figure 5 shews a perspective view of the striking plate c and Figure 6 shews a
perspective view of a catch lever a formed with two detents a¹.
a is a short metal lever formed with one or, it may be, two ratchet stops or
detents a¹ (as shown by Fig. 6). The lever a is jointed at one end to a standard a²
[Price 6d.]

page_text: firmly fixed to the lock or latch case whilst the other end of the lever a projects
through an aperture made for the purpose in the front edge or rim of the lock-or-
latch-case. a is a spring either fixed to the lever a or to the lock-or-latch-case to
force the lever a forwards.
61 is an
arm either formed with or fixed to the lock-or-latch-bolt b and
projecting from the side of the bolt of the lock and passing over the lever a
so that when the lock-or-latch-bolt is drawn or turned back, the ratchet stop or
detent a¹ in the bar catches the edge of the projecting arm b' and secures the lock-
or-latch-bolt in that position.
An adjusting screw stop or striking plate c is fixed to the door jamb, or in the
staple, so that when the door or gato is closed that part of the lever arin a which
projects is forced back, so that the lock-or-lateh-bolt is released and shoots into the
staple or striking plate-thereby avoiding the friction of forcing the holt > back
against the staple or striking plate c.
In some cases I provide a cast staple with striking piece c¹ as shown in perspective
by Figure 5 which enables me to dispense with the projection being fixed to the
door jamb.
I would have it clearly understood that I make no claim to any special construction
of locks or latches my invention being applicable to locks and latches of various
kinds and constructions.
I would also remark that my improvements when applied to locks or latches offers
no obstruction or impediment whatsoever by friction or otherwise to the working
parts thereof especially when operating the same from the outside with the key.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is,
1. An automatic arrangement of mechanism for retaining the lock-or-latch-bolt of
doors or gates when the bolt or latch is partly or wholly withdrawn for opening the
same, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before described and
represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
2. The arrangement and application of an arm to lock-or-latch-bolts by which
my improvements may be applied to any ordinary existing lock or latch or lever-
latch, providing there is sufficient space between the upper edge of the latch bolt
and the inner side of the rim of the lock-or-latch-case, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein before described and represented in the drawings
hereto annexed.
3. The arrangement and application of a suitable cast box staple which enables me
to dispense with the projecting piece c¹ being fixed to the door jamb substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings hereto
annexed.
Dated this 21st day of November 1890.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.