Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 29th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
I WILLIAM KNEEN of 66 Scott Street Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of
Lancaster Builder do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient latch for
doors or the like which is not liable to get out of order and is readily operated.
According to my Invention the latch bolt descends by gravity on an incline
into its shot position its motion being facilitated by a wheel or runner or wheels
or runners. This latch is raised by a catch the tail end of which is attached to or
passes through the latch bolt so that by moving the said catch the bolt is withdrawn-
This catch I prefer to pivot to, and underneath, the loop handle of the door so
that when the hand is put through the loop the catch can be operated by a move-
ment of the finger.
The latch may be locked by shooting a bolt by means of a lock and key
through the catch which raises the latch bolt and for this purpose a very small lock
and key will be sufficient.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Latches for Doors or the like.
I WILLIAM KNEEN of 66 Scott Street Barrow in Furness in the County of
Lancaster Builder 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:-
My Invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient latch for doors
or the like which is not liable to get out of order and is readily operated.
According to my Invention the latch bolt projects by gravity from the edge of
the door into its shot position its motion being facilitated if desired by a wheel or
runner or wheels or runners. This latch is raised by a catch the tail end of which is
attached to or passes through the latch bolt so that by moving the said catch the
bolt is withdrawn. This catch I may pivot to, and underneath the loop handle of
the door or in the knob so that when the hand is put through the loop or the handle
or knob is grasped the catch is operated to release it.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shews in side elevation the latch constructed
or arranged according to my Invention to slide on an incline. Figure 2 is a plau
and Figure 3 an end elevation of the same latch. Figure 4 shews the latch mounted
on a centre to operate in substantially the same manner that is to say to be projected
from the edge of the door by gravity into its locked position. The drawings shew the
catch piece fitted with operating knobs from which the application of other forms of
handles will also be readily understood.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the latch bolt A is provided with a runner a which
runs on an inclined plane B in the bottom of a slot made in the door for the bolt A.
The inclined plane is shewn as being formed by a piece secured to the edge of
the door.
Two holes are provided in the inner end of the bolt A in which holes catch
rods Center, one from one side of the door, and the other from the opposite side
of the said door. Each of the catch rods is centered at d inside its respective knob D
or D2 and is connected by a pin e on the catch rod, to a pusher E which when the
knob is grasped pressed inwards by the hand thereby raising the rod C and with-
drawing the latch from engagement with the door post into the position shewn by
dotted lines in Figure 1 and the door is released. When the knob is released the
pusher E returns to its normal position and the bolt A is left at liberty to, and will
automatically, run down the incline B into the position shewn by full lines and secure
the door if it be in its closed position. On the bolt A is a pin or projection which
serves as a stop by coming against the top of one of the sides formed on the incline B
so as to prevent the bolt projecting too far.

page_text: Instead of the bolt A being arranged to slide on an incline as described it may be
arranged to turn upon a centre pin a as shewn in Figure 4 the pin a being the
substitute for the runner a Figures 1, 2 and 3. In both cases the bolt A is withdrawn
by catch rods Centering holes in the bolt end and operated to release the door in the
manner hereinbefore described.
The latch may be locked by shooting a bolt by means of a lock and key through
the catch which raises the latch bolt and for this purpose a very small lock and key
will be sufficient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
--
1. In latches for doors or the like a latch bolt A arranged so as to project by
gravity from the edge of the door into its engaging position substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
2. A latch for doors or the like consisting of a latch bolt as herein before described
and claimed and means for operating it for unfastening the door as herein before
described.