Improvements in Padlocks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Padlocks.
I, ALFRED THOMPSON BANKS, trading as A. Thompson and Co., of Temple Bar
Works, Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Padlock Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of
padlocks.
In a padlock constructed according to this invention the shackle is pivotted in the
usual way, but the outer end is formed plain instead of being formed as usual for
engagement with a bolt head The usual or any bolt is entirely dispensed with, and
inverted levers, pivotted upon a stud carried by the case, and pressed upwards by
springs, have shoulders formed in their outer ends which engage, when the padlock
is locked, direct with a heel or projection formed on the pivotted end of the shackle
instead of with a bolt as in padlocks of the usual construction. A spring presses
against the heel in a direction tending to open the shackle. The padlock is unlocked
by moving down the levers by the aid of a key, by which means the shoulders are
brought down below the bottom of the heel which is thereupon pressed forwards by
the spring and the shackle thus unlocked and thrown up. The padlock is locked by
simply closing in the shackle when the heel, which for this purpose is suitably curved
at its back, bears upon the tops of the shoulders and presses down the levers until it
clears such tops, when the levers spring up again and bring the shoulders in front of
the heel and thus lock the shackle. A stop within the case prevents any lever being
moved down below the point to which it is moved by the proper key, and thus if the
wrong key is used the bit will be sure to jam against or be stopped by one or more
of the levers.
As will be seen, the padlock is very simple in construction, and no perforated
gatings are required through the levers.
Dated this 13th day of March 1899
INS
STEPHEN
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Padlocks.
1, ALFRED THOMPSON BANKS, trading as A. Thompson and Company, of Temple
Bar Works, Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Padlock Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of
padlocks.
In a padlock constructed according to this invention the shackle is pivoted in the
ordinary way, but the outer end is formed plain instead of being formed as usual for
engagement with the bolt head. The usual or any bolt is entirely dispensed with,
and a lever or levers pivoted within the case is or are pressed into position by means
of a spring or springs so as to retain the heel of the shackle in position due to the
locked position of the shackle, and are moved out of such position by means of the
key when it is desired to unlock the padlock.
A padlock constructed according to this invention, and having a single lever only
Ilmine R71

page_text: (though it may have two or more, if desired), is illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of
the drawings herewith, of which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the padlock with the cap-plate removed so as to
shew the interior mechanism ;
and
Figure 2 is a section taken on line
of Figure 1, with the cap-plate in position;
وتا
Figure 3 is a detached view of the cap-plate, shewing the interior face thereof.
The shackle A is pivoted at a to the case in the usual manner, but the outer end b
is formed plain, instead of being formed as usual for engagement with a bolt head.
In the particular case shewn the outer end is formed with a shoulder which by
coming in contact with the rim of the case prevents the shackle from being pushed in
unnecessarily far. A heel or projection B is formed on the pivoted end of the
shackle; and a lever C is pivoted upon a stud d carried by the case, and is pressed
upwards by a spring e. The mechanism is shewn by Figures and 2 in its locked
position, the heel B of the shackle being prevented from moving forwards (and the
outer end of the shackle being, consequently, prevented from rising) by coming in
contact with the outer end of the lever C. A spring presses against the heel in a
direction tending to open the shackle; and the padlock is unlocked by moving down
the lever by means of a key, whereupon the end of the lever is brought down below
the bottom of the heel B, and the latter is then immediately pressed forwards
by the spring The shackle is thus unlocked by the lever passing out of engage-
ment with the heel B, and is thrown up by the spring. f. The padlock is locked by
simply closing in the shackle, when the heel, which for this purpose is suitably
curved or rounded at its lower hinder end, as shewn, bears upon the lever and presses
it down until the lower end of the heel clears the top-of-the-lever,-when the latter
springs up again into the position shewn by Figure 1, so that its end comes again
in front of the heel and thus locks the shackle. A projection g is formed at or
near the bottom of the outer end of the lever C, and a stud his fixed within the case
in such position as to form a stop to the projection g and thus determine the upward
position into which the lever is pressed by the spring e. Referring to Figure 3,
it will be seen that the key-hole is in an inclined position. When the plate is
turned over and fixed to the padlock, the key-hole will be in the position shewn by
broken lines Figure 1. The key-hole is shewn in this position as being a con-
venient one for the insertion of the key, but it may be in any position which admits
of the key being inserted within the lock and turned so as to bear upon the lever.
(Figure 3) is a stud projecting a short distance inwards from the cap-plate, and is
shewn by a broken line circle in Figure 1, and also by broken lines in Figure 2.
This stud is intended merely to act as a stop in preventing the key from being turned
from left to right, instead of from right to left, for the purpose of depressing the
lever C. This is not at all essential, but it is convenient to turn the key from right to
left, as if turned in the opposite direction the heel B of the shackle is liable to caich
against the bit of the key as the shackle springs open, and thus to cause some
trifling inconvenience. The outer side of the lower end of the heel B is shouldered in,
as shewn at k, to clear the stud j as the heel B is thrown forwards by the spring f
If two or more levers are employed the studj answers also a further purpose, which is
shewn in relation to the stud of the modification immediately to be described.
A padlock constructed according to this invention, and in which two or more
levers Care employed, is illustrated by Figure 4, which is a corresponding view to
Figure 1. Parts corresponding to those of the previously described modification are
indicated by the same letters of reference.. The padlock case is, in this modification,
shewn as of a different shape to that shewn by Figure 1, but it may of course be
varied in shape as desired, as also may the padlock case in the previously described
modification. The spring fin this case is shewn as somewhat differently arranged
to the spring of the previously described modification, but the particular arrange
ment of spring is of course unimportant. The levers Care fulcrumed upon a pin d,
and are pressed up by means of springs e of the usual character employed with the
levers of lever locks. If there are not sufficient levers to occupy the whole depth

page_text: of the interior of the case, they are kept from opening out from one another by
means of an arm 1 fixed on the outer end of the fulcrum stud d and passing some
distance along the face of the outer lever. A stud fixed to the case forms a stop to
the upward movement of the levers and prevents the key from being turned from left
to right. If it were not for this stud being in position to prevent the key being turned
from left to right the levers would need to be shaped on the right hand side of the
key-hole to suit the stepping or notching of the key bit, otherwise they could be
pressed down by a straight bitted or ordinary key. The levers are, of course,
shaped on the left hand side of the key-hole (as indicated by broken curved lines)
to suit the stepping or notching of the key bit. A projection m within the bottom of
the case prevents any lever from being pushed down below the position which is
just sufficient to bring the top of the lever clear of the lower end of the heel B, that is
into the position to which it is moved by the proper key; and thus, if the wrong key
is used, the bit will be sure to jam against or be stopped by one or more of the levers
before it can move them all down into their unlocked position.
According to this invention, the usual or any bolt is entirely dispensed with;
and, as will be seen, the padlock is very simple in construction, and no perforated
gatings are required through the lever or levers.
It will be obvious that the mechanism may be modified to a considerable extent
without departing from the nature of the invention; for instance, the lever or levers
inay be pivoted between its or their ends and the forward end or ends be moved up
by the key to depress the binder end or ends so as to bring it or them clear of
the heel or the heel of the shackle may be formed with a forwardly projecting
toc of sufficient length for the purpose, and the lever or levers be constructed and
arranged to be lifted by the key clear of the toe so as to allow the heel and toe to be
moved inwards and the shackle raised. The means of carrying out the invention
which I have described with reference to the drawings are, however, those I consider
the most convenient.
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 1
claim is :-
1. In a padlock, the combination, with a heel or projection formed on the inner or
pivoted end of the shackle, of a lever or levers which, when the shackle is closed in,
is or are moved into position to retain the heel in its position due to the shackle being
locked, but which when moved by the key allows or allow of the heel being moved
forwards, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
2. In a padlock, the combination with a heel or projection formed on the inner or
pivotted end of the shackle, of a lever or levers which, as the shackle is closed in, is
or are pressed down by the end of the heel until the latter passes beyond the top
thereof, and which are then pressed up in front of the heel, substantially as described
for the purpose set forth.
3. A padlock of which the parts are constructed and arranged substantially as
described and shewn (according to two modifications) by the drawings herewith, for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of December 1900.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.