Improvements in Locks Fitted with both Locking and Latching Bolts.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks Fitted with both Locking and Latching Bolts.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM TONKS, ENOCH TONKS, and GEORGE ARTHUR TONKS,
trading together in co-partnership as Enoch Tonks and Sons, of 35, Temple Bar,
Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
case as
centre
According to an ordinary or common construction of lock fitted with both a
locking and latching bolt, the tail of the latching bolt is pivotally connected
with a crank tail or back follower which is straight, or approximately so, except
for a portion which curves around the back side of the follower. This crank
tail, owing to its peculiar shape, has to be made either as a malleable or brass
casting, and therefore unreliable in strength, or as a forging, which makes it
somewhat expensive; moreover, it is pivoted at least as far backwards in the
the
of the follower, and
the
as
latch
tail
bolt
with the lower end of the crank
must be long enough to connect
tail the latch bolt is somewhat expensive when, as is frequently the case, it is made
of brass. The follower action against the crank tail is also somewhat harsh; owing
to the shortness of the follower horns, and the wear on the ends of the horns is
considerable. When, also, the same spring is used both for the tumbler or lever
of the locking bolt and for pressing forward the latch bolt, such spring passes
between one side of the tail of the locking bolt and the opposing side of the
tumbler or lever, and is consequently narrow and therefore weak.
Now, according to this invention, the movement of the follower is communicated
to the latch bolt through the medium of a plate which is formed, preferably, of
sheet or thin plate metal, and with lugs bent up at its hinder edge to pass behind
and be operated by the horns of the follower. This plate is pivoted within the
case by means of a stud or stump which is fixed to the case near its upper side, in
position a considerable distance forward of the centre of the follower; and the tail of
the latching bolt is pivotally connected with the plate by means of a stud which is
fixed to the plate at or near its lower forward corner. The lugs against which the
horns of the follower press are considerably inclined from the horizontal line, as
the tendency of the movement of either horn against the corresponding lug is to
lift the hinder end of the plate. As the leverage of the plate itself is considerable,
the follower horns may be of considerable length, thus giving a smooth and
easy action and avoiding the excessive wear on the ends of the horns which is
As the latch bolt tail is connected
experienced with the ordinary mechanism.
with the forward end of the plate, that is to say at a distance considerably out-
wards from the centre of the follower, the bolt tail may be much shorter than in
the ordinary mechanism above described. It is preferred that the stud or stump
which acts as the pivot for the plate may act, also, as the pivot for the lever or
tumbler of the locking bolt, and as the guide for the locking bolt tail, the hinder
end of which is formed cranked up for the purpose. The spring, which is used
both for the lever or tumbler of the locking bolt, and to press forward the latching
bolt, is mounted upon a separate stump which projects through an opening

page_text: formed through the plate. This stump is in position below the cranked up portion
of the locking bolt tail, so that the spring shall come entirely below such portion
of the tail instead of coming across a part of the tail as in the ordinary construction
of lock above described. The lever or tumbler is formed with a downward arm,
to receive the pressure of the spring, which is at the rear of the spring, and as
the lever or tumbler is pivoted to the stud which acts as the guide for the locking
bolt tail no portion of the lever or tumbler passes across the edge of the spring.
The opening through the plate is of a size to admit the whole length of the spring
and allow of its movement, and the spring is made as wide as the space between
the front and back of the lock case, except for the clearance necessary to leave it
free. The lower back end of the spring bears against the downward extension of
the hinder end of the lever or tumbler, and the lower forward end of the spring
presses against the hinder end of the latching bolt tail.
Dated this 12th day of April 1898..
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Locks Fitted with both Locking and Latching Bolts.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM TONKS, ENOCH TONKS, and GEORGE ARTHUR TONKS,
trading together in co-partnership as Enoch Tonks and Sons, of 35, Temple Bar,
Willenhall, in the County of Stafford, Lock Manufacturers, 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:
According to an ordinary or common construction of lock fitted with both a
locking and latching bolt, the tail of the latching bolt is pivotally connected
with a crank tail or back follower which is straight, or approximately so, except
for a portion which curves around the back side of the follower. This crank
tail, owing to its peculiar shape, has to be made either as a malleable or brass
casting, being in such case unreliable in strength, or as a forging, which makes
it somewhat expensive; moreover, it is pivoted at least as far back-
wards in the case as the centre of the follower, and as the latch bolt
tail must be long enough to connect with the lower end of the crank
tail the latch bolt is somewhat expensive when, as is frequently the case, it is made
of brass, and the greater the length of the latch bolt tail when it is made as a casting
the greater is the liability of its being weakened by blow holes. The follower
action against the crank tail is also somewhat harsh, owing to the shortness of the
follower horns, and the wear on the ends of the horns is considerable. When,
also, the same spring is used both for the tumbler or lever of the locking bolt and
for pressing forward the latch bolt, such spring passes between one side of the tail
of the locking bolt and the opposing side of the tumbler or lever, and is conse-
quently narrow and therefore weak.
Now, this invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
locks fitted with locking and latching bolts which obviate the inconveniences
above referred to as resulting from the ordinary or common construction of lock
above described.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we will describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a view
of a lock constructed according to this invention, with the cap plate removed to
shew the interior mechanism. Figure 2 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but
with the lever of the locking mechanism, and the spring which presses down

page_text: such lever and presses forwards the latching bolt, removed. Figure 3 is a detached
front or side view of the pivoted plate hereinafter described; and Figure 4 is a
detached view of the hinder end of such plate.
A is a plate formed, preferably, of sheet or thin plate metal. This plate is
pivotally connected, near to its forward end, to the case B, by means of the stud a
which is in position considerably in advance of the follower D and near to one
edge, preferably the upper edge, of the case; and the hinder end of the latch
bolt tail C is pivotally connected with such plate, by means of the stud c, at a point
also which is considerably in advance of the follower D. The plate A has lugs b
bent or formed out at right angles at the hinder edge thereof. These lugs are,
preferably, in a line with one another which is angle-wise to the longitudinal axis
of the case, as shewn, to ensure a specially easy action of the follower, and are
at opposite sides of the follower and in such position in relation thereto, when
the latch bolt is in its outward or normal position, that the follower horns d d¹
come immediately against their lower or under, sides, respectively. The movement
of the follower in either direction causes one or other of the horns dd' to press
against the corresponding lug b and thus turn the plate upon the stud a, thus
moving backwards the lower forward end of the plate and drawing in the latch
bolt. The manner in which the plate A is pivoted within the case and connected
with the latch bolt tail C admits of the follower horns dd being a considerable
length, thus giving a smooth and easy action and avoiding the excessive wear on
their ends which is experienced with the ordinary mechanism; and the latch bolt
tail, being connected with the forward end of the plate A, that is to say, at a
distance considerably forwards of the follower, such bolt tail may be much shorter
than in the ordinary mechanism above described. The follower horn d, having to
operate through a shorter leverage of the plate A than the horn d', is made
proportionately shorter, as shewn. As the follower is turned in one direction to
move the plate A backwards, the shorter horn rubs along the flat surface of the
corresponding lug b, and as the follower is turned in the opposite direction to move
the plate A backwards, the other horn rubs against the edge of the corresponding
lug b. The outer end of the shorter horn d is made to incline outwards towards its
back, thus leaving an inclined face which will come against the lug
in case
the bearing angle of the horn is drawn boyond the inner end of the lug as the
follower is turned.
is
The stud a, by means of which the plate A is pivoted within the case,
utilized also, preferably, as the pivot for the lever or tumbler E of the locking
mechanism and as the stump or guide for the locking bolt tail F.
The spring G, which is used both for the lever or tumbler E and for the
latching bolt, is mounted upon a separate stud which projects through an
opening H formed through the plate A. The lever or tumbler E is formed with
a downward arm e from its hinder end, and the free end of one side of the spring
bears against the outer end of this arm in a direction to press it backwards, while
the free end of the other side of the spring bears against the back end of the latch
bolt tail C and tends to press the bolt forwards. The opening H through the
plate A is of a size, as shewn, to admit the whole length of the spring G and
allow of its movement; and the spring is made as wide as the space between the
front and back of the lock case, except for the clearance necessary to leave it free.
In order that the spring G may be as long as is conveniently possible, and of the
full width between the two sides of the case except for such clearance as will leave
it quite free, the stud a is fixed as near to the rim of the case as conveniently may
be, the lever E is cranked up at its hinder end or otherwise shaped to adapt
it for connection with the stud, and the hinder end of the bolt tail F is cranked up
for connection also with the stud. The study upon which the spring G is mounted
may, consequently, be placed considerably higher up within the case than would
otherwise be convenient, and admit of a long spring being used without any
portion of it coming between any part of the mechanism and a side of the
lock case

page_text: The forward movement of the plate A is stopped by a stump f fixed within the
case and projecting through an opening J formed through the plate. The screw
pin h, used in fixing the cap, is shewn as passing also through the opening J
through the plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. In a lock fitted with both a locking bolt and a latching bolt, a plate, such
as A, pivoted within the lock case at a point considerably forward of the vertical
axis of the follower and near to one edge of the case, and pivotally connected with
the latching bolt tail at a point which is near to the opposite edge of the case and
which is also considerably forward of the vertical axis of the follower, said plate
having lugs formed at right angles therewith at its hinder end with which the
follower horns, respectively, engage, substantially as described.
2. In a lock fitted with both a locking bolt and a latching bolt, a plate, such
as A, pivoted within the lock case at a point considerably forward of the vertical axis
of the follower and near to one edge of the case and pivotally connected with
the latching bolt tail at a point which is near to the opposite edge of the case and
which is also considerably forward of the vertical axis of the follower, said plate
having luat its hinder end running in an inclined direction in relation to the
horizontal as of the lock and with which the follower horns, respectively, engage,
substantially described.
3. In a locked with both a locking bolt and a latching bolt, a plate, such
as A, pivoted within the lock case at a point considerably forward of the vertical axis
of the follower and near to one edge of the case, and pivotally connected with the
latching bolt tail at a point which is near to the opposite edge of the case and
which is also considerably forward of the vertical axis of the follower, lugs pro-
jecting from such plate for the engagement therewith of the follower horns,
respectively, an opening through such plate for the reception of the spring by
which the latching bolt is pressed outwards, and a spring within such opening
which presses outwards the latching bolt, substantially as described.
4. In a lock fitted with both a locking bolt and a latching bolt, a stump fixed
within the case near to one edge thereof, a locking bolt tail cranked outwards at its
hinder end towards the edge of the case near which the stump is fixed, to allow
such stump to act as the guide for the bolt tail, and to leave a greater space than
usual between the inner edge of the hinder portion of such bolt tail and the
opposite edge of the case, and a spring mounted upon a stud fixed within the case
near to the inner edge of the hinder end of the bolt tail and bearing at one of its
free ends against the hinder end of the latching bolt tail, substantially as described.
5. In a lock fitted with both a locking bolt and a latching bolt, a stump fixed
within the case near to one edge thereof, a locking bolt tail cranked outwards at its
hinder end towards the edge of the case near which the stump is fixed, to allow
such stump to act as the guide for the bolt tail, and to leave a greater space
than usual between the inner edge of the hinder portion of such bolt tail and the
opposite edge of the case, said stump being utilized also as the pivot for the lever
or tumbler of the locking bolt, whereby a greater space than usual is left between
the inner edge of the hinder portion of such lever or tumbler and the opposite
edge of the case, and a spring mounted upon a stud fixed within the case near
to the inner edges of the hinder ends of the bolt tail and lever or tumbler, and
bearing at one of its free ends against the hinder end of the latching bolt tail,
substantially as described.
6. In a lock fitted with both a locking bolt and a latching bolt, a plate which
is operated by the follower, and is pivotally connected with the case by means of a
stump which is fixed near to one edge of the case, said plate being pivotally
connected with the latching bolt tail at a point which is near to the opposite
edge of the case, and having an opening therethrough to receive a spring which

page_text: presses outwards the latching bolt and presses downwards the lever or tumbler of
the locking bolt, the locking bolt tail cranked outwards at its hinder end to
enable the stump to act also as the guide for the bolt tail and to leave a greater
space than usual between the inner edge of the hinder portion of such
bolt tail and the opposite edge of the case, a locking bolt lever or tumbler
having an arm which extends across a considerable portion of the depth of the
case, a stud fixed within the case near to the inner edge of the hinder end of the.
bolt tail and projecting through the said opening through the plate, and a spring
within such opening through the plate and mounted upon such stud and bearing
at its free ends against the hinder end of the latching bolt and against the outer
or free end of the lever or tumbler arm, respectively, substantially as described.
7. In a lock fitted with both a locking bolt and a latching bolt, a plate which is
operated by the follower, and is pivotally connected with the case by means of a
stump which is fixed near to one edge of the case, said plate being pivotally
connected with the latching bolt tail at a point which is near to the opposite edge
of the case, and having an opening therethrough to receive a spring which presses
outwards the latching bolt and presses downwards the lever or tumbler of the
locking bolt, the locking bolt tail cranked outwards at its hinder end to enable the
stump to act also as the guide for the bolt tail and to leave a greater space than
usual between the inner edge of the hinder portion of such bolt tail and the
opposite edge of the case, said stump being utilized also as the pivot for the lever
or tumbler of the locking bolt, whereby a greater space than usual is left between
the inner edge of the hinder portion of such lever or tumbler and the opposite edge
of the case, an arm of such lever or tumbler which extends across a considerable
portion of the depth of the case, a stud fixed within the case near to the inner edges
of the hinder ends of the bolt tail and lever or tumbler and projecting through
the said opening through the plate, and a spring within such opening through
the plate and substantially of the width of the inside of the case and mounted upon
such stud and bearing at its free ends against the hinder end of the latching bolt
and against the outer or free end of the lever or tumbler arm, respectively,
substantially as described.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts of a lock fitted with both a locking
bolt and a latching bolt, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings
herewith.
Dated this 10th day of January 1899.