IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS FOR WATCHES AND CLOCKS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE KEYS OF ORDINARY LOCKS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Carpenter, of Carshalton, in the County of
Surrey, Watchmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS FOR
WATCHES AND CLOCKS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE
KEYS OF ORDINARY LOCKS."
Sealed the 17th August 1866, and dated the 2nd March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Carpenter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd March 1866.
I, JAMES CARPENTER, of Carshalton, in the County of Surrey, Watch-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN KEYS FOR WATCHES AND CLOCKS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO THE KEYS OF ORDINARY LOCKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to certain improvements in the construction
of keys for clocks and watches, the objects of which are to effect an im-
proved brequet action, and to prevent any dust or other substance from
accumulating in the barrel of the key.
I propose in lieu of the ordinary double-toothed rack formed on the
periphery of the brequet key, and the spring in the upper part or cap of
the key (called the thumb-piece) to form a rack on the under surface of
such thumb-piece, the pall or tooth extending vertically from the body of.

page_text: the key into the rack, and thus being concealed from view; this pall rests
on the upper end of a helical spring contained in the body, the spring
serving to permit of the yield and return of the pall to the action of the
rack. The thumb-piece is set on a pivot in the body of the key. The
barrel of the key contains a plug or stopper, set flush with the open end
so as to form an even surface and keep the barrel closed up. This plug is
connected to a wire rod passing up the tube or barrel, and terminating in
a disc or plate to form a head, so that when the barrel is fitted to the body
the lower end of the helical spring presses on the head plate and keeps
the plug or stopper down to the bottom of the barrel; but when it is
desired to wind up the watch or clock, the key is pressed upon the head
of the winding shaft, and the stopper retreats up the barrel against the
action of the spring, so as to permit of the passage of the barrel on the
axis. There may be a ring on the top of the thumb-piece for attachment
to a chain if desired. For keys of ordinary locks the system is the same
with regard to the stopper, but the spring would take its bearing from the
internal end or surface of the barrel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Carpenter in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CARPENTER, of Carshalton, in the County of Surrey, Watchmaker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Carpenter, Her special licence that I, the
said James Carpenter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Carpenter, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, aud no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,. should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYS FOR WATCHES AND CLOCKS,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE KEYS OF ORDINARY

page_text: Locks," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Carpenter, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Carpenter, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 relates, firstly, to certain improvements in the construction
of keys for clocks and watches, the objects of which are to effect an im-
proved brequet action, and to prevent any dust or other substance from
accumulating in the barrel of the key.
Ι propose in lieu of the ordinary double-toothed rack formed on the
periphery of the brequet key, and the spring in the upper part or cap of
the key (called the thumb-piece) to form a rack on the under surface of
such thumb-piece, the pall or tooth extending vertically from the body of
the key into the rack, and thus being concealed from view; this pall rests
on the upper end of a helical spring contained in the body, the spring
serving to permit of the yield and return of the pall to the action of the
rack. The thumb-piece is set on a pivot in the body of the key. The
barrel of the key contains a plug or stopper, set flush with the open end,
so as to form an even surface and keep the barrel closed up. This plug is
connected to a wire rod passing up the tube or barrel, and terminating in a
disc or plate to form a head, so that when the barrel is fitted to the body
the lower end of the helical spring presses on the head plate and keeps
the plug or stopper down to the bottom of the barrel; but when it is desired
to wind up the watch or clock, the key is pressed upon the head of the
winding shaft, and the stopper retreats up the barrel against the action of
the spring, so as to permit of the passage of the barrel on the axis. There
may be a ring on the top of the thumb-piece for attachment to a chain if
desired. For keys of ordinary locks the system is the same with regard to
the stopper, but the spring would take its bearing from the internal end or
surface of the barrel...
The Drawings annexed will serve to illustrate the foregoing description
of my Invention. Fig. 1 represents a side view of a brequet key, drawn
on an enlarged scale, Fig. 2 being a vertical section of the same, shewing

page_text: the internal arrangements. a, a represents the body and barrel of the key
made in one piece and bored out'; it may also be made in two parts or
divisions and attached together, if found more convenient to manufacture
the key; b is the head of the key, capable of turning in one direction only
by the action of the pall or tooth c, which enters the teeth d, d, shewn in
Fig. 3, which is an under plan' of the head b; e is a cap terminating the
head of the key. The pivot serves to sustain the parts b and e in position
and to allow of the turning of b; the palle is attached by a rod to the
disc g, which is acted upon by the helical spring h, contained in the
barrel, the spring being attached to g by a ring or other equivalent; i is a
plug or stopper placed at the bottom of the barrel, and attached to a rod
and disc or head plate o, to the top of which the lower extremity of the
spring is attached, so that when the key is inserted in a watch or lock the
plug is forced into the barrel against the action of the spring; but when
the key is withdrawn, the plug is driven to the end of the barrel and thus
prevents the ingress of dust or other foreign matter, which is apt to fill up
the barrel and to pass into the works of a watch or clock. The keys of
locks and clocks would of course be made with proper handles in order to
effect the necessary strength. The keys of clocks may or may not have
the brequet action, if not they would like keys of locks be made so that
the bearing and attachment of the spring may be at the bottom of the
barrel..
Fig. 4 is a side view of another modification of brequet key, and Fig. 5
a section thereof; in this case the pivot fis fixed in the head b, and is
provided with a male screw c, which is screwed into the body of the key a
and burred; the pivot turns loosely in the screw, but has a square head e
passing through the disc g; this disc has projecting ratchet teeth on its
upper face gearing into corresponding recesses on the bottom of the screw c;
the spring therefore forces the disc into gear with the screw, and enables
the key to be turned in one direction; but when the head of the key is
turned the other way the oblique teeth slip over each other and depress
the disc g and spring h.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I
do not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts which
I have expressed and shewn, as the same may be slightly varied or modified
without departing from the principles indicated; but I claim as my In-
vention, and desire to be secured to me by the herein, in part recited
Letters Patent,―

page_text: Firstly, the improved brequet action, consisting of the parts b, c, g, and
h, in connection with the parts a, f, and e.
i
And, secondly, the application of the stopper in connection with the
parts o and h, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
And, thirdly, the arrangement of the parts a, b, c, e, g and h, described
in Figs. 4 and 5, in relation to the other parts previously described, con-
stituting "Improvements in Keys for Watches, Clocks, and Locks, sub-
stantially as herein specified,
In witness whereof, I, the said James Carpenter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JAMES CARPENTER, (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.