In- PROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hamilton, of St. Martin's-le-Grand, and
William Henry Nash, of Poplar, Engineer, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN LOCKS."
Sealed the 5th April 1859, and dated the 5th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hamilton and
William Henry Nash at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 5th October 1858.
We, GEORGE HAMILTON, of St. Martin's-le-Grand, and WILLIAM HENRY
NASH, of Poplar, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS," to be as follows:-
According to one part of this Invention a lock is constructed of two or more
discs, which turn around a common centre, and a portion of the circumference
of each of the discs projects beyond the frame or case of the lock, and serves
as a bolt. A portion of the circumference of each of the discs is cut away, so
that the discs may be all turned round into such a position that no portion of
them projects beyond the frame, and when they are in such a position the
lock would be unlocked. The discs are placed at a distance apart from each
other, so that the portion of each of the discs which projects beyond the frame
when the lock is locked may fit into slots cut in the striking plate or piece

page_text: into which a bolt is ordinarily shot. Between the discs there are friction
plates, which keep the discs in any position in which they may be placed. A
portion of each of the discs is cut away at the centre, and projections on a
key enter the spaces so formed, which projections act on the discs and move
them round into such a position that no portion of their circumference projects
beyond the frame when the key is turned into a certain position.
In that description of lock where a projection or projections on a link plate
is or are retained by the lock, the lock is formed according to this Invention,
of two or more discs turning on a common centre, as before, each of which
discs has a flange around its circumference, which flange takes into projections
on the link plate, and prevents it being withdrawn. A portion of the flange
on each of the discs is cut away, so that the discs may be turned round into
such a position that the link plate will not be retained by the flanges on the
disc. The discs are formed as in the former lock, so that they may be acted
on from the centre by a key.
In that description of lock where a hasp or a shackle enters the lock, the
lock is formed according to this Invention of two or more discs which turn on
a common centre, a portion of the circumference of each of which is cut
away but in this description of lock the discs are formed of different
diameters, and the hasp or shackle is formed with steps or notches, so that
when the lock is locked, a portion of the circumference of each of the discs
projects beyond a step or notch on the hasp or shackle, and so prevents the
hasp or shackle being withdrawn. The discs in this lock are also arranged to
be acted on from the centre by a key, in a similar manner to the locks above
described.
For desk and other locks where a spring catch or bolt is employed, which
is pushed back by the pressure of the thumb on a piece on the exterior of the
case of the lock which acts on the bolt, the bolt is prevented being pushed
back by discs; but there is a small portion cut away from the periphery of
each disc, so that the bolt may be pushed back when the discs are in a certain
position. The discs are made of different diameters, and there is a piece
attached to the back of the bolt which is cut in steps, each step resting
against a separate disc; and the discs are constructed so that they may be
acted on from the centre by a key, as in the locks above described. In each
of the locks above described, in place of the discs being all brought at the
same time by a key into such a position that the lock is unlocked, the discs
and key may be arranged so that when the first disc is moved by the key into
the position which it assumes when the lock is unlocked, the other disc or
discs are not moved into position for the lock to be unlocked, so that in order

page_text: to unlock the lock each disc must be brought separately into its proper
position: For this purpose a hole is formed in each disc, and the holes are
formed in the discs in such positions, that when the first disc is turned by the
key into the proper position for the lock to be unlocked, the other discs are
not in position for the lock to be unlocked. For a lock of this description the
key is suitably formed to allow of each disc being brought into position
separately. In place of forming a lock with rotating discs, which serve in
place of a sliding bolt, a sliding bolt may be employed having a projection
which, when the lock is unlocked, enters slots formed in discs turning round a
common centre, as before, and which are made as in the other locks, so that
they may be acted on from the centre by a key, so as to be brought into
position for the bolt to be withdrawn by one turn of the key, or so that each
disc may be brought into position separately. The bolt may be moved by
turning a handle, having on its axis a projection which acts on the bolt; or
the bolt may be attached to an escutcheon, and be moved by sliding the
escutcheon backwards and forwards, or by any other suitable means. The
rotating discs may be formed with false notches around their circumference to
prevent the lock from being picked by applying pressure to the bolt; or in
place of forming the rotating discs with false notches around their cir-
cumference, so as to prevent the lock from being picked by applying pressure
to the bolt, the bolt may have attached to it a thin plate of sheet steel, or
other substance, which comes between the discs and the front plate of the
lock, the thin plate having a hole formed in it, which coincides with the key-
hole when the bolt is fully shot; but when the bolt is pushed back, the steel
plate comes between the keyhole and the discs, and so prevents the key or any
other instrument from being inserted, and the lock is formed so that the bolt
may be withdrawn a short distance before it is stopped by the discs ; and in
order to prevent the lock being picked by taking an impression in wax of the
position of the notches which are acted on by the key, and from that
impression forming a false key, a projection on the bolt may, when the bolt is
almost fully shot, be made to act on a lever, so as to alter the position of the
dises. Other locks may also be formed in a similar manner to that above
described, to prevent their being picked by pressure applied to the bolt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Hamilton and William Henry Nash in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 5th April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
HAMILTON, of Saint Martin's-le-Grand, and WILLIAM HENRY NASU, of Poplar,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said George Hamilton and William Henry Nash, Her special licence
that we, the said George Hamilton and William Henry Nash, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Hamilton
and William Henry Nash, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN Locks," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
George Hamilton and William Henry Nash, our executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under
the hand and seal of one of us, or them, 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 immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent. .
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Hamilton, on behalf of myself
& the said William Henry Nash, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is
to say:
According to one part of this Invention, a lock is constructed of two or more
discs, which turn around a common centre, and a portion of the circumference
of each of the discs projects beyond the frame or case of the lock, and serves
as a bolt.
A portion of the circumference of each of the discs is cut away, so
that the discs may be all turned round into such a position that no portion of
them projects beyond the frame, and when they are in such a position the lock
would be unlocked. The discs are placed at a distance apart from each other,

page_text: so that the portion of each of the discs which projects beyond the frame when
the lock is locked, may fit into slots cut in the striking plate or piece into
which a bolt is ordinarily shot. Between the discs there are friction plates
which keep the discs in any position in which they may be placed. A portion
of each of the discs is cut away at the centre, and projections on a key enter
the spaces so formed, which projections act on the discs and move them round
into such a position that no portion of their circumference projects beyond the
frame when the key is turned into a certain position.
Figure 1 shows a lock constructed according to this part of our Invention,
with the covering plate removed. a is the frame or case of the lock, in the
interior of which there is a portion of a projecting ring a', which retains the
discs b, b, concentrically one with the other, a portion of the circumference of
each of the discs is cut away, as shewn at 6', so that the discs may be all
turned round into such a position that no portion of them projects beyond
the frame, and when they are in such a position the lock would be unlocked;
c, c, are distance or friction plates, which retain the discs in any position in
which they may be placed, and also keep the discs at a distance apart, so that
the portion of each disc which projects beyond the frame when the lock is
locked may fit into a slot cut in the striking plate d or piece, into which a bolt
is ordinarily shot; these plates care prevented from turning by the pro-
jections c¹ upon them fitting into a slot in the ring b; a portion of each of
the discs is cut away at the centre, leaving pieces 62 projecting into the space
so formed, and the key is made of a suitable shape to enter these spaces and to
act suitably on the projecting pieces b², so as to bring the discs into such a
position that no portion of their circumference projects beyond the frame when
the key is turned into a certain position.
In that description of lock, where a projection or projections on a link plate
is or are retained by the lock, the lock is formed according to this Invention,
of two or more discs turning on a common centre, as before, each of which
dises has a flange around its circumference, which flange takes into projections
on the link plate and prevents it being withdrawn. A portion of the flange on
each of the discs is cut away, so that the discs may be turned round into such
a position that the link plate will not be retained by the flanges on the discs.
The discs are formed as in the former lock, so that they may be acted on from
the centre by a key.
Figure 2 shows a lock constructed according to this part of our Invention.
a is the frame of the lock; b, the projecting ring for retaining the discs con-
centrically one with the other; c, c, are the discs, having projecting flanges c¹, c.
A portion of each of the discs c is cut away at the centre, as in the lock above

page_text: described, so that they may be acted on from the centre by a key; between the
discs c, there is a filling piece d, which is prevented from turning, as in the.
lock first described; e is a portion of a link plate, having projections e', which
are retained within the lock when the lock is locked by the flanges on the
discs c, as shewn, in the sectional view, Figure 2. A portion of the flange of
each disc is cut away, as shewn at c, so that when the discs are turned round.
into a certain position, the projections on the link plate will no longer be re-
tained by the flanges on the discs. In that description of lock, where a hasp or.
a shackle enters the lock, the lock is formed, according to this Invention, of two
or more discs, which turn on a common centre, a portion of the circumference of
each of which is cut away, but in this description of lock the discs are formed of
different diameters, and the hasp or shackle is formed with steps or notches, so
that when the lock is locked a portion of the circumference of each of the
discs projects beyond a step or notch on the hasp or shackle, and so prevents
the hasp or shackle being withdrawn. The discs in this lock are also arranged
to be acted on from the centre by a key in a similar manner to the locks
above described.
Figures 3 show a lock constructed according to this part of our Invention. a
is the frame; b, the projecting ring, which retains the discs concentrically one
with the other; c, c, are the discs, a portion of the circumference of each of
which is cut away, as shewn at c¹, and a portion of each disc is cut away at
the centre, so that the discs may be acted on by a key, as before described;
d, d, are the filling pieces; e is the hasp or shackle, formed with steps or
notches; this hasp or shackle is retained within the lock when the lock is
locked by a portion of the circumference of each of the discs projecting beyond
the steps or notches in the hasp or shackle, but when the discs are turned by
the key into a certain position the hasp or shackle is no longer retained by
the discs.
For desk and other locks, where a spring catch or bolt is employed, which
is pushed back by the pressure of the thumb on a piece on the exterior of the
case of the lock, which acts on the bolt, the bolt is prevented being pushed
back by discs, but there is a small portion cut away from the periphery of
each disc, so that the bolt may be pushed back when the discs are in a certain
position. The discs are made of different diameters, and there is a piece
attached to the back of the bolt which is cut in steps, each step resting against
a separate disc, and the discs are constructed so that they may be acted on
from the centre by a key, as in the locks above described.
Figures 4 shew a lock constructed according to this part of our Invention.
a is the case of the lock; b, the projecting ring, which retains the discs con-

page_text: centrically one with the other; c, the discs, having a portion of their circum-
ference cut away, as shewn at c'; d, the filling pieces, and e, the spring catch
or bolt, having a piece e¹ attached to it, which is cut in steps, each step
resting against a separate disc, as shewn. A portion of the centre of each
disc is cut away, so that the discs may be acted on by a key from the centre,
as before described.
In each of the locks above described, in place of the discs being all brought
at the same time by a key into such a position that the lock is unlocked, the
dises and key may be arranged so that when the first disc is moved by the key
into the position which it assumes when the lock is unlocked, the other disc or
discs are not moved into position for the lock to be unlocked, so that in order
to unlock the lock each disc must be brought separately into its proper
position.
Figure 5 shew two discs and a key formed in a suitable manner for con-
structing a lock so that it may be locked or unlocked in this manner. It will
be seen, on comparing the respective positions of the holes in the centre of the
discs, and the portions cut away from their circumference that when one disc
has been brought by the key into a suitable position for the lock to be
unlocked, the other disc will not be in a position for the lock to be unlocked,
so that the key must be raised into such a position that it no longer acts on
the first disc before the second disc is brought into a suitable position for the
lock to be unlocked.
In place of forming a lock with rotating discs, which serve in place of a sliding
bolt, a sliding bolt may be employed, having a projection, which, when the
lock is unlocked, enters slots formed in discs, turning round a common centre,
as before, and which are made, as in the other locks, so that they may be acted
on from the centre by a key, so as to be brought into position for the bolt to be
withdrawn by one turn of the key, or so that each disc may be brought into
position separately. The bolt may be moved by turning a handle having on
its axis a projection which acts on the bolt, or the bolt may be attached to an
escutcheon, and be moved by sliding the escutcheon backwards and forwards,
or by any other suitable means. The rotating discs may be formed with false
notches around their circumference, to prevent the lock from being picked by
applying pressure to the bolt, or in place of forming the rotating discs with
5 false notches around their circumference, so as to prevent the lock from being
picked by applying pressure to the bolt, the bolt may have attached to it a
thin plate of sheet steel, or other substance, which comes between the discs
and the front plate of the lock, the thin plate having a hole formed in it, which
coincides with the keyhole when the bolt is fully shot, but when the bolt is

page_text: pushed back, the steel plate comes between the keyhole and the discs, and so
prevents the key or any other instrument from being inserted, and the lock is
formed so that the bolt may be withdrawn a short distance before it is stopped
by the discs, and in order to prevent the lock being picked by taking an
impression in wax of the position of the notches which are acted on by the
key, and from that impression forming a false key, a projection on the bolt
may, when the bolt is almost fully shot, bo made to act on a lever, so as to
alter the position of the discs. Other locks may also be formed in a similar
manuer to that above described, to prevent their being picked by pressure
applied to the bolt.
Figure 6 shews a lock constructed according to this part of our Invention.
a, a, is the case of. the lock; b, the sliding bolt, having a projection 6', which,
when the bolt is shot back, enters slots c¹ in the discs c, c; these discs are held
concentrically one with the other by the ring d; a portion of the centre of
each of these discs is cut away, so that they may be acted on from the centre
by a key, as in the locks above described, and between each of the discs thero
is a distance or friction plate g. On the bolt 6 there is a projecting piece b³,
which, when the bolt is shot forward to lock the lock, strikes against one arm
of the bell crank lever e, and causes the other arm of this lever to strike
against the notches of the discs c, and so disarrange them and prevent the
bolt being moved back, this lever is kept in position by the spring f; the
bolt in this lock is shewn to be moved by a knob or handle attached to it;
to the bobt b there is a plate 3 of thin steel, or other suitable material, which
comes between the discs and the front plate of the lock; in the plate & there
is a hole which coincides with the keyhole when the bolt is fully shot, but
when the bolt is pushed back, the steel plate comes between the keyhole and
the discs, and so prevents the key or any other instrument from being inserted,
so that in order to unlock the lock the discs must first be arranged by means
of the key into a suitable position for the bolt to be moved back, the key must
then be withdrawn, and the bolt moved back by means of the knob or handle.
Figure 7 shows a tumbler lock constructed in a similar manner, so as to
prevent its being picked by pressure applied to the bolt. a is the frame or
case of the lock; b is the sliding bolt, having plate 6 of thin steel, or other
suitable material, attached to it, which comes between the tumblers c and the
front plate of the lock, and in this plate 6' there is a hole, which coincides
with the keyhole when the bolt is fully shot, so that if the bolt is pushed back,
the steel plate comes between the keyhole and the tumblers, and the lock is
constructed so that the bolt may be pushed back a distance before it is stopped.
by the tumblers.
a

page_text: By this means, in order to unlock the lock, the tumblers must first be
arranged by the key suitably for the bolt being shot back, the key must then
be withdrawn from the lock, and the bolt moved back by the escutchion d
(see Figure 8) attached to it; the tumblers care prevented from falling
when the key is withdrawn by means of friction plates d of sheet brass, or
other suitable material, and in place of employing springs to disarrange the
tumblers, the tumblers are shewn to be disarranged by means of a rotating
piece e, but they may be otherwise disarranged. The rotating piece e is
actuated by means of the pieces b², 63, of the plate b¹. The piece 6 striking
against one tooth of the rotating piece e, when the bolt is moved forwards to
lock the lock, and so causing this tooth to strike against the projections c¹ on
the tumblers c and disarrange them, the piece 63 when the bolt is again moved
back striking another tooth of the rotating piece, and causing it again partially
to revolve and to come into position to be again acted on by the piece b² when
the bolt is again moved forward.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hamilton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
▸ Witness,
GEO. PITT.
GEORGE HAMILTON. (L.s.)