IM- PROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND KEYS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Wolverson, the younger, of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Lock Maker, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND KEYS."
Sealed the 18th September 1867, and dated the 29th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Wolverson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th March 1867.
I, JOSEPH WOLVERSON, the younger, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Lock Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND KEYS, to be as follows:-
My improvements in locks consist in constructing and arranging the
parts
of permutation and other locks in the manner herein-after described, whereby
great simplicity and economy of production are secured. In constructing and
arranging the parts of permutation and other locks according to my Invention,
I place upon the bolt of the lock a series of slides which are carried by the bolt,
and are besides capable of a motion transverse to that of the bolt. Each of
the said slides has a slot through which a stump or fixed guide on the bolt

page_text: passes, and upon which stump or guide the slides move. Both the front and
rear ends of the slides are provided with teeth. To the lock case a series
of levers or tumblers are jointed, the said levers or tumblers resembling those
ordinarily employed, excepting that they have no slots or gatings; the said
levers or tumblers are pressed down by springs in the usual manner. In the
rear of each of the slides is a slot or grating of a size proper to receive the
free ends of the tumblers. When the bolt is in its withdrawn position
the tumblers and slides are all in their lowest positions, the free ends of
the tumblers occupying the slots or gatings in the slides. When the key is
introduced into the lock and turned the steps of the key raise the tumblers
to different heights, the said tumblers causing the slides on the bolt to rise
to corresponding heights. The bolt is now shot forward, the slides advancing
or moving from off the free ends of the tumblers, but immediately before
they are disengaged from the tumblers the front toothed ends of the slides
come in contact with a tooth carried by a spring arm; the said tooth engaging
with the teeth on the front of the slides holds them at the respective heights
to which they have been brought by the tumblers, yet permits of the motion
of the bolt so as to completely disengage the slides from the tumblers; on
removing the key the tumblers are pressed down to their lowest positions by
their springs. When the key is reintroduced and turned for the purpose of
withdrawing the bolt the tumblers are raised to the respective heights proper
to permit of the gatings or slots in the slides to pass on to their ends on the
withdrawing of the bolt. The ends of the tumblers are provided with teeth
which on any attempt to pick the lock by pressure upon the bolt engage
with the teeth on the rear of the slides and prevent the further motion
of the tumblers. A guard is situated around the keyhole to prevent access
through the keyhole to the levers and slides of the lock. The steps of the
key employed to shoot and withdraw the bolt may be varied to a very large
extent, the key employed to shoot the bolt being alone capable of with-
drawing it, the arrangement of the parts being such that the tumblers and
slides may be brought into a great variety of positions by the key in shooting
the bolt, and the slides being left in those positions the bolt can only be
withdrawn by a key which will raise the tumblers to the same heights respec-
tively as those to which they were raised in shooting the bolt. By the
arrangement described of the tumblers and slides, it will be understood that
a changeable key may be used with the lock, the steps of the key being
changed as often as may be deemed necessary. As the shape of the key
may be changed each time the lock is locked, a copy of the key is of no
value after the bits or steps of the true key have been changed. The lock

page_text: described may be used either with a key having a permanent form or with a
key having changeable bits or steps.
My improvements in keys for permutation or changeable locks consist in
making the key of a series of bits or steps having rings at their tops. These
bits or steps are fitted in a frame at the end of the key in such a position
that the several rings at their tops form a tube, which when the key is used
passes on the peg or pin of the lock. The bits are thus firmly fixed in their
positions during the action of the key. The bits or steps require only to be
dropped into the frame of the key, a small screw or spring being employed
to press them against one another so as to prevent them falling out.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Wolverson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WOLVERSON, the younger, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Lock
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Wolverson, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Wolverson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Wolverson, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND
KEYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Wolver-
son, 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 immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Wolverson, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My improvements in locks consist in constructing and arranging the parts
of permutating and other locks in the manner herein-after described, whereby
great simplicity and economy of production are secured.
In constructing and arranging the parts of permutating and other locks
according to my Invention I place upon the bolt of the lock a series of slides,
which are carried by the bolt, and are besides capable of a motion transverse
to that of the bolt. Each of the said slides has a slot, through which a stump
or fixed guide on the bolt passes, and upon which stump or guide the slides
move. Both the front and rear ends of the slides are provided-with teeth.
To the lock case a series of levers or tumblers are jointed, the said levers or
tumblers resembling those ordinarily employed, excepting that they have no
slots or gatings. The said levers or tumblers are pressed down by springs in
the usual manner. In the rear of each of the slides is a slot or gating of a
size proper to receive the free ends of the tumblers. When the bolt is in its
withdrawn position the tumblers and slides are all in their lowest positions,
the free ends of the tumblers occupying the slots or gatings in the slides.
When the key is introduced into the lock and turned the steps of the key
raise the tumblers to different heights, the said tumblers causing the slides on
the bolt to rise to corresponding heights. The bolt is now shot forward, the
slides advancing or moving from off the free ends of the tumblers, but
immediately before they are disengaged from the tumblers the front toothed
ends of the slides come in contact with a tooth carried by a spring arm. The
said tooth engaging with the teeth on the front of the slides holds them at the
respective heights to which they have been brought by the tumblers yet
permits of the motion of the bolt so as to completely disengage the slides
from the tumblers. On removing the key the tumblers are pressed down to
their lowest positions by their springs. When the key is reintroduced and
turned for the purpose of withdrawing the bolt the tumblers are raised to the
respective heights proper to permit of the gatings or slots in the slides to pass
on to their ends on the withdrawing of the bolt. The ends of the tumblers
pick the lock by pressure
are provided with teeth, which on any attempt to
upon the bolt engage with the teeth on the rear of the slides and prevent the
further motion of the tumblers. A guard is situated around the keyhole to
prevent access through the keyhole to the levers and slides of the lock. The
steps of the key employed to shoot and withdraw the bolt may be varied to a
very large extent, the key employed to shoot the bolt being alone capable of
withdrawing it, the arrangement of the parts being such that the tumblers

page_text: and slides may be brought into a great variety of positions by the key in
shooting the bolt, and the slides being left in those positions the bolt can only
be withdrawn by a key which will raise the tumblers to the same heights
respectively as those to which they were raised in shooting the bolt. By
the arrangement described of the tumblers and slides it will be understood
that a changeable key may be used with the lock, the steps of the key being
changed as often as may be deemed necessary.
As the shape of the key may
be changed each time the lock is locked and unlocked a copy of the key is of
no value after the bits or steps of the true key have been changed. The lock
described may be used with a key having a permanent form or with a key
having changeable bits or steps.
My improvements in keys for permutating or changeable locks consist in
making the key of a series of bits or steps having rings at their tops; these
bits or steps are fitted in a frame at the end of the key in such a position
that the several rings at their tops form a tube, which when the key is used
passes on the peg or pin of the lock. The bits are thus firmly fixed in their
positions during the action of the key. The bits or steps require only to be
dropped into the frame of the key, a small screw or spring being employed to
press them against one another so as to prevent them falling out.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure represents in elevation, with the front plate removed, a per-
mutating lock constructed according to my Invention, the bolt of the lock being
represented in its withdrawn position; Figure 2 represents the said lock with
the bolt shot; Figure 3 represents the same with the bolt in the act of being
shot or withdrawn, and Figure 4 represents a longitudinal section of the
lock; Figures 5 and 6 are parts of the same. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
a is the bolt of the lock, and 6 is a series of levers or tumblers turning on the
lock ease at c, and pressed down by the springs d; one of these levers or
tumblers is shown separately in Figure 6; the said levers 6 resemble ordinary
levers or tumblers, excepting that they have no slots or gatings. Upon the
bolt a of the lock and carried thereby is a series of slides e, which slides e,
besides travelling with the bolt, are capable of motion transverse to the said
bolt; one of these slides e is shown separately in Figure 5. Each of the
slides e has a cross slot & in it, through which the stump or fixed guide ƒ on
the bolt a passes, and upon which stump or guide the slides e move. The
front and rear ends of the slides e are provided with teeth, as seen in the

page_text: several Figures, and in front of the said slides is a spring arm 9 carrying a
tooth g³. In the rear end of each of the slides e is a slot or gating e³ of a size
proper to receive the free and contracted end 6 of the levers or tumblers 6;
the front edge of the part 6 of the levers or tumblers 6 is provided with teeth,
as represented. The shape of the slots or gatings in the slides e and that of
the free ends of the levers or tumblers 6 is best seen in the separate views,
Figures 5 and 6.
When the bolt a is in its withdrawn position the levers or
tumblers 6, 6, are in their lowest position, the free ends 6 occupying the slots
or gatings in the slides e, as represented in Figure 1. On introducing and
turning the key h (Figure 3, also shown separately in Figure 7) in the lock,
the steps of the said key raise the levers or tumblers b, b, to different heights,
and the said tumblers in their turn raise the slides e to corresponding heights;
the said slides e as they are raised moving upon the fixed stump or guide f.
Having thus raised the tumblers and slides the further motion of the key
shoots the bolt, the slides by the motion of the bolt advancing or moving
from off the free ends of the tumblers, as illustrated in Figure 3, where the
slides are shown partly withdrawn from the levers or tumblers. By the
continued motion of the bolt a the slides e are disengaged from the free
ends 6 of the tumblers b; just before the said slides are completely disengaged
from the tumblers the front toothed ends of the said slides come in contact
with the tooth g³ of the spring arm g, which tooth by engaging with the slides
holds them at the respective heights to which they have been brought by the
tumblers. As soon as the tooth 9 has engaged with the slides e the further
motion of the bolt completely disengages them from the ends 6 of the
tumblers b, when the latter on removing the key are pressed down to their
lowest position by the springs d. The positions which the slides ⚫ and
tumblers b, b, respectively occupy when the bolt a has been shot will be
readily seen by an examination of Figure 2; the said Figure 2 also shows the
manner in which the slides are supported by the spring tooth g³. In order
to withdraw the bolt of the lock, Figure 2, the key is re-introduced and turned
in the lock, the said key first raising the tumblers 6, 6, to the respective
heights of the gatings or slots in the slides e and afterwards shooting the
bolt. On the motion of the bolt the slides e are carried from off the tooth g³,
and the gatings or slots c³ of the said slides pass on to the ends b² of the
tumblers b, as illustrated in Figure 3, and thus permit the withdrawal of the
bolt. By making teeth on the ends of the tumblers b, and teeth on the rear
of the slides e, any attempt to pick the lock by pressure upon the bolt a causes
the teeth on the said tumblers to engage with the teeth on the rear of the
slides and thereby prevent further motion of the tumblers and the withdrawal

page_text: of the bolt. The manner in which the teeth on the slides, on pressure being
put on the bolt, engage with the teeth on the tumblers will be readily under-
stood by an examination of Figure 2. Around the keyhole of the lock is a
guard i to prevent access through the keyhole to the slides. A supplementary
guard k is also placed around the keyhole to prevent the introduction into the
lock of sufficient gunpowder to destroy or injure the works of the lock; this
inner or gunpowder guard k consists of a nearly tubular plate, having an
opening on one side for the key k to pass through; the said guard k works
upon a projection on the bottom plate of the lock, the said projection / being
eccentric to the pin or peg m on which the key turns; the said guard / is
carried round the said projection by the motion of the key. The position of
the guard when the key is acting on the tumblers is represented in Figure 3,
and when the key has been withdrawn from the lock in Figures 1 and 2.
The lock described and represented may be used either with a key, having a
permanent form, as represented in Figure 7, or with a key having changeable
bits or steps, as represented in Figure 8. When a changeable key of the
kind represented in Figure 8 is employed to shoot and withdraw the bolt the
steps of the key may be changed as often as may be required, a copy of the
key being useless after the bits or steps of the key have been changed. When
a key having a permanent form is employed the steps may be varied to a large
extent, the shape of the key determining the positions to which the tumblers
b, be, and slides e are raised by the key, the key (whether a changeable one
or not) employed to shoot the bolt being alone capable of withdrawing it, as
will be understood from the description herein-before given, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 8 represents a key for a permutating or changeable lock constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 9 is a plan of the under side of the same;
Figure 10 is a cross section of the same; and Figure 11 is one of the steps or
bits of the key separately; Figure 12 represents the lower part of the key
with the steps or bits removed.
a is a frame at the end of the key, the shape of which is best seen in
Figure 10, and 6 are the steps or bits of the key fitted into the frame a;
each step or bit has at its top a ring 6 corresponding to the hole a' in the
bottom of the frame a. The rings 6 when the bits or steps are fitted into
the frame a in the manner represented in Figure 8 form a tube which passes
on to the peg or pin of the lock, and thus holds them in their positions
during the action of the key. The bits or steps 6 are prevented from falling
out of the frame a by means of a small screw c at the bottom of the frame a,
pressing the said bits against one another; a small spring may be employed

page_text: for the same purpose. To re-arrange the bits or steps 6 of the key it is only
necessary to loosen the screw c when the bits may be removed. After re-
arranging the bits in the frame a the screw c is tightened when the key is
ready for use. Instead of making each of the bits or steps of the key detached
from the others the series of bits or steps may be made of one or more pieces
of metal, as illustrated in Figure 13 of the Drawing.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but I claim as
my Invention,―
Firstly, the improvements in permutating and other locks herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, con-
structing and arranging the levers or tumblers and slides of the said locks,
substantially in the manner described and illustrated, whereby the free ends of
the levers or tumblers are made to engage with and raise a series of slides
carried by the bolt, the said slides on shooting or withdrawing the bolt moving
from off or advancing on the said levers or tumblers, and being supported when
the bolt has been shot and the said slides disengaged from the levers or
tumblers in the positions to which they have been brought by the said levers
or tumblers.
Secondly, the improvements in keys for permutating or changeable locks
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that is
to say, making the said keys of a series of bits or steps, either detached or
joined together, having rings at their tops, the said bits or steps being fitted
and secured in a frame at the bottom of the key.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Wolverson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOSEPH WOLVERSON, JUN³. (L.S.)