Improvements in the Latching Mechanism of Double-handed Locks and Latches, Applicable also to the Latching Mechanism of Locks and Latches for Swing Doors and Gates.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in the Latching Mechanism of Double-handed
Locks and Latches, Applicable also to the Latching Mechanism
of Locks and Latches for Swing Doors and Gates.
We, JOHN THOMAS GREEN, and JOHN GREEN, both of 33 Saint James' Square,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, lock manufacturers, do hereby declaro
the nature of our invention for, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATCHING MECHANISM OF
DOUBLE-HANDED LOCKS AND LATCHES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE LATCHING
MECHANISM OF LOCKS AND LATCHES FOR SWING DOORS AND GATES, to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to combine the advantages which are obtainable
by the employment of a cylindrical double-bevelled latching bolt-head with those
which are obtainable by the employment of a square latching bolt-head.
A latching bolt constructed according to this invention has a cylindrical head
passing through the fore-plate of the case. A feather or rib, formed preferably
solid therewith, projects along the upper or lower side (preferably the lower side)
of such cylindrical head, and this feather or rib passes also through the fore-plate,
a slotted opening being formed therethrough for the purpose. The outer end of
the cylindrical head is bevelled on each side so as to be double-handed, and each
bevel is formed to a somewhat convex curve, such as is usual in the bevelled ends
of latching bolts. The two bevels, aforesaid, do not form an angle at the outer
end of the bolt, but are formed so as to leave a narrow flat strip vertically down
the end of the bolt, corresponding to the width of the feather or rib before
mentioned.
In pushing to a door fitted with a lock or latch having our improved latching
mechanism, one of the bevelled parts, aforesaid, strikes, in the ordinary way against
the striking plate or staple, and the bolt-head is thus driven in. An opening is
formed through the striking-plate (when a striking-plate is employed, as in the case
of a mortice lock) to receive the cylindrical head, and an opening is slotted down
therefrom to receive the feather or rib which of course springs out with the
cylindrical part of the bolt-head. When a box-staple is employed (as in the case
of a rim lock) a block or projecting part is formed inside the front plate of the
staple for the outer face of the feather or rib, aforesaid, to bear against when the
latching bolt is within such staple,

page_text: By the employment of a latching bolt-head, as above-described, it will be seen
that the advantage which is secured in striking, by the employment of a bevelled
part upon a cylindrical bolt-head, is obtained in combination with the advantage
of the non-liability of the bolt-head to turn, and of a good bearing or hold within
the striking-plate or staple, which is secured by the adoption of a feather or rib
projecting from the cylindrical bolt-head, and that the employment of a feather or
rib, as described, in combination with the double-bevelled head, avoids the necessity
for leaving a length of plain cylindrical part projecting from the fore-plate
between such fore-plate and the commencement of the bevel, and thus enables the
head to be moved in with a short length of stroke, as the bearing or hold within the
staple is taken by the feather, which acts in lieu of the straight part of an ordinary
square head or of a single bevelled head.
When the above latching mechanism is applied to swing doors, a double-lipped
striking plate is, of course, employed.

page_text: Improvements in the Latching Mechanism of Double-handed
Locks and Latches, Applicable also to the Latching Mechanism
of Locks and Latches for Swing Doors and Gates.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
We, JOHN THOMAS GREEN, and JOHN GREEN, both of 33, Saint James' Square,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, lock manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATCHING MECHANISM OF
DOUBLE-HANDED LOCKS AND LATCHES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE LATCHING
MECHANISM OF LOCKS AND LATCHES FOR SWING DOORS AND GATES, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon:-
The object of this invention is to combine the advantages which are obtainable
by the employment of a cylindrical double-bevelled latching bolt head with those
which are obtainable by the employment of a square latching bolt-head.
A latching bolt constructed according to this invention has a cylindrical head
passing through the foreplate of the case. A rib or feather formed preferably solid
therewith projects along the upper or lower (or both the upper and lower) side of
such cylindrical head, and this rib passes also through the fore-plate, a slotted
opening being formed therethrough for the
purpose.
The outer end of the cylindrical head is bevelled on each side so as to be double-
handed, and each bevel is formed to a somewhat convex curve, such as is usual in
the bevelled ends of latching bolts. The two bevels, aforesaid, do not form an
angle at the outer end of the bolt, but are formed so as to leave a narrow flat or
rounded strip vertically down the end of the bolt, corresponding approximately to
the width of the rib before described.
In pushing to a door fitted with a lock or latch having our improved latching
mechanism, one of the bevelled parts, aforesaid, strikes in the ordinary way against
the striking plate or staple; and the bolt head is thus driven in. An opening is
formed through the striking-plate (when a striking-plate is employed, as in the case
of a mortise lock) to. receive the cylindrical head, and an opening is slotted up or
down (or both up and down) therefrom to receive the rib (or ribs) which of course
springs out with the cylindrical part of the bolt head. When a box staple is
employed (as in the case of a rim lock) a block (or blocks when two ribs are
employed) is formed inside the front plate of the staple for the outer face of the 'rib,
aforesaid, to bear against when the latching bolt is within such staple.
In the accompanying drawings figure 1 is an elevation of a mortise latch with
the cap-plate removed, and of the striking-plate therefor, having a cylindrical
bolt-head with ribs projecting above and below. The back end of the latch case
and bolt tail is shown broken off for convenience of illustration, and the internal
mechanism, with the exception of the bolt, is not shewn. Figure 2 is a front end
elevation of figure 1, and figure 3 is a sectional plan thereof.
The same letters of reference occurring upon different views indicate corre-
sponding parts.
A is the latch caso, and B the fore-plate. D is the cylindrical bolt head with
ribs a a projecting above and below. bb are the bevelled faces on the end of the
bolt head D, and c the vertical flat or rounded strip joining their outer ends. C is
the striking-plate, and E the opening therethrough to admit the cylindrical part
of the bolt-head, ee are slots from the opening E to admit the ribs a a.

page_text: Figure 4 is a corresponding view to figure 1, and illustrates a mortise lock with
a cylindrical double-bevelled Intching bolt-head having only one rib projecting
therefrom. The bolt tail in this case is shewn cylindrical, but forms no distinctive
feature of the invention The locking-bolt and the other parts of the mechanism,
and also the striking-plate, are omitted for convenience of illustration. The parts
in this view which correspond to those in figure 1 are correspondingly lettered.
Figure 5 illustrates an inside view of a box staple employed when our invention
is applied to a rim lock or latch, and shews also a double ribbed cylindrical latching
bolt head in transverse section and in position in relation to the box-staple due to
the door to which such lock or latch is fixed being shut. F is the staple having
blocks d d projecting from the inner face of the front plate thereof, to form
bearings for the ribs a a of the head D, when such head is within the staple.
If one rib only is employed with the head, one block only of course is needed.
By the employment of a latching bolt-head as above described, it will be seen
that the advantage (in reduced friction) which is secured in striking, by the
employment of a bevelled part upon a cylindrical bolt-head, is obtained in com-
bination with the advantage of the non-liability of the bolt-head to turn, and of a
good bearing or hold within the striking-plate or staple, which is secured by the
adoption of a rib (or ribs) projecting from the cylindrical bolt-head; and as the
bevelled part upon the cylindrical bolt-head will be always struck in the centre
there will be no tendency to side twist as in the ordinary square bolt-head, the
bevelled parts of which are liable to be struck unevenly. The employment of a
rib (or ribs) as described in combination with the double-bevelled head, also avoids
the necessity for leaving a length of plain cylindrical part projecting from the
fore-plate between such fore-plate and the commencement of the bevel, and thus
enables the head to be moved in with a short length of stroke, as the bearing or
hold within the staple is taken by the rib (or ribs) which acts in lieu of the
straight part of an ordinary square head or of a single-bevelled head. There is the
further advantage also that the hole in the fore-plate through which the cylindrical
head passes can be drilled instead of being filed out as in the case of a square hole.
The above-described latching mechanism is peculiarly applicable in the case of
swing doors and gates, as the latching bolt will strike either-handed, and the rib
or ribs thereon will securely hold the door or gate in its latched position, and avoid
the liability which such doors and gates have of being accidently pushed open if
an ordinary double bevelled bolt only is employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, wo declare that what
we claim is
1. The combination of a rib or ribs with a double-bevelled cylindrical latch-bolt
head for a double-handed lock or latch, substantially as and for the purpose'set
forth.
2. A block or blocks projecting from the inner face of the front of a box-staple,
in combination with a double-bevelled cylindrical latch-bolt head, having a rib or
ribs thereon, for a double-handed lock or latch, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.