IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFES, STRONG ROOMS, AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES FOR CONTAINING VALUABLE PROPERTY, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Niblett, of Hammersmith, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFES, STRONG
ROOMS, AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES FOR CONTAINING VALUABLE PROPERTY, AND
IN FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME.
"
Sealed the 31st August 1875, and dated the 12th July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Niblett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th July 1875.
I, FREDERIC NIBLETT, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SAPES, STRONG ROOMS, AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES FOR CONTAINING VALUABLE
PROPERTY, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows':-
My Invention has principally for its object to make safes, strong.
rooms, and similar structures for containing valuable property more
secure against being forced open by means of wedges and other
appliances used by thieves. For this purpose I construct a framework

page_text: constituting the angles of the safe to which the sides, top, and bottom
are then fixed in the form of panels. By preference I make the frame-
work of cast steel, and I either make the whole of one casting, or I make
the entire top and bottom each of one casting and secure them together
by means of vertical angle bars forming the other part of the framing.
Or again for large structures I build up the entire framework of separate
pieces, that is to say, I construct the corners, and if necessary inter-
mediate parts of solid castings to which the angle and other bars are
secured by screws or rivets. In all cases where the framing is put
together in parts I form housings or recesses in the corner and inter-
mediate pieces into which the angle bars fit, and where they may be
secured by rivetting. The parts of the framing against which the plates
forming the panels fit are recessed and formed with grooves or projecting
fillets on their faces, in or upon which fit projecting fillets or grooves
formed on the meeting faces of the panels, so that when these are
fixed in placo with their edges fitting closely against the edges of the
recessed part of the framing it is impossible to force the panels from
the framing by wedges on account of the tongueing and grooving by
which they are held together. The fixing of the panels to the framing
may be effected by rivets passing through both or by screws from the
inside, but by preference I form on the inner faces of the panels pro-
jecting studs which pass through holes in the framing and arc rivetted
thereto on the inside. By preference I form at the corners of the
framing gusset pieces affording additional surface for securing the
panels. The before-mentioned projections and recesses on the framing
and panels may either be made of uniform depth throughout, or they
may be made of increased depth at intervals.
Although I prefer to make the meeting surfaces of the framing and
panels with projections and recesses, as described, yet these may in some
cases be dispensed with. The door is made with projections or recesses
in precisely the same manner as the panels forming the sides, and in
addition I sometimes provide dogs projecting on the inner face thereof
passing through slots in the framing, on the inner face of which are
bolts or latches that are made to catch into notches in the dogs, thus
holding the door securely. The said latches are thrown into the notches
of the dogs by turning the handle on closing the door, and on turning
these back when the door is to be opened they are released again. 1
also provide at the hinge side of the door one or more latches or bolts

page_text: hinged to the framing, which by the shutting of the door are caused to
project through slots in the framing and enter recesses on the inner face
of the door. I also strengthen the lock plates of the door by adding a
second plate a short distanco therefrom, and secured thereto. by, distanco
5 pieces rivetted, screwed, or welded to both plates; these being welded
and rivetted to the door.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederic Niblett in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
NIBLETT, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Frederic Niblett, Her special license
that I, the said Frederic Niblett, executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederic Niblett, 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
SAFES, STRONG ROOMS, AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES FOR CONTAINING VALUABLE
PROPERTY, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Frederic Niblett, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederic Niblett, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say :-
My Invention has principally for its object to make safes, strong
rooms, and similar structures for containing valuable property more
secure against being forced open by means of wedges and other
appliances used by thieves. For this purpose 1 construct a framework
constituting the angles of the safe, to which the sides, top, and bottom
are then fixed in the form of panels. By preference I make the frame-
work of cast steel, and I cither make the whole of one casting, or I
make the entire top and bottom each of one casting and secure them
together by means of vertical angle bars forming the other part of the
framing. Or again for large structures I build up the entire framework
of separate pieces, that is to say, I construct the corners, and if necessary
intermediate parts of solid castings to which the angle and other bars
are secured by screws or rivets. In all cases where the framing is put
together in parts I form housings or recesses in the corner and inter-
mediate pieces into which the angle bars fit, and where they may be
secured by rivetting. The parts of the framing against which the plates
forming the panels fit are recessed and formed with grooves or projecting
fillets on their faces, in or upon which fit projecting fillets or grooves
formed on the meeting faces of the panels, so that when these are fixed:
in place with their edges fitting closely against the edges of the recessed
part of the framing it is impossible to force the panels from the framing
by wedges on account of the tongueing and grooving by which they are
held together. The fixing of the panels to the framing may be effected
by rivets passing through both, or by screws from the inside, but by
preference I form on the inner faces of the panels projecting studs which
pass through holes in the framing and are rivetted thereto on the inside.
By preference I form at the corners of the framing gusset pieces affording
additional surface for securing the panels. The before-mentioned pro-
|jections and recesses on the framing and panels may either be made of
uniform depth throughout, or they may be made of increased depth at
intervals.

page_text: panels with projections and recesses, as described, yet these may in some
cases be dispensed with. The door is made with projections or recesses
in precisely the same manner as the panels forming the sides, and in
addition I sometimes provide dogs projecting on the inner face thereof
passing through slots in the framing, on the inner face of which are
bolts or latches that are made to catch into notches in the dogs, thus
holding the door securely. The said latches are thrown into the notches
of the dogs by turning the handle on closing the door, and on turning
this back when the door is to be opened they are released again. I also
provide at the hinge side of the door one or more latches or bolts hinged
to the framing, which by the shutting of the door are caused to project
through slots in the framing and enter recesses on the inner face of the
door. I also strengthen the lock plates of the door by adding a second
plate a short distance therefrom, and secured thereto by distance pieces
rivetted, screwed, or welded to both plates, these being welded or
rivetted to the door.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
d
Fig. 1 shews a perspective view of the skeleton frame of my before-
described improved construction of safes with the panels and door
removed, the frame being in this case assumed to be made of one
single casting of cast steel.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of one of the angle bars A, A, shewing
the mode of attachment of the panels B, B, thereto. The angle bars A
are formed with recessed flanges a, a, which are, by preference, provided
with projecting fillets a' that fit into corresponding recesses formed in
the inner faces of the panels B, as shewn. The panels have also cast
or screwed to their inner faces projecting studs 6 of wrought iron or
steel, which fit through holes in the flanges a, a, and are then rivetted
up inside. By this means the panels are securely fixed to the framing,
the outer face of the panel being perfectly flush with the outer face of
the framing, and the meeting edges being made to fit perfectly true
against each other; and should it be attempted to introduce wedges
between the meeting edges of the framing and the panel in order to
force open the safe it will be seen that the fillets a¹, a', fitting into tho

page_text: grooves of the panels will effectually prevent the forcing of the latter
away from the framing, and will consequently resist any such driving in
of wedges.
Although I prefer to employ the projecting fillets, as described, yet the
flanges may also be made without them, the studs of the panels passing 5
through the holes in the flanges being sufficient in most cases to resist
the action of the wedges.
Fig. 3 shews a part elevation of the framing constructed according to
another modification, in which the top part A, as also the bottom part,
are formed as separate castings, which are connected together by the 1
angle bars A¹ which fit with projections a³ into housings formed in the
top and bottom frames, and which may be secured thereto either by
pins a³ cast or screwed on a fitting through holes in the top and bottom
frames, and rivetted at the top as shewn, or the angle bars A' might be
made with lugs inside, having holes through which studs cast or screwed 1
on the inner side of the top and bottom frames pass, and are then
rivetted up, or they might be secured with screw nuts.
Fig. 4 shows an edge view, and Fig. 5 a part elevation of the inner
face of one of the panels shewing the recesses 6' corresponding to the
projecting fillets a' on the framing at Fig. 3, which in this case are 2
shewn with parts a* of increased depth.
Fig. 6 shews another modified construction of the framing suitable
for safes of large dimensions or strong rooms. In this case the whole of
the framing is formed of separate angle bars A, A', A', which are secured
to corner pieces A³ in the following manner :-Each bar is made to fit a 2
short distance into correspondingly shaped housing in A', and the
bars A, A', are formed with projecting pins or dowels a, a, as shewn at
Fig. 7, fitting into corresponding recesses in A³, those as being extended
so that the pin of A ovelaps that of A¹. The vertical piece A² is
formed with a similar dowel a', having at its end a pin a³ which passes 3
through holes formed in the overlapping parts of as, and which may if
desired be extended up through a hole in the top of A³, and be rivetted
at the outside, as described with reference to Fig. 3.
In the just
described construction of the framing-the-panels would be formed with
rectangular notches-at-the-corners, as-shewn-at-B,-Fig.-8,-to-fit-against-3
the surfaces of the corner pieces A³

page_text: Fig. 9 shews a transverse section of the intermediate bars C of the
framing when such are required for large safes and strong rooms with
the attachment of the panels B, B, thereto, as previously described,
these being shewn in this case as secured by screws instead of
rivets.
Fig. 10 shews a section through the framing A and door D, the former
having a flange a with projecting fillets a fitting into corresponding
recesses in the door in a similar manner to that described with reference
to the panels. The door has also formed or fixed on its inner face dogs or
projections E, which pass through slots in the side of the framing, on
the inner face of which are hinged latches F, shewn in the front elevation
at Fig. 11, which when the door is open assume the position shewn in
dotted lines, but which are acted upon by the shooting of the bolts of
the door, or by a lever on turning the handle, so as to enter notches
in the dogs, as shewn by the position in full lines, thus serving as addi-
tional fastening to the door. On the hinge side of the door is also pro-
vided one or more latches G, Fig. 12, hinged at g to the inner side of
the framing, which when the door is open assume the position shewn in
full lines. The latch has a pin g¹ at its upper end, which projects
through a hole in the framing as shewn, so that on the closing of the
door D a stud d on the latter in pressing the pin g¹ inwards causes the
latch G to protrude through a slot in the framing, and to enter a notch d¹
in the door, as indicated by the dotted lines, so as to serve the same
purpose as the fillets a¹ on the other parts of the framing.
Fig. 13 shews a section and Fig. 14 a part front view of the lock
plate H strengthened by the addition of a second angle iron I secured to
the lock plate by distance pieces K screwed to both, and also secured
to the plate L and the door D by rivetting, welding, or screwing.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I claim,—
First. Constructing safes, strong rooms, and similar structures of a
framework having recessed flanges to which the sides arc secured in the
form of panels, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1
to 8 of the Drawings.
Second. Constructing the framework of safes, such as are referred to
in the first claim with the top and bottom parts of separate castings con-

page_text: nected together by angle pieces, substantially as described with reference
to Fig. 3 of the Drawings.
Third. Constructing the framework of safes, such as are referred to in
the first claim with the horizontal and vertical angle bars of separate
picces connected together by corner pieces, substantially as herein
described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the Drawings.
Fourth. In safes constructed as set forth in the preceding claims,
providing the recessed flanges of the angle bars with projections or
recesses against which fit corresponding recesses or projections on the
meeting faces of the panels, substantially as and for the purposes herein 1
described.
"
Fifth. Providing the doors of safes with dogs which pass through
holes in the framework, and are secured on the inner side thereof by
latches made to catch into notches in the dogs on the locking of the
door or on turning the handle, substantially as herein described with 1
reference to Figs 10 and 11 of the Drawings.
:
Sixth. Providing at the hinge side of the doors of safes one or more
latches, which, on the closing of the door are made to project through
holes in the frames and enter recesses in the door, substantially as herein
described with reference to Fig. 12 of the Drawings.
Seventh. Strenthening the lock plates of safes by the use of an
additional plate connected thereto by distance pieces substantially as
herein described with reference to Figs. 13 and 14 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Niblett, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
2