IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Henry Tucker, of Fleet Street, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Henry Tucker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th June 1856.
I, WALTER HENRY TUCKER, of Fleet. Street, London, do hereby, declare the.
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES," to be
as follows:
These improvements consist chiefly:of various additions to or modifications.
of the ordinary double-action tumbler locks and latches, with fixed tumbler
stumps, by which additions or modifications the possibility of feeling the
tumblers by the aid of pressure against the bolt. is effectually: prevented
without detracting from the strength of the locks, as is the case in locks
wherein the tumbler stump is loose or moveable.
The first improvement consists of a mode for preventing the tumbler stump
being made to bind the tumblers by pressure against the bolt. This is effected
by causing such pressure to raise. or depress the tail of the bolt, so as to bring
a part of it against a stud or stop in the lock case, to which stop the pressure.
is thereby transferred, leaving the tumblers.free..

page_text: The second improvement consists in preventing the tumbler stump being
brought into contact with the tumblers until the whole of them are correctly
adjusted for its passage through them. This is effected by the use of a
inoveable tumbler guard, so formed and disposed in the lock as to stand
between the fixed tumbler stump and the tumblers (when the bolt is locked
out), and which guard must first pass into the tumblers before the tumbler
stump can be brought against them. This guard is in no way attached either
to the bolt or the tumbler stump..
The third improvement consists of fixing the tumblers when pressure is
applied to the bolt, either to a stud or stop in the lock case or to each other,
so that they cannot then be adjusted. This is effected by giving the. tumblers
such a traversing action (in addition to their ordinary lifting action) past the
main stump to which they are pivoted, and by making them with such recesses
or projections, that when pressure is applied it shall impel the tumblers so as to
fix such recesses or projections in them, either to a stud or stop in the case, or
to a pin or stud in some one of the tumblers themselves.
-
The fourth improvement consists in so arranging the positions- of such
recesses or projections (in the tumblers of locks) as are used for or have the
effect of fixing the tumblers when pressure is directed: against the bolt, that
their positions shall be independent of and uninfluenced by the positions of the
tumbler gatings, by which means the pressure is made to bind all the tumblers
alike, whether. correctly adjusted or not.
The fifth improvement consists in so constructing the lock, that pressure
against the bolt shall cause the tumblers affected by it either to rise above or
to descend below the correct positions for the passage of the tumbler stump
through them. This is effected by giving the tumblers the same traversing
action as described in the third improvement, so as to cause pressure to bring
the tumblers against a stud or studs (in the lock case), so situated as to
turn the tumblers on their axis, and raise or depress them thereby to false
positions.
.
The sixth improvement consists in so constructing and arranging the talon
of the bolt in locks that it shall recede or rise away before pressure exerted
against it, for the purpose of causing any false instrument used in the lock to
pass such talon without causing sufficient pressure, against the tumblers to
enable picking to take place. This is effected either by forming the back part
of the talon of a spring only, or by attaching the talon to a moveable piece in
such a way that on pressure being applied the talon shall recede or pass away
before it.
The seventh improvement consists. in so constructing the lock that pressure

page_text: °
exerted against the bolt shall cause the tumbler stump to rise to a higher or
descend to a lower level than any at which the tumbler gatings can be
collectively made to correspond. This is effected by attaching the tumbler
stump to a traversing tumbler, which, on the application of pressure, shall turn
on its axis, and carry the stump higher or lower than any level to which the
tumbler gatings can be collectively brought. By this means pressure against
the tumblers is not prevented, but simply transferred to a point in them which
their gatings cannot collectively reach.
The eighth improvement consists in a mode of using a detector in locks, so
that on pressure being applied against the bolt the detector shall be thrown,
whether the tumblers have been overlifted or not. This is effected by giving
the tuniblers such a traversing action past the main stump to which they are
pivoted, that on pressure being applied the tumblers shall recede before it, so
as to enable or to compel a detector, catch, or dog to lock into them, or into or
against the bolt or bolt stump. By causing the bolt in its forward action
to release this detector or dog earlier, this improvement can be used to hold
either the bolt or the tumblers, or both, while the pressure is maintained only,
and thus to prevent, on the one hand, the tumblers being bound by the
pressure with sufficient force to enable the gatings to be felt, and, on the
other hand, their being free to rise until the pressure is relieved. Its use for
these purposes is also claimed by me.
The ninth improvement consists in a mode of constructing a spring lock or
latch so that one bolt only shall be required in them. This is effected by
fixing the tumbler stump to the latch bolt itself, and by causing the stump, or
some other part of the bolt, as it is acted on by closing the door, to carry the
tumblers across the keyhole, and allow the stump to pass them without entering
their gatings. While the key or any other instrument is in the keyhole the
bolt can only be drawn back when the tumbler gatings are properly adjusted
for the passage of the stump into them. By the addition of a sliding piece
(to such locks) so arranged as only to come into contact with the tumblers
(and prevent their being carried across the keyhole) while the door is closed;.
the bolts of such locks may be made to lock themselves dead on closing the
door, and so prevent the possibility of such spring bolts being lifted or carried
back by direct pressure exerted against the bolt heads. This modification
and application of the improvement I hereby claim for the purpose herein
described.
The tenth improvement consists in so making a spring lock or latch that it
cannot be opened while the key or any other instrument remains in the lock.
This mode is designed to supply a spring lock, so made that a person shall not,

page_text: either from carelessness. or forgetfulness, leave the key in it. It is effected by
causing the bolt to be brought only partially back by the key, the remainder of
its action being given to it by a thumb pièce or knob (on the outside of the
lock) after the key is out, the bolt itself, or some other portion of the lock
which is acted on by the knob, being made to come across or into the keyhole
while the lock is being opened; or, in place of drawing the main bolt itself only
partially back by the key, there may be an extra slide or bolt, to be acted on
by the knob, and drawn across or into the keyhole after the main bolt has
been fully carried back by the key.
The eleventh improvement consists of means to prevent the removal of the
key from the lock (in locking) unless the bolt be thrown to its full distance,
and the tumblers be correctly fallen, so as to secure the bolt; by which means,
should the particular step (of the key) which throws the bolt be worn, or even
entirely cut away by fraudulent design, the bolt would still be firmly secured
before the key could be remov'd from the lock. This is effected:by the use of
a moveable or tumbler piece in the lock; so formed and situated that: some
one or more of the particular steps of the key which operate on the tumblers
shall be made to carry it, and also so formed and situated, that it shall, when
thus thrown by the key, both carry the bolt to its full distance forward, and
the tumblers to their full distance downward, before the key can be taken out
of the lock. The tumbler guard, described in the second improvement, may be
modified in form, so as to serve one or both of the purposes here mentioned
also, but I do not confine my use of a moveable piece for these purposes to a
conjunction with that improvement only, but claim it universally for such
purposes; or they may be effected in locks wherein a keyhole screen or curtain
is used, by causing the curtain to serve as an auxiliary to the key in locking
out the bolt. The use of the curtain to throw the bolt to its full distance,
should the key from any cause fail to do so, is hereby claimed by me, therefore;
as an aid to the key...
The twelfth improvement consists of a mode of making a self-locking spring
lock with one external bolt only. This is effected by the use of a traversing
tumbler, so formed and situated, that when the bolt is pressed into the lock (by
closing the door) it shall so bring the tumbler into play, that it shall secure or
lock the bolt dead after it has sprung into the staple without the use of the
key for the purpose. When the bolt is unlocked by the key it will be carried
into the lock without bringing the tumbler into action, thus leaving the bolt
free to recede on again closing the door or drawer, &c.
The thirteenth improvement consists in so constructing a flush-bolt chest;
desk, or piano lock that the bolt and the tumbler shall be comprised in one-

page_text: piece of metal, and in causing a spring so to play upon such compound tumbler
and bolt that it shall tend to draw the bolt into the lock, and so that it shall
press upon the tumbler as to prevent the bolt from chattering or jarring when
it is unlocked. The action of this compound tumbler and bolt may be either
diagonal, rectangular, or circular.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Henry Tucker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th December 1856..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER'
HENRY TUCKER, of Fleet Street, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said. Walter Henry Tucker, Her special licence that I, the said. Walter
Henry Tucker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as:
I, the said Walter Henry Tucker, 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" IMPROVE-:
MENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said. Walter Henry Tucker, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 Walter Henry Tucker, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following:
statement:
.
-1
These improvements consist chiefly of various additions to or modifications:
of the ordinary double-action tumbler locks and latches, with fixed tumbler
stumps, by which additions or modifications the possibility of feeling the

page_text: positions of the tumbler gatings, by the aid of end pressure against the bolt, is
effectually prevented, without detracting from the strength of the locks, as is
the case in locks wherein the tumbler stump is loose or moveable.
The first improvement consists of a mode for preventing the tumbler stump
being made to bind the tumblers by end pressure on the bolt. This is effected
by causing such pressure either to raise or to depress the tail or seat of the
bolt, so as to bring a part or parts of it against a stud or studs in the lock
case, to which stud or studs the pressure is thereby transferred, leaving the
tumblers free. In practice I customarily cut a notch in the bolt at the end
of the lanket hole or guide slot in its seat, so that end pressure directed
against the bolt talon shall divert the bolt from its ordinary rectilinear course,
and bring the face of such notch against the seat of the main stump (to which
the tumblers themselves are pivoted), which then takes the pressure and leaves
the tumblers free; but be it known that I. do not confine myself to any
precise details in the manner of carrying out this improvement, but claim
distinctly the method or plan of raising, depressing, or in any other way
diverting the tail or seat of the bolt, for the purpose herein-before described, in
all locks wherein the bolt is not made in two parts, with one part loose or
moveable on the other. I make no claim to its application to locks with
such compound bolts, but claim it in all locks with bolts otherwise constructed.
The second improvement consists in preventing the tumbler stump being
brought into contact with the gating edges of the tumblers until the whole of
them are correctly adjusted for its passage through them. The novel principle
embodied in this improvement is that of placing between the tumbler stump
and the tumblers a yielding resistance to the backward passage of the
stump, such yielding resistance, when end pressure is applied to the bolt,
taking such pressure without conveying it to the tumblers themselves, to
which, on the contrary, it serves as a protection or guard, keeping, the
tumbler stump (which is fixed to the bolt in the ordinary way) from being
brought into contact with the tumblers, unless their gatings are properly
adjusted for its passage into them. This yielding resistance consists practically
of a moveable tumbler guard, formed as a horizontal sliding plate (with a
horizontal tail descending.from it), and having a vertical projection rising from
it, and standing between the gating edges of the tumblers and the tumbler
stump when the bolt is locked out. This sliding plate I ordinarily construct
with two lanket holes or guide slots, which run on two guide pins or studs.
fixed to the lock plate. If end pressure be applied to the bolt, a pin or stud
in it is brought against, the tail of the sliding plate, so as to carry the plate
backwards, until its vertical projection is arrested by the tumblers, when (the

page_text: pressure being continued) the stud in the bolt seat pressing against the tail,
forces the sliding plate to descend, and a notch in it to become fixed to one of
the guide pins on which the plate runs, which guide pin then holds the tumbler
guard, and enables it to resist the pressure of the tumbler stump, and keep it
from being brought into contact with the gating edges of the tumblers. I
would wish it understood that I do not confine myself to any precise details
in the form or arrangement of such tumbler guard, or in the manner of giving-
action to it; but that I claim its use and application to locks for the purposes
herein-before described, whatever may be its form or arrangement, or whatever.
may be the mode used for giving action to it.
The third improvement consists in fixing the tumblers, when pressure is
applied to the bolt, either to a stud or stop in the lock case, or to each other,'
so that they cannot then be adjusted. This is effected by giving the tumblers.
(in addition to their ordinary lifting action) such a traversing action past or
with the main stump to which they are pivcted, and by making them with
such. recesses or projections in them, that when end pressure is applied to the
bolt it shall impel the tumblers so as to fix such recesses or projections in
them to a pin or stud in the lock case, or to a pin or stud in some one of the.
tumblers themselves.
The fourth improvement consists in so arranging the positions of such
recesses or projections (in the tumblers of locks) as are used for or have the
effect of fixing the. tumblers, when pressure is directed against the bolt, that
their positions shall be independent of and uninfluenced by the positions of the
tumbler gatings, by which means the pressure is made to bind all the tumblers
alike, whether correctly adjusted or not.
.
The fifth improvement consists in so constructing the lock that end pressure.
against the bolt shall cause one or more of the tumblers affected by it to.
rise above or to descend below the correct positions for the passage of the
tumbler stump through them, by which means the tumbler or tumblers so
raised.or depressed will not only prevent the passage of the tumbler stump,
but may be made to sustain its full force or pressure and keep the other'
tumblers free. This is effected by giving the tumblers such a traversing
action past or with the main stump to which they are pivoted, that end
pressure on the bolt shall carry one or more of the tumblers back, so as to
bring a part or parts of them against a stud or studs (in the lock case), so
situated as to cause such tumblers to turn on their axes, and raise or depress
them thereby to false positions. The necessary traversing action is given to
the tumblers either by fixing the main stump (to which they are pivoted) to
a moveable piece, by which means the stump and the tumblers recede.
.

page_text: together, or by fixing the main stump to the lock plate in the usual way,
and substituting oblong slots in the tumblers for the ordinary pivot_holes in,
them, by which latter means the tumblers recede past the main stump. I
do not confine myself to the precise details herein described for carrying out
the purposes set forth, but claim the contrivance of causing one or more of
the tumblers of a lock to be so affected by end pressure on the bolt as to rise
above or to descend below the correct positions for the passage of the tumbler
stump into them, so.as thereby to prevent the tumbler stump passing back,.
or pressing against the rest of the tumblers in the lock, should such end
pressure on the bolt be applied.
The sixth improvement consists in so constructing and arranging the talon
of the bolt in.locks that it shall recede or. pass away before pressure exerted
against it, for the purpose of causing any false instrument used in the lock.
to pass such talon without producing sufficient pressure against the tumblers
to enable their gatings to be felt. This is effected either by forming the
back part of the talon of a spring only, or by attaching the talon to a moveable.
piece in such a way that on pressure being applied the talon shall recede or
pass away before it:
The seventh improvement is in so constructing the lock that pressure on,
the bolt shall cause the tumbler stump: to rise to a higher or descend to a
lower level than any at which the tumbler gatings can be collectively made.
to correspond. This is effected by attaching the stump to a traversing
tumbler, which on. the application of pressure shall turn on its axis and carry
the stump higher or lower than any level to which the tumbler gatings can
collectively be brought. By this means pressure against the tumblers is not
prevented; but simply transferred to a point or points in them which their
gatings cannot collectively reach.
The eighth improvement consists in a mode of using a detector in locks,
so that end pressure on the bolt.shall throw the detector, whether the tumblers
be overlifted.or. not. This is effected by giving the tumblers such a traversing
action past or. with the main stump to which they are pivoted, that on pressure
being applied the tumblers shall recede before it, so as to enable or to compel
a detector, catch; or dog. to lock into them, or into or against the bolt. By
causing the bolt in its forward action to release this detector or dog.earlier,
or without the tumbler stump being carried into detector, gatings in the
tumblers, this improvement may be used to hold either the bolt for the
tumblers, or both, while. the pressure is maintained only, and thus to prevent,
on the one hand, the tumblers being bound by the pressure with sufficient
force to enable the gatings to be felt, and, on the other hand, to prevent their

page_text: being free to rise until the pressure is relieved. Its use for these purposes
is therefore also claimed by me.
The ninth improvement consists in a mode of constructing a spring lock or
latch so that one bolt only shall be required in it. This is effected by causing
the tumbler stump to be fixed to the latch bolt itself, and by.causing the stump,
or some other part of the bolt, as it is acted on by closing the door, to carry
the tumblers across the keyhole, and allow the stump to pass back without
entering their gatings. The receding action, which is necessary to the tum-
blers under this improvement, is provided by attaching the main stump (to
which the tumblers are pivoted) to a moveable piece, acted on by a spring to
impel it forwards. By pressing. the bolt into the lock the tumbler stump is
brought against the tumblers, so as to carry them, and the stump to which they
are pivoted, back together, the spring which acts on the moving piece again
impelling it with the tumblers and the bolt forwards; but if the key or any
otlier instrument be in the keyhole, the bolt can only be drawn back when the
tumbler gatings have been adjusted for.the. passage of the stump into them ;
the bolt is then drawn back without giving any action to the spring which
impels it forwards. By this arrangement, the objectionable resistance of the
spring to the key, which is experienced in other spring locks, is entirely
removed, which is one of the main advantages contemplated by the improve-
ment, and the production of which I hereby claim, as described.
The tenth improvement consists in so making a spring lock or latch that it"
cannot be opened while the key or any other instrument remains in the lock.
This mode. is designed to supply a spring. lock, so made that a person cannot,
either from carelessness or forgetfulness, leave the key in it. It is effected by
causing the bolt to be brouglit only partially back by the key, the remainder of
its unlocking action being given to it by a thumb piece or knob after the key
is out; the bolt itself, or some other portion of the lock which is acted on by
the knob, being made to come across or into the keyhole while the lock is
being opened; or, in place of drawing the main bolt itself only partially back
by the key, there may be an extra slide or bolt, to be acted on by the knob
and drawn across or into the keyhole after the main bolt has been fully carried
back by the key.
:
:
The eleventh improvement consists of means to prevent the removal of the
key from the lock in locking, unless the bolt be thrown to its full distance, and
the tumblers be fallen, so as to secure the bolt; by which means, should the
particular step of the key which throws, the bolt be worn, or even by fraudulent
design citirely cut away, the bolt would still be firmly secured before the
key could be removed from tlie lock. This is effected by the use of a move-

page_text: able or tumbler piece in the 'lock, so formed and situated, that some one or
more of the particular steps of the key which operate on the tumblers shall be
made to carry it; and also so formed and situated, that it shall, when thus
thrown by the key, both carry the bolt to its full distance forwards, and the
tumblers to their full distance downwards, before the key can be taken out of
the lock. The tumbler guard, described in the second improvement, may be
modified in form, so as to serve one or both of the purposes here mentioned
also; but I do not confine my use of a moveable piece for these purposes to a
conjunction with that improvement only, but claim it universally for such
purposes; or, they may be effected in locks wherein a keyhole screen or curtain
is used, by causing such curtain to serve as an auxiliary to the key in locking
out the bolt. The use of such keyhole screen or curtain to throw the bolt
(should the key from any cause fail to do so) to its full distance, is therefore
hereby claimed by me as an aid to the key.
The twelfth improvement consists ina mode of making a self-locking-spring
lock with one external bolt only. This is effected by the use of a traversing
tumbler, so-formed and situated, that when the bolt is pressed into the lock (by
closing the door) it shall bring the tumbler into play, so that it shall secure or
lock the bolt dead after it has sprung into the staple without the use of the
key for the purpose. When the bolt is unlocked (by the key) it will be carried
into the lock without bringing the tumbler into action, thus leaving the bolt
free to recede on again closing the door or drawer, &c. The use of a moveable
or traversing tumbler for the purpose described is therefore claimed by mc,
whether such tumbler be gated for the passage of the stump or not.
The thirteenth improvement consists in so constructing à flush-bolt chest,
desk, piano, or other flush-bolt lock that the bolt and the tumbler shall be
comprised in one and the same piece of metal'; and in causing a spring so to
play upon such compound tumbler and bolt, that its tendency shall be in the
direction to draw or hold the bolt into the lock, and so as to prevent its chat-
tering or jarring when unlocked. The action of this compound tumbler and
bolt may be either in a diagonal, rectangular, or circular direction.
I guide
the bolt in its course by guide pins fixed to the lock plate in the usual way;;
and in order to allow the bolt to serve as a tumbler also, I cut notches or
racks in its seat, in such positions that when the bolt is- fully locked forwards
these racks shall drop and fix themselves to the guile pins on which the bolt
runs, the spring which serves to keep the bolt from jarring serving also to
press the tunibler bolt on to the guide pins. In order to raise the tunibler
bolt (both in locking and unlocking), its bottom edge is suitably bellied, to
allow the key to act directly upon it, the requisite action of the bolt horizon-

page_text: tally (when a rectangular course is given to it), being also produced by the
direct action of the key against the descending sides of the belly.
I wish it clearly understood that my use of a compound tumbler and bolt
must not be construed into limiting me from using another tumbler or tum-
blers in such locks also, so as to give additional security when needed, nor be
construed to prevent my use of other tumblers in them, whether in conjunction
with the bolt as a tumbler or not. As the peculiar mode by which I throw
the bolts in these locks is necessary to, and has been designed by me to carry
out, this improvement, I hereby distinctly claim such mode of giving action to
the bolts of flush-bolt chest, desk, piano, or other flush-bolt locks, whether
used in conjunction with the compound tumbler and bolt or not, such mode
of giving action to them consisting in the direct action of the key upon a
belly with descending sides in such bolts or tumblers and bolts combined.
The foregoing description particularly describes and ascertains the nature of
my improvements in locks and latches.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Henry Tucker, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
WALIER HENKY TUCKER.