IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES
Year: 1843

page_text: JOSEPH
Rock, junior, of Birmingham, Factor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the seventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Rock, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Joseph Rock, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Joseph Rock, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND LATCHES;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Joseph Rock,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Rock, junior, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):-
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in the construction of locks
and latches, by the application of a spring or spring and roller, to facilitate the
action of the latch bolts.
Secondly, my Invention relates to improvements in locks and latches,
whereby the latch bolts are facilitated in their movements by an inclined action
effected by the use of inclined planes or otherwise, as hereafter explained.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to an improvement in the construction of box
staples for rim locks and rim latches, by applying a moveable spring striker.
Fourthly, my Invention relates to a mode of applying followers in connection
with rollers to the latch bolts of locks and latches.
And, fifthly, my Invention relates to a mode of forming the cases or framings
or parts thereof of rim locks, rim latches, flush locks, flush latches, padlocks,
box, drawer, cupboard, and stock and other locks, by means of raising sheet
metal into the desired shapes and patterns by suitable tools or dies.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents external views of a rim door lock, constructed according
to part of my Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section; Figure 3 is are
external views of the case, with the spring removed; Figure 4 shows two
views of the latch bolt separately; and Figure 5 shows three views of the
spring, which is applied to the lock in order to facilitate the movement of
the latch bolt. I have not thought it necessary to show the other parts of the
works of the lock, as they form no part of my Invention, and may be of any
desired construction. The object of this part of the Invention is to place a
spring at the back of the latch bolt, so that when its inclined plane at the
front of the bolt strikes against the striker, the spring will give way and
facilitate the movement of the latch bolt. a is the latch bolt of the lock, the
nature of which is clearly shown; 6 is the spring, which is affixed to the
framing of the lock; one end constantly touches, but does not press against,
the back of the latch bolt a, as is shown; but when the latch bolt strikes
against the striker, the spring b gives way, and the bolt is thus aided in its
entrance into the box staple; but so soon as the bolt has entered the
box staple, the spring 6 returns to its ordinary position, as is shewn in
the Drawing. It will be seen that the opening c, through which the latch

page_text: bolt a moves, is larger than the head of the bolt, but such enlargement is
filled up by the end of the spring b, where it touches the bolt, and the
object of such enlargement of the opening is that the bolt may be pressed
away by its act of striking the striker of the box staple, and thus move back
the spring b. Figure 6 shows the interior of the case or frame for a latch;
Figure 7 is an end view, showing the opening through which the bolt a moves;
the nature of this opening and also of the bolt is clearly shown. Figure 8 is
a section of the latch, with the bolt a and spring b; but, in this case, the
spring 6 is fixed on the interior of the frame of the latch, and the spring is of
a different shape, but it acts similarly to that above described and for the same
purpose. Figure 9 shows another interior view of the framing or case of the
latch, showing the position of the spring 6; Figure 10 shews an end view of
the same, by which the end of the spring b and its mode of closing part of
the opening through which the bolt a slides will be understood; and Figure 11
shews the spring 6 separately; Figure 12 shews the latch bolt a separately;
and I would state, that in place of the end of the spring 6 resting against the
bolt, there may be a roller b' applied thereto to lessen friction, such roller
moving on axes carried by the spring 6, the opening through which the bolt a
moves being suitably formed for receiving this spring with the roller. I would
remark, that although I believe the arrangement of spring 6 shewn, whether
with or without rollers, are those which are the best, yet I do not confine
myself thereto, as the shapes thereof may be varied, so long as such springs
allow of the latch bolts on which they are acting to recede in some degree
within the enlarged opening through which the bolt slides.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which consists in
obtaining an inclined action of the latch bolts of locks and latches, and this
action may be obtained in different ways, but the one I prefer and adopt is by
inclined planes. Figure 13 shews the interior of a mortice lock, with sufficient
of the works to enable me to explain my improvements; Figure 14 is a
longitudinal section of the lock; Figure 15 shews two views of the latch
bolt separately. In this case the opening or space c, through which the end of
the latch bolt noves, is, as in the previous cases, larger than is sufficient for
the latch bolt to slide through, and it will be seen that the latch is so made as
to fill the opening c when the bolt is out as far as it will but immediately
it comes against the striker the filling portion a¹ passes away from the opening
or space, and leaves the bolt to play so that it can recede from the striker as
well as slide into the lock. On the interior of the lock is fixed an inclined
plane d, on which the projection a³ of the bolt rests; hence, when the inclined
face of the bolt a comes against the striker when closing a door having such a
go,

page_text: lock, the first effect will be that as the latch bolt slides into the lock, it will,
by its projection, give way and move down the inclined plane d. Or, in place
of having the inclined plane on the lock and the projection on the bolt, these
parts may be reversed, as is shewn in Figure 16, where an edge view of
sufficient of the parts are shewn to make this readily understood. Figure 17
shews the interior of a latch, having this part of my Invention applied thereto;
Figure 18 shews a longitudinal section; and Figure 19 shews the bolt sepa-
rately. In this case there are two inclined planes, and the bolt has two
projections which move thereon; but as the nature of these parts is clearly
shewn in the Drawing, it will not require further description. In this latch, in
addition to the second part of my Invention being shewn as applied, the latch
also shews the first part of my Invention, and I have found, in general, that
the most advantageous way of using the first and second parts of my Inven-
tion, whether for locks or for latches, is to combine them in the same lock or
the same latch. And I would observe, that I do not confine myself to the use
of inclined planes to effect the inclined action; but that the peculiarity of this
part of my Invention consists in giving to the latch bolt an inclined sliding
action in entering the lock or latch, whether by inclined planes or otherwise;
the enlarged opening or space c being essential to obtaining this action for
ordinary latch bolts of this kind moving parallel with the plate or framing of
the lock, require no larger space or opening than is necessary to receive the
bolt head, as such limited opening is sufficient to enable the latch bolt to move
straight in and out.
I will now proceed to describe the third part of my Invention, which relates
to the making of strikers for the box staples of rim locks and rim latches.
Figure 20 shews three views of a striker, with a sliding piece e moving in
suitable grooved guides, as shewn, the sliding piece e being constantly borne
outwards by means of the spring f, which presses against the pin g, which
passes through a slot in the frame of the striker, as is shewn. By this arrange-
ment it will be evident that when a latch bolt strikes against the sliding spring
striker, the striker will give way and facilitate the latch bolt passing the striker,
and so soon as the bolt has entered the frame, the spring will force back the
sliding striker; Figure 21 shews three views of the sliding striker separately;
Figure 22 shews an external view; Figure 23 shews an internal view; and
Figure 24 shews a transverse section of another striker, the moving part of
which is on a lever moving on an axis at h, and it is pressed constantly out-
ward by means of a spring, in like manner to what was described in the
previous arrangement.
I will now describe the fourth part of my Invention. Figure 25 shows the

page_text: interior of a rim lock, with so much of the working parts shewn as will enable
me to describe this part of my Invention; Figure 26 shews three views of
the latch bolt and parts connected therewith; Figure 27 shows the follower,
which is shewn to be slightly hollow, to receive the roller of the latch bolt;
a is the latch bolt; i is the spring for the same; j is a link or loose tail, which
at one end is attached to the bolt a by a pin joint, the other end of the link
or loose tail being attached by a pin joint to the frame of the lock; k is the
follower, with horns convex on the side next the roller, the nature of which is
clearly shewn; is a roller, the axis of which is carried by the link or tail j,
as is shewn. By this arrangement of roller and follower, the construction of
locks or latches may be greatly improved, as it tends to ensure the latch bolt,
when drawn into the lock or latch by the knob, returning when the knob is
loosed. Figure 28 shews the interior of another lock, where the parts are
marked with the same letters of reference as those used in the preceding
Figure, the only difference being that the connecting link or loose tail is
dispensed with, and the roller is carried by a projecting piece or fixed tail of
the latch bolt, as is shewn in this Figure and also at Figure 29, where the
latch bolt is shewn separately. It will be evident that this part of the Inven-
tion is equally applicable to latches, although it is only shewn as applied to
locks. Figure 30 shews another mode of carrying out this part of my
Invention, and is applicable where a lever latch is used either in a lock or
latch. Figure 31 shews the latch separately. In this case the roller is carried
by the latch, and the follower is of like construction to that already described,
and causes the latch to be raised with greater ease by the knob than is done
with the ordinary straight-horned follower working without a roller.
I will now describe the fifth part of my Invention, which relates to the
raising sheet metal in dies or tools into the desired shapes and patterns for the
frames or cases, or parts thereof, for locks and latches. Figure 32 shews a
plate of metal, cut out suitably by means of a fly press for part of a padlock.
This sheet of metal being drawn through suitable tools, as is well understood
in raising metals for other purposes, is raised into the shape shewn by the three
views in Figure 33, and then it is further raised into the shape shewn in
Figure 34, when it is suitable for receiving the other portion of the case, and
to be made into a case for a padlock. Figure 35 shews a plate of sheet metal
after it has been partially raised by suitable dies or tools for making the frame
or case of a rim lock or latch. Figure 36 shews the same piece of metal
after it has been operated on a second time, by either dies or tools, in order to
give it any suitable impression or pattern that may be required. The case or
frame is then clipped or sheared, edged down, and wired, as is shewn at

page_text: Figure 37, (but wiring is not necessary in all instances). The case is now
completed so far as the raising and wiring process is concerned, and the work-
man will complete the lock or latch by applying the interior works, and he will
drill or otherwise form the requisite holes. I have not thought it necessary to
shew the tools used for these purposes, as persons acquainted with the raising
of metals for other purposes will readily construct the same according to the
shape required to be given to the case or frame of a particular lock or latch;
and I would state, that I have only shown the two shapes as examples, leaving
it to the workman to have such shapes to the frames or cases of locks as he
may think fit, this part of my Invention not depending on the shape of the
lock, but consists in forming cases or frames, or parts thereof, of the required
shape, by raising sheet metal by suitable dies or tools into the shape and
pattern desired. The workman, in raising the metal, will heat and anneal the
same as required and as is well understood. By this fifth part of my Inven-
tion, I obtain an advantage over the ordinary cases or framings in the neatness
of appearance and variety of pattern which the process enables me to acquire.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for performing the same, I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described, so long as the
peculiar character of either part of my Invention be retained. But what I
claim is,―
First, the mode of constructing locks and latches, by applying a spring or a
spring and roller, to facilitate the movement of the latch bolts of locks and
latches, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the mode of constructing locks and latches with an in-
clined sliding action of the latch bolt, by means of inclined planes or otherwise,
as above described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of constructing the strikers for the box staples of
the latch bolts of rim locks and rim latches, by applying spring strikers, as
herein described.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of constructing locks and latches by applying a
roller and hollow follower with convex horns, as herein described.
And fifthly, I claim the mode of constructing locks and latches, by employing
cases or frames, made by raising sheet metal, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
JOSEPH (L.S.) ROCK, JUNIOR.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-third day of May, in the
year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid Joseph Rock came before our said
Lady the Queen in Iler Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-four.