IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR LOCKING OR AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER PARTS OF MACHINERY, APPARATUS. AND VARIOUS ARTICLES.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings
and State of New York, in the United States of America, but at present of
23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
FASTENING DOORS, WINDOWS,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR LOCKING OR
AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER PARTS OF MACHINERY,
APPARATUS. AND VARIOUS ARTICLES.
"
Sealed the 10th April 1879, and dated the 23rd January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1879.
NATHAN THOMPSON, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of New
York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR LOCKING OR FASTEN-
FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER
ING DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND
PARTS OF MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND VARIOUS ARTICLES."
My Invention consists in the employment of curved rotating wedges in combina-
tion with staples, hasps, loops, slotted bolts, or pins, or suitable bars, studs, or
projections for locking or fastening doors, windows, and other articles, and for
connecting together parts of machinery, apparatus, and various articles.
These curved wedges have their outer parts formed in the shape of part of a circle
or approximating thereto, and in forcing them into position they are caused to travel
in a circular path struck from a point in the centre of such curved wedges.
These curved wedges may be used as separate articles, in which case their thicker
ends are so formed or extended as to enable a spanner or lever to be applied
thereto, or they may be mounted on an axis supported in suitable bearing or
bearings carried by a plate and operated by a lever fixed thereto, or capable of
being applied thereto when desired. When mounted on a shaft or axis, two of such
curved wedges may be formed or fixed on the same shaft or axis, at opposite ends
thereof, in order that two sides or parts of a door, window, or other article may bo
locked, fastened, or connected together by a single operation.
In some cases the plate or plates carrying the shaft or axis of the curved wedge
or wedges projects or project beyond the edge of the article to which it is fixed, and
the hasp, loop, staple, bar, stud, or projection acting in combination with each
curved wedge passes through a slotted opening in the plate, in which case, in order

page_text: to admit of slight variation in position of the parts, the sides of the slotted openings
are bevelled, and the hasps, loops, staples, bars, studs, or projections may be some-
what lengthened, whilst one or both sides of the nose of the curved wedge may be
also bevelled for the same purpose.
The curved wedge passes through the hasp, loop, staple, slotted bar, or bolt, or
the inclined surface thereof acts against a suitable bar, stud, or projection, and
thereby forces the two parts firmly together.
I also form the curved wedge at the inner end of the inclined portion thereof
with a concentric part, which serves to secure it in its locked position, and in some
cases I somewhat extend the nose of the curved wedge, or reduce it on the back to
facilitate its application, and I sometimes apply a spring or a catch or bolt to hold it
in its locked or unlocked position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
July 1879.
NATHAN THOMPSON, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of New
York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR LOCKING OR FASTEN-
ING DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER
PARTS OF MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND VARIOUS ARTICLES."
My Invention consists in the employment of curved rotating wedges in combina-
tion with staples, hasps, loops, slotted bolts or pins, or suitable bars, studs, or
projections for locking or fastening doors, windows, and other articles, and for
connecting together parts of machinery, apparatus, and various articles.
These curved wedges have their outer parts formed in the shape of part of a circle
or approximating thereto, and in forcing them into position they are caused to
travel in a circular path struck from a point in the centre of such curved wedges.
These curved wedges may be used as separate articles, in which case their thicker
ends are so formed or extended as to enable a spanner or lever to be applied
thereto, or they may be mounted on an axis supported in suitable bearing or
bearings carried by a plate, and operated by a lever fixed thereto, or capable of
being applied thereto when desired. When mounted on a shaft or axis, two of such
curved wedges may be formed or fixed on the same shaft or axis at opposite ends
thereof, in order that two sides or parts of a door, window, or other article may be
locked, fastened, or connected together by a single operation.
In some cases the plate or plates carrying the shaft or axis of the curved wedge
or wedges projects or project beyond the edge of the article to which it is fixed,
and the hasp, loop, staple, bar, stud, or projection acting in combination with each
curved wedge passes through a slotted opening in the plate, in which case, in order
to admit of slight variation in position of the parts, the sides of the slotted openings

page_text: reaⱭny carried into eneet, 1 WI proceed, arded by the accompanying Drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of portions of two pipes or tubes connected together by
locking or fastening means constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan, Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 4 is a cross section of a
jar, the cover or lid of which is fixed in position by locking or fastening means
constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section, Figure 6 is a side view, and Figure 7 is a cross
section representing the ends of two railway rails fixed together with fish plates
fastened in position by my improved means.
Figure 8 is a front view, Figure 9 is a sectional edge view, and Figure 10 is a
sectional plan representing my improved lock or fastener applied to a door.
Figure 11 is a sectional edge view of the same, showing the door not quite closed,
and the circular wedge with its nose just about to enter the hasp or loop on the
door post.
Figure 12 is a front view and Figure 13 is an edge view of part of a door with
my improved lock or fastener applied thereto; and Figure 14 is a front view and
Figure 15 is a sectional plan of part of a door post with the hasp or loop fixed in
position thereon.
Figure 16 is similar to Figure 15, except that the opening in the hasp or loop is
narrower in Figure 16 than that shown in Figure 15, to enable my improved lock
or fastener to draw the door close up to the door post; and Figure 17 is a sido
view, drawn to a larger scale, of one of my improved fasteners.
In all the Figures like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
My improved fasteners consist of curved rotating wedges a, a, formed on their
outer parts a in the shape of part of a circle or approximating thereto, and in
forcing them into position they are caused to travel in a circular path around a
point in the centre of such circular wedges.
These curved rotating wedges are also formed at the inner end of the inclined
portion thereof with a concentric part a², which serves to secure them in their
locked position, and in some cases I somewhat extend the nose a of the curved
wedge, or reduce it on the back, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 17, to facilitate
its application, and, as represented at Figures 1, 5, and 6, I sometimes apply a
wire b to hold it in its locked position.
In some cases, as represented at Figures 1 to 7, these curved rotating wedges are
used as separate articles, in which case their thicker ends are so formed or
extended as to enable a spanner or lever to be applied thereto.
In Figure 1, c, c, represent the ends of two pipes with their flanges el connected
together by my improved fasteners a, a, acting in combination with bolts or staples d
and washers e under the heads d' of the bolts or staples d. If desired, a spring or
other piece f (see Figures 1") may be passed through the eye of the bolt or
stapled, or a square slotted spring washer f* (see Figures 1) may be passed over

page_text: the bolt or staple d to act as a base or bearing piece for the rotating wedge a to
rest upon and to compensate for wear of the parts.
In Figures 2, 3, and 4, g is a jar or other vessel and his its cover, which is held
firmly in position by my improved fastener a acting in combination with a bar i
oxtending across the centre of the cover h, and taking a bearing in the groove g'.
formed around the upper part of the jar or other vessel. In this case the rotating
wedge is provided with a lever handle a fixed thereto, by which it may be
operated, and such handle when fully depressed rests in a slot or recess h¹
formed in the lid or cover h. Two studs or projections h³ on the cover h serve to
facilitate adjustment of the cross bar i in position.
In Figures 5, 6, and 7, j, j, are the ends of two rails; k, k, are two fish plates
which are held together by my improved fasteners a, a, acting in combination with
bolts or staples d in a similar manner to that represented at Figure 1.
These curned rotating wedges", in other cases, as represented at Figures 8 to 16,
are mounted on an axis k supported in a bearing, or it may be bearings carried
by a plate, and are operated by a lever a fixed thereto or capable of being applied
thereto when desired, as described with respect to the previous Figures; and, if
desired, two of such curved rotating wedges a may be formed or fixed on the same
shaft or axis kat opposite ends thereof, such shaft or axis being suitably
lengthened and mounted for the purpose, in order that two sides or parts of a door,
window, or other article may be locked, fastened, or connected together by a single
operation.
In the arrangement represented in Figures 8 to 16, the plate / carrying the shaft
or axis of the curved rotating wedge a projects beyond the edge of the door m to
which it is fixed, and the hasp, loop, or staple acting in combination with such
curved wedge a passes through a slotted opening in the plate 7, and in order to
admit of slight variation in position of the parts and yet secure their proper relative
adjustment with each other the sides of the slotted opening are bevelled, and
the hasp, loop, or staple d may be somewhat lengthened, as represented at Figure 15,
whilst one or both sides of the nose a³ of the curved wedge à may be also bevelled
for the same purpose, as shown.
The hasp, loop, or staple d, as shown at Figures S to 16, is carried by a plate d
fixed to the door post n.
In some cases a spring or a catch or bolt may be employed in connection with
the curved rotating wedge to hold the latter in its locked or unlocked position, as
will be well understood.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
First. A curved rotating wedge a acting with a staple, hasp, loop, slotted bolt, or
pin d, or with a bar, stud, or projection, in manner and for the purpose substantially
as herein shown and described.
Second. A curved rotating wedge a formed with a concentric portion a² and an
enlargement', or lever handle, substantially as and for the purposes herein
shown and described; and
Third. One or more curved rotating wedges a fixed on an axis k mounted in a
bearing or bearings, and provided with a fixed or moveable lever or handle a for
operating the same, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
NATHAN THOMPSON. (L.S.)