US67089A - Photo-litho - Google Patents

Description

ROBERT M. WEBB AND ISAAC HERMANN, or NEW Your, N. Y.

Leam Patent No. 67,089, darai my 23,1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEALING PADLOGKS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we` R. M. WEBB and IBAAG HERMANN, of the city, county, and State of New York, .have invented a new and useful vImprovement in Applying Seals to Locks, and that the following description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings hereinafter referred to, forms a full and exact speciication ofthe same, wherein we have set forth the nature and principles of o'ur said. improvements, by which our invention may be distinguished from all others of a similar class, together with such parts as we claim, and desire to have secured to us by Letters Patent.V I

The present invention relates to a new and improved manner of applying seals to locks for the purpose of indicating when a lock has been tampered with, or attempts made to pick it; and for this purpose it consists in arranging within the key-hole ofthe lock, and in line with thc same, either embracing the whole extent ofthe said key-hole or not, a spindle or rod, that extending through the lock-casing projects fromits opposite side, where it is encased, and moveswithin a concentric tube or casing, permanently secured to the lock-casing. YThis tube has its outer end open, and madeof a cup-shape, so as to receive a paper or other seal, properly prepared therefor, which seal, to prevent its being removed, is there secured by covering it with wax, or other suitable sealing material, so stamped that it cannot be removed, andA then similarly resealed, without the use of a corresponding or`otherstamp; the said spindle, which extends through the lockcasing,'as hereinabove stated, being provided at its` end that is toward the seal used, as above explained, with a cutting edge or blade,

-or other suitable device, or in any other manner properly constructed for cancelling the said seal, when brought in contact therewith by the pushing in of the said spindle caused by attempting to insert the key in the key-hole of the lock, or any other instrument for unlocking or for picking the same, as will be hereinafter fully explained. In the accompanying plate of drawingsur improvements are illustrated'- Figure 1 being an outside view of the front plate of the lock-casing.

Figure 2, a similiar'view of the back plate. i A

Figure 3, a transverse section, taken in the plane of the line :c z, fig. 1. y

Figures 4 and 5, sections taken respectively in the planes of the lines y y andvz z, fig. 3; and

Figure 6, a detail view to be hereinafter referred to. i

A, in the drawings, represents the lock, which is of that class known and commonly called a padlock, and as it may be of any of the ordinary constructions and arrangements of parts for such locks, it therefore needs no particular description herein, but for the more perfect operation of the present invention it is best that Ait should be self-locking, as will be readily apparent from thedescription which follows. ,B and C, respectively, the front and back plates of the locking-casing, from both of` which, and in the same line with each other, outwardly projects a hollow sleeve or tube D, both of which are open at their outer ends E, and at their inner ends are secured to or form a part of the front or back plate of the lock, according as they project from either one or the other of the same; and with both the said front and back plates provided with an opening, G, corresponding to the interior diameter ofthe said tubes, or nearly so. Through these tubes D, from the outer end of the one attached to the front plate to the outer end of the one secured to the back plate, extends a spindle or rod, H, around which in the tube of the back plate is coiled a spiral spring, I, that at one end restsagainst a collar, m, secured tothe said spindle, and at the other rests upon the shoulder a, at the outer end of the said tube. 'lhe front end of-the spindle H is bored out, of a conical shape, as shown in fig. 3, and about the said rod, within the front tube, is a concentric tube or sleeve, L, which is` confined between the shoulder b of the front end of such tube andthe inside of the back plate of the lockcasing. To theinner end of this tube L an arm, M, is secured, by means of which, when the said tube is turned, as will be hereinafter explained, the bolt of the lock can be properly moved for ,locking or unlocking the same, as may be desired, as with an ordinary key. This sleeve L is notched at c of its outer end, corresponding to which is a notch, d, made in the outer end of the front tube D of the lock-casing.

From the above description, it is plain to be seen that if a key, N, of the form shown in iig. 3 of the drawings, be inserted in the outer front end of the spindle H, with the projection g upon such key, in line with the notch d of the front tube D, arid then such key be pressed inward, it will move the said spindle forward in the lock, causing its back end O to project from the outer ond of thetube of the back plate, at the same time compressing the spiral spring I, when the projection of' the key having become interlecked with thc notch of the sleeve L, by then turning such key in the proper direction it will turn the said sleeve in conjunction there with, and thus through its arm M move the bolt of the .oel-z, either to lock or to unlock the same, as the ease may be. To the outer end of the spindle H, upon the back plate of the lock, s. knife or cutting edge is secured, and over the outer end of the back tube, surrounding said spindle, a eup-shaped cap, l?, is attached, or formed as a. part thereof. This cup is provided i'cr the reception ci' the seul mede of paper, card-boord, sheet metal, or other suitable material, and of a proper shape to fit into the said cup, where, by using sealing-wax or other suitable material, it can be secured, and in such a manner, by stamping such wax, that if removed by an vunauthorized person, and notresealed and restamped as before, the fact of such removal will be consequently made A known by an examination ofthe lock.

By thus sealing the outer end of the back tube ofthe lock casing, and from the construction and arrangement of parts in connection therewith, as above explained, it is plain to be understood that if the key be inserted in the lock, as has been hereinabove described, which presses in the spindle, or if the said spindle be pressed inward by any other instrument or implement suitable for operating the lock,vor by any attempt to piek the lock, the breaking of the seal upon the rear side of the lock-casing must necessarily occur, thereby showing nt once to any person that the lock has been either unlocked after being sealed, or tampered with at least by some person or persons not authorized so to do; the importance of which is obvious in connection with mailbags, safes, express-trunks, and other receptacles for valuables, as nell as for many other purposes, such as in distilleries, etc.; and also in connection with the proper enforcement of the internal revenue laws, to prevent fraud and dishonesty in the returns made under thesame.

'The cutting edge of the spindle H necessarily defaces or cancels the seal as it is pushed through the lock by the action of the key or other implement upon it; but in lieu of this cutting edge there are other forms Which may be given to the said spindle, whichV will accomplish the same result, as is obvious. In lieu of using a paper seal, and then sealing suchl sea-l with wax, as above explained, thepaper seal may be dispensed with, and only the sealing by wax employed, the same end being accomplished in either case.

The form of the cutting edge b of' the spindle edge H is angular-shaped, whereby, as is obvious, by turning the spindle in the tube, it can be changed in position or adjusted at any desired time ortimes, to do which an aperture, l, is madein theconical end of the spindle H, to receive a pin or other sharp-pointed implement, by which thc said spindle can be turned around within the lock-casing; the object of the above being to cause the number of times which thc lock has been tampered with to be indicated upon the seal without necessarily resealing it each and every time. i

From the above description it is self-evident that as the unsealing, as it were, of the lock is produced by the insertion of the key, itis desirable or best to use a. selfslocking lock, and with such locks also to insert a. plug in the bolt-aperture of the bow or shackle of the same, so as to prevent the said bow or shackle from closing and locking by accident, and before it is desired or required to lock the lock.

Having thus described our invention, tvhnt we claim asinetr, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. The spring spindle H, with sharp cutting edge a ,'operating in combination with the key N against the seal in cap P, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. The sleeve L, encircling the spindle H, with arm M and notch e operating in combination with the spring spindle H and key N, having projection g, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

The above specification of our invention signed by us this 28th day of July, 186B.

R. M. WEBB, I. HERMANN.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, WM. F. McNAMAnA.

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