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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Devon UK
    Posts
    3,117
    Country: UK

    Default William Clark US patent safe lock 1817

    Does anyone have any more info on this patent?
    Cheers
    Tom

    February 8th No 4101. CLARK, William, Bath. The object of this invention is the construction of a safeguard adaptable to locks generally, consisting: 1st. "Of a screen or escutcheon, with several moveable indexes or dial plates covering the works of a lock of any or the common construction, and in the most eligible part of this screen or escutcheon a plug capable of being drawn out or unscrewed for the purpose of discovering or obtaining access to the keyhole." 2nd. " Behind the screen or escutcheon, and connected with the moveable indexes or dial plates before mentioned, I place segments of circles, which fit into a corresponding groove or grooves in the plug, and act as bolts, preventing it from being unscrewed or drawn out." "The contrivance and action of the safeguard is this:- Having, secretly determined any letters or association of letters to correspond with any number or mark upon the plates in front, adjust and fix the parts of the segments to correspond with and clear the cylindrical plug (these segments being moveable upon their arbours and to be fixed by a nut and screw). This adjustment being effected, move the indexes away from their secret adjustments, and with each index its accompanying segment behind will turn, and be thus passed into the groove of the plug, so that the plug becomes confined and cannot be drawn out until the indexes are again set to their secretly determined marks, which will bring the concave part of each segment to correspond with or clear the plug, when the plug may then be drawn out and access obtained to the key-hole of the lock.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    27
    Country: UK

    Default

    Never too late, Tom!

    I have looked up your patent number in US patents, and it is for a washing Machine, around 1845. US patents for 1817 were incinerated! It is British, and there is a William Clark for the year 1817, with a lock patent.

    I take it that there is no drawing with this specification, which is so infuriating with many of these early patents!

    Regards,
    Martin Cummins.

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