US 168549
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
FRANK H. ALLEN, OF NORWICE, CONNECTICUT.
IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKING-CATCHES FOR REVOLVERS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168549, dated October 11, 1875; application filed September 10, 1875.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Frank H. Allen, of Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Revolving Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification:
My invention consists of a simple mechanical device, which, when made and operated as described in the following specification, will so lock the working parts of the arm to which it is applied that the cartridges in the revolving cylinder cannot be exploded by any one not familiar with the arrangement of the locking device.
My object is to render fire-arms to which the said device is applied perfectly safe if left within reach of children or other persons not competent to carry or operate them.
In the accompanying drawing, A represents the hammer; B, the center-pin on which the many-chambered cylinder rotates; C, the frame. D represents my locking device, which consists of a “latch” hung on or near the lower part of the hammer A, and thrown forward by the spring E, so that when the hammer is dropped or pressed forward the latch D is forced into a recess in the frame at F, effectually locking the working parts of the arm so that they cannot be operated until the latch is pushed backward and released by suitable pressure on the center-pin B. The center-pin B is used, in connection with the said device, only to unfasten the latch D, and has no part to perform in locking the parts of the arm to which the device is applied.
I do not claim a locking device used in combination with the center-pin B; but
I do claim—
1. The automatic latch D, hung on the lower part of the hammer, in combination with the recess F, as and for the purpose specified.
2. The latch D, so arranged in line with the center-pin B, that by direct pressure on the center-pin the latch is released, as and for the purpose specified.
FRANK H. ALLEN.
Witnesses:
John E. Warner,
Jno. Dunham.