Home › Y › Yale (LINUS an American inventor)

Yale (LINUS an American inventor)

LINUS, an American inventor; born in Salisbury, N. Y., April 4, 1821; applied himself for a while to portrait painting, but in 1850 began to study mechanical problems. In 1851 he patented a safety lock, and thereafter till his death was a recognized authority on all matters pertaining to locks and on all matters pertaining to to locks and safes. In the course of his work he became convinced of the necessity of abandoning the use of a key-hole as affording an easy means of introduction to the lock mechanism. This led to the adoption of a permanent dial and shaft as used in the combination locks, and subsequently to the perfection of what is known as the "clock" lock. His most notable invention was the double lock, which comprised two locks within a single case, and operated by the same or different gold, silver, and bronze medals as first in New York City, Dec. 24, 1868.