Linus Yale Sr

Linus Yale, Sr.

Linus Yale Sr. (27 April 1797 - 08 August 1858) was an American inventor and manufacturer of locks. His most famous invention was the redesign of the ancient Engyptian pin-tumbler lock mechanism, which is now one of the most popular lock designs worldwide. His son, Linus Yale, Jr., is also responsible for various improvements in the design of pin-tumbler locks.

Life

Linus Yale Sr. was born in Middletown, Connecticut, and later moved with his parents to Salisbury, New York. Yale opened a lock shop in the early 1840s in Newport, New York, specializing in bank locks. In 1850 his son, Linus Yale, Jr. joined him at the lock shop and began working on improving his father’s pin-tumbler lock.

Patents

• 20 Jan. 1830 - Pat. 5,788 - Mill stone dresser - Salisbury, NY
• 17 Sep. 1833 - Pat. 7,767 - Horse power - Otsego, NY (with P.C. Curtis)
• 17 Sep. 1833 - Pat. 7,770 - Threshing machine - Utica, NY (with P.C. Curtis)
• 11 Sep. 1835 - Pat. 9,094 - Sawmill head block - Utica, NY
• 17 May 1838 - Pat. 739 - Grain threshing machine - Little Falls, NY (with S.W. Stimson)
• 29 July 1841 - Pat. 2,196 - Sawmill dog - Newport, NY
• 20 Oct. 1843 - Pat. 3,312 - Combination lock - Springfield, MA (with C. Wilson)
• 13 June 1844 - Pat. 3,630 - Pin-tumbler safe lock - Springfield, MA
• 13 Feb. 1849 - Pat. 6,111 - Safe - Newport, NY
• 18 Oct. 1853 - Pat. 10,144 - Bank lock - Newport, NY
• 28 Feb. 1854 - Pat. 10,584 - Bank lock - Newport, NY
• 22 May 1855 - Pat. 12,932 - Bank lock - Newport, NY
• 05 Aug. 1856 - Pat. 15,500 - Vault and safe door bolt - Newport, NY
• 08 Sep. 1857 - Pat. 18,169 - Pin-tumbler padlock - Newport, NY

See also

• Linus Yale, Jr.
• Pin tumbler