US1205238A - Seal-lock for safety-deposit boxes. - Google Patents

Description

H. MARSHALL.` SEAL LOCK FOR SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES.

PPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914.

Patented N ov. 21, 1916.

DATE OPENED ISI Box N o. /75' DA1-a oPENEo. gn/, ISI/I UNT HOLMES MARSHALL, VOF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SEAL-LOCK FOR SAFETY-DEPOSIT BOXES.

Application filed March 25, 1914.

to provide a simple, economical locking device for a safety deposit box or Vlike receptacle, having a tell-tale in connection with the locking device to prevent surreptitious opening of the box.

`A more specific object is to provide in connection with the lock a holder for an identification card or other telltale device,

which shall not be accessible from the exterior of the box, and which shall be punched or otherwise altered whenever the box is opened.

My safety devices are adapted for la variety of uses. For instance, any desirable number of these boxes may be placed in a suitable safe or vault, and a convenient system of use provided', which would be much less expensive to install and operate than in the usual safety deposit equipment and system. The boxes may be used for valuables or secret compartments in offices, and may conveniently be employed in connection with transportation of valuable matter. A feature of my safety device is its cheapness of manufacture.

My invention is hereinafter more fully are'set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective my locking device; Fig. 2 is a 'sectional view, being a detail of the loclr with the front of the box removed; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of'F ig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 shows a signature card adapted to be used 'with my locking device; Fig. 6 is a view of the same after being punched by unlocking the box.

A suitable safety deposit box 10 is provided with a hinged cover 11 carrying a hook 12 adapted to be engaged by the bolt of a lock 14, thereby holding the cover closed. As shown, the hook 12 is formed Specification of Letters Patent.

latented N ov. 21, 1916.

serial No. 827,197.

on the forward end of a metal strip 15, suitably secured to the cover 11. The lock 14 itself, may be of any suitable construction. I have shown a simple form of lock which may be conveniently used, having a pivoted bolt or lever 16, suitably hooked at its upper end to engage the hook 12, and pivotally carried on a pin 18, carried by the lock casing 19. This bolt is normally held in engagement with the hook l2, whenthe cover is in the closed position, by a spring 20, secured at one end to the bolt, and at the other end to a portion of the casing, as at 21. r1`he lower portion of the hook 12 and the upper portion of the bolt or lever, are beveled as shown, to allow the hook to automatically engage the bolt when the cover is closed.

As shown, the casing 19 has forwardly extending lianges or sides 22, and the front side of the casing is closed by a plate 23 extending laterally each side of the casing and above the same. In front of this plate is a second plate 25, spaced from the plate 28 by having its lower edge turned up wardly and its sides folded inwardly and rest-ing against the same. The plate 253 may be secured to the casing by means of suitable screws 26 engaging bosses 2?, integral with the casing. and the lock may be mounted in the front end of the box with the plate 25 resting aga-inst vertical members f through an opening 32 in the plate 25 and described and the essential characteristics through the front of the box. The opening 33vis closed by a glass plate 35, which is held in position against the front plate of the box by tongues 36, on the vertical members 28, and it rests` when in position, on an enlarged cylindrical portion 3S of the plug 39 of the lock.

The bolt of the lock is moved to release the hook 12 by means of a pin 40, on a flat slide plate 41, having a slot engaging a proliection 42 near one end, and having a projecting portion 44 at the opposite end slid? able in a lug 45 carried by the casing. This slide is moved llaterally to bring the pini 40 against the lever 16, to move it, and release the hook 12, by means of a wing 46 on the plug engaging a projection 47- on the slide. The plate is normally held against 4lateral movement by one or more tumblers,

one being shown at 4S, engaging a lug 49 on the plate and having a slot in the end into which this lug may move when the tumbler or tumblers are raised by the key. The tumbler is normally held in the position shown, preventing the move-ment of the slide, by means of aspring 50 rigidly attached to the tumbler and extending around the pivot 1S, carrying the tumbler, and hooking over the pin 40. A spring 51 on the projecting portion 44 acts to hold thc slide 4l normally to the left of its movement, as shown.

Rigidly carried by a vertical rock shaft 53, is a forwardly curved finger 54, having a sharpened point adapted to swing through an opening 55 and punch or tear an opening in the card 30, such as shown in Figs. 1 and G. This rock shaft is operated by a pin or short rock arm 57, engaging an elongated hole in the slide 41. The rock shaft 53 is rotated, and the finger 54 is pressed through the card, whenever the slide 41 is moved to the left, by rotating the key in the plug, which at the same time moves the bolt and releases the hook on the cover, allowing it to be swung upwardly. The plates 23' and 25 have their upper edges bent apart, or flared as at 5S, to suitably guide the lower edge of the card into the pocket, and the plate 25 is spaced a sufficient distance back of the glass 35 to allow the finger 54 to punch through the card. The card may be any suitable card for designating or identifying the particular box, as for example, a card such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, on which may be placed the number of the box and the date opened. If the safety deposit department of a bank or like institution is equipped with a number of such boxes, each provided with my locking device, the custodian may merely handthe customer a blank card on which the latter places his signature, which may be used for identification. The custodian after comparing the signatures, unlocks the box, thereby punching the card, as described. This card so punched or marked, may be dated and preserved as a record,'and the new card, just signed by the customer, is placed in the box before closing it. The box is now in effect sealed, as it cannot be opened except by unlocking, which marks the card as described. My device has the effect of removing temptation from the custodian, because if he opens the box, the card will be punched, and having a signature thereon, it will be difficult for him to re lace the same. If it is desired to use such a ocking device on any other safety receptacle, for example a box to be transported by express, the card being placed within the receptacle but visible from the exterior would be more eective than the ordinary method of sealing an express package conwtaining'valuable matter. A seal is usually on the exterior where it is quite possible to remove and replace or otherwise tamper with the same without defacing it, which is impossible with the card in my locking de- VlCe.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, that I have provided a locking device for safety deposit receptacles which may be very cheaply manufactured, and which provides a convenient and efficient system for use. It is to be understood that any construction of lock may be used, with a means for marking the card consequent upon the movement of the bolt or retaining means of such lock, without departing from the spirit of my-invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: Y l

1. The combination of. a container having a suitable designation, a card 'bearing a corresponding designation, afholderVv for the card carried by the container and having a sightopening, a lock forthe container, :and means whereby the unlocking of the lock and the opening of thecontainer automatically results. in the defacement of the card in the holder.

2. The combination of a metal safety Ydeposit box; having ahinged cover, a lock at thetfree end of said cover withinthe box, a projection carriedbythe cover, a bolt having a hooked end engaging said projection, a spring for holding' said bolt into "engagement with said projection, a slide operated by the key for moving said bolt, a punch operated by said slide,"and a marking device adapted to be operated when said slide is moved.

8. The combination with areceptacle having a door, a lock for said doorV having. a bolt, means on the vdoor engagingthe bolt, a spring for holding said bolt into engagement, a slide operated by the key for releasing said bolt, a spocket, a` card insaid pocket, and a punch. operated vby'saidxslide adapted to punch the card .when said slide is moved. i Y

4. In a safety'ideposit box,zthe;combina tion: of a door, a lock having a bolt, a projec'tion carried by the door adapted Vto. be engaged bythe bolt, aspring for holding the bolt in engagement allowing it to spring into locked position when the door is closed, means operated by the key for` moving said bolt to unlock the door, a holder for a card adjacent the lock, and a rock shaft operated by the first mentioned means for marking said vcard when the lock is released.

5. rlhe combination, with a lock having a casing and an opening in the casing, of,a movable bolt, a key-controlled slide operating the. bolt, a movablefnger adapted tobe through the o ening inthe casing, anda f pocket `for a card adjacent to theopening'so vlo arranged that when the finger is moved it may deface the card.

6. The combination, with a container having a designation7 a lock for the container, a card bearing a designation corresponding to the designation of the container, a holder for the card Within one Wall of the container, a sight opening in front of the card having a transparent closure, a space on the card for receiving a signature, said sight opening being so arranged With relation to the pocket as to disclose the signature, and mechanism operated automatically When the container is unlocked for defacing the card.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

HOLMES MARSHALL.

Witnesses:

ARCHER WV. RICHARDS, JUSTIN W. MACKLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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