US1512791A

US1512791A - Cashier's protector

Info

Publication number: US1512791A
Application number: US641409A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Musselman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-05-25
Filing date: 1923-05-25
Publication date: 1924-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1941-10-21

Description

109. SAN-.5, BANK IHUILUIIUN ICES. AND RELATED DEV l Oct. 21 1924. 1,512,791

G. A. MUSSELMAN CASHIERS PROTECTOR J 1 Filed May 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet I AND RELATED DEVICES.

Oct. 21 1924,

, 1,512,791 G. A. MUSSELMAN CASHIER'S PROTECTOR Filed y 25. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet z IUU. bAl'tb, DANA rnulncuuw AND RELATED DEVICES.

Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGE A. MUSSELIVIAN, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

CASHIERS PROTECTOR.

Appilieation filed May 25, 1923. Serial No. 641,409.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MUSSEL- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cashiers Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a protector or shield for cashiers and tellers in banks and the like, which is preferably bulletproof and which is normally out of the way and out of sight. The main object of the invention is to install a shield of this character in the partition of the cashiers counter and to furnish a conveniently positioned device for instantly closing the cashiers window, and which can be operated by the foot. It is evident that if a burglar enters the bank and threatens the cashier with a gun, commanding him to throw up his hands, he would be helpless unless some easily operated device was furnished for pressing a treadle in order to close the window by the shield.

Known appliances for such protection generally consist of up and down sliding curtains or shields, which, however, seldom operate quickly enough to be very effective. The subject matter of the present invention embraces shields which are hinged on the inside of the cashiers window and close by gravity as well as spring action.

In the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated; and

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bank cashiers or tellers window and counter with the shield installed;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1 with the shield open; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 represents the counter in a bank and numeral 11 represents a partition having uprights 12 and a cashiers window 13, which is preferably provided with bars 14 in the usual manner. Reference numeral 15 represents plate glass installed in the partition on both sides of the cashiers window.

On a horizontally running shaft 16 mounted in suitable bearings 17 in the partition 11, is rigidly secured a main shield 18, preferably of bullet-proof plate. As the shaft 16 is carried on the inner side of the partition, the shield will be slightly spaced from the same when closed. For this reason, the ends of the shield may be flanged as at 19 and these flanges will then close up the opening between the ends of the shield and the frame posts. In order to stiffen the upper edge of the main shield 18, this edge may be rolled over itself as at 20 to form a longitudinal bead thereon.

Straps 21 have been shown for securing the shield to the shaft 16, and in the middle thereof or adjacent the cashiers window, a lever bracket 22 is secured on the outer face of the shield. This bracket extends beyond the rolled edge or bead 20 with a short arm 23 for obtaining a good leverage with the axis of the shaft 16 as fulcrum. As the main shield 18 extends across the entire partition 11 so as to cover not only the cashiers window 17 but also the plate glass insertions 15, its large size makes it fairly heavy and it will accordingly easily close by gravity, the shaft 16 being situated near the upper edge of the shield. In order, however, to make the closing as quick as possible, the shield is provided with a coil spring 24 wound around the shaft 16 and secured with one end 25 in the shield while the other end 26 engages with one of the posts 12 of the partition. This spring tends to hold the shield in closed position so that in opening the shield, not only its inherent weight but also the spring pressure has to be overcome.

A secondary shield 27, also extending the entire length of the partition 11, but much narrower than the main shield 18, is similarly mounted on a shaft 28 carried in bearings 29 in the partition. This secondary shield is placed slightly above the counter 10 so that currency and checks and the like may be received or delivered through the window in the usual manner below this secondary shield, while the cashier is able to see his customer through the window between the main and secondary shields. The width of the secondary shield is such that its lower edge will touch the counter when closed, and its upper edge will meet the lower edge of the main shield 18. In this manner, a complete covering for the windows from end to end and top to bottom is obtained when the two shields are closed.

The secondary shield may also be provided with a bead 30 along its upper edge and its two ends flanged as at 31.

Directly below the lever bracket 22 on the upper or main shield 18, a similar bracket 33 is secured on the secondary shield 27 and the two brackets are connected by a link 34 hinged in both brackets. From the lever bracket 33 a rod 35 is depending and connected with an operating lever 36 hinged in a bracket 37 secured on the partition near the floor. This lever 36 has a hooked end 38 adapted to engage with a dog 39 provided with a treadle 40 and fulcrumed as at 41 in the base plate 42 secured on the floor.

In Figures 1 and 2 the shields are shown in set position with the operating lever 36 engaging the dog 39, in this manner holding down the rod 35 and link 34 so that the shields accordingly are held open and extending inwardly from the partition 11 in parallel direction. In this position the main shield is practically concealed behind a depending board 43 at the upper end of the partition, while the secondary shield 27 is visible from the outside, and being very narrow, may be considered a shelf for the convenience of the cashier.

If an attack is made against the cashier and he is compelled to throw up his hands, he can easily operate the treadle 40 with his foot to release the lever 36, whereupon the two shields will fold down assisted by the action of the spring 24. The parts will then take the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

In order that the device may be operated from any point along the counter, the treadle 40 carries a rod 45, extending in both directions thereof to both ends of the counter and having its ends mounted in other treadles 46, which are fulcrumed in bearings 47.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame having uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mounted in bearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each of said shafts, a spring associated with one of said invention,

shields and said posts adapted to close the shields over the windows, and means holding the shields in open position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame having uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mounted in bearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each of said shafts and adapted to cover the windows, and means holding the shields in open position; said means including arms on said shields, a latch, and positive connection between one of said arms and said latch.

3. In a device of the character described, the combantion with a frame having uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mounted in hearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each of said shafts, a spring associated with one of said shields and said posts adapted to close the shields over the windows, and means holding the shield in open position; said means including an arm on each of said shields, an operating lever pivoted on said frame, link connection between said arms and between said lever and one of said arms, and a catch mounted to oscillate adjacent said operat ing lever and adapted to engage therewith to hold the shields in open position.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame having uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mounted horizontally in bearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each of said shafts, a spring associated with one of said shields and said posts adapted to close the shields over the windows, and means holding the shields in open position; said means including arms on said shields, linked connection between said arms, an operating lever pivoted on said frame below said shafts, a link connecting said operating lever with one of said arms, a catch adapted to engage with said operating lfier to hold the shields in open position, said catch having a treadle, and a bearing secured ad jacent said frame and in which said catch is pivoted.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa- 100 ture.

GEORGE A. MUSSELMAN. [1 s]