US1594747A - Teller's cage - Google Patents

Description

109. SAFES, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATED DEVICES.

. Aug.- 3 1926. 1,594,747

G. MURRAY TELLER S CAGE Filed March 26 192 i 109. SAHLS, BANK IHUltUHUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STATES GFFICE.

TELLERS CAGE.

Application filed March 26, 1924. Serial No. 702,123.

This invention relates to a means for protecting the occupant of a tellers cage from attack by bandits.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation on the line 11 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan of a tellers cage with the protection afforded which is the subject of this application.

In these drawings 3 represents the grille walls of the cage in the front wall of which opposite the door is the aperture 4 through which the cashier transacts his business with the customer and 2 represents the counters across the closed end and along each side.

Within this enclosure the occupant is at the mercy of a holdup man, who may cover him with a gun while demanding the available cash in his charge. It is to afford the occupant a protection agalnst such attack that the device, which is the subject of this application, has been devised.

Relatively narrow shutter members 6 are hinged at 5 across the front and along each side wall of 3 of the cage. These shutter members are preferably of steel plate and the width of each is suflicient to efiect closure of the wall space between it and the one beneath, so that when hanging down against the wall they completely screen the interior of the cage from the three outer sides.

A tongue 9 projects from the outer edge of one of the shutters of each side, which tongues project under the corresponding end shutters, and the free edges of the shutter members 6 are connected together by rigid rods 7 which are pivotally connected to the outer edges of the shutter members that they may all be sustained in the normal horizontal position, in which position they form no obstruction to vision, or they may be simultaneously dropped to hide and shield the occupant of the cage.

The shutters 6 are normally sustained in a horizontal position by a latch member 10 on a rocking shaft 11 extending across the rear of the cage, and to this rocking shaft is secured an arm 12, to the free end of which is connected the end of the core member 13 of a solenoid let which is in an energized but normally open circuit 15.

When this circuit 15 is closed at the key 16 the solenoid is energized and attracts within it the core 13 to rock the shaft 11 and tilt the latch member 10 to release the shutter 6 which rests on it, and these shutters being connected together immediately fall to protect the interior of the cage, and are secured in the closed position by a spring latch 8.

The shutters 6 being relatively narrow, each has only a short distance tofall, so that the cage will be shielded immediately the latch is withdrawn.

The circuit 15 may be closed from any convenient position within or without the cage, so that, if the occupant is not able to effect his own protection, it may be done by any occupant of the bank who may be aware of the requirement for it.

Having now particularly described my invention, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

Means for protecting the occupant of a tellers cage, said means comprising a series of relatively narrow shutters hinged along one edge to the grille wall of the cage the distance between the hinges corresponding closely to the width of the shutters so that when parallel to the wall of the cage the shutters completely close the grille, means for supporting these shutters in an open position, means for releasing the supporting means to permit said shutters to drop to the closed position by gravity, means connecting said shutters to move in unison. and means for retaining them in the closed position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE MURRAY.

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