US1621124A - Cashier's cage - Google Patents

Description

109. SAFtS, BANK IHUltUHUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

JEL

hfiarch 15, 1927.

J.C.MCCORMACK CASHIERS CAGE File d June 13, 1925 INVENTOR BY 4%4/ C ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES wrellt$m5ifl PATENT OFFICZE.

JAMES C. MGCORMACK, 0F MONROE, WASHINGTON.

CASHIER/S CAGE.

Application filed June 13, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in cashiers cages, and more particularly to cages, or the like, adapted for use in banks, theatres, hotels and restaurants and which may be made either as a section of a wall or counter or independent thereof; the principal object of the invention being to provide a cage that may instantly be closed by the occupant in the event of a hold-up by a robber or bandit to thereby insure safety to the cashier and to save the money or other valuables that might be in his charge.

More specifically stated, the object of the invention resides in the provision of a bandit proof cage in which there is provided a pro tective screen that is normally disposed within the counter or front wall of the cage in a place where it is not observed but which may be moved instantly into position to close the cage upon release of the screen by the tripping of a retaining latch placed in a position accessible to the foot of the cashier, or operable by other means.

Other objects of the invention reside in the various details of construction and combination of parts embodied in the invention and in their mode of operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided the im proved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan View of a cashiers cage embodied by the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 in Figure 1 showing the screen in lowered position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 38 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view showing the screen in raised position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- 1 designates in its entirety, a cashiers cage constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a front 2 and opposite side walls 3-3. The front may comprise an upper structure of bars a, as shown, or netting in which there is a window or opening 5 with a horizontal shelf 6 at the front and on a level with the base of the window. The side walls, when the device is made independent of counters or other furnishings, would be closed solid as also would be that portion of the front section below the shelf 6. The interior of the cage may be furnished as desired, preferably equipped with Serial No. 36,938.

a shelf 7 that extends along the side walls and across the front so as to leave a work ing space 8 for the cashier.

As a means of protecting the cashier against attack by bandits or robbers and also to better insure the safety of the money or other valuables which he may have in his possession, I have provided a screen 10 which normally is disposed within the front wall of the cage below the level of the shelves 6 and 7. This screen preferably would consist of a sheet of bullet proof metal of suflicient length to extend across the front of the cage and of suflicient height that when 7 in use, it would close that portion of the front of the cage above the shelf 6. The screen is provided at its opposite ends with guide rollers 11 adapted to travel along guide rails 12-12 fixed to the corner posts The screen is provided with a cut away portion, as at 15, just below the cage window and has a connecting bar 16 extended across the opening which is adapted to rest upon a plate 18 which is fixed to the under side of the shelves 6 and 7 and which extends across the opening 14, to thereby retain the screen against farther downward movement. A coiled spring 19 is attached to the under side of plate 18 and to the lower portion of the screen whereby the screen,

when released, will be raised to close the front of the cage. Normally the screen is held in lowered position and the spring held under tension by a latch 22 that is pivotally mounted on the floor or convenient place beneath the counter and which has a hook 24 adapted to engage with a pin 25 in the screen and has a laterally extending trip lever 26 which may be depressed to disengage the hook from the pin.

When the hook is released, the spring moves the screen upwardly and thus closes the front of the cage at opposite sides of the window and in order to close the window which would otherwise be uncovered on account of the opening or cut out portions 15 of the plate, I have provided the two swinging door sections 30 and 30' that are pivotally mounted on bolts 31 extended through the body portion of the screen at opposite sides of the opening 15. Each of the plates 3030 comprises a main body portion and an inwardly extended leg 32. The body portions normally are disposed adjacent the screen at opposite sides of the opening 15 but when the screen is moved upwardly the leg portions 32 are brought into engagement with the plate 18 and the doors are caused to swing upwardly and inwardly and to close together across the cage window, as shown in Figure 4, at which position they are held until the screen is lowered.

WVith this construction, the bar 16 normally closes that portion of the slot 14, or opening registering with the window 5 and the ends of the slot at opposite sides could be covered so as to conceal its purpose by hinged covers 36 which would fold upwardly as the screen came up.

The trip latch 22 could be operated by the foot lever 26 or also by a pull wire 88 extended to any desirable point or by a solenoid, as indicated at 39, through which an electric circuit could be closed to effect the release of the hook by suitable connections.

Such cages could be made as a part of a counter or wall or could be made independent of other fixtures with one or more windows and walls equipped with screens as shown. Such a device is simple in construction and operation and would be effective for the purpose for which it is intended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a cage of the character described comprising a wall having a closed lower section and an unprotected upper section, of a screen support intermediate said sections, a protective screen normally disposed within the cage adjacent the closed wall section and adapted to be raised to close the upper section, and having an opening therein, the screen support being within said opening, a latch engaging the screen to normally retain it in lowered position and releasable from within the cage, a spring attached to the screen whereby it may be lifted when the latch is released and normally open door sections mounted on the screen and adapted to be moved by engagement with the screen support when the screen is raised to cover the opening in the screen.

2. The combination with a cage of the character described comprising a wall having a closed lower section and an unprotected upper section provided with a window of a shelf intermediate the closed and unprotected sections provided with a transverse opening, a protective screen normally disposed in low-. ered position within the cage back of the closed wall section and having an opening therein, a screen supporting plate fixed to the shelf to extend across the said transverse opening and within the opening in the screen and engaging the top of the said screen opening when the latter is in lowered position, a latch normally retaining the screen in this position, a spring attached to the screen and operable to lift it upon release of the latch to close the unprotected section of the wall at opposite sides of the said window and door sections mounted on the screen and adapted to be moved by contacting with the screen supporting plate as the screen moves upwardly to cover the said window in the barred wall section.

3. The combination with a cage having upper and lower wall sections; the upper section having a window therein; of a horizontal shelf disposed between said sections provided with a transverse opening, a protective screen normally disposed within the cage back of the closed wall section and adapted to be lifted upwardly through said shelf opening to cover the upper wall section at opposite sides of the said window said screen having an opening therein adapted to register with the window opening when the screen is raised, a latch normally retaining the screen in lowered position, a spring attached to the screen whereby it will be lifted when the latch is released, a plate fixed to the under side of the shelf and extended across said transverse opening and through the screen opening to engage the top edge of the latter as a means of limiting downward movement of the screen and a pair of door sections pivotally mounted on the screen having portions thereof projecting into positions where they are engageable with said plate when the screen moves upwardly to cause said doors to close together to cover the said window.

Signed at Everett, Snohomish County, lVashington, this 11th day of May, 1925.

JAMES C. MCCORMAOK.

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