US1747655A - Protecting shield for bank cages and the like - Google Patents

Description

I 3; 1 4% wmawa's'aa Feb. 18, 1930. w. E. WRIGHT 1,747,655

PROTECTING SHIELD FOR BANK CAGES AND THE LIKE Filed June 5, 1928 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED S'EA'EEfi PATENT: QFFEE WILLIAM E. WRIGHT, OIE SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS PROTECTING SHIELD FOR BANK CAGES AND THE LIKE Application filed June 5, 1928.

This invention relates to a shield designed primarily for use in connection with bank cages and the like whereby, in the event of attempted hold-up the shields can be automatically brought to positions Where they will protect the occupants of the cages.

Another object is to provide a shield of this character which, when not in use, is out of the way and inconspicuous but, when released by mechanism provided for that purpose, will snap automatically and quickly to position to protect the occupant of the cage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a cage having the present improvements combined therewith, a part of the locking mechanism being shown in diagram.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectionon line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 3, said section showing the corner bearing to reduce friction when the shield is actuated.

Figure 6 is a section on lines 66 Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail view of a portion of the locking mechanism.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a cage such as used in banks, the same being provided, as ordinarily, with a grating 2 extending at the sides and in front thereof, there being a window 3 in this grating with a counter 4. Arranged along the bottom portion of the grating at Serial No. 283,116.

the sides and front thereof is a channeled rail 5 having inturned flanges 6 at the top thereof, this rail extending continuously from the back of one side forwardly to the front, thence across the front, and finally back to the rear end of the other side of the grating. The front corner portions of the rail are rounded as shown at 7 and formed within the channeled rail at these rounded portions are antifriction rollers arranged in arcuate series as indicated at 8 in Figure 5.

Another rail 9 similar to the rail 5 is located adjacent the top of the grating but is inverted, the inturned flanges 10 being located at the bottom thereof. Arcuate series of anti-friction rollers 11 are located at the rounded corner portions of the rail, however, these rollers corresponding with the rollers 8 heretofore described. A metal fabric formed preferably of steel rings fitting together closely is interposed between the rails, this fabric being indicated generally at 14. The lower edge of the fabric extends downwardly between the inturned flanges 6 while the upper edge extends upwardly between the inturned flanges 10. At desired intervals the fabric may be reinforced by rods 15 attached thereto. One of these rods is located at each end of the fabric and the fabric is of sufficient length to extend entirely across the front of the cage. When not in use the fabric will extend backwardly at one side of the cage as shown in Figure 1. When in this position it will be engaged by a bolt 16 constituting an extension of the core of a solenoid indicated at 17 this solenoid being included in a circuit 18 adapted to be closed by a button or other switch 19 located under the counter at or on the floor where it can be reached readily by the occupant of the cage when it is desired to release the shield by energizing the magnet. This bolt 16 is located at the rear end of one side of one of the rails. At the rear end of the rails at the other side of the cage there are arranged upper and lower housings 20 in which are journaled the upper and lower portions of an actuating shaft 21. Pulleys 22 are connected to the ends of this shaft and located in the respective housings and to each of these pulleys is attached one end of a cable 23 or other flexible device which extends longitudinally within the adjacent channeled rail, is guided around the corner portions thereof by the rollers 8, and is attached to the forward end of the shield 14. Springs 24 are mounted on the shaft 21 within the respective housings 20 and are constantly under tension so as to exert a constant pull through the flexible connections 23 upon the shield 14.

For the purpose of holding the shield against up and down movement, anti-friction rollers 25 can be journaled on the sides of the rods 14 so as to bear upon the inner surfaces of the flanges 6 and 10 as shown particularly in Figure A.

Under normal conditions the shield is drawn back to the retracted position shown in Figure 1 and is held against movement by the bolt 16 which engages the back end portion of the shield. At this time the springs 24 are held under increased tension. Assuming that an attempt is madeto rob the occupant of the cage 1, said occupant can close the switch 19 with his foot or hand according to the location of the switch and this will cause the solenoid 17 to be energized. Consequently the bolt 16 will be retracted from engagement with the shield and the springs 24 will immediately rotate the shaft 21 at high speed, causing the pulleys 22 to wind the flexible connections 23 thereon so as to pull the shield 14 from the side of the cage to position across the front thereof. Thus it will act to protect the occupant of the cage who can thereafter take any necessary steps to prevent the robbery.

Although only one cage has been shown, it is to be understood that a bank containing several cages can have each cage equipped with the apparatus described and, if desired, the actuation of a single switch in any one of the cages can be caused to operate all of the latches simultaneously so that all the shields will be moved to protecting positions.

Although the shield is preferably made up of a ring metal fabric, it is to be understood that it can be made of any other flexible material sufficiently strong to guard against injury from bullets.

Although a particular kind of latch and operating means therefor have been shown and described, it is to be understood that any suitable means for holding the shield retracted and any suitable means for releasing the shield can be employed.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described the combination with an inclosure and superposed rails extending along the sides and front thereof, of a flexible shield movable along the rails, means for holding said shield retracted between the rails at one side of the housing, and resilient means having all portions housed and concealed in the rails for pulling the shield horizontally to position between the rails at the front of the housing when said shield is released from its holding means.

2. In apparatus of the class described the combination with an inclosure and superposed rails extending along the sides and front thereof, of a flexible shield movable along the rails, means for holding said shield retracted between the rails at one side of the housing, and resilient means having all portions housed and concealed in the rails for pulling the shield horizontally to position between the rails at the front of the housing when said shield is released from its holding means, said means including a spring actuated shaft, winding elements rotatable with the shaft, and flexible connections between said elements and the shield, said connections normally extending longitudinally within the rails at the front and sides thereof.

8. In apparatus of the class described the combination with an inclosure and superposed rails extending along the sides and front thereof, of a flexible shield movable along the rails, means for holding said shield retracted between the rails at one side of the housing, resilient means having all portions housed and concealed in the rails for pulling the shield to position between the rails at the front of the housing when said shield is released from its holding means, and anti-friction devices carried by the shield and operating within the rails for supporting the shield vertically between the rails.

4. In apparatus of the class described the combination with an inclosure and superposed rails extending along the sides and front thereof, of a flexible shield movable along the rails, means for holding said shield retracted between the rails at one side of the housing, resilient means having all portions housed and concealed in the rails for pulling the shield to position between the rails at the front of the housing when said shield is released from its holding means, anti-friction devices carried by the shield and operating within the rails for supporting the shield vertically between the rails, and anti-friction devices disposed in arcs within the rails for engagement by the actuating means and shield where the side and front portions of the rails merge.

5. In apparatus of the class described the combination with an enclosure and rails at the front thereof, of a flexible shield movable along the rails, means for holding the shield in inactive position between the rails,

eeec osu" and resilient means for pulling the shield along the rails to close the front of the housing when said shield is released from its holding means, said resilient means includ ing a spring actuated shaft, winding elements rotatable with the shaft, and a flexible connection between said elements and the shield, all portions of said connection between the winding elements and the shield being concealed and extended longitudinally within the rails.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

WILLIAM E. WRIGHT.

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