US1760901A

US1760901A - Bill bank

Info

Publication number: US1760901A
Application number: US249436A
Authority: US
Inventors: Goepel Margaret
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-01-25
Filing date: 1928-01-25
Publication date: 1930-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-03

Description

June 3, 1930- M. Gor-:PEL 1,760,901

BILL BANK Filed Jan. 25, 1928 Patented June 3, 1930 'YATE wel rar

MARGARET (EOE-PEL, GF NEVI YORK, LY.

BLL BANK means to enable thereby a bill bank to be provided which will induce thrift. F or this purpose, a container is provided having an opening for the insertion of the bills or notes, which bills, when inserted, rest temporarily upon yieldable rests, until the cover is closed,

which acts to permit a followerk to press down the bills past the rests, and thereby bring the bills into a position where they cannot be extracted from the container, the cover closinol at the same time the entrance openot` the container. To enable the operation of the collection of bills in the container to be orderly, means are provided for temporarily holding the bills in position most desirable to carry out the j ust-described operation. Also a counter linger may be operated by the pressed down bill. The yieldable steps support the edge of the bill, as also to some extent the linger or' the counter. Means hold the other edge so that the iirst-named edge is properly supported on the steps and linger. rEhe Jfollower presses down, and, by the bill being between the follower and the steps and hnger, a relative stillness and rigidity is given to the bill edge.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a comparatively small, compact and `imple form of savings bank for use in the home in which bills of one dollar or other denomination, may be treasured up and carried, when full`r to a banking house or institution which if desired may issue the small bank boxes; there to be opened and the contents placed to the account of the holder of the bank box; to provide an internal construction of bank boX in which the bills will be neatly and tightly held in a compact stack and obliged, in the act o1 stacking to operate a register for the purpose otl totaling and showing the number ot bills placed in the bank.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

ln the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout tlie several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved bill bank constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2%3 in Figure 2.

Figure l is a top plan View with parts broken away. i

Figure 5 is a vert-ical section taken on the line 5 5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows in perspective a bill in folded condition ready to be placed in the bank, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section showing a slight modification.

Referring more particulai y to the drawings, a box or container provided in w iich 7 designates the liront wall, 8 the side walls and 9 the rear wall.

The bottom 10 is hinged, as indicated at 11 in Figure 2, to the lower edge of the rearwall 9. A supplemental or Jfalse bottom 12 is hinged, as indicated at 13 to the main bottom 10 near its tree edge. The false bottom 12 is designed to be held yieldably by a leaf or other form of spring lll in an inclined or diagonal position within the container body.

In Figure 2 is indicated a stack of bills 15 as received directly upon the inclined false bottom 12. The extreme tree edge or" the main bottom 10 is provided with the upwardly and inwardly turned hook 16 to cooperate with the latch ring 17, shown more particularly in Figure 5. This latch ring is provided with a gap 18 to permit of the escape of the latch 16; and the ring is suitably supported as by an arm 19 formed in one piece therewith and bent radially of the ring and to and about the inwardly projected end of the register shaft 20, which has a bearing in the front wall 7 of the boX.

The latch ring 17 is thus adapted to turn with the register wheel 21, which is secured to the shaft 2O forwardly of the front wall 7. The wheel 21 may be provided with a series of numbers, say from 1 to 51 exposed through an opening 22 made in the supplemental front wall 28 which houses and encloses the registering mechanism. A step by step movement is imparted to the register wheel 21 by the action of the pawl or dog 24 engaging the inclined ratchet teeth 25 on the periphery of the registry wheel 21. rlllhe pawl extends downwardly from an actuating lever 26 pivoted, as indicated at 27 to either or both walls 7 and 23 and situated between such walls. The lever is normally held elevated by the action of a yieldable spring 28 which may be secured also to either front wall and bears beneath the lower edge of the lever 26. A slot 29 in the front wall 7 permits of the passage, and free vertical play of the lug or inturned end 30 of the lever 26, this end preferably having a beveled nose 31 forl the easy passage of the bills 15 thereover.

On the interior of the front container wall 7 are provided one or more keepers or shelves 32 of inuslin, paper, thin, resilient metal or other flexible material forming temporary rests for the bills and having securing portions aliixed to the front wall and operative portions extending downwardly and inwardly for the purpose of producing stops to arrest the bills in their upward movement after they have once passed below the stops.

ln its upper portion the front wall 7 is provided with the horizontally elongated slot 33 of a length to receive the folded bill. lt will be noted that the supplemental front wall 23 terminates below this slot 83, so as not to interfere with the introduction of the bill. rhe slot 83 is normally secreted by the front flange 34 of the flanged cover 35. This cover is hinged or pivoted to the container or to the rear wall 9 thereof as for instance shown at 3G. The top of the container is closed by a permanent top 37. lVithin the container is a follower 38 possessing sufficient weight to normal y s ving down to the position shown in Figure 2 and to compress the stack of bills 15. rlhe follower' may be of any appropriate construction being pivoted, as indicated at 39 to the side walls or other portions of the box and having a slotted forward edge Ll0, shown in Figure 4l, to slide freely past the inwardly projecting end 30 of the register operating lever 26.

ln the use of the device, the normal condition of the bank is shown in Figure 1, the appearance simulating that of an ordinary box. To insert a bill, the bill may be folded as shown in Figure G. The bill is first folded upon a central transverse line 41 and then again folded upon the quarter transverse line lf2, thereby producing a compact condition which avoids the necessity for great size in the construction of the bill bank. The foldedl bill is flattened, and the hinged cover 35 raised to the dotted line position, shown in Figure 2. rlhe raising of this cover will simultaneously expose the front slot 83 and raise the follower i8 as such follower is coupled by the flexible string or other connection i8 to the lid. The string if desired can pass freely through an opening lll made in the rear wall 9. The raised position of the follower is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. lV hen the bill is introduced through tl e slot 33, it will be inserted beneath the follower.

Consequently when the cover 85 is subsequently returned to the closed position, the follower will fall by gravity and force the bill downwardly and onto the false bottom 12 and stack 15. ln so doing the bill will be forced past the shelves 32 which will yield for the purpose but promptly spring outward to interfere with any bulging or swelling` of the bills upwardly beyond this point which might permit their escape through the slot. Moreover the bill in passino' down will strike the end 30 of the lever and depress this end slightly as permitted by the bottom of the slot 29. There results through lthe dog and ratchet mechanism 25 an angular movement in the register wheel 21. This angular movement will bring the neXt sub-division of the wheel opposite the opening 22 in the box and the amount of the movement will be the distance between the teeth 25. As soon as the bill has passed the lever end, the spring 28 returns the released lever to the upper position and places the pawl in condition for the next actuation.

rlhe bill bank may be constructed of any size and possess any desired capacity. A compact bank for use in Christmas savings funds will hold fifty-one dollar bills and the register wheel 21 will be provided with fiftyone sub-divisions, the fifty-first and last subdivision being opposite the gap or slot 18 in the latch ring 17, so that as soon as the fiftyiirst device is presented at the opening 22, the hook 1G on the main bottom 10 will have arrived opposite the gap 18. The hook will thus be released from the latch ring and the bottom 10 may be either manually shift- 'ik ed down to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, or it will be immediately and automatically projected to this position to disgorge the stack of bills 15 which by their accumulated pressure will be responsible for the automatic action referred to.

As the bills accumulate, the false bottom 12 will be forced downwardly in opposition to the action 0f the spring 14 until the false bottom is very close throughout to the main bottom l0. rl`he false bottom will, however, in the early stages and almost throughout the entire stacking operation, hold the bills in an inclined position, so that tl e forward edges thereof are held lowermost and the bills are precipitated with these forward lower edges downwardly against the stops 32 and the projecting end of the register lever to insure the registering operation. The follower 38 is pivoted favorably to secure this same result and to cooperate with the inclination given the false bottom.

r`Ehe opening 22 may be also used for the purpose of inserting an instrument to pry loose a hook or fastening for the main bottom l when the bank is filled to capacity.

in Figure 7 is shown a preferred form of bill follower 38, which is hinged at 39E Keyed to the pivot of this hinge device but at the exterior of the box is a rearwardly ein tending member 39h, which is secured to the depending part of the cover 35, either at its rear or at the two lateral sides. Thereby a positive connect-ion between the operable cover and the bill follower 38 is obtained. As the cover is opened, the follower 38 is raised to the dotted position, as shown in Figure 2, and as the cover descends or closes, the follower 8S moves down to full line position shown in Figures 2 and 7 The false bottom is inclined so the entering end of the bills will rest on the false bottom a its most upper end, and the other or last entering edge of the bill will rest on the yieldable and resilient steps 32. rlhis, of course, takes place when the cover is open and the follower is out of the way, as when it is in the position of the dotted lines shown in Figure 2. Then the cover is closed, and the follower 38 presses the rather stiffened edge of the folded bill downwardly, the yieldable steps 32 permitting this, and, at the same time, the edge of the bill presses upon and tast the finger 30. The forked shaped end the follower gives stiffness to the edge of he bill, which enables this operation to be arried out. Once the bill pressed by the Lollcwer is forced past the finger 30, the bill is brought into a positiop where it cannot be taken out of the bank. The false bottom l2 is not essential, but I have found that the use of it has the advantage of placing the bills into position for the operation described. It is not essential to fold or crease the bills, as the bank can be made the full size of a bill, as now made, or when smaller than now issued. The bank itself can be suitably decorated at its exterior and can be shaped like a treasure chest or in the shape of a book. rlhe cooperation of the follower and nger rest gives the edge of the bill a stiffness and rigidity so it can operate a counter. A

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention withont departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims l/Vhat is claimed is l. A bill bank comprising a substantially closed container having an entrance opening for the bills, a yieldable rest within the container for the edge of a bill when inserted into the container through the entrance opening, a false cover, means for positioning the inserted bills into an inclined position with the entering edge of the bills below the entrance opening and the rear edge of the bills resting on the yieldable rest, a follower coupled to the false cover, and moved out of the path of the inserted bills when the false cover is open, and moved down upon the inserted bills to press the bills past the yieldable rest and below the same, upon the closing of the false cover, and means stiffening the edge of a paper bill and holding it temporarily rigid.

2. A bill bank comprising a substantially closed container having an entrance opening for the bills, a yieldable rest within the container for the edge of a bill when inserted into the container through the entrance opening, a false cover, means for positioning the inserted bills into an inclined position with the entering edge of the bills below the entrance opening and the rear edge of the bills resting on t-he yieldable rest, a follower coupled to the false cover, and moved out of the path of the inserted bills when the false cover is open, and moved down upon the inserted bills to press the bills past the yieldable rest and below the same, upon the closing of the false cover, and an openable bottom for the container for the removal of the accumulated bills from the bank.

8. A bill bank comprising a substantially closed container having an entrance opening for the bills, a yieldable rest within the container for the edge of a bill when inserted into the container through the entrance opening, a false cover, means for positioning the inserted bills into an inclined position with the entering edge of the bills below the entrance opening and the rear edge of the bills rest-ing on the yieldable rest, a follower coupled to the false cover, and moved out of the path of the inserted bills when the false cover is open, and moved down upon the inserted bills to press the bills past t-he yieldable rest and below the same, upon the closing of the false cover, an openable bottom for the container, latch means for holding the bottom closed container, having an entrance open' ing for the bills, a diagonally disposed shelf inclined relative to the opening for holding at its free end the entering edge of the inserted bill, and a movable follower for pressing upon the rear edge of the inserted bill for moving it upon the lower end of the inclined shelf.

5. A bill bank comorising a substantially closed container having' a bill receiving opening', means pivot-ing the insert-d bill at its end nearest the opening', and means pivoted to the container at a part nearer the other end of the inserted bill, said means adapted to be moved above the opening and down upon the said pivoted end of the inserted bill.

G. An improved bill bank comprising a .substantially closed container, having an entrance portion for the bills, a piveted spring pressed diagonal shelf for receiving a stack of accumulated bills, the shelf being' inclined to face the opening to receive its upper end the inserted edge of the inserted bill, and a follower for pressing upon the rear edge of the'bills nearest the opening and stack the deposited bills upon the diagonal shelf.

7. A bill bank comprising a substantially closed container, having` an entrance portion for the bills, an inclined shelf for holding the stack of deposited bills and to receive the entering edge of the bill, a movable follower for pressing' upon the inserted bill, and a stop means in the container below the opening for permitting the downward movement the rear edge of the deposited bill onto the shelf, but restraining the backward movement of the same.

8. it. bill bank comprising a substantially closed container, having an entrance portion for the bills, a shelf for holding` a stack of deposited bills and to receive the entering edge of the bill, a movable follower for pressing upon the inserted bill, stop means in the container below the opening for permitting the downward movement of the deposited bill onto the shelf, but restraining the backward movement of the same, and means stiiiening` the rear edge of the paper bill and hold-` ing it temporarily rigid.

9. A bi`l bank comprising a substantially closed container, having an entrance opening for the bills and a rest` within the container below the opening` for the rear edge of a bill when inserted into and through the entrance opening, a false cover, means for positioning the inserted bill into an inclined position with the entering edge of the bills below .the entrance opening and the rear edgeof the bills near the opening` on said rest,

and a follower coupled to the false cover and moved out of the path of the inserted" bill entering the opening when the false cover is open, and moved down upon the inserted bill to press the rear edge of the `bill below the opening upon the closingof the false cover.

10. A bill bank comprising a substantially means for positioning the inserted bill into l an inclined )osition with the enterinf edOe of the bill below the entrance opening and the rear edge of the bill resting on said rest, a follower coupled to the false cover and moved out of the path of the inserted bill when being inserted when the false cover is open, and moved down upon the inserted bill to press the rear edge of the bill past. the positioningv rest and below the same upon the closing of the false cover, and a pivotal bottoni in the container for the removal of the accumulated bills from the ank.

ll. A bill bank comprising a substantially7 closed container, having an entrance opening for the bills, a rest within the container for the edge of a bill when inserted into the container through the entrance opening, a false cover, means for positioning the inserted bill into an inclined position with the entering edge of the bill below the entrance opening and the rear edge of the bill resting on the rest, a follower coupled to the false cover and moved out of the path of the bill when being` inserted when the false cover is open, and moved downward upon the inserted bill to press the bill past the rest and below the saine upon the closingof the false cover,` a pivotal bottoni for the container, latch means for holding the bottom closed, and a supplemental front wall spaced from the front wall of the container for supporting such latch means.

In testimony whereof l my signature.

MARGARET GOEPEL.

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