US1834036A - Concussion switch - Google Patents

Description

Patentedpbi Y -N Unirse srgarss rarni iinwaan n. smrsoiv, or aan nnairannmo.

coNcussioN swrrcn carica application niza :December e1, im. serai n. mau. *MWF* This invention relates to syst/sms and means for protecting cashiers cagesand the like, and the invention has for an object the v provision of a system which will automatiexpe use of cashiers which is so ormedand concall close doors, and lock cages, to prevent the t of any mone in such ca e or coges resultant upon the discharge o a firearm adjacent the cage or in its approximate locality, or upon bringing a firearm adjacent the cage Without discharging such firearm.

In racticing the invention I have found it dient to provide a saet system for the structed as to not only protect any cash within the cage and under the control of the cashier from being stolen, but likewise to prevent the cashier from being shot. I accomplish these desirable features by arranging novel forms of magnetic switches and concussive switches adjacent the ca e, as well as so arranging the main portion o the ca y that the cashier may readil see the arty in front of the cage and yet ave the ront of such cage so arranged that a. dischar e of a weapon directl at the cashier woul cause any' bullet disc arged from such Weapon to not enter directly within the c a e but to he defiected either upwardly or ownwardly. Furthermore, a discharge of any such weapon will operate the concussive switches to lock the cage doors, as well as any other doois such as the entrance doors upon a discharge of such wea on to trap the intruder. The magnetic switches will operate to close doorsv an 'where desired, to drop 'a screen with great rapidity adjacent the Wicket of the cage, vwhen a weapon is brought in close proximity to such cage.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, and with the ob jects heretofore mentioned the invention conaists in the-novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and inter-re.

f lation of parts, members and features,'all as illustrated in certain of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, described generally and finally pointed out in the. claims In thedrawins Figure 1 is a ragmentary and partly sectioned planview, of agseriea pfcaehiers cages,

such as used in banks, a main entrance door- .i f

wa `and likewise a safety deposit vault;

`igure 2 is a fragments. enlarged view of the front of one of the cashiers cages Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional of a cashiers cage shown yiew of the front in Figure 2 Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary' and 'y i cross sectional view of the shutters forming the front part of the'cashiers cage;

notie switch the magnetic switch shown in Figure 5;-

y ortions of the magnetic switch* I v n a c y Figure 5 is a detail plan view of a mag- Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged lview` igure 8 is a transverse sectional view of a ber adapted to he actuated to close a certain portion of the cashiers wicket.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

diagrammatic layout showi Referring with particularityto the draw- 'i ings, I have designated the improved system and means for protecting cashiers ca by A, and reference is had to Figure 9 w eren it will be seen that in the embodiment of the invention shown such system A willv include the following elements and4 features, either used singl or jointly, as vibration or conciis sion switches a, magnetic switches b yhandY o erated switches c, door releasemec anism trap-door mechanism e, curtain o rating mechanism f, door lock means g, an audible and visual signaling means h, as well as relays janduVA tion, is shown in plan in Figuiel and in elevation in Figure 2, aswell as crosssectional: views in Figures 3 and 4, and auch cage B A typical cashiers cage B which mi i.y iisothe` various elements embodying the inveny v y rio'usvother means entering into the invention.

It may be said that as stem of* control is shown in Figure. 9, whi e a portion of the means is shown in Figures 1l to-4 inclusive.

'lt is esseutialthnil a bank cage be fully protected so that theft of money or other obJects within the cage muy not be. successfully accomplished, or :it least thiitpliindrance be placed inthe way of an intruder t0 render his capture a surety.y y

Referring to Figure 1. whichv is a typical floor plan of the average bank, we' find a series of eashiers"cages or tellers cages as they are sometimes termed, at 1, 2 and 3. The front entrance is shown at 4 and may have two swinging doors 5 and 6 to close such entrance. lAt 7 the usual safety deposit vault may be provided with a slide door 8 in the wall or wicket 9 to obstruct or permit entrance to the vault 7 when the vault door 10 is open. Certain of the elements or means shown in Figure 9 are shown in Fi ure 1 and designated 'in' accordance with tie letters previouslygiven, and it will be noted that the visual or audible signals f1. may be adjacent the managers ofiice or the vice-presidents desk, as indicated at 11, or at any other locality desired. The front wall or panel inv front of the cages may be of ordinary construction and the same is designated as 12. The usual counter 13 is provided for each cage and as is customary, walls 14 separate the respective cages'as well as back walls 15 to which are hinged doors 16 adapted to close oil' such cage or cages'. It will thus be seen that access from one cage to the next adj acent cage is prevented, except by enteringv throu rh the door 16 of the respective cages. The iront portion of each cage above the vcounter portion is provided with the usual tellers pay wicket 17, and spaced uprights 18 and 19 are suitably anchored through the counter or to the counter and are approximately located in alignment with the respective walls 14. The pay wicket 17 would be approximately located in a central position between such uprights 18 and 19 and the space between the uprights 18 and 19 and the wicket 17 might be enclosed by sheet metal members 20 and 21. Immediately above such metal members 20 and 21, as well as the wicket 17 are shutter members designated generally as m. These shutter members are detailed in Figures 3 and 4 and each shutter may coinprse two spaced glass members 22 and 23 separated by a flexible cushion 24 with ends 25 and 26 of the respective glass membersv 22 and 23 longitudinally anchored in channel members 27 and 28, which channel members at their ends are pivoted to the uprights 18 and 19 respectively, A second set of members designated generally by the numeral 29 are each provided with4 retaining means 30 asso- V65.A eiated with the'inembers 23 of each respective I shutter ineiziber in, and at one` side ot enact the up'rights or joined to anfupright, as the case may be, is a toothed segment 31,'there being vii lever 32 carrying a dog 33'adapted for pla-y over such toothed segment, the do" being received between any selected teeth, an

the member 29 is pivoted to such lever as shown at 34, and thus movement of the' lever will perni-it various angular-ities to be as-y sumed by the shutter members relative to the ticularly noted that the shutter members m extend betweenv the uprights 18 and 19. It I will also be observed that the member 23 is not of as great a width as the member 22 in the showing, although they might be of the saine width. The method shown, however, presents a more pleasing appearance exterior the cage, as the two channel iron members 27 and 28 respectively are in normal alignment transversely between the uprights 18 and 19.

It will of course be understood that such up- r rights 18 and 19 may be of angle iron formation and that the pivot point and the point of jointure of the channel iron members 27 and 28 would be hidden from view exterior the cage. If the members ml are formed of tough enough lglass or other 'substance a bullet fired at each shutter 'membeis would `r be deflected upwardly and out of the top of the cage or stopped altogether.' It would bev practically impossible to shoot in straight path through the cage and hit the teller or.

cashier by tiring'at the shutters. Immediately behind the wicket 17 is s short shutterV member designated as 35, which in all details is similar to the shutter members m, withy Figure 3 by means of a channel member 37 r, carried by an arm 38. This arm 38 Vis piv oted as at 39 to a portion ofthe wicket 17 and such arm is formed 'with a notch shown at 40 within which a dog 41 may be dropped for the purpose of holding the arm in the position shown 1n Figure 3. Thus such shield n may be raised `upwardly by releasing the. dog 41 from 'the notch. It will be noted that the counter 13 rejects outwardly from the front of the cashiers cage andthat such counter is l provided with a. ledge 42. On theinside of the cage and at the opposite edge portion of ity. Thus, if an intruder were to place a A the counter, I have provided a wall 43 which v 1 extendsv longitudinally of such counter, and such wall where it extends above the vcounter is curved as shown at 44 at its upper extrem# 751 front ofthe czishers cage. It will be parf 1 contnctwith the led (x42 which would raise 'i the weapon and i he attempted to fire through the opening 36 the bullet would be stopped by the wall 43 `f roviding the bullet .an intruder u on.

missed the shield n. firing a shot saw that the bullet roduce no effect he might shoot downwar y u on the counter top expecting the bullet to deect upwardly, but to prevent such upward defiection of a bullet upon striking the counter to I have provided a cut-out portion 45 in suc f countertop and such cut-out portion is covered with' yielding plate 46 'which is readily penetrable by bullets or the like.4

It will be noted that this yielding plate extends both outwardly and inwardly of the counter 13 relative to the front wall portion of the ca ,v v

The ot ier elements entering into the system of preventing theft designated by A will row' be described in their relation to the means B..

The switch ais what is known as a concussion or vibration switch, and the same may consist of a shell or containerV 50 screwthreaded as at 51 for the reception of a cap 52 and such cap confines between itself and the rim of the container or shell a diaphragm 53 which is bulged as shown at 54.A Joined to the diaphragm and at the ap roximate center of the bulged portion thereo is a contact member 55, and in alignment with suchcontact member 55-and carried by the shell 50 is a further contact member 56. A suitable wire 57 connects the contact member 55 with a binding ost 58 associated withthe shell. Also carried by the shell .is a springactuated plunger member59 which projects inwardly of the shell adjacent the diaphragm 54 and which`plunger externally of the shell is provided with a finger-piece 60, there being a coil spring 61 surrounding a portion of the plunger between the finger-piece and an outer surface portion of the casing. Excessive vibration or 'concussion such as would result from the discharge of a weapon will spring the bulged parto n the diaphragm into the dotted line osition shown in Figurev 8 at 62, at which time the contact members 55 and 56 would meet. The diaphragm may be restored from the dotted linek osit'ion to the full line position of Figure 8 y pushing 1nwardly upon the linger-pieceo the plunger 59.

The magnetic switches b may include a shell :or casin 63 provided centrally with a compass nee le pivot 64 upon which is a.

0 is provided at its north and south pole ends with brushes 66 and 67, there'being one brush for each end, and an insulating disc 68 is likewise carriedby thebase portion of such casing or shell 63, and mounted on such base portion 68 are two spaced and diametrically 'will draw the solenoid compass needle 65 and such compass needle v siffopposite segmentalY contact members v6l) and ilr 470, such contact members being formed so as to have two inclined surface portions 71 and f v'(2 with the peak or the meeting zone of such' :f inclined ortions as 73, at approximately the median en .h of such contact membersgw The means mai); comprise a solenoid 80, tlie''iff;j plun er of whic carries a rack 812 the teeth of w iich are in mesh with a.v pinion 82 attached to the shaft of a drum 83. Referring again to Figure 3, the upper extreinity of the front wall is formed asv shown at 84 to confine a, roll shade or curtain 85 which extends transversely between the up-"" rights 18 and 19. This shade or curtain mayv be formed of steel chain or the like or may be an ordinary curtain, and such, curtain is opf f erated throu h the medium of a curtain cord ,x 86 associated with the same and with the drum 88. Thus opera-tion of the solenoid.

plunger within the coil of the solenoid pulling the rack down'- wardly to rotate the pinion and thus wind' the curtain cord 86 upon the drum ,83. Y It jfffj' will be noted that this curtain when drawn ad will be in front of the shutter member m and would of course be very disconcerting to an intruder when it suddenly passed down e wardly in front of such shutters to obstruct 7 the view. The door release d may comprise e5 anarm 90 pivoted as at 91 either tothe ioor or to the wall by suitable means, and which r arm is notched as shown at` 92 to embrace opposite side portions of the door. A solenoid93, provided with a plunger 94, is cou- 10E pled with a portion of the arm as shown at 95, and when the plunger is energized, -the y same will draw the arm 90 downwardly to rem-f lease'the door, but when not energized, a spring 96 will normally hold the plunger 10u outwardly from the solenoid so that thev arm i will holdA the door open. i

Another feature of the invention resides in the means e, which has been termed a trap; rf door and this member is detailed in Figure 110 11. The said means may include a shutter or door comprising a exibly bound screen, the Iiexible binding being designated as 100, and l lthe screen as 101, and such screen maybe formed of steel mesh or may be solid as de'- 11'5 sired. However, for the purpose of this invention it is preferable that it be formed of steel mesh.` One edge of such shutter or door is rigid and not f iexible, as shown at 102 and this part is pivoted to a lever 103 whichis 12o directly adjacent the pay opening 36 of the n wicket 17. A cord 104 connects with an end f,-

.of such lever 103,'.it being noted that the j' v lever projects through the-.counter 13,'and1jil.; such cord is passed overa grooved wheel 105 125 and connectsjwith a rod 106 forme'd with a notch 107, the rod being received within a guide member 108 and a coil Ispring 109 con nects with the rod and with a. member 110."

A` solenoid 111 is provided-with a plunger l1&30

A f 112 which'is'lrcycd within the guide '198 as indicatedat 113, vand provided with a bcv- I eled extremity 114 adapted to be received in the notch 107 to maintain the rod in the position, as illustrated in Figure 11. llowever, when the solenoid is energized the plunger would be drawn inwardly, the rod i. '106 released, being drawn downwardly by the s ring 109 which'is in tension to swing the s utter or door o about its pivot point., and across the space occupied by the wicket The door lock g is conventional and may comprise a solenoid having the usual plunger 11G normally forced outwardly from said solenoid by a spring 117 so that the said lunger will engage a bolt 118, the said bolt icing notched as at 119 for reception therein` of an end of the bolt. Such bolt is normally urged outwardly of a casingr 120 by a spring 121. Thus when a door as indicated at 122 is in the position illustrated, and the solenoid coil energized, the plunger 116 would be drawn inwardly and the bolt 118 shot to lock the door. The hand switches c may be of'any form and the same will not be described. A*

relay k may bev .provided for ensuring that current would be supplied to the various cirsuits, and such relay consists of a contact arm icined to a core 131 received in a solenoid coil 132. A source of current such asa generator is indicated at 133 and a storage battery or other source of current supply indicated at 134'. Likewise there are provlded .spaced contact members 135 and 13 6 arranged "1n pairs. The circuit from the source of suply 133 passes to one of the contacts 136. likewise through the coil 132 to a ground and its opposite contact 136 coupled through a resistance with a further circuit member 137. Thus when electricity is being supplied by the member-133 the arm 130 contacts with the members 136, but if the current should be from .the source 133, a spring 139 would depend upon the general structural features of the cages, but in the showing of the drawings I have arranged the vibration or concussion switches in the following locations,- vibration switches are located rearwardly Y and associated with the members 20 and `21;

. back of the front wall or panel 12; adjacent the wicket 17. and above the Day opening 36.

See the positions in Figure 2. A vibration switch may also be placed on the wall 43 (see v The magneticv switches b are preferably placed beneath the iexible member 46 of the counter top (see Figs. 1 and 3). 4

1t is understood that thc'front door mem- '--l bers 5 and 6 are provided with suitable door closcrs 140, and that the door release members (l would normally have the notched portions 92 of their arms 90 engaging such doors n 5 and 6` to hold thesame open. 1t is customary to have the doors 16 Aof the cages'swing closed, suitable closets or springs bein utilized for this purpose, and a door loc g is provided for locking' such doors `when 7g closed, responsive Ato energizing the solenoid 115. The door 8 is usually supported on grooved wheels which run' on an inclined railing so that the door closes under influence of gravity. When the door is closed the at same might be locked closed bv the means g.

Referring to Figure 9 it will be seen that the circuit or lead 137 connects with a contact 141 of the relay j, such relay comprising a coil 142 within which is a movable at core 143 carrying a contact arm 144. An-

other contact member 145 is spaced from and in normal alignment with the contact member 1 41 so that when the coil 142 is energized the core 143 will be drawn inwardly and the 9( lead 146 connects with the Contact 135 and with the lead 137 and such lead 146 is con# arm 144 will bridge the space between the .contacts 141 an'd 145 and touch the same. A`

nected to one terminal of the vibration 9i switches a, by a lead 147, it being noted that there is a series 'of such vibration switches in the showing of Figure 9 connected in paraillel. The opposite terminals of such switches connect with ay lead 148 and which lead is connected with a terminal of the coil; 142 of the relay j, and likewise with the con--l tact member 145, and thensuch lead connects 1` with a terminal of switches q. The magnetic switches b are connected inparallel by leads "1l 149 and 150, the lead 149 connecting with the l lead 146 and the 1ead`150 with the lead 148i The hand-operated switches c are likewise connected in -parallel by leads 151 and 152,

the lead 151 'connecting with the lead 146' 'U and the lead 152 with the lead 148.

The switches g may be hand-operated and normally closed, and a lead 153 connects with a terminal of such hand-operated switches g. and with a lead 154: the lead 154 connects l] with terminals of the following coils, namely,

115, 93, 111. so and with a terminal of theV i visual or light means and audible means Il.. y

Opposite terminals of such means k as well as the coils 115, 93, 111 and so aregmunded. l.

It is to be noted that one terminal of the reminal of the generator 133 and a terminal of` the'battery 134. i

lay coil y'wis grounded, as is likewise a. telf-A If we assume that the bank is held up and' u a revolver or pistol passed through the wicket opening 36' or one of the cages, as shown in Figure 10, the revolver being designatedas 160, the 'magnetic switcheswould be operated for the reason that the steel in the revolver ,l

`would operate the visual and audible sig-` would tend to rotate, when brought in close to make cont-act with the segments (i9 and 70 and complete an electrical circuit, which nals k, drop the curtain forming a. art

of the means f, permitting a releasing o the` doors by the door releasemcans d, and locking such doors when closed by the door lock g, as well as swin g the means e which includes the trap oor across the wicket open ing, this swin 11g of the trapdoor being illustrated in otted lines at f. The flexible binding 100 would assume the dotted position illustrated at 161 holding the hand or arm of the intruder if the hand or arm had been passed through the wicket openin 36. If an intruder, when this occurs shoul attempt to shoot, the bullet would be prevents-d from doing damage by striking either the shield n or the wall 43 of the counter. If instead o bringing the pistol in close proximity to theA counter where the mao'netic switches are located, the intruder should fire the pistol, for

the purpose of frightening members of the bank stal to raise their arms so that the hold-up might be complete,`the concussive elect in close proximity to the cages would operatepne or more of the concussive switches, forcing the diaphragm or diaphragms in wardly from the position in full lines of Figure Sto the dotted line position of such figureto complete an electrical circuit to operate the members previously enumerated.

V'lo restore the various parts to neutral position the switches g are opened ,and in this connection may be hand-operated switches. 'lhis wil of course o en the circuit, stop the audible signal an visual signal from operating, and allow restoration of the trap door to its uliight position, as illustrated in full linesof igure 11 and permit the doors to be unlocked and again held open as well as permit the curtain to be rolled above the shutters m, as illustrated in Figure 3. `AIt will' likewise be noted upon reference to both Figures 2 and 3 that port openings 162 are provided in the front panel or wall 12'for each cashiers ca and which openings are beveled rearward y andterminate in narrow slits in the front of the wall 12. This-construction is similar to the general construction of battleship ort holes. y practically im ossi le for a person to shoot throughY such oles exteriorthe cage but to fire a weapon rearwardly of such panel and outwardly from the cage would be an easy matter. t e

The magnetic switches are easily restored to a' neutral position by means of' a small reset coil 163 shown in Figure 5 and which re-set coil is operated'through the medium of l a. suitable energizing means 164 in series It would be to state that the magnetic switches areso ar- I i range-d ,that the compass needle may assume f .its normal north and south position with the.

segments Yarranged practically. at a right M angled position tothe longitudinal 'position 70 I ticing the invention, in departure from theef---j'ff particular showinfr and means illustrated in the drawings, withoutdepartmg from the true spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I` y claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 30 ent:

l. In a concussion switch`,"mens ageing responsive to air concussion to move to a" determined position, an electrical switch adapted to be closed when the means assumes 35 said predetermined position, and manually `operated means for opening said electrical v switch. Y 2. In a concussive switch, a casing, a diaphragm being providedwith a, ulgred portionv normally extending outwardly om the casina', an electrical contact member carried Iiy said bulged portion of the diaphragm secured to said casing said dia 90 phragm, and a second electrical contact k within said easing, said diaphragm actmgwmiuMrlxresponm've to air concussion to move the bulged portion inwardly to bring the elect.

trical contacts into closed position.

3. In a concussive switch, a casing, a dia` 10o phragm secured to said casing, said draf f phrao'm being provided with a bul ed portion iiormally extending outwardly rom the casing, an electrical contact member carried by said bulged portion of the diaphragm, `102' a. second electrical contact within said cas-y g, said diaphragmV acting responsive to air concussion to move the bulged portion: inwardly to bring the electrlcal contacts into closed position, and means for break"- y 1115 the electrical contacts and restoring the ged portion of the diaphragm to its outl i wardlv facing position.

4. In a concussion switch,.means acting` v responsive to a1r concussion to move to a 115 determined position, an electrical switchA adapted to be closed when the means assumes [said predetermined.

an open end portion, a diaphragm closing said open end portion, electrical contact means within and 4included between the c aS.-

ving and diaphragm; said diaphragm moving responsiveto air concussion uponthe surface thereof to `close said electrical contact.""ij'^-^f.j '"j means.

In testimony whereof., I-have.signed my name to this specification.

i position, and means for opening,said electr1cal-sw1tch.-

5. In a concussive switch, a casmghamng EDWARD n; sucesor; a, i

Images