US1891554A - Holdup protection device - Google Patents

Description

109. SAFES, BANK PROTECT Search AND RELATED DEVICES.

Dec. 20, 1932. Y 1', F, ROBINSQN L89L554 HOLDUP PROTECTION DEVICE Filed June 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 109. SAFES, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATED DEVICES.

Dec. 20, 1932. T. F. RoBiNSoN HOLDU? PROTECTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l2 Filed June 8, 1951 w.. 5 www FU i luv. onrLo, Dr\l\|r\ VHUILbIIUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

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PATENT OFFICE THOMAS F. ROBINSON, OF RYE, NEW' YORK HOLDfUP PROTECTION DEVICE Application filed .Tune 8, 1931.

This invention relates to protective devices or apparatus for bank cages, cashiers booths and the like, for the purpose of guarding the tellers or cashiers against holdups and robberies.

It is an object of my invention to provide simple, compact and highly eicient holdupprotec-tion apparatus designed for cashiers windows, bank cages and the like adapted to suddenly interpose a bullet proof curtain or screen between the robber and the occupants of the cage or window.

It is a further object to provide a device of the class described wherein instantaneous operation of the protective curtains may be effected by depressing a trip element which is conveniently accessible throughout a substantial portion of the interior of the cage or cashiers booth and which is hidden from sight to persons located on the outside.

More specifically it is an object to provide protective apparatus of the type described which will not require specially constructed tellers counters, cages or cashiers booths and which utilizes a sectional or folding bullet proof curtain which is collapsed compactly out of sight and nevertheless positioned most advantageously for instantaneous operation and protection.

Prior to this time a number of protective devices for banks have been designed but these for the most part have been impractical, due usually, to complicated mountings and actuating mechanisms or due to danger to the cashier or teller in the event that the tripis inadvertently operated.

Most of such devices utilize a heavy panel or plate which is dropped from above or swung across the grating of the cage above the counter thus giving the robber an opportunity to project a bar or other implement through the grating to prevent the interposition of the protective member.

With my device the bullet proof curtain is suddenly and unexpectedly thrust up from Serial N o. 542,818.

the counter. It has only a short distance to travel and the weight or inertia of the curtain is overcome, as will later more fully appear, by the combinations of the actuating means with the sectional or folding structure. It is impossible for the robber to project a bar and obtain any leverage upon the moving or free edge of the curtain.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. l is a vertical section showing from the inside, in elevation, a conventional tellers counter and cage having applied thereto the preferred form o-f my protective apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 65 2-2 of Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicating the projected or operative position of the bullet proof curtain;

Fig. 3 yis a detail cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the tripping ele- 70 ments controlled by the elongated rail;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section take on a line traversing the inner ends of the trip levers and showing my trip release mechanism and the weights for operating the curtain actuating rods;

Fig. 5 is a detail section showing an end elevation of a suitable form of bullet proof curtain disposed in the collapsed position substantially flush with the counter;

Fig. 6 is al detail view showing my protective curtain in the raised or operative position, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section showing a somewhat different form of the invention.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive my protective apparatus is shown as associated with a conventional type of bank cage having the counter 8 which eX- tends longitudinally of the cage and forms a 90 table, as shown, for two tellers. The lower front portion of the counter is covered with the usual vertical wall or wainscoating 9 constructed of sto-ne, metal or other bullet proof material. A grating G is secured to vertical posts 10 and extends from the top of the counter upwardly for a distance, usually five or six feet, and as shown, A,is provided with two windows 11 for convenience in handling deposits, currency, etc.

In this form of the invention the conventional counter and cage construction can be utilized with the exception that the counter or table top must have a widely rabbeted or recessed surface 8a extending longitudinally thereof and from the inner edge to a line medial of its width for accommodating my folded bullet proof curtain C. Recess 8a is made of such depth that the ton or upper section of the curtain when folded will be disposed iiush with the unrecessed portion of the counter top.

Curtain C, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a series of elongated rectangular plates 12 hinged together along their longitudinal edges by suitable hinges 13, the leaves of which are attached to the successive plates in such manner that the plates may be folded revers-ely one upon the other to form a compact rectangular block, as shown in Fig. 5. The lower plate is secured to the rabbeted portion 8a of the counter by hinges 14.

A cross rod 15 is rigidly secured to the free edge of the uppermost plate 12 and has projecting ends 15a which are connected with the upper ends o-f heavy vertical actuating rods 16 slidably disposed in tubular guides 17 which may be secured to side portions of the counter or table and also to the iioor at their lower ends. Rods 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, project through the loor F of the building and are of adequate length to completely unfold and project upwardly the folding curtain to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2. A separate curtain and actuating rods are preferably provided for each of the windows and it will be obvious that regardless of whether the windows lie in the same plane or at off-sets or angles, my device will be equally applicable.

A flexible element such as a cable 18 is connected with the lower end of each of the rods 16 and passes over a guide or pulley 19 which may be conveniently attached to one of the side portions of the counter or table 8. A heavy weight 20 is secured to the bight of each of the cables 18 and preferably is suspended below floor F in non-obstructing position.

As clearly shown in Fig. 4, weights 20 and actuating rods 16 are normally held in position to raise curtain C by means of trip actuated horizontal plungers 21 which crimp and press portions of the flexible elements or cables 18 into recessed seats 22a provided by suitable floor boards 22. Plungers 21 are slidably mounted in sleeved brackets 23 which may be secured to the floor F and are thrust outwardly against seats 22a by suitable means having incorporated therein a trip actuated release element. The form of this mechanism shown comprises for each curtain a pair of axially aligned horizontal retaining plungers 21 held outwardly and apart by means of an adjustable tensioning device, such as a turn buckle 24, which engages the thread. ed inner ends of thrust rods 25. Interposed between the outer ends of one of said thrust rods and the inner ends of one of said retaining plungers is a trip spacer 26 which may comprise simply a cylindrical member having fiat or if desired, slightly recessed abutment ends and provided with an eye 26a to which a iexible member such as a cable 27 is attached. A trip lever 28 (best shown in Figs. 2 and 3) is mounted in a suitable bracket 28a just rearwardly of each of the trip spacers 26 and the working end thereof underlies the corresponding spacer member while the rearward and longer end thereof is connected with a foot rail 29. In the embodiments of the invention illustrated a separate foot rail 29 is provided for each of the curtains utilized. Vith this construction my apparatus may be installed in bank cages and cashiers booths where a plurality of windows are provided, angled or off-set with respect to each other. The cables 27 of the several curtain operating mechanisms are all connected by a common cable or flexible member 30 with a heavy master weight 31 which as shown is suspended below the floor F of the building. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings a cage having only two windows is shown, but it will, of Course, be understood that my apparatus may be utilized in large bank cages where a great number of tellers windows are provided, several of which are angled or offset with respect to others. In every instance where more than one curtain is used the weights of the foot rails 29 and master weight 31 are such that when proper tension is placed upon the retaining plungers 21 by adjusting turn buckles 24, the power of the master weight and foot rails will be slightly more than matched by the tension placed upon the retaining plungers 21. The weight of the master weight and foot rails, however, is more than adequate to instantly c ut out or release the several remaining trip spacers 26 when one thereof has been displaced by swinging one of the trip levers 28.

0 peratz'oa Assuming the apparatus to be set as shown in the drawings, if a holdup is attempted the cashier or teller behind the counter merely steps on one of the foot rails 29. This, of

109. SAFES,

BANK Il'UlllU I IUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

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course, cannot be noticed by the robber inasmuch as the rail is entirely hidden from the outside. The depression of one foot rail immediately, through the swinging movement of tripping lever 28, dislodges one of the tripping spacers 26 whereupon the master weight 31 has sufficient power to instantly disconnect or cut out all of the spacers 26 for all the curtains. The action is practically instantaneous and the curtain operating weights 20 immediately drop, suddenly raising the heavy vertical rods 16 to which the upper plates of the several curtains are attached.

The curtains rise very rapidly due to the fact that they are constructed sectionally and that the inertia of only the top leaf has to be overcome. This is a very important factor in the successful operation of my device and in actual practice the curtains are thrown upwardly almost instantaneously upon actuation of the foot rail. The invention of course is equally applicable for cages or cashiers booths for a single window or a large number of windows offset, one from the other, and in the latter instance the actuation or depression of any one of the rails 29 for the various windows will instantly effect the operation of all the curtains. Thus in a large bank any teller or person standing behind the cage may depress the particular foot rail adjacent his position and in so doing operate instantly all bullet proof curtains in the cage. The actuating and moving parts of the device for the most part are conveniently disposed below the floor and will not obstruct, to any appreciable extent, the space beneath the counters and cage drawers.

It will be noted that the curtain is unexpectedly raised from the intermediate portion of the counter forming a barrier spaced some distance from the grating. In operation therefore the space directly above the top ofthe counter is first protected by the curtain as contrasted with other protective devices where the curtain drops from above leaving a space through which the robber can shoot until the curtain is completely closed. The initial movement of the curtain actuating mechanism obviously produces a swinging action upon the two upper leaves or plates of the Curtain and even though the cashiers or tellers hands are disposed on the counter he will not be injured as said swinging movement will throw the arms or hands inwardly out of the Way of the upwardly moving edge of the curtain.

The top leaf or plate is preferably extended at its free edge to substantially register with the unrabbeted outer portion of the counter and may be veneered or finished to closely resemble the rest of the counter top, whereby the presence of the apparatus cannot be observed from outside of the cage.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 is essentially similar to the preferred form previously described with the exception, however, that the actuating mechanism is entirely disposed above the level of the floor F.

In this form the curtain C is identical with the curtain in the form previously described, but the actuating means comprises for each curtain a pair of cables 33 'secured at their lower ends to the projecting ends of the cross rod 15 which is rigidly secured to the upper leaf or plate of the curtain. Cables 33 pass over guide pulleys 34 which are conveniently mounted in the top of hollow columns or frame members 35 provided at the sides of each window of the cage. The operating weight 36 is suspended within the hollow column and the trip mechanism and master weight including the trip spacers 26, retaining plungers 21 and turn buckle 24 and thrust rods 25 are identical with the form of the invention first described. The master weight will of course have to be positioned above the floor, suitably supported from beneath the counter or if desired in one of the hollow columns 35.

Upon operation of the foot rail o1 where a series of windows are provided with my apparatus, of any foot rail, several trip spacers 26 are instantly cut out or displaced and the operating weights 36 instantly raise the curtain into vertical position between the grating and the inside of the cage.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, compact and highly eliicient protective device for banks and cashiers booths adapted to be instantly operated and capable of being manufactured at relatively low cost.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details7 proportions and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the scope of my invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed s:-

1. In protective apparatus of the class described, a bullet-proof curtain, means for anchoring the lower edge of said curtain to a support, weight-actuated means connected with the upper edge of said curtain for suddenly raising the same into vertical position, a pair of horizontally extending retaining elements for retaining said weights in position to operate, thrust elements interposed between said retaining elements for holding the same apart in operative retaining position, said thrust elements including a removable spacer and means for dislodging said spacer to operate said curtain.

2. In combination with a cage having a counter and a series of windows or divisions therein, holdup protection apparatus comprising for each window or division, a bullet-proof curtain, weight operated actuating means for each of said curtains and trip mechanism for each of said actuating means, said trip mechanisms comprising retaining elements engaging the supporting means for said weights, trip spacers held under tension against said retaining elements, and a master weight connected with said several trip spacers for immediately releasing or disengaging the remaining trip spacers after one thereof has been manually released.

3. In combination with a cage having a series of windows or divisions therein, holdup protection apparatus comprising for each window or division, a curtain constructed from a series of plates hinged together for collapsing, one upon the other in compact form, a horizontal support for holding said curtain when completely collapsed, means for anchoring the lower edge of said curtain to said support, vertically disposed actuating means connected to the upper end of said curtain, weights, connections between said weights and said actuating means to urge said actuating means upward for suddenly raising said curtain into vertical position, a pair of horizontally extending retaining elements for retaining said weights in position to operate, thrust elements interposed between said retaining elements for holding the same apart in operative retaining position, said thrust elements including a removable trip spacer and means for dislodging said spacer to operate said curtain, and a master weight connected with said several trip spacers for immediately releasing or disengaging the remaining trip spacers after one thereof has been manually released, said curtain in its raised position being substantially spaced from the window.

4l. In combination with a cage having a counter and a window therein, holdup protection apparatus comprising a bullet proof curtain constructed from a series of plates hinged together for collapsing, one upon the other in compact form, a horizontal support for holding said curtain when completely collapsed, means for anchoring the lower edge of said curtain to said support, vertically disposed rods, the upper ends of said rods being connected to the upper edge of said curtain, and means for projecting said rods upward to raise said curtain into vertical p0- sition.

5. In combination with a cage having a series of windows or divisions therein, hold up protection apparatus comprising a bullet proof curtain for each window, actuating means connected to said curtain, weights, flexible connections between said weights and said actuating means for operation thereof to cause movement of said curtain into opera-

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