US1963274A - Safety device for cashiers - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1931. E. KOTHE SAFETY DEVICE FOR CASHIERS Filed Jan. 23, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Zauzls Ef/ke BY 5% W g i E ATTORNEY June 19, 1934. L. E KOTHE SAFETY DEVICE FOR CASHIERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23. 1935 .m x. E

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA6IIIJ M 7/1 ENVENTOR lauw if Kafka B WW 8%:ORNEY Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 23,

1933, Serial No. 653,004

3 Claims. (01. 20 1.01)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a safety device for cashiers.

The invention has for an object the construction of a safety device adapted particularly to protect tellers, cashiers, employees of banks, firms, companies, concerns and financial institutions and all other persons handling or having charge of sums of money, payrolls, securities, valuables, jewelry or precious stones and who are exposed to threats, armed attacks or robbery.

Furthermore the invention is adapted to safeguard any money, payrolls, securities, valuables or precious stones which the protected persons just referred to may have or hold in their charge. Still further the invention proposes an arrangement whereby a bullet-proof wall with a grilled and screened wicket, provided with a bullet-proof shutter, separates the teller from the public, and also various safety arrangements used in conjunction with the wicket for closing the shutter and protecting valuables in the possession of the teller.

Furthermore, an arrangement is proposed whereby a foot rod is arranged for convenient depression by the tellers foot and connected for closing the shutter.

Still further an arrangement is proposed whereby the teller normally stores the valuables within a tray which is connected with a chute depositing into a safe, and an arrangement whereby the tray may be conveniently and quickly tilted, thus causing all valuables to slide down a chute into a safe.

Still further the invention proposes an arrangement whereby the tray is automatically discharged upon depression of a foot bar.

As another object of this invention an arrangement is proposed whereby the bars or rods previously mentioned may be operated simultaneously by the single depression of a lever.

As another object it is proposed to provide an automatic arrangement controllable with a trigger for causing the simultaneous depression of said bars.

Furthermore the invention proposes a drawer adapted to be moved from the exterior to the interior of the wall for the transfer of money and other goods by the public to the teller, or vice versa, and an arrangement whereby the drawer itself serves as a shield to prevent inconvenient communication from the exterior to the interior.

As another object of this invention it is proposed to construct a safe adapted to receive the valuables in such a manner that they are securely attempts of robbers to cona i O L Fig. 1 1s a fragmentary front elevational view of a wall which separates the public from the teller.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1 but amplified to also show the floor beneath.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inner side of the tellers wicket and shutter construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig- 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the tellers table, seen as though looking in the direction of the line 66 of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line '7-'7 of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 8 is afragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.-

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the safe per se shown open.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9. v

Fig. 11 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line l111 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 12 is a similar view to Fig. 7, but showing a modified arrangement. The safety device according to this invention is described in conjunction with a bullet-proof wall 10 which separates the public from the teller. This wall is provided with a wicket 11 closed on the outside with a screened grille 12. On the inside of this wicket there is a shutter mechanism comprising a frame 13 and a plurality of shutter elements 14 each vertically pivotally mounted and adapted to overlap slightly in the closed position. The closed position is the one in which all of the shutters are substantially flat extending across the wicket. The open position is clearly shown in Fig. 3 and. constitutes the position of the shutters when they are substantially par- (Ell) 1 rangement comprises several allel to each other and extended rearwards on the frame 13.

The screened grille 12 is reinforced with vertical bars 14 and horizontal bars 15.

A means is provided for closing the shutters 14 and comprises a frame 15 pivotally secured upon the rear vertical edges of the shutters 14 in a manner so that when the frame is moved laterally the shutters 14 are pivoted to the closed position. 'A cord 16 is tied upon one end of the frame 15 and extends over an idler pulley 1'7 mounted upon the wall 10. A spring 18 is attached upon the end of the cord 16 and the other end of the spring 18 is secured to the wall at 19. The spring 18 normally serves to move the frame into a position in which the shutters are opened. Another cord 20 is attached upon the other side of the frame 15 and extends around a large wheel 21 rotatively supported upon the wall 10. A small wheel 22 is fixed upon the large wheel 21 and another cord 23 is woundaround the small wheel 22 and extends over various pulleys such as 24 and 25 to a position towards the front of the tellers table 26. A foot bar 2'! is attached upon the free end of the cord 23. This foot bar is horizontally mounted in a pair of spaced standards 28. The shutters 14 are locked in closed position by a pawl 21 which engages notch 21 in wheel 21. Ihe pawl may be opened by a knob 21 when it is desired to open the shutters 14.

A cashiers tray is arranged upon one side of the table 26and comprises a plurality of tray sections 29 each pivotally mounted at 30 upon small brackets 31 secured on the inner sides of a chute 32. In all, four tray sections 29 are shown though a larger or smaller quantity may be used. These tray sections are so arranged that the tray issubstantially square though any other form could be used as well. The outer edges of each of the tray sections 29 are provided with handles 33 by which the tray sections may be selectively manually tilted to cause the discharge of valuables in the tray through the chute 32.

' The tray sections 29 are held in the horizontal position by counterweight 29 although spring or any suitable locking device may also be used.

Another arrangement is provided for simultaneously tilting all of the tray sections. This arcords 34 each connected intermediate the pivoted points and the innerends of the tray sections and tied together and connected with a single cord 35 which extends through an opening in the chute 32 to the exterior. The cords 34 are arranged upon the bottom faces of the tray sections 29. When the cord 35 is drawn the tray sections tilt to positions as for example illustrated in dot and dash lines in Fig. "I.

A cover is provided for the tray which may be used during the night time when the establishment is locked, or during the day, while the teller' is temporarily absent. This cover comprises a metallic plate 36 adapted to extend completely over all of the tray sections and formed with openings through which the handles 33 extend. Padlocks or other types of locks may be engaged upon the handles 33 for holding the covering in place. The cover prevents tilting of the tray sections.

The cord 35 is connected with a foot rod 37 mounted for vertical motion in a pair of standards 38. The foot rod 3'7 is in end alignment with the foot rod 27. Each of these rods are selectively depressible. A foot pedal 2'7 extends from the rod 2'7 for convenience to depress the foot rod 2'7. A single tray 29 is shown in Fig. 12 hinged at 30' to the chute at 32. The bolts 30 may be unlatched by pulling on the cord 35 which is connected to the said bolt at the extremity 35'.

An arrangement is provided for depressing the foot rods 27 and 37 simultaneously for causing the simultaneous closing of the shutters and the discharge of the contents of the tray. This means comprises a foot lever 39 pivotally mounted at its rear end 40 and extending simultaneously over the adjacent ends of the foot rods 27 and 37. A spring 41 acts against the foot lever 39 and normally holds it in a raised position. This foot lever may be manually depressed for moving both of the rods 27 and 37 down simultaneously. A trigger means is provided for moving the lever 39 when desired. This means consists of a cord 42 attached upon the free end of an arm 44 pivotally mounted at one end 45 and normally urged upwards by a coaxial spring 46 acting between the arm 44 and a casing 47 housing the arm. The cord 42 passes through a small opening 48 in the casing 4'?. A trigger 49 extends from an opening 50 in the casing 47 and is pivotally mounted intermediately at 51 upon the sides of the casing 47. The small end of this trigger acts against the top of the arm 44 maintaining it in a lowered position. The arm 44 is provided with an opening 52 adapted to slip over the small end of the trigger 49 when the trigger is depressed. Then the arm 44 may move upwards under the action of the spring 46 and so draw the cord 42 for depressing the lever 39.

I'he table 26 is provided with a plurality of drawers 53 arranged upon the ends, out of a direct line with the wicket 11.

The shutters 14 on the wicket limit the sight from those outside to a straight line inwards. Thus if the teller is of the wicket he is out of view and consequently out of firing range. Therefore the teller may remove the contents from the drawers 53 without being in any danger from fire arms, even while the shutters are open. A bullet proof screen 55 is arranged immediately behind the wicket 11 a short distance to the rear of the table 26. The bullet proof stationary screen is securely bolted to the floor and allows no more than just sufflcient room for the teller between it and the table. Its purpose is to compel the teller to approach or leave the wicket sideways and close to the table. so that he can always quickly put his foot on the rod in an emergency. protects the teller when opposite the wicket at a distance therefrom, where he would otherwise be exposed to bullets.

A button 12 is provided outside the wicket for customers who require to use a buzzer to call the teller.

A shelf 56 is attached upon the outside of the wall and slidably holds a drawer 5'7 which may be moved through an opening in the wall 10 to the interior, or vice versa. length so that it itself serves as a protection from direct communication from the exterior to the interior. The drawer 57 is arranged to slide in an opening 58 formed in the table 26. At the sides of this opening there are tracks 59 on which rollers 60 of drawer 57 roll to ease the sliding of the said drawer. The top of the drawer '57 is flush with the table 26 and a hinged lid 53 completely covers the opening 59 when the drawer 57 is on the outer side of the wall or while it is being moved. When money, passbook,

to one side or the other side This drawer is of some- Moreover, the screen but stored elsewhere in a floor of the safe.

check or other valuables are deposited in drawer 57, it is shoved towards the inside by a handle 57 and when the drawer is completely transferred to the inner side, that is, to the tellers side, means is provided for automatically-opening the lid 58.

The lid 58 is provided with a locking hook 75, hinged at '76 and forced into locking position by coil spring 77. This locking hook may be opened by an external handle 78 and then the lid 58 may be raised by the teller to any desired height where it will be frictionally held by a detent spring '29 which is corrugated at 80 to frictionally engage one edge of the lid 58 wherever it is left in the raised position. The locking hook is lowered into an opening 81 in the table 26 and locks against a portion 82 of the table whenever the lid 58' covers the opening 59.

The means for automatically releasing the catch lock '75 consists of a pin 83 projecting from a slide bar 84. The slide bar may be moved in a groove 85. One end of the slide bar is secured to the inner side of the drawer 57 and the other end of the slide bar 84 is turned upward and terminates in a knob 86 to serve as an operating knob for the teller. The pin 83 is so positioned that when the drawer 57 is completely on the tellers side, it engages the lower extension 87 of locking hook 75, thus releases the catch and allows plunger pins 88 to press against the bottom of hinged lid 58 due to the tension of compression springs 89. The force of plunger pins 88 throws the lid up against the lower corrugations of detent spring 79 and holds the lid in partially opened position where the teller may open it to any desired height.

The drawer 57 may then be shoved out by the teller by pushing the operating knob 86 but only after the lid is again closed, to prevent shooting through the drawer 5'7 from the outside.

It is to be understood that both the drawer 57 and the lid 58' are made of metal of suficient thickness to prevent their being pierced by a bullet and by this arrangement the teller is never exposed to danger.

The chute 32 extends to the floor 61 beneath and connects with a safe 62. This safe is formed with a top opening 63 into which the chute discharges. The safe 62 is provided with doors 64.- normally locked with two distinct keys. This arrangement allows one of the keys to be held by the teller and the other key by some ofiicial of the bank so that both of the keys are necessary for opening the same. The key held by the other oflicial should not be left on the premises,

secure place, inaccessible to outsiders. Thus if the teller is waylaid and his key stolen, this in itself will not be Sllfficient to rifle the safe. An added precaution is to keep the safe in a double-locked vault beneath the tellers cage.

The safe is provided with a plurality of baffles 65 arranged at various vertical elevations and inclined so as to act as chutes to direct objects down into a safe deposit box 66 located upon the The free ends of the chutes 65 are formed with serrations or teeth 6"! so as to prevent one from lowering a wire, string or other instrument through the opening 63 in the top of the safe and attempting to reach the valuables within the box 66. The chutes 65 are arranged on alternate sides of the safe which adds to the difiiculty in reaching the box 66.

An arrangement is provided for normally hold- ;ing the opening 63 closed but so designed that when any object passes through the chute 32 the opening 63 is clear to allow the passage of the objects. More particularly a peg 63 is pivoted intermediately of its ends at the point 76 on the under side of the top of the safe. A counterweight '71 is attached upon the lever 69 and normally urges the lever in a position in which the peg 68 closes the opening. The counterweight is of a size just suflicient to pivot the lever 69 so that the peg 68 may readily be displaced from the opening to allow the passage of articles.

The safe may also be kept on the cashiers floor, under his table or in any distant place.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, which I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

l. A safety device for cashiers, comprising a wall with a cashiers wicket arranged so that the public is to the front of the wall and the cashier to the rear, a shutter mechanism upon said wicket comprising a frame, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted upon said frame and adapted to assume open positions in parallel vertical planes and to be moved to slightly overlapping positions constituting the closed positions of the shutters and means for closing the shutters comprising a frame pivotally connected with the rear edges of the shutters for moving the shutters, resilient means connected with one side of the frame for moving the frame in one direction, a cord secured to the other side of the frame and connected with a system terminating in a depressible rod for drawing the frame in the other direction to close the shutter.

2. A safety device for cashiers, comprising a wall with a cashiers wicket arranged so that the public is to the front of the wall and the cashier to the rear, and a shutter mechanism upon said wicket comprising a frame, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted upon said frame and adapted to assume open positions in parallel vertical planes and to be moved to slightly overlapping positions constituting the closed positions of the shutters, a means being provided for closing the shutters comprising a frame pivotally connected with the rear edges of the shutters and arranged for moving the shutters, comprising a cord secured upon one side of the frame and connected with a spring for normally urging the frame into a position in which the shutters are open, and another cord secured upon the other side of the frame and connected with a system terminating in a depressible rod for drawing the frame to close the shutters.

3. A safety device for cashiers, comprising a Wall with a cashiers wicket arranged so that the public is to the front of the wall and the cashier to the rear, and a shutter mechanism upon said wicket comprising a frame, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted upon said frame and adapted to assume open positions in parallel vertical planes and to be moved to slightly overlapping positions constituting the closed positions of the shutters, a means being provided for closing the shutters comprising a frame pivotally connected with the rear edges of the shutters and arranged for moving the shutters, comprising a cord secured upon one side of the frame and connected with aspring for normally urging the frame into a position in which the shutters are open, and another cord secured frame and connected with a system terminating in a depressible rod for drawing the frame to close the shutters, said system including a large wheel upon the other side of the secured to a small wheel, the cord from the frame extending over said large wheel and another cord extending over said small wheel soas to give a mechanical advantage and cause the rapid closing of theshutters upon depression of said rod.

LOUIS E. KOTHE.

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