US2052251A - Safe equipped with automatic previous payment devices - Google Patents

Description

J. M. sAMANlEGo Aug. 25, 1936.

SAFE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC PREVIOUS PAYMENT DEVICES Filed Nov. 1, 1952 Sn. w KW.

hsmwl NW NN. .9% INI, I I 6%.

Invenor: Jse JY. Samanz'eeyo,

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 lUNITED STATES SAFE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC PREVIOUS PAYMENT DEVICES Jose Mara Samaniego, Madrid, Spain Application November 1, 1932, Serial No.'640,710 In Spain November 7, 1931 7 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic safe deposit vaults or checking devices for use in stations, hotels, bath houses, and the like.

I intend that the device according to my invention be equipped with pre-payment means, for

placing the safe in condition for use;

More particularly, my invention is directed to the use of a combination lock, what I term a blocking-up mechanism being employed for blocking the lock in such manner that the alteration of the combination becomes possible only when, the safety locking device being unlocked, and the safe therefore not being in use, a coin or counter is inserted into a slot on the safe.

` I shall describe one example of my-safe with the assumption in mind that a letter-combination is employed, that is, that any desired word of a certain number of letters is to be set up in the combination. Obviously, however, this may be substituted without invention by a number combination.

Any one desiring to use the safe after the previous user has relinquished it, will nd it either opened or locked by a simple bolt. However, a letter combination remains set up in the lock, as established by the previous user. This combination is of course undesirable for the purposes of the intended user. Hence the latter cannot make use of the safe without destroying the previous code word and replacing it by a new one, and this he cannot 'do without the insertion of a coin.

Therefore the new user inserts either a. coin or a counter into a hire slot found on the safe, which coin acts as a couple permitting the setting up of a new code Word or combination on the locking device. f

Assume now merely for the sake of example that the new user sets upV the code word Rosa, places his valuables in the safe andis prepared to lock the safe. At this point it is possible, but not necessary, to exact an additional fee from the user. Assume that it is desired to exact such additional" fee, then the mechanismis designed so that the code word is set up and the safe is ready tobe closed. He thereupon closes the safe and at somev later time prepares to reopen the same. I-Ie sets up his code word in theV combination lock but finds that he is still unable to release the block-up safety bolt until he has inserted an additional coin in a lock slot. Y i

The apparatus is of course Vso designed that it is impossible to insert additional coins into the slot or slots until the safe has become unlocked.

When the user desires-to remove his belongings from the safe, and Vto vrelinquish'the latter, he

again setsvup in the lock the code word which he has previously selected, and after this word has been set up, the design of the apparatus is such that the safety lock will automatically move into its inoperable position, under the action of suitable biasing means such as a spring or the like.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown very schematically what I now consider to be the preferred form of my invention. Obviously, however, countless numbers of possible modifications and variations occur and will hereafter occur to the reader so that the present disclosure is intended solely by way of example, rather than by way of limitation. Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows somewhat schematically a longitudinal section of the device, the front or face of the safe being shown for convenience at the left side of the View;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line III- III of Fig. 1; and

, Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

In the device shown in the drawing, the safetybolt I extends, as shown, throughout the major portion of the length of the safe, and is designed for slight reciprocation in suitable bearings, one of which is shown for example at 2. Humps 3 are shown as provided on the safety lock I, at spaced intervals therealong. The letter or number dials 4, 4 of the combination lock are shown as riding freely on hubs or bearings 5, 5, the dials, disclike in form, being locked in position by means of the interrelation of the annular ange 6 on the hub 5 and the lock nut 1. As perhaps better shown in Fig. 2, the hump or key 3 of the shaft or safety bolt I cooperates with a slot 8 extending across the width of the hub 5, thus preventing the latter from rotating. A plurality of holes 9 are disposed in a circle about the dials 4, 4the purpose of which will be disclosed hereinafter.

Associated, one with each of the dials 4, are discs I0, supported in any desired manner as by annular bearings II engaging in an annular recess I2 in the discs I. The bearings II are of course supported in any desired manner, the support not being shown because it does not form part of the invention. Each disc I carries in its outer end surface a peripheral slot I3 receiving a fork I4 (Fig. 3) formed on an arm I5 of a rod I6, shown as being substantially parallel to the locking bolt I.

Referring again to the discs ID, these are each provided with an offset hub I'I having a bore I8 which is at one end of width just corresponding to the locking bolt I and at its other end being enlarged as at I9 to permit rotation of the disc with respect to the locking bolt. The portion I8 of the bore has an offset slot 20 adapted to receive the hump or key 3 of the locking bolt.

Fast on each disc III are one or more studs 2I adapted to engage with selected ones of the holes 9 on the dials 4. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that there is preferably, but not necessarily, one hole 9 for each letter or number projection 22.

Formed in the face of the safe is a hire slot 23, adapted to receive a coin for bringing about the unblocking of the combination lock, and for permitting the setting up of a new code word or combination.

A further bolt 24 is provided, which for convenience will be called a locking bolt. The locking bolt 24 terminates at its inner end in an offset cam or ramp portion 25, while the rod I6 terminates in a similar cam or ramp portion 26. The bolts 24 and I, `and the rod I 6, are all substantially parallel with each other, and the locking bolt 24 and rod I6 are so disposed that their inner ends extend into the slot 23 and the respective ramps 25 and 26 are adapted to be engaged by the coin passing through the slot 23.

Let us assume that the former user of the safe has relinquished the same, and that the safe is therefore locked simply by the locking bolt 24, the latter being urged into its locking position indicated by the arrow 2'I by any suitable means such as a biasing spring or the like 28. The safety bolt I has been freed for retraction into its unlocking position, in the direction of the arrow 29, by any suitable means such as the biasing spring 36. A coin or counter 3| is then inserted into the slot 23, and is forced down in any desired manner as for example by the use of an additional coin, the latter of course at all times being retained in the fingers of the user. In so doing the coin will rst contact the cam or ramp 25 thereby positively forcing the locking bolt 24 to the right against the force of the biasing spring 28. Immediately thereafter the coin also will contact the cam or ramp 26, thereby causing the forks I5 to move the discs I0 to the right, against the force of any suitable biasing means such as spring 32, which normally tends to urge the rod I6 in the direction of the arrow 33. Upon movement of the discs III to the right, the pins or studs 2I are disengaged from the holes 9 of the dials 4 so that the latter are free to be reset into a new letter combination. Of course the coin 3I will continue its passage through the slot 23, and some means must be provided for retaining the locking bolt 24 and the rod I6 in their retracted positions towards the right. In the case of the rod I6 a ratchet tooth or the like 34 has been provided therein, cooperating with a pawl 35 keyed by means of slot 36 and pin 3'I on the safety bolt I to slide transversely thereacross and normally being urged upwardly, in the direction of the arrow 38 by suitable means such as a biasing spring 39. When the rod I6 has been moved to the right, the pawl 35, under the biasing action of the spring 39, moves up into latching engagement with the rod I6.

It is a matter of indifference whether the mechanism shown in Fig. l be mounted in the door of the safe or in the frame of the door. In the case of large safes the mechanism preferably is installed in the door, While in the case of smaller safes, e. g. such as are used for keeping clothes in, it might be preferable to install the mechanism in the frame of the door.

In Fig. 4 is shown a latching means for the locking bolt 24. This latter has a shouldered recess 40 which engages with a latch 4I pivoted at 42 to a portion 43 of the frame or the like of the'safe. A push button or like 44 is adapted to be depressed by the user or attendant, this latter being pivoted at 45 to the latch 4I, so that the depression of the button 44 results in the releasing of the latch.

After the new code word or combination has been set up in the dials 4 (suitable sight openings for these latter of course being formed in the surface of the safe) and the valuables have been placed in the safe, it is necessary for the user to restore the corresponding discs I0 into their locking engagement with the corresponding dials 4 so that the two will act as a unit. The vertical member 46 slides laterally so as to push the bolt II to the left in Fig. 1, this sliding action being brought about by the operator manually pushing the hub or knob 41, which latter is joined to the vertical member 46 and has a neck adapted to slide along a slot 48. By moving the arm 46 to the left, for example, against the force of the biasing spring 30, the pawl 35 is moved downwardly both by the impelling action of the ratchet tooth 34, and if desirable, by the cam track or the like 5I engaging with the pin 52. The latch having been retracted, the discs I!) can move to the left under the impelling action of the spring 32. Since these discs have been restrained from rotation about the safety bolt I due to the engagement of the humps 3 of the latter with the restricted portion I8 of the bore of the discs, the pins or studs 2| of the latter engage only With the proper ones of the holes 9 in the dials 4. Because of the movement of the safety bolt I into its locking position, the humps 3 assume the dotted line positions shown at 3', entirely outside of the confines of the discs I0 or their hubs I'I. The safety bolt I being retained in its locking position by continued depression of the arm 46, it is possible to rotate at random the dials 4, which carry with them their corresponding discs I0. Because of the angular orientation of these discs I0, the slots 26 of the restricted portions I3 of the bore thereof become out of alignment with the humps 3, and engage therewith as the safety bolt tends to move to the right under the tension of the spring 30, and prevent any movement of the safety bolt out of its locking position.

As a result of the locking of the safe by means of the safety bolt I, it is desirable to prevent anyone from inserting additional coins in the slot 23. Obviously, a large number of possibilities can be suggested to this end. As shown, an arm 53, pivoted as at 54 to suitable means such as the frame of the safe, is secured to the safety bolt I for slight transverse and pivotal reciprocation therealong. In the form shown, a pin 55 on the safety bolt I engages in an elongated slot 56 formed in the arm 53. Upon movement of the safety bolt to the left, the arm 53 pivots about the pin 54 into a position centering in or just rearwardly of the slot 23, thus effectively preventing the insertion of additional coins.

For facilitating the prevention of dismantling of the combination set up in the lock during the movement of the safety bolt to the left, i. e. into its locking position, suitable means are provided for holding the rod I6 in its leftmost position.

As shown; these means, which of course may assume any desired form, comprise a ratchet tooth 51 in the rod itself, and a cooperating pawl 58 having a pin 59 engaging in a cam track 60. An elongated slot 62 in the pawl receives therein a pin 6I fast on the safety bolt I. The pawl is urged upwardly in the direction of the arrow 63 by means of suitable tensioning means such as the spring 64. Thus the rod I6 is maintained in its left hand position by the pawl 58 until at such time as the user again sets up his letter combination on the dials 4, thus bringing about the rotation of the discs I0 coupled to the former by the studs 2I, until these discs I0 become so oriented that their slots 20 are aligned with each other and with the hump or keys 3 so that the safety bolt I is retracted by its spring 30. During this retraction the pin 59 of the pawl 58 is carried downwardly by the camtrack 60 out of engagement with, the rod I6 so that the latter can be drawn to the right upon the insertion of additional coins in theslot 23.

In the preferred operation of the device, it is intended that when in use, the safe be locked only by the safety bolt I, the locking bolt 24 being used only to prevent unauthorized use of the safe during such times as the safe is not in hire. Accordingly, the pin 44 is intended to be depressed only by the attendant to release the locking bolt 24 after the last user has relinquished the safe, and accordingly, it is preferable that some means be provided to prevent persons other than the attendant from being able to depress the said button 44.

The foregoing description is of the simplest form of the invention, and it will be noted that nothing has as yet been said concerning the lock slot. The foregoing simple construction is perhaps the most suitable for safes operated by 'the owners of the premises on which the safes are located. The possibility exists, however, that the operating company will be different from the owner of the premises, making it desirable to provide for two separate collections. To accomplish this end, I provide for means for blocking up the safety bolt I when it has been unlocked by setting up the code word in the lock, thereby preventing movement of the safety bolt into its unlocking position until a counter or coin has been inserted into a lock slot. In the form which I have shown in the drawings I employ a slot 65 formed in the face or some other suitable portion of the safe. A ratchet tooth 66 is formed in the safety bolt I, which ratchet tooth cooperates with a pawl 61 urged downwardly in the direction of the arrow 68 by suitable means such as a biasing spring 69. When a coin 10 is inserted into the slot 65 it contacts with means such as a cam Weight 1I pivoted to the frame or the like at 12 and normally depending downwardly by the combined action of gravity and the spring 69 into the slot 65. Thus it will be seen that the weight 1I is actuated by gravity, and turns on pivot 12. Moreover, the pawl 61, pivoted at 13 to weight 1I, is pushed downwardly under the action of spring 69, so that normallythe weight 1I is in its lower position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When a coin is inserted into the slot 65, it pushes the weight 1I upwardly, the latter pulling up the pawl 61, which frees the ratchet tooth 66, so that when the arm 46 is operated the bolt I may be slid to vthe left, thus locking the safe.

It should be noticed that so long as the bolt I is not slid to the left, the lateral projection 14 of the bolt IV acts as a stop for the coin, and thelatter keeps the pawl 61 raised. As soon as the bolt I is slid to the left, the said projection 14 moves to position 15, whereupon the coin drops and weight 1I moves down, the pawl 61 being again ready to interlock with the ratchet tooth 16 as soon as this latter returns to position 66, upon the bolt I being'slid to the right when the safe is opened. If necessary, an additional coin, always retainedin the iingersof the user, may be inserted into the slot 65 to force the coin 1I] downwardly.

I intend that the counter or coin which is inserted in the slot 65 will fall into a different money box from that used for the coins inserted in the hire slot 23. If desired, however, these coins from the slot 65 may fall -into the same money boxif this additional device has no object other than to increase the revenue. The money boxes may be provided either altogether separate from each other, or one within the other, each box, however. being operated by separate keys.

The lock slot 65 has the advantage that even should the assistant neglect to releei'se the locking bolt 24 by depression of the button 44 after the Vlast user has relinquished the safe, and the new user, finding the safe open, desires to use it without inserting a coin in the hire slot, being satisfied to use the code word already set up, it is still impossible for him to unlock the safe without introducing a coin into the lock slot.

A recording apparatus may be employed, if desired, to ascertain the number of times the letter combination has been changed.

Once the broad features of my invention are disclosed, it is obvious that numerous modifications and adaptations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, all however falling within the range of my invention. Accordingly, I intend that my invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A coin-freed locking mechanism for safes, comprising in combination, a safety bolt engaged with a bolt socket of a safe; a plurality of revolvable clutching members; a plurality of revolvable character-bearing members; cooperating means on said two sets of members for bringing about the interengagement of cooperating members of each of said two sets of members; means on the bolt to hold said clutch members against rotary motion when the bolt is retracted and to permit rotary motion of the clutch members when the bolt is in its projected or locking position; means associated with said clutch members to move the same into combination-changing position upon insertion of a coin or counter into a suitable coin slot; means to retain said clutch members in the combination-changing position while the bolt is retracted, and further means to hold said clutch members in engagement with the character-bearing members and to close the coin slot while the bolt is projected; a second bolt adapted to be engaged with a bolt socket of a safe, and means to retract the second bolt upon the insertion of a coin or counter into said coin slot and to subsequently release said bolt.

2. A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim 1 in which said character-bearing members and said clutch members are in the form of discs provided with notches; and comprising projections on the safety bolt slidable in said notches; and a xed bearing on the door ofV said safe on which bearing said discs are revolvably mounted.

3. A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim 1, and comprising a forked rod or plate operatively connecting together the clutch members, said rod or plate having a ramp portion projecting into the slot, the movement of which rod or plate serves to release the clutch members from the character-bearing members, and to carry them to the combination-changing position upon the insertion of a coin or counter into said coin slot so as to engage said ramp portion, thereby forcing the coin into contact with said rod or plate, and spring means tending to resist said release of said clutch members.

4. A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim l, and comprising a forked rod or plate operatively connecting together the clutch members, and a pair of retaining pawls associated with the safety bolt and respectively adapted to be engaged by the said forked rod or plate in order to retain said clutch members in the combinationchanging position while the safety bolt is retracted and in order to hold said clutch members in engagement with the character-bearing members While the bolt is projected.

5. A coin-freed locking mechanism as claimed in claim l, and comprising a guard pivotally interconnected With the safety bolt, the said guard being adapted to be moved into operative position behind the coin slot simultaneously with the projection of said bolt to the locking position.

6. A coin-freed locking mechanism as claimed in claim l, and comprising a ramp portion and a notch on the second bolt, the said second bolt being adapted to be retracted to the unlocking position by engagement of a coin or counter with said ramp portion of the second bolt upon insertion of the coin or counter into the coin slot, spring means resisting the retraction of said second bolt, and a spring-biased lever adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said notched part of the second bolt.

7 A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim 1, and comprising a notched part in said safety bolt, a spring pawl, a pivotal lever carrying said spring pawl, a second coin slot so positioned with respect to said pivotal lever that a coin inserted in said slot will engage and move said pivotal lever, said spring pawl being adapted to engage the said notched part of the safety bolt when the latter is in the retracted position and to be moved out of engagement with said bolt upon the insertion of a coin or counter into the second coin slot, to effect displacement of the pivotal lever and the spring paWl.

JOSE MARA SAMANIEGO.

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