US2137033A - Self-locking container - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1938. v A. sT. ARNAULD 2,137,033

SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Filed April 5, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l a; a: W W

B w 4 33 r 42 4/ 74 4471/ U ATTORNEY.

15, 1938- A. ST. ARNAULD SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Filed April 3, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 15, 1938. A. ST. ARNAULD SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Filed April 3, 193

6 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY V4 2% g I a ZTORNE Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Albert St. Arnauld, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,526 2 Claims. (01. 232-41) My invention relates to improvements in a self Fig. 21, an endview of the catch member dislocking container for milk, groceries, and similar closed in Fig. 20; Fig. 22, an end view of the materials and it is the principal object of my incatch member disclosed in Fig. 20; Fig. 23, a side vention to provide such a container which autoview of one of the brackets for supporting the matically locks itself upon the disposal of comtreadle of the lock operating mechanism dis- 5 modities therein so as to prevent subsequent unclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and Fig. 24, a bottom view authorized removal of the commodities. of the bracket disclosed in Fig. 23; Fig. 25, a side It is a further object of my invention to proview of the pedal crankshaft of the lock operatvide improved means for locking such a container ing mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

10 against unauthorized entry together with means Similar numerals refer to similar parts 10 for unlocking the mechanism. throughout the several views.

These improvements are embodied in the Figure 1 discloses one of my self locking conmechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawtainers A installed in a building structure I, such ings, in which:-- as a residence or similar building structure, to

Figure 1 is a side View of my self locking conpermit such commodities as milk, groceries, or 15 tainer installed in a house or similar building similar goods, to be delivered to the inmates of structure and adjacent a door thereof; Fig. 2, a the residence or similar building structure with side View of the self locking container with its out danger of having the commodities unlawfully door in an open position; Fig. 3, a sectional view removed or stolen from the self locking conof self locking container taken on the line 3-3, tainer A. 20 Fig. 2, said sectional view disclosing said door The self locking container A is disclosed as in a closed position; Fig. 4, a sectional view of being installed adjacent the casing 2 of the door the self locking container taken on the line 4-4, 3 and positioned above the floor 4 of the porch Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a partial sectional view of the self 5, the construction of the self locking container 26 looking container taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 3; A, however, permitting its location at any de- Fig. 6, a partial sectional view of the self locking sired heighth or position relative to the building container taken on the line B6, Fig. 3; Fig. '7, a structure I. partial sectional view of the self locking con- Also it is to be understood that the self locking tainer taken on the line Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a parcontainer A may be constructed and marketed as tial plan view of an alternative lock operating an accessory unit or it may be constructed as an 30 mechanism for the container together with a integral part of a building structure, as desired. partial horizontal sectional view of the contain- The self locking container A is provided with er; Fig. 9, a side view of the lock operating mechthe .side walls 6 and 1, the bottom wall or floor anism disclosed in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, an end view of 8, the upper wall 9, together with the outside the lock operating mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8 door I ll and the inside door I l. 35 and 9; Fig. 11, a side view of one of the brackets The outside door 10 is connected to and supfor supporting a treadle crankshaft of the lock ported from the side wall 6 by the hinges I2, the operating mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and outside door I0 being accessible, from the out- 10; Fig. 12, a plan view of the bracket disclosed side of the building structure I, to permit a milkin Fig. 11; Fig. 13, an end view of the bracket man, delivery man, or'similar operator to place 40 disclosed in Fig. 11; Fig. 14, a side view of the commodities in the self locking container A withlock plunger mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9, out bothering the inmates of the building strucand 10; Fig. 15, a sectional view of the lock ture I. plunger mechanism disclosed in Fig. 14, said sec- The inside door II is connected to and suptional view being taken on the line l5-l5, Fig. ported from the side wall 6 by the hinges 13, the 45 14; Fig. 16, a plan view of a bracket for supportinside door H being accessible, from the interior ing one end of the treadle crankshaft of the lock of the building structure I, to permit the inoperating mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and mates thereof to remove the commodities, at 10; Fig. 17, a side view of the bracket disclosed their convenience, from the self locking container in Fig. 16; Fig. 18, a side view of a connecting A and without leaving the building structure I. 50

link of the lock operating mechanism disclosed The outside doors H and I2 may be constructin Figs. 8, 9 and 10; Fig. 19, an edge view of the ed to extend for the total depth of the self lockconnecting link disclosed in Fig. 18; Fig. 20, a ing container A or they may extend for only a front View of a catch member of the lock operportion of the depth of the self locking container ating mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and 10; A in which case front and rear walls I4, 15 and 55 I8 will be respectively provided, as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 4, with the door openings l6 and I1 therein, Fig. 4 omitting the inside door I I therefrom.

The outside door I0 is provided with the handle or knob I9 and the inside door I I is provided with the handle or knob 28, said handles or knobs l9 and 28 extending through the doors and being respectively riveted over as at 2| and 22.

The outside door I0 is provided with the housing 23 in which is slidably mounted the plunger or catch 24, said plunger or catch 24 being actuated in one direction by the spring or resilient member 25, the plunger or catch 24 being provided with the bevel or angular surface 26 together with the shouldered portion 21 to limit the outward movement of the plunger or catch 24 by suitable engagement with a shouldered portion of the housing 23 which is secured to the outside door In by the rivets or bolts 28, the plunger or catch 24 being disclosed, in Figs. 6 and '1, in its maximum outward position.

The interior of the self locking container A is divided into the two chambers 29 and 38 by the wall or partition 3|.

The treadle or platform 32 is located in the chamber 29 and is pivotally supported on the bottom wall or floor 8 by the hinges 33, the treadle 32 being disclosed in its normal position at the uppermost end of its travel in Fig. 4, the treadle 32 being normally maintained in its uppermost position by the spring or resilient member 34 which is provided with the cylindrical shaped end 35 for slidably engaging the under side of the treadle 32, the spring 34 being provided with a flange 36 which is secured to the bottom wall 8 by the rivets or screws 31.

The treadle 32 is also provided with the bracket 38 which is suitably secured to the underside of the treadle 32 and provides the opening 39 between the bracket 38 and the treadle 32 for receiving the curved end 48 of the crank shaft 4| which is rotatably mounted in the brackets 42 which are secured to the bottom wall 8 by the rivets or screws 43.

The curved end 40 of the crank shaft 4| extends through the opening 39 and is adapted to be moved by the treadle 32 from the position as indicated by the dotted lines 44 in Fig. 2 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines 45 in Fig. 2, the treadle 32 being moved from the position as indicated in Fig, 4 to a lowermost position adjacent the bottom wall 8 of the self locking container A, the curved end 40 tending to slide longitudinally of the space 39 to accommodate pivotal movement of the treadle 32.

As the treadle 32 is moving downwardly to move the curved end 40 of the crank shaft 4| from the position indicated by the dotted lines 44 in Fig. 2 to the position indicated by the dotted lines 45, the arm 46 of the crank shaft 4| will move from its position as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 2 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines 41 which will move the rod 48 and cause the bell crank 49 to move from the position as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 6 to the position indicated by the dotted lines 50 in Fig. 6, which will in turn cause the rod 5| to move the latch plate 52 from the position as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 6 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines 53 in Fig. 6 and in which position the boss 54 of the latch plate 52 will have been moved upwardly to a position behind the end of the plunger 24 as indicated by the dotted lines 56 in Fig. 6, thus preventing the outside door I0 from being opened due to the engagement of the boss 54 with the plunger 24.

The arm 46 of the crank shaft 4| is pivotally connected to the rod 48 at 51, the rod 48 being further pivotally connected at 58 to the lower arm of the bell crank 49.

The bell crank 49 is pivotally mounted on the pin or shaft 59 and has its upper arm pivotally connected at 60 to the rod 5|, the rod 5| being pivotally connected at 6| to the latch plate 52.

The latch plate 52 is provided with the slots 62 for engaging the screws or rivets 62A which are suitably supported in the Wall portion I8 of the self locking container A, the screws or rivets 62A thus guiding the latch plate 52 in its movement.

The crank shaft 4| is further provided with the bent arm portion 63 which is adapted to engage the bottom wall 8 when the treadle 32 is in its normal and uppermost position, thus insuring that the treadle 32 will not move to a position above that disclosed in Fig. 4.

The outside door I0 is provided with the spring or resilient member 64 which is pivotally con nected at 65 to the outside door I0 and at 66 to the inside wall 6, thus causing the outside door I 8 to tend to always move to its closed position.

It is now to be noted that when the treadle 32 is pivotally moved downwardly from its position as indicated by the full lines 32 to a position substantially parallel with the bottom wall 8, the latch plate 52 will move adjacent and under the plunger 24 to lock the outside door In and to prevent its being opened from the outside of the self locking container A and the building structure and to thus operate the treadle 32 in its door locking position, the milk man, delivery man, or similar operator, will place an object on the treadle 32 which by its weight will cause the treadle 32 to move downwardly from its normal position.

Figs. 2 and 3 disclose bottles 61 as having been placed on the treadle. 32 by themilk man, delivery man or similar operator.

If more than one bottle of milk, such as 61, is to be delivered to the inmate of the building then additional bottles such as 68 or similar commodities may be placed in the compartment 38 after the outside door I0 has been opened, it being always necessary, however, to place at least one bottle 61 or similar unit on the treadle 32 so that when the outside door I0 is closed the lock mechanism of the container A will be automatically operated in its self locking operation.

The inmates of the building structure I may readily open the inside door II to place empty milk bottles in the chamber 30, the treadle 32, however, being left free of any milk bottles 61 or similar commodities so that the outside door I8 may be opened, it being understood that the operator from the outside of the building will always place one or more of the milk bottles 61 or similar units on the treadle 32 to insure the container A being operated automatically to a self locking position as above described.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 disclose an alternative construction by means of which a treadle 69 maybe utilized for automatically operating the self locking mechanism of my invention.

The treadle 69 is sim ilar to the treadle 32 but is fixedly mounted directly on the'crank shaft 18 by means of the hinged brackets 1| which are suitably secured tgthe underside of the treadle 69 by the screws or rivets 12, the brackets 1| being provided with the bosses 13 which are in turn provided with the bores 14 for fitting over the crank shaft 10, the bosses I3 being secured to the crankshaft I0 by the pins HA.

flange portion which extends upwardly at one side of the flange portion I8, the flange portion 8| having the angularly positioned surface 82 for engaging the upper surface of the treadle 69 to limit it in its maximum uppermost position as disclosed in Fig. 10.

The crank shaft I0 is retained longitudinally in the bores 15 of the bosses I6 of the brackets 11 by a nut 83 at one of its ends and by the curved end 84 adjacent one side of the bracket 85 which is provided with the bore 06 for further supporting one end of the crank shaft I0.

The bracket 85 is secured to the bottom wall 8 by the screws 86 which extend through suitable openings in the flange portions 81 of the bracket 85, each of which is disclosed in detail in Figs. 16 and 1'7.

The crank shaft 10 is disclosed in detail in Fig. 25 and is provided with the shouldered portion 88 which may extend through the bore 89 of the rod 90, the shouldered portion 89 being suitably riveted over to provide a pivotal connection between the crank shaft 10 and the rod 90.

The rod 90 is disclosed in detail in. Figs. 18 and 19.

The rod 90 is further provided with the bore 9| at its upper end for forming a pivotal connection at 92 with a latch plate I00 which is adapted to be supported by the rivets or screws 62A, in a manner similar to that disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, the latch plate I00 being provided with the boss 54 for extending behind and engaging the plunger 93 which is similar to the plunger 24, the plunger 93, however, being provided with an extension portion 94 which extends within and supports one end of the spring or resilient member 95 which is retained at its other end by the recess 96 of the housing 91 which is secured to the outside door I0 by the screws or rivets 28.

The plunger 93 is disclosed in its assembled position within the housing 91 in Figs. 14 and 15.

Also one of the latch plates I00 is disclosed in Figs. 20, 21 and 22, the latch plate I00 being provided with the arm 98 having a bore 99 therethrough for providing a bearing for the pivotal connection disclosed at 92.

The treadle 69 is provided with feet or block members IOI which are suitably secured to the underside of the treadle 69, the feet or block members IOI being constructed of material having resilient characteristics such as rubber or similar material, the feet or block members IOI being adapted to engage the upper surface of the bottom wall 8 to limit the treadle 69 in its maximum downward movement and to provide means for supporting the treadle member 69 while it is supporting one or more of the milk bottles 61 or similar units as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3.

Also, to normally maintain the treadle 69 in its maximum uppermost position as indicated in Fig. 10, the spring or resilient member I02 comprises a plurality of coils which are mounted around the crank shaft 10at points adjacent the inside surfaces of the brackets II, the coils of the spring member I02 being extended to form the arm I03 which engages the upper surface of the bottom wall 8, the spring member I02 havingits coils further'extended to form the arms I04 which engage the underside of the treadle 69, the resilient characteristics of the coils of the spring I02 tending to always force the arms I04 away or in an opposite direction from the opposite arm I03, thus tending to always maintain the treadle 69 in its maximum uppermost position until the bottles 61 or similar units are placed on the treadle 69 to cause it to pivotally move to its maximum downward position in which the feet or block members IOI will engage the upper surface of the bottom wall 8.

In operation, the inmate of the building structure will open the inside door II to place empty milk bottles in the chamber 30 from where the empty milk bottles are to be delivered to the milk man or similar delivery man of similar commodities, the inmate of the building structure, however, taking care not to place any empty milk bottles on the treadle 32 as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3.

The milk man or delivery man is then free to open the outside door I0 which will permit the empty milk bottles 68 to be removed from the chamber 30 and to be replaced by full milk bottles, as indicated at 68 in Figs. 2 and 3, the milk man or delivery man taking care also to place a full milk bottle 6'! on the treadle 32 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 to operate the treadle 32 downwardly from its position, as disclosed in Fig. 4 to a position adjacent the inner surface of the bottom wall 8 which will in turn operate the crank shaft 4| which, together with its operatively connected mechanism, will move the latch member 52 upwardly so that it will extend between the inside surface of the outside door I0 and the catch portion of the plunger 24 as disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7 to automatically lock the outside door I0 against unauthorized or unlawful opening thereof to remove the milk bottles 68 or similar commodities.

In a similar way the milk bottles or similar commodities are placed on the treadle 69 which will operate the catch plate I00 to a position between the plunger 93 and the inside surface of the outside door I0 to eliminate unauthorized or unlawful entry into the self locking container A and removal of the full milk bottles 68 or similar commodities therefrom.

I claim:

1. In a self locking container for receiving goods in a building structure and provided with an outside door, the combination of a plunger member movably mounted in said outside door, a catch plate movably mounted in said container and adapted to engage said plunger member and to lock said outside door against unauthorized opening, a pair of brackets and each provided with stop bosses, a crankshaft rotatably mounted in said pair of brackets, a treadle pivotally mounted on said crankshaft and adapted to engage said stop bosses of said pair of brackets, said treadle being adapted to be actuated by the placement of said goods thereon, a, resilient member provided with coil portions surrounding said crankshaft, said resilient member being provided with arms for engaging said treadle and the floor of said container, and a rod member pivotally connected between said crankshaft and said catch plate.

2. In a self locking container for receiving 75 a crank arm, a plunger mounted on said outside door, a catch plate movably mounted and adapted to engage said plunger to lock said outside door against unauthorized opening, said catch plate being provided with a flange, and a rod pivotally connected between said crank arm of said crankshaft and flange of said catch member.

ALBERT ST. ARNAULD.

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