US2613622A

US2613622A - Money box

Info

Publication number: US2613622A
Application number: US98003A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wolters August Wilhelm
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-06-09
Filing date: 1949-06-09
Publication date: 1952-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1969-10-14

Description

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MONEY BOX August Wilhelm Wolters, Southampton, N. Y.

Application June 9, 1949, Serial No. 98,003

' 4 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to money safe and the like and refers more particularly to means for safekeeping ofmoney so as to have it accessible to authorized persons and to cause it to-fall to a stronger and more'inaccessible container if an unauthorized person attempts to open the first mentioned safekeeping means. The principal object ofthe present invention is to'provide a more simple money box than those now available. A subsidiary object is that the box shall be completely automatic in operation, in the sense of requiring a predetermined manner of operation for opening by an authorized person, and further that the box may be closed in the ordinary way and that such closing shall be effective to reset its internal mechanism so that unauthorized opening shall automatically cause the money to fall to the remote place of safekeeping. In accomplishing the objects of the present invention a chute is provided having a rectangular lid pivotally connected to the rear wall thereof. Substantially perpendicularly extending from the inner surface of the lid is a metal eye. A heavy bar hangstherefrom'byflmean of an interengaging eye, the bar'extending straight down from the eye of the lid in all positions of the lid, also extending through a guide eye in all Said positions, and in the closed position of the lid further engaging two eyes set one below the other and connected to the sliding bottom of the money compartment. The bottom is supported on rollers and is actuated by coil springs to a forward position in which it leaves the money compartment in communication with the chute. may bepushed rearwardly, compressing the "springs, and may be held in such position byeng agement of its eyes with either the bar, if the lid is closed, or with a detent whichmay be actuated from a hidden position, such actuation being necessary to authorized operation of the box so as to expose its contents for removal.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter be pointed out. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in {the constructions hereinafter described. In the "accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of the money box.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The bottom 4 Figure 3 is a similar view showing the relation of parts after unauthorized use. I

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, my im'- proved money box I0 comprises the side wall portions l I, I2, I3, I4 of which wall I2 may be called the rear wall, and wall I4 may be called the front Wall, Wall I4 further comprising the door I5 hinged to wall I I. A lid I6 is hinged to rear wall I2 and is swingable from theclosed position of Figure 2 to the open position of Figure 3.

Four substantially vertical partitions II, I8, I9, extending laterally of box III, that is, between walls I I and I3, define the

spaces

2 I, 22, 23 which together constitute the money compartment 24 of the box I 0, it being understood that one or more such spaces2l,'22, 23 may be used as desired for the storing of paper money in vertical position. The partitions 25, together with front wall I 4 and partition I'I, serves to enclose a dead space 26.

Bottom portion 21 is slidably supported on rollers 28 and guided by guide strips 29, andmovable from a closed position, Figure 2, in which it serves as the bottom of money compartment 24,

to an open position, Figure 3, which leavesmoney compartment 24 in open communication with chute 30 leading vertically downward therefrom to a remote strong money container, such as a burglar proof safe, not illustrated.

Bottom portion 21 comprises a block 31 firmly reception of compression coil springs 35 whose free ends bear against rear wall I2. Springs 35 thus tend to actuate portion 27 to the open. position of Figure 3. I

An eye 36 is fixed in lid portion I6 and 'engages an eye 31 which is integral with the rod 38,

rod 38 constituting a detent means by which bottom portion 2'! may be locked closed as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which rod 38 passes through the

eyes

32, 33 when lid I6 is closed. Eye 39 fixed in rear wall I2 serves as a guide for rod 38. 'soproportioned andsituated relative to hinge 40 ye 36 is of lid I4 that rod 38 moves vertically upon the swinging of lid I6 around hinge 40, there being substantially no movement of rod 38 other than vertical.

A further detent means for locking bottom portion 2! in closed position while lid I6 is open is the hook 4| pivotally mounted in rear wall l2 and having a handle portion 42 extending ex teriorly thereof. Hook 4| has a weight 43 or other means tending to keep its hook portion depressed as illustrated in the full line position, and thus out of engagement with bottom portion 21.

In operation, it is obvious that money placed in money compartment 24 will fall into chute 30 if lid I6 is raised by an unauthorized person, for rod 38 will come free of both

eyes

32, 33 and springs 35 will actuate bottom portion 21 into the dead space 26, depriving the money or other contents of spaces 2|, 22, 23 of support so that it falls into chute 30.

The advantage of dead space 26 is seen in Figure 3, as successful operation of the device might be prevented if bottom portion 21, in order to completely withdraw from money compartment 24, had to protrude beyond an outer wall of box 0. A person standing in the path of bottom portion 21 would in such case obstruct its motion and prevent operation.

In order to prepare box ID for use after unauthorized use, door I5 is opened and bottom portion 21 is pushed rearwardly to the position of Figure 2 and handle 42 is depressed, engaging hook 4| in eye 33. The box will now hold its contents even with lid l6 open.

To obtain access to money in box ID the authorized person will press down on handle 42 while raising lid l6. Hook 4| thus enters eye 33, and as soon as rod 38 disengages eye 32 the forward pressure of springs 35 on bottom portion 21 will device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. As various possible embodiments might be madeof the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting What is claimed is:

1. In a money box, the combination with side wall portions and a lid portion constituting a box, said lid portion being pivotally connected to one of said side wall portions and swingable froman open to a closed position, said box comprising a money compartment open at the bottom,

a bottom portion for said money compartment,

said bottom portion being supported in operative relation to said money compartment so as to be slidable from a closed to an open position, of

means actuating said bottom portion into 9, nor mally open position and lock means for holding said bottom portion in closed position, said lock means comprising keeper means comprised by said bottom portion, said lock means further comprising detent means pivotally connected to and actuated by said lid portion and engaging said keeper means and maintaining said bottom portion in closed position when both said lid and said bottom portion are in closed position, said lock means further comprising further keeper means, and further detent means engageable with said further keeper means when said bottom portion is in closed position and said lid portion is partially open to keep said bottom portion in closed position, said further detent means comprising means operative to keep said further detent means normally out of engagement with said further keeper means.

2. In a money box, the combination with side wall portions and a lid portion constituting a box, said lid portion being pivotally connected to one of said side wall portions and swingable from an open to a closed position, said box comprising a money compartment open at the bottom, a bottom portion for said money compartment, said bottom portion being supported inoperative relation to said money compartment so as to-be slidable from a closed to anopen position, of means actuating said bottom portion into a normally open position and lock means for holding said bottom portion in closed position, said lock means comprising keeper means on said bottom portion, said lock means further comprising detent means in the form'of a rod pivotallysuspended from said lid and extending into said keeper means when both said lid and said bottom portion are in closed position, said rod being gradually withdrawn from said keeper means by opening of said lid so as to come entirely free of said keeper means before said lid is fully open, said lock means further comprising separate detent means, said separate detent means being normally out of engagement with said keeper means and being optionally engageable v in said keeper means when said rod is partially-withdrawn and said bottom portion is still in'closed position, said rod, in case said separate detent means is so engaged, further directly contacting and physically displacing said separate detent means from said keeper meansin the closed position of said lid and of said bottom portion.

3. In a money box according to claim- 2, said keeper means comprising a plurality of eyes in spaced relation and in substantially vertical alinement, said rod engaging all of said eyes when saidlid and said bottom portion are in closed position, said separate detent means being en,- gageable with the lowermost of said eyes upon the withdrawal of said rod therefrom by raising of said 1id.- l

4. In a money box according to claim 2, said side wall portions further enclosing a dead space into which said bottom portion is actuated in the open position of said bottom portion.

AUGUST WILHELM WOLTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,632,536 Breen June14,1927

1,954,668 Ernst Apr. 10., .1934