US2804197A

US2804197A - Cash box

Info

Publication number: US2804197A
Application number: US409814A
Authority: US
Inventors: William R Popkess; Lewis L Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-02-12
Filing date: 1954-02-12
Publication date: 1957-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-27

Description

Aug. 27, 1957 w, R. PoPKEss ET AL lCASH Box 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l2, 1954 Ill Allg- 27, 1957 w. R. PoPKEss ET Ax. 2,804,197

' CASH Box Filed Feb. 12, 1954 2 Shleets-Sheet 2 idsr 2,804,197 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 CASH BOX William R. Popkess and Lewis L. Johnson, Sabetha, Kans. Application February 12, 1954, Serial No. 409,814 1 Claim. (Cl. M16-.83)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cash boxes, and has particular reference to cash boxes of the type adapted to carry currency and coins, the `coins being segregated according to denomination and stacked in troughs for easy accessibility.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a cash box of the character described wherein the coin troughs are formed in a tray pivoted in the box and normally held down n the box by the hinged cover of the box, but being adapted to tilt upwardly whenever said cover is opened, whereby the coins are retained in neatly stacked relation in the troughs by gravity.

Another object is the further provision of means whereby the cover serves as apclamp for securing the coins in place in their respective troughs, so that the box when closed may be handled freely in any position without disarranging the coins.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the tray, though pivoted eccentrically to the axis of the box cover, nevertheless moves concentrically with said cover as the box is opened and closed, in order that the clamp members inthe cover will not shift relative to the troughs of the tray as the box is opened or closed, which shifting might otherwise cause upsetting of the coins in their troughs.

A still further object is the provision of a cash box of the character described wherein a currency compartment is provided beneath the coin tray, said currency compartment being opened and rendered accessible by the automatic raising of the tray which occurs whenever the box is opened.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease, efficiency and dependability of operation, and adaptability of the tray unit to be removed from the box for separate use if desired.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the speciiication, reference will be had to the drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan View of a cash box embodying the present invention, shown in the open position with the coin tray lowered and with the cover oifset laterally to detach it from the body of the box.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on l, with the box closed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. l with the cover removed and with the coin tray raised to its tilted position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 2.

` Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the box open, the tray being raised to its tilted position and the cover resting against the coins therein.

f Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view ofthe coin line l'l-II of Fig.

tray and traycarrier only, taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the coin tray and tray carrier only, taken on line VIII-VIH of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on line IX-'IX of Fig. 1, with the box closed.

Fig. l0 is a side elevational view of the coin tray and carrier removed from the box.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to the body portion of a substantially rectilinear box formed of any suitable material such as wood, metal, plastic or the like, said body portion having a bottom wall 4, side walls 6, front wall 8, and rear well 10. The box r is provided with a cover 12 having a top wall 14, side walls 16, front wall 18, and rear wall 20. The cover and body portions are secured together at their rearward edges by hinges each including a hinge flap 22 fixed to rear wall 10 of the box body, a pintle pin 24 fixed in flap 22 and lying in the hinge axis, and a hinge ap 26 fixed to rear wall 20 of cover 12 and adapted to be slidably engaged 'over pintle 24. The cover may thus be detached from the body simply by sliding hinge aps 26 off of the pintles, in a direction parallel to the hinge axis. Fig. 1 shows the cover at its moment of detachment. When the cover is attached to the body and the box is closed, a pin 28 formed on the lower edge of each cover side wall 16 engages in a socket 30 lirmed in the upper edge of body side wall 6, thereby preventing the cover from being accidentally moved to the side to detach it from the body of the box.

The lid is securable in its closed position by a latch mechanism including a resilient sheet of metal 32 having its lower edge portion disposed in a groove 34 formed in the upper edge of front wall 8 of the box body, as best shown in Fig. 9, and having its upper edge portion formed to present a forwardly opening hook 36, and being secured in groove 34 by a plurality of rivets 3S fixed in wall 8 and extending through sheet 32 within groove 34. Hook 36, as shown in Fig. 9, engages a ledge 40 which extends inwardly from the front wall 18 of the cover and is integral with a plate 42 secured to the inner surface of wall 18 by rivets 44. As the cover is closed, ledge 4t) cams hook 36 rearwardly, and the hook then snaps forwardly to engage the upper surface of the ledge and secure the box closed. The latch is released by a pair of spaced apart plungers 46, each carried slidably ina hole 48 formed through wall 8 adjacent the upper edge thereof. The inner end of each plunger is provided with an enlarged head 50 which prevents the plunger from falling out of hole 48, and which rests against the forward face of latch plate 32. Inward pressure on plungers 46 forces latch hook 36 rearwardly to release ledge 40. Latch plate 32 is sufliciently flexible that pressure on one plunger will not release the latch. Both plungers must be pushed simultaneously. This will in large measure prevent accidental opening of the box and spillage of its contents.

Carried removably in the box body 2 is a tray carrier 52 comprising a substantial U-shaped member having pianar walls, the central wall 54 thereof being adapted to lie against the inner surface of front wall S, and the parallel side Walls 56 of which are disposed respectively in slightly spaced relation from side walls 6. Said carrier is supported by steps 53 formed integrally with the box and projecting inwardly from side walls 6 thereof to engage walls S6, and by steps 60 (Fig. 4) formed integrally with the box and projecting inwardly from front wall 8 thereof. Steps 6% are provided with upward projections 62 which engage the inner surface of carrier wall 54 to prevent forward or rearward movement of 3 the carrier. The rearward en`ds of carrier side walls 56 engage ribs 64' formed integrally with rear wall 10 of the box. Thus the carrier is supported rmly in the box but maybe lifted therefrom whenever the `box cover is open. The side walls 56 ofthe carrier areprovided with integral legs 66 which serve to support the` carrier on a table or the like whenv ity is' separated from@ the box, as shown in Fig. l0: Each of the side walls 56 of thev carrier isprovided at its rearward' end with antip-V standingA integralk ear68, through' Which a perforation- 701 (Figs. and 6') is formed, said perforation having the form of an arcuate slotI which, when the carrier is positioned in the box, is concentric-'With thelpivotal axis of box cover'12. i

Carried by carrier 52 is acoin tray 72 having a sub-- stantially `planar upper surface in which a plurality of substantially semicylindrical troughs74 are formed, said troughs,y extending from the rear tothe front of the tray at right anglesvto the pivotal axis/of the box cover, and being of various diameterswhereby to support coins of various denominationsin stacked relation therein, as shown. Said tray is providedl with a rear wall `76 which supports the coins. whenr the forward end of the tray is tilted upwardly. The forward end ofk each trough is open to facilitate. removal or insertion of coins therein. One or more of the troughs 74` (the drawing shows only one, further designated by the numeral 78)V is formed. with an extra depth, so that the coins 80 `carried therein are disposed well below the level of the top of the tray. The top of. this deep trough is normally closed by a cover 82 hingedtto the tray at 84, in the upper surface of which cover another trough 74 is formed. yA bar 86 of rubber or other suitable material is aixed to the bottom of cover 82, and serves to hold coins 80 firmly in place as long as coverk 82 is pressed closed firmly. The deep trough 78 is intended primarily for the storage of an extra supply ofv coins. Suitable indicia 88 may be imprinted on the top surface of the tray adjacent each trough 74, and along the bottom of deep trough 78, to furnish a means for indicating the amount of money represented by the coins in each trough.

At each side, tray 72 is provided with a horizontally projecting tlange 90, from which depends an outer side wall 92 which tits slidably between the associated side wall 6 of the box and side wall 56 of the tray carrier, and an inner side wall 94 which ts slidably along the inner surface of the associated carrier side wall 56. Wall 94 extends the full length of the tray, while wall 92 extends from the rear end of the tray approximately half of the length thereof. Extending between and xed in each pair of walls 92;-94, adjacent the rearward end of the tray, is a pivot pin 96, which extends through the slot 70V in the ear 68' of theassoeiated carrier side wall 56. The two pivot pins 96 are coaxial, and parallel to the pivotal axis of the box cover. Just forwardly of ear 68 of each side wall 56, a leaf spring 93 is inserted. Said spring has a central loop portion which is accommodated in an arcuate notch 100 (see Figs. 5 and 6) formed in the upper edge of wall 56, and in an arcuate notch 102 formed in the lower edge of a thickened portion of flange 90 of the tray. The end portions 104 of the spring are straight and extend forwardly, bearing respectively against the upper edge of-wall 56 and the lower edge of ilange 90. Said springs serve to urge tray 72 pivotally upwardly at all times to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and must be suiciently strong to support any load of coins carried by the tray.

The upward pivotal movement of the tray is limited bya lug 106 (see Figs. 8 and l0) formed integrally with each carrier wall S6 and extending outwardly therefrom, said lug cooperating with the rear wall of a notch 110 formed in the lower edge of the associated tray wall 92 to arrest the upward movement of the tray, as clearly shown in Fig. 10.

A plurality of bars 112 of rubber or the like are 4 afiixed to the inner surface of `cover 12, being cemented or otherwise xed in channel members 114 formed integrally with the cover. There is one bar for each trough 74, extending parallel to said trough and being adapted to engage the coins 116 in said trough when the cover is closed. When the box is opened and the cover turned back or e removed as in Fig.V 4, the forward end of the tray is tilted upwardly by springs 98 as previously described, said spring also holding pivot pins 96 in the upper ends of slots 70, as shown in Fig. 6. In this position, thecoins are held in` neatly stacked position in troughs 74 by gravity. When it is desired to close the box, the cover` is attached and pivoterd forwardly as shown in Fig. 6 until rubber bars 112 rest on the coins 116. The parts are .so proportioned that the bars will be parallel` tothe troughs at this moment, and will contact all thecoins in each trough at the same time. The channel members 114 holding each of the rubber bars are proportioned `to hold the bar `at a greater or less distance from the cover, depending on the diameter of the coins in the particular trough above which that bar is disposed.

The cover is then presseddownwardly to lower the .coin tray into'the body `of the` box, against the pressure of springs 9S, until the cover latch is secured. During this movement, the'tray, being guided by the travel of pivot pins- 96- in. slots 70, can only move concentrically with the cover, since slots 70 are concentric with the cover hinge. Thus Ythere `can be no relative forward or rearward movement betweenV the cover and the tray as ,the box is` closed, and the coins 116 will not be tilted forwardly or rearwardly in their troughs. Were it not for this guiding. of the tray movement, the coins would be tilted .and 4hence could become loose and mixed in thev box. Thus as the box is closed, and at all times when the box remains closed, the coins are held firmly in position. Likewise as the box. is opened, the coins are held firmly until the tray has elevated sufficiently to insure that the coins will be held in place by gravity.

It will be noted that when the boxis closed, the tray 72 is still disposed inthe upper poltion of the box body, leaving a substantial compartment 118 therebelow. This space may be utilized for the storage of paper currency. Ribs 120 (Figs. 2 and 3) gare formed integrally with the box bottom to more closely dene a currency compartment. This compartment is accessible, when the box is open, by reaching beneath the elevated forward end of the coin tray, and also of course when the coin tray is removed from the box. i

While we have shown and described a specific embodi ment of our invention, it` is apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope ofthe appended claim.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A cash box comprising a hollow box body and a` cover hinged thereto, a coin tray carried within said box body and having coaxial pivot pins parallel to but spaced apart from the axis of the cover, the axis of said tray being disposed adjacent the same side of said box as said cover hinge, guide Vmeans carried in said box havingarcuate slots formed therein concentrically with thepivotal axis of said cover, said pivot pins being disposedmovably in said slots for limited vertical movement, said tray having a troughformed therein at right angles to the pivotal axis thereof and adapted to receive coins in stacked relation therein, resilient means carried in Said body member and operable to urge said tray pivotally upwardly from the box body and the pivot pins thereof to the upperV limit of theirtravel, stop means limiting the upward pivotal movementof said coin tray, and a compressible member fixed in said cover and positioned to engage said stack of` coins along `its entirelength when said tray is in its elevated position, whereby asthe cover is moved to its closed position, the vertical movement of said pivot pins will permit said compressible member to remain in contact With the full length of said stack of coins.

Thompson Mar. 20, 1900 Luckett et a1 Aug. 9, 1921 10 S Lengseld Mar. 24, 1932 Nelson et al. May 16, 1950 Blumner Jan. 22, 1952 Anderson etal Mar. 18, 1952 Alford Aug. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 28, 1929 Germany Sept. 21, 1938 Denmark June 3, 1940