US363714A - woodruff - Google Patents

Description

(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. H. W. WOODRUFP. PORTABLE SAFE FOR VALUABLES N0. 363,714. Patented May 24, 1887.

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(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. W. WOODRUFP. PORTABLE SAFE FOR VALUABLES No. 363,714. Patented May 24, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE XV. WOODRUFF, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THEYVOODRUFF PORTABLE SAFE COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE SAFE FOR VALUABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,714, dated May 24, 1887.

Application filed Sepembcr 27, 1886. Serial No. 214,588. iModel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Honnon W. WooDRUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Safes for Valuables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this IO specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in portable safes for transmitting money or other valuables, and is intended more especially for the use of banks and express companies in shipping money, and is so constructed that the money is packed perfectly secure, and at the same time the express company, or any party through whose hands the parcel may pass, may know, without opening it, the contents.

It consists of a box made of metal, leather, or any suitable material, provided with acom' bination-lock, and an opening or window so arranged as to expose the contents to view without exposing them to loss or injury.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the safe. Fig. 2 is a crosssection through the line x w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail end elevation showing the locking mechanism. Fig. i is a corresponding sec- 0 tional view through the axis of the locking mechanism. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section in plan through the locking mechan ism. Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical cross-sections showing theinternal construction and arrange- 3 5 ment of the tumblers. Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the safe, showing the grating.

The same letters of reference are used to in dicate identical parts in all the figures.

In the drawings the safe is shown as made of 0 sheet metal; but leather or any other suitable material which combines lightness and strength may be used.

I prefer to make the safe in two parts, as shown, one fitting within the other and locked 4 5 together, the outer casing, A, being made open at the top, and the inner casing, B, which fits down into the outer, open at the bottom. The inner casing fitting snugly within the outer box or casing, A, is provided with an opening,

her box, so as to leave the glass or barred window unobstructed. When one of the cases has been filled, one is fitted within the other, securely incasing the contents, but exposing them to view through the glass C, and the two 6 5 are securely locked together.

To illustrate the manner of locking the safe, I have shown one form of combination-lock adapted to the purpose, but do not limit myself to any particular form of lock. The lock illustrated consists of two forked pieces of metal, E F, the prongs of one fitting within the prongs of the other. One prong, G, of the fork E is a hollow cylinder to receive the prong H of the other, and the two form a bolt which extends through both the outer and inner casing, fastening them securely together. The other prong, I, of the fork E consists of a hollow tube provided wit-h a longitudinal slot. Rotating on this tube are a number of loose tumblers, z. These tumblers are provided with one or more slots, J, corresponding in size with the slot in the tube I. The prongK of the fork F is provided with teeth L. Each tumbler has a circular internal opening, 0, of 85 a width to admit freely the teeth L, so that when the prong K is inserted in the tube I the teeth L pass through the slot in the tube and the slot J in the tumblers until they come opposite the circular openingsO in the tumblers. The tumblers are then turned on the tube, and the prong K cannot then be withdrawn until they are all again turned, so that their slots all come in line with the slot in the tube and the teeth L. The tumblers are provided with figures to indicate the position of the slot, and when these figures are in line, so as to bring their slots over the slot in the tube, the teeth can pass. These figures form a certain number which constitutes the key or combination. If at any time it is necessary to change the k eynumber or combination, the tumblers can be taken off and replaced in a different order, thus forming a new key-number, and for that purpose they are put loosely on the tube 1. Each tumbler has figures on its surface from 1 to 9, only one of which, however, is used as an indicator or part of the key-number, the oth ers being used merely as a blind to make it more difficult to guess the combination. WVhen the safe is thus locked, it may be delivered to an express company for transportation, andthe key-number transmitted to the consignee of the safe by mah, or in any other way, and the safe can only be opened by one having the key-number. The express company can, however, learn the contents of the safe without opening it, and know that it is transmitting money-or the valuables claimed. The consignee can also know without opening the safe whether it contains the article it should contain, audif it does not can decline to receive it.

Where money is shipped by banks, it can be arran ed in small parcels, with narrow strips of paper around them, showing the amount in each parcel and the signature or seal of an officer of the bank through the glass. By the use of my improved portable safe the express company and receiver do not have to open the package in order to know its contents. Money or valuables can be shipped with convenience and safety securely locked,and in case the safe is tampered with the guilty party can be readily detected, as any loss or alteration of its contents would be at once apparent to any one of the many persons who usually handle such packages between the place of shipment and the destination.

For the purpose of more effectually protecting the glass or transparent opening, the outer casing may be provided with a wire or steel grating, as shown in Fig. 8, Where the outer casing, A, is provided with bars P, extending across the opening, so that the glass 0 is protected from any blow from the outside.

No claim is herein made to the lock per 86, as it forms the subject-matter of a separate application filed by me January 28, 1887, and numbered 225,755.

In another application for Letters Patent filed by me on the 9th day of February, 1887, Serial No. 227,031, I have shown, described, and claimed modified constructions of the shipping-case forming the subject-matter of this application; and I have also shown, described, and claimed other means for securing the case, which answer the same purpose as the locking mechanism specified in this application.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim-- 1. A portable safe for transmitting money or valuables, provided with a secure transparent opening through which its contents are visible, and a lock which can only be opened by one acquainted with the keymumber or combination, substantially as described.

2. A portable safe for transmitting money or other valuables, constructed in two parts, one fitting within the other and securely locked together, and having a certain part transparent for the purpose of making the contents visible, substantially as described.

3. In aportable safe for transmitting money, constructed with a transparent part for exposing the contents, said transparent portion being protected by an outer grating,substantiall y as described.

HORACE \V. WVOODRUFF.

WVitnesses:

WM. H. WILLIAMSON, EDWARD W. REo'roR.

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