US416049A - Lock for milk-cans - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. D. CAEL. LOOK FOR MILK CANS.

No. 416,049. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

UNITED STATES PA'TENT OFFICE. if

JOSEPH l). UAEL, 0F \VILMINGTON, DELATVARE.

LOOK FOR MILK-CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,049, dated November 26, 18189. Application filed August 13, 1889. $erial No. 320,565. (No model.)

lb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH D. UAEl, of \Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Looks for Milk-Vessels; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification. My invention relates to certain devices for removably locking milk-cans or other vessels to the outside of buildings.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby a milk or other can or vessel can be securely locked to the outside of the dwelling by the milkman, and which cannot be removed by any one from the outside of the building untila door or window is opened, so that a key can be operated to release the can or vessel by a person belonging to the house; and a further object is to provide the lock with a device which can be operated by a person at any convenient time to instruct or indicate to the milkman how much milk or cream to leave when he makes his trip, whereby it is not necessary to disturb the inmates of the houses in the early morning, when milk is usually delivered. These objects are accomplished by and my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the exterior of a portion of a door-frame, showing the lock and a can or vessel supported thereby and locked to the door-post. Fig. 2 is a detail front view of the device 011 the door-frame, showing the can and the tongue by which it is held. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the look without the can. Fig. 4 is a section of the lock on the line at 420, Fig. 2, showing in section the can held in position and suspended from the lock. Fig. 5 is a section taken in the plane y y, Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are details. Figs. 8 and 9 are views of modifications.

In the drawings, the reference-letter to illdicates the side of a door-frame, and b indicates a milk-can or other vessel. A look 1s secured to the exterior of the door-frame at a suitable height, and this look consists of a strong rigid inclosing-case 0, right angled in shape and rigidly secured to the frame, so

that a portion of the case will rest on the outer face of the frame and the other arm or portion a on the inner face of the frame. The outer edge of the inner arm is provided with a strongly constructed vertical undercut or dovetailed way or locking-slot cl, open atboth ends. Longitudinally-movable locking pin or latch 6 extends through the portiona of the case, with its outer locking end normally and yieldingly held, extendingthrough an opening in the rear wall of said Way into the same, by means of the spring f, embracing said pin. The upper side of the outer end of the pin is beveled outwardly, as shown. The interior of the case is of course provided with suitable guides to guide and hold the latch-pin in its movements. A key or rod 9 is loosely connected with the latch-pin and extends rearwardly toward the door, so that when the door is closed the end of said rod will bear against the same and thereby prevent the rod from being drawn back to Withdraw the latch-pin from the way. This rod 9 has a bent end extending into a short groove in thelatch-pin, so that the pin can be pushed back independent of the rod a sufficient distance to withdraw its locking end from the groove.

The milk-can or other vessel 1) has avertical block h rigidly secured to the side thereof, and this block is provided with a vertical dovetailed tongue 70, to snugly fit and yet easily slide into or out of the way or groove in the lock. The lower end of the tongue is beveled upwardly, and within its length the tongue is provided with a notch or recess 1, having a straight shoulder at its lower edge, and the upper end of the tongue is provided with an outwardly-projecting ledge or shoulderj. (See Fig. 6.) Thus it will be readily seen that when the milkman arrives in the early morning all he does is to fill the can and insert the lower beveled end of the supporting-tongue k in the upper open end of the locking slot or way of the lock, force the same down, and the lower beveled ICO end of the tongue will engage the outer beveled end of the latch and push the same out of the groove and allow the tongue to vslide into the same until the ledge j rests on the top edge of the lock-casing, and thereby sup ports the can, while the latch-pin under the influence of its spring will fly into the recess "5 when the supporting-tongue has passed down a certain distance, and thereby prevent the tongue from being Withdrawn from the groove until the door is opened, so that the latch-pin can be drawn back by the key or releasing-rod.

The portion of the lock-casing on the outer face of the door-frame is provided with a pair of slides Z I, located beneath the outer wall of the casing, and provided with knobs or projections extending through slots in the casing and by which the slides are moved. Each of these slides is provided with a scalesuch as one qt, one pt., &c.and the casing is provided with openings, as shown, over each scale-plate just large enough to exhibit one character on each plate. One scale is intended to indicate the amount of cream desired and the other the amount of milk, and they can be set the night before, so as to be ready for the milkman in themorning. The plates can be provided with friction-springs to hold the same in adjustment. (See Fig. 5.)

In Fig. 7 the latch-pin is shown provided with a rigid extension intended for use without bearing against a door. For in stance, the extension might extend through the framing into the interior of the house.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 can be secured to a door as well as to the door-frame. This is advantageous, as ,many door-frames are beveled or rounded on the edge, so that the angular lock-frame cannot be used, while the construction of Fig. 8 can be used on either side of a door-frame or on right or left hand doors by simply reversing it.

The block h of Fig. 9 is reversible by having two notches it, either one of which can be engaged by the locking-pin e.

The great advantages of such a device as the present invention are obvious. The

milk-cans and their contents cannot be stolen or removed when left at the doors of dwellings.

It is evident that various changes might be made in the form and arrangements of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; henceI do struction herein set forth.

hat I claim is 1. A milk can or vessel having a tongue or projecting lock rigidly secured thereto, in combination with a casing secured to the exterior of a door-frame, having an open locking-slot to receive said tongue and a spring-- latch in said casing to automatically lock the tongue in said slot, provided with means whereby the latch can be operated to release the tongue, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a lock secured to the exterior of a building, of a can or vessel provided with a tongue to enter said lock, whereby the can is locked to and supported by said lock, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a casing secured to the exterior of a building and having a loekingslot and-a spring-latch normally extending into said slot and provided with a releasing rod or key, of a can or vessel provided with a supporting-tongue adapted to fit and be locked in said slot by the latch, substantially as described.

l. The combination, with a casing secured to the exterior of a building and having a locking-slot, a spring-latch normally extending into said slot, said casing being provided with an indicating device to indicate the quantity of milk or cream desired, of a can or vessel provided with a tongue to fit and be locked in said slot by the latch, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH D. CAEL.

itnesses:

THEODORE l\IUNGEN, CHARLES M. WERLE.

not Wish to limit myself to the precise con-

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