US440249A - Coin-controlled opera-glass - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

H. COSTELLO. OOIN CONTROLLED OPERA GLASS.

No. 440,249. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

' UNrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. COSTELLO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROLLED OPERA-GLASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,249, dated November 11, 18 90.

Application filed October 1, 1889. Serial No. 325,713. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

ful Improvement in Coin- Controlled Opera- Glasses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, the handle being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section looking to the right at line 3 of Fig. 2 through the locking devices. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the locking devices, the case containing such devices beingin section and one tube of the opera-glass being removed. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section at line 5 of Fig. i. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the case, the lower end being broken off. Fig. 7 is a detail of the pivoted plate in the case.

This invention relates to opera-glasses designed to be secured to the arms of operachairs in theaters and other places of amusement, and has for its object to render such opera-glasses incapable of use without first inserting a coin of the proper denomination into the case attached to the opera-glass and containing the locking devices, which I accomplish as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described. That whichIclaim as new will be pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents an operaglass of the ordinary construction, each tube of which is provided with a slot a, located a short distance from the object-glass.

'b is a frame attached to the opera glass frame, to which frame I) the case B containing the operating devices'is secured in any suitable manner.

C is a plate pivoted at one of its lower corners by a pivot c to one side of the case B. As shown,it is provided on the edge opposite to the pivot c with a projection d, rounded off a little on its upper corner and having its lower edge inclined, as shown in Fig. 7.

e is a fixed hook formed with or rigidly se cured to the plate C.

Zis a spring secured to the case B and connected'with the plate C in such manner as to keep the upper end of the plate thrown to one side, as shown in Fig. 4.

D is another plate in the case B at one side of the plate C. Attached to one face of the plate D and projecting slightly beyond one edge thereof is a piece f, the inner edge of which is curved, as shown in Fig. 3, to correspond to the circle of the coin to be used.

g is a block on the face of the piece f, near its upper edge.

h is a shoulder on the plate D, adapted to engage with the hook e. v

E is a slide, to which is securedthe piece f, which piece projects into the case B through a long slot 7' cut in one edge of the case B. As the piece fprojects beyond one edge of plate D, a groove will be formed when the piece f and slide E are secured together, into which one wall .9 of the long slot r projects, the wall 75 on the other side of the slot lying between the slide E and the block g. The slide is further held closely to the case by two side extensions 1', formed with the slide and bent over so as to lie against the sides of the case B. At the upper end of the slide E are two arrnsj, which are bent, as shown in Fig. 1, each of which terminates in a shutter F, adapted to enter one of the slots at and prevent the opera-glass from being used by covering the object-glasses.

k is a finger-piece on the lower end of the slide E.

m is a coin-slot in one side of the case B.

n is a piece secured to the case B above and at one side of the coin-slot m, to direct the coin to the proper position in the case.

0 represents a coin.

1) represents a suitable door in the lower end of the case B, by opening which the coin inserted through the slot on can be removed.

G is a handle secured to the lower end of the case B.

q is a chain attached to the lower end of the handle G for securing the device to the back or arm of an operachair.

When the operaglass is first attached to an 0pera-chair or other support, the parts are to be left in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the shutters F will be held opposite the object-glasses of the opera-glass and prevent its being used. In order to withdraw these shutters so that the glass can be used, a coin of the proper denomination must be inserted in the slot m, when it will fall into the position shown in Fig.3, one edge resting against the curved side of the piece f and the opposite edge against the hook e, which hook is broader than the plateD and projects enough to one side of such plate to engage the coin. The slide E is then to be pulled down by means of the finger-piece 7a, which will cause the coin to bear against the fixed hook e and push it and the plate 0, to which it is rigidly secured, to one side, the block 9 at the same time passing to one side of the projection d. When the center of the coin has passed the hook e, the coin will be released and will fall into the bottom of the case B, from which it can afterward be removed by the person having a key to the door 17. As soon as the coin has dropped, the plate 0 will be forced back by the spring lintoits normal position. When it is desired to again obstruct the tubes of the opera-glass by the shutters F, the slide E is to be pushed up, carrying with it the piece f and plate D, the block g on the piece f readily pushing past the projection d on the plate C, as the lower end of the projection 61 is inclined and without a shoulder. As soon as the block 9 has passed the projection d the plate 0 will be returned to its normal position,

so that the hook e will engage the shoulder h and stop the upward movement of the slide and the parts attached thereto. After being pushed up, the slide cannot be drawn down until another coin of the proper denomination has been inserted in the case B, as the .block g, coming in contact with the shoulder on the upper end of the projection (1, will prevent such downward movement.

The plate D and piece f can be'inade of a single piece, if desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

The combination, with an opera-glass having tubes provided with slots at, and the case B, rigidly connected to said tubes and containing a coin-controlled mechanism,- of the vertically-movable slideE, secured to a moving part of said mechanism and carrying at its upper end the two shutters F Radapted to enter the slots at and obstruct the obj ectglasses, substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS H. COSTELLO.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, HARRY T. JONES.

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