US539737A - Electric treasure-guard - Google Patents

Description

i I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. HABERSHAM, on PORTLAND,OREGON.

ELECTRIC TREASURE-GUARD.

PEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,737 dated May 21, 1895.

Application filed January 3,1895.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. HABERSHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and Stateof Oregon,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Treasore-Guards; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a diagrammatic view illustrating the application of the in vention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the same. Fig. Sis a detail view showing the devices for holding and releasing the coin-box cover, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the circuits on a larger scale.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for the protection of those engaged in handling money and other valuables against robbery by violence; and the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in Fig. 1 of which I have represented diagrammatically the interior of a bank, or similar building, the letter A designates the counter or desk upon which money or other valuables are handled during business hours. Upon this counter I secure one or more brass or other metallic plates B, according to the business of the bank or otherinstitution, and the amount of valuables which it is desired to protect. Upon these plates are placed money or treasure boxes 0. These boxes are formed of steel or brass, strong enough to preventtheir being easily forced open, and having lids of the same material closing with a spring lock. These boxes are secured to the plates B in such a manner as to be immovable, and are of sufficient capacity to receive the ordinary coin boxes during business hours.

D, D are metallic plates, usually of brass which are secured to the floor upon each side of the counter. I

E-, E, designate electric wires which re- Serial No. 533,740. (No model.)v

ceive theircurrent from the positive and negative wires F, F, of the nearest electric plant, or in the absence of such a plant, from an electric battery capable of fn rnishinga current of considerable power. The wire E is connected to each of the metallic counter plates, as indigated, while the wire E is branched and connected to the two floor plates.

H is a double pole switch of which there .tion of the switch H, but I prefer to obtain this current by connections 0 from the main wires as indicated. A spring 0 may be employed to throw the lid down when the catch is released, or the lid may be arrangedto close by gravity. Upon occasion of attempt at robbery, any one in the bank by closing the switch completes the circuit through the magnets O closing the outer box 0, and at the same time charging the floor plates, counter plates and boxes. The complete circuit through the said plates and boxes is however not made until the robber by stepping on the door plates and placing his hand upon the counter plate or box completes it through his body and receives the full force of the current.

This form of the invention is more particularly designed for the protection of non-metallic articles. Where coin only is handled, the ordinary coin box, provided with a brass bottom will be sufficient. will rest on the brass counter plates when not in the safe or vault, and the coin itself can be charged with sufficient current at any moment to render it dangerous to touch.

The floor plates and counter plates should be well insulated from their supports where the character of the latter is such as to render insulation necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters- These coin boxes I with a counter upon which'money or other valuables are handled, of one or more metallic plates forming part of said counter, a metallie floor plate or plates adjacent to said counter, an electric circuit including therein said counter and floor plates, and capable of supplying a current of dangerous strength, a treasure box or boxes arranged to have metallic contact with said counter plates, and a switch for closing said circuit, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a metallic plate forming part of an electric circuit, of a coin box arranged to have metallic contact with said plate, a lid or closure for said box, an electro m'agnetic device for normally holding said lid or closure open, means for supplyingcurrent to said device,'and a switch for controlling the circuit of both the box and the electro-Inagnetic device, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT A. HABERSHA M.

Witnesses:

J. R. STODDARD, WM. FELDMAN.

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