US830098A - Watchman's key-box. - Google Patents

Description

No. 000,090. PATENTE@ SEPT. 4, 1900.

` A. A. NEWMAN.

WATG-HMANS KEY B0X.

ABPLIGATIONYFILED JUNE 5, 1905.

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.wea/5 UNITED STATES ABRAHAM A. NEWMAN,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATCH NIANS KEY-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed June 5,1905. Serial No.263,'728.

To all whom, 7275 may concern.-

Beit known that I, ABRAHAM A. NEWMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watchmens Key-Boxes, of which the following is a specication. y

My invention relates to improvements in watchmens key-boxes, and is fully described and explained in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the line2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is ahorizontalsection in the line 3 3 of Fig. I. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section in the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lower part of the device with the front plate removed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the edges of the front plate, and Fig. 7 is a section through the key-supporting device.

Referring to the drawings, A is a single sheet-metal box portion having a flat rear a, two forwardly-projecting sides a', and a forwardly-projecting top a2. The sides a are approximately twice as wide at the top as at the bottom and are extended upward beyond the top a? to form projecting ears a, to which is pivoted a sheet-metal cover B, preferably formed of a single piece of metal bent up, as indicated.

C indicates a front plate, the same being formed of a single piece of sheet metal. This front plate is carried back at c to close the lower end of the box member A and is car ried down at c from the portion c, the lower end of said member being secured in place by a screw passed through the portion c and the lower end of the box member A into a wall or other support. Removal of the plate is prevented by covering the screw with aseal c2, which may be of wax, lead, or any other substance, although in practice I prefer to use a piece of paper pasted over the head of the screw, the paper being preferably written or marked in some distinctive manner. The upper end of the front plate C is held in place by a similar screw c3, the head of the screw being sealed, as is the lower screw. The upper end of the front plate C is notched at c4, the web of metal knocked back from the notch being carried down to form a curved portion c5, which forms the bottom of a guide for the key supporting flexible member.

The sides of this guide are formed by a sheetmetal member D, the upper portion of which is bent into a U shape, which surrounds the space behind the notch C". One arm d of the U is carried down and bent into a tube d', which surrounds the screw c3, forming a tubular strut, which braces the front plate.

E indicates a member, preferably of wire, which acts to guide a weight and also to automatically close the cover, as will be hereinafter described. This member passes through a perforation in a weight F, which is movable in the hollow box, the structure of which has been set forth, and serves to guide said weight, the lower end of said member being bent over at e to form a weight-stop. vThe upper end of the member E is carried through the top a2 of the case, the opposite end of the member being bent back parallel to the main portion and passed down in a similar manner. The two parallel parts of the member E are carried forward in parallel horizontal portions c2, which reach approximately to the front of the casing, then upward in the parallel vertical. portions c3, and then across in a horizontal central portion e".

The end of the cover B adjacent to the pivot thereof-that is, the end designated in the drawings by b-is carried forward to form a lug b, which engages the loop fdrmed at the upper end of the member E, raising the member E a short distance when the cover is lifted up to the position illustrated in the solid lines in the drawings.

T o the weight F is connected one end of a cord G, the opposite end of which is carried to a key ITI by a link g of considerable length. An armor layer I in the form of a wire coil surrounds the'cord G, extending from a point thereon near the weight to a point well over the upper end of the link g.

The edges of the front plate C are carried back at intervals to form lugs c, which are adapted to grasp a sheet of paper or other comparatively soft material, which may be used, if desired, for advertising, but which serves the particularly useful function of protecting the numeral, which is usually embossed on the key, from abrasion against the metallic front of the box. y

The operation of my improved device will be readily apparent. When the cover is closed, the parts occupy the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2-01. c., the weight is at the bottom of its movement and IOO IIO

the key is raised and inclosed by the cover. When in this position, the key is protected from abrasion and also from the accumulation of dust and dirt, which might operate to fill up the interstices of the numeral thereon. When the watchman wishes to use the key for making an impression on the paper in the clock which he carries, he raises the cover to the position shown in-solid lines in Fig. 2, whereby the loop on the weight-guided member is raised, causinU the rise of the weight. I-Ie then grasps the rey, pulling it out from the box to make his impression therewith. This raises the weight in the box to the position shown in Fig. 2, the weight sliding up the member E. YV hen he is through with the key, he releases it, whereupon the weight falls, pulling the key back into position. The momentum of the weight exerts suilicient force on the stop to cause the cover to swing over the dead-center and fall into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The key is thus automatically returned to position and covered up.

My device is particularly advantageous, because the key is protected from abrasion and from lilling up with dirt at all times,

these results being accomplished without any ei'liort on the part of the watchman. Boxes have heretofore been provided for receiving keys; but it is almost impossible to get a watchman to return the key to its proper place, the key being frequently left hanging on the chain, when it can swing against the wall of the building and get injured. The use of the spiral armor on the cord makes the string. run through the guide with special freedom and is further advantageous, because it makes it practically impossible for the watchman to remove the key from the Supporting-cord without detection. IIeretofore chain has been used -for supporting the key; but the great objection to this form of support lies in the fact that the watchman can separate one of the links and remove the key, carrying it around with him overnight and returning it in the morning, and only the most careful inspection will show that the change has been made. With my device the slightest injury to the armor is readily apparent, so that an occasional more or less casual inspection will be suilicient cheek upon the watchman. Moreover, if the cord to which the key is attached is severed the weight will immediately pull the same within the box, where it will be inaceessible to the watchman and he will be detected.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of this construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, intend to limit myseli' to the specific form herein shown and described.

I claim as new and desire ters Patentl. The combination with a receptacle, olt a cover for the same pivoted upon a pivot stationary with reference to the receptacle, a key, a motor device, a flexible connection between the key and motor device, whereby when the key is withdrawn 'from the receptacle power is stored in the motor device and means of connection between the pivoted cover and the motor device whereby the motor device ellects the return of the key and its inclosure by the pivoted cover.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, a key and a motor device in which power stored by the withdrawal of the key and a connection from the key to the motor device, of a pivoted cover, a stop for the motor device and means of connection between the stop and cover whereby the motor device 'lirst returns the key to position and subsequently actuates the cover to inclose the key.

3. In a device oi" the class described, the combination with a receptacle, a key, a flexible connection running from said key to an inaccessible point behind said receptacle, a cover for the receptacle movable independently of the key and connection, and means whereby the return ot the key actuates the cover. t

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a motor device, a stop for limiting the movement ot' the motor device in one direction, a key and l'lexible connection between the key and the motor device whereby when the key is moved in one direction power is stored in the motor device to e'l'l'eet its return, of a cover arranged to inclose the key and means elz connection between the stop and the cover.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a weight, a stop ler the weight, a key, and a Vflexible connection between the weight and key, olt a cover, and means connecting the stop and cover, whereby the cover is closed when the weight reaches the stop.

6. In a device of' the class described, the combination with a vertical box, a weight vertically movable therein, a key, means ol connection between the key and weight, and a stop for the weight, of a cover hinged to the vertical box, and means el" connection between the stop and cover, operating to close thecover when the weight reaches the stop.

7. In a device oil the class described, the combination with a vertical box, a weight movable in the box, a key outside the box and a flexible connection extending through an opening in the upper portion of the box, connecting the weight and key, of a cover pivoted to the top of the box, and having a llug adjacent te its pivot, a stop for" the to secure by Ilet- IOO ITO

weight, a member in position to engage the lug, and means of connection between the member and stop.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a key, of a flexible connection device the lower portion`of which is connected to the key and the opposite end of which is in an inaccessible position, of an armor for the flexible device extending to the key, the opposite end of the armor extending to an inaccessible position and said armor being constructed of such material as to show abrasion or mutilation readily.

9'. In a device of the class described, the combination with a key, of a flexible connec* tion device, the lower portion of which consists of a comparatively long link or loop passed through the key, and the opposite end Aof which is in an inaccessible position, of an armor for the flexible device extending over said loop or link, the opposite end of the armor extending to an inaccessible position, and said armor being constructed of such matlerial as to show abrasion or mutilation read- 1 y.

l0. In a device of the class described, the combination with a key, of a flexible connecting device, the lower end of which consists of a loop or link, and a wire armor surrounding the flexible connecting device, one end ofthe armor extending over said loop or link and the other following the flexible connecting device into an inaccessible position.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a key, of a flexible connecting device, the lower portion fof which consists of a link or loop, an unbroken portion of which extends through said key, of a spiral wire-coil surrounding the flexible connecting device and extending from an inaccessible position thereon well over the link or loop.

In witness whereof I have signed the above application for Letters Patent, at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this lst day of June, A. D. 1905.

ABRAHAM A. NEWMAN.

Witnesses:

CHAs. O. SHERVEY, K. M. CoRNwALL.

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