US897837A - Box-fastener. - Google Patents

Description

ITO- 897,837. PATENTEUSEPT. 1, 1908.

ELENKEY 6: J. SZALAY.

BOX FASTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1908.

4 l/V NTORSI ATTORNEY 5 1n: NORRIS PETERS co., wAsmuunm, n. c.

FRANK LENKEY AND JOSEPH SZALAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOX-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed May 12, 1908. Serial No. 432,425.

Hungary, and residents of the city of New York, in the county of New York and. State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to looks for receptacles, and more particularly to a de vice of this general character, having means for automatically permitting the hinged cover of a box or receptacle to be closed, but not to let it open unless its latch or bolt is withdrawn by means which are not generally known to the public, but only to the proprietor of the receptacle.

The object of the invention is to provide a lock of this general character of a simple and inexpensive nature and of a compact, strong, and durable structure having as few parts as possible.

Another object of the invention is, as mentioned hereinbefore, to provide a lock of such a character, whereby the box or receptacle can be opened only by a person knowing the location and mode of operation of the latch-operating mechanism.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts of the improved lock, whereby certain important advantages are attained, and the device is rendered simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use.

More particularly, the invention consists of a latch, being under the tension of a spring that drives it in the keeper, when the cover of the receptacle is closed, and which may be withdrawn by means of a latch-operating mechanism, arranged on the receptacle, or more particularly on the cover of the same, so that the outer surface of this operating mechanism coincides with the outer surface of the receptacle,whereby it becomes rather di'flicult to find the same by a person not knowing its location.

The invention is illustrated in .the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a box or case provided with the improved lock, constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the lock, and Fig. 3 a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the lock is applied to a receptacle or box having the shape of a book, and consisting of a receptacle or body portion 1 of elongated rectangular form with an open top, and a cover 2 of a similar configuration and secured to said body portion by means of hinges 3, 3 in suchamanner as to permit said cover to swing freely open or to be closed. Obviously this receptacle and cover may be made of any desired suitable material, as for instance of wood or metal.

The improved lock is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings and consists of a latch bolt 4, made preferably of a wire of suitable thickness and length and slidably arranged in a groove 5 of the cover 2. latch bolt shoots into a keeper 6, secured to one of the side walls of the receptacle 1, and consisting of an L-shaped member 7, secured to the receptacle by means of screws 8, 8, and provided with a hole 9 which is engaged by the latch bolt 4, when the box is closed. It is obvious that the keeper may be made in any other suitable manner and arranged on the box in a manner well known in the art, it being essential that a recess or hole should be formed thereon, into which the latch bolt may be driven.

The latch bolt 4 is pivoted to a lever 10 at 11, the free end of the lever being pivoted at 12 to the cover 2 of the box. This lever 10 is arranged in a triangular groove 13, so that it may swing around its pivot 12, but is normally kept against a block 14 by means of a spring 15, which latter forces the lever and the block 14 against the push button 16, operating the lock.

The push button and the block are located in a recess 17 of the cover 2, the push button being adapted to move at right angles to the outer surface of the box, while the block 14 is capable of sliding in the recess 17 parallel to the surface of the cover. For this urpose the push button consists of a circu a1 disk 16, having its outer end 16 reduced in di ameter and snugly fitting a hole 18 of the cover 2. The disk 16 is tapered toward its periphery at 19 and normally rests on the tapered surface 20 of the block 14. The parts of the lock, arranged on the cover 2, are kept thereon by a plate 22, secured to the cover 1n any suitable manner.

The operation of the invention will be readily understood. When it is desired to This open the box, the operator presses the push til the box is entirely closed, when the spring button 16 inward, whereby the tapered surface 19 of the same will slide on the tapering surface 20 of the block 14, and thus move the same in the recess 17 toward the spring 15, whereby the lever is swung around its pivot and thus the latch 4 disengaged with its keeper. In order to make the opening of the box automatic, a spring 23 is placed into a recess 24, arranged in one of the side walls of the receptacle 1, which spring acts against a pin 25 sliding in this recess. This pin is on its inner end provided with an enlarged por tion 26, againstwhioh the spring 23 bears,

and is guided by a cover plate 27, covering the recess 24 and being provided with a hole 28, through which the pin 25 projects. Normally, that is when the box is closed, the cover 2 of thesame keeps the pin 25 in the recess and keeps thus the spring 23 compressed. As soon as the latch bolt is withdrawn, the spring 23 acts, forcing the pin 25 outward and opening thereby the box. The box being opened, spring acts upon the lever 10 and brings thus the block 14 and the push button 15 back to its normal position. In order to close the box, it is necessary to press the cover 2 against the receptacle 1, and since the end 4 o'f'the latch bolt 4 is tapered, this latter will first bear against the L-shaped keeper and be pushed inwardly un- 15 drives the latch bolt into its keeper.

l/Vhat we claim is:

1. In a lock, the combination with a keeper, of a latch bolt adapted to engage the same, an oscillating lever connected to said latch bolt, a push button, an intermediate member between said lever and said push button, and a resilient means keeping said bar and said intermediate member in operative engagement with said push button and said latch bolt in engagement with said keeper.

2. In a lock, the combination with a keeper, of a latch bolt engaging the same, an oscillating lever connected to said latch bolt, a push button having an inclined lower surface, an intermediate member between said. push button and said bar and having an inclined surface bearing against the similar surface of said push button, and a spring keeping said bar and said intermediate member in operative engagement with said push button and said latch bolt in engagement with said keeper.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this th day of April, A. D. 1908.

FRANK LENKEY.

JOSEPH SZALAY.

Witnesses:

SIGMUND HERZOG, S. BIRNBAUM.

Images