IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES APPLICABLE TO POCKET- BOOKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR CONTAINING MONEY
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES APPLICABLE TO POCKET-
BOOKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR CONTAINING MONEY." A communication
from abroad by John Wesley Meaker, of Auburn, New York, United States
of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES
APPLICABLE TO POCKET-BOOKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR CONTAINING MONEY."
A communication from abroad by John Wesley Meaker, of Auburn, New York,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to port-monnaies or pocket-books, and has for its object
to adapt the same for more convenient use for coin by providing a receptacle in
which coins may be exposed for inspection in a horizontal position, and for this
purpose moved about by the finger, and from which a selected coin may be con-
veniently withdrawn by a sliding or slipping movement of the same under pressure
of the finger. In this improvement especial reference is had to the difficulties
attending these operations in the use of the ordinary form of pocket-books and
purses, particularly when the hands are in gloves. According to this Invention
I provide a pocket book or purse with a compartment which has a fastening that
may be opened only when the said compartment is in a horizontal position, and
with an inclined rigid side or bottom in such receptacle or compartment by which
the coin selected and desired to be withdrawn may be readily slid out. The
said Invention comprises several other features of construction hereinafter
described.
The coin receptacle should preferably be entirely rigid. It is sufficient for
practical purposes, however, if the inclined bottom or side thereof be rigid, or
rigidly supported, so that under the pressure of the finger said side or bottom will
guide the coin upward out of the receptacle.

page_text: Said receptacle may be so arranged and combined in the pocket-book as to be
uncovered by a lid, or it may be arranged as a slide or drawer, disclosing its
contents by being slid or drawn partly out of the body of the book. I prefer the
latter arrangement.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a sheet metal shell of
general triangular form when viewed in transverse section; the parts covering
said shell include a band of leather which surrounds the shell closely and a number
of pockets attached thereto, together with their flaps and fastenings, which pockets
are arranged on both sides of the shell or case, but are in themselves wholly of the
ordinary construction. There is a handle by which the pocket-book is carried or
suspended, being attached to the body of the book at the thin margin of the shell.
I provide a drawer made of sheet metal and fitted to slide into the shell at one of
its triangular ends, which is left open for this purpose.
The sheet metal shell is formed of a blank which is bent to parti-cylindric form
at the central line so as to bring the sides towards each other, and is further and
more sharply bent in other lines so as to bring the edges together in the base of
the triangle so formed, at which point said edges are soldered together. Short
'wings or flanges provided on the opposite margins of the blank are thrown up for
the purpose of furnishing a ready and secure fastening for the leather, which
immediately covers the sides of the shells. When said leather has been applied
closely to the interior of the shell the flanges are preferably pressed down firmly
over the edges of said leather. Thus turned the flanges not only hold the
shell and leather from relative longitudinal movement, but form a part of the
ornamental ends of the book. One end of the shell is closed by a sheet metal head
set into said end, and soldered or otherwise secured in place. To this head is
For the
applied an ornate facing of tortoise shell or other suitable material.
purpose of holding such facing in place the head is made wide enough to allow its
longer or vertical edges to be turned outward, and after the head is fastened the
facing is inserted between said edges, which are then pressed inward upon the
corresponding edges of the facing so as to hold the latter firmly in position. The
facing is prevented from slipping out endwise by the shell, within which it is thus
held.
The drawer may be a wholly rigid receptacle, the parts of which will be
described with reference to its normal or horizontal position when open. Said
drawer is preferably of sheet metal, consisting essentially of an inclined bottom or
side, a vertical back, and two vertical ends, with a supporting marginal part. The
back slides contiguous to the base of the triangular shell and the ends fit closely
but freely within said shell.
The drawer is arranged to stand, when in position to be opened, with the back
outward, and therefore with the free edge of its inclined bottom inward or towards
the person. The inner margin of the drawer terminates in a tube which fits the
curve of the shell. Said tube is preferably made of the same piece of sheet metal,
with the bottom, in which case said bottom may first rise to near the level of the
top of the tube, and thence be bent downward and about to complete the tube.
The object of the tubular form of finish for the margin of the drawer is three-
fold. First, to give a desirable thickness and rigidity to this part of the drawer;
second, to support said margin of the drawer by its bearings in the shell when
drawn out; and third, to provide space for parts of the locking device which will
be hereafter explained.
The outer or exposed end of the drawer is provided with an ornamental facing
corresponding with that of the case or shell already described. The facing is
restrained from withdrawal endwise by a bar (belonging to the locking mechanism)
which passes through holes.
The drawer and the upper inner face of the shell are lined with velvet or other
suitable material for the purpose of preventing noise from movement of the coin
within its inclosure. The surface of the metal being suitable, or suitably prepared,
the lining is cemented thereto by some adhesive substance.. The exposed edges

page_text: thereof are additionally held or protected so far as possible or necessary. Thus the
upper edge of the back lining of the drawer is held by being clamped beneath a
flange turned down upon it from the upper margin of the back. The front edge
of the bottom lining is disposed within a groove where it is not exposed. Said
edge may be clasped at this point beneath the edge of this metal if desired. The
upper edge of the inner end lining is held, as that of the back lining is held, by
being clamped beneath the overturned edge. For the purpose of securing the upper
edge of the outer end lining a metal end piece or head (whose margin is used to
hold the external ornament, and is therefore not available to secure the lining)
is provided with a long narrow slot near said margin, through which slot the
lining passes, being folded over on the outside of said head, and held by or beneath
the facing. The lining on the upper inner face of the shell is made secure by being
set and cemented in a depression of said face. The shell is provided with two
such depressions opposite to and corresponding with each other, made before the
blank from which the shell is formed is bent; and the lining mentioned is fixed
in one of these depressions also before the blank is bent. The opposite and vacant
depression serve to prevent the drawer or its inner head from binding on the shell
when the drawer is slid, and also to strengthen the shell.
The locking devices of the coin receptacle will next be described.
Such devices should be contrived to allow the receptacle to open only when the
pocket-book is held in a horizontal or proximately horizontal position, in order
that the loosely contained coins may not be spilled when the receptacle is opened.
This effect is provided for in connection with the drawer form of receptacle, by
distinctively novel devices which consist generically in a fastening composed of two
moving parts, one of which is attached to the drawer and the other to the shell, said
parts being actuated to mutual engagement by springs, and being combined with a
stop or stops applied to one or the other, whereby the parts are allowed to disengage
only when the pocket-book is held in the required or horizontal position. The stop
may be applied to either the drawer part or to the shell part of the fastening.
In a spring-catch attached to to the drawer a rotating and protruding bar is
supported, the outer end of a tube by a thick fixed tube or cylinder, and carries a
bent catch having a notch in its inclined upper surface.
The limit of rotation of the bar, and therefore of upward and downward swing
of the catch, is determined by a notch cut in the end of the tube. The bar is
rigidly connected at its inner end with a spring wire which extends through the
tube, and is fastened at its remote end to some stationary part of the drawer. In
securing the wire in place, as described, it is given a torsional strain which tends
to hold the catch in a raised position. The catch may be depressed by turning the
bar on its axis, and for this purpose a ring is hung loosely in the outer extremity
of the bar. By applying this ring so as to hang when the pocket-book is suspended,
it is also in the most favorable attitude to be conveniently seized between. the
thumb and fore-finger when the book is brought to a horizontal position pre-
paratory to loosening the catch and opening the drawer.
A projection is formed on the facing of the outer drawer-end, against which
projection a ring falls when the book is suspended from its handles. By means of
this projection the ring is sustained at a sufficient distance from the facing, to
enable it to be readily seized and raised when the drawer is to be opened.
To cooperate with the spring-catch of the drawer, mounted and operated as
described, the shell has a spring latch which engages with the notch of said drawer-
catch. The entire latch-device consists of a part cut from spring sheet metal,
having (1), a base portion; (2), an upturned end rising parallel with and in
proximity to the catch, and having a notch; and (3), a long tongue bent over to
lie in the latter notch, and extended to engage with the notch of the catch, as
already described. The base is fastened to the shell by solder or by rivets or
otherwise.
The torsion spring is stronger than the spring-latch, so that the latter is upheld
by the former above the bottom of the notch.

page_text: For the purpose of preventing the disengagement of the spring-catch and the
spring-latch when the drawer is not horizontal or nearly so, either one of two
means may be employed, namely, (1) a stop or stops to arrest the rotation of the
bar, and the consequent depression of the catch, and (2), a movable stop corre-
sponding in function with the bottom of the notch. I prefer the former. The
stops consist of two oppositely-inclined radial holes extending downward through
one wall of the cylinder (which is in thickness preferably about half the diameter
of the holes), and nearly or quite through the bar. In each of these holes is placed
a ball, which is of size suited to move freely but rather closely in the hole con-
taining it. The surrounding tube covers the holes and confines the balls. When
the pocket-book is held horizontally both balls fall wholly within the bar, and
offer no impediment to its rotation; but when the pocket-book is inclined in either
direction sufficient to allow one of the balls to roll outward, said ball, being partly
in the bar and partly in the oûter fixed cylinder, prevents rotation of the bar, and
consequently prevents disengagement of the catch.
In the application of the stop to the latch instead of to the catch, provision is
made for allowing the latch to follow the catch throughout the entire movement
of the latter, except when the pocket-book is horizontal or nearly so. For this
purpose the notch is made deep. Two forms of such application may be employed.
In one form the latch has a projection on its under face, and there are ears in
which is hung very loosely a bent wire yoke, which being always pendent swings
beneath the projection when the pocket-book is held horizontally, but which hangs
at one end or the other of such projection when the book is held much inclined
from a horizontal position. Nothing in this construction prevents the rotation of
the bar and the depression of the catch to the full extent of its possible movement
as allowed by the notch, but when the yoke engages the projection the latch is
arrested, and allows the catch to escape it, while if said yoke hangs at one side of
said projection the latch follows the catch, and continues in engagement therewith
throughout the range of its movement.
The latch may be arrested by other means operating to the same purpose, as the
pendent yoke; that is to say, I provide a cup having a concave bottom, and con-
taining a ball or shot which is retained in the cup by the latch, made broad at this
point for the puгрове. At the centre of the cup-bottom a small hole is provided,
over which the shot has obviously broader bearing, so that it will be retained at
this point by its gravity while the cup is slightly tilted, but from which it will
escape to one side if the cup or book is much inclined from the horizontal.
Directly over the centre of the cup the latch is provided with a depending pin
beneath which the shot may roll when the latch is normally supported by the
catch. Therefore when the book is brought to a horizontal position the ball rolls
inward to the centre of the cup, and if then the catch be depressed the pin strikes
the ball and arrests the catch, thereby allowing the catch to be freed. In any
much inclined position of the book, on the other hand, the ball will not be in place
to intercept the pin, and the latch will follow the catch, preventing disengagement
thereof.
The ball-stops applied to the bar and tube operate negatively, or by their non-
engagement, to allow the fastening to be released in the desired position of the
drawer, while the stops operate positively, or by their engagement, to effect the
same end.
The principles of the stop-device last above described may be adapted to a catch
applied to a fixed coin receptacle uncovered by means of a hinged lid instead of by
drawing out. A spring is provided, and on the bottom face of said spring is
secured a plate having a central hole of size to freely admit the ball or shot. The
spring bears upward, or at least stands elevated against or very near the catch-
spring, so that the shot may roll freely about in the cup beneath it in obedience to
gravity, and in accordance with the incline of the pocket-book from the horizontal.
Said spring is provided with an upward and backward incline, near and in front of
which the spring stands when in engagement with the hook or catch. When

page_text: therefore a stud is pushed inward to release the catch, the spring bears against the
incline and forces another spring downward. If the book is horizontal or nearly
so, the shot will be beneath the hole, and will thus allow the second spring to
descend and the other spring to recede to release the catch. If the book is much
inclined the shot will stand at one side of the cup and will strike the plate,
preventing the depression of the second spring and the retreat and disengagement
of the first spring.
The coin receptacle may be made of other material than sheet metal if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES
APPLICABLE TO POCKET-BOOKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR CONTAINING MONEY."
A communication from abroad by John Wesley Meaker, of Auburn, New York,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in pocket books or porte-monnaies, and
comprises various features hereinafter set forth which render these articles more
convenient for use than those heretofore måde.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is an end view of the pocket-book containing my improvements.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same in a horizontal position and with the
coin-drawer open.
Figure 3 is a central transverse section of the coin drawer and a surrounding
rigid case.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the pocket-book (without the outside pockets)
vertical to the same when held in a horizontal position.
Figure 5 is a central vertical section of the outermost drawer-end detached
together with a part of the rotating lock-bar.
Figure 6 shows the metal part of the said drawer-end both in elevation and
section detached.
Figure 7 shows the ornamental or finishing part of the said drawer-end both in
elevation and section detached.
Figure 8 is a view of the closed end of the case in which the drawer runs before
the leather or ornamental part is affixed thereto.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the case and drawer bottom up, the latter being
partly open and the former being broken away to show the several parts of the
locking mechanism thereto severally attached.
Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the drawer-catch and neighbouring
parts.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of the tube when the pocket-book is held in
a horizontal position, showing the torsion-spring, the rotating bar carrying the

page_text: catch and ring and the fixed tubular bearing of the bar together with the radial
holes and their contained balls.
Figure 12 is a transverse section of Figure 11 through line 12–12.
Figure 13 is a transverse section of Figure 11 through line 13-13.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the fastening devices that
is fixed within the shell of the pocket-book, being a modification in which the stop
is applied to the latch instead of to the rotating bar of Figures 10 and 11.
Figure 15 is a perspective view, and
Figure 16 is vertical sectional view of another form of latch and stop intended
to be applied to the shell.
Figure 17 is a plan view of a blank of which the shell is formed, shewing two
depressions therein, one of which has a piece of cloth fastened therein.
A, Figure 3, a sheet metal shell of general triangular form when viewed in
transverse section; B, B, are the parts covering the said shell, and are here shewn as
including a band of leather which surrounds the shell A closely and a number of
pockets attached thereto, together with their flaps and fastenings, which pockets
are arranged on both sides of the shell or case A, but are in themselves wholly of the
ordinary construction; C is a handle by which the pocket-book is carried or sus-
pended, being attached to the body of the book at the thin margin of the shell A;
D is a drawer made of sheet metal and fitted to slide into the shell A at one of its
triangular ends which is left open for this purpose.
The sheet metal shell is formed of a blank Å (Figure 17), which is bent to parti-
cylindric form at the central line a, a, so as to bring the sides towards each other,
and is further and more sharply bent in the lines a¹, a¹, a³, a², so as to bring the
edges a³ together in the base of the triangle so formed (as shown in Figure 3) at
which point the said edges are soldered together; short wings or flanges a*, pro-
vided on the opposite margins of the blank A' are thrown up for the purpose of
furnishing a ready and secure fastening for the leather which immediately covers
the sides of the shell. When the said leather has been applied closely to the
exterior of the shell the flanges at are preferably pressed down firmly over the
edges of the said leather, as shown in Figure 4; thus turned, the flanges not only
hold the shell and leather from relative longtitudinal movement, but form a part of
the ornamental ends of the book; one end of the shell A is closed by a sheet metal
head A set into the said end and soldered or otherwise secured in place, as shewn
in Figures 4 and 8. To this head is applied an ornate facing As of tortoise-shell
or other suitable material: For the purpose of holding such facing in place the
head A is made wide enough to allow its longer or vertical edges a³ (Figures 4 and
8) to be turned outward, and after the head is fastened the facing is inserted
between the said edges, which are then pressed inward upon the corresponding
edges of the facing A³ so as to hold the latter firmly in position. The facing is
prevented from slipping out end wise by the shell within which it is thus held.
The drawer D as is here shown is a wholly rigid receptacle, the parts of which
will be described with reference to its normal or horizontal position when open.
The said drawer is preferably of sheet metal consisting essentially of an inclined
bottom or side d, a vertical back d³, and two vertical ends Di and D³ with a 4
supporting marginal part D. The back D' slides contiguous to the base of the
triangular shell A, and the ends fit closely but freely within the said shell.
The drawer is arranged to stand when in position to be opened with the
back d' outward, and therefore with the free edge of its inclined bottom inward
or towards the person, as shewn in Figure 2. The inner margin of the drawer
terminates in a tube D³ which fits the curve of the shell at a (Figure 3). The
said tube is preferably made of the same piece of sheet metal with the bottom, in
which case the said bottom may first rise to near the level of the top of the tube D³,
and thence be bent downward and round to complete the tube, as seen clearly
in Figures 3 and 10. The object of the tabular form of finish for the margin of
the drawer is three-fold. First, to give a desirable thickness and rigidity to this
part of the drawer. Second, to support the said margin of the drawer by its.

page_text: bearing in the shell A when drawn out; and, third, to provide space for parts of
the locking device which will be hereinafter explained.
The outer or exposed end of the drawer D is provided with an ornamental
facing corresponding with that of the case or shell A, already described. Figure 6
shews the outer end piece or head D³ of said drawer with its marginal flanges d³,
and Figure 7 shows the ornamental facing D' fitted by its bevelled edges to set
within the said flanges d of the head D³. In this case the facing is restrained
from withdrawal endwise by the bar E (belonging to the locking mechanism),
which passes through the coincident holes a³ of the parts D³ and D³, as shewn in
Figure 5.
The drawer and the upper inner face of the shell A are lined with velvet or
other suitable material for the purpose of preventing noise from movement of the
coin within its enclosure. The manner of securing the lining is shewn in Figures 3
and 4. The surface of the metal being suitable or suitably prepared the lining is
cemented thereto by some adhesive substance. The exposed edges thereof are
additionally held or protected, so far as possible or necessary, as shewn. Thus the
upper edge of the back lining de of the drawer is held by being clamped beneath a
flange d turned down upon it from the upper margin of the back d', as seen in
Figure 3. The front edge of the bottom lining d³ is disposed within the groove d
(Figure 3), where it is not exposed. The said edge may be clasped at this point
beneath the edge of the metal if desired. The upper edge of the inner end lining d¹º
is held as that of the back lining is held, and as shewn on Figure 4, by being
clamped beneath the overturned edge of D¹. For the purpose of securing the upper
edge of the outer end lining d" the metal end piece or head D³ (whose margin is
used to hold the external ornament D* and is therefore not available to secure the
lining) is provided with the long narrow slot near the said margin, through
which slot the lining passes, being folded over on the outside of said head and held
by or beneath the facing D, as shown in Figure 4. The lining a on the upper
inner face of the shell is made secure by being set and cemented in a depression of
the said face, as shown in Figure 3. The shell A is provided with two such
depressions opposite to and corresponding with each other made before the blank A¹
from which the shell is formed is bent, and the lining mentioned is fixed in one
of these depressions, also before the blank is bent. The opposite and vacant
depression a' (Figures 3 and 17) serves to prevent the drawer or its inner head D'
from binding on the shell when the drawer is slid and also to strengthen the
shell.
The locking devices of the coin-receptacle will next be described.
Such devices should be contrived to allow the receptacle to open only when the
pocket book is held in a horizontal or proximately horizontal position in order that
the loosely contained coins may not be spilled when the receptacle is opened. This
effect is provided for by distinctively novel devices, which consist generically in a
fastening composed of two moving parts, one of which is attached to the drawer
and the other to the shell, the said parts being actuated to mutual engagement by
springs and being combined with a stop or stops applied to one or the other,
whereby the parts are allowed to disengage only when the pocket book is held in
the required or horizontal position. The stop may be applied to either the drawer
part or to the shell part of the fastening, and several alternative devices are herein
shown.
In the spring catch attached to the drawer, as here shown, the rotating and
protruding bar E is supported, the outer end of the tube D' by a thick fixed tube
or cylinder E³, and carries the bent catch E¹ having the notch e in its inclined upper
surface.
The limit of rotation of the bar E, and therefore of upward and downward swing
of the catch E, is determined by the notch e¹ cut in the end of the tube D³. The
bar E is rigidly connected at its inner end with a spring-wire e³, which extends
through the tube and is fastened at its remote end to some stationary part of the
drawer, as seen at e³, Figure 11. In securing the wire e³ in place, as described, it-

page_text: is given a torsional strain, which tends to hold the catch E¹ in the raised position
shown in Figure 10. The catch E' may be depressed by turning the bar E on its
axis, and for this purpose the ring E is hung loosely on the outer extremity of the
bar, as seen in various Figures of the Drawing. By applying this ring so as to
bang when the pocket-book is suspended, as shewn in Figures 1 and 5, it is also
in the most favorable position to be conveniently seized between the thumb and
fore-finger when the book is brought to a horizontal position preparatory to
loosening the catch and opening the drawer.
By reference to Figure 5 it will be seen that a projection d¹s is formed on the
facing D' of the outer drawer end, against which projection the ring E³ falls when
the book is suspended from its handle C. By means of this projection the ring is
sustained at a sufficient distance from the facing to enable it to be readily seized
and raised when the drawer is to be opened.
To co-operate with the spring catch F¹ of the drawer, mounted and operated as
described, the shell A has a spring latch F¹ (Figure 10), which engages with the
notch e of the said drawer catch. The entire latch device, as shown in this Figure,
consists of a part cut from spring sheet metal, having (1) the base portion F, (2)
the upturned end F raising parallel with and in proximity to the E' and having the
notch f, and (3) the long tongue F' bent over to lie in the notch f and extended to
engage with the notch e of the catch E¹, as already described and as clearly shown
in Figure 10. The base F is fastened to the shell by solder, or by rivets f',
or otherwise.
The torsion spring e' is stronger than the spring latch F¹, so that the latter is
held by the former above the bottom of the notch f, as shewn in Figure 10. So
far as above described the catch E' and latch F¹ operate as follows, to wit:-When
the drawer is open the latch F¹ rests on the bottom of the notch f, and the catch E¹
is held raised by the torsion spring e³. When the drawer is being closed the point
of the catch E¹ passes between the latch F¹, which being weaker than the torsion
spring is lifted and finally falls into the notch e. In opening the drawer the
catch E¹ is depressed by rotating the bar E as stated. The latch F' follows the
catch E' until the former strikes the bottom of notch f, where it is arrested, and
further rotation of the bar E carries the catch E¹ out of engagement with the latch
and permits the drawer to be drawn out.
For the purpose of preventing the disengagement of the spring catch and the
spring latch, as just described, when the drawer is not horizontal or nearly so either
one of two means may be employed, namely, (1), a stop or stops to arrest the
rotation of the bar E and the consequent depression of the catch E³; and (2), a
movable stop corresponding in function with the bottom of the notch f. I prefer
the former, and in Figure 11 are shewn the stops used to restrict the movement of
the catch E¹ operating in certain positions of the pocket book. The stops consist
of two oppositely inclined radial holes e extending downward through one wall of
the cylinder E' (which is in thickness preferably about half the diameter of the
holes), and nearly or quite through the bar E, as more plainly shewn in Figures 12
and 13. In each of these holes is placed a ball which is of size suited to move
freely but rather closely in the hole containing it. The surrounding tube D² covers
the holes and confines the balls. When the pocket book is held horizontally both
balls fall wholly within the bar E, and offer no impediment to its rotation; but
when the pocket book is inclined in either direction sufficient to allow one of the
balls to roll outward, the said ball being partly in the bar and partly in the outer
fixed cylinder E prevents rotation of the bar, and consequently prevent disengage-
ment of the catch E. The more nearly horizontal the holes e the more nearly
horizontal the pocket book must be held in order to be opened; this form of stop
is supposed to be present in the devices referred to in Figure 10.
In the application of the stop to the latch instead of to the catch, provision is
made for allowing the latch to follow the catch throughout the entire movement of
the latter except when the pocket book is horizontal or nearly so. For this purpose
the notch fis made deeper than shown in Figure 10. Two forms of such appli-

page_text: cation are shewn in Figures 14, 15, and 16. In Figure 14 the latch F¹ has a
projection on its under face, and the part F has the ears f³, in which is hung
very loosely the bent wire yoke f', which being always pendant swings beneath
the projection f' when the pocket book is held horizontally, but which hangs at
one end or the other of such projection when the book is held much inclined from
a horizontal position. Nothing in this construction prevents the rotation of the
bar E and the depression of the catch E¹ to the full extent of its possible move-
ment as allowed by the notch e' (Figure 10), but when the yoke f engages the
projection f the latch F' is arrested and allows the catch to escape it, while if said
yoke hangs at one side of the said projection the latch follows the catch, and
continues in engagement therewith throughout the range of its movement.
In Figures 15 and 16 the latch may be arrested by other means operating to
the same purpose as the pendant yoke f, that is to say, f' is a cup having a
concave bottom, and containing the ball or shot f which is retained in the cup by
the latch F¹, made broad at this point for the purpose. At the centre of the cup
bottom a small hole f³ is provided, over which the shot has obviously broader
bearing so that it will be retained at this point by its gravity while the cup is
slightly tilted, but from which it will escape to one side if the cup or book is much
inclined from the horizontal. Directly over the centre of the cup the latch FL is
provided with a depending pin f', beneath which the shot may roll when the latch
is normally supported by the catch E¹; therefore when the book is brought to a
horizontal position the ball rolls inward to the centre of the cup, and if then the
catch E be depressed the pin f' strikes the ball fs and arrests the latch, thereby
allowing the catch to be freed. In any much inclined position of the book, on the
other hand the ball will not be in place to intercept the pin f', and the latch will
follow the catch, preventing disengagement thereof.
It will be observed that the ball stops applied to the bar E and tube E³ operate
negatively or by their non-engagement to allow the fastening to be released in the
desired position of the drawer, while the stops shewn in Figures 14, 15, and 16,
operate positively or by their engagement to effect the same end.
The coin receptacle may be made of any other material than sheet metal if
desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. In a pocket book, the combination with the coin drawer of a rigid case or
shell surrounding the drawer, and an outer covering enveloping the case,
substantially as described.
Second. The pocket book consisting essentially of a central rigid coin recep-
tacle D, the surrounding rigid shell A, and the outer flexible leather work of
pockets B, B, secured to the shell, substantially as described.
Third. The combination in a pocket book of the central coin drawer D having
the sectionally triangular form shewn, the correspondingly shaped rigid shell A
closely surrounding the drawer, the outer leather work B, B, secured to the shell,
and the suspending handle C attached at the thinner margin of the pocket book
body, substantially as described.
Fourth. Combined with the surrounding rigid shell A, having the general form
shewn, the drawer D, having its back and the free edge of its inclined bottom fitted
to the shell, whereby the drawer is guided and supported from the shell when
drawn out at any distance, substantially as described.
Fifth. The shell A forming the enclosure of the drawer, and provided with the
depression over the drawer having the cloth a secured therein, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The shell A forming the enclosure of the drawer and constructed of a
single sheet of metal joined at the back of the drawer, substantially as described.
Seventh. In combination with the drawer and a relatively fixed part of the book

page_text: having a suitable latch, the rotating bar E, the attached catch E¹, and a torsion
spring e³, arranged and operating substantially as described.
Eighth. In combination with the drawer and the relatively fixed shell, a fastening
of the drawer consisting essentially of two movable parts, secured one to the drawer,
and the other to the shell, and each actuated by a spring to secure their mutual i
engagement when the drawer is closed, and a stop or stops arranged to operate in
a required position of the drawer to allow the fastening to be disengaged, substan-
tially as described.
Ninth. In the fastening for the draw the combination with the tube D of the
fixed cylinder E, the rotating bar E carrying the catch E' and the torsion spring e³, 1
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. In the fastening for the drawer the combination with the recessed
rotating bar E and its spring, and with the attached catch E' and its stop or stops
of the relatively fixed tube Es having inclined holes e opposite the recesses in the
bar E and the confined balls e, all arranged with reference to each other and to 1
the drawer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eleventh. In the drawer fastening comprising two moving parts attached, one to
the drawer, and the other to the shell, and both spring-actuated to mutually engage
as set forth, and also comprising a stop or stops arranged to procure the disen-
gagement of the parts in a certain position of the drawers, the part attached to the 2
drawer provided with a spring of greater strength than that attached to the shell,
substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
Twelfth. In combination with the vertically movable notched catch E¹, its
supporting spring and its arresting stop or stops, the spring latch F and the notched
upright part F together, arranged and operating substantially as described and for 2
the purposes set forth.
Thirteenth. Combined with the shell A. the depressed head or end piece A'
having lateral fingers a³ and the ornamental facing A³ secured by said flanges a³,
substantially as described.
Fourteenth. Combined with the drawer the end piece D³ having the flanges dª 3
and apertures d³, the facing d' fitted to enter between said flanges, and also having
the coincident aperture d³ and the bar E projecting through said aperture, as
shown, whereby the facing is held in place within the flanges of the end piece,
substantially as described.
Fifteenth. Combined with the ring E applied to the rotating bar E, the 3
projection d arranged to support the ring outward in position where it may
readily be seized aud raised, substantially as described.
Sixteenth. Combined with the outer end lining of the drawer the sheet metal
end piece D³ having the slot d³ and the outer facing d', together arranged as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty third day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.