Improvements in Locking Apparatus for Shop Tills, Drawers, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Apparatus for Shop Tills, Drawers, and
the like.
I WILLIAM PROWTING of 11, Lodge Road Avenue, Southampton, in the
County of Hampshire, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to locking apparatus applicable to shop tills drawers, and
similar fittings.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a simple and effective
apparatus for locking shop tills and the like.
My improved locking apparatus is so constructed, that a till or drawer can be
locked and unlocked without using a key.
The essential features of my invention consist in an arrangement of levers worked
by pedal action.
In making and fitting my locking apparatus to a till or drawer according to one
form or modification of my invention two levers are fitted in line, in suitable
bearings on the floor under the till and in a direction corresponding to that in
which the till opens and shuts each lever pivots vertically in a bearing at about
the centre of its length and the meeting ends of the levers are suitably linked
together.
The inner end of what I shall hereinafter refer to as the inner lever-namely the
one fitted furthest from the back of the counter-is also hinged or linked to a
vertical rod which passes up to the underside of the till under which it is then
cranked or turned into a direction towards the back of the counter and in a line
lengthways of the levers the cranked part is turned up at its end to form the
locking bolt which when the till is being locked passes into a hole provided in the
bottom of the till. A guide bracket is also fitted under the till to steady this rod
and to guide the locking bolt into the hole in the bottom of the till.
Under the inner end of the inner lever a spiral or other suitable spring is fitted
on the floor the end-opposite to where linked--of the other or outer lever extends
to the back of the counter and is formed into a pedal.
The action of the complete locking apparatus is as follows:-
Presuming the till is closed and it is desired to open same the operator places
one foot upon the pedal-that is the outer end of the outer lever-depressing same,
the opposite end of this lever is thereby elevated carrying with it the outer end of
the inner lever and simultaneously depressing the inner end of same bringing down
with it the vertical rod and therefore the locking bolt-which forms part of the
cranked part of the vertical rod as hereinbéfore described-the till is thus unlocked
and is free to be opened.
Meanwhile the spring-provided under the inner end of the inner lever and
vertical rod-is compressed and upon closing the till and removing the foot from
the pedal the spring forces the inner end of the inner lever upwards and consequently
the locking bolt which passes into the hole in the bottom of till whereby the latter
is locked and remains locked until the bolt is again released from the bolt hole in
till by repeating the herein before described unlocking operation.
The bolt hole will be suitably strengthened by a metal plate and a plate may also
be fitted on the bottom of the till forming a slide for the end of the locking bolt.
By means of my invention it is impossible for a till-to which it is fitted-to be
opened except by a person standing behind the counter and as a further security it
is provided that the pedal lever and other parts of the apparatus shall be enclosed

page_text: in a suitable casing leaving only enough space above the pedal for the insertion of
the foot of the operator.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Apparatus for Shop Tills, Drawers, and
the like.
I WILLIAM PROWTING, of 11, Lodge Road, Avenue, Southampton, in the
County of Hampshire, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to locking apparatus applicable to shop tills, drawers and
similar fittings.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a. simple and effective
apparatus for locking shop tills and the like.
My improvements when applied to tills or drawers admit of them being locked
and unlocked without using a key for the purpose.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1, is a side elevation partly in section shewing my apparatus as fitted to a till,
the till being in the closed and locked position.
Fig. 2, a part plan on top of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a side elevation partly in section shewing the till open and the locking
gear and till in the unlocked position.
Fig. 4, an end view of Fig. 1.
Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.
In making and fitting my locking apparatus to a till or drawer A according to
one form or modification of my invention, two levers a, and b, are mounted in
bearings c, and d, in a direction corresponding to that in which the till opens and
shuts, the said bearings being secured to a base board, or to the floor direct.
The levers a, and b, pivot vertically in the bearings c, d, and the meeting ends of
the said levers are suitably linked at e.
The lever a, is also suitably hinged at f, to a vertical rod 9, which passes up to
the underside of the till, under which it is cranked in a direction towards the back
of counter, the end of this cranked part of the rod g, is turned up and forms a
locking bolt 2, the till being locked, when this bolt g², passes into the hole h, in the
bottom of the till.
A fixed bracket , is provided for the purpose of steadying the rod y, and
guiding the bolt 92,-forming part of the former-into the hole h, in bottom
of till.
Under the inner end of the inner lever a-and consequently under the bottom
end of the rod g,-I provide a suitable spring j, fitted and fixed on the base board
or floor.
a,
The action of the complete apparatus is as follows.
Presuming the till is closed and it is desired to open same, the operator places
one foot upon the pedal b', thereby depressing same, the opposite end 62, of this
lever is thereby elevated, carrying with it. the end p, of the lever simultaneously
and consequently the end, of the lever a, is depressed, the rod g, is thus brought
down and the bolt g², therefore disengaged from the bolt hole h, in the bottom of till
and the latter is thus unlocked and free to he opened. Meanwhile the spring j, is
compressed and upon closing the till and removing the foot it (the spring) forces
the end f, of the lever and consequently the rod g, upwards, the bolt g², being
thereby shot into the bolt hole h, and the till thus locked, in which position it
remains until again released in manner as hereinbefore described.

page_text: The bolt hole will be suitably strengthened by a metal plate k', or similar fitting,
and a plate k², will be fitted on the bottom of the till forming a slide for the end of
the locking bolt when the drawer is being opened and shut.
The turned down part k³, of the plate, prevents the till being drawn out too far
by reason of its coming in contact with the end of the locking bolt g², when the till
is drawn out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. The locking and unlocking of tills, drawers, and the like by means of the
pedal-lever mechanism herein before substantially described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
2nd. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting my invention for
improvements in locking apparatus for tills, drawers, and the like, substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 21st day of January 1892.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.