Automatic Coin-freed Latch Lock.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Coin-freed Latch Lock.
I, FRANZ XAVER BODNAR, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide an automatic coin freed lock with
sliding latch or bolt which may be used for fixed or movable receptacles of all
kinds such as caskets, albums, portfolios, doors, flaps and the like; such
receptacles instead of being opened by a key as usual being released by a coin of
predetermined size. The characteristic feature of this construction of lock, is that
the coin by means of which it is opened does not operate by gravity and that
hence the mechanism operates in any position and even when in motion as well as
when in a reversed position. The piece of money acts on the locking mechanism
in exactly the same manner as a key which actuates the tumbler by means of its
wards. The construction of this lock is moreover peculiar on account of the coin
used to open the lock being retained in the receptacle or casing of the same so that
it can be subsequently collected by the owner.
The accompanying drawings show the details of such a lock.
Fig. 1 shows the lock fitted to a book cover, the outermost flap of which carries
the lock, whereas the lowermost flap carries the hook r which fits in this lock.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the lock and of the hook in their respective positions.
Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the lock.
Fig. 4 is a front view of the shell or casing of the lock a with the latch o¹ in the
locked position while Fig. 5 is a front view of the same shell or casing a with the
latch o¹ in its open position.
Fig. 6 shows the slide f which guides the coins with its spring and the slot e
through which the coin is inserted.
Fig. 7 shows the latch o¹, o², connected to the hook r when locked.
Fig. 8 shows the latch o¹, o2, disconnected from the hook when the lock is
opened.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of the latch o², o², connected to the lever v through the
curved eccentric t.
Fig. 10 shows two side views of the locking hook or catch r, while Fig. 11 is a
plan of the same.
This locking contrivance consists of (1) the lock proper with the latch fixed to
one of the flaps or parts of the receptacle to be closed, (2) the hook or catch r fixed
to the other flap or part of the same receptacle as shown in Fig. 1. The mechanism
is enclosed in the shell or casing a, Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 fixed to the outer
shield or cover b (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) inside of which is placed the box or
receptacle c, Fig. 2 which covers the shell of the lock and serves at the same
time as a collector for the inserted coins M, access being obtained by means of
the small door d furnished with a small lock (Fig. 2).
In the shield or cover plate of the lock is located the slot e wherein the coins
are inserted or pushed directly into the coin drawer as clearly shown in
Figs. 3 and 6. The handle g is connected to this drawer or slide (Figs. 1 and 3)
D
077

page_text: hook can
Figure 2.
engage with the mechanism inside the lock as clearly shown in
My improved automatic coin freed latch or lock operates as follows:-
When the proper coin M is inserted at e in the closed lock (Figs. 3 and 4)
the same falls under the action of the spring (Fig. 3) directly into the
notch of the slide f and is held fast therein.
If the said slido f is now
drawn down by means of the handle g, it brings the coin which was lying in
its notch below the spring downwards with it, whereupon this coin pushes
back the projection of the lever v. which is in front of the same and falls
finally released through the opening m in the collecting space of the casing c.
of the lock as clearly shown in Figs. and 3. The released slide is then
brought back into its original position by the cocked spring i Figs. 4 and 6.
The
lever pushed back by the passing coin opens at the same time the latch o¹, 0²,
connected thereto by the eccentric t which is withdrawn from the locking
hook (Fig. 5) whereby the album, portfolio or other receptacle is unlocked.
To prevent the latch o¹, o², from being shot forth immediately into engagement
with the locking hook under the action of the springs q, u, and x, before the
portfolio is opened, the said lever vis acted upon on its return by the brake
lever (Fig. 5) the beak of which hooks on to the pin y and holds it in this
position. To effect this stoppage the brake lever is compelled, by the pin E
which is drawn down at the same time as the slide f, to shoot upwards (Fig. 5)
to allow the lever pin y to be held by the projection D of the said brake
lever.
If an improper coin of smaller diameter is made use of, the lever is not
sufficiently drawn back at w and the brake lever z cannot operate, in consequence
whereof the latch is not opened. Thus a coin of wrong diameter and of insufficient
thickness is useless to open the lock.
Fig. 5 illustrates the exact position in which the latch o¹, o2, and its brake
lever z are situated immediately after the opening and the dropping of the coin.
The latch o¹ is opened and held by the brake, but the two flaps or cover of the
portfolio are still one upon the other. Whenever, however, the cover of the said
portfolio is opened, (Fig. 1) the locking hook and the latch o¹ are separated one
from the other. During this separation there is a certain amount of friction
developed between the fixed locking hook r and the spring latch o¹ whereby the
latch o¹ is somewhat pushed back by the hook as it passes. This pushing back
motion of the latch and of its lever u will release the lever pin y from the brake
beak D and the released lever as well as the latch o' will assume forthwith their
locking position, Fig. 4. The brake lever z thus released by the pin y is likewise
brought back by its spring B into its normal position and is placed again trans-
versely to the slot C as clearly shown in Fig. 4. When the portfolio is closed again,
the locking hook as it is being pressed in the lock engages, below, the latch o¹
which is now resilient again Figs. 4 and 7 in the same manner as any ordinary
latch.
'
When the slide f is drawn down empty, its pin E causes the brake lever z to rock
upwardly but it cannot stop the lever pin y, as no money has been passed in
through the slot and heuce this pin y has not been pushed back. The thickness of
the slide f and the form of its notch will obviously depend upon the thickness and
form of the coin selected to open the lock.
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 :-
1. A movable automatic coin freed receptacle, such as a casket, portfolio, or like
receptacle, for books, printed matter and the like characterized by a latch or lock
capable of being opened in any position, the opening of which is effected, instead of
with a key, by means of a predetermined coin whch is held back and stored in the
lock proper.