Improvements in Safes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safes.
We, EDWARD GREATBATCH WOOD and MILNER'S SAFE COMPANY LTD.
both of Phoenix Safe Works, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer and Safe Makers respectively, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object certain improvements in safes for containing
money, account books, and other valuable articles to guard them from the attacks
of burglars or protect them against the action of fire, etcetera.
In carrying the invention into effect, the safe is constructed with solid corners,
and the salient points are designed to resist the introduction of burglars' tools, or
prevent the insertion of explosives, etcetera. Two of the sides (say the front and
back) of the structures are each formed of a metal frame having flanges projecting all
round at right angles with its face. These flanges form part of the frame itself,
and are made without welding or without having pieces cut out to facilitate the
bending, consequently, are much stronger than frames built up in section and
rivetted together, according to the plan generally hitherto adopted. These frames
are made from plates of suitable size and thickness, which are placed (preferably
when heated to the required temperature) between tools or dies of the required
shape, and then pressed or stamped by means of hydraulic or other suitable
pressure. The plates are thus flanged without welding.
The sides of the safe are formed by inserting between the frames a band or
bands of metal bent to the required shape, and of the necessary width, or, if
desired, they may be formed of separate plates of metal. These are placed inside
the flanges and rivetted thereto, or, if desired, the bands may be flush with the
flanges of the frames and rivetted thereto by butt joints. We prefer, however, the
former plan, and we propose to strengthen the corners of the safe by inserting pieces
of bent angle iron between and to lie flush with the flanges of the frame and rivet
them to the bands or plates aforesaid. The spaces or depressions left between the
corner angle irons and the frame flanges may be filled up, if desired, with plates of
metal, so as to leave them flush with the other parts, the said plates being securely
rivetted to the interior bands or plates. By this construction, the corners are all
solid, and are well rounded, so as to better resist the shock of a fall.
In one of the flanged frames, we make an opening to which a door is accurately
fitted. An opening is also made in the corresponding plate on the inside (if used)
which is of slightly smaller area than the opening in the flanged frame, and thus
forms a stop for the door, or bolt bar for the bolts to shoot behind. If desired,
however, the frame itself may have the opening flanged to form a bolt bar, and
these bolt bar flanges may be formed either by the same dies or tools as those for
stamping the frame, and at the same operation, or they may be made by separate
tools, at different operations.
SM 1901

page_text: Figure 6 a section of the bands forming the sides of safe;
Figure 7 a vertical section of slightly modified form of construction,
Figure a perspective view of a safe for jewels, deeds or the like constructed in
accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 9 an end elevation thereof.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive of these drawings-
The safe is constructed with solid corners, and the salient points are designed to
resist the introduction of burglars' tools, or prevent the insertion of explosives,
etcetera. A B are metal frames having flanges a projecting all round at right angles
with their faces. These flanges a form part of the frames themselves, and are made
without welding or without having pieces cut out to facilitate the bending,
consequently, are much stronger than frames built up in section and rivetted together,
according to the plan generally hitherto adopted. These frames are made from
plates of suitable size and thickness which are placed (preferably when heated to
the required temperature) between tools or dies of the required shape, and then
pressed or stamped by means of hydraulic or other suitable pressure. The plates
are thus flanged without welding.
The sides of the safe are formed by inserting between the frames A and B a
band or bands of inetal C bent to the required shape, and of the necessary width,
or, if desired, they may be formed of separate plates of metal. These are placed
inside the flanges a and rivetted thereto, or, if desired, the bands may be flush with
the flanges of the frames and rivetted thereto by butt joints. We prefer, however,
the former plan, and we strengthen the corners of the safe by inserting pieces of
bent angle iron D between and to lie flush with the flanges a of the frames and
rivet them to the bands or plates C aforesaid. The spaces or depressions left
between the corner angle irons D and the frame flanges a may be filled up, if
desired, with plates of metal, so as to leave them flush with the other parts, the
said plates (when employed) being securely rivetted to the interior bands or
plates C. By this construction, the corners are all solid, and are well rounded, so
as to better resist the shock of a fall. The flanged frame A is provided with an
opening E to which a door can be accurately fitted. This opening is flanged to
form a bolt bar, and these bolt bar flanges a¹ may be formed either by the same
dies or tools as those for stamping the frame and at the same operation, or they
may be made by separate tools at different operations.
When the door frame A is not flanged to form the bolt bar, a plate E' (Figure 7),
with an opening of rather smaller area than the opening in the frame, is secured to

page_text: the inside of the frame and thus forms a stop for the door, or a bolt bar for the
bolts to shoot behind.
We have described the preferred way of carrying out the invention, but it is
evident that, instead of placing the frames A and B at the front and back of the
safe, they may be placed at the top, bottom or sides thereof, the frame A being in
that case made solid without any opening for the door.
A safe applicable for jewellery, money, or other valuable articles is shewn in
Figures 8 and 9, in which A B are the metal frames with flanges a projecting all
round at right angles with their faces. The bands or plates C are in this case
omitted and the two frames are hinged directly together, and a lip b provided on
the bottom frame which is adapted to receive the top frame and hold the flanges.
flush with each other, also to prevent a tool being inserted between the two. Fis
a lid for holding the contents of frame A while it is closed on to frame B, and G
are partitions but these can be employed or not as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. The improved construction of safe consisting in forming it of two frames with
solid corners and having flanges stamped or pressed between dies or tools of the
required shape, so as to project all round at right angles with their faces, and in
inserting between the flanges of said frames a band or bands of metal bent to
the required shape and strengthened at their corners by angle irons substantially as
described.
2. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming the
improved safes for money, account books and other valuable articles or the like
substantially as described.
Dated this 4th 1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.