Coin-freed Apparatus for the Hire of Opera Glasses in Theatres.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Coin-freed Apparatus for the Hire of Opera Glasses in Theatres.
I, CHARLES SAMUEL PATTERSON, of No. 81 East 55th Street, in the City of New
York, in the State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do. hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for providing opera-glasses attached to the chairs
or seats of theatres, opera houses, concert halls, etc., in such manner that the glasses
shall be accessible to persons in the audience upon the payment by such persons of a
fee as rental for the use of the glasses. To this end an opera glass is fastened to the back
or other convenient part of the theatre chair by means of a lock or fastening which
can be released only by introducing into it a coin of a certain prescribed size. While
the opera glass is thus fastened it cannot be used, but upon inserting the prescribed.
coin into the lock the glass is unfastened and the auditor is enabled to remove it from
its attachment and use it. Preferably the opera glass is fastened to the chair by
being enclosed in a box or casing, the lid or cover of which is fastened by the coin
actuated lock, so that the opera glass is concealed and protected from injury until the
lock is operated. When a coin is thrust into the lock the box opens and the opera
glass is exposed to view and may be taken out by the auditor. At the end of the
performance, or when the auditor has finished with the glass, he will return it to the
box and subsequently an attendant or attaché of the theatre will close the box and lock
it again ready for the next performance.
I will proceed to describe the manner in which the invention can be carried into
effect. A box to contain an opera glass is fastened to the back of a theatre chair.
The upper front portion of the box is open, being closed by a sliding cover or lid.
When this lid is up it closes the opening and it is fastened in place by the coin
actuated lock. When it is released by withdrawing this lock it drops down in grooves
and becomes concealed in the lower front portion of the case. The opera gliss may
then be lifted out through the opening.
The box is constructed with a back plate preferably of cast metal. This plate
projects above the top of the box and in its upper edge is formed an opening or slot
which is just large enough to permit the prescribed coin (as for example a sixpence)
by which the lock is to be operated, to be dropped into it. A coin conduit or duct
extends downward from the coin slot being preferably curved. The coin descends
through this conduit until it strikes a horizontal sliding plate. The front and rear
edges of this plate slide freely in grooves in the box, so that the plate moves in a
direction from right to left or vice versa. The plate slides with a little friction so
that it is not moved by the striking of the coin against it. The plate has a notch
formed in its rear side into which the coin partly enters, resting with the ege of the
coin supported on the edge of this notch on one side, and the other side of the coin
resting in contact with the end of a plunger. The coin remains in this position until
the auditor presses against a thumb piece or button which projects at the side of the
lock and which is mounted on the neck or stem of the plunger. A coiled spring is
arranged in a hole bored in the back plate and acts against a projecting arm or lug
on the front of the plunger stem in order to keep the plunger pressed toward the
right and the button pressed out. When the auditor thus presses the button the
movement of the plunger pushes the coin, and by the contact of the coin with the edge
of the notch in the sliding plate it also pushes or slides this plate. The sliding
plate is formed with a catch or bolt projecting into a notch in its front side. This
bolt normally projects into an eye (or it may be a hook or shoulder merely) formed
in a hasp or projection on the upper edge of the door or lid. The movement of the

page_text: sliding plate carries the bolt oiit of the eye and thereby releases the door, which
immediately drops down by its own weight, thereby opening the box.
When the auditor releases the button the coiled spring presses the plunger back.
The coin then immediately falls entirely through the notch in the sliding plate and
drops down through a shoot or conduit formed in the back plate of the box and falls
into a little box or pocket underneath. This pocket is in the form of a cup which is
pivotted to the hottom of the box and is fastened by a lock so that it cannot be
swung open until this lock is unfastened by inserting a key. This pocket will be
opened by a money collector or cashier every few days, in order to take out the coins
which may have accumulated in: it.
Every opera-glass box in the theatre that has been unlocked will remain open,
because the sliding plate remains displaced so that even if the auditor should attempt
to raise the door he would be unable to lock it and it would immediately drop open
again. Consequently, after each performance, the employées of the theatre can see
at a glance what boxes have been opened, and can assure themselves that all the
opera-glasses have been properly returned to place, and that none have been carried
away by the auditors. An employée will then close and lock each of the boxes.
This he does by first raising the door and then inserting a key into a hole in the left
hand side of the box, whereby he pushes the sliding plate hack to its normal position,
so that the bolt again fastens the door.
The coin-conduit is made with a lateral branch into which the coin enters when it
is pushed by the plunger. The coin-conduit is made curved in order to prevent the
lock being unfastened by inserting a wire or rod to move the sliding plate. If too
small a coin be inserted it will drop immediately through the notch and the lock
cannot be operated.
It
This improved coin actuated lock is of very simple, cheap, and durable
construction, having no springs (other than that for protruding the button) and no
balance-lever or other delicate parts to be operated by the weight of the coin.
has the important advantage of being reliable in its operation and not apt to get out
out of order, since the work of withdrawing the bolt or fastening is performed by
power derived from the hand of the person who manipulates the box by the pressing
in of the button. The dropping in of the coin becomes thus simply a medium for
the transmission of this power to the holt. If the button is pressed in when no coin
is inserted the lock is not affected. The novel principle of this invention might be
realized by many different constructions. All that is essential is that a push button,
or crank, or hand lever, or some other means of applying manual power shall be so
constructed that it is inoperative to release the lock when no coin is inserted,
but shall be operative when a coin of the proper size has been inserted.
The novel construction of the box constitutes also an important feature of this
invention. The construction of the cover to slide down in guides within the box
accomplishes at once two important advantages, namely,-1st. It renders the interior
of the box plainly visible so that if the opera glass is not returned its absence can
be seen and 2nd, the cover when open is entirely out of the way and takes up no
room. The cover also opens by itself when unlocked and its operation is
noiseless.
This new system for the letting of opera-glasses in theatres has the important
advantages over the old method of employing an attendant in the lobby or cloak
room to give out the glasses, that each auditor can rent a glass at any time during
the performance, and without leaving his seat, that the proprietor is protected from
the dishonesty of his employées, and it becomes practicable to provide the glasses at
so low a price as to ensure their extended use.
=
Dated this 11th day of March 1000
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Coin Freed Apparatus for the Hire of Opera Glasses in Theatres.
1, CHARLES SAMUEL PATTERSON, of No. 81 East 55th Street, in the City of New
York, in the State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to means for providing opera-glasses attached to the chairs
or seats of theatres, opera houses, concert halls, etc., in such manner that the glasses
shall be accessible to persons in the audience upon the payment by such persons of a
fee as rental for the use of the glasses. To this end an opera-glass is fastened to the
back or other convenient part of the theatre chair by means of a lock or fastening
which can be freed only by introducing into it a coin of a certain prescribed size.
While the opera-glass is thus fastened it cannot be used, but upon inserting the
prescribed coin into the lock the glass is unfastened and the auditor is enabled to
remove it from its attachment and use it. Preferably the opera-glass is fastened to
the chair by being enclosed in a box or casing, the lid or cover of which is fastened
by the coin-actuated lock, so that the opera-glass is concealed and protected from
injury until the lock is operated. When a coin is thrust into the lock the box opens
and the opera-glass is exposed to view and may be taken out by the auditor. At the
end of the performance, or when the auditor has finished with the glass, he will
return it to the box and subsequently an attendant or attaché of the theatre will close
the box and lock it again, ready for the next performance.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view of a theatre chair
having my improved opera-glass attachment applied to it.
Fig. is a vertical transverse section of the box with its coin-actuated lock, the
section being cut on the line 2-2 in Figs. 3 and 4.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof partly in vertical section on the line 3-3 in
Fig. 2.
Fig. is a horizontal section, cut on the line 4-4 in Figs. 2 and 3.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section cut on a lower plane, as indicated by the line 5-5 in
Figs. 2 and 3.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the sliding plate or bolt removed.
Referring to the drawings, let. A designate a box which is fastened to the back of
a theatre chair B, in the manner shown in Fig. 1. This box contains an opera-
glass C, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper front portion of the box is open, being
closed by a sliding cover, or lid, D. When this lid is up, as shown in Fig. 3, so that
it closes the opening, it is fastened in place by the coin-actuated lock. When it is
released by withdrawing this lock, it drops down in grooves a a and becomes
concealed in the lower front portion of the case. The opera-glass C may then be
lifted out through the opening.
The box A is constructed with a back plate bb preferably of cast metal. This
plate projects above the top of the box and in its upper edge is formed an opening
or slot
C which is just large enough to permit the prescribed coin (as for example a
sixpence) by which the lock is to be operated, to be dropped into it. A coin conduit
or duct d extends downward from the coin-slot c, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being
preferably curved, as shown in Fig. 3. The coin descends through this conduit until
it strikes a horizontal sliding plate E. This plate is shown detached in Fig. 6. Its
front and rear edges e e slide freely in grooves el e' in the box, so that the plate moves
in a direction from right to left or vice versú. The plate slid s with a little friction
so that it is not moved by the striking of the coin against it. The plate E has a
notch ƒ formed in its rear side into which the coin partly enters, resting in the
position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, with the edge of the coin supported on the
edge of this notch on one side, and the other side of the coin resting in contact
with the end of a plunger g. The coin remains in this position until the auditor
..

page_text: Presses toward the left against a thumb piece or button F, which projects at the right
of the lock and which is mounted on the neck or steni g' of the plunger g, which neck
Or stem projects out through the side of the box. A coiled spring his arranged in a
hole bored in the plate b and acts against the projecting arm or lug on the front of
the stem g', as shown in Fig. 4, in order to keep the plunger g pressed toward the
right and the button F pressed out. When the auditor thus presses the button F,
the movement of the plunger g pushes the coin toward the left, and by the contact of
the coin with the edge 1 of the notch in the plate E it also pushes or slides this plate
toward the left, until the parts reach the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.
The plate E is formed with a catch or holt i projecting into a notch in its front
side. This bolt i normally projects into an eye k (or it may be a hook or shoulder
merely) formed in a hasp or projection on the upper edge of the door or lid D.
The movement of the plate E to the left carries the bolt i out of the eye k, and
thereby releases the door D, which immediately drops down by its own weight,
thereby opening the box A.
h
When the auditor releases the button F the spring / presses the plunger g back
toward the right. The coin then immediately falls entirely through the notch and
drops down through a shoot or conduit d¹ formed in the back plate of the box, and
falls into a little box or pocket G underneath. This pocket G is in the form of a cup
which is pivoted to the bottom of the box A at 7 and is fastened by a lock m so that
it cannot be swung open until this lock is unfastened by inserting a key. This
pocket G will be opened by a money collector or cashier every few days, in order to
take out the coins which may have accumulated in it.
Every opera-glass box in the theatre that has been unlocked will remain open, because
the plate E remains displaced to the left, so that even if the auditor should attempt
to raise the door D he would be unable to lock it and it would immediately drop open
again. Consequently, after each performance the employees of the theatre can see at
a glance what boxes have been opened, and can assure themselves that all the opera-
glasses have been properly returned to place, and that none have been carried away
by the auditors. An employee will then close and lock each of the boxes. This he
does by first raising the door and then inserting a key shown in dotted lines at H
in Fig. 5, into a hole in the left hand side of the box, whereby he pushes the
plate E back toward the right to its normal position, so that the bolt i again fastens
the door D.
The coin-conduit d is made with a lateral branch d² into which the coin enters
when it is pushed toward the left by the plunger g. The coin-conduit d is made
curved, as shown, in order to prevent the lock being unfastened by inserting a wire or
rod to move the plate E. If too small a coin be inserted, it will drop immediately
through the notch f and the lock cannot be operated.
This improved coin-actuated lock is of very simple, cheap and durable construction,
having no springs (other than that for protruding the button F) and no balance-lever
or other delicate parts to be operated by the weight of the coin. As apparatus of this
character require to be actuated by silver coins of light weight, any device depending
upon the weight of the coin for its operation must necessarily prove unreliable and
frequently inoperative. My improved lock is free from this objection, being certain
in its operation and not apt to get out of order, since the work of withdrawing the
bolt or fastening is performed by power derived from the hand of the person who
manipulates the box, by the pressing in of the button F. The dropping in of the coin
becomes thus simply a medium for the transmission of this power to the bolt. If the
button is pressed in when no coin is inserted the lock is not affected. The novel
principle of this invention might be realized by many different constructions. All
that is essential is that a push button or crank, or hand lever, or some other means of
applying manual power shall be so constructed that it is inoperative to release the
lock when no coin is inserted, but shall be operative when a coin of the proper size
has been inserted.
'The novel construction of the box A constitutes also an important feature of this
invention. The construction of the cover D to slide down in guides a a within the

page_text: box accomplishes at once two important advantages, namely, 1st. it renders the
interior of the box plainly visible so that if the opera-glass is not returned, its absence
can be seen; and 2nd, the cover D when open is entirely out of the way and takes up
no room. The cover also opens by itself when unlocked and its operation is noiseless.
This new system for the letting of opera-glasses in theatres has the important
advantages over the old method of employing an attendant in the lobby or cloak room
to give out the glasses, that each auditor can rent a glass at any time during the
performance, and without leaving his seat, that the proprietor is protected from the
dishonesty of his employees, and that consequently it becomes practicable to provide
the glasses at so low a price as to ensure their extended use.
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 coin-freed apparatus for the hire of opera-glasses consisting of a lock for
fastening the glass to a theatre chair or other suitable support constructed with
manual means for unlocking it, which means is normally inoperative but becomes
operative when a coin of the prescribed size is inserted, substantially in the manner
specified.
2. A coin-actuated lock for fastening an opera-glass to a theatre chair or other
support, consisting of a locking bolt or fastening, and a push button, crank, hand
lever, or other means of applying manual power, so arranged that when a coin of the
prescribed size is first inserted the operation of such push button, etc. shall act to
withdraw the locking bolt or fastening and thereby release the opera-glass, but
constructed to be inoperative when no coin has been inserted, substantially as herein
described.
3. A box for enclosing an opera-glass and fastening it to a theatre chair or other
support, constructed with a cover or lid at its front tending normally to open and
when open exposing the interior of the box from the front thereof, and with a coin-
actuated lock for fastening said cover when closed, adapted to be unlocked upon the
insertion of a coin, and constructed to be locked again only by the insertion of a
special key, substantially as described, whereby when the box has been opened the
failure to restore the opera-glass thereto after use is rendered apparent, and the box
cannot be closed and relocked (to conceal the abstraction of the opera-glass) by a
person unprovided with such special key.
4. A box for enclosing an opera-glass and fastening it to a theatre chair or other
support, constructed with an opening in its front side with a sliding cover for closing
said opening, moving freely in grooves or guides formed on the box, whereby when
released it descends by gravity in said guides and uncovers said opening, and a coin- '
actuated lock for fastening said cover when closed, substantially as described.
5. In coin freed apparatus for the hire of opera glasses in theatres, the combination
to form a coin-actuated lock, of a sliding plate E carrying a locking bolt or fastening
and having a notch or recess fiuto which the coin may drop, with a plunger or
equivalent moving part g to which power can be manually applied, and a coin-conduit d
adapted to conduct the coin into the space between said plunger and sliding plate,
constructed to operate substantially as described.
6. In a coin-operated lock having a sliding plate E, and forming part of an
apparatus for the hire of opera glasses in theatres the means for relocking the lock
consisting of the insertion of key or rod H through a hole p in the lock-case in order
to push said sliding plate back to the locked position.
1
1000
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent.