New or Improved Means or Apparatus for Securing the Safe Storage or Keeping of Cycles and other Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means or Apparatus for Securing the Safe Storage
or Keeping of Cycles and other Articles.
1, MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER, of Elm Bank Place, Kingston-on-Thames, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The object of this invention is to provide means or apparatus for locking cycles
and other articles in suitable receptacles, or otherwise in position, at railway
stations, inns, or other places, for the purpose of storage or safe keeping, by the
introduction of a coin or coins into a slot or slots, and the release or unlocking
of the same when desired by the introduction of another coin or coins into the
same slot or slots.
For the purposes of this invention I provide a coin apparatus having a number
of slots preferably disposed in a row, and numbered say from 1 to 50, and con-
nected with a sliding bar or plate having in it a number of grooves corresponding
and in line with the slots above the plate, so placed that when a coin or coins
is or are dropped into one or more of the slots, such coin or coins will fall into
such groove or grooves and prevent the bar or plate being moved. The said sliding
bar or plate is suitably connected with a bolt or other locking device adapted to
hold a cycle for example in position in a given compartment or place, or to secure
the door of a cupboard or other compartment in which cycles or other articles
can be placed for safe keeping. If now, before a coin is placed in the slot, the
sliding bar or plate is moved so as to bring the said bolt or locking device into
position in order to secure the cycle in place, or to fasten the door of the cupboard,
the grooves in the said sliding bar or plate are brought under the coin slots, and
when a coin or coins is or are dropped into the latter, it or they falls or fall partly
into the said groove or grooves, the other part of the coin remaining between
the division pieces above and the said sliding bar or plate is thereby locked and
cannot be moved so as to withdraw the bolt or other locking device. When,
however, it is required to remove the cycle or other article out of the safe keeping
of the apparatus, another coin or coins is or are dropped into the same slot or
slots and is or are conducted thereby into a position between the coin or coins
first introduced and a plunger or other suitable device, so that when such plunger
or other device is operated in an appropriate manner, the second coin or coins
pushes or push the first out of the groove or grooves in the sliding bar or plate,
and the latter is then free to be moved so as to withdraw the bolt or other locking
device from the cycle or other article, or from the door of the cupboard or other
compartment; the movement of the said sliding bar or plate allowing the two

page_text: or more coins that have been used to fall into a suitable receptacle. The sliding
bar or plate is thus left free for use again to lock another article and to be itself
again locked by the introduction of yet another coin or coins into the slot or slots.
The apparatus may be arranged to receive any predetermined coin, for example,
half-pence as well as pence, to lock the bar in position.
A small locked door may be provided in the side of the apparatus, the key of
which may be in the possession of some authorized person in case attempts are
made to tamper with the apparatus by placing coins or other articles in the slots.
A register may be employed to register the number and value of coins which
are placed in the apparatus.
For example, a weighing-scale or tray may be placed in the receptacle which
receives the coins as they fall. Or two movable flaps may be provided having
ratchet wheels attached to them, and being actuated by the coins as they fall.
Or a rod placed in a suitable position in relation to the coins may be caused to
move by the coin, or any other suitable registering mechanism may be employed.
Dated this 20th day of September.1897.
New or Improved Means or Apparatus for Securing the Safe Storage
or Keeping of Cycles and other Articles.
I, MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER, of Elm Bank Place, Kingston-on-Thames, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide means or apparatus for locking cycles
and other articles in suitable receptacles, or otherwise in position, at railway
stations, inns, or other places, for the purpose of storage or safe keeping, by the
introduction of a coin or coins into a slot or slots, and the release or unlocking
of the same, when desired, by the introduction of another coin or coins into the
same slot or slots.
For the purposes of this invention I provide a coin-freed or coin-actuated
apparatus having a number of coin slots preferably disposed in a row, and num-
bered consecutively, and connected with a sliding bar or plate having in it a
number of grooves corresponding to and in line with the slots above the plate,
so placed that when a coin or coins is or are dropped into one or more of the slots,
such coin or coins will fall into such groove or grooves and prevent the bar or
plate being moved. The said sliding bar or plate is suitably connected with a
bolt or other locking device adapted to hold an article, a cycle for example, in
position in a given compartment or place, or to secure the door or other securing
device of a cupboard or other compartment in which cycles or other articles can
be placed for safe keeping. If now, before a coin is placed in one of the slots,
the sliding bar or plate is placed in position so as to bring the said bolt or other
locking device into position in order to secure the cycle or other article in place,
or to fasten the door or other securing device of the cupboard, the grooves in the
said sliding bar or plate are brought under the coin slots, and when a coin or

page_text: coins is or are dropped into the latter, it or they falls or fall partly into the said
groove or grooves, the other part of the coin or coins remaining between the division
pieces of the slots above, and the said sliding bar or plate is thereby locked and
cannot be moved so as to release or withdraw the bolt or other locking device.
When, however, it is required to remove the cycle or other article out of the safe
keeping of the apparatus, another coin, or other coins, is or are dropped into
the same slot or slots, and is or are conducted thereby into a position between
the coin or coins first introduced and a plunger or other suitable device, so that
when such plunger or other device is operated in an appropriate manner, the
second coin or coins pushes or push the first out of the groove or grooves in the
sliding-bar or plate, and the latter is then free to be moved so as to release or
withdraw the bolt or other locking device from the cycle or other article, or from
the door or other securing device of the cupboard or other compartment; the
movement of the said sliding bar or plate allowing the two or more coins that
have been used to fall into a suitable receptacle. The sliding bar or plate is thus
left free for use again to lock another article and to be itself again locked by the
introduction of yet another coin or coins into the slot or slots.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I will now pro-
ceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying illustrative sheet of
drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus constructed
in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 a sectional elevation taken at right
angles to Figure 1 and on the line X-X of that figure, and Figure 3 is a sectional
plan taken on the line Y-Y of Figures 1 and 2.
A is a case or box the upper part of which is provided with a number of parti-
tions B separated from one another by distance pieces C so shaped, as shown in
Figure 1, as to form sinuous channels for the passage of coins down from the upper
to the lower part of the spaces between the said partitions B. Just below the
lower end of the partitions B is arranged a bar or plate D adapted to slide in
suitable guides E E, formed with or secured to the sides of the case or box A, in
a direction transversely with regard to the partitions B. The upper side of this
bar or plate D is formed with two ribs D1 and D2 running parallel to the direction
of motion of the bar or plate D. The rib D has notches D3 formed across it in
positions corresponding to the spaces between the partitions B. These notches D³
are continued as slots through the plate D. The rib D2 is not notched but is left
with a smooth upper surface. The front end of the bar or plate D is shaped as
a half ring, or as one jaw of a pair of pincers or grippers as shown at D in Figure 3.
To the rear end of the bar or plate D is pivotted or hinged at D³ a piece De which
forms the other half of the ring, or the other jaw of the pincers. When the bar
or plate D is pushed back into the case or box A into the position shown in
Figures 2 and 3 the jaw D is held by the side of the slot in the case or box A
through which it passes so that it cannot be turned on its pivot D³; but when
the bar or plate D is drawn out so that the pivot D comes quite or nearly outside
the case or box A the jaw Do can be opened for the insertion into the ring or
pincers D, D6, or for the removal therefrom of any suitable part of the article it
is desired to place in or remove from safe keeping as the case may be.
F is a plunger or pusher bar extending across the case or box A in front of the
lower part of the divisions B and held normally in the position shown in Figure 1
by means of a spring G; but adapted to be pushed in the opposite direction, when
required, by a pusher rod and button H.
Assuming now that it is desired to place a cycle or other article in the safe
keeping of the apparatus, which is of course fixed securely in some suitable position,
the bar or plate D is drawn out in the direction of the arrows in Figures 2 and 3
as far as the stops D7 will permit, so that the jaw 16 can be opened and some
suitable part of the article to be stored so placed between it and the jaw D+ as to
be held securely when the jaw D6 is closed. When the said jaw is closed the
bar or plate D is pushed back into the case or box whereby the said jaw is held
in its closed position until the bar or plate is again drawn out. To prevent this

page_text: being done by any unauthorized person the person depositing the article inserts
a coin into one or other of the slots formed at I by the upper ends of the spaces
between the partitions B, which spaces are adapted to suit the thickness of the
coins it is intended shall be used, such as pennies for example. The coin intro-
duced into one or other of the slots at I rolls down the sinuous channel shown in
Figure 1 and comes to rest in the notch 13 in the bar or plate D, which is imme-
diately below the lower end of the said sinuous channel, and takes the position
indicated by the dotted circle J, Figure 1, that is to say partly in the lower end
of the sinuous channel and partly in the notch D. The effect of
this is to lock the bar or plate D so that it cannot be drawn out until
the coin J is removed from the notch D³. When the depositor desires to remove
the article deposited he inserts a second coin into the same slot as before, and
this coin rolls down the sinuous channel; but as the notch D3 is already occupied
by the previously inserted coin J, the second coin is diverted by the first and takes
the position shown by the dotted circle K, in Figure 1, resting on the plain part
of the bar or plate D. He then presses the pusher bar F inwards against the action
of the spring G, and the said bar comes against the edge of the coin K and presses
it and the coin J into the positions indicated respectively by the dotted circles K¹
and J, that is to say so that the coin J is lifted out of the notch D3, altogether
clear of the bar or plate D and the coin K on to the smooth apex of the rib D² of
the said bar or plate. This unlocks the bar or plate D, and it can then be drawn
outwards, the jaw De opened and the article removed from the holding or retaining
ring or pincers D4, D6. As soon as the back end of the bar or plate D has been
drawn forward far enough to be clear of the coins J and K these latter fall into
the closed and locked receptacle L. It will be understood that in the arrangement
shown the bar F requires to be held pressed inwards until the bar or plate D has
been drawn out otherwise the coin J, K would roll back into their first position
and the coin J would relock the bar or plate and prevent it being drawn out;
but if preferred, the parts may be so adapted that the coin J would not roll back
into its first position when the pusher bar F was released.
In the apparatus illustrated in the drawings there are 13 partitions B, and con-
sequently 12 spaces and corresponding slots into which coins may be inserted.
Now as no one but the actual depositor is supposed to know into which particular
slot out of the 12 the locking coin has been inserted the chances are 11 to 1 against
any other person being able to remove the article by the insertion of a second
coin into the same slot as the original depositor placed the first, and unless that
is done it is impossible to draw out the bar or plate D. But if instead of placing
one coin in one slot the depositor uses two coins placing one in one slot and the
other in another, the chances against an unauthorized person placing a second
coin in each of the same slots as the first coins were placed are very greatly
increased, in accordance with the. doctrine of chances, and if he places a coin
in each. of several slots the chances against an unauthorized person become
enormous especially when the number of slots employed is considerable and it
will be understood that this number may be varied according to the degree of
security to be obtained.
In order to assist in foiling an attempt of an unauthorized person to release the
bar or plate D by an organized system of placing a coin in each slot successively
and pushing in the bar after each insertion the said bar is shaped as shown in
Figure 1 with a projecting part F1 so placed that when in the course of that
operation a third coin has been inserted into one slot, and has fallen into the
position shown by the dotted circle M in Figure 1, resting on the two previously
inserted coins J and K, the part F' of the said bar will come against the coin M,
and jam the latter between the coins J and K and the part C of the distance piece C,
and the whole apparatus is thereby rendered inoperative, and must remain locked
until opened by an authorized person and the obstructing coin or coins removed.
In order to prevent bystanders seeing into which of the slots the depositor

page_text: places his coin or coins, the upper part of the apparatus is provided with a hood,
the sides N of which may be made of opaque material, but the front P of which
may be made of transparent material to enable the depositor the better to see the
slot into which he places his coin and the number of such slot; which number he
must of course make a mental or other note of, so that he may be sure of which
slot or slots he must place his second coin or coins in, in order to repossess himself
of the article deposited.
Instead of the pincers or holders standing horizontally as shown in Fig. 3,
they may be placed vertically as shown by dotted lines at Q in Figure 2.
The apparatus may be arranged to receive and to act with coins of various sizes,
within certain limits, for example it may be adapted to operate with pence or half-
pence to lock and unlock the bar or plate 1).
A locked door may be provided at one side of the apparatus the key of which
may be in the possession of some authorized person or attendant in case attempts
are made to tamper with the apparatus by placing coins or other articles in the
slots.
The object of making the channel down which the coin falls of a sinuous shape
as shown in Figure 1 is to prevent dishonest persons passing a wire or other
feeling instrument down through the slots at I to feel the coin first inserted and
thereby to ascertain which slot the second coin must be inserted into, in order to
unlock the bar or plate D.
A register may be employed to register the number and value of the coins placed
in the apparatus. For example, a weighing scale or tray may be placed in the
receptacle which receives the coins as they fall. Or movable flaps may be provided,
having ratchets attached to them operating counting ratchet wheels, such flaps
being actuated by the coins as they fall. Or a rod placed in a suitable position
in relation to the coins may be moved thereby and caused to register them, or
any other suitable registering apparatus may be employed; but I make no claim
to the use of a register of any kind in connection with the herein described
apparatus.
It will be understood that the apparatus illustrated in the drawings is given by
way of example only, and that the arrangements may be varied according to
circumstances without departing from the nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
=
First. Apparatus for securing the safe storage or keeping of cycles and other
articles, which consists of a movable bolt, bar, plate or other device adapted to hold
or retain the article to be stored or kept, or to hold or retain the door, cover or
other securing or enclosing means of a cupboard or receptacle containing such
article, such bolt, bar, plate or other holding or retaining device being locked in
its holding or retaining position by means of one or more coins inserted into the
apparatus, and released from such locked position, that is to say unlocked, by
the insertion and operation of one or more other coins, substantially as described.
Second. Apparatus for securing the safe storage or keeping of cycles and other
articles, which consists of several separate channels for the reception of coin, &
bar or plate sliding transversely below the lower ends of such channels and provided
with notches corresponding in number and position to such channels, and adapted
to receive the first coin or coins inserted, so as to lock the said sliding bar or
plate, and a pushing device adapted to operate upon the second coin or
coins inserted in order to remove the first inserted coin or coins out
of the notch or notches in the sliding bar or plate for the purpose of unlocking
the same, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. In an apparatus for securing the safe storage or keeping of cycles and
other articles, devices whereby one or more first coins inserted into the apparatus
lock the holding or retaining device in its closed position, and one or more second

page_text: coins inserted into the apparatus are caused to unlock the holding or retaining
device, substantially as described.
Fourth. Apparatus for securing safe storage or keeping of cycles and other
articles, constructed and operating substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1898.
M. A. WIER.
Per W. H. Beck, Agent,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.