An Improved Method of and Means for Securing Boxes and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Securing Boxes and the
like.
We, THOMAS MEAD, of 6, Church Road, Tilbury, Engine Driver, and JESSE
PARKER, of 43, Sydney Street, Tilbury, Engine Driver, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved method of and means for securing boxes
and the like, so that they can only be opened by a special key and by suitable
manipulation of the lid.
In carrying our invention into effect, we proceed in or in about the following
manner, making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is an isometrical view of the lid and upper part of a box fitted with our
invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the specially arranged key, and an end view of the
prolonged end of the pin.
Fig. 3 is a part section through the front of the box and lid.
In all the figures similar letters indicate similar parts.
a is the lid of the box b. c are the hinges, the leaves d, which are usually
attached to the lid, being made to slide between the guides e having across them
the bridges f. g are stops to prevent the lid being entirely drawn off. These
sliding leaves permit the lid to be drawn forward as indicated by the dotted lines,
without interfering with the use of the hinges as such. Inside the ends of the box
are the ledges h standing out at right angles thereto. Inside the lid are the angle
pieces i so situated that when the lid is drawn forward on the sliding hinges, i will,
on shutting the lid, fall between the front of the box and the ledges h, and on
sliding the lid back again, i will pass under and thus prevent the lid being raised.
jis the lock. k the plate, and the staples. At the back of the lock is a balance
catch m having the weighted end o, the catch swinging freely round a flanged
tubular projection n. The upper end of m projects above the top of the box as
at p and has provided for its reception a slot q inside the lid. As the weight o
keeps the end p up, and as the balance m turns freely round n, when the lid
is shut down, p turns to one side, and on sliding the lid back, the weight o
brings pup, and inserts it in q thus preventing the lid being drawn forward.
Thus h and i prevent lid a being lifted, and p and q it being slid. Notches r are
provided in front of the box to allow the staples l to come forward with the lid, the
staples being shaped. With the arrangement above described a specially formed
key is used, the difference between it and any ordinary key of the kind being that
the pin is prolonged as at s and made of square, triangular, oblong, polygonal, or
flat cross section. (In the drawing a triangular pin is shewn.) The pin s is of
sufficient length that it will project through the back of the lock, through the tube n
and enter a hole t in the back of the balance catch, the hole being of same outline
as the section of the pin s. u is the nosing of the lid. Assuming the box to be
unlocked, it is locked and secured in the following manner. The lid is drawn
forward on the sliding hinges, then shut down and pushed back thus bringing i
under . Simultaneously with the shutting down of the lid the top p of the
balance catch m will be turned sideways, and so kept until i comes under h, when
the slot q, having come over p, will allow the latter to spring up and enter it, which

page_text: .
it will do by reason of the weight o always tending to keep p uppermost. The key
is now inserted into the lock and the pin s enters the hole in the back of the
balance catch m. On turning the key to propel the bolt, the balance is at the
moment of locking turned upside down by the pins of the key acting inside
the hole t in the back of the balance catch, but when the key is brought into
position for withdrawal after locking, the end p is brought upwards again and
so inserted in the slot q. To unlock the box, the key is inserted, the bolt shot
back, the lid drawn forward, then lifted and finally pushed back to its normal
position.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise shape, relative proportions or
disposition of parts, as described in the above specification and exemplified in the
accompanying drawings, as any or all of them may be considerably varied without
departing from the spirit of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
CLAIMS.
1. The method of and means for securing boxes and the like, and consisting
essentially in providing the inside of the lid with hinges having sliding leaves
permitting the lid to be drawn forward for the purpose of passing angle pieces
attached to the lid under ledges attached to the inside of the ends of the box,
the back of the lock having a balance catch free to swing on a tubular pivot
projecting from the lock and in such manner that its upper end enters a slot
provided for it inside the lid, the weight of the balance catch keeping it inserted
therein till it is removed therefrom by the action of a suitably shaped key having
an elongated pin, of special cross section which passes through the back of the lock
and operates in a correspondingly shaped hole in the back of the balance catch,
the whole substantially as described in the above specification and exemplified in
the accompanying drawings.
2. A key having an elongated pin of special cross section, substantially as
described in the above specification, and exemplified in the accompanying
drawings.
3. The method and means for securing boxes and the like, provided for and
operating substantially as described in the above specification, and exemplified in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of January 1897,
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicants.