A New or Improved Coin-freed Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE STEUTICATIO
A New or Improved Coin-freed Apparatus.
I, CHARLES PETERS of The Vale of Health Tavern, Hampstead Heath
London N.W. Licoused Victualler, 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 :-
My invention relates to a coin freed apparatus or device to be fixed wherever
desired for the lock-up protection of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipede,
perambulators, trucks, carts, and other vehicles, and horses and other animals, as a
means for protecting the same from being stolen or otherwise removed during the
temporary absence of the owner.
My invention is intended for use singly or in multiple outside or in any
convenient place, adjacent to way-side taverns club houses, or other places which
are the resort of cyclists, as a means by which each rider may upon alighting from
his or her machine quickly and easily place the same in look up protection during
his or her absence, which, upon his or her return cau be as quickly released by the
insertion of a given coin or coins, the said apparatus being preferably so arranged,
that the said iusertion of the coin or coins may close an electric circuit, operating
upon a bell or other sonorous signal, and so give notice of the removal of the
machine. My invention may also be employed in like manner at way-side taverns
or inns that provide a pull up and baiting accommodation for horses and traps, as a
means for holding the heads of the horses while feeding, for preventing the running
away
of these during the absence of the drivers or riders or the ostler in charge, or
my invention may be affixed to private or other houses for retaining perambulators,
mail-carts, and the like while temporarily out of use as a means for preventing
them from being stolen.
In order that my said invention, and the manner of its use, may be fully under-
stood, I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings of which:
Fige. 1, 2 and 3 are side elevations of the said apparatus (with one side entirely
removed) substantially as I prefer to construct the same, (subject to certain
modifications of details as herein-after explained) illustrating the positions of the
Bame before use, in use, and after uso respectively.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of same.
Fig. 5 is a front view of the sliding plate detached from the apparatus.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detached view of the locking bolt, while Fig. 7 is an
enlarged view of the rocking lever and the plate Fig. 5.
For the purposes of my invention, I construct of any dimensions, of wood, metal,
or other suitable material, a preferably, rectangular frame or case A, one side of
which may be permanently closed by a panel B, while its opposite side may be
closed by a like panel or door (not shewn) hinged thereto, or screwed thereon as
indicated by the boles a in Fig. 1, or otherwise fixed so as to be easily removed to
facilitate repairs to the mechanism enclosed thereby, and for the periodical
removal of the coins deposited therein.
I prefer to screw, bolt, or otherwise fix within the said caso a rectangular
metallic plate C, baving a vertical side flange D and bottom flange E, the former
of which fits close up against the front A' of the frame A, and through this and

page_text: "
the said front A' is bored or otherwise provided a circular hole F. Upon the
inner face of the flange D, are studs or projections b which engage loosely with
slots ciu a plate G, so that the latter may freely slide vertically thereon, for a
distanco governed by the length of the said slots. The plate G is provided with a
third slot e, which engages one end of a lever I pivotally mounted upon a stud or
rod f. the opposite end of the said lever being formed in the shape of, or has
affixed thereto a scoop J, shaped substantially as shewn by the enlarged
view Fig. 7. Upon the flange E is fixed a spring or spring-plate K, the normal
position of which is vortical or thereabouts as shown at Fig. 1, and while in this
position the shorter end of the lever I rests upon the upper end of K by the
weight of the sliding plate G, the weight of the said plate being adjustable by the
means of a weight or weights such as g, or a spring or springs in lieu of such
weight or weights, the lower end of G, while thus suspended, upou the so
supported lever H being slightly above the level of the upper surface of the
hole F iu A and D as shewn in Fig. 1.
:
A metallic or other plug L (shown enlarged at Fig. 6) is arranged to fit
and freely enter tho hole F, the said plug being connected by a chain or the
like to an eye or loop m fixed upon the front A', any-where adjacent to the
hole F, and when not in use the said plug may be suspended upon a hook n,
also fixed in any convenient position upon the frout A as shewn in Figs. 1
and 4.
In the upper end of the front A' is a slot M (Fig. 4) capable of receiving and
passing a penny or other coin, and communicating with the said slot, upon the
inner surface of A', is a chute N, the angle of which is such as to permit the said
coin to roll freely there aloug into the scoop J, the said chute being bent or
curved at p for the purpose of imparting impetus to the fall of the coin or
coins.
The apparatus is constructed to be adapted for insertion within or through a
wall, with the front A' upon its outer surface, but when more convenient, I may
arrange, that this may be fixed upon a wall or other vertical surface with the
panel B next thereto, or if desirable, I may employ any number of the said
apparatus, or arrange one large case or frame A so as to contain any number of
the said apparatus, placed side by side, while one long rod f may serve for the
suspension of all the lovers II therein, in which case, I may arrange that all the
apparatus, or the case or frame containing the multiple apparatus may stand upon
A suitable bracket or shelf, or otherwise as may be most convenient. The manner
of operation is as follows, in which for brevity I have assumed that a bicycle is the
article to be protected.
The rider upon alighting would remove the plug L from the hook n and passing
this through the frame of the machine, or between the spokes of one of its wheels,
would place the said plug in the liole F, and push it thereinto until the inner end
abutted against and deflected the spring or spring-plate K, as at Fig. 2, the.
removal of which from its vertical position would permit the shorter end of the
lover H to fall and a recess s in the lower end of the plate G, to engage with
the annular groove h in the plug L, as shown in the same figure, and more
graphically by the enlarged view Fig. 6, thus locking the bolt L, and preventing
the withdrawal of same.
If the proprietor of the apparatus stipulates that one, two, or more pennios shall
be paid for the thus safe custody of the machine, such weights g would be used,
that the lever H could not be actuated until such coin or coins had been placed in
the slot M, and upou the insertion of this or these, and the fall of the same into the
scoop J, this end of the lever II would fall and the coins bo shot into the case A,
or into a box or the like placed therein for receiving the same, and this movement
of the lever H would raise the plate G out of contact with the plug L, which
would be instantly shot out, or partly out by the tension of the spring or spring-
plato K, as this returned to its vertical position, and the scoop when the coins
hind fallen there-from would rise and permit the lovor H aud plate G to resume

page_text: their normal positions as at Fig. 1, and the cyclist by entirely removing the plug L,
from F could release his machine and hang the plug up upon the hook n ready for
use again.
In order that no person other than the rightful owner may surrepticiously
remove the cycle by the insersion of a coin or coins as stated, I provide in any
suitable position within the case A, any suitable form of electrical battery P, ono
teruniual of which may be connected to a spring R, fixed immediately below the
scoop J, the slight impetus given to the said scoop, by the deposit of the coin or
coins as.stated, causing this to deflect R and cause this to make contact with a
second spring S as shown at Fig. 3, the said spring S being connected to a wire
leading to a bell or the like coupled up to the battery P' in the usual way, and by
this means the removal of the said machine would be made known wherever the
bell may be located.
In order that a wire or cane may not be insersted in the chute N for deflecting
the scoop J, instead of by the insertion of a coin or coins as stated, in fraud of the
proprietor of the apparatus, I provide in the chute N, in the bend pa slit or hole t
so that if a cane or wire w be inserted down N this instead of being bent or curved
by the chute N, would pass idly through the said slit or hole t as shewn in
Fig. 3.
Fig.
may, under certain circumstances, arrange the chute N and slot M at the
opposite side of the case, so that although the cyclist may lock his or her machine
in the manner stated outside the house, he or she must come into tho house to
deposit bis or her coin or coins before the machine can be released, and this
arrangment I may adopt when the said apparatus is constructed in multiple as
here-in-before provided.
1 may also so construct the apparatus as to dispense with the flanged
plate C, D, E, in which case the studs or projections may be fixed upon the
inner face of the front A', so that the plate G may slide thereon in the manner
described, while the spring or spring plate K may be fixed to the frame A, and the
stud or rod to the panel B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1st. In a device or coin freed machine for the lock up custody of velocipedes,
perambulators, road-vehicles, and the like, or horses, dogs and other animals, the
construction use and application of the herein described apparatus, or any desired
duplication of same, substantially as and for the purposes hereiu set forth and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a coin freed machine for the purposes set forth in the preceding claim
the combination of a case or chamber such as A, B, receiving and holding a plate
such as C, D, E, carrying a sliding plate G, with adjustable weights g suspended
by a slot e upon one end of a lever H with scoop J, pivotted at f. The spring or
spring-plate K, normally operating to support the weighted end of the lever H,
until deflected by a plug L, connected to a chain / when inserted in a hole F in the
front A' of the case A, B, thus locking the said plug by the plate G, falling and
engaging with an annular groove therein substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn.
3rd. In combination with the lock up apparatus set forth in the preceding claim,
the means for releasing the said plug L, and chain by the insertion of a coin or
coins in a chute N, bent or curved at p the said coin or coins falling into a
scoop J, in the lever H, serving to deflect the latter and raise the plate G from the
bolt L, the said bolt being expelled through the hole F, by the return of the
spring K, with means for electrically making known the said removal of the plug L,
substantially as herein described and shewn.
4th. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the preceding claims, the
formation in the chute N of a slot for the prevention of the passage of a cane or

page_text: wire through N. for deflecting the lever H in lieu of the insertion of a coin or
coins substantially as set forth and shewn by Fig. 3.
Dated this 29th day of August 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicant.