Improvements in Toy Savings Banks or Safes.
Year: 1890

page_text: te of Application, 18th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toy Savings Banks or Safes.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Alfred Squires Munger, of Hopkinton
Avenue, Corner of Broadway, Woodhaven, and Louis Archibald Munger, of
39 Nassau Street, City of New York, both in the State of New York, United States
of America, Manufacturers), and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to that class of cash boxes or receivers very commonly
employed by children and others for holding coin, and termed toy savings banks,
safes, etc.
The object of said invention is to provide an automatic means for registering the.
number of coins of a given character as they are placed in the receptacle, or in
other words for indicating the amount contained in said receptacles and comprising
uniform coins.
Fig. 1. is a face view of an apparatus according to our said invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, and
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in the line y, y of Fig. 2.
A is the cash box which receives the coins, and which should be provided with
suitable means, as for example a door A', for closing it, and appropriate fastenings
securing the same to prevent the removal of the coins.
The coins are introduced into the box A, through a chute B, of suitable diameter
and cross section. Around this shute may be provided a chamber C, to enclose the
operative mechanism herein presently described, and to support the dial D, which as
shown in Fig. 1, is placed at the front of the apparatus. This dial is provided with
two concentric scales a and b, the divisions on which bear a certain ratio to each
other; this ratio being that between the denomination of the coin to receive which
the apparatus is constructed, and that of its multiple embraced in a coin of higher
value. Thus for example, one circuit of the scale a, will indicate by one revolution
of the index finger c, that one hundred coins have been deposited.
Simultaneous with the movement of the index finger c, a second index finger d,
is moved a definite distance indicated by the figures of the scale b, this movement
thus registering on the last named scale one rotation of the index finger c.
Thus assuming the coins employed to be cents, and the scale a to comprise the
numbers from one to one hundred inclusive, each complete one hundred cents will
be indicated by the movement from one figure to another of the index finger d. In
other words, the index finger'd will register the value of a dollar as it moves from
one finger to another, while the fractional parts of a dollar will be indicated by the
position of the index finger c, with reference to the scale a. The figures of the.
scale a, instead of comprising all consecutive figures, may comprise any suitable
series, as zero, ten, twenty, etc., as represented in Fig. 1.
The index fingers c, d, are connected by suitable spur wheels or gearing to ensure
their requisite rotation with the requisite ratio of speed. They may be attached, the
one to a central arbor a', the other to a sleeve b surrounding said arbor after the manner
usual in clocks. An arbor f, carries a spur wheel g, which gears with a larger spur
wheel, on the arbor a', so that the movement of the arbor around its axis, gives
a diminished movement to the arbor a', and consequently to the index finger c.
On the sleeve 1, is placed a spur wheel i, which gears into a smaller spur wheel k,
on the arborf, so that the rotation of the latter communicates a diminished move-
ment to the index finger d. By observing due proportion between the diameters of
the spur wheels g and h, and the spur wheels and k, the requisite ratio between

page_text: the movements of the two index fingers is secured. The chute or guide B is slotted
transversely as shown at m. Upon the arbor f, are radial spokes or arms n, so
arranged that in the rotation of the arbor f, the outer ends of said arms extend
into and through the space m, of the chute B, so that a coin of the requisite size
and weight falling through the chute will fall upon the arm n which at the time
extends through the slot m, and by its weight will carry said arm downward,
thereby rotating the arbor to an extent sufficient to cause the index finger c to
move the proper distance along the scale a, to indicate thereon the deposit of a singlo
coin, the same movement of the arbor f, of course simultaneously actuating the
index finger d, to move the said finger to such an extent that a definite number of
such movements will carry the same from one figure to another on the scale b, and
thus indicate the deposit of a specified number of similar coins indicated singly on
the other dial. As the arms n pass successively through the slot m any desired
number of coins of the proper size and weight may be deposited in succession in the
cash box A.
Of course, as one arm n is depressed to its proper limit by the descent of the coin
and its subsequent dropping into the place below, a next succeeding arm is brought
into position to be in turn actuated by the descent of a succeeding coin. In order to
prevent any displacement, by jarring or otherwise, of an arm from its proper position
when brought into position to be actuated by a descending coin, there is provided
in due relation with the chute, a spring w, of such tension or resiliency as to recedo
easily from the thrust of each successive arm n as it moves downward, and to spring
inward when relieved from such thrust. At its free extremity this spring is provided
with an angular or sloping notch e, so that as each successive arm n is brought
downward to the point or position at which the coin is discharged, the next
succeeding arm, that is, the one immediately behind that from which the coin is
discharged, will have its outer end brought into the notch v of the spring w, which
springing inward, thus holds the system of radial spokes or arms n, from further
movement until the arm n, which has its end in said notch of said spring, is moved
downward by the weight of the next succeeding coin; the angular, inclined, or
sloping shape of the lower part of said notch, permitting the spring to be forced
outward by the action thereon of the end of the said arm as it is pressed downward
by the weight of the superincumbent and descending coin.
At that side of the door A', opposite the hinges a² thereof, is a catch, behind
which plays the lower end of the latch lever F, the latter being pivotted as at. 62,
with its lower end brought toward the latch by a spring s. The upper arm of
this latch lever F is provided with an incline e'. A stud d¹ is provided on the spur
wheel, in such manner that when the said spur wheel has completed a rotation, the
said stud will impinge upon the incline cl, and by throwing outward the upper arm
of the lever F will bring the lower arm of said lever away from the catch, thereby
permitting access to the contents of the cash box A.
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 :-
1. The combination with a chute B, having a slot m, and spokes or arms n,
geared with a suitable index finger or fingers, of a spring w, arranged to retain the
spokes or arms in proper position to receive in succession, and to be successively
operated upon by the descent of successive coins, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. The combination with the cash box A, the chute B having the slot m, the dial
having the scales a and b, with divisions bearing a definite ratio to each other, the
index finger c, carried on the arbor a', the index finger d, carried on the sleeve b¹,
the gear or spur wheels g, h, and k, and the spokes or arms n attached to the
arbor, and revolving through the chute slot m, the whole arranged substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. The combination of a latch lever F having an incline c, with the cash box A,
the door A¹ having the catch r, the chute B having the slot m, the dial D having the
scales a and b, the index finger c carried on the arbor a', the index finger d carried
on the sleeve b', the gear or spur wheel i carrying the stud d', the gear or spur
wheels g, h and k, and the spokes or arms n attached to the arbor. f, and revolving
through the chute slot m, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of March 1890.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.