A Collecting Box for Omnibus Fares and other Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Collecting Box for Omnibus Fares and other Purposes.
I, HENRY PREVOST BABBAGE of Mayfield, Lansdown, Cheltenham, a Major General
(retired) H.M. Army, 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 :-―
The object of this box is to receive the money paid directly without passing it
through the hands of any subordinate to afford an easy means at convenient times of
ascertaining and recording the takings of each journey or of each period of time (as
hours, half hours &c.) and to provide an efficient check without giving the least extra
trouble to the controlling authority.
2. Though first contrived for use in omnibusses it may be usefully adopted in shops
and other places, where it is desired to know the takings in fixed intervals.
3. It consists of an outer case A (see drawing) about 9 inches in diameter and
2 inches deep (or more if required) having a projection A by which it may be hung
on a peg, or fastened by a staple and padlock anywhere desired: it has a projection A
downwards to go into a fixed loop to prevent the box shifting with the motion of the
vehicle or otherwise.
4. This outer case is thickened at the contre internally by a washer in which is fixed
a stud B partly threaded to allow of the inner case being secured in its place by the
thumb screw B and at the point B2 it is turned down, so as to make guide and
fitting for the cover of the inner case.
:
5. The outer case A has also at A2 three small plates, the object of which is merely
to give support to the inner case and avoid the least possibility of its straining on the
central stud B.
6. The outer case A has also at F a slot hole, suitable for the passage of pence or
other coin.
7. It has also on the outside at C2 a spring lover working through an opening by a
catch C3 into the notches C¹ on the inner case D to be hereafter described. This
spring lever can be lifted up by the finger, so as to free the inner case D, and allow
of it being moved round when desired, to bring another division under the slot
hole F.
8. The inner case D is a circular box about 2 inches deep (more if required)
divided radially into twelve partitions: a small space in the centre is separated off, in
which is the stud B2 and the thumb screw B'. The partitions make a platform on
which rests the cover of the box D. The circumference is slightly higher than the
partitions, so as to receive the cover with a proper fit.
9. The box D fits nicely into the outer case A, so as to be able to turn on the
stud B and yet have no room to shake inside A if it were otherwise possible.
10. At the bottom of the box D is fixed externally a circle Chaving 12 notches
(one for each division of the box) into any of which the spring catch C² can be brought
successively as required; so that each division of the box (when hung vertically) may
be brought in succession to the top with its slot hole directly under the slot hole Fin
the outer case; so that coins may be dropped through F and reach the division then
below it.
11. The outer case of the box D is thickened in three of the divisions (say up
to inch) and brought above the rest of the case at H, H, and I.
12. At I there is a hole suitable to receive the bolt of a lock and at H, H, merely
two slot notches in the plane of the cover.
13. The cover G is a flat disc having a hole at the centre to fit the point B³ of the
stud B. It has also two flat projections at H, H, which reach to the outer circum-
ference of the box, so that when the cover is properly placed and then moved round
רנ..D

page_text: sufficiently the projections H, H, will be brought into the slot notches H, H, and the
bolt of the lock at I being then shot will enter the hole there already mentioned.
14. Thus the cover will be firmly held down at these three places and everything be
kept securely by the lock at I.
'
15. At each trip of the omnibus, or whenever desired, the inner box D may be shifted
without unlocking or raising the cover, by raising the spring catch C3 and turning the
box D by the finger knob G to the next division.
16. At the end of the twelve trips the full box will be taken away and a fresh one
substituted. When convenient the responsible party will open the box and count and
record the money in each division and add up the total. He will thus find the takings,
not only of the day, but of each trip singly and may also note if required the names of
the men in charge at different times during the day.
"
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
:
The novelty of the combination of the parts generally the adjustment of the inner
box in the outer so that the coins may be passed in succession into any division
desired, while the money will be kept separately and securely under lock and key till
such time as it may be convenient to open the box and count and record the money in
each division and the total in the box.
Dated this 14th July 1890
HENRY P. BABBAGE.