Improvements in Coin-freed Locks and Apparatus for Various Uses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 14th Aug. 1900-Accepted. 1st Dec. 1900
Improvements in Coin-freed Locks and Apparatus for Various Uses.
We, GEORGE SALTER, of the Firm of George Salter and Company, High Street,
West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer, and ERNEST WILLIAM
BACHTE, of Churchill House, West Bromwich aforesaid, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to coin-freed locks and apparatus, such as used in con-
nection with water closet doors, prepayment delivery machines, weighing
machines and the like.
The principal object of the invention is to prevent the introduction of wires or
the like for clandestinely throwing the bolt, and another object is to provide for the
disposal of coins of a less in size or value than the proper predetermined coin for
working the apparatus, before they reach the lock mechanism, whilst a third
object is to so arrange the lock mechanism that only coins of a predetermined
size can be effective for throwing the bolt on a handle or lever being turned for
the purpose of opening a door, obtaining the delivery of goods or articles, indi-
cating a weight or the like.
In carrying out our invention as applied to a coin-freed door lock for water
closets or the like, we take a suitable lock casing with a downwardly sloping or
inclined top edge, through which a coin slot is made, to lead to a semi-circular
or circuitous coin race, within which is a gate or opening of a less width than
the diameter of the coin destined for the operation of the apparatus. The part
of the boundary wall of the race immediately under the coin shoot is made into
an inclined plane which, at the lower end returns back at a similar inclination
towards the lock mechanism, so as to form a wedge figure.
The curved walls at the opposite sides of the ace are equal in depth to the dis-
tance between the front and back cover plates of the lock and the gap in the said
walls has an inclined lip, whilst the part of the race coming in front of the bolt
has an overlapping lip or incline to lead the coin into a box or vertically slotted
part formed in the body of the bolt, and in the fore end part of the said slot, a
lever carried by the follower of the spindle for withdrawing the bolt, normally
lies when the said bolt is shot. The space between the back end of the said slot
and the lever is a little greater than the diameter of the coin, so as to allow the
coin to run free up to a stop situated below the bolt. This stop part upon which
the coin rests is inclined outwards and then upwards to form a large V-shaped
notch, so that the coin first drops on the first incline and comes between it and
the back of the hollow or slot of the bolt. Then when the outside lever is turned
for withdrawing the bolt, it impinges on the front edge of the coin, and through
it, the bolt is pushed back, whereupon the coin is liberated and falls. The full
pushing back of the bolt to free the door is effected by a cam end of the lever
coming against and working down the back end of the slot, whilst near the said
cam end is a notch or cut out V-part, which takes upon and embraces the
angular edge or corner at the back end of the slot sud is thereby blocked when a

page_text: coin of insufficient size is introduced. Thus assuming that a French penny
is introduced into the slot in the bolt then the first travel of the bolt is not suffi-
cient to bring the cam end of the lever full home against the back of the slot
but only to such a distance as will bring the V-notch onto the corner of the
bolt, which is thereby blocked when only partially thrown, thereby preventing
the opening of the door, whilst the improper coin deposited is retained and falls
through when the parts are returned.
The follower may be spring operated in one direction for returning the bolt,
which is also spring-operated. A supplementary handle or lever is provided on
the inside of the door for withdrawing the bolt for exit, by a stalk or pin on the
handle spindle engaging against a like pin on the tail end of the bolt.
As a still further form we propose to make a lock which shall be interchange-
able to either a right or left hand door, or to the inside or outside of a door, by
providing the same with a spindle having a boss carrying the bolt driver pin,
stepped or reduced in diameter at an equal distance from each end, to form
bearings which work in holes in the sides of the lock case and cover plate respec-
tively, so that the spindle may be reversed to project from either one side or the
other of the casing, according as to whether the lock is to be applied to the inside
or outside of a door. The follower spindle has a similar boss, stepped or necked
at each end to work in bearing holes in both the cover plate and casing. The
follower, which may be returned by a coiled spring, is expanded at the end and
and may have notches on both edges to engage the ends of the coin box of the
spring-operated latch bolt, whose striking end of bevel is swivelly mounted
relative to the other part so as to be capable of rotation for the purpose of con-
verting the lock from an inside one to an inside one, or vice versa, or to either
a right or left-hand door. To retain the swivelling end in its set position, a
fixed shank is continued inwards from it and is terminated by a butting shoulder
so that the said end is prevented from inadvertently rotating by lying and being
confined within a gap in the edge or side wall of the casing and by working upon
the flat surface of the inside of the said casing, whilst a lip on the cover plate
extends into the said gap and bears upon the striking end, which is thereby
confined against rotation in all directions.
The entrance of the coin box in the bolt has an inclined or bevelled lead to
facilitate the entrance of the coin into it, whilst instead of the inclined edge of
the box through which the coin slot is made being a fixture, it may be arranged
to tilt on end pivots in either one direction or the other, to accommodate it to
either the inside or outside of a door.
The bottom edge of the casing is removable to admit of the deposited coins
being collected. One end of the removable edge has a fixed dowel engaging a
hole in the edge, whilst the other end carries a small internal lock, whose bolt is
shot into engagement with a suitable hole in the opposite edge of the casing.
The lock may be provided with other usual adjuncts for preventing fraud and
blocking the mouth of the coin slot.
Dated this 15th dow of Da
1000

page_text: BACHE, of Church Hill House, West Bromwich, aforesaid, 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:-
This invention relates to coin-freed locks and apparatus such as are used in
connection with water closet doors, prepayment delivery machines, and the like.
The first object of the invention is to prevent the introduction of wires or the
like for clandestinely throwing the bolt; the second object is to provide for the
disposal of coins of a less in size or value than the proper predetermined coin
for working the apparatus, before they reach the lock mechanism; a third object
is to so arrange the lock mechanism that only coins of a predetermined size can
be effective for throwing the bolt on a handle or lever being turned for the
purpose of opening a door, obtaining the delivery of goods or articles, indicating.
a weight or the like, whilst the fourth object of our said invention, and particu-
larly of that part which relates to coin-freed locks for water closets and the
like, is to make such locks reversible, so that the same may be interchangeably
applied to either a right-hand or a left-hand door, and either to doors opening
outwards, or to doors which open inwards.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, partly in vertical section,
and partly in elevation, a coin-freed door lock (with the cover-plate removed)
embodying the whole of the features constituting our invention, both in regard
to reversibility, and the means for preventing the opening of the lock by the
introduction of wires or the like, for disposing of coins other than the proper one
for opening the lock, or for rendering such unauthorized coins inoperative. The
lock is shown with the various reversible parts arranged to suit a left-hand door
opening inwards and with the parts in the several positions they respectively
assume when the door is locked and before a coin is introduced into the apparatus,
whilst the bolt mechanism is represented in the normal condition which it
assumes when the bolt is shot and before the introduction of a coin for freeing
the said bolt.
Figure 2 represents a complete vertical section of Figure 1 upon the dotted
line x.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of Figure 2 upon the dotted line a¹, looking
upwards, and showing the reversible indicator and slot plate in underside plan.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1, but showing the indicator and slot
plate in elevation and the parts of the bolt mechanism in the positions they
assume when the bolt is in the act of being withdrawn through the medium of
a proper predetermined coin, which serves as a connection between the follower
lever and the said bolt during the initial part of the withdrawal movement.
Figure 5 is a view showing the indicator and slot plate in topside plan and
its connection with the sliding bolt by which the closed door is fastened after
a person has entered the closet.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of our improved lock, showing it applied to a
left hand door which opens inwards, whilst Figure 7 shows it applied to a right-
hand door, also opening inwards.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
In carrying out this form of our invention, the lock comprises a casing a.
containing the coin-freed mechanism, and having a body part consisting of a
fixed side a and edges a³, and a removable cover plate b, adapted to lie flush
within the space comprehended by the said edges a³, and to be there secured by
removable screws b', which pass into or through distance pieces a, projecting
from the fixed side or plate a², and supporting the removable cover-plate, the
said screws also serving to secure the lock in position upon the door.
In the top edge of this casing is a coin slot a³, leading to a circuitous coin
race within the side wall ¹, of which is a gate or opening 2, of a less width
than the diameter of the coin destined for the operation of the apparatus, and

page_text: through which coins of a less diameter than the proper one pass and drop direct
into the cash box of the lock, without being allowed to reach the bolt mechanism.
The part 3, of the other boundary wall of the race immediately under the
coin slot a⁹ is made into an inclined plane which, at the lower end returns back
at a similar inclination towards the lock mechanism so as to form a wedge j³,
which is adapted to direct the coins deposited first against the gap or opening in
the opposite wall of the race, in order to determine whether the same are of the
proper diameter before allowing them to pass to the lock mechanism and to
dispose of the same through the said gap should they be smaller than the
prescribed coin.
The opposite side walls of the race are equal in depth to the distance between
the fixed side a², and removable cover plate b, of the lock, and the gap in the
said walls has an inclined lip 6 (shown also in Figure 1 which is a section of
Figure 1 upon the dotted line 2) which acts as a lead for directing small coins
into and through the gap, whilst crossing the lower termination of the race, and
coming immediately above the bolt f, is an overlapping and inclined lip or sloping
shoulder adapted to lead the coin into a box or vertically slotted part f¹ formed
in the body of the bolt f, and also to curl up or divert out of the path of the said
box, the end of any wire that might be introduced for clandestinely throwing
the bolt, and in the fore end part of the said slot, a follower lever e carried by
the spindle e which is turned from the outside of the closet for withdrawing the
bolt, lies. The space between the back end fo, of the said slot and the lever is
a little greater than the diameter of the prescribed coin, so as to allow the coin
to drop freely through the coin box but to be arrested by a stop f, situated below
the bolt. This stop part upon which the coin rests which is represented separately
in Figure 1, is formed with a large V-shaped notch fs, with a depression fº, at
the bottom to receive the edge of the arrested coin which is thus held or retained
between the stop and the back of the box or slot of the bolt. Then when the
outside lever e³, is turned for withdrawing the bolt (assuming that a coin of the
proper value has been deposited) the follower lever e, turns with it and impinges
against the adjacent edge of the said coin, which communicates the motion to
the bolt and causes the initial withdrawal movement. The coin serves as the
connection between the follower lever and the bolt until the said lever has been
turned to such an extent as will bring the upper cam or wiper end e8, of the same
against the back of the coin box in the bolt (as represented in Figure 4), where-
upon the coin is liberated, and falls into the cash box of the lock, whilst the
lever acts directly against the bolt for completing the withdrawal movement.
The coin is liberated by reason of the fact that when the lever acts directly on
the bolt, the distance between the back of the box and the stop is increased to
more than the diameter of the coin.
From the above description it will be understood that the extent of the initial
stroke or throw of the bolt is entirely dependent upon the diameter of the coin
which serves as the connection between it and the follower lever, and that if the
coin deposited is smaller than the one prescribed for the proper working of the
apparatus, then the said initial bolt movement is insufficient to admit the cam or
wiper end of the lever into engagement with the coin box, and, as a consequence, the
said lever is blocked and the bolt cannot be further withdrawn.
A notch or
shoulder e, is formed in the edge of the lever, near to the said cam end, and is
adapted to take upon or engage over the angular edge or corner f10, at the back
end of the slot when the initial traverse of the bolt has been effected through the
medium of a coin of insufficient size. Thus assuming that a French "penny" is
introduced (as indicated in chain-dotted lines in Figure 1) into the slot in the
bolt then the first travel of the bolt is not sufficient to admit the, cam end of the
lever into direct connection with the bolt, i.e. to take a bearing against the back
of the slot, but is only of such an extent as will bring the V-notch of the said
follower lever onto the corner of the bolt (see the dotted lines in Figure 1) which

page_text: is thereby blocked when only partially thrown, and the door cannot be opened,
whilst the improper coin deposited is retained and falls through when the parts
are returned.
The follower is returned to its normal position by a spring e, whilst the bolt
is shot automatically by a spring g. A supplementary handle or lever c¹, is pro-
vided on the inside of the door for withdrawing the bolt for exit, by a bolt driver
pin on the handle spindle c. engaging against a like pin f on the slotted tail
end of the bolt, which said slotted end takes and works over a guide pin f³,
carried by the fixed side of the lock casing.
For the purpose of rendering the lock reversible or interchangeably applicable
to either right or left hand doors, the spindle c of the inside knob or handle c¹, is
detachably secured, at its inner end, to a boss c, which carries the bolt-driver
pin d, and is stepped or reduced in diameter at an equal distance from each end,
to form bearings c³, for working in opposite and corresponding holes in the fixed
side of the lock case and the removable cover plate respectively, so as to admit
of the spindle being taken out and turned round or reversed to project from either
one side or the other of the casing, according as to whether the lock is to be
applied to a right hand or left-hand door. The follower spindle e, is connected
to a similar boss e², stepped or necked at each end to work in other bearing
holes a, 66, in both the cover plate and casing, so that the follower is also
reversible and admits of being taken out, turned round and replaced in its new
position with its turn es coming on the other side of the lock, when required,
alike unto the handle spindle.
The follower itself is moved in one direction by the said turn e³, and in the
other direction by means of the spring e, which is detachable, and is disposed
between an extension e, of its boss and a peg e carried by the fixed casing,
whilst the latch bolt admits of being drawn back from the outside of a door
through the medium of the turn e and follower arm e when the latter is coupled
to the said bolt by means of an introduced coin, as herein before described, and
from the inside of the door by means of the handle c¹, driver pin d and peg f4,
whilst the return or shooting movement is effected by the spring g. For the
purpose of reversibility, the follower lever has a blocking notch e, on each edge.
To admit of the reversible lock being used in connection either with a door
opening outwards, or a door opening inwards the striking or bevel end h of the
latch bolt is swivelly mounted relative to the other part and is capable of rotation
upon its pivot h¹, for the purpose of converting the same from a position suit-
able to a door opening inwards to one which will suit a door that opens outwards,
or vice versa. The reversible striking end is prevented from inadvertently rota-
ting or twisting from its set position by means of a confining plate i, detachably
secured to the edge of the lock casing and having an opening, which is placed
coincident with the gap as in the said edge wherethrough the end of the ball
extends and works. This said opening ¹ is of a shape corresponding to the cross
section of the reversible end h, so that after the latter has been adjusted with its
bevel presented in the desired direction, the confining plate is passed over it and
secured to the edge of the lock casing by screws when the striking end is made
capable only of sliding with the bolt, without being able to twist upon its pivot.
The cover plate has a lip 68 (see Figure 1) on one edge, which, when the said
plate is in position, engages with the gap a8, and serves as a further means for
confining the reversible end and guiding the bolt in its movement.
The top edge of the lock casing is pierced with a coin slot a, leading to the
coin-shoot, and above it is a reversible or tilting slot and indicator plate k,
having depending ears k¹, on its underside, jointed by means of removable pins ³,
to lugs a¹o, on the said casing, and being also provided with a coin slot ³, located
over the slot a, in the casing, and an indicator gap k, and at a distance below
the latter, a plate m, is affixed bearing the word "Engaged" which is visible
through the said gap. Arranged within the space above the "Engaged" plate

page_text: is a second one n bearing the word “ Vacant" and provided with a removable
stud n¹ depending through a longitudinal guide slot m¹, in the plate m, and being
engaged by the forked end o¹ of a rod o³, passing through a suitable gap ', in
the door p (see Figure 3) to the inside of the said door and being there secured
to the supplementary sliding bolt o, by means of which the door is fastened from
the inside by the occupant of a closet or the like.
Thus when the bolt o, is traversed to fasten the door, it moves with it, the
"Vacant" plate which is removed from under the indicator gap 4, to a new
position underneath the coin slot ³, which it blocks or closes and prevents the
introduction of further coins into the lock so long as the door remains bolted,
whilst the word "Engaged" on the plate m is exposed to view through the
indicator gap. On the other hand, when the door is unbolted, the plate n, lies
underneath the said gap through which the word "Vacant is visible.
The bottom part of the lock casing constitutes the coin box, and for the purpose
of adapting this for reversability, both the money door q, which carries the
lock q, and the back plater, are made removable and interchangeable so that
their respective positions admit of being reversed when required. The money
door may be affixed at one end of the bolt of the lock engaging one edge of the
casing and at the other end by a pair of cranked dowel pins taking through
corresponding holes in the other edge of the said case, whilst the rack plate is
affixed in either of its positions by screws taking into lugs on the inside of the
case.
The various operations of reversing or adapting the different parts of the lock
to differently-hung doors are conducted as follows:-
To alter the lock which has been adjusted for a door opening inwards to suit
a door which opens outwards or vice versa, the confining plate is removed, the
swivelling end of the bolt is turned round so as to present the bevel in the desired
direction, in which it is retained by replacing the confining plate and screwing it
in place to the edge of the casing.
To reverse a lock that has been adapted for a left-hand door to suit a right-
hand door, or vice versa, the follower turn and the knob c¹ are removed from
their respective spindles, the cover plate 6 is removed, and then the follower
spring is disconnected. The follower is then taken out, turned round and
replaced in its reversed position, with its arm passing through the coin box of
the bolt, and its spindle projecting from the other side of the casing. The knob
spindle is likewise taken out, reversed, and replaced, after which the cover plate
is again fitted on and the follower turn and knob secured to their respective
spindles. Next the money door g and back plater are disconnected and their
respective positions are reversed, so that the money door comes on the outer side
of the casing. The tilting indicator is next taken off by removing its pivot
pins, and the "Engaged" plate is disconnected, so as to admit of the "Vacant
plate being withdrawn. The stud n¹, at one end of this latter is unscrewed and
connected to the opposite end, after which the "Vacant" plate is replaced, with
the said peg passing through the slot in the "Engaged" plate, which is again
secured to the tilting plate but in a reversed position. These adjustments are
necessary in order to ensure that the words on the indicator plates shall not be
presented to the slots upside-down. Finally, the tilting plate is again connected
to the lock casing, but slopes at the opposite inclination to that which it assumed
before reversal.
The supplementary bolt o, is affixed to the inside of the door in the usual way,
with its fork engaging the pin of the sliding "Vacant" plate.
The application of those parts of our invention relating to the disposal of small
coins and to the means whereby deposited coins other than those prescribed are
rendered inoperative and for preventing the introduction of wires or the like,
to automatic or coin freed mechanism for use in connection with pre-payment
delivery machines and the like, differs in no essential respect from its applica-
tion to door locks as herein described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First In coin-freed locks and apparatus; employing within one of the walls
of the coin-shoot, a gap or opening, such as, for the disposal of small coins
and preventing the same from reaching the mechanism of the lock or apparatus,
substantially as herein described, and also as set forth in the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly: In coin-freed locks and apparatus; providing across the lower end
of the coin-shoot, and approximate to the entrance of the coin box in the bolt
or equivalent part of the mechanism, an inclined lip or shoulder, such as 7, for
the purpose of directing a coin into the said box and diverting wires introduced
into the apparatus for the purpose of clandestinely operating the mechanism,
substantially as herein described, and also as set forth in the accompanying
drawings.
Thirdly-In coin-freed locks and apparatus; the employment of a circuitous
coin-shoot, arranged in conjunction with a gap 2, and a crossing lip, in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as herein described, and also as set
forth in the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly In coin freed locks and apparatus; preventing the operation of
the mechanism by coins of a smaller diameter than that prescribed, by making
the follower lever act as a stop for blocking the further movement of a bolt or
equivalent slide in the event that the initial movement imparted to the said bolt
or equivalent through the medium of the smaller coin is insufficient to admit of
the follower end directly engaging with the said bolt for completing the traverse
of the same, the several parts of the mechanism being arranged for this purpose
substantially as herein described and also as set forth in the accompanying
drawings.
Fifthly--In coin-freed locks and mechanism such as referred to in the pre-
ceding claim; the employment of a follower lever having a cam or wiper end
for directly acting against the bolt or equivalent, and a stop shoulder or notch
adapted to engage with a corner or equivalent part of the said bolt, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described and also as set forth in the accompanying
drawings.
Sixthly In coin-freed locks for the doors of water closets and the like;
making the same adaptable to doors which open either outwards or inwards by
providing the latch bolt with a swivelly-mounted rotating end, which is prevented
from rotating, when in use, by a gapped confining plate, substantially as herein
described, and also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Seventhly:-In coin-freed locks for the doors of water closets and the like;
making the same interchangeably applicable to right or left hand doors, whether
opening outwards or inwards, by the employment of removable and reversible
handle and follower spindles, in combination with a latch bolt having a swivelly-
mounted striking end, prevented from rotating, when in use, by a retaining plate,
with the several parts being arranged and mounted substantially as herein
described and also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Eighthly In reversible coin-freed locks for the doors of water closets and
the like the employment of a tilting or reversible slot-plate, or combined slot
and indicator plate, mounted upon pivots or their equivalent so as to admit of
its slope being changed to accord with the position of the lock, substantially as
herein described and also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Ninthly In reversible coin-freed locks, the employment of a tilting slot
and indicator plate, with the several parts arranged and combined, and the
indicator slide operated from an auxiliary bolt on the inside of a door, substan-
tially as herein described, and also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Tenthly In coin-freed locks for the doors of water closets and the like;
the general construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts, with

page_text: or without the means for making such locks reversible, substantially as herein
described and also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
101
י
1000
GEORGE SALTER,
ERNEST WILLIAM BACHE.
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.