US1786811A - Savings bank - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1930. D. H. ZELL 978 8 1 I SAVINGS BANK Filed May 15, 1928 CSSheets-Sheet 1 NH IHIWHHWHH I HH mmum avwawtoz I 3 I 7 Javz'd Dec. 30, 1930. v V D. H. ZELL 1,786,811

SAVINGS BANK Filed May 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l v K4j 3 X6) awuewtoz J5 rz d Z BZZ p 45 hank with the closure therefor qpen.

Patented Dec. 30, 1930 PATENT OF DAVID E. ZELL, OF.BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SAVINGS BANK Application filed May 15, 1928. Serial No. 277,978.

My invention relates to improvements in savingsbanks, especially of the portable type which can, if desired, be carried around in the owners pocket, or laid in any convenient place at home, to be filled by putting into it such coins as the owner can spare from day to day; I

The object of the invention is to provide a portable savings bank of special form and .10 attractiveappearance andof such construe ti-on that it can be easily and inexpensively produced and kept securely closed and readily opened when the contents are to be extracted. A further object of the invention is to provide a portable savings bank comprising acasing having a closure, and a fastening device for securing and releasing the closure; the casingha-ving an opening throughwhich the coins can be inserted and bearing on its interior means adjacent the opening for preventing the return of said coins through said opening, or for removal from the bank in any other way than by means of the fastening device for releasing the cover so that the bank can be opened.

These and other objects of my invention are clearly set forth in the following description,

taken with the drawings on which one embodiment of my invention is illustrated. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only and I may vary the shape, size and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope and principle of the invention; according to the broad meanings of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

On the drawings, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of apocket savings bank according to -my invention. 7

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of thecover for the casing of this bank distended.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v i

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the casing of the r Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. &.

Fig. 6 is a view of what is shown in Fig. 5 seen from the left.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the casing and closure with the cover attached.

7 Fig. 8 is an end view partly in section of the bank as shown in Fig. 7, viewed from below upward in Fig. 7. I

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 7 I

On the drawings, the same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

I have shown my improved savings bank to herein as having a form of a book-with strongcovers and of such a size that it can be conveniently carried in the 'owners pocket. However, I may make up the bank in forms resembling objects other than books, and the invention is by no means limited, so far as the appearance of the bank is concerned to the form of a. book, but may be embodied in objects of other form, if desired.

In the particular description of what the 7 drawings represent, I use numeral (1) to indicate the body of the casing, having a hinged lid on closure (2). Both the casing and the lid may be of metal and secured be tween a pair of covers (3). The bottom of the case (1) being afiixed to one cover and the lid (2) to the other; so that the bank can be opened in the same manner as a book by moving the covers (3) apart. The bank has an opening (4) to receive a rotatable plug or cylinder which is part of a fastening device or lock to keep the lid shut. At one end the easing (1) will have an elongated opening on slot (5) through which coins can be inserted into the bank. These coins can be removed by inserting a key into the lock and releasing the lid (2) so that the closure (2) can be raised and the bank opened;

I shall now describe the construction of v the covers (3) andthemanner of securing I" these covers to the casing (1) and lid (2). The covers are made up of a pair of plates (6),

laced between sheets of fibre such as cardboard (7), with the adjacent edges of the plates separated as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. The plates (6) are stamped to cut out lugs or tongues (8) which are bent upward and forced through one of the sheets (7) and the sheet through which the lugs (8) pass may have transverse slots (9) therein in proximity to the adjacent edges of the plates (6). The same sheet may have notches 10) in its opposite edges in line with the slots (9) to make it more pliable when the covers are folded together. The other sheet (7 is o erlaid with a sheet of material which makes the outer surface of the cover (3) and this material may be leather, or a substitute for leather with any appropriate finish. It is folded along all of its edges down upon the "face of the sheet (7) through which the lugs (8) extend and these edges may even be recessed or cut to fit the lugs (8); these edges being held in place by an adhesive or any other suitable means. The corners of the covers (3) may have metallic guards or reinforcements (11) hence I provide covers for the bank which are very similar to two covers of a book; these covers being flexibly connected together by means of the layers of material between the adjacent edges of the enclosed metal plates (6).

To fasten the case (1) of the bank to one of the covers (3), I attach to the cover shown to the right in Figs. 2 and 3, for example, a retaining member consisting of a strip of metal 12) extending along top, bottom and free edge of this cover. The upper edge of this strip is turned over as indicated in v (13) forming a retaining rib or flange, and the opposite edge is turned over to provide a flange (14) having slots (15), so that the lugs (8) of this cover can pass through the flange (14:) and be bent downward to secure the retaining member and the cover together. The casing (1) has the form of a more or less shallow box, which can he slipped under the flange (13) along the top and bottom edges of this cover and its front side can be slipped under the flange (13) at the front or free edge of the cover. Then the flanges (13) along the top, bottom and free edge of this cover are bent down over the adjacent top edges of the box or easing (2) and the latter is thus secured in position. The lid (2) is hinged at (16) to the box (1) and a leaf spring (17) is secured within the box (1) in such a way that it normally presses up against the lid (2) and tends to open the bank. The rear side of the box to which the lid (2) is hinged is provided with two parallel cuts (18) and the metal between these cuts is pressed inward to form a strip (19) through which the lower end of the leaf spring (17) can be forced to hold this spring in place. The rim of the lid (2) is indicated at (20) and the lugs (8) on the inner surface of the adjacent cover are bent over this rim; so that the cover and lid are made fast to each other; hence, when the lid is closed and locked to the box (1),the covers (3) move to closed position, the same as the covers of a book, as will be clearly seen from inspection of Figures 1 and 8.

Along one side or end of easing (1), for example, the upper end shown in Figures 1 and 7, I secure a channel shape metallic strip (21) in which there is a longitudinal slot through which coins can be passed into the casing (1). Between this strip and the adjacent end of box (1) are two coil springs (22), the ends of which are hooked around projection struck from the strip beyond the opposite ends of the slot above mentioned. The openings left by these projections (23) are indicated in Figure 5 at (24). Both the adjacent end of the casing and the retaining strip (12) have slots therein coinciding with the slot in the strip (21) as clearly indicated in Fig. 10 and the slots through the strip (12), the end of the box 1) and the strip (21) provide the coin inlet opening (5) above mentioned. The two springs (22) are arranged together as close as possible and each projects beyond the adjacent edge of the opening (5) so that when a coin is inserted in the bank it must be pushed between these two springs and spread them apart as it passes them. One edge of the strip (21) is bent towards the adjacent part of the rim of the box (1) as indicated at (25) and as secured under the adjacent flange (13). While these springs (22) permit the entrance of coins, they obstruct the exit.

Along the front of the box at the edge opposite to the edge where the lid (2) is hinged to the box, I attach an inside channel strip (26), the upper edge of which is bent upward to (27) and secured under the flange (13) along the adjacent portion of the retaining strip or member (12). This strip forms a guideway for a locking element or bolt (28), which is likewise channel shaped, having upper and lower flanges (29) extending toward the front of the box. The upper flange of the locking element is cut away to provide recesses (30) and the top flange of the strip (26) is likewise cut away to provide recesses or openings (31). At one end of the box a spring (32) covered by the strip (26) engages the locking element (28) and tends to move it in one direction, this s ring being mounted upon a projection (33 cutfrom the locking member and bent into position. The opening (4) in the retaining member (12) adjacent the metal of the front of the box is placed in line with a similar opening through the front of the box and another opening through the strip (26) and in theseopenings are mounted a rotatable plug for a cylinder (34) which receives a key to retract the locking element (28). This locking element (28) has an elongated opening (35) through which the rotatable plug (34) passes and this plug is slotted as indicated at (36) to receive the key which operates the lock. The slot (36) of the plug must come into line with the slot (37) in the member (12) and in front of the box (1), and the locking element (28) has a projection (38) to be engaged by the bit of the key, so that when the key is turned, the locking element (28) can be retracted. Along the freeedge of the closure (2) are hooks (39). When the lid is closed, the hooks pass through the openings (31) in the strip (26) and engage the edges of the openings (30) through the top flange (29) of the locking strip (28) and when the key turns the plug (34), the locking strip is forced back to withdraw the edges of the recesses (30) out of engagement with the hooks (39) then the spring (17) can force the lid up.

The overturned flange (13-) of the member (12) atthe front of the casing (1) can be pinched as at (40) adjacent to the openings (31) in the strip (26) and the box can be cut so as to provide one or more guide loops (41) below the inched portions (40) to receive the hooks 39). Thus, the lid is prevented from working loose in closed or locked position. The front of the box may also have a projection (42) to engage the lower flange (29) of the locking strip (28) and help to guide this strip.

The bottom of the casing (1) may have projections struck up from its top surface as shown at (43 to abut the strips 21 and 26 to keep them rom moving away from the adjacent sides of the box along the lower edges. A flexible strip (44) may be secured at its lower end between the bottom of the box (1) and the strip (21) and be held in an inclined position to cooperate with the springs (22) in preventing the removal of coins from the bank through the opening (5) and at (45) is a sight opening through which the owner may peer into the bank for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is full and ready to be emptied and the contents deposited elsewhere.

The bank is very handy to carry about for the purpose of saving coins and loose change, for which the owner has no particular need; and while the bank admits coins at all times, the coins, as above pointed out, cannot be extracted through the inlet (5), because of the presence of the springs (22) and (44) and the only way to remove the coins is to use a key and retract the locking strip (28). Such banks can be given out by a banking corporation to its depositors, the key thereto being kept by the officers of the banking corpora- .tion, so that any coins which the owner deposits in the pocket bank cannot be extracted and used but must remain in the pocket until the owner takes it to the banking corporation and has it opened so that the amount saved can then be deposited to the owners credit.

The bank of course does not need tobe carried about, but can be laid anywhere, at home or in the owners office; and it can be made up in sizes too large for ones pocket, as will be understood.

What I claim:

1. A coin bank comprising a casing, a closure hinged to one of the marginal walls of the casing, a housing within the casing'and engaged with the opposite marginal wall thereof, lock mechanism for the closure within said housing, said housing having a flange extending upwardly against the inner side of the marginal wall of the casing, and an ornamental metal strip extending over the outer face of said casing wall and having its upper edge bent inwardly and clinched upon said housing flange.

2. A coin bank comprising a casing, a closure hinged to one of the marginal walls of the casing, a housing within the casing and engaged with the opposite marginal wall thereof, lock mechanism for the closure within saidhousing, said housing having a flange extending upwardly against the inner side of the marginal wall of the casing, an ornamental metal strip extending over the outer face of said casing wall and having its upper edge bent inwardly and clinched upon said housmg flange, and the bottom wall of the casing having spaced upwardly struck portions coactlng with the inner Wall of the housing to prevent displacement of the latter relative to the casing walls.

3. A coin bank comprising a casing having a closure hinged upon one of the marginal walls of the casing, a lock housing within the casing extending along the opposite margi nal walls thereof, a coin check housing extending along the inner side of another of the marginal walls of the casing and with which one end of the lock housing is in abutting contact, and the bottom wall of the casing being provided with integrally formed parts coacting with said housings to prevent displacement thereof relative to the casing walls.

4. A coin bank comprising a casing having a hinged closure, a housing plate for the lock mechanism extending along the inner side of one of the marginal walls of the casing and having upper and lower flanges engaged with the inner face of said casing wall, and the bottom wall of said casing being pro-- vided at longitudinally spaced points with upwardly indented portions having bearing contact against the inner side face of the housing plate to prevent displacement of said plate relative to the casing wall.

5. A coin bank comprising a casing having a hinged closure, a channel-shaped housing within the casing having its open side opposed to a marginal Wall of the casing, lock mechanism for the closure Within said housing, means engaged over the upper ed e of the housing to hold the upper edge ange thereof in contact with the inner face of the casing Wall, and the bottom Wall of the easing having spaced upwardly indented portions engaged with the side Wall of the housing to hold the lower edge flange of the housing in contact with the inner face of the casing Wall.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

DAVID H. ZELL.

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