US1892330A - Alarm switch - Google Patents

Description

Inventor A. C-oH/vy/v 2 Sheet-Sheat 2 w. A. @QRNY ALARM SWITCH Filed Feb, 18, 1931 mac 2 7," 193 5 A llomey Another object Patented Dec. 27, 1932 uurrao ST -res PATENT OFFICE a. com, or mew YORK, N. Y. I

- Application filed February 18, 1931. Serial No. 516,748.

This invention relates to improvements in alarmswitches, and more particularly to such devices for use in connection with money drawers. I

The primary object of the invention is to provide an attachment for cash register and other ln'nds of money drawers in which anaudible and/or visible alarm is set off should an attempt be madetoopen the drawer by one unfamiliar with the operation thereof. It will therefore be apparent that thefts from drawers containing mone or other valuables may be detected and the t ieves caught in the attempt.

to provide a mono drawer alarm whic may beapplied to'cash registers and money drawersnow in use without requiring alterations in the construction thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts,, the essential features of which are.

hereinafter; fully described, are particularly pointed outin the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I a

Figure 1 is a side elevational viewwith parts in section showing my invention in use. Figure. 2.is an end elevational view of a cash-j register equipped with my invention, and showing the drawer partially open position.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the house enclosing certain of 1 the working parts of my invention, and showing the cash register drawer in closed position.

Figure4 is a fra'gmentary'top plan view of a cash register with the housing of the invention in horizontal section.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the electrical switch.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates a counter or like support on which a cash register 11 is supported, while 12 designates a wall of a building which supports'a casing 13 on the by screws or the like 17.

Mounted within the housing 14 and supported from one of the walls thereof adjacent the rear end is an electric control switch 18 which is of the wellknown'construction and preferably of the snap type wherein a pi'voted manipulatingmember 19 is mounted in a block of insulation 20. A spring 21 has one end connected to the inner end of the manipulating member 19 and its opposite end seated against the bight portion of a crank 22, which has its bearings'in the block 20, while fixedly secured to one of the trunnions of the crank is a cross contact arm 23 adapted to make contact when the switch is in on position with spaced contact members 24, also fixed to the .block 20. As before stated, the switch is of the well known construction wherein movement is transmitted from the manipulating member 19 to the contact arms 23 through the spring 21 and crank 22. In other words, as the point of connection between the spring 21 and the inner end of the manipulating member 19 is moved off center, the contact arm 23 will be moved into and out of engagement with the fixed contact 24,

depending of course upon whether the manipulating member is moved to on or off position.

Mounted within the housing 14 and ex- A tending lengthwise thereof is a catch member 24, the same being freely slidable through bearings or partitions-25. The rear end of the member 24 is rovided with an elongated slot 26 through w ich the manipulating end 19 of the electric switch extends, while the forward end of the said member is provided with an upwardly inclined face 27, and with a shoulder 28. A spring 29 is interposed between the bottom wall of the casing 14 and the under side of the arm 24 to normally po- 10G I 24. This engagement of the parts 39 and 38 sition the said arm in a predetermined plane, but which outward movement of the arm is limited by a stop pin 30 extending from opposite sides of an upwardly extending manipulating arm 31, which is formed integral with the member 24. The arm 31 extends through a slot 32 provided in the top wall an opening 38 in the front wall of the housing.

14 and terminates in an angularly disposed shoulder or finger 39 which is always disposed on a plane just above the plane of the member 24 when the said member isin normal position. By this arrangement, the angular finger or stop 39 will be disposed in the path of the shoulder 28 on the catch member 24 for a purpose to be presently explained.

The electric switch 18 is in an electric circuit with an electric bell 40 and with a signal light 4] both of which are contained within the casing 13, although a window may be provided in the casing for visibly displaying the lights 41.

In operation, assume that the-cash .drawer 34 of the cash register is in closed position, and the parts are in normal position as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. The cashier or person authorized to operate the cash register when wishing to gain access to the contents of the drawer 34 will prior to the o eration of the cash register, push downwar upon the knob 33 which will of course move the shoulder- 28 of the catch member 24 out of the path of the finger 39 provided on the inner end of the arm 37 which arm is in turn connected to the drawer 34. By so doing, the drawer 34 will open in the usual inannerwithout in any way affecting the operation of the alarm device. In the event that the cash register is operated by one unfamiliar with the workings of the alarm device and assuming that the parts are as shown in Figure 3, it will be apparent that unless the knob 33 is pushed downward, the money drawer 34 in its outward movementwill cause .the finger 39 to engage the shoulder 28 provided on the forward end of the member wilL cause the member 24 to be; drawn forward as it will be appreciated that the money .the cash re ister;

drawers of cash registers and the like are spring actuated to automatically move'the same to open position upon manipulation of Thus outward movement of the drawer 34 as before mentioned will exert a pull upon the member 24. and which pull is transmitted to the manipulating member 19 of the electric switch 18 and will there-' fore cause the switch to snap to an on position, thus causing the contact member 23 to bridge the contacts 34 and close the electric circuit in which the bell 40 and light 41 are arranged. Both an audible and visible signal will be given so that an attempt of robbery of the contents of the money drawer will be frustrated. After the alarm is sounded, the parts may be returned to former position by pushing rearwardly upon the. knob 33 to turn the switch to an off position, and upon closing of the money drawer 34, the finger 39 will ride up the inclined face 27 so as to be disposed behind the shoulder 28. It will of course be understood that the finger 39 also rides up the'inclined face 27 on each actuation of the drawer 34 from open to closed position.

While I have shown and described what I deem to he the most desirable embodiment of my invention. it Will'be understood that various changes in construction may be resorted to if desired, and I do not limit myself to any thing less than the whole of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim-as new and desire to secure by Lettors Patent is 1. In combination with a support having a drawer slidably mounted therein, a housing mounted on said support, an arm secured to said drawer and extending into said housing. a shoulder on the free end of said arm, an electric circuit control switch mounted within'said housing having a pivoted actuating member, a catch member loosely connected to said actuating member, a shoulder formed on the free end of said catch member, spring means acting upon said catch member to dispose said shoulder thereon in the path of the shoulder on said arm, and a manipulating element carried bysaid catch member and extending exteriorly of said housing by which said catch member may be moved against the action of said spring means to dispose the shoulder thereon out of the path of the shoulder on said arm.

2. In combination with "a support having a drawer slidably mounted thereima housing mounted on said support, an arm secured to said drawer and extending into said housing, a shoulder on the/free end of said arm, an electric circuit control switch mounted within said housing having a pivoted actuating member. a catch member loosely connected to said actuating member, ashoulder formed on the free end of said catch member, spring means acting upon said catch member to dispose said shoulder thereon in the path of the shoulder on said arm. and a manipulating element fixedly carried by said catch member and extending 'exteriorly of said housing by which said catch member may be moved against the action of said spring means to dispose the. shoulder thereon out of the path I of the shoulder on said arm, the ezgtreme free end of said catch member being provided with an inclined face to be engaged by the shoulder on said arm when moving said drawer from a fully open position toclosed position.

I 3. An alarm actuating device for use in 7 connection with a slidable drawer comprising a housing, an electric control switch 10 mounted within said housing and having a pivoted manipulating member, a catch member mounted in said housing and havingone end loosely connected to said switch actuating member, a shoulder providedion the front end,ot said catch member, a manipulating arm fixed to and extending at an "angle from said catch member and passing exteriorly through a slot in said housing, a spring acting upon said catch member to force said manipulating arm outwardly of said housing, stop means :for limiting the outward movement of said manipulating arm to nor mallywposition said shoulder on a predetermined plane, and an actuating arm adapted to be fixedly connected to a. cash drawer and slidable through a wall of said housing, the inner end of said actuating arm being pro vided with an angularly disposed finger for engagement with said shoulder upon outward movement of said actuating arm relative to said housing.

In testimony'whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM A; CORNYN.

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