US1431641A - Combined holder and punch for checks - Google Patents

Description

C. A. ERICKSON. COMBINED HOLDER AND PUNCH FOR CHECKS- APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7,1921.

Patented Oct W, 1922..

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- CHARLEFS A. ERICKS ON, O35 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED HOLDER AND PUNCH FOR CHECKS.

Application filed August 17, 1921. Serial No. 492,920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A..En1'onso1v, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Holder and Punch for Checks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in check holding and punching or notching devices, and has particular relation to a type on each ticket.

of such devices especially intended for use in barber shops, restaurants, cafeterias, drug stores, soda and ice cream shops, theaters, meat markets, grocery stores, and in other places Where sale checks are used, to check the price of services rendered, meals served, or the merchandise bought by and served to customers, and also to indicate the number of the waiter, barber or salesman issuing such checks.

As is Well known, this class of pay checks or tickets have displayed on one of their faces'in a row along one or both of their edges, a series of numerals which increase from 5, in multiples of 5, to 100 or above. Such checks also have, near their upper ends, arranged in a transverse rowon each check, a series of numerals which increase numerically or by digits, and at their lower ends another row of digits disposed transversely This last named row of numerically increased digits, indicate in dollars, when properly notched, the amount purchased, while the transverse row of digits near the upper end of each check indicate, when properly notched, the number oi the customers served.

These checks or tickets are usually formed by being placed one on the other and glued or otherwise fastened together at one of their ends, into tablets or pads, the fastened portions of the tickets constituting the stub of the tablet or pad. By this arrangement, the checks or tickets may be removed one at a time, by tearing them off at a weakened place therein, at the inner end of the stub, when it is necessary to indicate thereon, by punching or notching out one or more of the numbers, the amount to be paid to the cashierfor the meal which has been served or as the price of an article or articles which have been purchased, or one of the digits, to designate the number of customers served.

The principal object of my present inventron, is to provide, as a unit, a combined holder and punch for sales checks or tickets embodying a lockable receptacle for the punchlngs of such checks, which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, attractrve 1n appearance, compact and portable 1n form, and size, (although designed for stationary or fixed use,) strong, durable and eflicient in operation, with its parts so made, arranged and co-operating with one another, that, in the operation of punching or notching the checks, one at a time, the same will be so held by a part of the device, or a gauge and stripping member thereof, that the numeral to be punched out will be clearly visible to the operator, thereby reducing to a minimum. the liability of making mistakes, which so frequently occur when punches of the old style are used.

A. further object is to so construct and mount. the gauge and stripping member of the device, with respect to the punch and lockable receptacle for the punchings, that when the checks are placed, one at a time, 1n position for the proper numeral to be punched out, notonly will saidnumeral be clearly visible to the user till the punch covers the same in its downward movement and clips it from the check, but it will also be stripped from the check and punch when the former is removed from the gauge or stripper and the latter automatically assumes its normal position, thus causing the punehedout or numeral carrying portion of each check to be positively deposited in the receptacle therefor.

Still another object is to so construct the device that one of the walls of the lockable receptacle thereof will coact with the check holding socket and clamping member in such a manner as to securely hold a block or pad or checks against accidental lateral movement in one direction, yet in such a way as to permit the checks to be readily detached, one at a time, from the pad.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in thefollowing description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawing, which serves to illustrate an embodiment of the invention- 1 Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of that side of the holder and punch on which the pad or block of checks is located and held in position for being conveniently detached one at a time from the pad.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing by dotted lines about the position one of the checks will occupy when one of the numerals is being punched out.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the lower portion of the opposite side of the holder and punch from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional View taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4 showing the means for securing one end of the door for the lockable receptacle in position. I 1

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views of the drawing.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates the base of the holder and punch which is by preference substantially rectangular in shape and may be made of any suitable size and material. This base or, plate lOis provided on its upper surface along one of its side edges with a boxlike receptacle 11 which is by preference an integral part of the base 10 and has extended from its rear portion an upwardly and forwardly disposed extension or bracket 12 which is also by preference integral with the receptacle 11 and base 10 of the holder and punch.

As shown in Fig. l, the front portion of the bracket or extension 12 overlies a portion of the horizontal wall of the receptacle 11 and has depending from the rear portion of said overlying part a transversely disposed vertical wall 13, thus affording a recess between the lower surface of the overhanging arm or portion 14 of the bracket 12 and the top or horizontal wall of the receptacle 11 of the device. The portion 14 of the bracket or extension 12 is provided with a vertical opening 15,- in which is movably located a plunger 16 which is provided on its upper end with a knob or handle 17 for the operation of said plunger in one direction. The lower portion of the plunger 16 is provided with a Vertically disposed groove 18 into which is extended one end of a pin 19 used for preventing rotation of the plunger or for guiding the same.

Surrounding the plunger 16 between its knob or handle 17 and the upper surface of the arm 14 of the bracket 12, is a spring 20 one end of which rests against the arm 14 and the other end against the handle or knob 17 and is employed for retracting the plunger 16 to its normal position after it has been forced downwardly in the operation of punching or notching a check. The lower end of the plunger is provided with a vertical slot 21 for the reception of a tongue 22 extended upwardly from the die 23 of the punch, which die may be of any suitable form but by preference substantially U-shaped in cross-section so as to produce a similar shaped notch in the checks when they are punched. The lower surface of the die 23 is rearwardly beveled as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, so as to afford a shearing cut of the ticket when the die is forced through an opening 24 in a plate 25 which is secured to the upper surface of the receptacle 11, which receptacle is provided in its top with an opening 26 located in register with the opening 24 of the die plate 25 so that the punchings from the checks may be deposited in the box or receptacle 11 of the holder and punch.

The tongue 22 of the die or punch 23 held in position within the slot 21 of the plunger by means of a pin 27 extended transversely through suitable openings in the tongue and plunger. 5y this arrangement it is apparent that should the die 23 become injured or deficient. it can be removed and another readily placed in its stead.

Secured to the vertical wall 1?) ol" the bracket 12 is the gauge and stripping member of the device, which consists of an upright plate 28 which is secured to the wall 13 and has forwardly extended from its lower end a plate 29 which has a pair of spaced prongs 30 extended forwardly of the opening 24 in the die plate 25 and deflected upwardly at their free ends as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing.

Each of the prongs 30 of the plate 29 is provided near its outer edge and at about its middle with a depending stop member 31 which rests at its lower end on the upper surface of the die plate 25 on each side of the opening 24 therein but rearwardly of the front end of said opening, as will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawing. The stop members 31. are by n'el'erence punched out of the prongs 30 of the plate 25), and serve to hold said plate at a slight distance from the upper surface of the die plate 25, so that a check 32, after it has been detached from the pad or block 33, can he placed cross-wise of the front portion of the receptacle l1 and between the prongs 30 and die plate 25, with one of its edges against the stops 31, when it is apparent that the number on the check to be punched out can be disposed so as to lie between the prongs 30, in which position said. number will be clearly exposed to the view of the user of the device and will be in position. to he punched out by forcing the punch or die 2;! downwardly through the openings in the die plate and upper part of the lockable receptacle.

After pressure has been removed from the 20 will restore said die and its carrying plunger to their normal positions. "The check 32 having beenp'unched, can now be removed from between the gauge and stripper member andthe die plate, when it is evident the parts will be in position :forthe above described operationto be repeated.

The rear end of the-base plate 10 is provided with a verticalwall 34: which merges with or forms part of the. rearwall of the receptacle 11 and terminates at its upper end about flush with the top of said receptacle. At its outer edge the wall 3 f has extended laterally therefrom a Wall 35 which, being spaced from the adjacent wall of the receptacle 11, forms with said wall and the end wall 3 1, a socket or recess for the rear end of the pad 33 of checks or tickets. Extended horizontally from the rear lower portion of the bracket 12 in parallelism with the upper end of the wall 34 is a stub-shaft 36 on which is mounted a clamping or gripping member for the rear r end of the pad 33 of checks. This clamping or gripping member is designated as a whole by the numeral 37 and comprises a pair of angular pieces 38 and 39 of sheet metal 10- cated one 011 the other and secured together by means of rivets 40 or otherwise. lower member 39 of the clamp 37 is provided rearwardly of its angle with a pair of depending loops 41 which surround the shaft 36 near its ends and thus provides a bearing for the clamp or gripping member. Surrounding the shaft 36 is a coiled spring 42, one end of which is secured to the upper end of the wall 34: and the other end to the lower surface of the member 39 of the clamp. The front edges of the members 38 and 39 of the clamp are preferably serrated or toothed as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, so as to more effectually engage the upper surface of the rear end of the pad of checks. This engagement of the clamping or gripping member 37 with. the pad will be efi'ected at a point slightly to the rear of the weakened portions of the checks indicated by the dotted line 43, see Fig. 1 of the drawing.

That side of the receptacle 11 opposite the socket for the check pads is provided with a longitudinally extended opening 4 1, which is closed by a door 45 having near one of its ends a lock d6 of any suitable kind to engage a socket or other suitable device on the rear end wall of the receptacle 11, so as to lock said door in its closed position. On its front inner surface the door 45 is provided with a forwardly extended bracket 16, to engage a lug 47 extended inwardly from the front wall of the receptacle 11 near; its outer edge. By this arrangement, it is apparent that the bracket 46 can be placed in engagement with the lug 47, when by locking the opposite end of the door the The i latter will be securely held in place so that accessto the punchings of the checks held by the compartment or receptacle cannot be had except by an authorized person or one having a key to the lock for said-receptacle.

By employing thelockable receptacle, it a is manifest that all of the punchings from the checks will be deposited therein, and that at the close of business during each day, or

oftener, this box can be opened and the punchings checked up with the tickets or checks issued by the person using the check holder and punch.

Having thus fully described my invention, what T claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination. with a base, of a bracket supported thereby and overlying a portion thereof, a punch mounted on said bracket for vertical movement, an orificed die plate mounted below the punch for co-action therewith, and a member horizontally mounted above said plate and having a pair of prongs located one on each side of the orifice in said plate whereby the numeral or numerals to be punched out of a check placed between the said. member and die plate will be exposed to View between said prongs.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, of a bracket supported thereby and overlying a portion thereof, a punch mounted on said bracket for vertical movement, an orificed die plate mounted below the punch for co-action therewith, and a member horizontally disposed above said plate and having a pair of prongs located one on each side of the orifice in said plate, said member having on each of its prongs a downwardly extended stop whereby a check placed between the said member and die plate will be gauged by said. stops and whereby the numeral or numerals to be punched out of the check will be exposed to view between said prongs.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base having on its upper surface a receptacle provided in its top with an opening and in one of its sides with a doorway, a door to close said doorway, and means tolock the door in its closed posi tion, a bracket extended above the receptacle and having a portion overhanging the same, a punch mounted on the overhanging part of said bracket for vertical movement, an orificed die plate mounted on the top of the receptacle with its orifice in register with the opening in the top of said receptacle, and a member horizontally disposed and fixedly mounted above said plate and having a pair of prongs located one on each side of the orifice in said plate, said member imaging a depending stop on each side of said orrice.

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination withv a base having on its, up-

per surface along one of its sides a receptacle at its rear end an upright Wall provided at its outer edge With alaterally extended. upright wall spaced from. the adjacent Wall of said receptacle whereby a-socket atone end of the base is provided, a bracket extended above said receptacle and having a portion overhanging the opening in the top thereof, a punch mounted on the overhanging part of said bracket for vertical movement and co-aetion with said opening in the top of the receptacle, a member horizontally disposed and fixedly mounted above the top of said receptacle and having a pair of prongs located one on each side of the opening in said receptacle, said member having a depending stop on each side of said opening.

CHARLES A. ERICKSON.

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