US1981791A - Protective equipment for banks, etc. - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 20, 1934. c. .1. GREEN 1,981,791

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR BANKS, ETC

Filed-March 11, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 1 FlG. 2. a fa; 1i l ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 20,- 1934. c, J, GREEN PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR BANKS, ETC

2 Sheets-Sheet.; 2

Filed Mach 11, 1951 FIG. 4.

FIG. 3.

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, Charlie a I. EPE ETL ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATsNr Dreier;

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to protective equipment for use in banks, post offices and similar places of business to protect life and valuables against hold ups.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a protective device for bank tellers and other custodians embodying a manually releasable bullet-proof shield normally retained in a concealed position and automatically moved into a protecting position when released by the teller.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be economically constructed and readily installed in existing forms of bank counters and the like.

A further object resides in the provision of means whereby the protective shield when in its ejected position serves to uncover a battery of fire arms capable of being simultaneously discharged thru concealed openings. f

A further object resides in the novel arrangement whereby the shield may be released by the knee of the operator while complying with the demands of the robber.

A still further object resides in the provision of a protective device of this character which when installed in a bank or the like may have the firearms associated therewith directed toward the entrance for preventing escape of the robbers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation of the device and showing the shield in its lowered position.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation showing the release means for the shield removed and parts broken away for disclosing details of construction.

Figure 4 is a view substantially similar to Figure 3 but showing the shield in its raised position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the shield in its raised position and uncovering openings thru which the firearms may be discharged.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

In the drawings, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A may designate a suitable counter forming a portion of a tellers cage or the like and embodying the front wall v5 and top plate 6 and which may be formed of marble or any other suitable material. The

letter B designates as a whole the improved protective device adapted to be associated with the counter A and operable by the -teller or other person standing at the rear of the counter to yfrustrate any attempted hold up and the discharging of rearms if need be.

The device -B comprises a pair of preferably tubular uprights or posts 7 extended thru openings formed in the top 6 just rearwardly of the counter wall 5 and suitably spaced apart to provide a window or openingthru which business may be transacted. The posts 7 are preferably lprovided with threaded lower ends which are threaded into `suitable floor sockets or lplates 8 lrigidly secured to thel floor 9. The upper ends of the posts 7 are connected by an angle-,shaped head piece providing a horizontal flange 10 to which the upper ends of the posts are attached and a depending or vertical flange 11 which exeach tubular upright 7 beneath the lower edge of the shield 14 is an expansion coil spring 16 which acts to throw the shield upwardly and close the opening between the upiights when the trip means C is operated. These springs 16 are of such strength as to raise the shield with considerable force. Connected at one end to the lower edge of the shield 14 is a cable 17 having its opposite end secured tothe floor 9 and this cable serves to limit upward movement oi the shield and .prevents the upper edge of the shield from striking the iiange 10. This upward limited movement of the shield prevents strain upon the guide frame for the shield and will permit of the same being constructed of a lighter material than would ordinarily be required if the force of the shield is permitted to strike the flange 10. The upper portion of the shield plate 14 may be provided with a suitable slot 18 to receive a spring keeper v19 arranged at the rear side or the flange y11 whereby the shield is retained in a raised position. A suitable retracting cable 20 may be attached to the lower end of the shield and trained of r the counter.

over the pulley 21 secured to the floor 9 for lowering the shield against the action of the springs 16. The slot l5 in the counter top 5 may be closed by a suitable plastic filler such as putty or the4 like as shown at 22 in Figure 2 for closing the slot and concealing the shield when in its lowered position. If so desired, the slots 12 in the uprights 'l may also be closed in some suitable manner for presenting'a heater-appearance and concealing traces of thegprotective device.

The trip means C for releasing the shield 14 embodies a pair of standards and 31 anchored to the door 9 just rearwardly of the counter wall- .retain the .shield in-its lowered concealed position vagainst the action of the elevating springs 16.

The upper vportion of the standard 30 is rearward- .lyoisetas shown in Figure 2 and has pivotally .connected-thereto an-v L-shaped lever 34 which extends rearwardly and upwardly toward therear The forward downturned end of the.lever 34 is connected by a pin and slot connection 35 tothe rear end of the latch pin 32 whereby upon upward swinging of the lever 34 .the latch pin will be retracted from holding en- .adjustable tensioning springs 37, thelower .ends

of which are anchored .in the floor 9. rIhese -springs 37 act tonormally exert a downward pull on the `lever.34 and force the latch pin 32 into oneof the openings 33. When desiring to release theshield 14,:the operator merely raises his knee against .the .bar 36 and retracts the latch pin 32.

allowingthe shield to be raised by the springs 16 and retainedzin a raised position by the spring 4latch -19.

.Secured to the lower edge of the shield 14 is a latch 38 for operating a suitable electric switch Eiland this switch maybe connected for operating suitable .signals .or any other desired protective apparatus upon release of the shield 14. Mounted in any preferred manner beneath the counter top 6 is a shelf 40 and which shelf is arranged just rearwardly of the shield 14 preferably parallel .to the top 6. End blocks 4l arranged at leach end of .the shelf 40 serve as spacers for spacing the shelf below the top 6. Mounted in spaced relation Iupon the upper side of the shelf 4Q as by straps or other suitable attaching means 42 is .a plurality of firearms 43, the barrels of which are directed toward the shield 14. The upper portion of the front wall 5 is provided with a number of openings 44 which `align one with each of the barrels of the firearms 43 and these openings may be closed by suitable plugs 45 serving to conceal the openings ,and presenting a smooth appearance to the face side of the wall.

The rearms 43 are intended to be simultaneously operated by a person standing at the rear of the counter and the operating or discharging means for the rearms embodies a cross bar 46 slidably guided at its ends upon suitable pins 47 projecting rearwardly from the end blocks 4l. This cross bar 46 has attached to its central portion an operating rod 48 which extends rearwai dly to a point adjacent the rear edge of the top 6 and may have a suitable handle at its rear end to be readily grasped by an operator for exerting a rearward pull upon the rod. Connected tc each end of thc cross bar 45, inwardly oi the end block 41 is an adjustable coil spring 49, having their opposite ends attached to the block 41 whereby the cross bar is normally urged toward the end blocks. Connected to the front side of the cross bar-45is aA series of elongated hooks 5G having downturnedf-endsil adapted to engage the triggers of the rearms 43 and exert a pull upon the 'triggers upon rearward movement of the cross mbar. The hooks 50 may be adjustable in any preferred'manner and in the example shown, the

"hooks-areprovided-with threaded ends which are .threaded into the cross bar and this arrangement permits proper' positioning of the downtnrned ends 51 with respect to the triggers of the nrearms.

As will be observed in Figure 2, when the shield 14 is in its lowered position,the upper portion of the shield confronts the firearms 43 and serves as a barriershould the rearms be accidentally discharged. In Figures 4 and .fa-however, it -will be seen that when the shield is raised that the F shield is out of confronting relation to the nrearms and will permit the bullets to pass thru the openings44 when the rearms are discharged by a rearward pull upon the rod 48. The plugs 45 closing the openings 44 are or" course of such nature as to be readily ejected by the force of the bullets passing thru the openings.

Thus it will be seen that a device of this character has been provided which may be readily installed in various places with comparatively little alteration to the counter. It will also beapparent that a novel arrangement has been disclosed whereby the shield is automatically released by ones knee thru aslight vupward pressure upon the horizontal trip rod. It will also be apparent that a novel arrangement has been provided whereby a plurality of firearms may be simultaneously discharged, and an arrangement whereby the shield serves as a barrier extending across the firearms so as to prevent damage thru accidental discharging of the firearms.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In protective equipment of the class described, a vertically guided shield, trip means for retaining the shield in a concealed position, and a rearm confronted by the shield when the shield is in its concealed position.

2. In protective equipment of the class described, a vertically guided shield, means for moving the shield to a protective position, trip means for normally retaining the shield in a concealed position, a plurality of firearms confronted by the shield when in its concealed position, and means for simultaneously ring the firearms.

3. In combination with a counter including a top and a front wall, said front wall having openings therethru, a plurality of lirearms mounted beneath the top wall, means for simultaneously firing the firearms, and a shield vertically movable thru the top wall between the rearms and the openings in the front wall, said shield when in a lowered position forming a barrier between the firearms and said openings and when in a raised position being disposed above the iirearms.

4. In protective equipment of the class described the combination with a counter including a top and a front wall, of a shield guided for vertical movement thru the top at the rear of the front Wall, a shelf mounted beneath the top rearwardly of the shield, a plurality of rearms mounted upon the shelf and having thebarrels thereof aligning with openings provided in the iront wall, said shield when in a lowered position having its upper portion confronting the firearms, and means for simultaneously ring the firearms, said shield when in a raised position being out of confronting relation to the rearms.

5. In combination with a counter including a top and a front wall, said front wall having openings therethru, a shelf mounted below the top, a plurality of rearms xed upon the shelf and aligning with said openings in the front Wall, a movable cross bar mounted on the shelf, a series of hooks carried by the cross bar for independently engaging the triggers of the rearms, a pull rod for actuating the cross bar for simultaneously discharging the rearms, and a protective shield forming a barrier between the firearms and openings in the front wall when the shield is in its normal retracted position.

6. In protective equipment the combination with a counter including a top and a front wall,

` said front wall having openings therethru, a shelf mounted below the top, a series of rearms mounted upon the shelf in aligning relation with the openings in the front wall, a cross bar extending across the rear side of the shelf and movable toward and away from the shelf, spring means normally urging the cross bar toward the shelf, a series of hooks threaded into the cross bar one ,a for each of the firearms, said hooks having their free ends engageable with the triggers of the rearms, and a pull rod connected to the cross bar and extending rearwardly therefrom for simultaneously discharging the firearms upon a rearward pull upon the rod.

7. In protective equipment the combination with a counter including a top and a front wall, a shield guided for vertical movement thru the top, firearms normally confronted by the shield when in its lowered position, means for iiring the rearms, and an electric switch closed upon upward movement of the shield.

8. In protective equipment, the combination with a counter including a substantially horizontal top, and a guard shield movable from a nonprotective position to a protective position above the counter top, of means to move said shield to said protective position, and means to normally retain said shield in a non-protective position including a latch, a horizontally disposed vertically movable bar extending longitudinally of the counter, spaced a short distance below and near the rear of the counter top, and motion transmitting means between the bar and latch to release the latch upon upward movement of the bar.

9. In protective equipment, the combination with a counter including a substantially horizontal top, and a guard shield movable from a non,- protective position to a protective position above the counter top, of means to move said shield to said protective position and means to normally retain said shield in a non-protective position including a latch, a horizontally disposed vertically movable bar extending longitudinally of the counter, spaced a short distance below and near the rear of the counter top, motion transmitting means between the bar and latch to release the latch upon upward movement of the bar, spring means yieldably retaining the bar in a position spaced below the counter top but permitting it I to be raised toward said top, and means for adjusting the action of the spring so that varied pressure upon the under side of the bar will be required to move it upwardly.

CHARLES J. GREEN.

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