US3148640A

US3148640A - Automatic teller safety shield and capture cage

Info

Publication number: US3148640A
Application number: US307607A
Authority: US
Inventors: Billi Nadina
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-09-09
Filing date: 1963-09-09
Publication date: 1964-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-15

Description

Sept. 15, 1964 N. BlLLl 3,148,640

AUTOMATIC TELLER SAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Filed Sept. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NADINA BILL! Sept. 15, 1964 AUTOMATIC TELLER SAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Filed Sept. 9, 1963 N. BlLLl 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. NADINA BILL! mil 1' 'J 56 so 52 Sept. 15, 1964 N BZlLL l 3,148,640

AUTOMATIC 'TI-EKLDER SAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Filed Sept. 9, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR NADINA BlLLl United States Patent 3,148,640 AUTOMATIC TELLER SAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Nadina Biili, 28-30 46th St., Astoria, NY. Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,607 4 Claims. (Cl. 1095) This invention concerns an apparatus for foiling a holdup of a teller, cashier or clerk in a bank, paymasters office, and other places where money or other valuables are disbursed or handled.

The invention is adapted for installation at a cashiers window open to the public for transaction of business. Such a facility is always subject to the hazard of holdup by an armed person intent on unlawfully obtaining money or other valuables under threat of force or bodily violence. The present invention has as a principal object provision of means for capturing and rendering harmless an armed person while in the act of performing a holdup at a cashiers or tellers window.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for interposing a safety shield between the armed holdup man and the cashier, teller, clerk or other personnel menaced by the armed holdup man.

A further object is to provide a metal net for capturing a holdup man while in the act of performing a holdup.

Still another object is to provide automatic tear gas ejection means in an apparatus as described for subduing a captured holdup man.

According to the invention there is provided in front of and above a tellers or cashiers window a net in the form of a plurality of rings nested or telescoped one Within the other. The rings are suspended and held by Wires or cords which are released by electromagnetically operated latches. The teller or cashier will close an electric circuit to actuate the latches during the occurrence of a holdup. The net of rings will be released and will descend to enclose and capture the holdup man. Electromagnetic means can be provided to hold the net in extended position until it is released by authorized personnel or police who will take into custody the holdup man thus captured. The apparatus is also provided with a bullet-proof shield which will descend when the net is released to interpose a protective wall between the teller or cashier and the armed holdup man. The inven tion is thus arranged to protect the cashier or teller menaced by the armed holdup man and also to capture the armed holdup man in such a way that he cannot break out of the net or use his firearms to efiect his release. The apparatus also includes automatic tear gas ejection means to subdue a captured holdup man.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a tellers window provided with apparatus according to the invention, parts being broken away, the apparatus being shown in a retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, parts being omitted.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, parts being broken away, the apparatus being shown in released or extended position.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in released or extended position, parts being shown in section, and other parts being broken away.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6, parts being broken away.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an electric circuit employed in the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus 10 includes a cashiers or tellers window 12 defined by two spaced vertical channel members 14 secured in an opening in a vertical wall 16. At the bottom of the window is a base plate 18. The plate has a slot 19 (see FIG. 2) in which is set a resilient rubber pad 20 flush with the top of plate 18. Slidably mounted in the window is a flat, transparent pane 22, made of bullet-proof plate glass. This pane serves as a safety shield. The shield has its opposite vertical edges engaged in grooves 23 of the channel members 14. Two cords or wires 26 26 are secured to the upper apertured corners of the shield. The cords are entrained on two forwardly disposed pulleys 23 and two rearwardly disposed pulleys 30. At free ends of the cords are loops 32 which respectively engage on reE tractable catch fingers 34 of two electromagnetic solenoids 36*, 36 disposed on the rear of wall 16 spaced laterally from the window 12. The

brackets

29, 31 of

pulleys

28, 30 are secured to ceiling C.

A horizontal counter 38 is provided for use of the teller or cashier at the rear of wall 16; see FIGS. 2 and 5. Just beneath counter 38 is a switch 40 having an operating button 42 for actuating the electric circuit provided in the apparatus. The switch 40 is located just above drawer 44 in which the cashier or teller stores money or other valuables which he handles in conducting his business with the public at window 12.

Just above and in front of the window 12 is a net employed for capturing a holdup man. The net '50 includes a series of concentric tapered rings 52. The uppermost ring 52 has the smallest diameter at its upper end and is secured by brackets 54 to the ceiling C. The bottom end or rim of each ring has a diameter slightly larger than the upper end of each outer ring. Thus, when the rings are in the extended position of FIGS. 5 and 6, they form an extended tapered telescopic tube which reaches from floor F almost to the ceiling C. Around the bottom rim of the outermost and lowermost ring 52 is an annular magnetic steel flange 56. The rings 52 can be made of solid, perforated or mesh metal.

In retracted position, the rings nest one within the other as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Each of the rings except rings 52. and 52 has a pair of diametrically opposed radially extending arms 58 formed with eyes 59. These eyes are Slidably engaged with vertical posts, rods or Wires 60 spaced laterally apart and secured between the ceiling C and floor F. The arms 58 of each of the rings overlay each other. The bottom ring 52 has two radial arms 58 which underlay and support the other arms 58 and thus support the entire assembly of movable rings 52. Arms 58 have openings 59 engaged on posts 60 and have apertured free ends engaged by knotted ends of two cords or wires 62*, 62 see FIG. 4.

Cords 62*, 62 are entrained on forward pulleys 64 having brackets 65 secured to ceiling C. The cords pass respectively over two rear pulleys 66 having brackets 63 secured to ceiling C. The cords then pass down behind wall 16 to two pulleys 68 whose brackets 69 are secured to floor F at opposite sides of the counter; see FIGS. 2 and 5. The cords 62 62 then pass upwardly and t erminate in loops 67 which can be engaged on catch fingers 34.

FIG. 5 shows the cords26 26 and 62 62 in released positions disengaged from the catch fingers 34. The safety shield 22 is in a lowered position on pad 20 closing the lower part of window 12. The net 50 is in a lowered extended position and may be enclosing a holdup man M indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6.

In a recess 70 in the floor F concealed under a thin fioor covering 72 is circular plate 74 of an electromagnet 76. This plate is located just in front of wall 16 below the window 12. The plate 74 can be magnetized to attract and hold the magnetic flange 56 of ring 52' so that the net 50 cannot be lifted unless the electric circuit which energizes the electromagnet is opened.

FIG. 8 shows the electric circuit 80 employed in the apparatus. This circuit includes a power supply 82 which is connected in series with switch 40. Connected in parallel with each other across the terminals of the power supply are the two solenoids 36 36 and electromagnet coil 75 of the electromagnet 76. A holdup alarm 34 which may provide both audible and visual signals for summoning police is also connected across the circuit in parallel with the electromagnet and solenoids.

Solenoids 36 36 have plungers 88 from which extend the catch fingers 34. The plungers are retracted when the solenoids are energized so that fingers 34 disengage from the

loops

32 and 67 of cords 26 26 and 62*, 62

Electromagnet plate 74 is magnetized when coil 75 of the electromagnet 76 is energized. This plate provides a strong magnetic field in the floor F in front of the window 12. The floor covering 72 provides an insulating air gap which increases the magnetic hold of the magnetized plate 74, on the flange 56 of ring 52 The floor covering also conceals the presence of plate 74.

A hood 90 can be provided around the net 50 to conceal

rings

50, 50 and 50. This hood can be attached to wall 16. Parts of the hood are broken away or omitted in the drawing to show the net 50 more clearly. The hood is preferably spaced from ceiling C at its upper edge a distance at least equal to the spacing of the upper edge of rings 52 from the ceiling. This arrangement provides a space to admit air to the extended assembly of rings if they are made of solid metal. It also provides space at the top of the net through which police officers can, if necessary, drop tear gas bombs to subdue a holdup man captured in the net.

The net and shield will normally be retracted and concealed and will not interfere in any way with performance of the daily business of the cashier or teller where the apparatus is installed. If the teller or cashier is confronted by a holdup man who presents himself at the window 12, the cashier will close the conveniently located switch button 42 just above money drawer 44. At once, the catch fingers 34 will retract to release the cords holding the shield and net. The shield 22 will descend of its own weight upon the resilient pad providing a transparent bullet-proof Wall between the holdup man and the cashier. At the same time the net 50 will be operated. The rings 52 will fall of their own weight to enclose the surprised holdup man. When the bottom ring strikes the floor it will be held by the magnet plate 74. The holdup alarm 84 will also be operated to summon police or armed guards. The authorized personnel will then open switch to deenergize electromagnet 76 and permit the net 50 to be raised. The net will be raised by one or two persons manually pulling on the free looped ends 67 of the

cords

62, 62 at the rear of wall 14. The raised net will be fixed by reengaging the cords on pulleys 68 and the loops 64 on catch fingers 34 of the respective solenoids. The shield 22 will be raised by manually pulling down on

cords

26, 26 and reengaging the loops 32 on catch fingers 34. If desired, an electrically operated tear gas ejector 95 can be mounted on ceiling C within ring 52*- for ejecting tear gas downwardly when the net 50 is released to subdue the holdup man. The tear gas ejector 95 will be connected in parallel with solenoids and electromagnet as indicated in FIG. 8.

There has thus been provided according to the invention, an apparatus for shielding a cashier or teller from a holdup man and for capturing and subduing the holdup man at the same time. The apparatus is so arranged that if, for any reason the electric power supply 32 or the solenoids 36 36 should fail to operate when switch 44 is closed, the cashier can manually pull the

loops

32, 67 off of fingers 34- to release the cords holding the shield and net in raised retracted positions. The apparatus is thus certain to operate. If the alarm 82, tear gas ejection device or electromagnet 76 should fail to operate for any reason, the holdup man will still be entrapped and disabled and before he can effect his own release a sumcient time will elapse for armed bank or payroll guards or other personnel to approach and effect capture of the holdup man.

It is to be understood that the concentric tapered rings 52 may be made of any shape and material. They may also be transparent or made of mesh, bullet-proof material. The release fingers 34 may be located on the wall, on the cashiers counter, on the floor or at any other suitable place.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letter Patent 1s:

1. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at a cashiers or tellers counter for transacting business with the public, said apparatus comprising a bullet-proof shield slidably disposed in said window, cord means attached to said window for supporting the shield in an elevated position to clear an opening in the window, pulley means carrying said cord means, electromagnetically actuated catch means disposed near said counter and detachably engaging said cord means, a retractable and extensive net, other cord means supporting the net in an elevated retracted position above and in front of the open window and elevated shield, other pulley means carrying said other cord means, said other cord means terminating at and detachably engaged with said catch means, electrical switch means at the tellers counter in circuit with said catch means for releasing said other cord means to extend the net to capture an armed person standing in front of the tellers window and for simultaneously releasing the first-named cord means to drop the shield and close the opening in the window, said net having a magnetic bottom portion, and an electromagnet in the floor underneath and in front of the said window, in line with said magnetic bottom, said electromagnet being connected in circuit with said switch means for energization thereby to magnetically engage said bottom portion of the net and hold the same in extended position.

2. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at a cashiers or tellers counter for transacting business with the public, said apparatus comprising a bullet-proof shield slidably disposed in said window, cord means attached to said window for supporting the shield in an elevated position to clear an opening in the window, pulley means carrying said cord means, electromagnetically actuated catch means disposed near said counter and detachably engaging said cord means, a retractable and extensible net, other cord means supporting the net in an elevated retracted position above and in front of the open window and elevated shield, other pulley means carrying said other cord means, said other cord means terminating at and detachably engaged with said catch means, switch means at the tellers counter in circuit with said catch means for releasing said other cord means to extend the net to capture an armed person standing in front of the tellers window and for simultaneously releasing the first-named cord means to drop the shield and close the opening in the window, said net including a plurality of tapered nested rings, said rings defining a tapered tube when the rings are extended, the uppermost one of said rings being secured in a stationary position in front of and above said window, the lowermost one of said rings having a magnetic, circumferentially extending bottom portion, and an electromagnet in the floor underneath and in front of the said window, in line with said net, said electromagnet being connected in circuit with said switch means for energization thereby to magnetically engage said bottom portion of the net and hold the same in extended position.

3. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at a cashiers or tellers counter for transacting business with the public, said apparatus comprising a bullet-proof shield slidably disposed in said window, cord means attached to said window for supporting the shield in an elevated position to clear an opening in the Window, pulley means carrying said cord means, electromagnetically actuated catch means disposed near said counter and detachably engaging said cord means, a retractable and extensible net, other cord means supporting the net in an elevated retracted position above and in front of the open window and elevated shield, other pulley means carrying said other cord means, said other cord means terminating at and detachably engaged with said catch means, switch means at the tellers counter in circuit with said catch means for releasing said other cord means to extend the net to capture an armed person standing in front of the tellers window and for simultaneously releasing the first-narned cord means to drop the shield and close the opening in the window, said net including a plurality of tapered nested rings, said rings defining a tapered tube when the rings are extended, the uppermost one of said rings being secured in a stationary position in front of and above said window, the lowermost one of said rings having a magnetic, circumferentially extending bottom portion, and an electromagnet in the floor underneath and in front of the said window, in line with said net, said electromagnet being connected in circuit with said switch means for energization thereby to magnetically engage said bottom portion of the net and hold the same in extended position, and a tear gas ejector disposed inside the uppermost one of said rings, said tear gas ejector being electrically operated and disposed in circuit with said switch means for actuation thereby, whereby said tear gas ejector emits tear gas to subdue said armed person captured within the net when the net is extended.

4. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at a tellers counter for transacting business with the public, said apparatus comprising a retractable and extensible net of annular tapered rings, cord means supporting the net in an elevated retracted position above and in front of said window, electrically operated catch means, said cord means being detachably engaged upon said catch means and holding the net elevated and retracted, switch means at the tellers counter in circuit with the catch means for leasing the cord means to extend the net and capture an armed person standing in front of the tellers window, said net having a magnetic bottom portion, an electromagnet in the floor underneath and in front of the said window, in line with said net, said electromagnet being connected in circuit with said switch means for energization thereby to magnetically engage said bottom portion of the net and hold the same in extended position, and a tear gas ejector disposed inside the uppermost one of said rings, said tear gas ejector being electrically operated and disposed in circuit with said switch means for actuation thereby, whereby said tear gas ejector emits tear gas to subdue said armed person captured within the net when the net is extended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,307 Hankulich May 2, 1916 1,300,981 Leon Apr. 15, 1919 1,393,183 Tate Oct. 11, 1921 1,619,982 Lucas Mar. 8, 1927 1,807,944 Thibault June 2, 1931 2,055,005 Dietman Sept. 22, 1936 2,253,252 Smith Aug. 19, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 414,949 Germany June 11, 1925

Claims

4. A PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR A BANK OR THE LIKE HAVING A WINDOW AT A TELLER''S COUNTER FOR TRANSACTING BUSINESS WITH THE PUBLIC, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A RETRACTABLE AND EXTENSIBLE NET OF ANNULAR TAPERED RINGS, CORD MEANS SUPPORTING THE NET IN AN ELEVATED RETRACTED POSITION ABOVE AND IN FRONT OF SAID WINDOW, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CATCH MEANS, SAID CORD MEANS BEING DETACHABLY ENGAGED UPON SAID CATCH MEANS AND HOLDING THE NET ELEVATED AND RETRACTED, SWITCH MEANS AT THE TELLER''S COUNTER IN CIRCUIT WITH THE CATCH MEANS FOR LEASING THE CORD MEANS TO EXTEND THE NET AND CAPTURE AN ARMED PERSON STANDING IN FRONT OF THE TELLER''S WINDOW, SAID NET HAVING A MAGNETIC BOTTOM PORTION, AN ELECTROMAGNET IN THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH AND IN FRONT OF THE SAID WINDOW, IN LINE WITH SAID NET, SAID ELECTROMAGNET BEING CONNECTED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID SWITCH MEANS FOR ENERGIZATION THEREBY TO MAGNETICALLY ENGAGE SAID BOTTOM PORTION OF THE NET AND HOLD THE SAME IN EXTENDED POSITION, AND A TEAR GAS EJECTOR DISPOSED INSIDE THE UPPERMOST ONE OF SAID RINGS, SAID TEAR GAS EJECTOR BEING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AND DISPOSED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID SWITCH MEANS FOR ACTUATION THEREBY, WHEREBY SAID TEAR GAS EJECTOR EMITS TEAR GAS TO SUBDUE SAID ARMED PERSON CAPTURED WITHIN THE NET WHEN THE NET IS EXTENDED.