Key controlled switch box for electrical appliances

Oct. 14, 1958 w. i. norris 2,856,474

KEY CONTROLLED SWITCH BOX FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Filed Oct. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR.

Willard Ivan Norris

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arrES.

Oct. 14, 1958

W. 1. NORRIS

2,856,474

KEY CONTROLLED SWITCH BOX FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Filed Oct. 7, 1957

Sheets-Sheet 2

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United States Patent Office „ , ²’^S5M74

Patented Oct. 14, 19S8 release key; such release key being shown before its removal from the catch.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but shows the parts of the switch box in circuit-closing position, with the lever arm 5 latched against movement.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on line 4—4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation on line 5—5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation on line 6—6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuit of the switch box, illustrating the relationship of the two switches in such circuit.

Io Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the key controlled switch box which embodies the: present invention is indicated generally at 1,. and such box is preferably mounted directly on the appliance, here illustrated as a 20 television set 2. The electric current supply cord 3 leads from a conventional outlet 4 into the switch box 1; the electric cord 5 for the appliance 2 leading from within said switch box 1 into such appliance.

Within the switch box 1 the cords 3 and 5 are con25 nected by a circuit, indicated at 6, and wherein two switches are interposed in series; said switches being indicated at 7 and 8; it thus being necessary to close both switches 7 and 8 before the circuit 6 is completed through the switch box 1 to the appliance 2.

The switch, box 1 includes a top 9,. a bottom. 10, a front 11, a back 12, and an outer side Ϊ3; the box on the opposite or . inner side being, flanged, as at 14, and secured to the. appliance 2 by bolts . 15.. While in the present embodiment the switch box 1 is shown as side mounted, 35 it can be disposed at any convenient point on the appliance, or on an adjacent fixed, support.

A flat post 16 is secured in the box: 1 between , the top 9 and bottom 10 in spaced but facing relation to: the outer side13, and such post supports—adjacent but short 40 of its upper end-r-an. initially open,- key-type electric switch; such switch being the. one indicated at 7 in Fig. 7.

The switch 7 is of the type which includes a rotary, key-receiving spindle 17, wherein the keyhole is indicated at 18. The outer end of the spindle 17 and the keyhole ⁴⁵ 18 face, the outer side 13 and are alined with a keyentry aperture 19 in the latter.

The control key is indicated at 20, and such key— which has a flat shank 21——is adapted to be inserted through the aperture 19 and into the keyhole : 18; such ^δυ keyhole 18 initially occupying a horizontal, position, so that upon insertion of the key 20. the shank 21 likewise initially lies horizontal.

Upon turning of the key 20 a quarter-turn, and so that the flat, shank 21 is then vertical, the switch 7 is closed; ⁰⁰ such switch being of the type which prevents withdrawal of the key 20 when in switch-closing position, i. e., when the flat shank 21 is vertical, as aforesaid.

A longitudinally extending,. vertically swingable lever arm 22 is disposed in the switch box 1, with the rear end of such lever arm transversely pivoted, as at. 23 From the pivot 23 the lever arm 22 extends forwardly to. adjacent the front 11, and at such point the lever arm includes—in integral relation—a forwardly . projecting finger 24 which extends through a slot 25 in said front ⁶⁵ 11; the finger 24 terminating a distance ahead of the front 11 in order to permit of ready hand engagement with such finger.

The slot 25 is of substantial vertical, extent so as to permit swinging of the lever arm 22 from, an initial or 70 lowered position extending at a forward and downward incline, as in Fig. 2, to_: a raised position extending substantially horizontal, as in Fig. 3.

2,856,474

KEY CONTROLLED SWITCH BOX FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Willard Ivan Norris, Marysville, Calif.

Application October 7,1957, Serial No. 688,731

Claims; (Cl. 200—44)

The present invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a novel key controlled switch box for use in the electric supply circuit for an appliance, such as a television set or a radio; the device being especially designed—but not limited,—for use in connection with an appliance in a room of a hotel, motel, or the like, and wherein a fee is charged the room occupant for. use of the appliance.

Heretofore the switch boxes for such purpose have been controlled by the insertion of a coin thereinto, but this type of switch box has been found very disadvantageous, as it invites vandalism on the part of , a person seeking to gain access into the box in order to steal the coins. therefrom.

It is therefore another important object of this invention to provide a switch box, for the purpose described, which is key controlled, whereby to not only simplify the mechanism, but also to minimize the risk of intentional breakage; the control key being presented to the room occupant upon payment of a certain fee.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a switch box, as in the preceding paragraph, which requires not only the insertion of the control key into the box and turning of such key to “on” position, but also the manual shifting of an exteriorly accessible member from one position to another, to complete or close the circuit to the appliance; the member as so shifted being automatically latched against movement, and also such member then prevents the control key from being turned either left or right when said control key is in the “on” position. By the very nature of the control key lock, the key—when in the “on” position—cannot be removed’ This of course prevents unauthorized withdrawal and appropriation of such control key. The shiftable member is releasable for return to said one position, and wherein the control key can be turned to “off” position and removed, only by the use of a separate release key kept in the possession of an attendant, such as the room maid.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a key controlled switch box which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, ready installation, . and convenience of use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable key controlled switch box, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the key controlled switch box as mounted on an electric appliance, here illustrated as a television set.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of the switch box showing the parts as returned to circuit-opening position by the attendant upon use Of the

2,866,4

The lever arm 22 is disposed, laterally of the box, so as to work up and down between the side 13 and post 16, and more particularly in a longitudinal vertical plane which intersects the shank 21 of key 20 when the latter is engaged in the switch 7. Intermediate its ends the 5 lever arm 22 is formed with an upwardly opening notch 26 having a tapered or flared throat 27 at the top thereof; the portion of the lever arm 22 which is formed with said notch 26 and throat 27 being initially below the spindle 17 so that the key 20 can be readily inserted and 10 manipulated without obstruction.

After the key 20 is inserted in the keyhole 18 of switch 7, and such key then turned so that the flat shank 21 is vertical—and in which the switch 7 is then closed—-subsequent upward swinging of the lever arm 22 from its 15 lowered position, as in Fig. 2, to its raised position, as in Fig. 3, causes the shank 21 to be engaged in the notch 26. Thereafter, and as long as the lever arm 21 remains in its raised position, the key 20 cannot be turned or removed from the switch. ² °'

Upon such swinging movement of the lever arm. 22 to its raised position, it is automatically latched in such position as follows:

A key-operated catch 28 is mounted in the box 1 on the back side of the front 11, with the rotary key receiv- 25 ing spindle 29 of such catch 23 projecting through said front 11 for access from exteriorly thereof, and for reception of a release key 30. The catch 28, which is mounted alongside, but closely adjacent, the slot 25 includes a laterally projecting, spring-pressed latch dog 31 which spans 30 such slot and thus lies in the path of movement of the adjacent part of the lever arm 22. When the lever arm 22 is swung from its lowered position to its raised position it strikes a beveled or inclined cam edge 32 on the latch dog 31, urging the latter inwardly and permitting upward passage of said lever arm 22; the latch dog 31 then springing back beneath the lever arm 22 and releasably latching it against downward movement. See particularly Fig. 6.

An initially open push-button switch, which is the switch 8 previously mentioned in connection with the circuit shown in Fig. 7, is mounted on a horizontal ear 33 fixed to the lever arm 22 between the switch 7 and the front 11. The switch 8 is disposed so that the button 34 thereof projects upwardly, and such button engages—in switch closing relation—with a fixed stop 35 when said lever arm 22 is in its raised, latched-up, position.

It will thus be recognized that upon insertion of the key 20 into switch 7, and turning of said key 20 to a position with the shank 21 vertical, the switch 7 is closed, and that upon upward swinging of the lever arm 22 to its raised, latched position, the switch 8 is closed. This completes the circuit through the switch box 1, so that the appliance 2 may then be turned on and operated.

The key 20, which is the control key, is placed in the possession of the room occupant only after payment of a certain fee, and such key is thereafter used in the manner above described, together with manipulation of the lever arm by the finger 24, to close the circuit through the switch box 1. Thereafter, while the appliance 2 can be operated, the room occupant cannot withdraw the control key 20, which prevents its unauthorized removal and appropriation.

When it is desired to remove the control key 20, the release key 30—which, as aforesaid, is in the possession of an attendant, such as a room maid—is inserted in the rotary key receiving spindle 29 of catch 28, and such release key is then manipulated to cause retraction of the latch dog 31. With the latch dog 31 held retracted, the lever arm 22 is swung downward by the finger 24 to the lowered or starting position of said lever arm 22; the release key 30 then being withdrawn, followed by withdrawal of the control key 20. Such lowering of the lever arm 22 results in lowering and opening the switch 8, while removal of the control key opens the switch 7.

The switch box 1 then stands with the circuit broken, ready for use by the room occupant who next receives the control key 20.

In order to prevent tampering with the internal mechanism of the switch box 1, as by insertion of a “fishing” element through the slot 25, a rotary guard plate 36 abuts flush against the back side of the front 11 in overlying relation to said slot. The catch 28 is mounted in connection with the front 11 by a bracket 37 which rearwardly offsets or spaces such catch slightly rearwardly of said front 11; the rotary guard plate 36 being turnably mounted on the portion of the spindle 29 between catch 28 and said front 11.

The rotary guard plate 36 has an opening 38 therein, and through which opening the finger 24 projects, whereby said guard plate 36 rides up and down on the front 11 in response to corresponding movement of said finger 24. With this arrangement the rotary guard plate 36 covers the slot 25, so that the internal mechanism of the device is effectively safeguarded against tampering by means of an element which could otherwise be inserted through said slot.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.