US3784232A - Apparatus for securing articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A carrier for checksheets, such as a checkbook binder, having a latch-engaging, dowel-like element extending projectingly from one of the carrier covers and in penetration of the other cover, is slidably received in a portable container. The container comprises a box having only one open end, through which the carrier is inserted thereinto, and the container has a locking mechanism fixed to the inner surface thereof, opposite the open end, which is operative for engaging the dowel-like element to secure the carrier within the container.

Description

1Jited States Patent [1 1 G reene 1 1 APPARATUS FOR SECURING ARTICLES [76] lnventor: Alan D. Greene, 19 Shirlawn Dr.,

Short Hills, NJ. 07078 [22] Filed: May 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 256,754

[52] US. Cl 281/20, 281/19 R, 402/2, 312/222 [51] Int. Cl B42d 3/10, B42d 3/18 [58] Field of Search 281/20, 19 R; 24/2; 402/2; 312/222, 333

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,560 3/1887 Dusenbury. ..312/222 1,500,713 7/1924 1,126,878 2/1915 2,190,625 2/1940 1,025,724 5/1912 1,477,330 12/1923 E11iott 281/19 R 1 Jan. 8, 1974 Deans 281/17 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 270,395 5/1927 Great Britain 281/20 Primary ExaminerJerome Schnall Attorney-Bernard .1. Murphy [57] ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ter of my co-pending U. S. patent application, Ser. No.

178,35 l filed Sept. 7, 1971 now abandoned; for a Secure Checkbook, and has a broader application than that disclosed in my prior application for patent. The instant apparatus has particular use for securing checksheets, but is not to be construed as limited to such use.

For the purposes of illustration, the instant invention is primarily described in connection with its use for securing Checkbooks. Thus, as explained in my copending application, there have been no secure checkbooks, heretofore, for the simple reason that stolen checks were difficult to cash unless the thief would compound the theft with a very carefully executed forging of an authorized signature. In later years, however, with the advent of the computer and automatic check processing, checks however signed -are automatically processed, i.e., cashed and cleared, before it is known that an unauthorized signature has been inscribed thereon.

Modern checks have account number indicia printed thereon in computer-readable numerals and symbols. Accordingly, a stolen check having such indicia thereon is cashed and cleared through to the issuing bank. If the indicated account has sufficient funds to cover the amount drawn by the check, the computerreader machine will pass the check through. Later, when all checks for a given account are culled together, to accompany a to-be-mailed statement, some member of the bank staff will manually screen each check to ascertain that each has what appears to be an authorized signature. At this point in time, unfortunately, the account will have been compromised.

Today, then, checks are almost as good as cash. The computer-readable indicia thereon rapidly automates the processing thereof, but the computer cannot read signatures and/or make a subjective desicion with respect to same.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to teach means for avoiding the risk of check theft, or at least rendering the theft of checks difficult and requiring that evidence of such theft be unmistakably signalled.

More, it is an object of this invention set forth an apparatus for securing checksheets, documents, and like articles, comprising carrier means for supporting the articles; and portable container means for removably receiving said carrier means; wherein one of said means comprises a latch-engaging element; and the other of said means comprises latching means selective operative for effecting a locking engagement thereof with said element to prevent a removal of said carrier means from said container means.

A feature of this invention comprises the use of an articles-carrier having a semi-rigidcover, the cover having a dowel-like element extending projectingly therefrom, and a container for the carrier, the container having access means for slidably receiving the carrier therewithin and locking means for engaging the element to secure the carrier within the container.

Further objects and features of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric projection of the novel apparatus, in one embodiment thereof, with a portion of the container cut away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an end, elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of an end of the articlescarrier, taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the articles-carrier;

FIG. 5 is an illustration, in enlargement, of the latching means of the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view ofa portion of one of the articles confined within the articles-carrier, the same depicting a portion of a checksheet.

As shown in the figures, the apparatus 10 comprises a portable container 12 which is open at one end 14 only. The opposite end 16 of the container 12 mounts therewithin a locking mechanism 18. A key-access aperture 20 opens on end 16, the same provided for keyoperated reciprocation of a mechanism latching tongue 22.

Included in the apparatus is a articles-carrier, here shown to be a checksheets binder, or checkbook 24.

The carrier the checkbook 24 has a pair of covers 26 and 26' hinged to a spine within which are confined checksheets 28. Each of the checksheets 28 comprises a plurality of checks 30 which are tear-separable, in the manner well known, along linear perforations 32. Each of the checks 30 bears computer-readable account number'indicia 34 thereon.

Cover 26 of checkbook 24 has a pocket 36 formed therein for receiving an extending tab 38 of a checksheet set 40.

According to the invention, cover 26 has a dowel-like element 42 fixed thereto, the element extending therefrom perpendicularly and being received in an aperture 44, having a reinforcement 46, which is formed in cover 26'. The latching tongue 22, as suggested by the dashed-line positioning in FIG. 5, is key-operably reciprocatable from the full-line position to the dashed-line position. When the tongue 22 is in the full-line position, a cove 48 formed therein is set apart from the element 42; this position accommodates the slidable disposition of the checkbook 24 fully into the container 12. When the tongue is displaced to the dashed-line position, with the checkbook enclosed in the container 12, the cove 48 envelops the element 42 and securely locks the checkbook 24 within the container. Clearly, the only way for an unauthorized party to obtain a check 30 would be to break open the container 12. Upon this being done, the owner of the securing apparatus 10 has visual evidence that his checkbook 24 has been violated. Accordingly, he can have payment stopped for the missing checks and otherwise protect his account.

When the checkbook 24 is fully charged with checksheets 28, the covers 26 and 26 are caused to be spaced apart. Thus, the tongue 22 is free to move between the covers to engage the element 42. When the checkbook is nearly depleted of checksheets, and the covers would close upon one another, the tongue 22 would possibly be obstructed in its movement. For this reason, element 42 terminates in a short stub section 50. Section 50 has an outside diameter which is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of aperture 44; the remainer of element 42 has a great outside diameter which will not allow it to pass through the aperture 44.

By this provisioning, the covers 26 and 26' are always held in a spaced-apart relationship giving the tongue 22 a ready access to the element 42; cover 26' accepts the section 50 therewithin and rests upon a shoulder-stop defined between the greater outside diameter of element 42 and the smaller outside diameter of the short stub section 50.

It is contemplated that the container 12 would be formed of translucent or transparent plastic material; further, a finger-grip recess 52 is formed in the opposed sides of the open end thereof.

Principally, as noted priorly, the invention is directed toward the teaching of means for securing checks against theft. However, it will be apparent that my novel apparatus lends itself to the securing of various documents and articles. lt remains only to provision a carrier having a projecting element, such as element 42. for supporting documents and/or other such articles. For instance, in lieu of a checksheet set 40, covers 26 and 26' can enclose and confine blueprints, photographs, or whatever, therebetween and, in cooperation with container l2 and mechanism 18, secure such against theft.

Accordingly, while I have described my invention in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for securing checksheets, documents, and like sheets, comprising:

carrier means supporting the sheets; and

portable container means for removably receiving said carrier means; wherein one of said means comprises a latch-engaging element; and

the other of said means comprises latching means selectively operative for effecting a locking engagement thereof with said element to prevent a removal of said carrier means from said container means;

said container means comprises a receptacle having spaced-apart walls which cooperate to define a repository therebetween;

said carrier means having a pair of semi-rigid covers hingedly joined to a spine, said sheets being confined between said covers;

said latching means is fixed to said container means;

said container means comprises a box open at one end only;

said latching means is substantially enclosed in said box and fixed to an end thereof which is opposite to said one end;

said carrier means is slidably receivable by said box through said one end thereof with said spine disposed adjacent to and closing said open end of the box to prevent removal of'said sheets when the carrier means is confined in said box;

said carrier means carries said latch-engaging element for engagement thereof with said latching means, adjacent to said one end of said box, upon said carrier means being slidably confined within said box;

said latch-engaging element comprises a dowel;

said dowel is fixed at one end thereof to one of said covers, and extends perpendicularly therefrom for engagement with the other of said covers;

said latching means comprises a lock assembly having a reciprocatable element for lockingly engaging said dowel intermediate the ends of said dowel; said dowel having a first outside diameter throughout the greater portion thereof, and a second outside diameter in a lesser portion, stub section thereof;

said stub section comprising a thermal end of said dowel which is opposite said fixed, one end of said dowel;

said second outside diameter is smaller than said first outside diameter;

said other cover has an aperture formed therein, said aperture having a diameter which is larger than said second outside diameter and smaller than said first outside diameter;

said aperture being so formed in said other cover as to effect alignment of said aperture with said stub section, upon said hingedly joined covers being closed towards one another; and

said first and second outside diameters cooperate to define a shoulder-stop therebetween to cause said covers to be held in a spaced-apart relationship, at least when said carrier means is confined within said box, to insure that said reciprocatable element will have an unobstructed access to an intermediate portion of said dowel.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

one of said covers has pocket means formed therein for releasably receiving an insert carrying said sheets therewithin.

Claims (2)

1. Apparatus for securing checksheets, documents, and like sheets, comprising: carrier means supporting the sheets; and portable container means for removably receiving said carrier means; wherein one of said means comprises a latch-engaging element; and the other of said means comprises latching means selectively operative for effecting a locking engagement thereof with said element to prevent a removal of said carrier means from said container means; said container means comprises a receptacle having spaced-apart walls which cooperate to define a repository therebetween; said carrier means having a pair of semi-rigid covers hingedly joined to a spine, said sheets being confined between said covers; said latching means is fixed to said container means; said container means comprises a box open at one end only; said latching means is substantially enclosed in said box and fixed to an end thereof which is opposite to said one end; said carrier means is slidably receivable by said box through said one end thereof with said spine disposed adjacent to and closing said open end of the box to prevent removal of said sheets when the carrier means is confined in said box; said carrier means carries said latch-engaging element for engagement thereof with said latching means, adjacent to said one end of said box, upon said carrier means being slidably confined within said box; said latch-engaging element comprises a dowel; said dowel is fixed at one end thereof to one of said covers, and extends perpendicularly therefrom for engagement with the other of said covers; said latching means comprises a lock assembly having a reciprocatable element for lockingly engaging said dowel intermediate the ends of said dowel; said dowel having a first outside diameter throughout the greater portion thereof, and a second outside diameter in a lesser portion, stub section thereof; said stub section comprising a thermal end of said dowel which is opposite said fixed, one end of said dowel; said second outside diameter is smaller than said first outside diameter; said other cover has an aperture formed therein, said aperture having a diameter which is larger than said second outside diameter and smaller than said first outside diameter; said aperture being so formed in said other cover as to effect alignment of said aperture with said stub section, upon said hingedly joined covers being closed towards one another; and said first and second outside diameterS cooperate to define a shoulder-stop therebetween to cause said covers to be held in a spaced-apart relationship, at least when said carrier means is confined within said box, to insure that said reciprocatable element will have an unobstructed access to an intermediate portion of said dowel.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: one of said covers has pocket means formed therein for releasably receiving an insert carrying said sheets therewithin.

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