No. 627,507. Patented June 27, 1899. H. P. KING. PUZZLE BOX, ylation Al Sa. 26, 098) Mo Model L. ah. “aT “ D 3 bbS: i SE Witnesses: LTnventor; Goud Hi.Prior King, t WButher- By iia Smee Ex. i Attorney.15 +5 30 35 40 45 se UNITED STATES Patent OFFICE. HESDEN PRIOR KING, OF GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK. PUZZLE-BOX. SPECINICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 627,507, dated June 27, 1899. -Anploesion fed January 20, 1888, Sevat Na 667,200, (Mo mois!) 1% all whom it may concern: Bo it known that J, Hisppn Paton Krsc, of Glens Falls, in the county of Warren and Stateof Now York, have invented certain now and useful Improvements in Puzzle-Boxes, of which the following is a specification. ‘Phe object of my invention is to provide means for amusoment and sindy for people ‘with minds inelined to investizationof things: that appear to be Aled sith mystery, but which when solved are extremely simple. I attain this object by the means herein de- soribed,and represented in theaccompanying drawings, whieh form part of this specifica tion and is herein referred to. In said drawings, Figure 11s a plan view of my puzzle-box when closed; Fig. 2, plan view of tho same with the revoluble disk re- ‘moved therefrom; Fig. 3, an inverted plan view of the revolnble disk detached from the box; Fig. 4, a longitudinal soetion of Fig. 1 ab the line X X, and Wig. 5 like section with ‘the box in an inverted position, ‘As represented in tho drawings, A desig nates my puzzle-box, which may be mado of ‘ble material, but preferably of alu- n, although papier-maché or wood may be used for the purpose. Said box is prefer= ably divided intotwo separate compartments Band O, the first of which may be atilized for containing tobaceo, snuff, or other article and the other containing a member that is longi- tudinally movable in respect to the body of the box A forthe purpose of securing and re- leasing thohinged coverof said box. "Acover Dis hinged as at 2, fo the box and airanged to allow Its free end’to swing upward to open the compartment B and downward to lose said compartment, and preferably a spring Wis arranged to throw up the free end of the cover; but when preferred an ordinary spring- hinge may be used for thoeoverand thesame effect produced. The free end of the cover ‘Dis usually provided with an offset lip 1, as shown in Fig. 4; but when preferred said lip may be dispensed with by substituting any engaging mechanism that is suitable for the purpose. A stud I"is erected in the eo part- ment © and is usually tapped to receive a screw G, for a purpose hereinafter explained, and said stud may be integral with the box, as shown in Wig. 4, or it may be seeurod to the bottom of the box to extend upward in ‘the compartment C. ‘The end of the com- partinent Cis left open, and a movable piece His fitted to slide longitudinally im the eom- partment C and is provided with a lip 8, that engages with the free end of the cover D and retains the latterin aclosed position. The movable piece His provided with a longituai- nally-slotted opening 4, through which the stud F will pass loosely, so as to not interfere swith a free movement of the movable piece. ‘The upper face of the movable piece IT is, proferably provided with a recess 5 for con- taining a revoluble disk I, that is pivoted to rotate on the stud F. ‘The upper face of the disk T is provided with a series of wings 6 or other suitable means by which said disk ean be manually rotated, and the lower face of said disk i8 provided with a pocket 7, for a pUrpose hereinafter explaine Vis a sphorieal body that is fitted to enter the pocket 7 when the box is held in an in- verted position, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby leaving the movable piece HI free tobe moved longitudinally in either direction or to enter either end of the slotted opening 4,80 as to ie between the stud F and the correspond- ing end of the slotted opening, according to the position of the movable piece H, and it should be understood that in order fo allow {he phere J to pass from the slotted opening into the pocket 7, or vice versa, the disk must be revolved ‘until the position of the pocket 7 exactly coincides with that of the slotted opening 4. ‘Then if the sphere is in the slotted opening to lock the cover D, as shown in Fig. 4, by inverting the box, as shown in Fig. 5, the sphere J will fall into the pocket 7, thereby leaving the movable pleee H free to be moved outward, as indi- cated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, to free the cover D, whieh will then swing downward, as indicated by dotted lines in Vig. 9, the initial downward movement of the cover being ef- fected by the spring I, and it should be un. derstood that the cover D can only be released. and secured by manually moving the mov- able member If and that such movement can only be effected in the manner herein de- scribed. — While the cover D is open and the movable piece H1 is moved outward, as indi- cated by dotted lines in Fig, 5, the disk Tean 55 60 65 10 15 80 85 9° 955 10 15 25 30. 35 2 627,507 be turned to drop the sphere J into the slot- ted opening 4, s0 that the sphore will be be- tween the stad F and tho outer end of said opening, thereby preventing the movable eee Ht trom boing pushed inward to lock jown theeover D, aind itwill then be as much ‘of a puzzle to lock down the cover as it was, to free it. Instead of the wings 6 being formed on the disk the upper face or the periphery of the latter may havea series of depressions to re- ceive a finger for rotating the disk. Having fully deseribed my invention, what Telaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters, Patent, is— ‘1. A’puzzle-box comprising two separated compartments—the first being closed at its Dottom and four sides and having a hinged cover whose free end is adapted to swing ip- ward—to open said compartment—and dow ward {0 close over thesaid compartment, and the second being closed at its bottom’ and three sides, but open at its outer end, and containing a stationary stud which is erected. on the upper face of Said bottom; said stad being independent of the hinge-pin of the cover, a movable member fitted to slide in ‘thesecond compartment independently of the hinged cover and having a slotted opening that allows said membor toslide easily on the stationary stud, a body adapted to Tie in tho slotted opening, between the end of the lat- ter and said stid—to prevent the movable member from sliding—the latter being adapt- i to engage the free end of the hinged cover and lock it in a closed position, anda revola- ble disk fitted to rotate on thestationary stud and having a pocket fittod to receive s body to effect a roleasoment of the movable member; the latter being only adapted to be operated manually to disengage it from the hinged cover, asand for the purpose specified. 2." In-apuzzle-box, the combination, with a box comprising two separatecompartments— the first being elosed at its bottom and four sides and having a spring-actuated cover hinged to the wall of its outer end and form- nga closure for the topof said compartment, and the second being elosed atits bottom and ‘two sides and having a stationary stud—that independent of the hinge-pin of said cover— rected on the upper face of the bottom of said second compartment, amovablemember provided with means for engaging the free ond of said cover and having a slotted open- ing adapted to slide loosely on said stati ary stud and allow the movable member to be diSeugaged from the cover, a body adapted to lie in said slotted opening so as to prevent the movable member from accidentally breals- ing its engagement with the cover, and a revo- Inble disk fitted to rotate on the stationary stad and provided with a pocket adapted to roceive said body to effect the releasement of the movable member from the eovers the lat- 65 ter being disengaged from the movable mem- ber by a manual operation of said member, as herein specified. 40 45 50 35 60 II. PRIOR KING. Witnesses: Cass. C. LAvounr, OpERON LAPHAM,