The record-union., 1895-04-24
PATENT OFFICE ODDITIES
Devices With More Picturesqueness
Than Value.

OF all the crank pens in the country
there Is nothing to surpass the United
States Patent Office. 'WheeIS in the
head seems to be a peculiarly apt desig-
nation OF the American mania for inVen-
ton, and the Patent Office is the place
that catches the very cream Of this mild
form OF insanity. Go to the office when
one Will ana look over the recent files
and there are sure to be found some new
luSanItles IN mechanism on which the
Patent Once, IN accordance with the di-
rectiOns of the law, is obliged to grant a
patent, but which from practical point of
view would not find half dozen users in
the whole 100000 Of the nations popu-
latiOn. These queer devices are written
uD periodically, but after the lapse of
few months there is always something
new. Some of the latest developments
are in the line of electricity, says the
Washington Post.
One of the most ingeniously impracti-
cable of these Is ''pickpocket and coat
thief detectOr," the design of John f.
Hurd of Chicago. 1t takes thirteen draw
ings to adequately describe the device.
but its principle of operation is simple.
The possessor of the device carries a
small pocket battery around with him,
and inside his vest a small electric bell
something like the al one time prevalent
chestnut bell. This Is connected with the
battery through a make and break
mechanism III the protected pocket, so
that when the thief puts his hand in the
pocket after valuaDles the circuit is closed
and the bell rings. The device all COM
plete could not weigh less than three
pounds and would make its owner a
walking dynamo, to say nothing of prob
ably polarizing his watch the first time
the alarm went of.
The device can also be arranged to give
its warning when the coat is lifted Oft a
cOat-rack by an unauthorized person.
This latter arrangement, however, is not
marker to burglar proof haJ-rack, de-
signed by Richard AAlers of Brook lyn
This contrivauce is designed for BARRIERS
shops, hotels, and public places where
garments are hung up without special
custodian. The principle of the device is
a spring hook that1s normally in con-
tact with an electric circuit. " hen
garment is hung up the circuit is opened
and remains open so long as the garment
IS In place, but as soon as il is taken down
the spring hook flies up and closes the
circuit and rings the electric bell. Each
hook is connected with a switch, by
which it may be cut out of the circuit
whom not in use.
But the most humane invention vet re-
corded is that Of Charles l.. Morey of
Centralia, Ill, for the relief of gentlemen
who have difficulty in locating the kew
hole in the front door. This benevolent
gentleman has designed compact little
metal cylinder to be cOuntersunk i'll the
doorIamb near the keyhole. The con-
trivance contains a small incandescent
globe OF high candle power, which is
focused IN the keyhoIe, and Just beside il
is small pushbutton. No matter how
dark the night or how uncertain the pen
tieman'S frame OF mind, ali he has to do
is to rub his hand down the side of the
door and turn on the light, which illumi-
mates the keynole. Now, if the inventor
had continued his work and designed
some variety of electric key chain that
would preclude the possibility of mis-
taking a cigarette tor the night key, he
might have 1elt that his work was COM
plete.
Entirely opposed to the above device
for getting doors open is a plan oil Charles
II. Sparks of St. Louis for keeping them
shut. The invention is called an electric
JAIL of which number of drawings are
given. IN this structure the walls and
bars of all the windows, as well as the
fastenings of the windows and doors, are
provided with metallic conductors. These
all converge at an auuUnciator in the
Warden's Office. The annunciator is pro-
vided with numbers like big hotel req
lister, all the doors ana windows being
numbered, as wells "a sections of the va
rious walls, ceilings and floors. When a
break is made in any part of the struct-
uTe, either by prisoners endeavoriug to
cut out or by an unauthorized person
opening a door, the alarm bell rings,
aud the enunclator gives the exact
locality of the opening. The inventor
does not give an estimate of the cost of
such Jail, but it would have to be espe-
cially constructed, and the thorough wir-
ing of the structure would be quite an
item.
Among the mechanical devices for
household use, one that has secured in
ternatIonal patents is a frozen water
alarm Of Walter Hum berstOne, London,
England. The device depends on the eX-
pansion of freezing water, and consists of
q cylinder with slightly flexible head,
to be connected with the most exposed
part of the water pipes. When the water
freezes the flexible head is showed up
and moves lever that sets off an electric
alarm, and at the same time displays
printed notice, stating that the WI ater in
the boilers IS frozen, and that it would be
dangerous to light the fire. The inventor
does not suggest that the information
could be gotten just as we'll by turning
spigot as through an electric alarm.
The most extensive scheme in the GRIM
inal line, however, is the electric camera,
for use ln banks and other places that
might tempt the cracksmen. Cameras
sunk in the walls at different points. so
as to cover all openings, are connected
with an electric circuit to con-
troll the shutter. The same cir
cult sets off an electric tlash-light, and
as soon as the burglar treads on door
mat or the protected space in front
of the safe or the money till, he is photo
graphed in q variety OF attitudes. The
only thing that seems to be wanting in
this device is photograph attachment
which would ask the subject to "put on a
pleasant expression"
Greenland was SO called because in
summer its hills were covered with a
haoutiful tyraeO rnoSs