An Improved Construction of Carpets, Rugs, or Mats for giving Alarm Signals when Trodden Upon or in case of Fire.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Construction of Carpets, Rugs, or Mats for giving
Alarm Signals when Trodden Upon or in case of Fire.
We, RUDOLF RIENESSL and GUSTAV EDLER VON MEDVEY both of No. 37 Haupt-
strasse Hernals near Vienna, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to a construction of carpets, rugs, or mats, whereby these
are made to give an alarm-signal when persons tread on or move them without a
knowledge of their construction, the object being to protect rooms or objects in or
against which such carpets, rugs or mats are placed, against burglars or unauthorised
intruders.
This means of security has the advantage that the burglar or other unauthorised
person entering the room has no knowledge of the fact that he has given the signal,
and that such signal is given some time before he begins operations, and furthermore
that even though he may be aware of the construction of the alarm-carpet, he cannot
prevent it from acting by lifting or pushing it away.
The invention is also to a certain extent applicable for indicating the presence of fire
in the locality in which the carpet is situated.
For the above purposes the entire surface of the room to be protected, or that part
thereof which surrounds an object to be protected, is covered with the said alarm-
carpet, rug or mat, so that in order to enter the said room or approach the said object,
the burglar or other person must either tread on the carpet &c. or must remove the
same, in either of which cases the alarm will be given.
The alarm signal can be given either by electrical, pneumatic, or mechanical means,
but the most simple and practical arrangement is the electrical, as the pneumatic
appliances are too liable to get out of order, and are therefore unreliable, and in
addition they are comparatively expensive; the same objections also apply to
mechanical appliances.
The electrical devices are arranged in such a manner that on treading upon any part
of the carpet, an electrical contact is made, so as to close an electrical circuit, which
includes alarm-signalling apparatus. Thus there may be contained at various
points of the carpet two contact points that are kept separate by a caoutchouc ring
These
which, on being trod upon, is compressed so as to allow the contacts to meet.
contacts are arranged at such distances apart that any footstep on the carpet must
touch the one or the other thereof.
Such contacts may also consist of two sets of strips of conducting material crossing
each other and held apart by compressible non conducting material.
In practically carrying out the invention, the following construction may be
advantageously adopted.
'
The carpet may consist of two parts: an under-fabric containing the alarm
appliance, and an ordinary carpet covering the same.
The under-fabric has fixed thereon a number of upwardly curved metal springs of
sufficient strength as not to be pressed down by the weight of the upper carpet.
These springs are suitably connected at one or both ends to the one conductor of
an electrical circuit, and beneath the curved part of the spring are one or more
contact studs, connected to the other conductor of the circuit, so that on the spring
being depressed by the foot, it closes the contact and the electrical signal is given.
In order to effect the closing of the circuit when the carpet is lifted, a second spring
contact is provided, having an arm which passes under the first named spring, or it
may pass itself under the latter, but which projects with its free end above the curved
part of such spring, and which is of such strength as to be pressed down by the weight
of the upper carpet, so as to keep the springs out of contact.

page_text: When the carpet is lifted, the second spring being relieved of pressure," rises, and,
in making contact with the curved spring, closes the circuit.
The conductors leading from the carpet must of course be so arranged that they
cannot readily be tampered with; the circuit may be provided with suitable switches
for preventing signals being given at times when these are not required for protection,
such as at day time or when the rooms are occupied.
On the occurence of fire, the upper carpet, in burning at any point, will release
one or more of the contact springs of pressure, and these will then close the circuit and
give the alarni-signal.
Dated this 25th day of March 1980
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Construction of Carpets, Rugs, or Mats for giving
Alarm Signals when Trodden Upon or in case of Fire.
We,. RUDOLF RIENESSL and GUSTAV EDLER VON MEDVEY, both of No. 37 Haupt-
strasse, Hernals near Vienna, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a construction of carpets, rugs, or mats, whereby these are
made to give an alarm-signal when persons tread on or move them without a know-
ledge of their construction, the object being to protect rooms or objects in or against
which such carpets, rugs or mats are placed, against burglars or unauthorised
-'intruders.
$
This means of security has the advantage that the burglar or other unauthorised
person entering the room has no knowledge of the fact that he has given the signal,
and that such signal is given some time before he begins operations, and furthermore,
that even though he may be aware of the construction of the alarm earpet, he cannot
prevent it from acting by lifting or pushing it away.
The invention is also to a certain extent applicable for indicating the presence of fire
in the locality in which the carpet is situated.
For the above purposes the entire surface of the room to be protected, or that part
thereof which surrounds an object to be protected, is covered with the said alarm
carpet rug or mat so that in order to enter the said room or approach the said object,
the burglar or other person must either tread on the carpet &c. or must remove the
: same, in either of which cases the alarmı well be given.
The alarm signal can be given either by electrical, pneumatic, or mechanical means,
but the most simple and practical arrangement is the electrical, as the pneumatic
appliances are too liable to get out of order, and are therefore unreliable, and in
addition they are comparatively expensive; the same objections also apply to
mechanical appliances.
The electrical devices are arranged in such a manner that on treading upon any
part of the carpet, an electrical contact is made so as to close an electrical circuit,
which includes alarm signalling apparatus..
Thus there may be contained at various points of the carpet two contact points that
are kept separate by a caoutchouc ring which on being trodden upon, is compressed
so as to allow the contacts to meet. These contacts are arranged at such distances
apart that any footstep on the carpet must touch the one or the other thereof.
Such contacts may also consist of two sets of strips of conducting material crossing
each other and held apart by compressible non conducting material.
In practically carrying out the invention the constructions shewn on the accom-
panying drawing may be advantageously adopted; "Fig. 1 shews a part sectional plan
of the carpet, and Figs. 2 and 3 shew enlarged part sections and plans thereof.
The carpet may consist of two parts; an under fabric containing the alarm appliance
and an ordinary carpet covering the same.

page_text: The under fabric has fixed thereon a number of upwardly curved metal springs ƒƒ
of sufficient strength as not to be pressed down by the weight of the upper carpet on to
the contact studs c.
These springs are suitably connected at one or both ends to the one conductor of
an electrical circuit and beneath the curved part or the spring are one or more
contact studs c connected to the other conductor of the circuit so that on the spring
being depressed by the foot, it closes the contact and the electrical signal is given.
In order to effect the closing of the circuit when the carpet is lifted, a second
spring contact f' Fig. 3 is provided, connected to the other part of the circuit and
having an arm a which passes under the first named spring f, or may pass itself
under f; but f¹ projects with its free end above the curved part of fand is of such
strength as to be pressed down by the weight of the upper carpet, so as to keep a out
of contact with f.
When the carpet is lifted the spring f¹ being relieved of pressure, rises, and in
making contact with f, closes the circuit.
This combination of springs should at least be provided at the four corners of the
carpet or rug, and if possible also at intermediate points thereof.
The springs are shewn on the drawing as being only attached at one end to the
carpet, by rivets n n but it will sometimes be advantageous to fix them at
both ends.
The conductors leading from the carpet must of course he so arranged that they
cannot readily be tampered with; the circuit may be provided with suitable switches
for preventing signals being given at times when these are not required for protection,
such as at day time or when the rooms are occupied.
On the occurrence of fire, the upper carpet in burning at any point, will release one
or more of the contact springs of pressure, and these will then close the circuit and
give the alarm signal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. An improved manufacture of carpets, rugs, or mats wherein these are provided
with devices whereby, when trodden upon or moved, an alarm signal will be given,
substantially as herein described.
2. In the construction of carpets, rugs or mats referred to in the preceding claim,
the use of a number of contact springs such as connected to the one lead of an
electric circuit and a number of contact studs such as c connected to the other lead of
the circuit, so that on depressing a spring f on to a contact stud c the circuit is closed
and a signal included in the circuit is operated, substantially as described with
reference to the drawings..
3. In combination with the construction of carpets, rugs or mats referred to in the
preceding claims, the use of contact springs such as fi so arranged in combination
with other springs that they make contact with the latter and thereby close the
electric circuit when the carpet, rug, or mat is lifted, moved or burnt, substantially
as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 21th day of December 1889
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.