Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Attachment to the Pockets of Ladies' and Gentlemen's Wearing Apparel for Pre- venting Pocket Picking.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 25th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Attachment to the
Pockets of Ladies' and Gentlemen's Wearing Apparel for Pre-
venting Pocket Picking.
We. SAMUEL EDWIN MORLEY and WILLIAM HENRY WHITELEY HARRISON, of
the Firm of Messrs. S. E. Morley and Company, of King Cross, Halifax, in the
County of York, Boiler Composition, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of our invention is to construct an improved appliance for attach-
ment to the pockets of ladies and gentlemen's wearing apparel, so as to prevent
pocket picking, but which may be easily and quickly manipulated by the wearer
for opening or closing the pockets.
We preferably fix at each side of the pocket at, or near the top, suitable slides
of wire or other material, these slides have at one end a suitable loop, working upon
the slide is a moveable spring clip. When the clip is at the opposite end to the
loops the pocket is closed and cannot be opened, but when the clip is moved along
the slide into the loops they form a hinge allowing the pocket to open freely, the
clip grips the slide immediately it is released in whatever position it may be, so
that in moving the clip to the loops it is necessary to compress the clip all the way.
Also if desired an electric button may be fixed between the jaws of the clip.
connected with an electric bell, so that upon the clip being compressed, it depresses
the button completing the circuit, and operating an electric bell or alarm carried
upon the person of the wearer.
D
FI
1.1 1
30
1000
JOHN E. WALSH,
Waterhouse Chambers, Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Attachment to the
Pockets of Ladies' and Gentlemen's Wearing Apparel for Pre-
venting Pocket Picking.
We, SAMUEL EDWIN MORLEY and WILLIAM HENRY WHITELEY HARRISON, of
the Firm of S. E. Morley and Company, of King Cross, Halifax, in the
County of York, Boiler Composition Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
ID 877

page_text: of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement; -
The object of our invention is the construction of an improved appliance to be
attached to the pockets of mens and women's wearing apparel, which will prevent
pocket-picking, but which may at the same time be easily and quickly manipulated
by the wearer for opening or closing the pockets. To attain this object, we make
a hollow bead or rib on one side of a piece of metal, with a deep groove on each
side of the bead or rib. The border of the metal is pierced with small holes, by
which it can be sewn on to the cloth forming the pocket.
A piece of gut, leather, band, wire, chain or any other flexible material or
substance is fastened inside the bead or rib, on the back part of the metal plate,
forming a continuation of the bead, but it will be flexible, thus forming a hinge.
One of the said plates of metal with the projecting bead is sewn on to each side
of the pocket, so that the two are parallel to one another. One plate is a little
shorter than the other, and to the shorter is secured the hinge-forming material,
which, at the other end, is either attached to the seam of the pocket, or carried
round to the bead or rib of the longer metal plate.
We now form a spring by bending a piece of metal, and from each edge of one of
the arms of the said spring, a pair of small claws stands out at right angles to the
arm of the spring; these claws, when placed in position, slide along the rib or
head, always holding both metal plates rigid and parallel.
When the said spring is gripping each metal plate, both sides of the pocket
are held close together; when the spring is moved to the end of the rib or bead,
it passes on to the flexible material, thus allowing the sides of the pocket to be
moved apart.
One arm of the spring presses against one of the ribs, which prevents the spring
from shifting its position, unless it is relieved by the fingers, which may easily
be done at the same time as the spring is being moved from the centre to the end
of the ribs. It is thus seen, that so long as the claws of the spring are gripping
the bead or rib of each metal plate, the pocket will remain secure, until the spring
is pressed.
If the wearer should desire it, a button connected by an electric current with a
bell on the wearer's person, may be fixed between the jaws of the clip or spring.
Upon the spring being compressed, the circuit of the electric current would be
completed, and the bell or other alarm would be operated, thus warning the
wearer, that his or her pocket was being tampered with or touched.
For the better explanation of our invention we enclose herewith a drawing
therof.
A is the metal plate.
Bis the metal spring which carries the claws.
C is the flexible steel or gut forming a hinge.
Figure I shows the pocket closed, with the spring B on the beads A.
Figure II. shows the pocket open, the springs B having been run on to the
hinge C.
Figure III. shows the front of the metal plate A.
Figure IV. shows the end of the metal plate A.
Figure V. shows the front view of the spring clip B.
Figure VI. shows the side view of the spring clip B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
:-
1. A pair of metal plates sewn or attached one on each side of the pocket, the
plates having a bead or rib running from end to end and in the centre, and being
grooved on each side of the rib or bead, so as to permit a claw to slide along the
whole length of the rib or bead,

page_text: 2. A piece of flexible material fixed in the concavity of the bead or rib to form a
hinge.
3. A spring having claws standing out from each side, in such a manner as to
grip the ribs of the aforementioned plates.
Dated this Twenty-second day of February One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-nine
S. E. MORLEY,
W. H. W. HARRISON.