Buried Living Persons.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 11th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 16th Dec., 1887
Buried Living Persons.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of
67 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Carl Redl of
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturer, to be as follows :-
:-
This invention relates to a safety-device and alarm apparatus applied to coffins for
the use and saving of such persons, as may be buried while only apparently dead; it
may be constructed in two different modifications accordingly as the coffin is placed
under the earth or in a vault.
In the first modification the coffin is provided with an opening, over which may be
placed an air-pipe. This opening and also that at the upper end of the air pipe are
closed up by a hinged or sliding plate, which may be opened by the movement of the
buried person, so that fresh air may enter into the coffin. At the same time an electric
current is closed by opening these plates, which current actuates an electric alarm
apparatus (either situated in a casing above the air-pipe or in any other suitable
place).
If the coffin is situated in a vault or in a sarcophagus, the air pipe (of much less
length) is placed upon an opening in the cover of the same, and a flexible (or articu-
lated) joint is arranged between the closing device of the coffin and that of the air-
pipe. The plates may be operated by springs and may be secured by any suitable
catches which may be opened by the buried person by pulling a cord or by any other
means.

page_text: each end of the tubular guide-piece b₁ and has the tendency to remove the cover b
from the opening a.
This is prevented by a spring-catch d the nose of which catches
behind the projection on the cover or slide plate b. As can be seen in Fig. 4 after
removing the cover e the slide plate 6 (or the opening a) is disclosed and, on unscrew-
ing tho safety-cap fand pressing down the pin d' the nose n is disengaged from d
and the slide plate is removed by the springs e from the opening a.
The same is
effected by pulling at the cord or chain g.
The opening a is surrounded by a short tubular rim h (Figs. 4, 5, 6) which is
provided with two pins h. The air-pipe B is put upon this tubular rim so that the
two pins enter into two slots on the lower edge of the same and prevent it from
turning.
The air-pipe extends to a suitable height above the tomb and ends in a sloping top-
piece, which may be closed by a cover. The cover i is provided with a catch-nose i
which may engage (when the cover is closed) with a catch-device k.
l
When the safety-cap is unscrewed, one may press upon the pin of the spring
catch k, whereby the connection between and k is disengaged. The cover is opened
by means of a weight m (or a spring) which is suspended on a chain or cord m²
passing over pulleys m² m³. The opening of the cover may be facilitated by a spring n
which presses against the cover i.
The catch device k is connected with a rod or wire o or by any other suitable means
to the pin p (Figs. 4 and 6) which is hinged on the cover or slide-plate .
When the apparently dead person awakes and pulls the cord g, the cover opens as
already stated by the movement of the plate b, the wire or rod o is drawn down-
wardly, the catch or trigger k is disengaged, and the cover opens, so that fresh air
may enter.
The flange of the cover may be provided with packing material such as a rubber
ring or the like.
In order to have also an audible signal, I employ an electric, alarm-apparatus, an
electric contact is produced at the same moment when the cover i is opened. Fig. 8
represents this contact device on an enlarged scale.
The cover is provided with a pin or projection 2 which projects through a slit or
opening in the flange B¹ and bears on a knob q of non-conducting material (ivory,
ebonite etc.) which is secured to a metal spring q. The conducting wires pass to the
two terminals and s; the latter is secured to the metal spring q which rests upon an
insulating plate t.
"
When the cover opens the projection 2 ceases to press on the knob, the current
passes from the terminal through the metal plate and spring to the second
terminal S. When the cover is closed, the projection passes on the knob q', so that
the spring leaves the metal plate u and the current is interrupted.
q
The electric circuit comprises a battery C of any suitable construction and also an
aların D (also of any suitable construction) C and D may be situated in a casing E
over the air-pipe or in the watch-room.
If the coffin is placed in a vault or sarcophagus a shorter air pipe is put over an
opening in the roof or cover thereof (as stated above) and the covers or slide
plates 6 and are connected by a suitable means so that the opening of the first causes
the opening of the second.
It is understood that the coffin, air-pipe appurtenances and casing E may be made
of any suitable material in any ornamental decoration; one may also employ several
openings in the coffin and several air pipes, the first cover or slide plate may be applied
to the lower part of the air pipe instead of on the coffin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
In apparatus for saving of buried living persons:
1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the air pipe B
cover i, weight m, chain m³, catch device k, wire o, slide plate b, catch device b³d,
springs c. and cord a.

page_text: 2. The combination with tube B and cover i of the wire o, catch device ¹k, pro-
jection, knob q¹, metal spring 9, battery C, connectors r, s, and insulating plate u;
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with the coffin A and slide plate of the springs c, catch-
device b² d, and cord g, air-pipe B, cover i, weight m, chain m³, catch-device i¹k, and
wire o, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the coffin A of the slide plate b, springs c, catch-device b² d,
cord g, air-pipe B, cover i, weight m, catch-device and wire o and a projection ²,
knob q metal spring q, connectors r, s, insulating plate u, battery Ċ and alarmn D,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
This 10th 1. XT
1007
Dated this 101
day
November 1007
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN.
By Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London,
Agents to Applicant.