An Improved Alarm for Use in connection with Boxes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 21st June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 27th Apr., 1895
I, JAY HUNGERFORD SMITH of Elm Street, Rochester, Monroe County, New
York State, U.S.A., Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention has for object to provide a sample or show box for use on counters
and the like with novel means for giving an alarm in case of attempted theft
therefrom.
The alarm mechanism is composed of a gong or bell, a spring striker and a
striker operating arm adapted to be moved in one direction by closing the box lid
and to engage the striker in such a manner that when the box lid is opened the
striker will be operated to sound the gong or bell thus attracting attention. The
spring striker is operated from a spring wire mounted on the same support as the
spring striker, the spring wire having a pair of pendant clastic jaws which when
the box lid is closed are pressed down to engage the spring striker and when the
box lid is opened are sprung upwards so as to lift the striker to a certain extent and
then disengage it to sound the alarm.
Dated this 21st day of June 1894.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Alarm for Use in connection with Boxes.
1, JAY HUNGERFORD SMITH of Elm Street, Rochester, Monroe County, New
York State, U.S.A., Chemist, 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 has for object to provide a sample or show box for use on counters
and the like with novel means for giving an alarm in case of attempted theft
therefrom, or unauthorised opening thereof.
In the drawing
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box provided with the device of this invention
and having two lids both of which are shewn open.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a transverse sectional view and a detail perspective
view of the alarm mechanism.

page_text: The invention is shewn applied to that type of display or show box composed of
a box body 1, a main lid or cover 2 hinged to the back of the box body, and a
transparent or glass lid 3 hinged to the front of the box body, and through which
the goods contained in the box are visible.
The audible alarm apparatus is composed of a gong or bell 4, a spring striker a
and a striker operating arm 6 adapted to be moved in one direction by closing the
box lid and to engage the striker in such a manner that when the box lid is opened
or raised the striker will be operated to sound the gong or bell, thus attracting
attention.
In the example shewn in the drawing the alarm mechanism is arranged within a
casing contained within the box body and composed of vertical sides 7 and a
horizontal top 8 provided with a slut 9. The bell or gong 4 is located within the
casing and may be secured and supported in any suitable manner. The striker is
provided with an elastic or spring arm 10 secured at one end to a standard or
support 12 within the casing, and to this standard is also attached one end of the
clastic or spring arm 6, having at its opposite end an upwardly extending stem 13
which passes through the slot 9 and is adapted to be depressed by the lid 3 when
this is closed. The spring arm 6 is also provided with a pair of pendant jaws 14
preferably composed of pieces of wire bent in such a way as to provide converging
parts 15 and diverging lower end parts 16 to form shoulders 17 which normally lic
against each other but may he separated by the action of the striker art 10 so
that when the stem 13 and arm 6 are depressed by the box lid, the striker arm 10
will pass by the shoulders 17 and occupy a position above the same. The jaws 14
are elastic and when the box lid is raised the spring arm 6 will fly upwards and
lift the striker arm 10, but as the tension of this latter increases it will separate
the shoulders 17, and thus released the striker will sound the gong or ball.
In the practical use of the invention 1 prefer to make the top 5 of the casing
containing the alarm mechanism in imitation of the top part of the goods or
packages placed in the box and I prefer to arrange this casing in one corner of the
box so that the major portion of the latter is rendered available for the goods to
be displayed or exhibited.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A box for counter use having an opening and closing lid, a gong, a spring arm
carrying a striker, and a spring arin having clastic jaws to engage and disengage
the striker arm, and a stem adapted to be moved in one direction by closing the
box lid for engaging the elastic jaws with the striker arm, substantially as described
and shewn.
2. The combination with a box of an alarm mechanism composed of a gong or
bell, n spring striker, and a spring arm having a stem and a pair of elastic jawa
provided with divergent end portions, and shoulders arranged opposite each other,
for the purpose specified, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 16th day of March 1895.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.