IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING OR EXHIBITING JEWELRY AND OTHER VALUABLE ARTICLES IN GLASS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Chubb, of St. Paul's Churchyard, in the City
of London, Patent Lock and Safe Manufacturer, and Henry Mortimer
Burton, of John's Place, Holland Street, Southwark, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
DISPLAYING OR EXHIBITING JEWELRY AND OTHER VALUABLE ARTICLES IN GLASS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Chubb and Henry
Mortimer Burton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 5th March 1862.
We, JOHN СнUBB, of St. Paul's Churchyard, in the City of London, Patent
Lock and Safe Manufacturer, and HENRY MORTIMER BURTON, of John's Place,
Holland Street, Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
DISPLAYING OR EXHIBITING JEWELRY AND OTHER VALUABLE ARTICLES IN GLASS
CASES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for displaying
or exhibiting jewelry and other valuable articles in glass cases. For these
purposes, in order to obtain greater safety and security when displaying or
exhibiting valuable articles under glass cases, apparatus is applied below the

page_text: table or surface on which the articles are placed, in such manner that the
articles may at any time be inclosed in an iron or other suitable metal safe.
The form of the safe may be varied,, but it is preferred that the safe should
consist of the surface or table on which the display is made, and of two sections
of a cylinder with closed ends, each section being arranged to pass through a
slit or opening in the table or surface on which the articles are placed. The
mechanisin is arranged in such manner as to cause the two sections of the
metal safo to move simultaneously from below upwards and towards each
other, so as to meet in the middle, where the two parts may be secured or
locked. In some cases the apparatus is so arranged that it shall be self-
closing in the event of any part of the glass of the case being broken; the
table or surface may also be caused to descend, and be enclosed by the move-
able part or parts of the safe. In place of the metal safe being in two parts,
as described, it will be evident that only one moveable part may be used, in
which arrangement a half or other suitable portion of a cylinder would be
a, convenient form for the moveable part of the safe, but, as before stated,
the form of the metal safe and the number of its moveable parts may be
varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Chubb and Henry Mortimer Burton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wе, JOHN
СшUBB, of St. Paul's Churchyard, in the City of London, Patent Lock and
Safe Manufacturer, and HENRY MORTIMER BURTON, of John's Place, Holland
Street, Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing' dato the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
John Chubb and Henry Mortimer Burton, Her special licence that we, the
said John Chubb and Henry Mortimer Burton, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Chubb and Henry Mor-
timer Burton, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,

page_text: the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING OR EXHIBITING JEWELRY AND OTHER VALUABLE ARTICLES
IN GLASS CASES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,. the said John
Chubb and Henry Mortimer Burton, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and scals, or under the hand
and seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Offico
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Mortimer Burton, on behalf
of myself and the said John Chubb, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,.
that is to say-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for displaying
or exhibiting jewelry and other valuable articles in glass cases. For these
purposes, in order to obtain greater safety and security when displaying or
exhibiting valuable articles under glass cases, apparatus is applied below the
table or surface on which the articles are placed, in such manner that the
articles may at any time be inclosed in an iron or other suitable metal safe..
The form of the safe may be varied, but it is preferred that the safe should
consist of the surface or table on which the display is made, and of two sections
of a cylinder with closed ends, each section being arranged to pass through
a slit or opening in the table or surface on which the articles are placed. The
mechanism is arranged in such manner as to cause the two sections of the
metal safe to move simultaneously from below upwards and towards each.
other, so as to meet in the middle, where the two parts may be secured or
locked. In some cases the apparatus is so arranged that it shall be self-
closing in the event of any part of the glass of the case being broken.
.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of apparatus such as above described.
a, a, is the exterior metal casing of the apparatus; 6 is a standard in the
centre thereof supporting the metal table c which, at its upper edge,. comes to
within a short distance of the edge of the case a all round, but no where
touches it; d, d, are stays to steady the table; c, e, are two segments of a
cylinder closed at the end; they are mounted so as to be able to turn on the
studs f, f, of which one is fixed at each end of the case a, as is clearly shewn
in Figure 2; in Figure 3 one of the studs has been removed to shew more
clearly the parts below; g, y, are chains attached at their lower ends to the

page_text: segments e, e, they then pass over small pitch wheels (corresponding with the
chain) mounted on the axes h, h, carried in bearings at each side of the case a;
i, i, are weights attached to the other extremities of the chains; these weights,
when free to act, will bring up the segments e, e, so as to cover the table c, and
the segments will then be secured by a spring lock at j. Whilst it is desired
that the table should remain uncovered, however, the segments are retained
down by a suitable catch or bolt (that which we prefer to employ, and which
is arranged to make the safe self-closing in case of the breakage of the glass
surrounding the table, is herein-after described); immediately the catch or bolt
is drawn back the weights bring the segments up and the upper edges meeting
become secured by the spring lock. When it is required again to lower the
segments e, e, it is necessary to unlock them and then to raise the weights i;
this is done by means of two endless chains &, k, passing round other pitch
wheels on the axes h, h, and also round the pitch wheels 1, 1, mounted on studs
at one end of the case a. The pitch wheels are geared together by pinions,
and the axis of one of them projects through a hole in the side of the case a
and is squared at the end to receive a key: By turning the pitch wheels the
weights i can be raised, and as they rise the segments e will fall by their own
weight; when they are fully down they are caught or bolted in position. If it
is not required that the apparatus should be self-closing, in the event of the
breakage of the glass surrounding the table, the bolt or catch may be of any
ordinary form, as shewn in the Drawing, and as we prefer to construct it,
however, it is self-acting; m, m, are the sheets of glass which surround the
table c; they should be of such a width as to render it impossible by any
operation to which the glass can be exposed whilst in place to break or cut
holes in them without breaking them from side to side. We consider, prac-
tically, that with plate glass a width of from 9 to 11 inches will give perfect
security. The sheets are drilled at their upper and lower ends, and they are
secured to the outer case at the top by small pins or bolts n passing through
them. At its lower end each sheet receives a weight o having a hook at its
upper end which passes through a hole in the lower end of the sheet; p, p, are
levers resting on fulcrums. q, q, and pin-jointed loosely at their outer ends to
the weights o; r is a ferule capable of sliding on the standard b, it rests on the
inner ends of the levers p. Immediately over the ferule r two hooked catches
s, s, are pin-jointed to the standard b, one on each side, and as is shewn they
are so formed and weighted as to catch the edges of the segments e when they
are brought down; should one of the sheets of glass m be broken by violence,
either wilful or otherwise, or by fire, the corresponding weight o falling raises
the feruler and so tilts up the catches s and frees the segments e, these are

page_text: immediately drawn up by the weights i and the spring lock secures them; to
free the catch at other times, when it is desired to close the safe, an instrument
passing to the outside of the case a may be employed. In place of the metal
safe being in two parts, as described, it will be evident that only one moveable
part may be used, in which arrangement a half or other suitable portion of a
cylinder would be a convenient form for the moveable part of the safe. The
table or surface may also be caused to descend and be enclosed by the move-
able part or parts of the safe.
Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sections of this arrangement taken at right
angles the one to the other. In Figure 4 the table is in position for exhibiting
the articles upon it; in Figure 5 these are enclosed in the safe. a is the tablo
mounted on the top of the bar b, which is capable of sliding up and down in
the tube c, which is a standard fixed in the bottom of the case d; this standard
has, as before, a ferule e sliding upon it, and it is similarly connected with
levers and weights connected with the glass; f,f, are the catches which sustain
the table when raised by dropping in under the end of the bar b, and these are
forced outwards by the ferule e when it is raised, and the table then falls by its
own weight to the bottom of an inner case or safe g; h, h, are covers, which
fold inwards so as to close the safe g when the table is down, they turn on
centres on each side of the safe, as is shewn, and in closing they meet in the
centre; i, i, are spring catches which hold the covers when the safe is closed.
The outer case d is furnished with a door d' which is furnished with a secure
lock; this door is opened when it is desired to raise the table, and the catches
i, i, being freed, the table is raised by the rod a' attached to its under side.
The table, as it rises, pushes open the covers h, and when the table is in its
highest position its edge still sustains the covers h; these, as is shewn, have
springs h behind them, so that they may fall rapidly on the descent of the
table, as soon as they are down they are immediately caught by the catches i, i;
a², a³, are projections on the upper side of the table a, on to which the covers h
fall; in shutting, they prevent these covers falling too far, and they also lift
the covers as the table is raised.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken through the upper part of the appa-
ratus, and Figure 7 shews the bottom levers and their fulcrum in place.
Figure 8 is an arrangement similar to that just described, but adapted to a
glass shade; the glass shade a is suspended from an arched bar b, and has
holes drilled through its lower edge at several places to receive weights c; as
before, these weights, should the shade -be broken by violence or fire, act as
already described.
Figure 9 is a modification according to which the apparatus is adapted to a
1

page_text: shop front, or it may be, to an upright show case; a, a, is a case which in front
is of glass, at the back and sides it is of metal or other material, according to
the degree and nature of the security required; b is a shutter, by preference of
metal, and capable of sliding up and down vertically in grooves, either to close
the case a or to descend into the base c and leave the articles in the case a
exposed to view; it has weights d, connected by chains to its lower edge, which
tend constantly to draw it upwards, the chains passing over pullies e; f is a
catch, which, when the shutter b is put down, takes and retains it; g are the
sheets of glass, having, as in the other cases, weights h attached to their lower
edges, which, should the glass be broken, descend, and in so doing release
the shutter by raising the catch f, this catch being fixed on an axis running
from side to side of the case, which axis has several arms on it one under each
weight h. The shutter may either be made entirely to close the case a, or it
may simply rise so high that a man cannot reach over it, according to the
amount of security required. A spring lock may be employed to secure the
shutter when it comes up. There is a door in the back of the case a by which
access can be had to the shutter to push it down after unlocking it.
Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section of a case with a horizontal glass;
it is arranged to be fixed against a wall. a, a, is the case, by preference of
metal; and b is a strip of glass (of which there may be several) attached by a
pin to the back of the case; this strip of glass has a hole at the front in which
the end of a lever centers; this lever is mounted on an axis d running across
the front of the case; e is a joint or flexible iron shutter, known as a Bunnett
shutter, it passes over a pulley fat the back; 9 is a chain attached to the
front edge of, the shutter, it passes over a roller h at the front and has a weight
attached to it which, when set free, is able to draw up the shutter; this
weight, however, is usually supported on a ledge on the lever c, when, however,
the glass breaks the lever c is drawn back by its weight i and the shutter then
immediately closes and a lock secures it.
As before stated, the form of the metal safe and the number of its moveable
parts may be varied, but what we claim is, the arranging apparatus for dis-
playing or exhibiting jewelry and other valuable articles in glass cases in such
a manner that without opening the glass case the table may be covered by a
protecting case coming up from beneath and enclosing it, as described and
illustrated by Figures.1, 2, and 3.
We also claim, the arranging the exhibiting table so that the table may,
without opening the glass case, be caused to descend into a safe which
immediately closes over it.
We also claim, as above described; the arranging apparatus for displaying
:

page_text: or exhibiting valuable articles in glass cases in such a manner that the
breaking the glass shall immediately actuate instruments to cause the articles
to be immediately securely covered.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Mortimer Burton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
MORTIMER BURTON. (L.S.)