IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES FOR JEWELS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hardy, the younger, of Thistleton, in the County
of Rutland, Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES FOR
JEWELS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 21st October 1879, and dated the 2nd May 1879.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hardy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1879.
WILLIAM HARDY, the younger, of Thistleton, in the County of Rutland, Farmer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES FOR JEWELS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in cases for jewels and other
articles.
In order to prevent jewel and other cases from being stolen from travellers and
others I so construct them that when lifted up either by the handle or otherwise
by any unauthorized person an alarm bell is caused to sound.
For this purpose I fix inside the case a battery and bell such as are used for
domestic purposes; in the top of the case at the centre is an ornamental handle
fastened to the top by bolt and nut, or other similar contrivance, which turns with
the handle. Stops are fitted-inside the case to limit the movement of the handle
in a circular direction.
The rod of the handle passes through a tube. Within the
case under the handle is fixed a half circle of ebonite or other insulating material,
when the handle is on this no contact can be made. When the handle is turned
half round the rod passes the ebonite, and when lifted up makes contact upon a
spring coming from under the ebonite and rings the bell.
The case is provided with a lock and key for the following purpose
-
When the key of the lock is turned in one way it will move a switch or piece of
metal so as to complete the circuit, but when turned the other way it will remove
the contacts.
Both the handle and the bottom contact wires come to this key contact, which
controls both. The bottom contact is a ball projecting from the bottom, and a
spring rests upon it. When the ball is pressed out by the spring the latter will
make contact and ring the bell. The circuit is completed through the bandle, and
if the latter has not been turned round then the bottom contact will be shut off
like the handle contact.
The bottom contact circuit also passes through the key switch, as before explained.
Turning the handle round acts upon the switch in the same way as the key by
putting contacts ready for completing the circle, but will not take the contacts off
again, a key being required for this purpose.
The lock referred to above does not mean the fastener of the box.

page_text: +
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Hardy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st November
1879.
WILLIAM HARDY, the younger, of Thistleton, in the County of Rutland, Farmer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES FOR JEWELS AND OTHER ARTICLES.'
This Invention has for its object improvements in cases for jewels and other
articles.
In order to prevent cases containing jewels or valuables from being stolen,
specially whilst travelling, but also on other occasions when the jewel case may be
left for a moment unguarded, I provide within the case a battery and bell; and
at the bottom of the case I fit a circuit closer or circuit closers, so arranged that
immediately the case is raised from the ground or surface on which it rests, the
circuit is closed and the bell commences to sound. I also provide a circuit closer,
which is brought into operation by the movement of the bell armature towards the
poles of its magnet, and which closes the bell circuit independently of the circuit
closer or closers in the bottom of the case. Hence when the bell has been set ringing
by the lifting of the case it cannot be made to cease by setting it down. In order to
silence the bell and put the alarm out of use when it is not required I provide a
circuit breaker under the control of a lock and key, and so arranged that by
turning the key the circuit can be interrupted. The same lock and key also serve
to control the circuit closer already mentioned as being operated by the armature.
It lifts the contact making lever, so that it may be caught by an instrument in
connection with the armature, and it is then retained until liberated by the next
movement of the armature towards the poles of its magnet. I also provide for
additional security a circuit closer which operates when the lid is opened; this
gives security against articles being abstracted whilst the jewel case is in use, as
the shutting of the lid renders the contents secure from pilfering whilst the pro-
prietor remains within hearing.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a jewel case provided with
safety apparatus in accordance with my Invention. a, a, are the sides, bottom, and
lid or hinged cover of the box; b is a partition separating off from the main
cavity or space a compartment to contain the alarm apparatus; this compartment
contains the battery c which may consist of a single Leclanche cell, and also the
electric alarm. The electric alarm consists of an electro-magnet d, and an armature
e carried upon a spring e¹. The armature in the usual way when attracted by the
magnet breaks the circuit by separating the contact points f, f, and then when it
falls back it completes the circuit so that a trembling motion is maintained, and
the hammer e carried by the armature strikes the bell g at cach reciprocation of
the armature; h is a small lever having its fulcrum at h¹, and provided with a
spring which causes it when free to press upon a contact making spring i, and hold
it against a contact screw k. The armature e is so made as the Drawing shows
that when the lever h is lifted from the contact spring i it is caught and retained
by the armature, and prevented from again pressing upon the spring until it has
been released by the movement of the armature towards the magnet; is a lock of
any approved construction, and having its key hole accessible from the exterior of
the case.
This lock (shown separately at Figure 2) serves as a contact breaker,
and also to lift and set the lever h; is the bolt of the lock; it has a platinum
point let into its face, which when the bolt is shot comes against a pin of the same

page_text: material upon the brass spring m; 1³ is a stem fixed to the bolt 1, and when the
bolt is withdrawn so as to break contact with the spring m the stem moves the
lever h, lifting its inner end off the spring i, and bringing it at the same time
within reach of the armature.
I insert into the bottom of the case, by preference, two circuit closers at opposite
corners, a section of one of these is represented at Fignre 3. It consists of a spring
p making contact against a plate q, except when deflected by the pressure of the
ball r, which is confined by the disc 8. Through a hole in the centre of the disc
the ball projects when free to do so, and then p and q come into contact, but when
the case is standing upon its bottom the ball is compelled to recede, and the spring
p being deflected contact is broken. I also establish a circuit closer between the
box and its lid, which completes a contact when the lid is raised. I have not
thought it necessary to represent this circuit closer by drawing, as the construction
of such instruments is well understood.
Figure 4 is a diaphragm indicating the arrangement of the circuits.
The other circuit closers employed are connected in the same way as the bottom
circuit closer which the diagram indicates, namely, to complete a connection
from g to k. Although the connections shown are suitable, they may be varied
without departing from my Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim the construction of
jewel cases with alarm apparatus, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hardy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
WILLIAM HARDY, JUN. (L.S.)