Improvements in Burglar Ala
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Burglar Ala
I, AUGUSTIN SPICER, of 19, New Bridge Street, in the City of London, Paper
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a @mmunication
to me by James Revell Spicer, of 403. Marquette Building, Chico. United
States of America, Estate Agent.) to be as follows:-
―:
This invention relates to improvements in burglar alarms, and has more
particular relation to portable alarms that are automatically set off by the pening
or closing of a door or window.
The invention consists of the combination, with a suitable casing, of a spring-
actuated hell-clapper mounted therein, an
a trigger for locking said escapement, and means for applying said casing tota
escapement controlling said clapper,
door, whereby the trigger is operated by the insertion of a key into the keyhole
The escapement device is similar to a clock mechanism and the escapement-
shaft has the usual escapement-piece and hell-clapper. adapted to be oscillated
by the movements of said shaft and to strike the bell. The said shaft has an
angular projecting arm by which the escapement is locked or released. This
locking is accomplished by the angular end of a spring provided with a laterally-
projecting pin adapted to be forced inward to set the projection behind the arm
and thus lock the escapement.
The said spring is held in its inner locked position by means of an auxiliary
spring having an angular end adapted to fit down behind said spring when the
latter is pressed inward. and thus prevent it from returning. The auxiliary
spring is operated to withdraw its angular extension from behind the other
spring and allow the latter to assume its normal position by a crank shaft. one of
whose crank-bends is so arranged that when said shaft is rotated the auxiliary
spring is lifted. thus withdrawing its angular end from behind the other spring.
and allowing the projection of said latter spring to spring from behind the arm
on the escapement shaft and allow the escapement to operate and ring the bell.
The crank-shaft also has a crank-bend, to which is connected a triver rod.
This rod is formed of two sections united by a screw coupling for the adinstment
of said rod longitudinally. The said rod projects through the casing and is pro-
vided with an operating-head and a stop to prevent its being unscrewed and
withdrawn from the casing.
As the auxiliary spring engages the crank-bend of the crank shaft and normally
holds the same down the normal position of the trigger-rod and its head will be
out of the casing. The upper end of said trigger-rod is surrounded and guided
by an eye on one arm of a loon-spring secured within the casing. Both ends
of said spring-loop project from the casing and are roughened or corrugated unon
their outer faces, so as to firmly engage the keyhole when inserted therein. The

page_text: normal position of the end of said spring is open and away from the trigger-rod,
but when the device is to be applied to a keyhole the said end of the spring is
compressed by a push rod against the trigger rod, so as to permit of the insertion
of both ends into the keyhole.
When the end of the spring is compressed about the trigger rod both of said
ends may be readily inserted into a keyhole and the free end allowed to expand
and hold the casing firmly in position upon the door.
When the device is not in use, it becomes necessary to protect the delicate
trigger-rod and its head against injury, and effect this I provide the casing
with a projecting cap secured thereunto Jy a liur Said cap is adapted to bo
slipped over the protruding end of the trigger-red and its head. By means of
the peculiar arrangement between the respective parts of the trigger-rod I am
enabled to adjust the same to any desired position, so that its head will prgieck.
either more or less from the cashg as desired.
When the device is applied in position within a keyhole, it is first wound and
the escapement locked.
Upon the insertion a key in the outer end of a keyhole the head of the
trigger-rod is acted by said key and the escapement is thus released and sounds
the alarm.
I
Sometimes wish to apply my alarm to either windows or doors in different
positions, and to accomplish this I employ a divided bracket. This bracket com-
prises a section upon which the casing is adapted to be supported by a suitable
hook, and
a section hinged to the first mentioned section and provided at its
rear end with a spring clamping portion. On arm of said clamping portion is
bent to form a groove. The wall or window-jamb to which the alarm is to be
ed is provided with a slotted plate, set over a suitable recess cut within the
window or frame. When the device is to be applied, the looped end of the spring
(clamp is slipped through the slot until one of the walls of the said slotted plate
enters the groove. This divided bracket support is attached in such a position
that the trigger-head will come directly in the path of an opening door or window,
and thus be operated upon by any movement of said door or window.
It will also be observed that my alarm is altogether portable and can be carried
about in the pocket from place to place and applied in position at will.
The alarm when it is sprung, continues to ring for a sufficient period of time
to awaken the occupants of the house or frighten away the intruder.
180
A M. & WM. CLARK,
Charters Patent Agents. 53, Chancery Lane, W.C.
Improvements in Burglar Alarms.
I. AUGUSTIN SPICER, of 19, New Bridge Street, in the City of London, Paper
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to mo by James Revell Spicer, of 403, Marquettes Building, Chicago, United
States of America Estate Agent) and in what manner the same is to be pèr-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in burglar alarms and has more
particular relation to portable alarms that are automatically set off by the opening
window

page_text: The invention consists of the combination with a suitable casing, of a spring-
actuated bell-clapper mounted therein, and escapement controlling said clapper
a trigger for locking said escapement, and means for applying said casing to a
door, whereby the trigger is operated by the insertion of a key into the key-hole.
The invention also consists of certain other constructions, combinations, and
arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure I
represents a central vertical section of my improved alarm applied to the keyhole
of a door. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of my said improved alarm
detached from the door, the top being removed to expose the interior. Fig. 3
represents a transverse vertical section through my said alarm. Fig. 4 repre-
sents a detached enlarged perspective view of the escapement, its withstraining-
arm, the spring-catch and crank-shaft. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail
perspective view of the clamping spring for guiding the trigger-rod and engaging
the keyhole. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion
of the door with my improved supporting-bracket applied thereto. Fig. 7 repre-
sents an enlarged detail perspective view of the protecting-cap for the trigger.
A in the drawings represents the casing of my improved alarm: B. the escape
mechanism mounted therein, C, the trigger-rod; D, the bell, and E the jointed
supporting-bracket.
The casing A may be of any desired material and construction and has mounted
therein an escapement device B, similar to a clock mechanism and adapted to
be wound up by a pivoted operating-handle b, projecting from the spring-shaft
upon one side of said casing and lying in a socket, so that when turned down it
lies flush with the outer surface of the casing. The escapement-shaft of said
mechanism B is provided with the usual escapement-piece 2, and has also secured
thereto a bell-clapper 3, adapted to be oscillated by the movements of said shaft.
This bell-clapper projects through a suitable slot in the bottom of the casing A.
so as to strike the bell D, which is mounted upon said casing A. by means of a
suitable supporting-bracket E. having a screw threaded end adapted to screw
into a screw-threaded socket cut in the bell. The said shaft 1 is also provided
with an angular projecting arm 4, by means of which the escapement is locked
or released at will. This locking of said escapement is accomplished by the
angular end of a flat spring 60 secured to the inner side of said casing at its
opposite end and provided with a laterally-projecting pin. b. that projects through
the wall of said casing and is adapted to be forced inward by the thumb or finger
to set the projection 65 behind the arm 4 and thus lock the escapement. The
said spring 66 is held in its inner locked position by means of an auxiliary
spring secured to the casing and having an angular end adapted to fit down
behind said spring 66 when the latter is pressed inward and thus prevent it from
returning. The said spring 68 is operated to withdraw its angular extension
from behind the spring 6 and allow the latter to assume its normal position by
a crank shaft 10 mounted in said casing. One of the crank bends " of said shaft
is arranged under the spring so that when said shaft is rotated thyo said spring
is lifted, thus withdrawing the end 69 from behind the spring bf and allowing the
projection 5 of said latter spring to spring from behind the arm and the
escapement to operate and ring the hell. The said crank shaft 10 is also pro-
vided with a crank bend 13 to which is connected the trigger rod C. This rod
is formed in two sections c and c', respectively. The upper section is provided
with a screw-threaded block into which the lower section cl screws, thus pro-
viding for the adjustment of said rod longitudinally. The said rod C projects
through the casing A at its upper end and is provided with an operating head e
and-a stop to prevent its being unscrewed from the section c and withdrawn
from the casing.
It will be observed from the foregoing. description that as the spring engages
the crank bend 6" of the crank shaft 60 and normally holds the same down, the

page_text: normal position of the trigger rod and its head will be out of the casing. The
upper end of said trigger rod C is surrounded and guided by an eye on one arm
of a loop spring secured within the said casing A. Both ends and fof said
spring-loop project from the casing A and are roughened or corrugated upon their
outer faces so as to firmly engage the keyhole when inserted therein. The normal
position of the end of said spring is open and away from the rad C but when
the device is to be applied to a keyhole the said end of the spring F is compressed
against the rod C. so as to permit of the insertion of both ends and into the
keyhole. This compression is caused by a rod G mounted in the upper end of the
casing and provided with an operating knob or head g by means of which it may
be pressed inward so as to cause the inner end to engage said spring and effect
this action.
It will be observed from the foregoing description that when the end of the
spring is compressed about the rod C, both of said ends may be readily inserted
into a keyhole and the end allowed to expand and hold the casing firmly in
position upon the door.
When the device is not in use it becomes necessary to protect the delicate
trigger-red and its head against injury and to effect this I provide the casing A
with a protecting cap I secured thereto by a link. Said cap is adapted to he
slipped over the protruding end of the trigger-rod and its head. By means of
the peculiar arrangement between the respective parts of the trigger rod I am
enabled to adjust the same to any desired position so that the head will project
either more or less from the casing, as desired.
When the device is applied in position within a keyhole it is first wound and
the escapement locked with a slight pressure inward upon the pin or arm 67.
Upon the insertion of a key in the outer end of a keyhole the head is engaged
by said key and the escapement is thus released and sounds the alarm.
Sometimes I wish to apply my alarm to either windows or doors in different
positions and to accomplish this employ a divided bracket. E. This bracket
comprises a section e upon which the casing A is adapted to be supported by a
suitable hook, and a section of hinged to the first-mentioned sretion and provided
at its rear end with a spring clamping portion 2. One arm of suid clamping
portion is bent to form a groove The wall or window jamb to which the
alarm is to be attached is provided with a slotted plate e set over a suitable recess
cut within the window or frame. When the device is to be applied, the looped
end of the section is slipped through the slot in said plate e until one of the
walls of the said slotted plate enters the groove when said section el becomes
firmly locked within said plate, but may instantly be released when so desired by
compressing said looped end. The end of the arm e is provided with an upright
stud which is adapted to be slipped in the grooves or e formed in a plate
attached to the casing A. This support is attached in such a position that the
trigger-head will come directly in the path of an opening door or window and thus
be operated upon by any movement of said door or window.
It will also be observed that my alarm is altogether portable and can be carried
about in the pocket from place to place and applied in position at will.
The alarm when it is sprung, continues to ring for a sufficient period of time
to awake the occupants of the house or frighten away the intruder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1. declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a portable burglar-alarm the combination with a suitable casing, of a
bell-clapper pivoted therein an escapement controlling sail clapper, a locking
device for said escapement, a spring for releasing suid locking device, a crank
shaft for operating said spring, a trigger connected to said crank shaft and pro-
jecting from the casing, and means for securing said easing in position so that the

page_text: trigger will be engaged by an opening door or window to set off the alarm sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a portable burglar-alarm the combination with a suitable casing, of a
bell-clapper mounted therein an escapement mechanism connected to said clapper.
a catch for said escapement, a trigger for controlling said catch and projecting
from the casing, and a clamp attached to said casing and adapted to be applied
within the keyhole to hold the casing in position and the trigger in the proper
relation to be engaged and operated by the insertion of a key in said keyhole sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a portable burglar-alarm the combination with a suitable casing, of a
bell-clapper mounted therein, a spring-actuated escapement mechanism connected
to said clapper, a catch for locking said escapement, a trigger connected to said
catch and extending out of the casing, an expansion spring mounted upon said
casing and supporting the trigger-rod and adapted to be expanded within a key-
hole to hold the casing in position substantially as described.
4. In a portable burglar-alarm the combination with a suitable casing, of a
spring-actuated escapement mounted therein, an alarm device connected to-said
escapement, a locking catch for said escapement, means for setting said catch
from the exterior of the casing, a trigger connected to said catch for setting off
the same, and a clamping device attached to the casing and adapted to be inserted
within a keyhole to secure said casing in position substantially as described.
5. In a portable burglar-alarm the combination with a suitable casing, of a
spring-actuated escapement mounted therein, an alarm device connected to said
escapement, a locking-catch for said escapement, a trigger for setting-off the said
catch, attaching means for securing the casing in position, and a protecting cap
adapted to be applied over the portion of the trigger extending from the casing
when the alarm is not in use, substantially as described.
Dated this 1941 div of trust 180S
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.