IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OFFERING RESISTANCE TO THE OPENING OF DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER MOVEABLE PARTS, AND FOR GIVING ALARMS IN CASES OF IMPROPER OR BURGLARIOUS ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew George Hutchinson, of Stoneycroft,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Builder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OFFERING RESISTANCE TO THE OPENING OF
DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER MOVEABLE PARTS, AND FOR GIVING ALARMS IN
CASES OF IMPROPER OR BURGLARIOUS ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE SAME."
Scaled the 17th November 1868, and dated the 20th May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew George
Hutchinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 20th May 1868.
I, ANDREW GEORGE HUTCHINSON, of Stoneycroft, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OFFERING RESISTANCE TO
THE OPENING OF DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER MOVEABLE PARTS, AND FOR GIVING
ALARMS IN CASES OF IMPROPER OR BURGLARIOUS ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE SAME,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that class of portable apparatus known as
burglar detectors now used in dwellings for the double purpose of (a.)

page_text: securing or offering a resistance to the opening of doors, windows, and
other moveable parts, and (b.) giving an audible signal when the said
moveable parts are attempted to be opened burglariously or at improper
times, and consists essentially in combining with the above-mentioned
(a.) and (b.) or with (a.) only, the latter preferred, a clock or spring
alarum, the object being to provide an apparatus suitable for being
moved from place to place and capable of giving a prolonged and loud
signal. In consequence of being enabled to give a sustained signal I
have designated my apparatus "the domestic sentinel."
Various arrangements of mechanism can be adopted as will be obvious
in combining the above-mentioned parts, but as in practice one modifi-
cation answers better than another I will hereafter describe that
modification which I prefer.
I take a hollow tube fitted with spikes on its under surface, and make
one end of it into a wedge-like shape. The small end of such wedge is,
when the apparatus is in use, placed between the door and floor, window
and frame, or other parts, and the spikes catch in or against the floor,
wall, or frame, and these together serve to secure the door or moveable
part. A depressible or push catch piece hinged in the said tube projects
through an opening in the hollow tube; its other end holds the detent of
the alarum. The alarum mechanism and bell or gong are secured on or
to the hollow tube. When the end of the depressible or push catch is
moved by the opening of the door or other part, a very short distance
is sufficient, the alarum detent is released, and the spring being thereby
set free an instantaneous signal is given, and this continues, unless
stopped by hand, until the alarum has "run down." The clock or spring
alarum which I prefer to use consists principally of a coiled spring, train
of wheels, and escapement, the pallets of the latter carrying the handle
of and giving vibrating motion to the hammer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 30
filed by the said Andrew George Hutchinson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th November 1868.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Andrew George Hutchinson, Her special
license that I, the said Andrew George Hutchinson, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew George
Hutchinson, my 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, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OFFERING RESISTANCE TO THE OPENING
OP DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER MOVABLE PARTS, AND FOR GIVING ALARMS IN
CASES OF IMPROPER OR BURGLARIOUS ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE SAME," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew George Hutchinson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew George Hutchinson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to that class of portable apparatus known as
burglar detectors now used in dwellings for the double purpose of (a.)
securing or offering resistance to the opening of doors, windows, and
other movable ports, and (b.) giving an audible signal when the said
movable parts are attempted to be opened burglariously or at improper
times, and consists essentially in combining with the above-mentioned
(a.) and (b.) or with (a.) only, the latter preferred, a clock or spring
alarum, the object being to provide an apparatus suitable for being
moved from place to place, and capable of giving a prolonged and loud
signal. In consequence of being enabled to give a sustained signal I
have designated my apparatus "the domestic sentinel."

page_text: Various arrangements of mechanism can be adopted as will be obvious
in combining the above-mentioned parts, but as in practice one modifi-
cation answers better than another I will hereafter describe that
modification which I prefer.
I take a hollow tube fitted with spikes on its under surface, and make
one end of it into a wedge-like shape. The small end of such wedge
is, when the apparatus is in use, placed between the door and floor,
window and frame, or other parts, and the spikes catch in or against
the floor, wall, or frame, and these together serve to secure the door or
moveable part. A depressible or push catch piece hinged in the said
tube projects through an opening in the hollow tube; its other end
holds the detent of the alarum. The alarum mechanism and bell or
gong are secured on or to the hollow tube. When the end of the
depressible or push catch is moved by the opening of the door or other
part, a very short distance is sufficient, the alarum detent is released, and
the spring being thereby set free an instantaneous signal is given, and
this continues unless stopped by hand until the alarum has "run down."
The clock or spring alarum which I prefer to use consists principally
of a coiled spring, train of wheels, and escapement, the pallets of the
latter carrying the handle of and giving vibrating motion to the
hammer.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings that combination of apparatus
which I have found to answer best in practice and which I prefer is
illustrated.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 a side elevation, one half of the case
and bell being removed; Fig. 3, an end elevation, one half of the case
and bell being also removed; and Fig. 4, a top or plan view, the bell
and hammer being removed, all of apparatus for offering resistance and
giving a sustained audible signal. In these views like letters denote
the same parts.
a is the enclosing case with hollow wedge-like tube or piece b
supporting the depressible piece c on a pin d, and the catch piece e
hinged to c by f; g, spikes to fasten into the floor, wall, window frame,
or other part; h, the frame of the alarum supporting the bell i by the
rodj; k, a coiled spring secured to the winding arbour and to the tiem;
n, ratchet wheel and click; o, toothed wheel gearing with the trundle
or pinion p fixed on the arbour q; r, the 'scape wheel; 8, the pallets

page_text: moving on an arbour, and carrying the hammer t and release rod u;
v, the winding key.
To adjust the apparatus for use it is simply necessary to wind up the
spring k by the key v in the same manner as a clock alarum, and to place
the catch piece e as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position the weight
of the unbalanced end of c, with d and f, is sufficient to hold the release
rod u down as shewn, and prevent the pallets from moving. When so
set or adjusted the small end of b, c, is placed between the door and floor,
window and frame, or other movable part in contact or nearly in
contact therewith. Should any attempt be made to open the said
movable part the outer end of the piece c is depressed and its inner
end raised into the position shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 2; the part e is
thereby elevated and caused to catch on 6, and be retained thereby with c
so as to release u and allow the pallets and the hammer to be operated
by the spring and act on the bell. A loud and continuous signal is
thereby given.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and par-
ticularized the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the particular modification described, as many combinations
and adaptations can be made without departing from the leading features,
for instance, a detonating cap or pistol could be so combined or added
as to be fired off as a signal when the apparatus is interfered with; what
I claim is, the combination and arrangement of apparatus as herein
described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
ANDREW GEORGE HUTCHINSON. (L.S.)
In the presence of,
JOHN T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.