Improvements in and connected with Devices for Detecting, Notifying, or Preventing Theft, Burglary, or the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1898-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
Improvements in and connected with Devices for Detecting,
Notifying, or Preventing Theft, Burglary, or the like.
I, GUSTAVE HARTOG MORRIS, of 12, Bold Place, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows;―
This invention has for its object a combination of devices for use in case of
theft, more especially in such cases as where a shopman or assistant (in a jewellers
shop for instance) discovers that a customer is attempting to purloin articles
from the counter. I will first describe my invention as adapted for use under
such conditions.
I provide a special gate or door which normally lies in a recess in the floor of
the shop, but which may be raised by power or counterweights so as to close the
entrance to the shop when released. I prefer that the counterweight shall be
connected to the gate by a cord running over pullies in such a manner that when the
said gate is in its lowest position the weight is raised. The gate is maintained
in its lowest position by a catch, and when this catch is withdrawn by the lever
hereafter described the gate rises by reason of the pull of the weight. I provide
one or more levers or releasing devices arranged so as to be conveniently accessible
to the proprietor (hereafter called the shopinan). On said shopman discovering
or suspecting theft on the part of the customer, he may by using the releasing
device, cause the exit from the shop to be closed and thus detain the suspected
person and also prevent the entrance of accomplices. The rising gate at or near
the end of its travel opens a cock and thus releases a volume of air under pressure
which sounds a police whistle in connection therewith. An electric alarm bell
will also be put in action either at a distance or immediately outside the shop
front. One or more pairs of catches or latches, automatically drop into the path
of the door when it reaches the end of its travel and prevent it being opened until
desired by the shopman. It will be seen that in case of a theft the shopman has
only to actuate the releasing device, and this will cause the thief to be secured
and will give an alarm.
I may also use in combination with the above described apparatus, automatic
releasing devices which (especially at night time) will come into operation on being
trodden on or tampered with by burglars. I prefer that the windows shall also
be provided with screens of bars or wire, provided with similar mechanism to the
gate above described, so that the breaking of a window shall cause the said screens
to come in place. The door or window screens may be placed in position before
the premises are left for the night.
My invention is also applicable for use in banks and similar places.
z buALנית
1007

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Devices for Detecting,
Notifying, or Preventing Theft, Burglary, or the like.
I, GUSTAVE HARTOG MORRIS, of 12, Bold Place, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Watchmaker, 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 its principal object a combination of devices for use in
case of theft or attempted theft, more especially in such cases as where an atten-
dant, in a jeweller's shop for instance, discovers that a customer is attempting
to steal articles from the counter.
My invention comprises a gate or door and shutters, and these may be used
(for instance at night) instead of the ordinary protections.
Referring to the drawings, which are diagrammatical views showing the essen-
tial features of my invention, and in which like numerals indicate corresponding
parts.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a building, fitted with my in-
vention.
Fig. 2 is a detail.
Fig. 3 is a plan view on a larger scale of a portion of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation.
ab, represents the ground or floor line, whilst shows the shop floor. 2 the
counter, and 3 the entrance. 4 shows the cellar or basement beneath the shop.
I provide a special gate or door which normally lies in a recess beneath the
shop floor, but which may be raised by power-or weights so as to close the entrance
to the shop when released. I provide one or more levers or actuating devices
arranged so as to be conveniently accessible to the attendant. This gate or door 5
is preferably composed of cross pieces 6 connected together by vertical bars 7,
and normally lies in the recess or basement as shown in Fig. 1. It is maintained
in this position by a catch pivotted to floor 1 at 9. against the pull of weight 10
which is connected to gate 5 by a cord 11 running over idle pullies 12.
The catch 8 is connected as by rod 13, with a foot lever 14 behind counter 2,
in such manner that on said lever 14 being depressed, said catch 8 is withdrawn
(see Fig. 2) and weight 10 descending, raises gate 5 into its operative position (see
Fig. 4), and thus closes the shop entrance.
Pillars 15 or equivalent are provided at each side of gate 5 to support and
guide it. The hole in floor 1 is normally closed over by plate 16, and when door 5
rises as above described, this plate is thrown back thereby and acts as a check to
prevent entrance while said gate is moving, (see Fig. 4). 17 are lugs to which
plate 16 is pivotted. 18 is a hole in the floor of basement 4 to receive weight 10.
It will readily be seen that pressure on the foot lever 14 will withdraw catch 8
and thus allow gate 5 to rise and to close the entrance. At or near the top of
pillars 15 I arrange (preferably enclosed in a case 19) a series of devices which are
brought into action by the intrusion of top of gate 5 into said casing. Fig. 3 is
a plan view of said casing 19, its top or lid being removed. 20 are a pair of
contact pieces connected to binding screws 21. the latter serving to receive
wires 23. When gate 5 rises to its topmost position it comes into contact with the
pieces 20, thus completing a circuit or circuits and causing one or more electric
bells to ring. These bells form no part of my invention and may be placed at
any required place for instance in an adjoining police station or in a caretaker's
*Contact pieces of a similar construction may also be employed to close a
room.

page_text: lighting circuit. 24 represents a supply pipe connected with a suitable source
of air under pressure; 25 is a spring valve which is opened by the impact of
gate 5, and 26 is a continuation of pipe 24 which carries a police whistle or other
wind alarm. 27 is a latch bolt which is pushed back by the rising gate 5 in oppo-
sition to spring 28, and which, after top cross bar 6 has passed it automatically
springs beneath it and so locks the gate in its operative position. 29 is a ver-
This consists
tical casing which protects the releasing mechanism for bolt 27.
of a cord 30 attached at one end to bolt 27 running over pullies 31 and fastened
at its lower end to spindle 32 whose ends are squared or otherwise shaped to re-
ceive or engage a key. 33 (Fig. 4) is the keyhole on the outside of the building.
34 is a ratchet wheel on spindle 32 and 35 is its pawl which may be thrown over
out of gear by a handle 36 inside the shop. I wish it to be distinctly understood
that while I have shown the best way known to me of carrying my invention
into effect, the details and relative positions of the various parts will vary
according to the shape and style of the building to which it is applied. l'or
instance, there may be more than one foot lever 14, and the location of the weight 10
The foot lever may be replaced by a finger
may vary according to accommodation.
push, which will close a circuit, and by means of solenoids will release catch 8.
The mode of action is as follows.
On the attendant discovering or suspecting theft on the part of a customer, he
may by depressing lever 14 cause the exit from the shop to be closed, and
thus detain the suspected person and also prevent the entrance of accomplices.
The rising gate at or near the end of its upward travel opens cock 25 and thus
releases the air under pressure which sounds a police whistle. An electric alarm bell
will also ring, by reason of contact pieces 20 being connected. It will be seen
that in case of theft the attendant has only to actuate the lever 14 and this will
cause the thief to be secured and will give an alarm.
When it is desired to again lower gate 5, a key is applied to spindle 32 and it
is then turned so as to wind up cord 30 and thus withdraw bolt 27. The gate 5 may
then be pulled down and catch S replaced in operative position. Pawl 35 is
then temporarily thrown out of mesh with ratchet wheel 34, and bolt. 27 thus
allowed to spring into its active position. If desired catch 8 may be put into
its closed position (Fig. 2) after the gate has been raised, and will thus, by coming
beneath bottom cross bar 6, act as an additional lock, or I may provide one or more
extra locks of any suitable construction for use in maintaining said gate 5 in
its closed position when the premises are to be secured for the night.
The above described devices may be applied to the windows of the building
and will replace the ordinary shutters.
The foot levers 14 instead of projecting above the surface of the floor may lie
level therewith and be concealed by covering plates so that in case of burglary
My invention is applí-
they will automatically release the gate when trodden on.
cable to other places than shops, such as banks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A gate 5 normally lying in a recess beneath the floor, in combination with
counterweight 10, and releasing device 8, substantially as described.
2. A gate 5, which may be released when required, and will then rise and close
the entrance to the building, and will automatically actuate alarm devices, sub-
stantially as described.
3. The combination of a rising gate 5, contacts 20, and bolt 27, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination of a rising gate 5, contacts 20, bolt 27, and means for re-
leasing same with valve or cock 25, substantially as described and for the purposes
set forth.

page_text: 5. The improved device for detecting, notifying, or preventing theft, burglary
or the like, taken as a whole, substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
Deted thin 21+ Jaw of Th
1807
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Patent Expert, Agent for the Applicant.