A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING HATS, CLOTHES, AND OTHER ARTICLES FROM BEING STOLEN OR EXCHANGED IN PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Guy Wilson, of 71, Market Street, Manchester,
Mechanical Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING HATS, CLOTHES, AND OTHER ARTICLES
FROM BEING STOLEN OR EXCHANGED IN PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT. A com-
munication from abroad by August Osw Uhlich, of Görlitz, in the Empire of
Germany
Sealed the 22nd November 1878, and dated the 24th May 187S.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Guy Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1878.
JOHN GUY WILSON, of 71, Market Street, Manchester, Mechanical Engineer &
Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING HATS, CLOTHES,
AND OTHER ARTICLES FROM BEING STOLEN OR EXCHANGED IN PLACES OF PUBLIC
RESORT." [A communication from abroad by August Osw Uhlich, of Görlitz, in the
Empire of Germany.]
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of a self-locking
apparatus, for instance, to be attached to a hat rail in a place of public resort, and
whereby the hat or coat or other article of clothing requiring protection may be
secured and practically prevented being removed from the locality except by the
owner, who carries a key to unlock the apparatus.
Now this Invention consists of three rings, each capable of opening and closing
after the manner of a pair of scissors and of being locked in the closed position,
the central ring being designed to secure the apparatus temporily to any suitable
fixing on the hat rail, and thus to render the apparatus portable, or the apparatus
may be secured by a chain; the second ring is provided with flattened ends to
grip the brim of a hat, and the other ring is capable when opened of being drawn
through one or two button holes of the clothes, hanging upon the ordinary hook of
the hat rail.

page_text: The shanks of these rings pass into a central locking apparatus, provided with
suitable slides actuated by the lock, so that when once closed upon the article
requiring protection such rings are prevented being opened again without the inter-
vention of the key in the lock.
The hat rail may conveniently be provided with a shelf to receive the hats and 5
with a slit for the rim to pass through to the under side, where this locking
apparatus may be arranged to grip the brim, as herein-before described, whilst the
clothes may hang upon hooks affixed to the wall beneath such shelf.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Guy Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
November 1878.
JOHN GUY WILSON, of 71, Market Street, Manchester, Mechanical Engineer and
Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING HATS, CLOTILES,
AND OTHER ARTICLES FROM BEING STOLEN OR EXCHANGED IN PLACES OF PUBLIC
RESORT." A communication from abroad by August Friedrich Osw Uhlich, of the
Firm of O. Uhlich & Co., of Gorlitz, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of a self-locking
apparatus, for instance, to be attached to a hat rail in a place of public resort, and
whereby the hat or other article of clothing requiring protection may be secured,
and practically prevented being removed from the locality except by the owner
who carries a key to unlock the apparatus.
On the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents a front view; Fig. 2, a side
sectional view; and Fig. 3, a plan of a hat and coat rail constructed and fitted in
accordance with this Invention.
Figs. 4, I, II, III, and IV.; Figs. 5, I., II, and III.; Figs. 6, I., II, and III.;
and Figs. 7, I., II, and III., represent various views of four modifications of the
improved locking apparatus forming the essential part of the present Invention.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is a wooden, metallic, or other back board, which is to be
affixed to the wall of the lobby or other required place of fixing; B is a bowed
handle pivoted or hinged at the extremities, as illustrated, to the board A; and C
is a shelf projecting from the upper edge of the board A and provided with a slot
or opening S. This shelf is designed as a support for the hat, the body part of
which rests upon its upper surface, whilst the rim passes downwards through the
slot S so as to be capable of being gripped, as herein-after described.
His a hook upon which the top coat or other article of clothing is to be hung.
In Figs. 4 and 5 the locking apparatus consists of three rings or jaws, each
capable of opening and closing after the manner of a pair of scissors or tongs and
of being locked in the closed position, the central ring being designed to secure
the apparatus temporarily to any suitable fixing on the hat stand, for instance, to
the bowed handle B, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; the lower ring 7 is capable
when opened of being drawn through one or more button holes of the top coat or
other article of clothing hanging upon the hook H, Figs. 1 and 2, and thus when

page_text: locked of securing the same in position, whilst the upper ring or claws 11 are
provided with flattened ends to grip the brim of a hat, for instance, when passed
through the slot S, seen in Fig. 2, and thus when locked to secure or safeguard
such hat.
It will be observed that the shanks of all three rings or claws pass into a central
lock casing, which is internally provided with suitable slides actuated by the key
of the lock, so that when once closed upon the article requiring protection such
rings or claws are prevented being opened again without the intervention of the
key in the lock.
In Figs. 6 and 7 I illustrate a modification of the locking apparatus with only
one pair of opening and closing jaws, and suitable for being affixed by its upper
loop or ring to a chain hanging to the hat stand or other fixing; this apparatus is
capable, when the chain is sufficiently long, of being passed through the button holes
of the clothes, and afterwards secured to the brim of the hat so as to secure both
clothes and hat together, or the jaws may be caused to grip the button holes or
brim of the hat only.
In Figure 7 is illustrated another modification (suitable for the same purposes as
the last-described modification) in which no scissors-like action is employed, the
opening and closing of the jaws being effected by causing one-half of the apparatus
marked to slide upon the other, as illustrated, and locked in the closed position
by the central lock.
In conclusion, I would observe that when more than one of these apparati aro
used in the same place, for instance, in a club or assembly room, it is imperative
that each of the locks should differ or have a differently shaped key.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying the
same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions or outward con
figuration of the apparatus, herein-before described, and illustrated on the accom-
panying Drawing, as the same may be considerably varied without departing from
the Invention, but what I claim is, the arrangement and construction of locking
apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described, and illus-
trated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Guy Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.