Improvements in Devices for Protecting Safes against Burglars and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Protecting Safes against Burglars and
the like.
man,
I, ANTHONY PINKERTON PRITCHARD, of 518, North Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, in
the County of Pierce and State of Washington, United States of America, Gentle-
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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifi-
cation:-
-
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in devices for protect-
ing safes against burglars and the like, and has for its object to so construct such
devices as to render it impossible to gain access to the handles or combination
knobs of the doors of the safe, thereby precluding the possibility of inserting
an explosive without first giving an alarm at a central station or other point.
With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction
and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated
by the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may
understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will
now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings forming a
part of this specification, in which-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a safe showing my improvement applied thereto;
Fig. 2, an enlarged section, showing one form of contact whereby a closed
circuit is kept closed when the screen is in its normal position, and which will
close the open circuit should the screen be forced inward;
Fig. 3, a section showing the manner of attaching the screen to the safe;
Fig. 4, a perspective, showing the safe protected by my improved devices, and
illustrating a slightly modified form of securing the screens to the safe;
Fig. 5, an enlarged section showing the construction of knob fastener including
a closed circuit;
Fig. 6, a front elevation of a safe having my screen door hinged thereto, show.
ing the most improved form of my system for protecting what is known as a
drill-proof safe (a safe made of material which cannot be drilled by ordinary
methods) from being tampered with through the combination of the door thereof;
Fig. 7, an enlarged view of the insulating strip or block upon which the various
wires are secured, and which carries the switch and contact points to operate in
connection with the points carried by the screen;
Fig. 8, a section at the line -, showing the construction and arrangement
of the flexible strip and the contact points for operating the connection there-
with;
Fig. 9, a perspective-of-what-is-known-as-a-fireproof-safe, showing-the-same-
inclosed within my improved protector casing, the screen-door being open so
as to clearly illustrate the arrangement of the circuit wires and contact points,
and

page_text: Fig. 10, a view similar to Figure 7, fully showing the arrangement of the
circuit wires and contact points connected with and supported by the insulating
strip.
In carrying out my invention as here embodied in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive,
A represents the safe, and B the door thereof, to which I prefer to attach, by
cement or otherwise, a non-conducting strip C; this strip should be of such size
and shape as to conveniently accommodate the several contact points and switches
used in my improvement.
A flexible cable 1) containing the various wires for the circuits leads from
the nest of batteries and bells to the insulating strip, at which point the wires
branch therefrom, as clearly shown in Figure 1. E represents the screen which
is in the form of a door, hinged at F to the clamps G, the latter being adapted
for securement to the corner of the safe, having a hooked nose H engaging with
a bead upon the face of the safe, and a set-bolt I engaging a bead upon the
side..thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 3; two of these clamps being used, one
for the top hinge, and one for the bottom, by which means the screen is sup-
ported in its swingings to and fro.
In practice the screen should be of a size cufficient to almost entirely cover
the front of the safe, and by being provided with the flanges J a space will be
inclosed there between and the front of the safe, to which access cannot be had
except by opening or removing the screen. The cable D passes into this space,
and thereby access cannot be had to its inner end, which avoids tampering with
the wires which branch therefrom without first removing or opening the screen,
and this as will hereafter appear, is of vital importance to the successful pro-
tection of a safe by my improved devices.
A wire leads through the cable, its inner end being attached to one of the
hinges F and acts as a return wire for both the open and closed circuits, as
hereinafter set forth. The wire 2 which also passes through the cable leads from
the open circuit battery K, and is connected with the contact posts a and b which
project from the insulating strip C, so that any contacting between the screen
or points carried thereby with these posts a and b, will cause the open circuit
bell L to ring, since the return wire 1 leads thereto through the wire 7. The
wire 3 leads from the closed circuit bell M through the cable, and connects with
the contact post N, and from thence to the switch-post O. These bells are so
constructed as to hold the armature out of action so long as a current is passing
through the line wires, but as soon as this current is broken the local current
indicated by the diagram in connection with the bells M and P operates the
armature in the usual manner to ring the bell. The wire 5 leads from the closed
circuit bell P through the cable to the switch-post Q, and from thence to the
latch keeper R.
The closed circuit bells M and I are connected by the wires 8 and 4 respec-
tively, with the return wire 1, which latter serves as a return for both of the
closed circuit bells, as well as for the open circuit bell L. Projecting from the
inner face of the screen is the contact point N¹, which, when the screen is
closed, bears upon the contact post N. The contact points a and b, stand in
close proximity to the contact posts 'a and respectively, so that the slightest
movement of the screen inward from its normally closed position, will cause
one or both of these points to enter into contact with these posts and thus close
the circuit through the wires 1 and 2, and the screen which is of conducting
material, thus sounding the open circuit bell L.
+
The screen E, when closed, is held in place by the latch T which is adapted
to swing behind the keeper R; this keeper, as before stated, is connected by
the wire 5 to one of the closed circuit bells, and the latch T being carried by
the spindle U journaled in the screen completes the circuit through such screen
and the wire 1, so that as long as the latch is in engagement with the keeper
this circuit will remain closed, and consequently the bell P will not be sounded,
but should the knob V be turned in either direction the spindle to which it is

page_text: attached will be correspondingly turned, and consequently the latch carried out
of contact with the keeper, thus opening the circuit and sounding the bell.
Should the slightest pressure be brought to bear against the screen to cause it
to move inward, the latch will be moved out of contact with the keeper, and-a
like result will take place. The inward movement of the screen will not only
break the closed circuit last. referred to, but, will also close the open. circuit
through one or both of the points a¹ and 6', and the posts a and b, as before set
forth, thus sounding both the open and closed circuit bells..
The principal object of this particular arrangement is that should an attempt
be made to insulate the open circuit points, "and then clamp the screen to give
an opportunity to drill said screen, or otherwise gain. access to the safe door, the
closed circuit bell P would be sounded. As a further protection against such an
attempt, the construction shown in Figure 2 may be utilized in connection with
the closed circuit bell M, in which a spring W is mounted upon the block W,
and has its free end extending into close proximity to the contact post W2, with
which the branch of the wire 2 connects, and this spring has connected therewith
the wire 3. The contact point N', when the screen is closed, bears against the
spring directly opposite the post W2, and thus closes the circuit of the closed
circuit bell, but should the screen be moved inward the under face of the
spring W would come in contact with the post W2 and close the open circuit
through the wires 2 and 1 and through the screen.
For convenience in stopping the ringing of the closed circuit bells when the
screen is opened by an authorized person, I provide a double switch X which is
adapted to be swung into contact with the posts and Q, and have leading there-
from the wire 6 to one of the hinges F, and this completes the circuit through
this wire, the screen and the wire 1, and permits the continued flow of the current
in the closed circuits, thus. holding the bells out of action.
In Figure 4 I have shown a slightly modified form of attaching the screen to
the safe, which consists of the band Y passing around the safe, their ends being
drawn together by the bolts Y'. By this arrangement a safe of any design or
size may be fitted with my improvements, as the screen is hinged directly to
these bands, and in Figure 4 I have shown a safe of a size requiring double
screens, as indicated at E', but of course these bands may be used in attaching
a single screen to a safe, as desired. When two screens are used a separate
cable may lead to each so that independent circuits may be provided upon
each side of the safe.
Of course I do not wish to be limited to any particular number of circuits or
wires leading therefrom, as any number of closed circuits may be included in the
system, and the wires passed through the cable; and likewise any number of idle
wires may lead from the open circuit battery and pass through the cable, which
add a further safety to the system by increasing the chance of crossing one or
more of the closed circuits with one or more of the open circuit wires, which
would sound. the bells of both the open and closed circuits.
"
When a safe is protected by my system as arranged in Figure 1, the cutting
of the wire will cause both of the closed circuit bells to ring, the cutting of
the wire 3 will cause the closed circuit bell M to ring, the cutting of the wire 5
will cause the closed circuit bell P to ring, the crossing of the wires 1 and 2 will
ring the open circuit bell, the crossing of the wires 2 and 3 will cause this bell
to ring, or the crossing of the wires 2 and 5 will cause this bell to ring: Thus
it will be seen that when these wires are bunched and carried through the cable
it will be impossible for the cable to be tampered with without: cutting or cross-
ing one or more of these wires, and thus-sounding-either-the-open-or-closed-circuit
bells, or both it being understood, of course, that the wires leading from the
cable are insulated from each other, while the bells and their batteries are located
at a central station, or in a sleeping apartment where access cannot be had thereto
except: by authorized persons.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8, I have shown the most improved form of my system for

page_text: application to what is known as drill-proof safes, and which consists of the
following arrangement:
A represents the safe to which is hinged, as before described, in any convenient
manner, the screen B2, and to the safe door C2 is attached the insulating strip or
block 12; and upon this block are secured the binding posts E, E and E, to
which are attached the wires 8, 9, and 10, respectively, and these wires pass into
and form the cable 12; at the opposite end of the cable the wires are again
separated. The wire 9 leads to the battery G2 which is preferably a gravity
battery adapted for a closed circuit and in passing from this battery this wire 9
leads to the bobbin of the relay H2, and the wire 10 connects with the opposite
end of the bobbin of said relay, thus putting the relay in the closed circuit in
which the battery G2 is included, which, as is obvious, will cause the armature I³
of said relay to remain out of contact with the point J2. This will hold the
circuit of the bell K2 open, preventing the ringing of said bell until the armature
has been released and spring. retracted against the point J2, as is well under-
stood. The wire 8 leads to the open circuit battery L2 and passes from thence
to the bell M², a branch 11 leading from the binding posts of the bell and con-
necting with the wire 10, thus utilizing said wire 10 as the return wire for both
the closed circuit in which the relay is included, and the open circuit in which
the bell Me is included. This is an important feature of my present system, since
thereby the cutting of the wires within the cable will cause one or the other or
both of the bells to ring, since should the wire 9 be cut it would open this relay
circuit, permit the retraction of the armature 12, and thus close the open circuit
of the bell K2 and sound the same. Whereas the passing of the wires 8 and 9
will send a current through the circuit in which the bell M2 is included and thus
sound the same, or the crossing of the wires S and 10 will close the circuit in
which the bell M is included, and likewise sound the same.
A keeper N2, similar to the keeper R, is secured upon the insulating strip,
while the latch 02 is connected with the knob of the screen door so as to pass
behind this keeper when the screen is closed, and thus hold it in its closed posi-
tion, while at the same time forming an electrical contact therewith. A wire
or conducting strip 12 leads from the binding post E to this keeper, and is in
electrical connection therewith, so that when the screen is thus closed and held
the screen itself will be thereby brought into electrical connection with the wire 9,
and in order that the screen may be included in the closed circuit and complete
the same, an adjustable contact screw P2 is threaded through the screen and
adapted to bear against the spring strip R2, which latter is connected by the
wire or strip S2 with the binding post Et, as clearly shown in dotted lines in
Figure 7.
From this it will be seen that when the screen is closed and secured the relay
circuit will be closed and thereby hold the bell K2 out of action, as before
described; but should the latch O be turned out of engagement with the
keeper N2 this closed circuit will be opened which will immediately cause the
bell to ring. Or should the screen be pushed inward so as to carry the latch
out of contact with the keeper, a similar result will follow.
A binding post T2 is secured to the insulating strip and is connected by the
wire Us, or a suitable conducting strip with the binding post E2, and thus with
the open circuit wire 8. A contact point V2 is so located upon the screen as to
register with this binding post when the screen is closed, but not to come, in
contact therewith. Should the screen be pushed inward, not only will the closed
circuit be broken, as before set forth, but this contact point will abut against
the binding post T3, and thereby close the open circuit and ring the bell M³. It
will thus be seen that the inward movement of the screen upon its hinges will
sound the two bells.
As a further means of sounding the bell M2 by closing its circuit the spring
strip R2 has located immediately thereunder the contact point X³, which latter
is connected by the wire Ya with the binding post E³, and consequently with

page_text: the wire 8, so that when this strip is pressed inward by an inward movement of
the door the circuit will be closed, and the current permitted to flow from the
wire Y to the wire S2 through the spring strip R2. This arrangement provides
for the sounding of the bell M² should any pressure be brought to bear upon the
screen after the latter had been locked so as not to move inward upon its hinges,
also should an attempt be made to pry the screen door from its hinges the second
movement outward would carry the adjustable contact screen P2 out of contact
with the spring strip R2, thereby opening the relay circuit and causing the
bell K to ring.
For convenience in closing the closed circuit after the screen has been opened,
the double switch Z2 is adapted to be swung onto the contact points A³ and A*,
which will maintain the flow of the current through the members of the switch,
and the wire 13 which leads from the contact point A to the wire 12.
The wires S2, U2, Y2, 12 and 13 may be dispensed with and flat metallic strips
used in their stead, said strips being set in the insulating strip or block, and in
practice I have found this a convenient arrangement.
By the last described arrangement of my system no closed circuit bells are
needed, both of the bells being ordinary circuit bells, while the safety insured
by a closed circuit is utilized in placing the relay within the closed circuit and
causing its operations to effect the operation of the bell K
In Figures 9 and 10, I have shown my most improved system as applied to
what is known as a fire-proof safe, wherein the safe is inclosed within a casing,
and this arrangement is as follows:
An
I provide a casing B3 which is of sufficient size to permit the safe to be placed
therein and insulated therefrom in any suitable manner, as by non-conducting
strips not here shown; and to this casing is hinged the screen door C³.
insulating strip or block D3 is secured to the safe door in the same manner as
before set forth, and has thereon the binding posts E and F³ to which the
wires 9 and 10 are attached respectively. The wire S is attached to the binding
post G³ secured to the safe door, and these three wires enter the cable, as before
described, and are separated at the opposite end thereof and disposed in connec-
tion with the batteries, relay and bells, as set forth in connection with Figure 6.
Instead of the contact point X2 arranged as shown in Figure 8, a correspond-
ing contact point H³ projects from the safe door into close proximity to the under
side of the spring strip R2, and is thereby in electrical connection with the
wire 8 through the post G3 and the safe door, thus an inward movement of this
spring strip by a corresponding movement of the screen door will close the
circuit in which the bell M2 is included and sound the same; likewise a series
of contact points, such as shown at 13 may project from the body of the safe, and
corresponding contact posts J3 are carried by the screen door, so that when the
latter is closed these posts stand in juxtaposition in order that any inward move-
ment of the screen door will bring one or more of said posts into contact, and
thereby close the circuit in which the bell M2 is included. By this arrange-
ment the safe is included in one portion of the open circuit when the screen door
is closed, and consequently the adjustable contact screw P³ is in contact with
the spring strip R2; the screen door will be in the other portion of this open
circuit, and by its hinged connections will include the entire casing V³ in this
portion of said circuit, therefore any attempt to drill the safe will close the
circuit as soon as the drill, in passing through the casing, comes in contact with
the safe, and consequently ring the bell M². By the use of my improved system
in the manner last described, a safe of but little resisting power will be made
perfectly burglar-proof, _from_the_fact-that-when-the-bells are properly located
an immediate alarm will be given should any attempt whatever be made to
tamper therewith, either by drilling or otherwise.
It is to be noted that any number of relays may be included in the closed
circuit and located at different stations, and any number of bells may be con-
nected with the relay as well as with the open circuit connected with the safe,

page_text: thus providing for the sounding of a number of bells at such points as would
insure the alarm being given. It is also to be noted that any number of the
wires 8 may be led through the cable and connected with the battery for opera-
ting the bell M2, as this would increase the safety of the system in increasing
the chances of crossing the wires should an attempt be made to cut the cable..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A system for protecting safes consisting of a solid screen hinged to the safe
and adapted to close over the front thereof, a cable leading to the space between
the screen and safe, two or more closed circuits, the wires of which pass through
said cable, an open circuit, the wires of which also pass through said cable,
contact-posts projecting from the safe door and having the circuit wires connected
therewith, contact points, projecting from the inward face of the screen adapted
to operate in conjunction with the contact posts for maintaining the closed circuit
closed, and the open circuit open, and means for holding the screen closed, as
specified.
2. A system for protecting safes, consisting of a screen hinged to the safe and
adapted to close over the front thereof, an open circuit in which is included a
bell, two or more closed circuits, each including a bell, a common wire serving
as a return for both the open and closed circuits, a cable through which the
wires of the circuits pass to the space between the closed screen and the front of
the safe, suitable contact posts carried by the safe door with which the circuit
wires are connected, and suitable contact points carried by the screen in electrical
connection with the common return wire, as shown and described.
3. The herein described system for protecting safes consisting of a screen
hinged to the safe so as to close over the front thereof, an open circuit bell, a
wire 2 leading from the battery of said bell, suitable contact posts a and b
arranged upon the door of the safe, a wire 1 electrically connected with the open
circuit bell and leading to the screen which is of conducting material, a closed
circuit bell M, a wire 3 leading therefrom to the contact post N, a wire 8 con-
necting this closed circuit bell with the wire 1, a closed circuit bell P, a latch
keeper carried by the safe door, a wire 5 connecting the last named bell with
said keeper, a wire 4 connecting this bell with the return wire 1, contact points a¹
and adapted to stand in close proximity to the contact posts a and b when the
screen is closed, and close the open circuit when the screen is moved inward
from its normally.closed position, a contact point N adapted to bear against the
contact post N when the screen is closed, and be carried out of contact with said
post when the screen is moved outward from its normally closed position, thus
protecting this closed circuit, a latch T adapted to enter into engagement with
the keeper and hold the screen in its normally closed position, and also complete
the closed circuit in which the bell P is included, so that any inward movement
of the screen from its normally closed position will break this circuit, and a
suitable switch electrically connected by wire with the screen, and consequently
with the return wire 1, whereby the closed circuits may be closed after the screen
is swung open, as specified.
4. In combination with a system of the character described, an open circuit, a
contact post carried by the safe door and having one of the wires of said circuit
connected therewith, a closed circuit, a spring element also carried by the safe
door and having one of the wires of said closed circuit connected therewith, a
screen hinged to the safe, a contact point carried by the screen adapted to bear
against said spring element when the screen is in its normally closed position,
and so arranged that an inward movement of the screen beyond its normal posi-
tion will carry the spring element into contact with the open circuit post, and
the wire leading from the screen which serves as a return for both the open and
closed circuits, as specified.

page_text: 5. In combination with the circuits of a system of the character described, a
strip secured to the safe door by cement or otherwise having suitable contact
posts projecting therefrom to operate in conjunction with suitable contact points
carried by the screen, as specified.
6. In combination with a system of the character described, clamps adapted
to be detachably secured to a safe, and a screen hinged to said clamps, as shown
and described.
"
7. A system for protecting safes consisting of a screen hinged to the safe and
adapted to close from the front thereof, a cable leading to the space between the
screen and the safe, a closed circuit, the wires of which pass through said cable,
a'relay included within said closed circuit, an armature which is adapted to close
an open circuit having a bell included therein when the closed circuit is opened,
an open circuit, the wires of which also pass through said cable, an insulating
strip secured to the safe door, binding posts projecting from said strip to which
the cable wires are connected, a keeper secured upon the insulating strip and
included in the closed circuit, a spring strip also secured upon said insulating
strip, and included in the closed circuit, a latch carried by the screen door and
adapted to enter into contact with the keeper for holding said door closed, an
adjustable contact screw also carried by the screen door and adapted to bear
against the spring strip when the door is closed so as to complete the circuit
through the screen, one or more posts projecting from the insulating strip and
included in the open circuit, and corresponding points carried by the screen
door for contacting with the last named posts, whereby the open circuit bell will
be. sounded, as specified.....
...
S. A system for protecting safes consisting of a screen door hinged to the
safe and adapted to close over the front thereof, an insulating strip secured to
the safe door, a cable composed of three or more wires leading to the space
between said screen and safe, binding posts carried by the insulating strip to
which the cable wires are connected, a relay to which two of the wires are con-
nected, a battery included in the circuit formed between these two wires and
relay, a bell and battery included in the open circuit, so connected with the
relay as to cause the bell to be sounded when the relay circuit is opened, a second
bell and battery included in the circuit formed by one of the wires of the closed
circuit and the remaining cable wire, and means for causing these bells to be
sounded by the movement of the screen door either inward or outward before
the opening thereof, as specified.
9. In combination with a system of the character described for protecting safes,
an insulating strip adapted to be secured to the face of the door of the safe, a
screen door hinged to the safe and adapted to be closed over said insulating strip,
wires 8, 9 and 10 formed into a cable, binding posts E2, E3 and E to which
said wires are attached respectively, a keeper №2 which is electrically connected
with the binding post E, and consequently with the wire 9, a latch carried by
the screen door and adapted to enter into electrical contact with the keeper in
serving to hold the screen closed, and a spring strip also secured to the insulating
strip and electrically connected with the binding post E and consequently with
the wire 10, an adjustable contact screw threaded through the screen door and
adapted to bear against the spring strip when said door is closed, a contact point X2
arranged beneath the spring strip, so that any inward movement of said strip
will establish a connection therewith, said contact point being electrically con-
nected with the post 12 and consequently with the wire S, a relay to which the
wires 9 and 10 lead, a battery through which the wire 9 passes, a battery and
bell included in the circuit composed of the wires-8-and-10,-and-a-bell--included-
in a circuit with a suitable battery, the closing of said circuit being dependent
upon the opening of the relay circuit, as specified.
10. The herein described system for protecting fire-proof safes consisting of
a suitable casing adapted to receive a safe and be insulated therefrom, a screen
door hinged to the casing and adapted to close over the safe, a cable consisting

page_text: of the wires 8, 9 and 10 leading to the interior of the casing, a binding post
secured to the door of the safe to which the wire 8 is attached, an insulating strip
also secured to the door of the safe, binding posts E3 and F3, to which the wires 9
and 10 are attached respectively, a keeper also attached to the insulating strip,
a wire or strip 12 connecting the binding post with said keeper, a latch
carried by the screen door and adapted to enter into electrical contact with the
keeper while serving to hold the screen door closed, a spring strip also secured
to the insulating strip and in electrical connection with the post F³ and conse-
quently the wire 10, a contact point H³ projecting from the safe door into juxta-
position with the spring strip. an adjustable contact screw also carried by the
screen door and adapted to bear against the spring strip when the door is closed,
and a series of contact posts carried by the safe, and a corresponding series of
contact posts carried by the screen door for closing the open circuit when the
door is moved inward, a relay and battery included in the circuit formed by the
wires 9 and 10, an open circuit including a battery and a bell so connected with
the armature of the relay as to be put in action when the relay circuit is open,
a bell M² and a suitable battery included in the open circuit formed by the
wires 8 and 10, the casing being in one portion of this circuit and the safe in
the other so that any attempt to drill the safe will cause the sounding of this
open circuit bell, as specified.
Dated this 12th day of Sentember 1899
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for Applicant.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for Applicant.