Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Attaching and Returning Various Articles Articles to a Predetermined Position or Fixture, applicable also as a String Holder and Till Alarm.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROY. SIONAL
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Attaching and Returning
Various Articles
Articles to a Predetermined Position or Fixture,
applicable also as a String Holder and Till Alarm.
I, THOMAS BRINING, of 36, Sussex Street, Richmond Hill, Leeds, in the County
of York, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means or apparatus for attaching and returning various
articles to a predetermined position or fixture after using the same; such as for
example, say, attaching a lead pencil to a garment, or pocket of the same, and
automatically returning the pencil to the pocket after it has been used. It may
also be applied to and used for a variety of other articles or purposes, such as for
instance, say, to a watch to prevent it being stolen, or to a ball of twine, or to a
till for giving the alarm when the same is being opened or closed, and the like.
According to this invention I construct a suitable box or casing of any suitable
shape, size, and thickness, which may be secured to a garment, or pocket of the
same, or to any fixture, by any suitable means, such as, say, for garments by a
safety pin, or hook, or by sewing, or say to a fixture by screws or other equivalent
means.
Within the box or casing mounted on or around a fixed arbor is a pulley or
wheel with or without a flange or flanges. Around the periphery of the pulley or
wheel is wound a piece of twine, fibrous or metal tape, wire, or the like, all of
which are hereafter termed and included in the term twine. One end of the twine
is secured to the periphery of the pulley or wheel, whilst the other end passes
through an aperture in the box or casing so as to be attached to a pencil or other
article. Within the box or casing is also provided a spring or its equivalent of a
suitable construction, and strength, for rotating the wheel or pulley. One end of
the spring is secured to the fixed arbor, and the other to the rim or other part of
wheel or pulley. As the twine is withdrawn from the box or casing the pulley or
wheel is caused to rotate thereby compressing the spring, and as soon as the tension
on the twine is removed, and the pencil or other article is released, the spring at
once causes the pulley or wheel to rotate in an opposite direction for rewinding the
twine on to its periphery, thereby returning the pencil or other article to the
outside of the box or casing or receptacle for its reception.
The box or casing may also, if so desired, but not necessarily so, be armed with
a pencil sharpener, a bell or pricking appliance for drawing attention to the
rotation of the pulley or wheel, said bell or pricking appliance being actuated by
the pulley or wheel through suitable cam or cams, or tappets and levers. Also
when applied to a ball of twine a sliding clamp and cutter may be applied to the

page_text: twine to prevent the end thereof being drawn into the box or casing, and for cutting
it off to the desired length.
Dated this Sixteenth day of October 1896.
THOMAS BRINING,
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Attaching and Returning
Various Articles to a Predetermined Position or Fixture,
applicable also as a String Holder and Till Alarm.
I, THOMAS BRINING, of 36, Sussex Street, Richmond Hill, Leeds, in the County
of York, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, 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 relates to means or apparatus for attaching and returning various
articles to a predetermined position or fixture after using the same; such as for
example, say, attaching a lead pencil to a garment, or pocket of the same, and
automatically returning the pencil to the pocket after it has been used. It may
also be applied to and used for a variety of other articles or purposes, such as for
instance, say, opening a door or window or closing the same after it has been
opened, as well as giving an alarm during such opening, or applied to a window
blind roller, or to a watch to prevent it being stolen, or to a ball of twine, or to a
till for giving the alarm when the same is being opened or closed, and the like.
The invention consists essentially in employing a box or casing-hereafter
termed and included in the term "casing," of any suitable shape, size, and
thickness, and made say of metal or other suitable material, cast, stamped, or other-
wise formed to the required shape. Within the casing is mounted, on or around
a fixed arbor, a pulley or wheel with or without a flange or flanges. Around the
periphery of the pulley is wound a piece of twine, fibrous or metal tape, wire,
leather strap, or the like, all of which are hereafter termed and included in the
term "twine." One end of the twine is secured to the periphery of the pulley or
wheel, whilst the other end passes through an aperture in the casing so as to be
attached to say a pencil or other article. Within the casing is also provided a
spring or its equivalent of a suitable construction, and strength, for rotating the
wheel or pulley. One end of the spring is secured to the fixed arbor, and the other
to the rim or other part of the wheel or pulley. As the twine is withdrawn from
the box or casing the pulley or wheel is caused to rotate thereby compressing the
spring, and as soon as the tension on the twine is removed, and say the pencil or
other article is released, the spring at once causes the pulley or wheel to rotate in
an opposite direction for rewinding the twine on to its periphery, thereby returning
the pencil or other article to the outside of the box or casing or receptacle for its
reception.
In the drawings hereunto annexed I have shown my invention applied to a
variety of purposes. I will first describe the principal features of the invention,
and then their application and combination to several different purposes, using,
as far as possible, for each view similar letters of reference for indicating the same
or like parts.
But I distinctly wish it to be understood that the hereinafter described methods
of applying the invention are not to be taken as the only ways in which the
invention may be used, but merely as examples only.
A is the casing which may be made of any suitable material such as say thin
metal, as for instance say sheet tin, brass, or zinc, or celluloid, or xylonite, or

page_text: papier mache, or wood, or wood pulp or combinations of two or more of them, cast,
stamped, pressed, moulded, or otherwise formed to the required shape, size, and
thickness. In the periphery of a casing is provided an eyeletted or other hole a
through which the twine 1) to be hereafter described emerges from the casing. Bis
the wheel or pulley, hereafter termed a pulley B, which rotates within the casing A,
made of any suitable material, such as, say, metal or wood, and preferably, though
not necessarily so, provided with the flanges b b. The pulley B is mounted on an
arbor or axle C which may either be fixed in the casing A or made to revolve in
suitable bearings provided for it in the said casing.
Around the periphery of the pulley B is wound a piece of twine D. One end
of the twine D is secured by say a knot to the periphery of the pulley, whilst the
other end passes through the aperture a in the casing A so as to be attached to say a
pencil or other article. A spring E is also provided within the casing A either
between the casing A and pulley B or between the arbor or axle C and rim of the
pulley B. The spring E is employed for rotating the pulley. One end of the
spring E is secured to the arbor or axle C and the other to the rim or other part
of the pulley. As the twine D is withdrawn from the casing the pulley is caused
to rotate thereby compressing the spring, and as soon as the tension on the twine
is removed, and the article (to which the twine is attached) is released, the spring
at once causes the pulley to rotate in an opposite direction for rewinding the twine
on to its periphery, thereby returning the article to the outside of the casing or into
a predetermined position.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional elevation, and an elevation with the
cover removed, of the arrangement for returning a lead pencil to, say, the pocket
of a garment, or a predetermined position.
A is the casing which in this case is made circular and may or may not be armed
with say a safety or other pin a', shown in dotted lines, for fixing it in say the
pocket of the garment of the user or to a counter. B the flanged pulley on which
the twine D is wound after being fixed to one of the flanges b. The twine emerges
from the casing through hole a. E the spring, which in this case is arranged to
be fixed by its ends respectively to the axle C and casing A between the pulley B
and casing A. The pencil is fixed to the free end of the twine.
By drawing pencil F out for use it causes the pulley B to rotate for compressing
the spring E. But as soon as the pencil is released the spring is allowed to expand
and in doing so rotates the pulley B in the opposite direction, thus rewinding the
twine onto the periphery of the pulley, and returning the pencil to the casing A.
The casing may also, if so desired, but not necessarily so, be armed with a
pencil
sharpener, a bell or pricking appliance for drawing attention to the rotation of
the pulley, said bell or pricking appliance being actuated by the pulley or wheel
through suitable cam or cams, or tappets and levers.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively front and end elevations of apparatus with bell
alarm applicable for an ordinary sliding window.
A is the casing adapted to be morticed into the race of the window frame G
in which the window sash H works. The flanged pulley B is mounted on the
fixed arbor C. The spring E in this case being fixed by its respective ends to the
rim of the pulley B and arbor C, and arranged to work within the pulley. The
twine D passes through the hole a in the casing A and is connected at its free end
to the window sash H.
In order to give an alarm when the window is being opened a bell or gong I
is mounted on the casing A below the pulley B3 which is armed with any required
number, say three (more or less if desired) of tappet pieces 6 arranged to project
from the flange b so as to engage with a spring hammer J for striking the bell
or gong when giving an alarm. The spring is compressed by the lowering of the
sash H, and the strength of the spring is so arranged that the weight of the latter
about counterbalances it.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a front elevation and sectional elevation showing
the application of the invention to a railway or other carriage door for closing

page_text: the window after it has been opened, as well as for holding the window open in
any required position."
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are respectively a back elevation, a front elevation, and a section
of the operative parts of this arrangement.
A is the casing which in this case is in the form of a plate provided with a
boss a¹ out of centre. B the flanged pulley mounted on the fixed arbor C, and
provided with a recess for the reception of the spring E. The spring E is attached
respectively at its ends to the rim of the pulley, and to the arbor. In the boss a¹
is mounted a spring pin K armed with a facing L say of leather, india rubber, or
other flexible or fibrous material to act as a brake on the face of the pulley B for
retaining the window in any required position. The "twine" D (which in this
case is preferred to be in the form of a leather strap) is attached and made fast at
one end to the window sash H and at its opposite end to the periphery of the
pulley B.
On opening, that is lowering the window, the spring E is compressed, and by the
withdrawal of the spring pin K from the face of the pulley B permits the spring
to expand whereby the pulley is caused to rotate for winding the "twine" D on
to its periphery, thereby raising the window.
Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a part elevation and part plan of a dwelling
house door with this invention applied.
A is the casing which is arranged in the form of a bracket fixed to the door M
which is hinged to its frame N in the ordinary way. The casing A is fixed to the
top of the door as near as convenient to its joint.
On the casing A the pulley B-provided with a recess for the reception of the
spring E, and a long boss b, with or without a flange b (shown in dotted lines
at Fig. 10) arranged at or about the centre of its length, is mounted upon a
vertical arbor C. The "twine" D, which in this case is preferred to be in the
form of leather strap or strap fixed say at or about its centre to the periphery of
the long boss b', so that a portion of the twine D may be wound on to the boss
whilst the other portion is being unwound. Or when two straps D are employed
and arranged respectively to be simultaneously wound on to and unwound from
the boss b', the end of one strap is fixed to the boss b¹ and its opposite end to the
door frame N, and the end of the second strap to the boss 61 and its opposite end
to the door M. The flange b being employed to separate the straps. The lower
part of the periphery of the pulley B is armed with tappet pins for actuating
the spring hammer J (capable of being thrown in or out of action at pleasure)
for sounding the gong or bell I mounted upon the casing A. When two straps 1)
are employed they may be adjusted for either opening or closing, or vice versa; or
for partially opening or partially closing the door as may be required..
compression of the spring E being arranged to take place as the door swings in
the opening direction, and to expand as the door moves in the opposite direction,
for winding and unwinding purposes.
The
Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively an end elevation and a sectional elevation
showing the invention applied to a window blind roller.
This arrangement is very similar to the one just described for Figs. 10 and 11,
only the arbor C, on which the pulley B is fixed, is horizontal instead of vertical,
the tappet pins 63, spring hammer J, and belt I are dispensed with, and the twine 1)
is attached at one end (instead of its centre) to the long boss b and afterwards
passes through a hole a in a guide forming part of the casing A. A spring pin K
(similar to and employed for the same purposes as described for and shown at Fig. 6
and 9) is mounted in the casing A and made to work against the periphery of the
boss b. The spring pin K may be actuated by a cord or its equivalent.
The
end of the blind roller O is mounted in a recess in the boss b and a flattened portion
may be provided and formed by cutting away a portion thereof to form a lathe P
to which the blind is connected say by a loop. or slot so as to avoid nailing, tacking,
or sewing thereon. The end of the lathe P also passes into the recess in the boss b
for fixing purposes.

page_text: The spring E is compressed by pulling down the blind which is held in any
desired position by the spring pin K acting as a brake. When the spring pin K
is withdrawn, the expansion of the spring E causes the blind to rise and be wound
on to its roller O.
Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively an elevation and a section showing the appli-
cation of the invention to a string holder. A is the casing with an arbor C fixed
horizontally therein. B the pulley provided with three flanges b b b* and a recess
for receiving the spring E. The periphery of flange 6 is notched or recessed some
what in the shape of ratchet teeth. The pulley B is mounted on the arbor C,
with the twine D and the spring E connected thereto as before described. The
ball of string Q is mounted in a suitable receptacle R fixed to the casing A. The
string Q is conducted through suitable guides at a in the casing A. To the free
and outer end of the twine D is attached a string cutter S of any suitable construc-
tion provided with a guide hole s and cutting blade s¹.
The string to be operated upon after being placed in the receptacle R and
threaded through guides at as is drawn out simultaneously with the twine. D.
As the twine D is pulled outwards the pulley B is rotated and the spring E com-
pressed. But should not sufficient string Q have been drawn from the receptacle R
when the twine D has been drawn to its full limit, then by continuing to hold
the twine D taut the string Q may be then drawn from the ball to the required
length. During the drawing out operation the string Q slides or rides over the
ratchet teeth of flange 6. After the string has been cut off by the cutter S on
releasing the hold of the twine D and string Q by the expansion of the spring E
the pulley will be caused to rotate in an opposite direction for winding on to its
periphery the twine D and any surplus string Q which is now caught by one of
the ratchet teeth and carried round with the pulley B for winding on purposes.
By this means the surplus string Q is taken up and can be readily used as
occasion requires.
The herein described invention may be applied to a variety of other purposes
than those herein described and illustrated, and amongst others as for instance,
say, the arrangement shown and described at Fig. 3 may be applied to a till, and
a similar arrangement to Fig. 1 may be used for returning a watch to the pocket
of its wearer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare I am aware that a
spring for closing windows, or for returning articles to a predetermined position
have in certain forms been previously used and I make no claim to such except
when formed and arranged in the manner herein before described, and what I
claim is:-
In means or apparatus for attaching and returning various articles to a pre-
determined position or fixture, applicable also as string holder and till alarm,
such apparatus consisting essentially of a casing such as A, provided with one or
more guide holes, a pulley such as B with or without flanges, and a long boss, such
as 6 mounted on an arbor or axle such as C, and operated by "twine" or its
equivalent such as D, or all of the before mentioned parts in combination with
one or more of the following parts namely, a pin such as a', a flange having ratchet
teeth such as 6, a spring pin such as K and provided with a facing such as L,
an alarm bell and spring hammer such as I, J, actuated by tappets 63 on said
pulley B, and a cutter such as S, all arranged,, combined, and operating sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described with reference to the annexed
drawings.