Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing the Stealing of Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing the Stealing of Bicycles
and the like.
I, AXEL GEORG VALDEMAR PETERSEN, of 17 Falkonergaardsvej, Copenhagen,
Denmark, Lieutenant-Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to alarm apparatus arranged to be operated by one of the
movable parts of a bicycle or the like (hereinafter referred to as a bicycle) so that
any attempt to steal the vehicle will result in the sounding of an alarm such as the
ringing of a bell, the blowing of a whistle, the explosion of a charge of gunpowder,
or some such noise calculated to attract the attention of passers-by or the inhabitants
of adjacent houses and thus prevent the theft from taking place.
The accompanying drawings show by way of example an arrangement of
apparatus according to this invention. It comprises ordinary clockwork provided
with an alarum, and a disengaging device adapted to be moved into and out of
engagement with the crank-axle of the bicycle and, when in engagement, normally
to hold the clockwork out of action but so that movement of the driving wheel,
even though slight, will cause the alarum-bell to ring loudly.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 shows a detail as seen at right
angles to Fig. 1.
On the clockwork B is mounted a movable rod C that is held in two spring
supports 1 and 2 with sufficient tightness to prevent it from being moved relatively
to the supports by the vibration of the bicycle. This rod carries two hooks 3 and 4
which are arranged opposite each other and in such a manner that when the rod C
is in either of its two extreme positions viz., that of engagement, as shown, with
the crank-axle A. and that of disengagement therefrom-they prevent the hammer 6
from moving, by engaging with a catch 5 connected therewith. When the rod C
is in an intermediate position, the hammer is free to be operated by the clockwork.
The rod C may be moved into the two extreme positions by means of a key, which
is placed upon a projection 9 and acts upon two arms 7 and 8 carried by the rod C.
Each apparatus is provided with a special key adapted to the particular apparatus.
The lower end of the rod C passes through a hole in the crank-bearing and is,
when in one of the extreme positions, brought into contact with a plane surface a
on the crank-axle A. The crank-axle may also on one place be provided with a
strengthening piece instead of the plane surface a.
In order to render the apparatus operative, as shown in Fig. 1, the axle A must
be turned until the plane surface a is directly underneath the rod C; a mark may
be provided to indicate when this is the case; or it may be arranged that the
surface a shall be in the required position when oue of the cranks is in its lowest
position. By means of the key, the lower end of the rod C is then brought into
contact with the surface a. As the bicycle cannot be moved without turning the
driving wheel, any attempt to do so will cause the rod C to move upwards to such
an extent that the catch 5 can play freely between the hooks 3 and 4 and,
consequently, that the bell can then be rung by the clockwork.
When the owner desires to use the bicycle, he moves the rod C upwards by
means of the key, until it has assumed its highest position.
The hook 4 will then
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page_text: engage the catch 5 and prevent the alarm from being sounded. Each apparatus
is provided with a number and the corresponding key with the same number, so
that the owner may always prove his right to the bicycle in case he may have
caused the bell to ring himself.
Instead of a mechanical ringing apparatus, an electrical one may be used, and the
mechanism may, if desired, be arranged to actuate an electric bell inside a house.
If the explosion of gunpowder be preferred to the ringing of a bell, the mechanism
may be combined with an ordinary gun-lock or the like.
The details of construction of the apparatus may be varied-e.g., the hook 4
may be omitted and in lieu thereof there may be used any suitable and easily
accessible slide or other stop adapted to hold the hammer out of action whilst the
bicycle is being used, the important and characteristic feature of my invention
being that a movable stopper for the ringing-apparatus, the contact-apparatus or
the gun-lock, can by means of a special key be brought in and out of a certain
position in which it is in connection with one of the movable parts of the bicycle,
and that the said stopper will when in this position, be released if the bicycle be
moved and an alarm sounded.
The apparatus is entirely enclosed in a box, which is riveted, screwed or other-
wise secured to the bicycle-frame so that it cannot be tampered with. If the
disengaging device be secured on, one of the walls of the box, or if the trigger
part of this mechanism is carried partly or entirely round the movable part of
the bicycle, it will be impossible to take the apparatus off without putting it
into action.
Although the apparatus shown has been described as operated by the crank-axle,
it will be obvious that apparatus according to this invention may be arranged to be
operated by any other of the movable parts of the bicycle,-e.g. the wheel-axles
or the handle-bar.
Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing the Stealing of Bicycles
and the like.
I, AXEL GEORG VALDEMAR PETERSEN, of 17 Falkonergaardsvej, Copenhagen,
Denmark, Lieutenant-Engineer, 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 alarm-apparatus arranged to be operated by one of the
movable parts of a bicycle or the like (hereinafter referred to as a bicycle) so that
any attempt to steal the vehicle will result in the sounding of an alarm such as the
ringing of a bell, the blowing of a whistle, the explosion of a charge of gunpowder,
or some such noise, calculated to attract the attention of passers-by or the
inhabitants of adjacent houses thus preventing the theft from taking place.
The drawings filed with my Provisional Specification show by way of example
an arrangement of apparatus according to this invention. It comprises ordinary
clock-work provided with an alarum, and a disengaging device adapted to be moved
into and out of engagement with the crank-axle of the bicycle, and when in
engagement, normally to hold the clockwork out of action, but so that movement

page_text: of the driving wheel, even though slight, will cause the alarum-bell to ring
loudly.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 shows a detail as seen at right
angles to Fig. 1.
On the framework of the clock-work B is mounted a movable rod C that is held
in two spring-supports 1 and 2 with sufficient tightness to prevent it from being
moved relatively to the supports by the vibration of the bicycle. This rod carries
two hooks 3 and 4, which are arranged opposite each other and in such a manner
that when the rod C is in either of its two extreme positions-viz., that of
engagement, as shown, with the crank-axle A and that of disengagement therefrom-
they prevent the hammer 6 from moving, by engaging with a catch 5 connected
therewith. When the rod C is in an intermediate position, the hammer is free to
be operated by the clockwork. The rod C may be moved into the two extreme
positions by means of a key, which is placed upon a projection 9 and acts upon two
arms 7 and 8 carried by the rod C. Each apparatus is provided with a special
key adapted to the particular apparatus. The lower end of the rod C passes
through a hole in the crank-bearing and is, when in one of the extreme positions,
brought into contact with a plane surface a on the crank-axle A. The crank-axle
may, however, be provided in one place with a projecting part instead of the plane
surface a.
In order to render the apparatus operative, as shown in Fig. 1, the axle A must
be turned until the plane surface a is directly underneath the rod C: a mark may
be provided to indicate when this is the case; or it may be arranged that the
surface a shall be in the required position when one of the cranks is in its lowest
position. By means of the key, the lower end of the rod C is then brought into
contact with the surface a. As the bicycle cannot be moved along a road without
turning the driving wheel any attempt to do so will cause the rod C to move
upwards to such an extent that the catch 5 can play freely between the hooks 3
and 4 and, consequently, that the bell can then be rung by the clockwork.
When the owner desires to use the bicycle, he moves the rod C upwards by
means of the key, until it has assumed its highest position. The hook 4 will then
engage the catch 5 and prevent the alarm from being sounded.
Each.apparatus is provided with a number and the corresponding key with the
same number, so that the owner may always prove his right to the bicycle in case
he may have caused the bell to ring himself.
Instead of a mechanical ringing apparatus an electrical one may be used as
shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. In this case the
upward movement of the rod C produced by the rotation of the crank-axle A
causes a contact-piece N carried by the rod C to come into contact with an insulated
contact-piece M fixed on the casing of the apparatus. An electric current then
passes from a source of electricity E through the support 1, the rod C, the contact-
pieces M and N, and an electric bell K. By means of binding-screws P and P2,
the support 1 and contact piece M may be connected with an electric battery
and bell inside a house, when, e.g., the bicycle is left in the hall thereof. In this
case the battery E & bell K are cut out or dispensed with.
Instead of ringing of a bell, the mechanism may be combined with an
arrangement for causing an explosion of a charge of gunpowder. As an example
the accompanying Fig. 4 represents diagrammatically an electric arrangement for
this purpose which is like that shown in Fig. 3 except that an electric cartridge G
takes the place of the electric bell K. The source of electricity may conveniently
be a dry element arranged in one of the tubes of the bicycle-frame.
The details of construction of the apparatus may be varied e.g., the hook 4 may
be omitted and in lieu thereof there may be used any suitable and easily accessible
slide or other stop adapted to hold the hammer out of action whilst the bicycle is
being used, the important and characteristic feature of my invention being that a
movable stop for the ringing-apparatus, the contact-apparatus, or equivalent can,
by means of a special key be brought into and out of a certain position in which

page_text: it is in connection with one of the movable parts of the bicycle, and that, if the
bicycle be then moved along the ground, the said stop will when in this position,
be released and an alarm will be sounded.
The apparatus is entirely enclosed in a box, which is riveted, screwed, or other-
wise secured to the bicycle-frame so that it cannot be tampered with. If the
disengaging device be secured on one of the walls of the box and the clockwork
and alarm on another part of the box, or if the trigger-part of this device be
-carried partly or entirely round the movable part of the bicycle, it will be
impossible to take the apparatus apart without putting it into action.
Although the apparatus shown has been described as operated by the crank-
axle, it will be obvious that apparatus according to this invention may be
arranged to be operated by any other of the movable parts of the bicycle-
e.g., the wheel-axles or the handle-bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for preventing the stealing of a bicycle or the like, comprising a
mechanical, electrical, or other alarm-apparatus and a disengaging or actuating
-device adapted to be put by means of a key, into engagement with one of the
movable parts of the bicycle or the like, the arrangement being such that
subsequent movement of the said movable part will set the alarm-apparatus into
operation, substantially as herein described.
2. Apparatus of the kind specified in the preceding claim, wherein the alarm-
apparatus is normally kept out of action by a hook fixed on a movable rod
which, when in its operative position, is in contact with a plane surface on one
of the rotating axles of the bicycle or the like substantially as herein before
described.
3. Apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 1 in which the actuating-device
is adapted, when in its operative position and by movement of the movable
part of the bicycle to which it is applied to close an electric circuit and permit
an electric current to pass from a source of electricity through the alarm-device K
or G, substantially as herein before described.
4. My improved apparatus for preventing the stealing of bicycles and the like
constructed, arranged, and operating as herein before described with reference to
and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or modified according to Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 of the
drawings herein referred to.