IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR INDICATING OR DETECTING REMOVAL OR OPENING OF CASES, BOXES, OR OTHER RECEPTACLES CHIEPLY INTENDED FOR JEWELLERY AND OTHER CASES CONTAINING VALUABLES
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Kitson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 8th March
1875.
I, JAMES KITSON, of No. 1, Park Villa, Vanburgh Road, East Greenwich,
in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR INDICATING OR DETECTING
REMOVAL OR OPENING OF CASES, BOXES, OR OTHER RECEPTACLES CHIEPLY INTENDED
FOR JEWELLERY AND OTHER CASES CONTAINING VALUABLES," to be as follows:-
THE
-
My Invention relates mainly to the adaptation of electricity by means
of mechanical or mercurial apparatus to cases, receptacles, tables, stands,
counters, and things for preventing robberies of jewellery, plate, and
other valuables therefrom.
One example of carrying my Invention into effect is as follows:—I
construct a small metal box which I fix to the under side of a table top,
a counter, or any other thing. Two bearers are fixed inside the box, on
which rests a piece of metal plate called a balance flap, to the under side
of which and near one end is fixed a knife edge piece of metal, this

page_text: resting upon two picces of metal with a V groove. These two pieces are
fixed to one of the bearers and so forms a knife edge balance. To this
end of the balance flap is also fixed a small lever and a weight to admit
of adjustment.
To the opposite end of the balance flap are fixed two metal screws
with contact pieces, and to the bearers immediately under these are fixed
two small metal brackets with contact points. Over all this is the table
top. Small studs about an inch long are then fixed to the bottom of the
box or chest, which it is intended should stand upon the table, corre-
sponding holes being made through the top of the table so that when
the box is placed upon the table one or more of the fect take their
bearing upon the balance flap underneath, whereby the weight of the box
or chest closes the electrical circuit.
Electrical wires are fixed to the screws on the balance flap, and are
connected to an electrical battery and alarm bell, which may be fixed in
any part of the house. The instant an attempt is made in any way to
remove the box or chest from its place, the flap rises and the electrical
circuit becomes broken, then by means of a "relay" or other contrivance
the alarm bell rings.
A commutator is fixed in the circuit whereby the owner of the
property may at any moment stop the ringing of the alarm. This com-
mutator as also the alarm may be kept under lock and key.
The detector may consist of a mercurial apparatus. In this caso I use
one or more small tubes or vessels containing a spiral or other spring
and partially filled with mercury. These tubes or vessels are let into
any table top and rest on a board underneath. Into each of these tubes
or vessels are fitted plungers smaller in diameter than the vessels in
which they work, and of a length so adjusted that when the weight
of the box is placed upon them they depress into the mercury,
thereby causing the mercury to rise and come into contact with the
electrical wires which dip partially into the tubes. These wires are also
in circuit with an electrical battery and an alarm bell as in the former
case, and immediately it is attempted to remove the box from its position
one or more of the plungers rise, the mercury falls below the contacts,
thereby breaking the electrical circuit and the alarm bell rings.

page_text: The mercurial apparatus may be fixed to any box or drawer as a means
of preventing theft therefrom.
To either of the above arrangements I secure the box containing the
property from being opened by thieves by fixing electrical contacts
inside the box near the lock, so that when the lid is slightly raised the
circuit is broken and the alarm bell rings.