IMPROVEMENTS IN A communi- OR CONNECTED WITH CIRCUIT CLOSERS' FOR ELECTRIC ALARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
A communi-
OR CONNECTED WITH CIRCUIT CLOSERS' FOR ELECTRIC ALARMS."
f
cation from abroad by Samuel S. Applegate, of Camden, New Jersey, United
States of America.
Sealed the 29th April 1878, and dated the 1st November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1877.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. " IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH CIRCUIT CLOSERS' FOR
ELECTRIC ALARMS." (A communication from abroad by Samuel S. Applegate, of
Camden, New Jersey, United States of America.)
The object of this Invention, which relates to improvements in circuit-closing
devices for electric alarms, is to render such devices portable and applicable in any
desired situation, without necessitating any previous preparation..
In a circuit-closing device suitable for application to a doorway, a number of
wooden slats are suitably secured to a mat made of rubber, oilcloth, carpet, or other
suitable flexible material, and to these slats (preferably to each alternate one) are
secured a number of short elliptic metal springs, which are fastened at one end only
so as to yield under pressure, two metal pins being secured in the slat adjacent to
the curved portion of each spring plate. One of these pins is connected to one wire
of an electric alarm, and the other pin is connected to the other wire thereof, so
that when any spring plate is brought in contact with the pins the electric circuit
will be complete and the alarm will be given.
Supposing the circuit-closing mat to be placed near a doorway, and its pins to be
connected to the alarm, any one entering the doorway and stepping on the mat
will cause one or more of the spring plates to come in contact with the pins, thereby
closing the electric circuit and consequently sounding the alarm.

page_text: Although it is preferable to make the mat of flexible material, it may be rigid,
and covered or not with carpet or other material, and in either case it may be used
as an ordinary door mat or rug, or placed below the carpet or oilcloth.
Instead of connecting the wires to two pins in each circuit closer, one wire may
be connected with a single pin, while the other wire connects with the spring plate.
The alarm with which the wire communicates may be placed in any situation
which the arrangement of the building, rooms, or other circumstances may suggest.
As the mat, whether flexible or rigid, is in itself a complete circuit closer, it can
be at once placed in position without further preparation.
When the mat is made of flexible material it can be rolled up into a small compass,
and readily carried from one place to another.
The apparatus may be made in other forms than as a mat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st May
1878.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH CIRCUIT CLOSERS' FOR
ELECTRIC ALARMS." (A communication from abroad by Samuel S. Applegate, of
Camden, New Jersey, United States of America.)
The object of this Invention, which relates to improvements in circuit-closing
devices for electric alarms, is to render such devices portable, and ready for instant
application in any desired situation without necessitating any previous preparation.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be distinctly
understood I have annexed hereunto one Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof,
and have marked the same with Figures of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
On the accompanying Drawings, which illustrate a circuit-closing device suitable
for application to a doorway, Figure represents a perspective view illustrative of
such an application; Figure 2, a perspective view of the portable circuit closer;
Figure 3, au enlarged sectional view of part thereof; and Figure 4 a sectional view
of another modification.
'
1 represents a number of wood slats, which are suitably secured to a mat 2 made
of rubber, oilcloth, carpet, cocoa fibre, or other suitable flexible material; and to
these slats (preferably to each alternate one) are secured a number of short elliptic
metal springs 3, which are fastened at one end only so as to yield under pressure,
two metal pins 4 being secured in the slat adjacent to the curved portion of each
spring plate. One of each of these pairs of pins is connected to one wire 5 of
an electric alarm 6 (Figure 1), and the other pins are connected to the other wire 7
thereof, so that when any spring plate is brought into contact with the pins, the
electric circuit will be complete and the alarm will be given.
Supposing the circuit-closing mat 2 to be placed near a doorway, as shown in

page_text: Figure 1, and its pins to be connected to the alarm 6, anyone entering the doorway
and stepping on the mat will cause one or more of the spring plates 3 to come in
contact with the pins 4, by which the circuit is closed, and the alarm is consequently
sounded.
Although it is preferable to make the mat of flexible material, it may be made
rigid as shown in Figure 4, and covered or not with carpet or other material, and in
either case it may be used as an ordinary door mat or rug, or placed under the
carpet or oilcloth.
Instead of connecting the wires 5, 7, to two pins in each circuit closer, one wire
may be connected with a single pin, while the other wire connects with the spring
plate. The alarm with which the wire communicates may be placed in any
situation which the arrangement of the building, rooms, or other circumstances may
suggest.
As the mat, whether flexible or rigid, is in itself a complete circuit. closer, it can
be at once placed in position without further preparation.
When the mat is made of flexible material it can be rolled up (as shown in
Figure 2) into a small compass and readily carried from one place to another.
The apparatus may be made in other forms than as a mat for other uses.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention communicated to
me by the above-named Samuel S. Applegate,-
1. The combination of the wires of an electric alarm with a mat and circuit-closing
devices attached to the said mat.
2. A mat composed of flexible material, provided on its under surface with circuit-
closing devices, in combination with the wires of an electric alarm.
And, 3. The combination of a mat 2, elliptic springs 3, and a pin or pins 4 with
the wires of an electric alarm, all substantially as above described or set forth, and
as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
MAITTזתת
TITTY
BRISTOW HUNT. (L.S.)