US2064963A - Observation device - Google Patents

Description

1936. c. E. WHEELER OBSERVATION DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1934 m E E 8 6 a 2 a z w m 7 0 m z 2 N E I. .5. ME. w w 7 i f L \Fl... a E L A) \3 I 4 M J .wQ \m mmfi/ J fi 4 j J M 2 a v. v a z Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES FFIQE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to an observation device of the type enabling the occupant of a room, apartment or house to scrutinize a person seeking admission without in turn being observed by that person.

With the number of beggars and the salesmen of trivial and worthless things vastly increased by the present economic conditions and crime still very prevalent, it is very undesirable and some- 10 times dangerous for the occupant, particularly a woman, of a room, apartment or house to open a door even but partially for the purpose of seeing who the person seeking admission is.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide novel and improved means for installation in a door or the like enabling sight in one direction but preventing sight in the opposite direction.

Another object of the invention is toperfect such a one-way observation device which may be economically manufactured and easily installed.

A further object is to perfect such a one-way observation device which is compact so as to present a neat and ornamental appearance when installed.

Yet another object is to provide an observation device of the character described which is camouflaged and even attracts the attention and interest of the person seeking admission so that he will stand close to the device.

Yet a further object is to provide a combined observation device and knocker.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an observation device embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of such an observation device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the device mounted in a door.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a slightly modified construction.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, it is shown and will hereinafter be described in two embodiments but is not intended that the invention is thereby limited to the specific constructions disclosed but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing an observation'device embodying features of the invention is illustrated as mounted in a door In having a circular hole ll cut therethrough. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the observation device comprises a metallic tubular member 12 extending through the hole H. At the end projecting through the outer face of the door, the member I2 has integral therewith an annular flange l3 extending radially outwardly for a substantial distance to form a plate concealing the ragged edge 10 of the hole I l. The other end of the member I? is threaded to receive an annular plate i4 serving to impart a finished appearance to that end of the device and to clamp the tubular member tightly in the door. The plate I G is preferably 15 also secured by screws I5.

Mounted in the member 12 is the means permitting sight in one direction but preventing sight in the opposite direction. This means comprises a disk l6 of transparent material, prefer- 20 ably glass, coated on one side with a thin layer ll of reflecting material such as mercury, silver, gold, etc. A glass so coated permits sight from a dark to a light area but when viewed from a light area presents the appearance of a mirror. The glass disk I6 is mounted in the tubular member 12 with its coated face toward the inside and is secured in the member between an annular shoulder I8 formed by an inward projection of the flange I3 and a split spring ring l9 received in a groove provided for that purpose in the tubular member l2.

In order to prevent a person from inserting an object into the tubular member and injuring the coating ll, a second glass disk 20 is mounted in the member near the inner end thereof. This disk is secured in position by a pair of split spring rings 2|. Preferably the disk 2|] is colored or tinted some dark shade to darken the space between it and the disk l6 and thereby prevent sight through the device from the exterior to the interior while an occupant of the room is looking through the device.

In order positively to prevent sight through the device from the exterior to the interior, when the device is not being employed, a cover 22 is preferably provided. This cover is formed with an ear 23 by means of which it is pivoted on the upper one of the screws Hi to swing into or away from a position closing the tubular member [2. 50 Preferably the cover is of such weight and is sufficiently loosely pivoted so as normally to assume a position closing the tubular member.

Pivotally mounted on the annular flange I3 is a ring 24 which serves as a knocker for use by the 55 person seeking admission. This knocker, as well as the flange [3, may be ornamented to present a finished and pleasing appearance. To prevent the ring 24 from being employed as a lever for unscrewing the tubular member l2 from the annular plate M and thus removing the observation device, a nail 25 is driven through the tubular member and into the door l0.

In the modified construction as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the tubular member is composed of two parts i2 and I2" secured together and clamped to the door by means of screws 26 extending through the annular plate Hi and threaded into studs 2? formed integral with the annular flange E3. The annular plate [4 in the modified form is formed integral with the part 12 just as is the annular flange l3 and likewise extends inwardly to form a shoulder 28 serving to secure the disk ill of glass and displacing one of the split spring rings TM. The shoulder 28 may, if desired, be extended inwardly a greater distance so as to make the rear opening'smaller than the front opening. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that by providing screws 26 of the proper length, the device may be mount ed on a door of any thickness.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have perfected a one-way observation de-' vice which may be conveniently installed and economically manufactured. When installed the device presents a neat and attractive appearance and enables unnoticed observation of persons seeking admission thereby providing a large address 5- a measure of protection against undesired intrusion. By the addition of a knocker and the appearance of the device as a mirror to one observing the same from the outside, the device tends to attract the attention of the observer and causes him to stand near the same and thus enable an occupant of the room to obtain a good view of the observer.-

I claim as my invention: 7

An observation device for use on doors or the like of rooms, apartments and houses comprising, in combination, a tubular member mounted in an aperture formed in the door and having integral therewith at its outer end an annular flange extending radially outwardly to form a plate concealing the edge of the aperture and extending radially inwardly to form a shoulder, the other end of the tubular member being threaded, an annular plate secured onto the ed on opposite sides of the last mentioned disk to secure the same in position.

CHARLES E. WHEELER.

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