US2804040A - Burglar alarm - Google Patents

Description

c. R. FlcKl-:s

BURGLAR ALARM Filed sept. 1s, 1954 Aug. 27, 1957 g z L mf n M, f v A my Ll ,W2 Q W. J mw M. Z n d.. 2v W www. n aan( u Hw A HW. .7.. A 3. Illl 7m 4n power failure.

HThe discussion of by the professional burglar.

United States Patent() r 1 My invention relates `to alarm systems used about the various openings in a building to detect the entry into the building by a` prowler or other unauthorized trespassers. Morespecilically, I have invented a burglar alarm that `can be used on either doors or windows and which effectively resists jamming of Vits parts 'by a prowler. Furthermore, my burglar alarm is of much more simple design `and is moreeconomical of manufacture than any of the alarm systems known to me.

Burglar alarms per se are old in the art for man has `long sought to protect his home, his belongings and his family from the unknown intruder. `burglar alarms today are electrically controlled and The most common adapted to sound the alarm system whenever an opened door or window closes the circuit. Although reasonably effective, these electrical systems are expensive to install in the home and, of course, are useless in the event of a Furthermore, their utility is lost if the professional burglar canrcut the wires leading to such an alarm. l

It follows, therefore, that a selfacting alarm which `is `not reliant uponelectrical power would have certain .advantages over the` electrical systems. These self acting alarms are generally much more economical than the electric alarms` for the electrical elements tend to be more expensive than elements which are purely mechanical. rlfhen too, these self acting alarms cannot be jammed by any power failure or the like. However, the mechanical Self acting alarms with which I am familiar have cer- .tain disadvantages. `an (alarm as a swinging door is opened. But since the i action of a sliding window sash is different than a swinging door, these fdoor alarms cannot lbe adapted to be used Ion, awindow. This same problem applies to those self acting' alarms that are used on windows in that their alarm Some of them are designed to sound releasing means is not Versatile enough to permit their effective use on both sliding windows and swinging doors. Another disadvantage of these mechanical self acting alarms isthat'they employ various systems of coil springs randfgear` wheels to operatethe alarm. The first disad- `vantage ofjthis type of assembly is in the greater expense `I of manufacture.

Coil springs,`as compared to compression springs, are much more expensive for among other things they require a `special spring steel out of which they are fabricated. Good compression springs, of course, are

made out of any ordinary grade of wire. The gear wheels ythat ,-areyoften employed in these systems must be precision made and require various keys and shafts on which to operate. `All of vthese factors add to the expense of the apparatus. l

the coil springs andgear wheels gives risefto another` great disadvantageofthe prior art. It

, seems that thejinventorsof ,the alarm systemsof which l Ihave vknowledge havevnot fully appreciated thevalue of protectingtheir alarms from being rendered` ineffective The complexworkings of the coil spring-gear wheel assembly lends itselfwell to "ice 2 It has already been discussed how a cut Wire will prohibit the electrical alarm from functioning. It has been my observation that many good alarms have detracted from their utility by lending themselves susceptible to being jammed.

A further disadvantage of many burglar arms isthat the sounding device many times cannot be distinguished from the many horns, bells and other common sounds that might be heard anytime in a dwelling along a busy thoroughfare. If the sounding device cannot be heard or distinguished from other sounds of the night, the alarm is obviously of no use.

Therefore, in View of the foregoing, it is the principal object of my invention to provide a self acting mechan ically operated burglar alarm that will effectively resist jamming of its parts by any tools or the like.

t is a further objectof my invention to provide a sel acting mechanically operated burglar alarm that can be adapted to use on doors and windows alike.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a self acting mechanically `operated burglar alarm that has `a sounding means that can easily be heard bythe dweller of a home and can easily be distinguished from other sounds.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a self acting mechanically operated burglar alarm that is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. i

These and other obje-cts will be apparent to those skilled .in the art. Y

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, wherelby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a section through the alarm on a plane parallel tothe door or Window on which the alarm is mounted and rshows the alarm in its locked and loaded position,

Fig. 2 is a similar section to that shown in Fig. l except that it shows the lalarm in its unlocked and release positions, r Y

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged `detail of the locking system, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the alarm releasing apparatus. j

Referring to the drawingsl have used the numeral 10 to designate the case in4 which the alarm is housed. .Numeral 12 designates a bracket which is of resilient material and which is rigidly secured to a window frame in "any convenient manner when the alarm is to be used on awindow. The bracket is -secured to the window frame opposite hole 14 in case 10 when the window is closed. The position of the window frame in such an instance is shown by the vertical lines at the right of case 10 in Figs. l, 2 and 4. Registering with the `hole 14` is bullet-nosed plunger 16 which is slidably mounted in guide 18. Guide -18 has been omitted from Figs. 3 and 4 for clarity.

. plunger 16 is spring 24 which is'shownin Figs. 2 andv being jammed by sa. Well,` ,placed .knife .or screw driver.`

to be `in its natural compressed state. At the lower end of `spring 24 is secured bar 26 slidably mounted inV guide 27 .i `Arm `28 is rhingedlysecured to bar4 26 `and normally extends laterally in a horizontal ,position from the ,side of :bar 26adja`cent plungerzItas shown in Fig. 3. lArm 28 .canpivot only upwardly but resists any downward rotation past its horizontal position.

Secured in any convenient manner to the bottom of fbar26 iszcord30 which extendsthrougheyelet 32 'fatthe `bottom of vcase 10. .'Cord 30 is then entwined about and isecuredtospool 34'which slidably and rotatably engages .guides 18 and V19 at one end. Extending through spool 34'is'lock cylinder `36 which protrudes from spool 34 at one end to engage guide 38 and which is rotatably secured to spool 34 atits other end by means of pin 40 and :disc 42. Immediately behind disc 42 and enclosed by ,guides y18 and 19 is spring 44 which'is in its normally exfpandedstate vas shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Lock cylinder 36 has a key hole 46 which is .adapted Vto receive a Ilcrimped key asfshown in Fig. 5. Rigidly secured to the -end Yof spool 34 awayzfrom spring 44 is a ring 4S which has stems 50 radiating from its perimeter. These stems are of such length that as spool 34rotates they can en- Vgage both the door or window upon which the case is mounted and also bell 52 which is mounted opposite said door or window. The vertical line to the left of the case inFig. 3 represents the face of either a door or a window sash. -It can easily be seen in Fig. 3 that these stems engage kboth the bell 52 and the surface upon which the alarm is mounted.

Arm 54 is rigidly secured to spool 34 and is at right `angles to the longitudinal axis of the spool. Arm 54 has `a bent end portion that is capable of registering with slot 56 in plunger 16 when the arm 54 and slot 56 are abreast fof each other. This function is brought about by rotating the spool and arm as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3. An unlocking rod 58 extends vertically from the bot- .tom of the case and is adapted to engage arm 54 at times land rotate arm 54 out ofslot 56. Rod 58 has a button 59`at its lower end with a spring 60, which is normally -in its expanded state, between the button and the outside 'bottom 'face of the case. Just inside the bottom face of fcase and rigidly secured to rod 58 is shoulder 62 which limits the outward movement of the rod. The end `of rod 58 opposite button 59 is bent so as to engage arm '54 when rod 58 is moved upward. This is shown very clearly in Figure 3.

A triangular notch 61 is in cylinder 36 at the point where the cylinder Vprotrudes from spool 34. One side of -this notch 61 registers with key hole 46 so that a key extending into the key hole will also protrude part way into 'the notch. This is shown very clearly in Figure A5. A triangular latch member 64 is pivoted in any convenient manner to the upper edge of notch 61. A hole 66 in one side of notch 61 embraces spring 68 which is secured at oneend in any convenient manner to the bottom of hole 66 and at the other'end to latch 64. Spring 68 tends to -rotate latch 64 into notch 61. The entire inside perimeter of :spool 34 directly over notch 61 is formed by a series of notches 70 which are capable of engaging latch 64 when the latch is in the position shown in Figure v5. As may be seen in Figure 5, the notches 70 andV latch 64 complement each other in such a way that the notches 70 will tend to catch or bind on the latch whenver the latch -is in the upward position.

g A slot 72in the top of casing 10 pivotally houses indicator 74 in any convenient manner. An L-shaped arm v75 is rigidly secured to the lower portion of the indicator and when gravity alone acts upon the pivoted arm 75 and nindicator 74, a predetermined area of the indicator is eX- kposed through the slot 72 in the top of case 10. Rigidly secured to the top of bar 26 is arm 76 which is positioned to engage L-shaped arm 75 when spring 24 is compressed. Arm 76 tends to rotate the indicator and arm 75 about its pivot point, thus exposing a diferent area lof the invvvdicator through Vthe slot 72 in the top of the casing 10. `The'refore,by distinguishing the two mentioned areas on 'indicator 74, itv is possible to determine whether or not Vfspring 24V is compressed.

The logical operationlof mydevice is asLfollows. yThe alarm and case are placed on. avertical memberof a window sash adjacent the frame as shown in Figure 1. At this time, the various parts of the device appear to be as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Then, the bracket 12 is secured to the frame at a point opposite hole 14 when the sash is down and the window closed. To so place the bracket, it is necessary to push plunger 16 into the case as shown in Figure l. Pushing plunger 16 into the case expands spring 20 and only'bracket 12 keeps spring 20 from forcing plunger 16 out of the hole 14. At this time, spring 24 is compressed and arm 76 on bar 26 has engaged the L-shaped arm 75 on indicator 74 and pivoted the indicator so that the area of the indicator reading ofi is exposed through slot 72. This is an indication to the operator that the alarm is not wound. To wind the alarm, the key 79 is placed in lock cylinder 36. The nose of the key enters notch 61 and forces latch 64 into engagement with notches 70 in spool 34 as `shown in Figure 5. Then as the key 79 and cylinder 36 are turned in a counter-clockwise direction, spool 34 is forced toy turn also and cord 30 is thus wound around the spool. The winding of cord 30 causes tension in spring 24-andllows bar 26 to be lowered. As bar 26 with hinged'arm 128 passes plunger 16, arm 28 engages plunger l16 and-is forced to pivot'upward as bar 26 continues'downward. This phenomena is shown in Figure 7. Assoon as arm 28 passes by plunger 16, the arm resumes its'horizontal position, and upon releasing the key, spring'24-willpul1 bar 26 upward to a'point where arm V28 catches on the bottom side of plunger 16. Since arm 28 will pivotin one direction only, arm 28 will catch on p1unger'16`an'd will prohibit any upward movement of bar 26 until the plunger has been released. At this time, the arm 76 on bar 26 has disengaged arm 75 on indicator 74, and the weight of arm 75 has caused the indicator to rotate in sucha position thatthe area exposed through slot 72 is that portion reading on. This indicates to the operator that the alarm is wound. g

During the daytime or other periods when 'thealarm is not needed, it is possible to lock my device inthefollowing manner:

The key 79 is placed in the lock cylinder 36. When lan inward force is exerted on the key, the lock cylinder 436 .and spool 34 kslide inward compressing spring 44. Whenspring 44 is Ycompletely compressed, the arm'54 Y on spool 34 is abreast of slot 56 in plunger 16. By'rotating the lock cylinder 36 and spool 34 in a counter-clockwise direction -as shown by the arrow in Figure 3, the bentend portion of arm 54 engages the slot 56 and thus kprohibits the plunger 16 from moving under any circumstances. This will lock the whole alarm and theoperator 4can tell lataiglance that thedevice is locked becausefthe Vlock cylinder will be extending into guide 38.

When the foregoing operations have been'completed, the .elements will `be in the position shown in Figure l where the releasing plunger 16 is loaded, the -alarm `is Vwound, and the whole device is locked. In the evening a's the operatory approaches the alarm, he will see that the indicator reads on indicating that the alarm is wound and he will see the cylinder lock depressed in guide 38 which will indicate that the alarm is locked. To unlock the devicethe operator must press upward on button 59 which will move unlocking rod 58 upward to disengage arm 54 from slot56. .Spring 44 will then force the lock cylinder 36 and spooloutward so that arm 54 will clear the end of plunger 16 and .be free to rotate. The keyis then removed and the alarm is set for action.

As 'a'burglar forces a window upward, the bullet nose of plunger 16 willbecome disengaged from bracket 12 and 'spring20 will force rthe plunger outward `as shown in Figs. Zand 4. As the .plunger moves outward, Vit Vdisengages arm .28 which permits spring '24 rtocompress, thuspulling cord 30 upward and rotating spool 34. As tspool 34 rotates, Vthe stems on ring 50 .also rotate and .strike bell v52 :andthe .surface on which the falarm his mounted. The bell is the conventional means of alarm,

but I have found that when the alarm strikes the door or window upon which the device is mounted, the wall cavities in a dwelling accentuate the vibrations set up in the door or Window and carry a very audible and very distinguishable andunusual sound throughout the building. By setting up these vibrations in the structure of the building, the sound carries farther and creates a sensation `attheear of the dweller that will not easily be mistaken Vusage of the alarm.

It is important to note that it is impossible to jam thetalarm by prohibiting the lock cylinder 34 from rotating, as without the key being present in the small notch 62, latch 64 will be restrained in the notch by spring 68 which will allow the spool 34 to rotate free of the lock cylinder 36. Thus, if a burglar can somehow jam lock cylinder 36, the alarm will still go oil. Apertured plate 78 is placed over hole 14 toprevent a knife or the like from being pushed through the slight crack between a door and door jamb to bind against the plunger when my alarm is used on a door` without bracket 12.

In view of, the foregoing, it is obvious that I have attained at least the principal objects of my invention.

Some changes may be made in the construction and i arrangement Vof my burglar alarm without departing from ,the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to covertby my claims, any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

I claim:

l. In a burglar alarm adapted for use upon a closure for an opening in a building, a case adapted to be secured to the closure, a spring actuated releasing means, a bracket adapted to be operatively secured to the building adjacent to said opening, said bracket engaging and holding said releasing means in a restrained position, said bracket adapted to be so positioned as to free said releasing means when said closure is opened, a spring with one end secured to said case and the other end operatively connected to one end of a ilexible cord, means for holding said spring under tension as long as said releasing means is restrained, a spool rotatably mounted on said case, the other end of said flexible cord entwined and secured to said spool, a plurality of stems radiating from the perimeter of said spool, a bell, said stems adapted to create audible vibrations on the bell and the closure whenever said spool is permitted to rotate.

2. In a burglar alarm adapted for use upon a closure for an opening in a building, a case adapted to be secured to the closure, a spring actuated releasing means, a bracket adapted to be operatively secured to the building adjacent to said opening, said bracket engaging and holding said releasing means in a restrained position, said bracket adapted to be so positioned as to free said releasing means when said closure is opened, a spring with one end secured to said case and the other end operatively connected to one end of a ilexible cord, means for holding said spring under tension as long as said releasing means is restrained, a spool rotatably mounted on said case, the other end of said lieXible cord entwined and secured to said spool, a lock cylinder rotatably secured within said spool, said cylinder adapted to receive a crimped key, means for turning said spool with said lock cylinder when said key is in said lock cylinder, a plurality of stems radiating from the perimeter of said spool, a bell, said stems adapted to create audible vibrations on the bell and said, closure whenever said spool is permitted to rotate. i i

'3. In a burglar alarm adapted for use `upon a closure for an opening in a building, a case adapted to be secured to the closure, a spring actuated releasing means, a bracket adapted to be operatively secured to the building adjacent to said opening, said bracket engaging and holding said releasing means in a restrained position, said bracket adapted to be so positioned as to free said releasing means when said closure is opened, a spring with one end secured to said case and the other end operatively connected to oneend of a flexible cord, means for holding said spring under tension as long as said releasing means is restrained, a spool rotatably and slidably mounted on said case, the other end of said flexible cord entwined and secured to said spool, a lock cylinder rotatably secured within said spool, said cylinder adapted to receive a crimped key, means for turning said spool with said lock cylinder when said key is in said lock cylinder, a second spring at the end of said spool and said lock cylinder, a rigid arm with a bent end portion extending radially from said spool, a slot in said releasing means, said bent portion of said arm capable of registering with said slot when said second spring is compressed by the combined sliding and rotating movement of said spool and said lock cylinder, means for disengaging said arm from said slot, a plurality of stems radiating from the perimeter of said spool, a bell, said stems adapted to create audible vibrations on the bell and said closure whenever said spool is permitted to rotate.

4. In a -burglar alarm adapted for use upon a closure ltor an opening in a building, a case adapted to be se-v cured to the closure, a spr-ing actuated releasing means, a' bracket adapted to be operatively secured to the Ibuilding adjacent to said opening, said bracket engaging and holding said releasing means in a restrained position,

said bracket adapted to beso positioned as to free said releasing means when said closure is opened, a spring with one end secured to said case and the other end operatively yconnected to one end of `a flexible cord, means for holding said spring under tension as long as said relea-sing means lis restrained, an indicator protruding through a slot in said case and operatively connected to said spring -to show whether or not said spring is under tension, a spool rotatably mounted on said case, the other end of said flexible cord entwined and secured to said spool, a plurality of stems radiating from the perimeter of said spool, a bell, said stems adapted to create audible vibrations on said `bell and Ithe `closure whenever said spool is permitted to rotate.

5. ln a burglar alarm adapted for use upon a closure for an opening in a building, a case adapted to `be secured to the closure, Ia spring actuated releasing means, a -bracket adapted to be operatively secured to the build ing adjacent to said opening, said bracket engaging and holding said releasing means in a restrained position, said Vbracket adapted to ibe so positioned as to free said releasing means when said closure is opened, a spring `with one end secured to said case an-d the other end operatively connected to one end of a flexible cord, means for holding said spring under tension as long as said releasing means is restrained, an indicator protruding through a slot in said case and operatively connected to said spring to show whether or not said spring is under tension, a spool rotatably mounted on said case, the

`other end of said flexible cord entwined and secured to,

said spool, a lock cylinder rotatably secured within said spool, Said cylinder adapted to receive a crimped key,

means for turning said spool with said lock cylinder when said key is in said lock cylinder, a plurality of stems radiatingvfromthe perimeter of said spool, a bell, said stems adapted to create audible vibrations on said bell and the closure whenever said spool is permitted to rotate.

6. In a burglar' alarm adapted for use upon a closure for an opening in a building, a case adapted to 'be se- .7 cured to the closure, a spring actuated releasing means, a bracket adapted to-be operativelysecured tothe building adjacent to said opening, said bracket `engagingand holding said releasing means in a restrained position, said bracket adapted -to be `so positioned as to free said releasing means when said closure is opened, a spring with one end secured to said case -and the otherend operatively connected to one end of a flexible cord, means for holding said `spring under tension yas long as 'said releasing -means is restrained, an indicator protruding through a slot in said case and operatively connected to said spring to show whether or not said spring is under tension, a spoolfrotatably and slidably mounted on 'said case, the other end of said -exible cord entwined and secured to said spool, a lock cylinder rotatably secured Within said spool, said cylinder adapted to receive 'a 4crimped key, means'for turning said spool with :said lock cylinder when said vkey ,-is in said lock cylinder,-a second spring at the end of. said spool 'and said lock cylinder, a rigid arm lwith a bent end portion extending radially yfrom said spool, a slot in said releasing means, said 'bent por- `tion of said arm capable of registering with 4said slot when said `second spring is compressed by lthe combined sliding and rotating movement of said spool and `said lock cylinder, means for disengaging said arm from Said slot, a plurality of stems radiating from the perimeter of said spool, a ibell, said stems adapted `to create audible vibrations on the bell and sai-d closure whenever said spool is permitted to rotate.

7. In a burglar lalarm adapted for use upon a closure for an opening in a building, a case adapted to be secured to the closure, a spring actuated releasing means, a -bracket adapted to be .operatively secured to the Ibuilding adjacent to said opening, said bracket engaging and holding said releasing means in Ia restrained position,

said -bracket adapted to Ibe so vpositioned as to vfree said releasing means when said .closure.isopened, .aspring with one end secured to said case and-the rotherrend operatively connected to one end of a `vliiel'rible cord, means for holding said springunder tensionV -asllong as said releasing means is restrained, a spooljrotatably mounted Ion said case, the other end of said flexible cord entwined and secured to said spool, a plurality of stems radiating from the perimeter of Vsaid spool; said stems adapted to creat-e audible vibrations on the closure whenever said spool is permitted to rotate.

8. In aburglar alarm adapted Vfor use upona 'closure for an opening in `a building, l`a case ladapted to be 'secured to the closure, a spring actuated releasing means, a bracket adapted to be operatively'secured tothe Vbuilding adjacent to said opening, said bracket engaging land holding said releasing means in a restrainedposition, said bracket adapted to be so positioned as to free said'relea'sing means when said closure is opened, a spring with one end secured to Isaid case and the other end operatively connected to oneend of a exi-ble cord, means for holding said spring under tension as long as saidreleasing means is restrained, a spool rotatably mounted on said case, the other end of said flexible cord entwined and Secured to saidspool, arplurality of stems radiating from the perimeter 4of said spool, and 'a Ibell; said stems adapted to create audible vibrations on said belfl `whenever said spool is permitted to rotate.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 920,681 Spencer .May 4, 1909 2,469,528 Suma May 10, 1949 2,632,887 VRusnak Mar. 24, 1953

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