US1654931A - Theft-alarm device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1928. I 1,654,931 M. GREENE THEFT ALARM DEVICE I Filed June 4, 1926 2 Sheets$he et l 3 wueu bot Marius fra /Z Patented Jan. 3, 1928;

; NITED {STATES PATENT cr ics:

MARIUS GREENE; or NEW. YORK, N. Y1, ASSiGJSlOR orflonnr fmn To WILLIAM e1 CHITTICK AND ONE-THIRD roJoHn MOTTERSHEAD, Born ornn'w YORK, N. Y.

THEFT-ALARM DEVICE.

Application filed June 4,

This invention relates improvements in theft alarm devices, and has particular ref erence to electrical apparatus, including a novel circuit closinpmeans, adaptable for usetin automobiles and other environments.

In. its broader aspects, the invention contemplates the use of a theft alarm, either audible, visible, or both. included in an electric circuit having a source of currentsupply, said circuit, being normally open and. having a circuit closer which may be actuated by vibrations set up by. unauthorized use of or tampering with the device to which the invention is applied. Preferably key-controlledswitch may be included in the circuit.

insuch a manner that an authorized person having the key may open the circuit and use the device without effecting operation otthc alarm: unit, and thereafter the apparatus maybe set by closing the key-controlled switch and removing the key.

An important object of the invention isto provide a circuit closing device. for use in such a theft alarm system, whereina contact member in the circuit is caused to vibrate and thus close the circuit when the device is moved or tampered with.

' Another object is to provide such a device which will effectively operate in any position in which itv may be left bythe' authorized person.

Another object is to provide such a device with adjusting; means to vary the sensitivity of the device .in accordance with necessity in its particular environment.

Another object is to provide a complete theft alarm system which will be particulai ly adapted for use in motor vehicles and the like, and which will embody an improved automatic circuit closer of the above mentioned character. 1

Another object is toprovide such athett alarm system wherein the alarm unit is broughtinto operation by iminstantaneous closing of the circuit and continues in operation after the circuit has been again'broken in the initial circuit-closingmechanism.

Another object is to provide such a theft alarm system with a manually operated and preferably key-controlled switch having means for resetting the mechanism after the alarm has been given. I

Other objects and advantages'will heapparent from the following description, ref

. erencc being had to theaccompanying draw- 1926. Serial No. 113,623.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of said circuit closing means;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, similar to Figure 2, showing the contact member in position for closing the circuit;

Figure 6 is a' transverse sectional view on the line '66 of Figure 2.;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the manually operated switch and resetting mechanism, parts being broken away; and

Figure 8 is an end elevation of said switchper se. v I

The invention has been shown in Figure 1 as applied to an automobile, and'wl1ile'- it is especially adapted for such use, it is notrestricted to such environment but may be used in jewelry sates, bank vaults. trunks, and other articles wherein atheft alarm'system is desirable. c Referring now to the drawings in detail, an automobile chassis frame 10 is diagram matically illustrated in vFig.1; as equipped with a battery 11 or other suitable source of electrical energy. connected electrically with a manually operated switch 12, an auto- 7 maticdrop'unit 13, an audible signal 14,41 visiblesig'nal-15. and'an improved auton'iatic circuit closer 16. i 1

The manually operated switch 12 prel ei ably includes a key-controlled lock having: a, housing 17 as best shown in Figures 7 and y 8, saidhousing being formed of dielectric materiahsuch as bakclite, and secured "to a supporting bracket 18 by means of which it may be mounted. housing 17 is recessedas at 19 in Fig. 8 and providedwith a pairof opposedgspaced contact members 20 and 21, formed otresilient metal and fitted with terminals 22 and 23 respectively. Rotatable in thehousing 17,

10a The lower side of the and between the extremitiesof the contact,

members-20 and 21, is atumbler cylinder 24 COl'ltlTOllQClfbY azkey 25. a-nd provided adja cent its lower end with an insulated conductor 26 adapted to bridge the gap between the contacts 20 and 21 when the cylinder is turned to its locked position. \Vhen the cylinder is turned to its unlocked position, the circuit is broken across the contacts .20 and 21.

The automatic-drop unit 13 may be of any ordinary or preferred type and includes a switch contact 27 adapted to be engaged by a aring-pressed switch arm 28 which is normally held out of engagement with the contact 27 and against the action of its spring, by a lug on armature 29 of an electro-i'uagnet 30. The unit 13 is further provided with three binding posts or terminals 31, and -3, and internally wired as follows: from tcrn'iinal 31 to the switch contact 27; from terminal 32 to the pivot post of switch arm 28; and from tern'iinal 33 to the electromagnct 30, and from the electro-inagnct back to terminal 32. From this it will be evident that when the electro-magnet 230 is energized, it will attract the armature Q9 and thus release the switch arm whereupon said switch arm is moved by its spring against the contact 27 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. The alarm circuit will then be closed, and will remain closed until it is manually broken, and the switch arm 28 returned to its normally open position.

In order to facilitate resetting, the manually operated switch 12 is mounted in close proxin'iity to auton'iatic-drop unit 13, as best shown in Fig. 7, and the lower or inner end of the cylinder 24-. carries a depending offset finger 36 which is adapted to selectively engage the switch arm 28. The linger 3G preferably extends in diametrical alinement with the conductor 26 and insulated from it in any suitable manner, the arrangement being such that when the tumbler turned so the circuit is closed between the contacts 20 and 21, the finger 36 is out of engagement with the switch arm 28, and when the cylinder is turned through an angle of tlPplOXlllliltGly ninety degrees, said linger 36 occupies a position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. Under the latter condition, the switch arm 28 is lllCtlptlblC of mm'ement to contact 27.

The signal means 1a and 15 may be of any ordinary type, the unit 14: being preferably an electrically operated. siren, horn or hell capable of giving audible alarm, and the unit 15 being an electric lamp or the like. Either one or both of the signal units 1 1 and 15, may be used, and when both are used, they are preferably connected in parallel.

In order to frustrate theft, unauthorized use of, or tampering with the device, it has been found desirable to employ an automatic circuit closer of such sensitivity as to be operated by the slightest movement or vibration of the device. To this end, the unit 16 is provided, a preferred embodiment being shown in detail in Figures 2 to (3 inelusive. It includes a fixed conductor 40 preferably in the form of an elongated n c tallic rod supported by closure plugs ll 1n the opposite ends of a cylindrical casing or container 412. The plugs 11 are preferably formed of dielectric material such as rubher, while the casing may be metallic and provided with a clamping member 1 2' by means of which it .may be mounted on any suitable support or portion is; of the automobile, said clamping member being insulated from the container as indicated at 15. Any suitable means may be provided for securing the conducting rod 4:0 in place; for GXElll'lPlQ, a cotter pin to may attend transversely through one projecting end of the rod, while the other end may be threaded for the reception of a nut 47.

Supported by the rod t0 within the casing 42 is a pair of spaced insulation bushings 4-8 and 19, adjustably secured ly set screws 50, and each bushing being reduced in diameter at its inner end to provide opposed supporting seats for the outer ends of Coil spring sections 51 and 52. [the inner ends of the spring sections abut against and are secured to a contact memoer in the form of an annulus having a central aperture 5% of greater diameter than that of the rod 4:0, said annulus cncirclii'ig a portion of said rod. The arrangement is such that the distance between the inner periphery of the annulus and the surface of the rod 10 is equal to the distance between the outer periphery of the annulus and the inner surface of the casing 12. The spring sections are preferably under tension, and from this it *ill be evident that the contact member 53 will be yieldably supported and adapted to simultaneously contact with both the rod and the casing at opposite sides of 1115 center as shown by dotted lines in l ig. (3. Such movement of the contact member 52; is caused by vibration of the spring sections, iuitiated by iiiovement or vibration oi the auto-- mobile or othcr device in which it is mounted. Any suitable means may he provided for connecting the contact iiicmhcr to one pole of an electric circuit. lll this case a wire 55 being shown as attached to the spring section the other end oi said wire being connected to the terminal 323 on the auto matic-drop unit 13.

Referring again to .lfig. 1, the wiring con. nections of the parts are as follows: From the positive pole of the battery 11, a conductor 5b to terminal of the switch 12, while the negative pole of the battery is groruided as at 57. The terminal 9% of said switch is connectcul by wire 58 to the intermediate terminal 32 of the automatic drop unit, and a wire 59 extends from the terminal 31 to the teri'uinal (30 of the alarm unit 14, the other terminal (51. of said alarm uni t being grounded as at (32. The threaded end lilo of the rod 40 is grounded at 63, and in the event that the casing is is formed of con- 21, thus breaking the circuit and rendering the ,inechanism inoperative.

At the same time, the finger 36 engages the switch arm 28 preventing its movement to closed position even though it should be released by the armature 29.

If it is desired to leave the automobile, such as when parking it in the street, the legitimate user may set the theft alarm by turning the key and then removing it. In this condition, the alarm circuit is complete through the switch 12, and is only interrupted by restraint of the switch arm 28. Thereafter, the slightest movement of the automobile incident to attempted theft or tampering therewith will cause the resil ient support of the contact member 53 to vibrate and resulting in closing the circuit through the automatic circuit closer 16. When the circuit is thus closed, even though for just an instant, current flows from the battery 11 through wire 56, through switch 12, through wire 58, through the electromagnct 30, to post 33, through wire 55, through automatic circuit closer 16, to ground at 63. As the. current passes through electro-magnet 30, it energizes the same, attracting the armature 29 and thus releasing the switch arm 28 which is immediately moved by its spring to contact 27. The alarm circuit is then complete, current flowing from the battery to the switch 12 as above described, thence through Wire 58 to the pivot of arm 28 to contact 27, terminal 31, and then through wire 59 to terminal of alarm member let and returning to battery through ground at 62. In this manner the alarm is given to call public attention to the fact that the automobile is being stolen, and the alarm "will continue without interruptioi'i until the owner or other legitimate person arrives with the key by means of which he may manually break the'circuit and reset the device.

The various units and wiring employed in the system may be mounted in any suitable mann-er, preferably under the seat cushions where they will be concealed from view, and therefore not subject to unauthorized tampering without actuating the alarm.

The construction of the circuit closer 16 is such that it may beinstalled in any position, that is, either horizontal, vertical, or otherwise, and variations in position will not affect the suspended position of the contact member 53 relative to the conductors 40 and 4-2. This feature is particularly advantageous, and in fact'necessary, for an auto mobile theft alarm, because automobiles are frequently parked on hills and the like, under which conditions devices having gravity-controlled members have become inoperative. 3 i i It may be found necessary to provide different tension on the springs Sland 52 for different makes of cars, and to this end, the

tensionmay be varied by adjustment of the bushi'ngstti and 4.9,said adjustment being preferably made at the time ofinstallation, and if desired the container 42 maythere after be permanently sealed.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a. substantial improvement has been made in this art, and that a circuit closer of extreme simplicity, sensitivity and reliability has been produced. The invention is, of course,

susceptible of modification, in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a circuit closing device for electric circuits, an elongated conductor adapted to be connected to one side of a circuit, an an nular contact member surrounding a portion of said conductor and normally spaced therefrom, and resilient supporting means for said contact member, said supporting means being connected to the opposite side of the circuit and adapted to vibrate to close I the circuit, and a tubular container enclosing said parts, said container being formed of conducting material and electrically connected to the same side of the circuit as the elongated conductor. p

2. In a circuit closing device for electric theft alarm circuits, a rigid conductor adapted to be connected to one pole of a circuit, an annular contact member surrounding a'portion of said conductor and normally spaced therefrom, said contact memher being connected to the opposite pole of the circuit, and a coil spring for resiliently.

supporting said. contact member and capable of transverse vibration in any direction to close the circuit and a second rigid conductor encircling the annular contact member in the same space-relationship as that between the first rigid conductor-and the annular contact member, said second rigid conductor being of the same polarity as the first.

3. In a circuit closer of the character described, a tubular container, a conducting rod extending longitudinally within the con tainer, an annular contact member surrounding the conducting rod intermediate its ends and normally spaced from the outer surface of said conducting rod, coil spring sections Ill) secured to opposite sides of the annular contact member, insulation bushings mounted on the conducting rod and adapted to support said spring sections under compression, means for connecting the conducting rod to one pole of an electric circuit, and means for connecting the coil sprineto the other pole of the circuit, whereby vibration oi? the spring' will cause closing of the circuit.

4. In a circuit closer oi the character dcseribed, a tubular container, a conducting rod extending longitudinally Within the container, an. annular contact member surrounding); the conducting rod intermediate its ends and normally spaced from the outer surface of said conducting; rod, coil spring sections secured to opposite sides of the an nular contact member, insulation bushings mounted on the conducting rod in spaced relation and adapted to support said spring sections under con'lpression, means 1.3617111)- ting relative adjustment of said insulation hushings to vary the comm-""011 of the sprin sections and means for respectively connecting the conducting rod and the annular contact member to opposite poles of an. electric circuit.

MARIUS GREENE.

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