US2057138A

US2057138A - Electrical protective system

Info

Publication number: US2057138A
Application number: US660961A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chester M Dowell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-03-15
Filing date: 1933-03-15
Publication date: 1936-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1953-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1936. q, DQWELL 2,057,138

ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed March 15, 1933 Chesi'er JmdD auzell WWW Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Chester M. Dowell, Huntingburg, Ind.

Application March 15, 1933, Serial No. 660,961

10 Claims. (Cl. 177-314) This invention relates to an electrical protective system and more particularly to one adapted for application to the handle of an automobile door.

The purpose of the system is to afford protection to the occupants of the automobile against invasion from the outside by unauthorized or undesirable persons. Occasion for the use of the system is particularly presented when the sole occupants of an automobile are Women or children who would otherwise be unprotected. It is well known that automobiles are exposed to attack by nefarious persons at congested centers or at traffic lights where the automobile is compelled to come to a complete stop.

An object of this invention is to provide a system which will give an electric shock to any person attempting to open the door by grasping the handle, when the system is charged.

Another object is to provide a spark gap at which an audible sound will be produced when the device is in operation.

Another object is the provision of a detachable grip for the door handle, carrying an insulated element which may be electrically charged.

Another object is the provision of an electrical conductor connected to the handle grip which does not interfere with the normal movement of the handle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of connecting means for the system which will not interfere with the opening of the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of manually controllable means for instantly putting the system into or out of operation.

Other objects will appear from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a partly diagrammatic representation of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the grip partly broken away, and in section.

Fig. 2 is a. modification providing a spark gap.

The handle 5 is operatively connected to the latch device (not shown) which holds the door 6 in closed position with respect to the frame I. Engaging with the handle 5 is a detachable grip, which, as here shown, comprises a tubular member 8 preferably made of a yieldable material having electrical insulating properties, such as rubber. The bore of the tubular member 8 may be made somewhat smaller than the usual size of the handle, so that when drawn onto the handle a tight frictional engagement will be established.

, Since the member is made of yieldable material,

it will adapt itself to the size and shape of the particular handle to which it is applied. As shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the handle remains exposed.

Carried upon the exterior of the tubular member 8 is an electrical conducting element [0. It is desirable that this be of woven wire or metallic mesh construction so that it will be flexible and will conform to the shape assumed by the tubular member when in position on a handle. The conducting element I6 is held against axial movement from the tubular member 8 by the annular flanges 9 at the ends of the member 8.

Connected to the element It) is a flexible conductor ll of any suitable character. As here shown, this conductor is a metallic chain, the end link being hooked directly onto one of the loops of the mesh element [0. The chain II is freely hung between the handle and a contact I2 supported on an insulating block I3 carried by the door, the looseness of the chain permitting movement of the handle in opening the door and also removal of the grip from the handle when desired, when the handle is turned downwardly.

A second Contact I4 is mounted on an insulating block I5 carried by the door frame, in such position that it will be engaged by the contact [2 when the door is in closed position. Although these contacts, for purposes of illustrating the invention, are shown mounted on the exterior of the door and frame, it is apparent that they may be mounted on the inside so as to conceal them. The purpose of this arrangement of the contacts is to provide an electrical connection which will 7 not interfere with the opening of the door. 5

The transformer indicated by Hi may be any form of the known electrical device which is capable of transforming a low tension current into a high tension output current, and commonly called a spark coil. One of the high tension terminals I1 is connected to the Contact M by the wire I 9, the other terminal I! being .grounded as shown at la.

The low tension terminals 20 are connected by Wires 2! and 22 to a source of low tension current as the battery 23. It is desirable that the wire 2| be extended to a point within ready reach of the operator as the dash of the automobile, and be broken to include in the circuit a switch 24. By this means the operation of the protective system is under instant manual control.

When the switch 24 is closed, the high tension current from the transformer charges the mesh element Ill and a person attempting to open the door by grasping the handle will receive a strong electric shock, thus repelling him. In grasping the handle, the intruder will necessarily bring his hand into contact with the mesh [0 and against, or close to, the exposed portions of the handle 5, thereby bringing himself in the system to complete the circuit to the ground at Hi. The presence of the insulator 8 prevents a short circuit, or leakage, of the high tension current between the mesh II! and the handle 5 and the hand which connects these parts will receive the full effect of the shock. The convenient location of the switch 24 permits the operator to disconnect the system and allow an authorized person to manipulate the handle without danger of receiv ing a shock.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with a single door, it is apparent that it may be applied to all the doors of an automobile to provide complete protection against invasion. It will be further understood that the grip, which has been shown as detachable, could as well be made integrally with the door handle at the time of manufacture, and this modification is intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

The wiring which is here shown as exposed, may be installed in and concealed by the door, and electrical connection between the door and the frame may be made at any desired place, as at a point along the hinged side of the door.

It is desirable that the controlling switch 24 be of the ordinary push button type which requires constant manual pressure to establish a connection. In this manner the device would be operative only when the switch is pressed by the occupants of the car and when the hand is removed from the switch, the switch immediately opens. There is consequently no danger of an innocent person getting a shock as no dependence is placed upon the occupants of the car to move the switch to break the circuit.

It is intended that the spark coil l6 be of the type provided with a vibrator so that a series of sparks will be delivered when the switch 24 is closed. When such a coil is operating, the vibrator makes a buzzing sound which will notify the operator that the system is functioning properly. In installations using a switch which must be positively moved to both the off and on position, the continuous buzzing sound of the spark coil when in operation serves as a reminder to the operator that the switch is on. If an innocent person is seen approaching the car, the buzzing sound notifies the car occupant to turn the system off.

As an additional provision to give a more pronounced audible sound a spark gap may be provided in the high tension circuit, at which a snapping sound will be produced by the jumping of a spark. This would give a sufficient warning that the device was in operation, or that the current was still on and would prompt the occupants of the car to throw oil the switch. It would also give a warning to a would-be assailant that the car is charged and should not be interfered with.

A suitable place for this spark gap is between the contacts l4 and [2 as shown in the modification in Fig. 2. The contact l2 may be adjustable with respect to the contact [4 to leave a suitable gap between them across which the high tension current will easily jump. Even if some method were used other than this connection at the door rail, such as the concealment of the high tension wire within the door of the car, the gap could be provided between the chain and the insulated block, or between the chain and the car handle, and at which would be produced the sparking sound upon the passage of the high tension current.

I claim:

1. An electrical protective system for a door handle of an automobile comprising a detachable grip for said handle, said grip including a flexible tubular member of insulating material receiving the handle therein and having an annular flange at each end, and a sleeve of electrical conducting material loosely carried on the exterior of the insulating material between said annular flanges, said flanges retaining the sleeve of conducting material in position and means for supplying high potential difference between said conducting material and the handle, said conducting material being insulated from the handle by said tubular member.

2. An electrical protective system for a door handle of an automobile comprising a detachable grip for said handle, said grip including a tubu-' lar member of flexible stretchable rubber which will tightly receive. andadapt itself to the contour of handles, of different sizes and shapes and a sleeve of yieldable electrical conducting material on the exterior of the tubular member, said conducting element being meshed to be capable of circumferential extension to conform to the shape assumed by the tubular member, and means for establishing a high potential difference between said conducting material and the handle, said conducting material being insulated from the handle by said tubular member.

3. An electrical protectivesystem for a door handle of an automobile comprising a detachable grip for attachment to said handle, said grip carrying an exposed electrical conducting element, insulating means between said element and the handle, a source of high tension current for establishing a high potential difference between the.

handle and said element, and conducting means between said source of current and said element and handle and including a flexible connector having one end connected to the element to permit movement of the handle, said flexible connector extending free of the handle to permit detach ment of the grip and also serving to suspend the grip apart from the handle where detached.

4. In combination in an electrical protective system for a grounded door handle of an automobile, a grip for attachment to said handle, comprising an electrical conducting element and insulating means between said element and said han-' dle, a source of high tension current for said ele-' ment and spaced from said element, and conducting means between said source of current and said element including a flexible connector permitting necessary mechanical movements of the handle, the other pole of said source of current being grounded.

5. In an electrical protective system for an automobile handle carried by a door and having a grounded element and an insulated element to be grasped by an intruder, said door being supported in a frame, the combination of a source of high tension current for said insulated element, and conducting means between one pole of said source of current and said insulated element, the other pole being grounded, said conducting means including a contact carried by the door and connected to said insulated element, and a second contact carried by the frame to engage with the first contact whenthe door is in closed position.

said second contact being connected to the source of high tension current and said contacts carried separately by the door and frame permitting opening of the door without stressing of the conducting means.

6. In an electrical protective system for an automobile handle carried by a door and having a grounded element and an insulated element to be grasped by an intruder, the combination of an electrical transformer capable of transforming a low tension current into a high tension output current, a source of low tension current connected to said transformer, said elements being connected to the high tension output of the transformer, and a manually controllable device located within the interior of the automobile in proximity to an occupant for closing or breaking the connection between the source of low tension current and the transformer.

7. In an electrical protective system, the combination with an automobile door supported in a frame, of a handle carried by the door for releasing the door from the frame, said handle including two elements insulated from each other and exposed to be both grasped by an intruder, a source of high tension current spaced apart from the door, and electrical connections between said elements and said source of high tension current including connecting means between the door and the frame permitting free movement of the door.

8. In an electrical protective system for automobile door handles, a high tension circuit comprising a handle, an element carried by the handle and insulated therefrom, a source of high tension current for said element, conducting means between the source of current and the handle, and conducting means between said source of current and said element to complete the circuit, said circuit having a gap across which the current must jump to produce an audible sound.

9. In an electrical protective system the combination with an automobile door supported in a frame, said door having a grounded handle, of an element carried by the handle and insulated therefrom, said element being adapted to be charged with a high tension current, a source of high tension current spaced apart from said door and having one pole grounded, and an electrical connection between said element and the other pole of said source of high tension current including a pair of contacts carried separately by the door and by the frame, said contacts forming a spark gap between them when the door is in closed position, at which gap an audible sound will be produced by the jumping of a spark.

10. An electrical protective system for a door handle of an automobile comprising a handle grounded to the automobile, insulating means carried by the handle and leaving exposed a portion of the handle, an electric conducting element carried by said insulating means and insulated thereby from the handle, and a source of high tension current having one pole thereof grounded to the automobile and having its other pole connected to said element, the proximity to each other of said element and exposed portion of the grounded handle providing contact points in the high tension circuit to be connected by an intruders hand.

CHESTER M. DOWELL.