US2486139A - Alarm bell - Google Patents

Description

D. FELDMAN Oct. 25, 1949.

ALARM BELL 2 Shee t s-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1948 INVENTOR.

. DAVE FflDM/HV.

film-Hamil! Oct. 25, 1949. I D..FELDMAN ALARM BELL '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1948 INVENTOR. DA VE FELDMA/V.

dug v ATTORNEK Patented Oct. 25, 1949 ALARM BELL Dave Feldman, New York, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Melvin Sommers, New York, N. Y.

Application November 26, 1948, Serial No. 62,139

Claims.

This invention relates to an alarm signalling mechanism for doors, windows and the like.

The device herein described and claimed is of the type which is frequently used on store and shop doors to signal the entry of a customer or other caller. When the device is used on windows its purpose, although analogous, is somewhat different; it is there used as a burglar alarm.

The devices of the prior art are unsatisfactory in several respects. Many of them rely upon nonpositive operating means such as centrifugal force to actuate the sound-producing mechanism. When the door or window is opened very slowly, insufficient centrifugal force is generated to produce an alarm. In other respects, the devices of the prior art are unsatisfactory, reference being here had especially to the construction of these devices. Their mechanism is unduly and undesirably complicated both from the point of view of manufacture and from the point of view of lasting and efficient performance.

The device of the present invention is devoid of these deficiencies and inadequacies of the prior art. The present device is double-acting in the sense of being adapted to perform in two directions, and it is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide an alarm signalling mechanism of the character described which functions both when the door or window to which -it is applied is being opened and when it is being closed. This is achieved by the use of an escapement mechanism connected to the sound-producing member of the device.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an alarm signalling mechanism of the character described, which makes use of a positive force to cause its actuation when its push bar or actuator is moved in either direction. In one direction a positive pushing force is applied; in the opposite direction the tensioned force of a loaded spring is applied.

A further object of this invention, corollary to the second object, is the provision of an alarm signalling mechanism of the character described, in which the positive force which actuates the mechanism in one direction also leads the spring to automatically prepare the mechanism for operation in the opposite direction. This device quite evidently never runs down in the sense that a clockwork mechanism runs down if it is not periodically reloaded. In some of the devices of the prior art, periodic reloading is required to insure their continued performance; in the present device, reloading is automatic.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an alarm signalling mechanism of the character described, whose parts are few and of relatively simple design, to adapt it for economy in production and for foolproof, long, continued and efiicient operation.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an alarm signalling mechanism of the character described, which may be geared up or down for a greater or lesser number of strokes.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from an examination of the drawing, and from a reading of the specification.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown by Way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of the first form of the invention showing it mounted on a door.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device with its ong removed, to expose its mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the spring mechanism in loaded condition.

Fig. 4 is a back view of said device.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 of a second form of this invention, two hammers or slappers being provided in this form as against the one hammer or clapper of the first form.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Figs. 3 and 5, of a third form of this invention, a gear train being provided in this form to increase the number of strokes of the hammer or clapper against the gong.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the device herein claimed (this view may relate to all three forms of the invention) showing how it is attached to a door, the door being shown in fragmentary, vertical section.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing how the device herein claimed is attached to a window which is slidable in its movement from open to closed position.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the device which comprises the first form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, detailed section through the frame of said device and through the push or thrust bar or plunger which is slidably mounted thereon.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of said plunger.

Fig. 12 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 13 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view on the line |4|4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional View of the ng.

Referring now to the first form of this invention, it will be seen that this form includes a frame 20 which has a downwardly extending flange 2| extending peripherally thereof. This frame may be aifixed to a door 22 or to a window 23 with its flange directly abutting said door or window. A space is thereby defined between the frame 20 and the surface of the door or window, and it is in said space that the plunger or thrust bar 25 of the device is slidably disposed. An opening 26 is formed in flange 2| to allow the thrust bar or plunger to project outwardly from the frame of the device.

It will be seen in Fig. 11 that said thrust bar or plunger is provided with a pair of spaced, aligned slots 28 and it will be seen in Fig. that these slots are adapted to accommodate a pair of shouldered rivets 29 which are aifixed to frame 20 of the device. These rivets serve as guiding pins for the thrust bar to enable said thrust bar to engage in reciprocatory movement along a given diametric line. These rivets also serve to provide a track between their respective heads 30 and frame 20 for said thrust bar and shoulders 31 on said rivets serve to space the heads of the rivets from said frame to maintain a given track dimension.

The outwardly extending end of thrust bar 25 is bent over in one direction to the extent of 90 and then backwardly and upon itself to the extent of 180, thereby providing an end piece 35 which is at right angles to the main part of the thrust bar. This end piece 35 is bent downwardly as shown in Fig. 10 when the device is intended for use on a door. It is bent upwardly, however, that is in the opposite direction, when the device is intended for use on a window. The downwardly extending piece 35 is best shown in Fig. '7. The upwardly extending piece 36 is shown in Fig. 8.

When the device is used in connection with a door, end piece 35 extends in the crack between the door and the door jamb 40 on the hinged edge. The device is so positioned on the door, that when the door is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, the thrust bar is at its innermost position. When the device is applied to a Window, end piece 36 rests upon the sill M of the window frame. Again the device is so located that the thrust bar is at its innermost position when the window is in closed position.

The means by which the thrust bar 25 is moved to its outermost position is tension spring 45.

This tension spring is disposed above frame 20 as is shown in Fig. 9. It is attached at one end to a post 48 which extends upwardly from frame 20 and its opposite end is connected to a finger il which is bent up out of the metal of the thrust bar and which projects upwardly through an opening 48 in frame 2i]. Hence, when the door is moved into open position and the space between it and the jamb 49 is thereby enlarged, spring 45 is enabled to push the thrust bar outwardly from frame 20, through opening 25, as far as said thrust bar will be permitted to go. When the door is moved into closed position, and the space between it and the door pamb is thereby diminished, the movement of the door toward the jamb will cause a corresponding movement of the thrust bar inwardly of frame 20. This inward movement of the thrust bar takes place against the action of the spring and the spring is thereby loaded by virtue of said movement. Hence, when the door is again moved into open position, the spring tension causes the thrust bar to move outwardly of frame 20.

A lug 56 is provided on thrust bar 25 to serve as a stop member against flange 2'! to prevent outward movement of said thrust bar beyond a given limit. Inner end 2511. of bar 25 serves as a stop against flange 2| for the thrust bar limitirsg its movement in the opposite direction (Fig. 1

Extending tongues 25?) and 250 are positioned 4 to bear against the surface of frame to impart more stability to it during sliding movements. 1

What has been said of the device with respect to its application to a door applies equally as well with respect to its application to a window. The engagement of end piece 36 with window sill 4| causes the thrust bar to move inwardly of frame 20 against the action of tension spring 45 and closing the window has, therefore, the effect of loading the spring. Hence, when the window is moved to open position, the spring acts upon the thrust bar and causes it to move outwardly of frame 28.

It is this inward and outward movement of the thrust bar that actuates the sounding mechanism of the device. This sounding mechanism comprises a gong 60, a clapper 6i which cooperates therewith, an escapement 53 which is connected to said clapper, an escapement wheel 65 which engages and actuates said escapement, a pinion gear 6! which is fixedly connected to or integral with said escapement wheel and a gear segment 69 which is in mesh with and which drives said pinion 61. Gear segment 69 is engaged by the thrust bar in such manner as to convert the linear reciprocatory movement of the thrust bar to oscillatory movement of the gear segment. This causes a corresponding reciprocatory rotary movement of pinion 8i and escapement wheel 65, thereby effecting an escapement action of escapement 63 and a striking movement of the clapper against the gong.

A stud 7D is fixed on frame 28, centrally thereof. It extends in the opposite direction from that of flange 2!. It has a head TI and a shank portion 12 immediately adjacent said head which are non-circular in cross-section to snugly fit and key with a correspondingly shaped hole in frame 20, the end of the shank being headed over to produce head ll. Slot it is provided in the thrust bar to accommodate and provide clearance for stud head H. Since the shank of the stud and the frame opening through which it extends are of non-circular shape, rotary movement of the stud relative to the frame is pre-' vented. An enlarged portion 15, in cooperation with stud head ll, prevents axial movement of the stud relative to the frame. It is upon this stud that gear segment 59' is rotatably mounted, and it is held in place on said stud by .means of a washer H which is press-fitted upon said stud, allowing just sufficient clearance to permit free swinging movement of gear segment 55. Also supported by stud it is gong 6B which is screwthreadedly engaged with the screw-threaded end 18 of said stud, the gong 61] being provided with a boss 60a having an internal thread Etc, the reduced end of said boss extending through the gong (Fig. 15) and being headed 'over as at 6% to be securely united with the gong.

The gear segment 6?. is provided with a forked yoke which is engaged by a finger 8|, bent out of the metal of thrust bar '25, to extend upwardly therefrom. This is clearly seen in Figs. 2 and '9. Hence, when the thrust bar moves axially thereof, it causes oscillatory movement of the gear segment about stud iii.

Pinion gear ti and escapement wheel 65 are fixed to each other in any well known manner, and both are rotatably mounted on pin or rivet 85. Escapement 63 and clapper 6i are integral with each other and are rotatably mounted on pin or rivet 86. Pins or rivets and 8B are so spaced from each other as to provide for en gagement between the escapement wheel and the escapement. Pin or rivet 85 is so spaced relative to stud as to provide for engagement between pinion 61 and gear segment 69.

The action of the mechanism should now be clear. As the door or window opens or closes longitudinal movement of the thrust bar and oscillatory movement of the gear segment is caused. This has the effect of causing pinion 61 and escapement wheel 65 to engage in rotary movement and thereby to cause reciprocatory movement of the escapement and its clapper, thereby bringing the clapper into striking engagement with the gong on both the inward and outward stroke of the thrust bar.

The form of invention shown in Fig. 5 is similar to the form above described with this exception: its escapement 90 is connected to twin clappers 9| and 92 instead of to one clapper only. These two clappers are diametrically opposite each other so as to enable them alternately to strike the gong as the escapement engages in its customary reciprocating movement. Hence, in this form of the invention for each complete cycle of the escapement action the gong is struck twice whereas in the first form of the invention for each complete cycle the gong is struck only once.

The form of invention shown in Fig. 6 differs from the first form in that gear segment I00 is slightly differently shaped from gear segment 69 and in that it engages a pinion Illl instead of pinion 61. Pinion I0! is fixedly connected to a relatively large gear wheel I02 and both the pinion I0! and gear Wheel I02 are rotatably mounted on pin or rivet I03. This pin or rivet is so positioned relative to pin or rivet 85 as to provide meshing engagement between gear Wheel I02 and pinion 61; the yoke 80a of the gear segment lllil being suitably formed to engage the finger 8la extending upwardly from the thrust bar 25. The

net eifect is to provide for increased rotary movement of pinion 61 and escapement Wheel 65, and hence for a higher vibratory rate of the clapper.

It may be desirable to vary the length of stroke of the clapper and to that end there is provided in the frame a relatively large opening Glb directly under the clapper arm 61a, so that a pair of pliers or other suitable instrument may be inserted through the back of the frame to grasp the arm 6| to bend or deform it with respect to the flange 2|.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is descriptive solely of preferred forms of the invention. Other forms of the invention and modifications of the described forms are included within the broad scope of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An alarm signalling mechanism of the character described comprising a frame, a thrust bar on said frame which is movable longitudinally of itself in either direction, a spring connected to said thrust bar for urging it in one direction, a post in the center of the frame, a gong supported on said post, a gear segment oscillatably mounted on said post, a tongue on said gear segment engaged by said thrust bar for oscillating said gear segment as the thrust bar reciprocates, a pinion rotatably mounted on said frame for engagement with said gear segment, an escape-- ment wheel fixedly connected to said pinion, an escapement mounted on said frame for engagement with said escapement wheel, a clapper integral with said escapement and a gong supported by said frame for engagement with said clapper.

2. An alarm signalling mechanism of the character described comprising a frame, a gong supported by said frame, a clapper pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of engagement with said gong, an escapement connected to said clapper, an escapement wheel operatively engaged with said escapement, a pinion coaxially connected to said escape-ment wheel, a gear segment pivotally mounted on said frame for engagement with said pinion, and a thrust bar slidably mounted in said frame for to and fro axial movement, said thrust bar being springurged for movement in one of said directions and being provided with a gear segment engaging member which engages said gear segment and causes angular movement thereof when axial movement of the thrust bar takes place.

3. An alarm signalling mechanism of the character described comprising a frame, a gong supported by said frame, a clapper pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of striking engagement with said gong, an escapement connected to said clapper, an escapement wheel operatively engaged with said escapement, a pinion coaxially connected to said escapement wheel, a gear segment pivotally mounted on said frame for engagement with said pinion and a thrust bar slidably mounted in said frame for axial movement in either direction, said thrust bar being spring urged for movement in one of said directions and being provided with a gear segment engaging member which engages said gear segment and causes rotative movement thereof When axial movement of the thrust bar takes place, such rotative movement of the gear segment causing corresponding rotation of the pinion and escapement wheel and reciprocatory movement of the escapement and clapper, whereby said clapper is brought into repeated striking engagement with said gong.

4. An alarm signalling mechanism in accordance with claim 3 in which the clapper is provided with two diametrically opposed gong striking heads for alternate striking engagement with the gong.

5. In an alarm signalling mechanism of the character described, a gong, a clapper pivotally mounted for striking engagement with said gong, an escapement connected to said clapper for causing oscillation thereof, an escapement wheel operatively engaged with said escapement, a pinion axially secured to said escapement wheel, a gear segment in meshing engagement with said pinion, a tongue on said gear segment, a reciprocable spring-retracted slide bar having a part engageable with said tongue for oscillating the gear segment, thereby causing pivotal movement of the clapper relative to the gong for striking engagement therewith,

DAVE FELDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 492,070 Van Wormer Feb. 21, 1893 515,991 Bradley Mar. 6, 1894 1,046,080 Kramer Dec. 3, 1912 1,653,301 Martinka Dec. 20, 192'? 2,438,167 Heard Mar. 23, 1948

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