US2868915A - Window alarm device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1959 A. s. LOPEZ wmnow ALARM DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 0510 BY 5 F Filed June 27, 1957 Jan. 13, 1959 Filed June 27, 1957 A. s. LOPEZ 2,868,915

WINDOW ALARM DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W "mu J11 Z m 82 v t I h h m,

1N VENTOR.

BY A 7' ORNE Y A.s. LOPEZ wnmow ALARM DEVICE Jan. 13, 1959 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filgd June 27. 1957 INVENTOR. AV/bnsa filo 022 BY ITTUENE K limited States Patent WINDOW ALARM DEVICE Alfonso Lopez, Queens Village, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1957, Serial No. 668,529

3 Claims. (Cl. Mil-61.72)

This invention relates generally to alarm devices, and more particularly has reference to a device of this nature mountable upon one of the sashes of a double-hung window, in a position engaging the other sash, with the device being so designed as'to cause an alarm' to be energized responsive to any'relative movement of the sashes.

A continuing difficulty persists in providing alarm devices, designed to detect the opening of a window by a burglar or other unauthorized individual. It has been heretofore proposed to provide window-mounted alarm devices, and the present invention does not encompass such devices in the broadest aspects. Rather, the invention is directed to an improved construction for a device falling within this category.

One important object of the present invention is to provide. a window-mounted alarm device, usable to particular advantage on double-hung windows, which device will be extremelysensitive to any relative movement of the sashes, so as to cause the alarm to be energized instantly, responsive even to a very slight movement of the sashes relative to each other.

Another object is to so design the alarm device that although mounted upon the lower sash in position engaging the other sash, it will operate to energize the alarm regardless of which sash is moved.

A further object is to permit the alarm device to operate whether the windows are in closed or in open position, that. is, the device is capable of use. even in instances in which oneof the sashes is left open for ventilation purposes.

Another objectis toprovide an alarm device of the character stated that will be of a particularly improved, simplified construction, so as to permit its manufacture at relatively low cost.

Still another object is to facilitate the mounting of the device upon a window.

A further object is to permit adjustments to be made for accommodating the device to sashes of different thickness.

Still another object is to permit further adjustments to be made as regards the tensioning of spring means associated with the device, with this adjustment being such as to permit selective variation of the tension used upon a swingable spacer device that normally holds the alarm in its set position.

Still another object is to permit selective variations in the tension provided in a spring means that is used for biasing a movable portion of the switch device to its switch-closing position from its set or switch-opening position.

Still another object is to permit the device to be rendered inoperative by the householder whenever desired, so that the windows can he opened or closed without sounding of the alarm.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objectsand advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawspasms Ratented Jan. 13, 1959 'ice ings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a window on which is mounted an alarm device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the device in side elevation, said device being shown in full and dotted lines in its switch-closing and opening positions, respectively, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, on the same scale as Pi 2, as seen from the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view longitudinally through the device, substantially on line of Fig. 3, the scale being enlarged still further, the device being shown in its switch-closing and opening positions in full and dotted lines, respectively.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the same scale as Fig. 4, substantially on line of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, on the same scale as Fig. 4, taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, on a. scale slightly smaller than that of Fig. 4, of the swingable plate or shell of the device.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a spring connector plate element.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a slidably adjustable spacer yoke support plate.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the stationary base.

Referring to the drawings in detail, designated generally at it is a conventional frame of a double-hung window, said window including the relatively vertically slidable lower and upper sashes 12, 14, respectively, the lower sash having the horizontally extending top rail 36, while the upper sash has the pane iii. The remaining portions of the sashes need not be described, since they have no particular importance or function in the operation of the device.

The device constituting the present invention has been generally designated at 2d. As will be noted from Fig. 1, the device is adapted to be mounted upon the top rail 16 of the lower sash. It will be understood, however, that this is merely a preferred mounting of the invention, and it is believed that in some forms in which the device may be commercially manufactured, it might be mounted upon the, upper sash, to contact the lower sash. Then again, the device could operate on relative movement of horizontally rather than vertically shiftable sashes, this beinga desirable characteristic of the invention in view of the comparatively recent popularity of windows of the latter type. Still further, it is believed that the device may quite possibly be used on sashes having metal frames, rather than the wooden frames illustrated. All these possible modifications are thought sufliciently obvious as not to require special illustration herein.

In any event, in the illustrated example the device includes a base 22 (Figs. 4 and 10), which is of rightanguiar or inverted l..-shape, including a horizontal upper leg 23 and a vertically depending lower leg 25.

In the illustrated example the base, as well as the swingable shell and the slidably adjustable yoke support plate, is formed of molded plastic, since this is a readily molded, inexpensive, electrically insulative material. Alternatively, these parts could be made of metal, but in this event it would, of course, be necessary to use electrical insulation at certain locations on the components, to prevent short-circuiting or electric shocks.

In any event, the base 22, at the distal end of the horizontal leg 23, is integrally formed with an upwardly 2,sae,915

3 projecting, transversely extending wall 24, braced at opposite sides of leg 23 by triangular extensions 26 integral with the body portion of the leg 23 and the end wall 24 thereof.

Adjacent the lower, distal end of the leg 25, there is formed, medially between opposite sides of said leg 25, an opening 28. Integrally formed upon the opposite sides of the leg 23 and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom are apertured ears 3d. Extendable through the opening 28 and through the apertures of the ears 30 are lag screws 32, 34 respectively (Fig. 4) fixedly connecting the base to the top rail 16 in a position embrac mg the top rail. As will presently appear, the entire device can be preassembled, so as to be sold as a unitary assembly, which assembly can be mounted upon the window in operative position merely by connecting the screws 32, 34 to the top rail 16 of the lower sash 12. Of course, other means can be employed for connecting the device to the top rail, and it may be desired to use threaded hooks or nails, or other means that could be readily removed whenever desired if it is intended to remove the alarm device for use elsewhere. These, of course, constitute relatively minor details that do not have any particularly important bearing on the successful operation of the invention.

Integrally formed upon the opposite sides of and projecting outwardly from leg 25 are transversely aligned, vertically disposed ears or brackets 36, having transversely aligned openings. brackets 36 are the side walls of the vertically depending leg of the swingable shell 37. Shell 37, as shown in Fig. 7, is of right-angular or inverted L-shape, and is of channel formation, with the channel opening toward the base 22. The channeled plate constituting the shell has been designated at 33, and is molded of a single piece of plastic or other electrically insulative material in the preferred, illustrated embodiment.

Shell 37 has its channeled, vertically depending leg in embracing relation to the brackets 36, and formed in the walls of said leg are openings aligned with the openings of the brackets or ears 36 to receive pivot pins 40, whereby the shell is mounted for swinging movement between the full and dotted line positions of Fig. 4, about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the base outwardly a short distance from top rail 16 of bottom sash 12, in parallel relation to said top rail 16.

The side walls of the shell 37 have been designated at 42.

Referring to Fig. 4, resilient, yielding means is connected between the base and the shell, tending to normally swing the shell about its axis 40 to the full line position shown in this figure of the drawing. Said means comprises a contractile, coil spring 44, one end of which is hooked through an opening provided in end wall 24, with the other end of the spring being hooked through the eye of an eye bolt 46 that is loose in an opening of the vertical leg of shell 37, and that is threadedly engaged with a nut 48 bearing against the outer surface of said vertical leg.

It will be apparent that by rotating the nut 48 in a selected direction, the tension of the spring 44 can be increased or decreased, as desired, so that in this way, there is an adjustment of the force with which the shell is normally urged to its full, switch-closing position of Fig. 4. The adjustment can be made from a location exteriorly of the shell 37 as clearly apparent from Fig. 4, thus facilitating the making of adjustments with the device in its mounted position, so that the adjustments can be checked to determine if they are the best possible adjustments that can be made considering the circumstances of the particular mounting of the device.

Referring to Fig. 7, formed in the horizontal leg of the shell 37, adjacent the juncture of said horizontal leg with the vertical leg of the shell, is a comparativelylarge, circular aperture 56 disposed medially between opposite In embracing relation to the sides of said horizontal leg and receiving a manually operated switch 52 that is conventional per se, and that has a rotary switch button projecting upwardly from the horizontal leg of the shell. Switch 52 constitutes a main control switch, which can be manually operated in a manner to be made presently apparent, for the purpose of rendering the device inoperative whenever desired.

Also formed in the horizontal leg of shell 37, and extending along the longitudinal median thereof, is an elongated closed slot 54.

A spacer yoke support plate 56 (Figs. 4 and 9) constitutes another one of the main components of the invention, and is also, in the illustrated embodiment but not necessarily, formed of a single piece of molded plastic material. Support plate 56 is of channeled formation, including depending side walls 58, which are inslidable contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls 42. Thus, the channeled horizontal leg of shell 37 is in embracing relation to the support plate 56, with the support plate sliding in a path parallel to the length of the horizontal leg of the shell 37, toward and away from the pane 18 of the upper sash 14. I

As readily seen from Figs. 4 and 9, the web of the support plate 56 has a longitudinally, centrally extending, closed slot 60 aligned with the slot 54, for extension of a connecting bolt 62 through both of the slots. The upper portion of the bolt 62 (see Fig. 4) receives a wing nut 64, which bears against the wide, horizontal, outer portion 66 of a right-angular spring connector element 68. Said upper portion of the element 68 overlies the horizontal leg of the shell 37, with the bolt 62 extending loosely through an opening of the element. The vertically depending portion of the element is of a width less than the width of the slots 54, 60, and the free end of said vertically depending portion is apertured and extends downwardly within the support plate as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

A contractile coil spring 70 is hooked at one end through the opening of the element, and at its other end is hooked through an opening formed in the flattened, comparatively wide bight of a U-shaped yoke 72, the legs of which are formed with inwardly directed extensions or trunnions 73 (Fig. 4) that are rotatably engaged in transversely aligned openings formed in the side walls of the support plate 56. The yoke projects beyond the outer or forward end of the support plate 56, toward the pane or glass 18, or upper sash 14, and spring 70 is adapted to bias the yoke into engagement with either of a pair of lugs 74 disposed, respectively, above and below the pivot axis of the yoke.

It will be understood that when the yoke is moved to a position in which it would be wholly in a plane common to the plane of the pivot axis of the yoke and of the spring-receiving opening of the depending part of the element 68, the spring is on dead center, so that the yoke is not swung either upwardly or downwardly. The yoke is kept on dead center, in these circumstances, by frictional engagement of the bight thereof against the glass 18.

The friction between the bight of the yoke 72 and the glass 18 is increased by reason of the fact that the shell 37, which of course carries the yoke and the plate 56, is'under strong pressure tending to bias the same in the direction of the glass 18, due to the contractile tendency of the spring 44.

The device 20 may be mounted at any suitable location on the top rail 16, preferably at or near the corner of the window where it could be hidden from view with a window drape or the like.

As seen in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 1, an alarm unit 76 of the electrical type, such as the buzzer, bell, gong, etc., may be mounted upon the wall at any desired location. Thus, the unit may be located either near or at a location remote from the window, Further, a single alarm unit 76 could be electrically connected to a plurality of the 5 alarm devices, whereby to cause the alarm unit to be energized responsive to movement of any one of said devices to a closed position. The wiring connections that would be involved in this instance are believed readily etfected by a skilled electrician, and accordingly need not be detailed herein.

In any event, the alarm unit would, of course, be connected with a source of electricity, as shown at 78 in Fig. 4. The lead extending from one'terminal of alarm unit 76 to one side of the source of electricity has been designated at 80. The source could be a better, so as to power the device independently of the house wiring system and thereby insure that the device will been energized even if the wiring system of the house is tampered with. Alternatively, the source could, of course,

be the conventional house supply.

Extending from the "other side of the source 78 is a lead 82, which as shown in Fig. 4 extends with a lead 84 in the sheath of an electric cord 86 (Figs. 4 and 6).

Lead 82 is connected to a terminal or binding post 88, threadedly engaged in an opening of the vertical leg of the base 22. Lead 84 extends upwardly within the shell 37, and is connected to one terminal of the main control switch'S2. 'Extending from the-other terminal of the switch 52 is a' lead 90, connected to a terminal screw 92, that extends through an opening formed in the shell, in opposed relation to the terminal 88. A nut 94 threaded on the screw 92 holds the lead 90 connected thereto, and in addition permits the screw 92 to be adjusted toward or away from the terminal 88 to insure that a proper contact will be made when the device is operated, and to insure, further, that when the device is in its set, dotted line position in Fig. 4, there will be no arcing between the terminals.

The screw 92 thus constitutes a bridging element, providing an electrical connection between the leads 82, 90 whenever the device is in the full line position of Fig. 4.

V The lead 84, as previously noted, is connected to one terminal of the switch 52. Therefore, if the switch 52 is in open position, the device cannot operate under any circumstances, even though it shifts to the full line position of Fig.4. This is due to the fact that the circuit including the source of' electricity and the alarm unit 76 is opened by the switch 52, even if the bridging element 92 is in engagement with the terminal 88.

Assuming that it is desired to use the device for detecting relative movement of the sashes 12, 14, one would mount the device as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Then, the device is swung outwardly from the upper sash, to the dotted line position of Fig. 4 and the yoke 72 is manually swung upwardly so that the spring 70 is on dead center. 'As previously noted, spring 44, being placed under increased tension, tends to swing the shell toward the pane 18, so that a secure frictional engagement is maintained between the yoke and the pane. At the same time, however, any movement of the sash 18 either upwardly or downwardly, or for that matter any upward ordownward movement of the lower sash 12 relative to the upper sash, will cause the yoke 72 and spring 76 to move out of a dead center position, with the yoke moving either upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction of relative movement of the sashes. Therefore, spring '70 is now free to contract, and immediately swings the yoke '72 into engagement with the upper or lower stop lugs 74, depending upon the direction in which the yoke was shifted by the relative movement of the sashes.

The spacer yoke thus no longer prevents swinging movement of the shell 37 toward the glass 18. Spring 44, contracting, thus snaps the shell to its full line position of Fig. 4, causing bridging element 92 to contact terminal 88. Assuming that the switch 52 was previously irr'its circuit-closing position, there will be closed, instantaneously, a circuit to the alarm unit 76 so that the alarm will sound.

Thus, it will be observed that on relative vertical movement of the sashes, resulting from movement of either sash from its previous position, the alarm will sound. The device operates even on the slightest movement of a sash, the movement being no more than perhaps a small fraction of an inch.

The device will, of course, operate whether the sashes are initially in closed or in open position, and thus one may open one of the sashes slightly for the purpose of ventilation, and then set the device. The device can be swiftly rendered inoperative by the householder whenever desired, to facilitate the opening or the closing of a window without setting off the alarm. Nevertheless, the means for rendering the device inoperative is not readily accessible to an unauthorized individual, since it would be necessary that the sash, if it was opened only slightly, be opened to a further degree for the purpose of permitting one to insert his arm to turn the switch button of switch 52. It will be noted, in this connection, that the particular type of switch 52 illustrated is merely illustrative of a main control switch. One could, if desired, locate the main control switch at a remote location, providing wiring connections thereto. Then again, one might desire to use a main control switch that could not be operated by an unauthorized individual under any circumstances, as for example a key-operated switch having the same basic characteristics as the ignition switch of an automobile.

These changes are thought sufficiently obvious as not to require special illustration herein.

A desirable characteristic of the invention results from the arrangement wherein the shell, base, support plate, and yoke can be all preassembled, for mounting of the entire device as a unit on the sash merely by extension of the screws through the openings provided in the base plate.

Another important characteristic of the invention 1 resides not only in the adaptability for making adjustby loosening the wing nut 64 and shifting the bolt 62 along the slots 54, 6%) to a selected location. Then, the nut 64 can be tightened once again, so that the spring 7%) is under an adjusted amount of tension.

Of importance, also, is the fact that the support plate itself can be bodily adjusted within the horizontal leg of the upper shell, to space the pivot axis of the yoke 72 the prescribed distance from the plane of the glass 18 of the upper sash. In other words, a particular window may have rails on its sashes that differ in thickness from the rails of other sashes. When the device is mounted, it will be desirable to provide means for adjusting the position of the yoke relative to the sash that it is to contact. This is done by loosening the wing nuts 64, and adjusting the plate 56 in the direction of its length toward or away from the glass 18 until the yoke 72 is properly positioned relative to the glass.

An important characteristic of the invention, further resides in the fact that the same, adjustable means is used both for adjusting the tension of the spring 70 and for adjustably connecting the support plate 56 to the shell. This means is the bolt 62 and the nut 64, and the element 66, all connected together and movable bodily longitudinally of the horizontal leg of the shell 37 and of the plate 56, with said plate 56 and the horizontal leg of the shell 37 being relatively longitudinally movable as previously described. One can thus make adjustments in the position of the plate 56 independently of or in combination with the adjustment of the tension of the spring; 7%, with the same means being used for effecting both of these adjustments.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. An alarm device for a window including relatively slidable first and second sashes, to signal movement of one of said sashes relative to the other, comprising: a stationary support mountable upon the first sash, means swingably mounted upon said support for movement toward and away from the second sash, a coil spring tensioned to bias said first means toward the second sash, a spacer movably carried by the first means and cngagin in one position to which it is moved, against the second sash to hold the first means against movement toward the second sash, said spacer being movable from said position thereof responsive to relative movement of the sashes to free the first means for movement toward the second sash, and terminals carried by the first means and said support respectively and contacting to permit closing of an alarm circuit therethrough on movement of the first means toward the second sash, the first means including an angular member one leg of which is pivoted upon said support with the other leg projecting toward the second sash and carrying said spacer, said first means further including a support plate mounted upon said other leg for adjustment toward and away from the second sash and carrying the spacer, said spacer comprising a U-shaped yoke the bight of which is adapted to engage said second sash with the legs of the yoke being pivotally connected to the support plate, the first means further including a connecting bolt for connecting the support plate to the other leg of said member, said other member and support plate having registering longitudinal slots through which the bolt extends to effect relative adjustments of the support plate and said other leg, a wing nut carried by the bolt for binding the support plate and said other leg against relative movement in selected positions to which the support plate is shifted, an element carried by the connecting bolt for movement therewith within the slots, and a contractile spring connected between the bight of the yoke and said element for normally biasing the yoke out of its position engaging the second sash, said contractile spring, in the second sash-engaging position of the yoke, being on dead center with said coil spring exerting a pressure against the angular member tending to maintain the yoke in frictional engagement with the second sash when the contractile spring is on dead center.

2. An alarm device for a window including relatively slidable first and second sashes, to signal movement of one of said sashes relative to the other, comprising: a stationary support mountable upon the first sash, means swingably mounted upon said support for movement toward and away from the second sash, a coil spring tensioned to bias said first means toward the second sash, a spacer movably carried by the first means and engaging, in one position to which it is moved, against the second sash to hold the first means against movement toward the second sash, said spacer being movable from said position thereof responsive to relative movement of the sashes to free the first means for movement toward the second sash, and terminals carried by the first means and said support respectively and contacting to permit closing of an alarm circuit therethrough on movement of the first means toward the second sash, the first means including an angular member one leg of which is pivoted upon said support with the other leg projecting toward the second sash and carrying said spacer, said first means further including a support plate mounted upon said other leg for adjustment toward and away from the s econd sash and carrying the spacer, said spacer comprising a U-shaped yoke the bight of which is adapted to engage said second sash with the legs of the yoke being pivotally connected to the support plate, the first means further including a connecting bolt for connecting the support plate to the other leg of said member, said other member and support plate having registering longitudinal slots through which the bolt extends to effect relative adjustments of the support plate and said other leg, a wing nut carried by the bolt for binding the support plate and said other leg against relative movement in selected positions to which the support plate is shifted, an element carried by the connecting bolt for movement therewith within the slots, and a contractile spring connected between the bight of the yoke and said element for normally biasing the yoke out of its position engaging the second sash, said contractile spring, in the second sash-engaging position of the yoke, being on dead center with said coil spring exerting a pressure against the angular member tending to maintain the yoke in frictional engagement with the second sash when the contractile spring is on dead center, said yoke being mounted for swinging movement in either direction from said position thereof, responsive to biasing the yoke from said position responsive to relative movement of the sashes, whereby to free the contractile spring for contraction to shift the yoke out of engagement with the second sash, whereby to free the first means for movement toward the second sash, the support plate including lugs at opposite sides of the pivot axis of the yoke for limiting swinging movement of the yoke in either direction from said position thereof.

3. An alarm device for a window including relatively slidable first and second sashes, to signal movement of one of said sashes relative to the other, comprising: a stationary support mountable upon the first sash, means swingably mounted upon said support for movement toward and away from the second sash, resilient, yielding means tensioned to bias said first means toward the second sash, a spacer movably carried by the first means and engaging, in one position to which it is moved, against the second sash to hold the first means against movement toward the second sash, said spacer being movable from said position thereof responsive to relative movement of the sashes to free the first means for movement toward the second sash, and terminals carried by the first means and said support respectively and contacting to permit closing of an alarm circuit therethrough on movement of the first means toward the second sash, the first means including an angular member one leg of which is pivoted upon said support with the other leg projecting toward the second sash and carrying said spacer, said first means further including a support plate mounted upon said other leg for adjustment toward and away from the second sash and carrying the spacer, said spacer comprising a U-shaped yoke the bight of which is adapted to engage said second sash with the legs of the yoke being pivotally connected to the support plate, the first means further including a connecting bolt for connecting the support plate to the other leg of said member, said other member and support plate having registering longitudinal slots through which the bolt extends to effect relative adjustments of the support plate and said other leg, a wing nut carried by the bolt for binding the support plate and said other leg against relative movement in selected positions to which the support plate is shifted, an element carried by the connecting bolt for movement therewith within the slots, and a contractile spring connected between the bight of the yoke and said element for normally biasing the yoke out of its position engaging the second sash, said spring, in the second sash-engaging position of the yoke, being on dead center with said resilient, yielding means exerting a pressure against the angular member tending to maintain the yoke in frictional engagement with the second sash when the spring is on dead center, said yoke being mounted for swinging movement in either direction from said position thereof, responsive tobiasing the yoke from said position responsive to relative movement of the sashes, whereby to free the spring for contraction to shift the yoke out of engagement with the second sash, whereby to free the first means for movement toward the second sash, the support plate including lugs at opposite sides of the pivot axis of the yoke for limiting swinging movement of the yoke in either direction from said position 10 thereof, said resilient, yielding means comprising a eoii spring connected between the support and said angular member, the connection of the spring to one of the supports and member being adjustable for selective variation 5 of the tension of said second-named spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,793,359 Ziemba May 21, 1957

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