US857456A - Burglar-trap. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 18, 190.7. 0. W. GABRIELSON.

BURGLAR TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1905.

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THE "cams PETERS co., wAsumamNjnJc.

NiTED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

OTTO w. GABRIELSON, OF ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR F ONE- THIRD TO NESTOR WESTER, OF ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON.

BURGLAR-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed September '7, 1905. Serial No. 277,413.

signed to imprison or detain a person illegally entering a house or premises.

The object in view is the provision of means designed to encircle a body and to remain in its encircling condition until released by the employment of suitable implements. This and further objects are attained by the utilization of a chain, means for throwing the same laterally for causing the same to encircle a body when brought into contact therewith, and means for preventing releasing of such chain. Y

The invention comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap embodying the features of the present invention, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of two of the links of the chain detached. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical central section taken through the parts seen in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section taken on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 3 and looking downwardly. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal section taken on the plane of line 55 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 6 represents a transverse section taken on the circular line indicated at 6-6 in Fig. 4, parts being shown on an enlarged scale and parts being broken away. Fig. 7 represents a section similar to Fig. 4 of some of the last links of the chain, parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawings by numerals l' indicates any suitable shelf or other sup ort upon which rests a chain hereinafter descri ed in detail, the first link 2 of said chain being pivoted as at 2 to the said shelf or support so as to swing freely thereon. The link 2 is merely a connecting link and may be of any ordinary construction, but the remaining links 33 of the chain are of special construction, the first link 3 being pivoted at its forward end by suitable pivots 44 to the link 2. Each of the links 3, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, is approximately U-shaped in cross section with a central connecting web preferably disposed vertically and flanges arranged horizontally.

Each horizontal flange of each link at its.

rear end is formed with a segmental ratchet consisting of teeth 55, and the front end of each of the horizontal flanges of each link 3 carries a pawl 6 adapted to engage the teeth 5 of the corresponding ratchet of the preced-. ing link. The first link 3, which is pivoted as at 4 to the link 2, need not be provided with a pawl 6 as 'the link 2 is preferably not provided with a ratchet. The horizontal flanges of each link are preferably made of spring material and'press outwardly so as to throw the pawls 6 into engagement with the teeth 5 as will be clearly seen from Fig. 6. When one of the pawls 6 has ridden over the tooth 5 and dropped down in front of the same, the link will be held against pivoting rearwardly. In other words, the links 3 are pivotally connected together and are free to pivot forwardly causing the pawls 6 to ride over the teeth 5 but said links are not free to swing rearwardly, the engagement between the pawls 6 and the teeth 5 preventing such rearward movement.

The chain made up of the links 3 may, of course, be positioned at any desired point and may be utilized as a trap for animals of any description or for other purposes as found desirable, but by preference I position the chain as indicated in Fig. 1 and, as above described, upon a suitable support 1. In the rear of the chain is preferably arranged a suitable spring? sufficiently strong for throwing the chain as will be hereinafter described.

The spring 7 is fixed as at 8 to the wall or other support for the shelf 1 and extends in the rear of the chain to a point beyond the rear end thereof and is engaged by a trip 9 and normally held straight and inactive thereby. The trip 9 is engaged by a cord or other actuating means 10 which extends past a door 11 to a point 12 where the said cord is fixed. Of course, the cord 10 may be extended to any point in the path of. movement of some object which must necessarily be kmoved in order that the erson or animfiil to e tra ed ma ass. on ening t e door 11 131511;, same will strike the cdid and swing the catch 9 upon its pivot releasing the spring 7, the free end of which immediately springs outwardly from the wall, throwing the chain from the support 1 with sufficient velocity for causing the links thereof to pivot upon the chain having its progress impeded by some object. The pivoting of said'links produces a longitudinal curling of the chain or wrapping action thereof and if the arm of an intruder or any part of his body has been struck by the chain, the chain will curl about the same and lock itself in such position as to be retained against removal. Thus the intruder is entrapped and is unable to release himself without first releasing the pawls 6 from the teeth 5 of the several links, which operation is designed to be accomplished with difliculty and only by the use of suitable implements. person or animal may be readily entrapped and retained for a desired time insuring capture, the invention bein clearly of sufficient breadth to be applicable to trapping anything capable of throwing the trip 9.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is not limited necessarily to the any particular form of spring, as any means preferred might be utilized for throwing the chain and for retaining the same in readiness to be thrown when desired.

As seen in Fig. 4 most of the links of the chain have their rear walls or vertical webs abutting so as to prevent pivotal movement of the links rearwardly when the pawls 6'ar'e not in engagement with the pivot 5. In other words, when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 6, the greater portion of the chain must remain straight and cannot be swung backwardly owing to'the fact of the abutment of the vertical webs of the re-- spective links. However, I find that when the chain is thrown off thesame should come in contact with some small article disposed in the path of movement of its outer end, the first few links will wrap about such article and prevent further movement of the main intermediate portion of the chain. To avoid this occurrence, which would be fatal to the successful operation of the trap, I contemplate providing links such as are seen in Fig. 7 at the end of the chain. As many of such links may be provided as may be found advisable, each of said links being provided with .pawls 6 and ratchet teeth 5 engaged thereby, but said links differ from the intermediate links in that the rear walls or vertical webs of the links are cut away so that said links are free to swing rearwardly when the pawls are not in en agement with teeth 5. Thus when the fewIast links or links at the endof the chain strike some small obj ect Thus it will be observed that a the said links are free to swing upon their pivots rearwardly permitting the main portion of the chain pass the small object, the

rearwardly pivoted links following the main portion of the chain, and, when the mainportion of the chain contacts with the main object to be surrounded, the chain wraps about the same. The last links of the chain swing about and pivot freely forwardly until the pawls 6 thereof engage the ratchet teeth 5, whereupon said last few links, as seen in Fig. .7, are locked against rearward movement the same as the remaining links of the chain.

It is, of course, obvious that as many of the links, such as shown in Fig. 7, may be employed as desired and if preferred an entire chain might be constructed of such links,

although, by preference only a few of such links are employed.

What I claim is 1. A trap comprising securing means capable of flexible movement in one direction only.

2. A trap comprising a plurality of links pivotally connected togetherv and free to swing in one direction, and means for preventing said links from swinging in the opposite direction.

use of any particular form of trip device or i lpivotally connected together and free to 3. A trap comprising a plurality of links :swing in one direction, and means carried by said links for limitlng the same against .-movement in the opposite direction.

4. A trap comprising a chain and pawl and .ratchet mechanism for limiting the links of such chain from moving in one direction, said links being left free to move in the opposite direction.

5. A trap comprising links pivotally conlnected together, each of said links being U- lshaped in cross section, and the flange of each of said links being arranged to overlap 'the flanges of another link at one end, means pivotally connecting said flanges together, and pawl and ratchet devices for limiting said links against movement in one direction for leaving the same free to swing in'the opposite direction.

6. A trap comprising links pivotally connected together end for end, a pawl carried by one end of each link, and a ratchet carried by the contiguous end of the next suc- 'ceeding" link.

7. A trap comprising a plurality of links pivotally connected together end for end, a pawl projecting from one corner of one end of each of said links, and a ratchet formed across the face of the opposite end of each of said links and adapted to be engaged'by the pawl of the next succeeding link.

8. A trap comprising links pivotally connected to each other, each of said links being formed approximately U-shaped in transverse section, a ratchet formed in each flange of each link at one end thereof, and a pawl carried by each flange of each link at the opposite end thereof and adapted to engage the ratchet'of the contiguous link.

9. In a trap, the combination with a support, of a chain adapted to be supported thereby, means pivotally connecting said chain to said support, means for retaining such chain against movement in one direction while permitting the same to move in an opposite direction, and means for swinging said chain upon its pivot.

10. In a trap, the combination with a support, of a chain adapted to be sustained thereby, means for pivotally securing said chain in position, a spring for swinging said chain upon its pivot, and means for preventing said chain from moving in one direction while leaving the. same free to move in the opposite direction.

11. In a trap, the combination with a support, of a chain sustained thereby, means for pivotally securing said chain, a spring fixed in the rear of the chain, a trip maintaining said chain normally inactive, means for throwing said trip for releasing the spring, and means for preventing the links of said chain from swinging rearwardly while leaving the same free to swing forwardly.

12. In a trap, the combination with a support, of a chain pivoted to and adapted to be .sustained by said support, means in the rear tive, and means for preventing rearward pivoting of the links of said chain while leaving the links free to pivot forwardly.

13. A trap comprising a chain formed of links pivotally connected together said links being free to swing forwardly, means for locking said links against rearward movement after forward movement thereof, some of said links being free to swing rearwardly prior to forward movement thereof.

14. A trap comprising a series of links pivotally connected together, some of said linksbeing formed with abutting walls designed to prevent rearward pivoting thereof, saidlinks being free to pivot forwardly, means for locking said links against rearward movement after forward pivotal movement thereof, and other of said links being pivoted to swing freely rearwardly' prior to forward swinging thereof and means for locking the last mentioned links against rearward movement after forward swinging thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO W. GABRIELSON. Witnesses:

GEO. W. TIBBETTs, O. A. CAMERON.

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