US1607297A - Signal system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16 1926.

C. P. NORTHINGTON SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed- Nov. 24 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 16, 1926. 1,607,297

. c. P. NORTHINGTQN SIGNAL SYSTEM I Filed Nov. 24 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 16 1926. 1,601,297

c. P. NORTHINGTON smmn SYSTEM Filed Nov. 192s 3 sheets-shed :s

Z'Tz-l E V v lvweuto't Char zm'r z myio V 1/0 amueyo Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

CHARLES P. NORTHINGTON, OF MACON, .GEORGTA.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed November 24. 19257 Serial No. 71.247.

The present invention relate-s to signal systems of the type in which an electrical signal is automatically transmitted-from a signal station to a central. receiving station upon the unlawful or unauthorized entry into a residence or place of business.

More specifically it relates to signal sys tems of the type known as electrical burglar alarms in which the unauthorized opening or a door or window will cause a signal to be transmitted over a telephone or similar line to a central station.

It is an object of'the present invention to provide an electrical signal system in which the opening of a door or window will cause a signal to be transmitted to a central station, unless previous to such operation of the door or window, a safety signal is trans mitted from the central station to the signal location.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a signal system for use in hotels, apartment houses, private residences, places of business or other similar places, in which telephone service is available, which signal system is adapted for connection to the telephone circuit and causes a signal to be transmitted to the telephone central upon an entry not authorized 30 or previously anticipated by the party or parties in charge of the telephone central.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a signal system in which a signal is transmitted to a telephone central station upon the entry of any person through a door or analogous structure unless prior to such entry a safety or setting signal is transmitted from the central station to the signal location.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of the present invention,

Figure 1 is a view of the same as applied to a door,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the structure shown in Fig. l,

Figs. 3 and 4c are section views of Fig.2 along the section line 38 showing the structure in various stages of operation,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure taken through the section lines 5'5 of Fig. 2, V

Fig. 6 is a sectional view also taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the device 55 in a position just subsequent to signal op eration,

Fig. 7 is a view partially in section taken along the .line 77 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a view of a modification of the invention as applied to a door structure.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged View of a portion of such structure,

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views taken on. the section line of Fig. 8 identified as 1010, 1

Fig. 12 is a section taken along the section lines 1212 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 13 is a view partially in section of an attachment to the telephone located in the apartment or residence in which the signal is employed, I

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the same taken along the lines 1 11 1 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a top view of this structure partially in section.

In the Specific embodiment of the present invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the device comprises a recessed cabinet 1 located adjacent to a door or similar closure device2. The cabinet 1 is providedwith a small door 8 which is provided with a lock l. The. cabinet is of sufiicient size as regards depth and height to contain an electrical switch mechanismfi. As indicated in thespecific embodiment, this switch structure consists of the switch contact portions of a standard desk telephone with the base and mouth-piece removed. If desired, however, the cabinet or compartment 1 may be made of sufficient size to accommodate a desk telephone in its entirety in which case the cabinet 1 and its associated structure not only functions as a burglar alarm or signal system but in addition the same provides a place in which a telephone may be located and locked against unauthorized use.

Located on the door 3 of the compartment in a position closely adjacent to the opening edge of the door 2 is a closure or shallow box: 6. This box has a door 7 of spring snap construction which has a proiection 8 which extends over and beyond the jamb of the door 2. Located on the inner side of the door 2 inset into its edge is a spring latch structure 9. This spring latch-structure has a projecting latch member 10 which upon the opening of the door from the outside, contacts with the projection 8, thereby opening the door 7 of the shallow box 6. The spring latch structure 9 is provided'with a knob 11 on the inside of the door which knob may be operated to withdraw the latch 10 from operative position so that by proper manipulation of this knob the .door 2 may be opened from th-ein side without causing the door or lid 7 of the shallow box 6 to spring open. I

The switch or signal structure, previously referred to, has the well known hook or receiver arm 12. Fastened to this portion of the structure in an suitable manner is a flexible cord or element 13 carrying at its lower'end or extremity a ball 1 1. The top of the shallow box 6 hasa notch 1". Just above the notch 15 isloca'ted a diagonal hole or opening 16 of sufficient size to permit the ball 14 to pass readily therethrough and the cord or flexible element 13' is of such length and the proportions of the structure just recited are'such that when the switch lever 12 is in its normal upposition,' the ball 14 will be pulled up into or through .the opening (3 into the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In order to place the device in operation for the transmission of a signal the door 1 of the compartment is unlocked and opened, and the ball 14: pushed downwardly through the diagonal orifice 16.. The ball then pulled down and placed in the shallow box 6. the cord or flexible element 13 being accommodated in .the slot 15 cut in the topv of the horn It will therefore he noted that when the-door 2 is opened from the outside the latch 10 contacts with the projecting member .8 on the lid 7 of the shallow box 6. thereby causing the same to snap open. This causes the release of the ball, as the notch 15 is only of sufficient depth to ac commodate the flexible element 13. The ball being released, the same is withdrawn into the interior of the compartment 5 1 through the diagoi'uil opening 16. and the hook member 12 being normally biased to signaling position, the same operates to transmit a signal through the electrical telephone circuit or similar circuit with which the switch structure 5 may be associated.

In some instances in which this specific embodiment just described may be used, the door 2 might be provided with a transom. In installations of this characters guard structural? proicctin'g over and beyond the shallow box 16 and covering the diagonal orifice 16 is provided. This guard renders it impossible for burglar or person even fully acquainted with the operation of the signal device. to reachthrough the transom and by means of a stick or wire to hold the ball .14 in order to restrain the same om passing through the orifice 1'6 and permitting the signal to be given A. pin or l tch 1nenibeim18islocated immediatelyabove vthe top of the shallow lQOX 6,. Thislatch has a free lateral mot-ion shath t p e :19 a d -e e? e l a cut-away portion 20 of such size that when the latch member 18 is moved to the right the cut-away portion engages with the flexible cord or element 1 1, at the point where the same passes through the notch 15. By the movement of this latch to the right, the fie iible element is engaged between the cut away portion 20 and the slot 15 and the ball 1 1 is therefore incapable of release when the door 2 is opened. In order to more or operate the latch18 laterally into this safety position an electrical hell. or buzzer structure 21 is mounted upon the exterior of the door 3 of the cabinet 1. This hell or buzzer structure has its clapper 22 closely adjacent the end of the latch member 18 and win s. this ball or buzzer is operated the impulses of the clapper 22 against the end of the member 18 will shift the same to the right andinto the safety position.

lVhile the buzzer or hell structure 21 i illustrated as being on the outer surface o the cabinet door 3, "t is possible to locate the same within the cabinet and to have the clapper project through the door adjacent to the outer end of the latch member 18. The electrical hell or buzzer structure 21 is of the usual telephone ringer type although any suitable electrical buzzer or hell structure may be utilized.

In the specific embodiment under description, thisbell or buzzer structure is connected into n the telephone circuit so that when the central operator gives a ringing signal on the circuit into wh ch the electrical signal device is connectedthe latch 18 will be moved to the safety position by such ringing impulse. l I

y The operation of the specific embodiment thus described is as follows: The authorized occupant of the room or dwelling upon going out will set the signal by unlocking the door 8 of the cabinet 1 and placing the ball 14 in the sh allow box 6, subsequently closing the lid 7. If the latch-18 is in the safety position it is also moved to the left or oper ative position. dwelling then notifies the central'operator or switch board operator that he is leaving his room or dwelling. 'l. he switch board operator will thereupon make a notation that suchroom or dwelling is vacant. If she receives a signal on the si nal lamp of the board she will at once answer operator, or fnumber, please, and if she ceives no immediateresponse over the telephone, she will be aware that an unlawful or unauthorized entry has taken place. audshe will at once call the attention of the house detective or the police to this fact, giving them the number of the room or the location ofthe dwelling, as the case may be the signal .device islocate'd man apartment orhotel, the authorizedoccup ant ,ofthe room will upon his return identify himself at the desk to the operator who will there- The occupant of the room or upon impress a ringing signal upon the telephone circuit associated with his room or apartment, thereby setting the safety latch 18 and permitting the authorized occupant to enter his room or apartment without causing the signal device to operate.

WVhere there is a telephone in the room 01' apartment incorporated in the same circuit with the signal device or switch and where the burglar or unauthorized party might be entirely conversant with the operation of the protective system, herein described, it would be possible for such person to proceed at once to the telephone after making an unauthorized entry and to satisfactorily answer the operators inquiry of operator or number, please.

In order to prevent this, I have provided in conjunction with the other elements of the signal system a structure for preventing such action from taking place. In order to do this I provide, as shownin Fig. 13, a felt or cork disk 23 which may be inserted as a sound proof plug in the telephone mouth-piece. This plug or disk is provided with a loop 2d. Through the center of this loop is passed a retaining bolt or member 25, the same passing through drilled holes 26 and 27 formed at the proper location in the telephone mouthpiece. This bolt is threaded at its outer end 28 and a small nut' 29 is screwed upon these threads.

When the authorized occupant of the room leaves he places the plug or disk 23 in position as indicated in Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive, after having notified the telephone operator of his departure. Upon the unauthorized entry of a person into the room or apartment, it would be necessary for such person to first unscrew the nut 29 from the bolt 28 in order to remove the sound proof-disk 23. This would take such a time interval that the operator at the switch board not receiv' ing any response to her inquiries would have become conversant immediately with the fact that an unlawful entry had been made and she would immediately notify the detective or police in the manner hereinbefore de scribed.

Instead of using a nut 29 threaded upon the bolt 28, it would of course be possible to pierce a hole through the extremity of the bolt 28 and to use a small padlock with the hasp passing through this hole. Such structure would of course prevent unauthorized use of the telephone, but it should be understood that it is not necessary to provide unauthorized use of the phone, delayed use being entirely sufficient in the present instance.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, a small cabinet or compartment 30 is provided adjacent the door 2 or similar closure device. This cabinet contains a telephone 31. Located below this cabinet and on the inside wall is a spring hinge 32 biased to closed position, as shown in Fig. 11. The outer or free end of this hinge has an extended portion 33 which engages a spring holding clip 34- ,which functions to hold the same in open position. When the hinge is in this position, the tip of the projection 33 extends beyond the jamb of the door in such position that the spring latch 10 acts to remove the portion 33' from the spring clip 34- and will thereby cause the spring hinge to assume its normal biased closed position shown in Figure 11. A knob 11 on the inner side of the door provides means for with drawing the latch 10 from operative position when opening the door from the inside.

Immediately below the recess 30 is located a smaller recess 35. Projecting into this re cess, through the inner end of the spring is a button 36 having a right angle projection 37 at its rear end. A tubular opening or passageway extends between the compartment 30 and the compartment 35, this passageway extending vertically and being located above the button projection 37. EX- tending through this passageway is a cord or flexible element 38 connected to the receiver hook of the phone 31. This cord is fastened at its lower end to a ball or similar enlarged member 39, and the cord and association of parts or members are such that when the ball 39 is pulled down below the projection 37 and the button 36 is withdrawn, the receiver hook of the telephone is held in the down or non-signal position. The telephone receiver 40 may thereupon be lifted from the hook without causing a signal to be given to the operator.

In order to set the device as described in the previous paragraph, the lower compartment 35 may be provided with a suitable door 41 which may be opened for this purpose and which may be locked ina closed position by a-suitable lock 42 after the device has been set.

In operation. when the door 2 is opened from the outside the spring latch 10 carries the projection 33 out of the spring holding clips 34, and the free portion of the spring in returning to closed position hits againstthe button 36 driving the same into its inner position as shown in Fig. 11 and releasing the ball or enlarged member 39. The receiver hook thereupon lifts under its normal spring action and gives a visual signal on the telephone switch board to the operator. As the door 43 may have a suitable lock mechanism 44, the telephone is rendered inaccessible and no response can be given to the inquiries of the telephone operator.

In a modification of the character described it may be desirable to construct the cabinet or compartment 30 of suflicient size to contain a small phonograph adjacent to the telephone 31. The flexible element 38 would then be connected to the starting lever of the pli'oncgraph as well as the telephone receiver hook, so that upon its release, it would start the phonograph simultaneously with the movement of the hook into signalling position, a suitable record would be car i iedon the disk or cylinder of the phonograph, which thus set in motion adjacent the telephone, would a vocal signal to the telephone operator at the switch board.

n the foregoing specification, it should be understood th't while the specific embodiinents are described in connection with a door, the invention is equally applicable to closure device such as a window, transom, etc. I

The specific eiiibQllililGlltS described are given by way of illustration only and it ,houl'lbe understood that the invention is susceptible of various other embodiments within the scope of the claims appended hereto. 1 7

What I claim is: H I j 1. Ina signalling device, the combination of a wall cabinet, a door tor said cabinet, abox onsaid door, a cover for said box, a circuit closing device within said cabinet, andineans for holding said circuit closing device in inoperative position when located within said box.

2. In combination with a closure device, a wall cabinet located adjacent thereto, a circuit closing device located within said cabinet, means for holding said circuit closing device in -'noperative position, a latch mechanism for releasing said means mounted on the closure device, and a'nelectrically actuated safety device :iorv rendering said means inoperative by said latch mechanism.

3. In combination with a closure device, a wall cabinet located adjacent thereto, a circuit closing device locat edflwithin said cabinet, a door for said cabinet, means mounted on the exterior of the door for holding said circuit closing device ,in inoperative position and a latch mechanism for releasing said means mounted on the closure device.

4:. In combination with a closure device, a wall cabinet located adjacent thereto, a circuit closing device located within said cabinet, a door for said cabinet, means mounted on the exterior of the door, and including a box and cover for holding said circuit closing device in inoperative position, a latch mechanism mounted on the closure device for opening said cover.

5. In combination with a closure device, a wall cabinet located adjacent thereto, a circuit closing device located within said cabinet, a door for said cabinet, a flexi ble element extending from said circuit closing device through a diagdnal passageway in said door, a box mounted on theexte'i ior of the door, an enlarged rigid element car-. ried on the end of said flexible eleinent and adapted to be placed within said box, a cover to said box for retaining said rigid element therein, and a latch mechanism mountedon said closure device for opening said cover.

6. In combination with a closure device, a wall cabinet located adjacent thereto, a telephone circuit closing device located within said cabinet, a door for said cabinet, a flexible element extending from said circuit closing device through a diagonal passageway in said door, a box mounted on the ex terior or the door, curved guard located above said box and the exterior era of said passageway, an enlarged rigicl element carried on the end of saidfiexibleeleinent and adapted to be placed within said box, a cover to said box for retaining said rigid element therein, and a latch mechanism mounted on said closure device for opening said cover when said closure device is o'perate'd. I

7. In a signal system adapted for use with a telephone line and an men-amassing mbination of a closure device, a wall cabinet located adjacent thereto, a; circuit closing de vice intercalated inv saidtele'phone line and located within said wall cabinet, a sound proof plug for tempora rily obstructing the mouth piece of said telephone instrument and retaining means therefor requiri a time consuming operation for its removal.

8. In combination with a closure device having an inner and I outer; side, a wall cabinet located adjacent thereto, a telephone circuit closing device located within said cabinet, a door for said cabinet, means for preventing unauthorized opening of said door, a flexible elementextending from said circuit closing device through said door, a box mounted onthe exterior of the door, an enlarged rigid element carried on the end of said flexible element and adapted to be placed within said box, a cover to said box for retaining said rigid element therein, a latch mechanism mounted on said closure device for opening said cover and releasing said rigid element when said closure device is opened, and means located on the inner side, of said closure device for withdrawing said latch mechanism to an inoperative position.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

CHARLES P. NORTHINGTON.

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