Year: 1888

page_text: I, JOHN MARTIN, of Fitzwilliam Street, Kew, near Melbourne, in the Colony of
Victoria, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to that class of lamp in which a candle is forced upward by
means of a coiled spring contained within a socket, which hitherto has been placed or
arranged in a vertical or an approximately vertical position.
Now my invention consists in making this socket in the form of a semi-circle
instead of a straight line and in applying pressure, preferably that obtained from
a coiled spring on a central stud, for the purpose of forcing the candle forward in
such semi-circular socket, as it burns; provision being made for the passage of a
spring-arm by which to convey such pressure to the back end of the candle. A slot
in the semi-circular socket would be sufficient but I prefer to leave the whole of
the upper portion of such socket open, thus making it semi-circular in cross-section.
The candles used in such lamps must of course be made to conform to the shape
and size of such sockets. These sockets may be used singly or in groups, as may
be preferred; for instance a number may be made to spring from a central spindle
somewhat in the form of a candelabrum or chandelier, or they may be arranged as
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one of the simplest forms of my invention; the
be attached.
dotted lines representing a suitable stand or support to which it may
Figure 2 shows a side elevation of a similarly simple form of my invention attached
to a wall-bracket also shewn in dotted lines.
Figure 3 is a section on the line z, x, in Figure 2.
In these figures, it will be seen that I have shewn the semi-circular socket in the
form which (as I have already said) I prefer, that is to say, semi-circular in cross-
section.
I have also shewn the simplest method known to me of applying pressure to the
end of the candle, although I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine

page_text: myself to the use of a coiled or other spring for this purpose, inasmuch as pressure
of any kind and derived from any source so long as it is continuous and equable
will answer the purpose required.
In these drawings, A is the semi-circular socket, B the correspondingly-shaped
candle, C the spring coiled around the pin or stud D' on the arm E. F is a plate or
disc made with or secured to the end of the spring C. H is the cap against which the
top or foremost end of the candle is pressed. The spring C must be of sufficient
strength to keep the candle up to said cap H.
In Figure 2, it will be seen that the candle is shewn as being partly consumed.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
shewn and described so long as the nature and spirit of my invention be retained:
for instance, I might (as herein before mentioned) make the socket circular (or
approximately so) in cross-section and make a slot on the inside thereof for the
passage of the spring-arm. Neither do I confine myself to the manner of mounting
my invention, because it is obvious that I might arrange any number of my improved
candle lamps upon any suitable support, as for instance, upon a candelabrum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In candle lamps, the combination of a semi-circular candle-socket (instead of a
straight one as hitherto), which is preferably semi-circular in cross-section with a
spring or its equivalent for applying pressure to the candle in such socket; sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained.
Dated this Eleventh day of June One thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight.