An Improved Method of Lighting Dining and other Tables.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Lighting Dining and other Tables.
BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE: JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, Electrical Engineers,
66, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:--
The object of our invention is to provide a simple means of applying the Electric
Light to Dining & other Tables without the necessity for either cutting the cloth
or the Table in any way; for this purpose, we place in the centre of the Table on
the top of the cloth a special plug connector, which acts as a distributing centre to
the different candelabra, or lamps to be lit. This connector receives the current
from a pair of flexible cords connected to a floor plug-placed preferably near one
of the legs of the table and distributes it by means of a number of small pin
connectors to the different candelabra or Electric candles, which candles can be
withdrawn separately by removal of the small pin plug, so that the number of
candles in use can be varied as required-also the usual pin connector leading to
the floor can be removed at will, and is made of such a size that it cannot be placed
by servants in a wrong position.
The connector lying on the centre of the table with its cords leading to the
different candles can be covered with a loose ornamental silk or other Table centre,
which effectually hides all the apparatus-one cord alone being visible from the
table centre down to one of the legs of the table which can, if required, be covered
with flowers to hide the cord.
Doted this 3rd day of November 1896.
BERNARD M. DRAKE.
JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM.
An Improved Method of Lighting Dining and other Tables.
BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE, and JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, Electrical Engineers,
66 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., 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:-
The object of our invention is to provide a simple means of applying the
electric light to dining and other tables without the necessity for either cutting
the cloth or the table.
For this purpose we place in the centre, or at different points in the case of a
large table, a special multiple plug connector which lies on the top of the cloth

page_text: and acts as a distributing centre to the different candelabra or lamps to be lit.
This connector receives the current from a pair of flexible cords connected to a
floor plug, which can be placed near one of the legs of the table, or underneath
the centre of the table where the size of this is likely to be varied by the addition
of extra leaves. When placed under the centre, the cord is preferably taken
vertically to the under side of the table, and then passes over a number of hooks
to one corner, thence above the cloth to the above mentioned connector. A weight
with a hole through the centre may be placed over the floor plug to prevent damage
to the wire or plug if trodden upon.
It is evident that the conductor carrying the current to our distributing
connector may be brought from above if preferred, the connection in this case
being made either from the bottom of some existing pendant, or from the ceiling
direct.
Where preferred, the conductor conveying the current to the connector may be
taken through the centre or other portion of the table, the leaves being left slightly
open for this purpose, and the cloth in this case being pierced to allow the cord to
pass through.
In order to facilitate the cleaning of silver and other candelabra, we fit the base
with two projecting pins to convey the current to the lamp, these pins being
insulated from the candelabra by ivory bushes or other efficient
method. The connector with the active portion buried is attached
to the flexible cord leading to the main distributing connector and is slipped over
these pins and makes the necessary contact.
In the accompanying drawings, "A" is the multiple plug connector, "B" is
the terminal of the flexible cord conveying the current to the attachment, the
portion conveying current being in this case sunk to prevent any risk of short-
circuit after removal from the connecting plug, "C," "C," "C," are pin connectors
leading to the different candelabra or lamps, "D" is the detachable connector
to enable the cords to be entirely removed from the base of the candelabra,
is a weight to protect the cord from mechanical injury.
"E"
Having now paricularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The use of a special multiple plug connector lying on the dinner or other
table, for the purpose of distributing current to a number of candelabra or lamps,
substantially as described.
2. The combination of the above with a detachable connector making contact
with two pins rigidly fixed in the base of the candelabra to be lit.
3. In combination with the system substantially as described, the use of a heavy
weight with a hole through the centre resting on the floor plug to protect it and
the wire from mechanical injury.
Dated this 31st day of July 1897.
BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE,
JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM.