IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BICYCLES. TRICYCLES, AND LIKE VEHICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Skaife, of the firm of Skaife and Company,
671, Commercial Road, Limehouse, County of Middlesex, for an invention of
«IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BICYCLES. TRICYCLES, AND LIKE VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Skaife at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1882.
WALTER SKAIFE of the firm of Skaife and Company 671 Commercial Road
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BICYCLES
Limehouse County of Middlesex
TRICYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES,"
This Invention of improvements in lamps for bicycles tricycles and like vehicles
relates to the manner of suspending the lamp so as to prevent the jar of the
carriage extinguishing the light.
I am aware that lamps have been suspended by helical springs but such springs
rapidly deteriorate and my invention relates to the use of a C spring in one or two
parts, to the guided rods by which the attachment is made between these guided
rods and the lamp by the Ċ spring, and to the manner of fastening the cylinder
hinged clamp by which the lamp is suspended on the axle of one of the wheels or
on any suitable horizontal bar of the carriage.
To the body of the lamp which may be of the usual construction I attach to each
side inside or outside a tube of brass or other metal or a number of eyelets, these
are the guides in which work the guided rods.
The axle clamp holding the two rods is of the usual form to pass round the axle
or other horizontal bar of the carriage and is made with a hinged joint which
opening admits the bar this is the common form and this part of my invention
only relates to the safety fastening for keeping this closed two flat webs project
from either edge of the two halves of the cylinder to one of these is hinged or
pivotted a grooved piece of metal so that when the two webs are brought together
the grooved metal clasps them together and this latter when in place is held there
by a spring catch or split cotter pin in which consists the double fastening the
novelty and safety of my invention.

page_text: To the underside of this hinged clamp or cylinder is fixed a bridge piece and to
the ends of this are attached the two ends of the guide rods by screws and nuts or
other suitable fastening from these two ends proceed the guide rods which pass
down through the tubes mentioned and meet underneath the lamp at a distance
therefrom of about two inches that is, these guide rods though mentioned as two
for convenience of description really are formed of one piece of rod.
Where the rod passes under the lamp is the place round which one end or ends
of the C springs are attached, the other end of the C spring or springs being
attached to the bottom of the lamp, the whole lamp therefore rests on the C spring
or springs and is guided by the rods in the tubes playing up and down with the
inequalities of the road.
It is evident that although I have described the C spring or springs as below
the lamp and the lamp resting on it, that the spring or springs might be applied so
that the lamp be suspended by it or them that is in my described form the spring
is below the lamp in the other the spring would be above the lamp but the
manner described is I believe the most convenient and most practical.
It is also evident that I can apply the same principle of this spring in its double
or $ form that is two C springs to form an S or serpentine form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Skaife in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th September
1882.
WALTER SKAIFE of the firm of Skaife and Company 671 Commercial Road
Limehouse County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BICYCLES
TRICYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES
"
This Invention of improvements in lamps for bicycles, tricycles, and like vehicles
relates to the manner of suspending the lamp so as to prevent the jar of the
carriage extinguishing the light.
I am aware that lamps have been suspended by helical springs but such springs
rapidly deteriorate and my invention relates to the use of a C spring in one or
two parts; to the guided rods by which the attachment is made between these
guided rods and the lamp by the C spring; and to the manner of fastening the
cylinder hinged clamp by which the lamp is suspended on the axle of one of the
wheels or on any suitable horizontal bar of the carriage.
To the body of the lamp which may be of the usual construction I attach to
each side inside or outside a tube of brass or other metal or a number of eyelets
these are the guides in which work the guided rods. The axle clamp holding the
two rods is of the usual form to pass round the axle or other horizontal bar of the
carriage and is made with a hinged joint which opening admits the axle or bar
this is the common form and this part of my invention only relates to the safety
fastening for keeping this closed, two flat webs project from either edge of the two
halves of the cylinder to one of these is hinged or pivotted a grooved piece of
metal so that when the two webs are brought together the grooved metal clasps
them together and this latter when in place is held there by a spring catch or
split cotter pin in which consists the double fastening the novelty and safety of
my invention. To the under side of this hinged clamp or cylinder is fixed a bridge
piece and to the ends of this are attached the two ends of the guide rods by
screws and nuts or other suitable fastening, from these two ends, proceed the
guide rods which pass down through the tubes mentioned and meet underneath
the lamp at a distance therefrom of about two inches that is, these guide rods
though mentioned as two for convenience of description really are formed of one
piece of rod but if separate they will meet and be held in the sheath formed by
curling the end of the spring. Where the rod passes under the lamp is the place
round which one end or ends of the C springs are attached; the other end of the
C spring or springs being attached to the bottom of the lamp, the whole lamp
therefore rests on the C spring or springs and is guided by the rods in the tubes
playing up and down with the irregularities of the road. It is evident that
although I have described the C spring or springs as below the lamp and
the lamp resting on it, that the spring or springs might be applied so that the
lamp might be suspended by it or them that is in my described form the spring is
below the lamp in the other the spring would be above the lamp, but the manner
described is I believe most convenient and most practical. It is also evident that
I can apply the same principle of this spring in its double or S form that is two
C springs to form an S or serpentine form.
In the drawings forming part of the specifications like letters shewing like
parts. Figure 1 is a view of the back of the lamp. Figure 2 side view of the
same. a body of the lamp. a' lens. b guide rods." CC spring fastened to under-
side of lamp as shewn C¹ end of spring formed into a sheath for returned angle of
guide rods d bridge piece of clamp. e suspending clamp hinged at e¹. f grooved
metal fastener pivotted at f¹. g safety catch hinged at g'.

page_text: Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said invention
I would have it understood that what I desire to claim in the said in part recited
letters Patent is:-
1st The C spring or springs for suspending or supporting the lamp substantially
as described.
2nd The clamp with the double fastening substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Walter Skaife have hereunto set my hand and
seal this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two