Improved Candle-gripping Device for Candlesticks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Candle-gripping Device for Candlesticks.
We, DAVID DAVIES, of Rhiwgregan, Cymmer, South Wales, Carpenter, and
WILLIAM JONES, of Cymmer, South Wales, Stone Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved device designed to be incorporated in a
candlestick for the purpose of readily gripping and holding candles.
According to this invention, a base plate is provided for the candle-end to
rest upon and this base plate is fitted with part of a collar by which the candle is
gripped. The said part of the collar is fixed to the base plate. The other part
of the gripping collar is not fixed to the base plate but is attached to one end
of a rod which extends from the said other part to the candlestick handle where
the rod terminates in a hook so shaped as to enable a finger of the operator to
readily engage or disengage therewith. Coiled around the rod is a spiral spring
one end of which bears against a disc fixed on the rod. The other end of the
spring bears against the outer end of a bracket which extends from the middle
of the candlestick to the handle thereof.
The inner end of the bracket carries a plate in which is a square or rectangular
aperture for the rod to pass through. The rod is correspondingly shaped and
accordingly cannot turn about its own axis.
In the normal position of the device the spring is extended and keeps that
part of the gripping collar which is fixed to the rod at the inner end of its range
of travel. By compressing the spring, through pulling the bar outwards, that
part of the gripning collar which is fixed to the rod is drawn backwards so that
the distance between it and the fixed part is increased. The candle is then inserted
between the two sections of the gripping collar, and the spring is allowed to
rebound. The candle thus becomes gripped between the fixed part of the collar
and the movable part.
To facilitate working of the gripping arrangement, a hook is fixed below the
usual ring-shaped handle and serves as a bearing place for one of the fingers of
the hand to bear against.
The inner faces of the collar sections may be bevelled so that they may be
forced apart for insertion of a candle by simply pressing the candle-end between
them and thus compressing the spiral spring. The candle is then gripped by
the re-action of the spring, as above set forth.
1000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.

page_text: improv
6 PP
We, DAVID DAVIES, of Rhiwgregan, Cymmer, South Wales, Carpenter, and
WILLIAM JONES, of Cymmer, South Wales, Stone Merchant, 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;
-
This invention consists in an improved device designed to be incorporated in a
candlestick for the purpose of readily gripping and holding candles.
According to this invention, a base plate is provided for the candle to stand
upon and this base plate is fitted with part of a collar by which the candle is
gripped. The said part of the collar is fixed to the base plate. The other part
of the gripping collar is not fixed to the base plate, but is attached to one end
of a rod which extends from the said other part to the candlestick handle where
the rod terminates in a hook so shaped as to enable a finger of the operator to
readily engage or disengage therewith. Coiled around the rod is a spiral or other
The other
suitable spring one end of which bears against a disc fixed on the rod.
end of the spring bears against the outer end of a bracket which extends from the
middle of the candlestick to the handle thereof.
The inner end of the bracket carries a plate in which is a square or rectangular
aperture for the rod to pass through. The rod is correspondingly.shaped, and,
accordingly, cannot turn about its own axis.
In the normal position of the device, the spring is extended and keeps that
part of the gripping collar which is fixed to the rod at the inner end of its range
of travel. By compressing the spring, through pulling the bar outwards, that
part of the gripping collar which is fixed to the rod is drawn backwards so that
the distance between it and the fixed part is increased. The candle is then inserted
between the two sections of the gripping collar, and the spring is allowed to
rebound. The candle thus becomes gripped between the fixed part of the collar
and the movable part.
.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in side elevation,
partly sectional, a candlestick fitted with our improved gripping arrangement.
In this view, the candle-gripping collar is shown open. Fig. 2 is a similar view
to Fig. 1, but the gripping collar is shown closed. Fig. 3 is a part plan of Fig. 1.
The candle-gripping collar consists of two segmental parts a and a¹ of which a
is fixed to or made in one piece with the base plate b. The part a¹ is attached to
or made in one piece with the rod c which extends back to the flat ring d which
is an ordinary form of candlestick handle. The rod c has a hook c¹ formed on its
outer end. With this hook the fore-finger of the operator engages. Coiled around
the rear part of the rod c and contained within the chamber or cup e is a spring f
one end of which bears against the outer and closed end of the said chamber or
cup e. The other end of the spring f bears against a disc g fixed on the rod c.
open-sided bracket h extends from the ring & inwards towards the divided socket and
The rod c is pre-
through the inner wall h¹ of the bracket is carried the rod c.
ferably rectangular in section and the aperture in the wall h¹ of the bracket h
through which the rod c is carried is correspondingly shaped. The aperture at the
ring end of the chamber e is also correspondingly shaped. The rod c is thus
steadied.
An
In the normal position of the device, as represented at Fig. 2, the spring f
acting against the disc g of the rod c keeps the section a¹ of the divided collar
up to the section a.
When it is desired to open the candle-gripping collar a, a¹ for the insertion of

page_text: a candle, or for other purpose, the operator pulls the rod c outwards and so draws
the section a' away from the fixed section a to the required extent. The candle is
then placed in position with its bottom end on the base plate b. The spring c
is then allowed to rebound and the candle becomes securely gripped between the
segmental sections a, a' which constitute the gripping collar.
To facilitate working of the gripping arrangement, a hook i is fixed below the
usual ring-shaped handle and serves as a bearing plate for one of the fingers
for example, the second finger of the operator's hand to bear against.
The inner faces of the collar sections may be bevelled so that they may be
forced apart for insertion of a candle by simply pressing the candle-end between
them and thus compressing the spiral spring. The candle is then gripped by
the re-action of the spring, as above set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
In a candlestick and the like, a device for gripping candles; the said device
consisting of a divided socket, one part of which is fixed to the candlestick and
the other part movable, and the latter so arranged that by means of a spring such
as f, or its equivalent, acting through a rod such as c with disc g, or through the
equivalents thereof, the said movable part is normally held up against a candle
when placed between it and the fixed part; release or opening being effected by
drawing outwards the movable part and compressing the aforesaid spring, sub-
stantially as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of January 1899.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.