Combined Standard and Portable Electric Light.
Year: 1898

page_text: Combined Standard and Portable Electric Light.
I, FREDERICK THOMSON, Electrical Engineer, 18, West-bank Terrace, Hillhead,
Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
The combined standard & portable electric light is for use principally in fever
wards, hospitals & operating rooms, where the ordinary wood casing (for running
the electric wires in) would be objectionable.
In the case of a fever ward the electric fitting under consideration is fixed ver-
tically against the wall at the head of the beds, & between two beds, with a
sufficient length of flexible cord for the portable lamp to reach to either of these
beds.
The Combined Standard & Portable Electric Light" consists first of a vertical
tube A, Fig. 1, 3, 4.
This tube A is the conduit for the electric wires which come up through the floor.
To the upper end of this tube A is screwed a cylindrical metal box B Fig. 1,
made of the same material (white metal) as the tube A.
Into this box B Fig. 1 is fixed an ordinary wall socket C, Fig. 1 (this may be of
any maker).
A thin metal disc D Fig. 1 covers the mouth of this cylindrical box B, Fig. 1
there being a circular hole E Fig. 2 in the centre of the disc D Fig. 2 to admit
the 2 pin plug Fentering the socket C. The wood block G Fig. 1 (to which the
socket C is screwed) has two grooves in it, to lead the wires into the socket C from
the tube A, Fig. 1.
Into the top of the cylindrical box B Fig. 1 is screwed a vertical pin H, Fig. 1,
which fits into a tube 1 Fig. 1 in the centre of the handle J Fig. 1 of the portable
lamp. This forms the special feature of the portable lamp. The lower portion of
the tube I (which tube I goes through the centre of the handle J of the portable
lamp) is reserved for this vertical pin H, Fig. J.
The flexible cord K Fig. 1 carries on outside of the tube 1 Fig. 1 to a point
above the top of the vertical pin H, then the flexible K enters the tube I through
a hole L Fig. 1 in the side of tube I, & from thence passes on inside the tube I
up to the lampholder M at top of the handle J, Fig. 1.
(This lampholder may be any makers.)
The portable lamp can thus stand upright & in this position acts as an ordinary
standard for illuminating the ward, or that particular portion of the ward.
Again the portable lamp can be lifted off the pin H, & carried to the bedside
of the patient, in cases where the patient has to be examined closely or an opera-
tion performed.
The flexible cord K is left long enough to enable the portable lamp to reach to
a bed on either side of the standard or farther if necessary.
The lamp which is fitted with a reflector N, Fig. 1, 2, can also be turned round
on the pin H so as to shine in any direction.
In the case of an operating table the lower extremity of the pin H can be

page_text: hinged & thus set the lamp at any angle, so as to concentrate the light at a par-
ticular spot.
By simply pulling out the 2 pin plug F of course the light goes out, & when
the light is not required this 2 pin plug F rests on the little ledge O Fig. 1, 2,
prepared for it, immediately below the socket C, Fig 1. The 2 pin plug F is thus
always ready to the hand, & when supported in this position prevents the flex-
ible K from trailing on the ground.
One or two portable lamps are sufficient for a number of standards, as these hand
lamps can be carried about the ward to the standard nearest the place where light
is required.
The fitting as a whole is specially suitable for fever wards, hospitals, etc. where
cleanliness is absolutely necessary, as the fitting stands out a little distance from
the tiled wall (in the case of a fever ward) so that all parts are accessible for clean-
ing, & as all parts are carefully boxed in, & all surfaces smooth with corners
rounded off no dust or germs can lodge anywhere about the fitting.
Dated this 1st day of October 1898.
FREDERICK THOMSON, Electrical Engineer, 18, West-bank Terrace, Hillhead,
Glasgow, 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 combined standard and portable electric light consists of a vertical tube .\
(Figs. 3&4 Sheet 2, drawings left with the Provisional Specification) which formis
the conduit for the electric wires rising up through the floor. At the lower end
of tube A. is screwed a flange for fixing to the floor by means of ordinary screw
nails. To the upper end of tube A is screwed a cylindrical metal box B. The
box B is held rigidly to the wall by a spindle screwed into the back of box B.
This spindle has a flange at the end next the wall. Ordinary screw nails go
through this flange & fix it to the wall.
The front face of box B (Fig. 1 Sheet 1) is open. Inside box B is placed an
ordinary electrical 2 pin wall socket C. (Fig. 1.)
G is a circular wood block hammered tight into back of box B. The wall
socket C is screwed to this wood block. The open end of box B is then covered
by means of a thin circular metal plate D, (Fig. 1) screwed to it. There is a cir-
cular hole in the centre of plate 1) to admit of the plug F being put into the
socket C. The plate 1) bears hard against face of socket C. (Fig. 1.)
Into the top of box B is screwed a short vertical spindle H. The object of this
spindle H is to support in a vertical position a portable electric hand lamp. (Fig. 1)
This portable hand lamp consists of a wood handle J. (Fig. 1) Up the centre of
this handle is a brass tube I which reaches from end to end of the handle. To
the upper end of tube I is screwed an ordinary lamp holder & to the lamp holder
is fixed a spoon-shaped reflector N. (Fig. 1) The inside of tube I is an easy fit for
the spindle H (Fig. 1). Spindle H passes up the lower portion of tube I & in this
manner holds the hand lamp vertical. The flexible electric cord K (Fig. 1) must
reach the lampholder & does so as follows. It (the cord K) enters the handle of
lamp near its base (Fig. 1) then passes up outside the tube I to a point immediately
above top of spindle H. At this point a circular hole L (Fig. 1) is bored through
tube I. The flexible cord K goes through this hole & is carried inside the tube I

page_text: up to the lampholder. In this way the lower end of tube I is reserved for spindle H
only. One end of cord K (Fig. 3 Sheet 2) is attached to the plug F, the other end
goes into the hand lamp as already described.
The flexible cord K hangs down to the floor on the double but is not allowed
to touch the floor. The hand lamp is about 5 feet from the floor when resting in
its support. The hand lamp can therefore be taken off its support H (Fig. 1,
Sheet 1,) & carried in any direction a distance of 10 feet. When no light is re-
quired the plug F is taken out & rests on the little ledge immediately below F,
(Fig. 3, Sheet 2). The plug F is thus always ready to the hand & when supported
in this position prevents the flexible cord from trailing on the floor.
The combined standard & portable electric light is for use in fever or infirmary
wards, where wood casing (which is generally used for running electric wires in)
would be objectionable.
In fever or infirmary wards a dim light from the ceiling is all that is required
for ordinary purposes, but often the doctor requires a good light close to the bed-
side to examine his patient closely or perform an operation.
This is the special object of the combined standard & portable electric light. These
standards are placed at intervals along the walls of the wards, the best position
being between two beds. In this way the number of standards required can be
reduced for the hand lamp at top of standard (Fig. 3) can then reach to a bed on
either side of it by means of the flexible cord K. The hand lamp when sitting ou
the top of its standard can be kept alight thus forming an electric standard which
can be used for general illuminating purposes, thus doing away with the use of
electric lights fixed to the walls. Moreover the hand lamp (Fig. 3) can be turned
in a complete circle on its spindle H, so as to shine in any direction. The lower
portion of the spindle H (Fig. 1 Sheet 1) can be made hinged if necessary so that
the lamp can be inclined to any angle. All portions of the standard are carefully
boxed in & the whole apparatus stands out a little distance from the wall. This
is to prevent dirt or dust getting a footing anywhere about it. Every part being
accessible it can be thoroughly cleaned, which is absolutely necessary in fever
wards.
Each hand lamp can be completely detached from its standard so that one hand
lamp is sufficient for a number of standards, that is one hand lamp can be carried
about from place to place where light is required.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said invention
& in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is: -
-
(1) A portable electric hand lamp having a cylindrical hole up the centre of its
handle to admit a circular spindle, so that the hand lamp can stand in a vertical
position, the spindle being fixed.
(2) An electrical wall socket enclosed in a metal box, the box being supported
by a vertical tube, this tube forming the conduit for the electric wires.
(3) The combination of (1) & (2) forming an apparatus which can be used for
(a) a fixed standard to give light, instead of electric lights fixed permanently
on the walls.
(b) a portable hand lamp which can be carried any distance from its standard
depending upon the length of the flexible wire connecting it to the standard.
Dated this the 21st day of Amil 1900
FREDERICK THOMSON.