IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS OR LANTERNS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR OUT-OF-DOOR SITUATIONS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS OR LANTERNS CHIEFLY DESIGNED
FOR OUT-OF-DOOR SITUATIONS."-A communication from abroad by
Joseph Weatherby Bartlett, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th November 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS OR LANTERNS
CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR OUT-OF-DOOR SITUATIONS," a communication, to be as
follows:

page_text: According to this Invention I make the glass which surrounds and
protects the light or flame in one single piece. The said glass is pear-
shaped or oval, and is open at the top and bottom, the top being pro-
vided with a suitable chimney. The lower part of the glass encircles
the burner, and the upper part forms a dome above the same, but as
above stated the whole is in one piece, and as it is formed of crystal
glass without any portions of metal or other opaque material there is
nothing to absorb or obstruct the light, and moreover the lamp presents
a very elegant appearance. At the part where the dome or upper part
merges into the lower part of the said glass the same has a flange or
rim formed around it; that is to say, the said flange is formed of the
substance of the glass or in one piece with the same. By means of this
flange the glass is suspended or supported within any suitably con-
structed frame.
concave or convex.
I provide my improved lamps with reflectors, which may be either
I place one of the concave reflectors in the form of
a ring around the glass at or near the aforesaid flange, and another
around the chimney at the top of the globe or rim. Or I may use the
lower concave reflector alone, or may have the said lower reflector and a
convex reflector around the chimney at the top of the said globe. The
surface of these reflectors is formed by enamelling them with porcelain
or nickel, or with paint and varnish kiln dried.
Any suitable frame may be used for supporting my improved lamp,
but one well adapted for the purpose consists of four upright thin bars
attached to the post or column, and terminating at the top in a ring or
hoop wherein the lamp is supported by the aforesaid flange or rim.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of November, in the

page_text: year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LAMPS OR LANTERNS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR OUT-OF-DOOR SITUATIONS," a
communication to me from abroad by Joseph Weatherby Bartlett, of
the City and State of New York, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The said Invention' relates to lamps which are chiefly designed for
streets and other public thoroughfares and out-of-door situations.
According to this Invention I make the glass which surrounds and
protects the light or flame in one single piece. The said glass is some-
what pear-shaped or oval, and is opon at the top and bottom, the top
being provided with a suitable chimney. The lower part of the glass
encircles the burner, and the upper part forms a dome above the same,
but as above stated the whole is in one piece, and as it is formed of
crystal glass without any portions of metal or other opaque material
there is nothing to absorb or obstruct the light, and moreover the lamp
presents a very elegant appearance. At the part where the dome or
upper part merges into the lower part of the said glass the samic has a

page_text: flange or rim formed around it; that is to say, the said flange is formed
of the substance of the glass or in one piece with the same. By means
of this flange the glass is suspended or supported within any suitably
constructed frame.
concave or convex.
I provide my improved lamps with reflectors which may be either
I place one of the said reflectors in the form of a
ring around the glass at or near the aforesaid flange or rim, and another
around the chimney at the top of the globe. Or I may use a lower
concave reflector alone, or may have the said lower reflector and a
convex reflector around the chimney at the top of the said globe. The
surface of these reflectors is formed by enamelling them with porcelain
or nickel or with paint and varnish kiln dried.
Any suitable frame may be used for supporting my improved lamp,
but one well adapted for the purpose consists of four upright thin bars
attached to the post or column, and terminating at the top in a ring or 1
hoop whereon the lamp is supported by the aforesaid flange or rim.
The objects of the said Invention are the production of a lantern or
lamp constructed in a simple and economical manner, and which shall
offer the least possible obstruction to the outward passage of the rays of
light emanating from the flame within the same, and the placing of a 2
reflector or reflectors upon the said lamp in such a manner that while
they shall not obstruct the passage of the full volume of the rays of the
light outward toward the street and surrounding space, they will yet
check the passage of such of the rays of the said light as would other-
wise pass directly upward and above the lamp into space, where 2
illumination is not required, and reflect the same upon the street' and
where illumination is desired.

page_text: glass a for the purpose of holding and sustaining the lamp within the
metal ring or frame; c is a reflector made of metal slightly concave
in form, and which is placed upon the glass a and held in position by the
rib 6 and metal ring or frame supporting the lamp. I make this reflector
for ordinary street use about four inches in width from the inner to the
outer edges; d is the metal frame supporting the lamp when used upon
the ordinary post; f is the ventilating chimney made of metal, the
lower part of which I secure to the opening in the glass a by clasps.
The chimney may also be secured to the glass a by means of a spring
and flange, or by indentations made in the glass; g is a metal cap or
cover placed at a proper distance for ventilation above the chimney,
and held in place by straps of metal; h, Figure 1, is a reflector made of
a convex form and fitted upon the chimney f. I make this reflector for
ordinary street use about six inches in height from the lower edge when
it is fitted to the chimney to the upper edge, and about fourteen inches
in diameter across the top; i is a metal cover fitted upon the top of the
reflector / for the purpose of conducting away water.
Various substances may be used upon the surfaces of these reflectors
to increase the reflecting power of the same, but I prefer to cover the
surface of metal with the best whit porcelain; k is a rim of metal
secured to the lower part and outside of the chimney f for the purpose
of holding the outer edge of the glass a in place; by extending the said
rim over a slight distance upon the surface of the glass a it covers any
variation or inequality which may occur in the size of the opening of the
said glass. The clasps upon the lower edge of the chimney are made
of a length corresponding to the width of the rim k; is a bead upon
the lower edge of the upper part of the chimney, where it is found
desirable to make the same in two parts for the purposes of packing and
cleaning the glass; m, m, are catches of metal secured to the rim k,
and upon the bead by passing them through the openings made
therein and sliding the chimney around for the catches to take hold
upon the bead . The two parts of the chimney may also be secured by
means of a slot made in the outer part, and a rivet fixed upon the
inner part. I make the chimney either all in one or in two parts for
disconnecting the same. n, n, Figure 3, are metal bands which support
the chimney cap upon the upper surface of the reflector h; they are
carried across to the edge of the said reflector and help to support and
keep the same in place.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A lamp or lantern having the glass enclosing the light or flame
and the upper portion or dome made in one piece and with a flange, by
means of which the glass is suspended within the frame of a street
lamp.
Second. A glass having a rib thereon combined with its supporting
frame or bracket, and with a reflector held in place between such rib and
frame, substantially as described.
Third. In combination with a glass shade a metallic chimney secured
to the top of the glass and provided with a reflector, substantially as
described.
Fourth. In combination with a glass shade a reflector directly sur-
rounding and fitting the glass at a point beneath its top, and an
auxiliary reflector surmounting the glass at its top, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two
Witness,
W. J. LowE.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)