Improvements in the Application of Electricity to Spectacle Frames.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st July, 1887.
Improvements in the Application of Electricity to Spectacle Frames.
I JOHN TAYLOR LEIGHTON of No. 18 Montgomery Street Edinburgh, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improved electro- or galvano-magnetic frames for Spectacles,
Eye-glasses, Eye-preservers, and the like: and consists of providing two plates,
discs, or pieces of metal, one of copper, and one of zinc, or any other two metals, one
of which shall be electro-positive to the other. The plates or discs above mentioned,
are attached to the bridge or nose-piece of the frame in such a manner and position,
as to be capable of free adjustment, or be removed altogether if required, and so as to
rest comfortably upon either side of the nose of the wearer.
The metal plates or discs are electrically connected by the bridge or nose-piece
itself, or independently by means of a platinum or copper wire, or other suitable
metallic conductor; a groove being provided in the bridge or nose-piece for receiving
said wire or conductor: or, the wire may be coiled round the bridge or nose-piece,
thus converting the bridge into an electro-magnet, in which case the wire aforesaid
would be insulated with silk, or other suitable insulating material.
I also provide similar discs or plates of copper and zinc to be placed on, or near,
the ends of the arms of the spectacles, and connected electrically by means of the
frame or otherwise. The metallic discs or plates, may however, be placed in any
suitable and convenient position and if necessary or desirable, the plates and wire
may be suitably insulated from the frame; and further, the plates upon the bridge
may be independent of, and insulated from the plates upon the ends of the arms;
thus forming three circuits for the current to flow through.
:
In addition, I may make the frames of the spectacles magnetic, wholly, or in part,
thus:if it is desired to have the bridge only magnetic, I insulate it from the other
parts of the frame, by the insertion of a metal or other substance, which, whilst being
non-magnetic, or a non-conductor of magnetism, may be if required a conductor of

page_text: electricity. Also if it is desired that the arms alone be magnetized, they may be
insulated at the joints, in a similar manner, from the other parts of the frame, but
I do not make the permanent magnetism of the frames, an essential part of my
invention; the magnetism induced in the iron of the frame, being far more durable
and effective, than the variable magnetism of permanent magnets.
The metallic plates or discs may also be used as electrodes for applying a current
from a battery, the secondary wire of an induction coil, or other external source of
electricity.
In this manner according to my Invention, a gentle current of electricity is
generated by the action of the moisture of the skin upon the metallic discs or plates,
which form the elements of the voltaic pile, and, with or without the magnetism of
the fran exercises a curative, soothing, and strengthening influence upon the eyes,
and the nerves and muscles in connection therewith.
Dated this Thints finst dose
1000
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I, JOHN TAYLOR LEIGHTON of 18 Montgomery Street, Edinburgh, Scotland,
Gentleman, 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 :-
My Invention relates to improved Electro or Galvano magnetic frames for
Spectacles, Eyeglasses, Eye preservers and the like, and consists in providing two
plates, discs or pieces of metal, one of copper, and one of zinc or any other two
metals, one of which shall be electro-positive to the other. The plates or discs above
mentioned are attached to the bridge or nose piece of the frame, in such manner and
position as to be capable of free adjustment, or be removed altogether if required, and
so as to rest comfortably upon either side of the nose of the wearer.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, which illustrates the method which I prefer to
adopt in carrying out my Invention, wherein it will be seen that the bridge or nose
piece B, is surrounded by a fine insulated wire, the bared ends of which are connected
at e. e with two discs c. c¹ of dissimilar metals, one of which is electro-positive to
the other. A plan of such disc, or plate of metal is illustrated at Figure 2.1
The bridge or nose piece arranged in the manner above described is thus converted
into an electro-magnet, provided that the frames thereof are constructed of iron, steel
or other metal capable of being magnetised, and the discs of dissimilar metals are
the positive and negative elements of a voltaic or galvanic pile.
In
When the spectacles are to be used the discs of metal c. crest comfortably one
upon each side of the nose and a gentle current of electricity is set up by virtue of
the moisture upon the surface of the skin, flowing from the zinc disc c. over the
surface of the skin to the copper disc c¹, thence through the fine insulated wire by way
of the connections e¹ and e. to the zinc disc c. thus completing the circuit.
addition to the galvanic action set up as above described, magnetism is produced in
the frames of the spectacles extending as far as the magnetically insulated joints d. d'-
a. a¹ and b. b are also discs of dissimilar metals similar to the discs c. c¹, and attached
as shown to the extremities of the arms A, the discs a. and b. being of copper, and
a² and b¹ of zinc. If arranged in the manner last described in combination with the
coil of wire surrounding the bridge or nose piece, the current will flow from the
disc b¹ to b. over the surface of the skin, back to b. On the other arm, the action will
of course be in the opposite direction, the current flowing from a¹ to a. and by way of
the moist skin to a¹. Thus it will be seen with the action taking place upon the
bridge or nose piece, there are three sources of Electricity in addition to the
magnetisation of the frames.
The metallic plates or discs may also be used as electrodes for applying a current
from a battery, secondary wire of an induction coil or other External source of
Electricity.

page_text: In the arrangement above described according to my Invention a gentle current of
electricity is generated by the action of the moisture of the skin upon the metallic
discs or plates which form the elements of the voltaic pile, and with or without the
magnetisation of the frame exercises a curative, soothing and strengthening influence
upon the eyes and the nerves and muscles in connection therewith.
In conclusion I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any given
number of metallic plates or discs nor to any special disposition thereof, as I may use
any convenient number and attached to any desired part of the frame and arms
without deviation from the principles of
my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The improvements in the application of Electricity to Spectacle frames, substantially
as herein set forth and shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
Dated this 26th day of May 1887.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.