IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF OBTAINING LIGHTS FOR SMOKERS AND OTHERS
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Alfred Warrington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th December 1871,-A communication from abroad by
Francois Louis, 95, Rue des Marais St. Martin, Paris, France.
I, THOMAS ALFRED WARRINGTON, of No. 96, Newgate Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF OBTAINING LIGHTS FOR SMOKERS AND
OTHERS," (a communication to me from abroad by Francois Louis, 95,
Rue, des Marais St. Martin, Paris, France, to be as follows :-
The object of this Invention is to obtain a light box to be used by
smokers and others, and which I name "the sempiternal light."
These improvements is based upon a new application of the chemical
compound liquids having the property of lighting themselves by their
contact with atmospheric air.
In carrying out this Invention, I (by preference) use a combination of
phosphorous, carbon and sulphur or solution of phosphorous in sulphure
of carbon.

page_text: Although I prefer the use of the above-mentioned solution to any
other I do not confine myself thereto as other liquids may be used for
the same purpose without in any way affecting the Invention, one of the
principal features being the difficulty in finding a sufficiently hermeti-
cally shutting aperture to the light box, and at the same time to be
easily and precisely worked so.as.to allow the aforesaid box to be placed
without any danger in any ordinary clothes pocket, and also that the
smoker may in using it allow but a very small quantity of the before-
mentioned liquid to come in contact with the air, just sufficient to ignite
the tinder or other ignitable substance which is placed near the orifice of
the box, substantially as shown and illustrated by the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings which forms part of this Specification.
Fig. 1 represents a front outside view of the light box; Fig. 2
represents a side view of same; Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on
line A, B, Fig. 2. In these three Figures the same letters represent the
same part of the apparatus.
a, represents a small metallic box which I prefer should be of the
lenticular form, so as to occupy as little space as possible in the pocket;
this box contain's. the liquid, which inflammable by its.contact, with the
atmospheric air; in the upper part of said box a small capillary aperture
U is made through which the liquid escapes; e represents a screw
spindle which turns in the screwed portion of the upper part of the
'box d (which may be in one piece with the box, or may be welded on
to the box, or it may in other cases be screwed to the box as preferred).
This spindle has a conical formed, point which fits, into the capillary 2
aperture so as to hermetically close the same, but, by turning the
6
screw it can, be:;withdrawn. more or less so as to allow the escape of
the liquid represents a button or head of the screw. spindle c for
revolving the same in the required direction; this button is hollowed out
in the form of a basin in which the tinder or other ignitable substance
is placed after it has been lighted by the liquid; and thus enabling the
smoker to readily obtain a light therefrom.
.
When about to use this light box it is necessary to reverse it so as to
permit the outlet of the liquid by the orifice b, holding the box with one'
one hand and pressing-the tinder or other ignitable. substance 'upon..the
spindle c. at k, and with the other hand turning the button so as to
open the conical capillary aperture and thereby permitting the escape of
the liquid on to the tinder which is placed in the opening %, and thereby

page_text: igniting it, which is then placed in the basin formed in the button,
where it is allowed to burn for the purpose of lighting the pipe, cigar,
or cigarette.
To prevent the turning of the button f too much, which might cause
too great an escape of the liquid, the part d is fitted with a stop g, as
shown in the Drawing; i represents the plug of the opening through
which the liquid is passed into the box a.
"
Having now described and illustrated the nature of my Invention,
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the particular
form or disposal of the light box represented in the Drawings, as the
disposal of the parts and the form may be arranged in various ways,
neither do I confine myself to any particular material of which it is to
be made.