Improvements in Extensible Standards for Lamps and other Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Dite of Application, 1st Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extensible Standards for Lamps and other
Analogous Purposes.
I HARRY DAIN HINKS, and JAMES HINKS AND SON, Limited, of Great Hampton
Street, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Manufacturers do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
what are known as extensible standards, used chiefly for floor lamps, but which may
be also used for other similar purposes; and the primary object of this our invention
is, to provide that the extensible tube in such standards shall be sustained in any
given position, by means of a spiral coil, preferably of wire, but which may be of
chain, or other flexible suitable material, encircling and engaging upon a fixed central
tube or rod, which is of a square or other noncircular form; the one end of the
said coil, being connected to the lower end of the extensible tube, and the other
(upper) end, being rigidly connected to a tube, sliding upon the central square rod
or tube, and which is always kept in an extended position relative to the lower end
of the extensible tube, by means of a spring, and operated upon for releasing
purposes, by a lever or its equivalent at the upper end of the extensible tube.
In constructing an extension according to this our invention, we should proceed
somewhat thus; although in general detail it may admit of variation.
A lower tubular standard is provided having a suitable base. Into this standard
passes, and slides up and down, the extensible tube, at the top of which is the
lamp &c.
At the upper part of the standard is provided a screw cap or other
suitable similar fitting. Centrally within these tubes, and secured to the base, is a
square upright rod or tube, extending to about the same height as the standard.
To the lower end of the extensible tube is securely attached the lower end of a
spirally coiled wire &c.
This coil, encircles the central fixed square tube for some distance upwards. At
its upper end it is again securely attached to a short piece of square tube, which
slides freely upon the central square rod or tube. Above this short piece of tube,
is another tube also encircling the central rod or tube, which is carried upwards
to nearly the top of the extensible tube; or, in some cases the upper end of the
coil may be secured direct to this upper extended tube, in which case the said
(latter) tube would also be square, that is, an extension of the short tube before
mentioned. This upper tube is always pressed upward by means of a spiral spring,
situated at any convenient position. At the upper end of the extensible tube, a
lever or other suitable device is provided, so that at will, the tube above the coil.
may be depressed by which means, the coil is compressed.
Its action generally will now be as follows:-The normal action of the spring
is to expand apart, the square sliding tube, and the lower end of the extensible tube,
which thereby tightens or binds the coil around the central rod or tube, and prevents.
the lowering of the extensible tube. But upon depressing the upper square tube, (by
the lever &c.) the coil is compressed, which thereby increases its encircling diameter,
and frees it from the central square rod, thus permitting a free up and down motion
to the said extensible tube, while in its compressed condition.
It will be further noticed that when it is required, only to raise the extensible
tube, the lever need not be touched, inasmuch as the upward lift of the extensible
tube itself, releases the grip of the coil.
Dated this 28th day of February 1890.
CHARLES T. TOWELL,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extensible Standards for Lamps and other
Analogous Purposes.
We, HARRY DAIN HINKS, and JAMES HINKS AND SON Limited, of Great Hampton
Street, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Manufacturers, 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 relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
what are known as extensible standards, used chiefly for floor lamps, but which may
be used also for other similar purposes, and the primary object of this our invention
is, to provide that the extensible tube in such standards-which carries the lamp &c.-
shall be sustained in any given position by means of a single spiral spring coil of
wire; encircling a fixed central tube or rod, which is of a square or other noncircular
sectional form, the one end of the said coil, being secured to the lower end of the
extensible tube, and the other (upper) end, being secured to a square tube sliding
upon the central square rod or tube, and which is always kept in an extended position,
relative to the lower end of the extensible tube, by means of the aforesaid spiral
spring coil.
We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation of the working parts of this our invention;
Fig. 2 a detailed view of the single spiral spring coil;
Fig. 3, a sectional plan of the standard on the line A-B (Fig. 1);
Fig. 4 a sectional plan of the standard on the line C-D, (Fig. 1); and
Fig. 5 is a vertical part section of the entire standard.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The base a, or its equivalent, and the tubular pillar b, constitute the main standard
or support; c, is the extensible tube, which is capable of an up and down telescopic
motion within the pillar b. At the top of the tube c, is the lamp or ornament.
At the upper part of the standard is provided a screw cap or other suitable similar
fitting d. Centrally within these tubes, and firmly secured to the base, is a square
upright rod or tube e, extending upwards somewhat above the height of the standard b.
To the lower end of the extensible tube c, is securely attached the lower end of a
spirally coiled wire spring f. This coil encircles the central fixed square tube e.
At its upper end, it is again securely attached to the short sliding piece of square
tube g, which slides freely upon the central square rod or tube e.
Above this short piece of tube, is another tube h, also encircling the central rod or
tube; which is carried upwards to nearly the top of the extensible tube c, or in some
cases the upper end of the coil may be secured direct to this upper extended
tube h.
The spring coilf, always tends to press the tube h, in an upward direction, and in
so doing, the said coil grips or holds the central fixed rod e. To the upper end of
the tube h, is connected the sliding collar i, by which the said tube h, may be compressed,
or instead of this collar, a cross lever may be used to answer the same purpose.
Its action generally will now be as follows:-The normal action of the spring is
to expand apart the square sliding tube, and the lower end of the extensible tube,
which thereby tightens or binds the coil around the central rod or tube, and prevents
the lowering of the extensible tube. But upon depressing the upper square tube by
the collar, (or lever) the coil spring f, is compressed, which thereby increases its
encircling diameter, and frees it from the central square rod, thus permitting a free
up and down motion to the said extensible tube c, but upon letting go, or loosing
the collar &c., the central rod is again gripped..
the
It will be further noticed, that when it is required to raise the extensible tube C,
collar i, need not be touched, inasmuch as the upward lifting of the extensible tube
itself direct, releases the grip of the coil, and permits of its being raised.

page_text: Thus the coil spring f, not only affords the means of gripping the rod e, and
sustaining the lamp in any given adjusted position, but also furnishes the necessary
automatic as a spring, to extend and bind itself upon the said rod or tube e; while this
method of a single wire spring coil, permits of the coil being of such a strength, as
to be practically impossible to wear out, or get out of order.
We are aware that prior to our invention, extensible standards have been made
with a spring compressing device, and that a central rod has been gripped and
released for adjustment, and therefore we do not claim such parts broadly, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The combination in an extensible standard of the extensible tube c, sliding
tube g, or h, or both combined, with the spiral coil spring f, encircling the fixed rod i,
substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
2nd. The combination in an extensible standard, of the base a, pillar b, extensible
tube c, and rod e, and compressing collar i, or its equivalent, of the single spiral coil
spring, and clips f, all substantially as set forth and shown, and for the purposes
specified.
100
1.1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicants' Agent.