IMPROVEMENTS IN SHADES OR PROTECTORS FOR SHIELDING THE EYES FROM THE GLARE OF STRONG LIGHT
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Tyerman, of 38, Gracechurch Street, in
the City of London, Architect and Surveyor, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHADES OR PROTECTORS FOR SHIELDING THE EYES FROM THE
GLARE OF STRONG LIGHT."
Sealed the 21st May 1867, and dated the 23rd November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Tyerman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd November 1866.
I, FREDERICK TYERMAN, of 38, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
Architect and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHADES OR PROTECTORS FOR SHIELDING THE EYES FROM THE
GLARE OF STRONG LIGHT," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar apparatus for protecting and shielding
the eyes from the direct glare of light whilst engaged at the desk or table
without at the same time perceptibly obstructing the general distribution or
diffusion of light in the apartment, and consists essentially in the employment
of a small shade composed of any opaque, translucent, or semi-transparent
material, which is placed or adjusted near to the light in the line of sight
between the eyes and the said light so as to obstruct more or less those rays
of light which would otherwise impinge directly upon the eyes, but not to
interfere with the general diffusion of the other light rays. The form of and
material composing this shade may be varied according to taste; for example,
it may consist simply of a plain or ornamented disc of opal glass, with or

page_text: without a frame, or may be composed of metal, such as thin brass stamped
to assume the form of leaves, flowers, cr other ornamental devices. Various
nodes of fixing the shade or protector may be adopted, but in practice I
find the most convenient to consist of a rod or spindle connected by a
universal swivel joint to the shade, and having a ring or clip formed on the
spindle which will fit round or grasp any convenient part of the gas-fitting,
lamp, or candle, the shade or protector being adjusted to any angle or position
to suit the position or direction of the eyes and maintained in its proper place
if necessary by a tightening or set screw. In some cases a series of sockets
may be formed round a lamp so as to accomodate two or more shades,
according to the number of people sitting round the light. If preferred, the
rod or spindle carrying the shade may be fitted into a separate stand of its
own in lieu of forming an attachment of the gas fitting or lamp, in which case
it may be employed for protecting the eyes from the glare of sunlight when
working in front of a window. By rendering the back of the shade reflective
a certain amount of additional light may be thrown into the apartment, but
of course in the opposite direction to the eyes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Tyerman in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
TYERMAN, of 38, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Architect and
Surveyor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her 'most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of November, in the year 'of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Frederick Tyerman, Her 'special license that I, the said Frederick Tyerman, my
executors, 'administrators, or assigns, or such others as I, the 'said Frederick
Tyerman, my executors, administrators, or assigns, 'should 'at 'aily 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
SHADES OR PROTECTORS FOR SHIELDING THE EYES FROM THE 'GLARE OF 'STRONG
LIGHT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick

page_text: Tyerman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Tyerman, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per:
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar apparatus for protecting and
shielding the eyes from the direct glare of light whilst engaged at the desk or
table without at the same time perceptibly obstructing the general distri
bution or diffusion of light in the apartment, and consists essentially in the
employment of a small shade composed of any opaque, translucent, or semi-
transparent material, which is placed or adjusted near to the light in the line
of sight between the eyes and the said light, so as to obstruct more or less
those rays of light which would otherwise impinge directly upon the eyes, but
not to interfere with the general diffusion of the other light rays. The form
of and material composing this shade may be varied according to taste; for
example, it may consist simply of a plain or ornamented disc of opal glass
with or without a frame, or may be composed of metal, such as thin brass
stamped to assume the form of leaves, flowers, or other ornamental devices.
Various modes of fixing the shade or protector may be adopted, but in practice
I find the most convenient to consist of a rod or spindle connected by a
universal swivel joint to the shade, and having a ring or clip formed on the
spindle, which will fit round or grasp any convenient part of the gas-fitting,
lamp, or candle, the shade or protector being adjusted to any angle or position
to suit the position or direction of the eyes, and maintained in its proper place
if necessary by a tightening or set screw. In some cases a series of sockets
may be formed round a lamp, so as to accomodate two or more shades
according to the number of people sitting round the light. If preferred the
rud or spindle carrying the shade may be fitted into a separate stand of its
own, in lieu of forming an attachment of the gasfitting or lamp, in which case
it may be employed for protecting the eyes from the glare of sunlight when
working in front of a window. By rendering the back of the shade reflective
a certain amount of additional light may be thrown into the apartment, but of
course in the opposite direction to the eyes.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents my shade or protector as applied to
an ordinary gas burner; Figure 2 is an enlarged detail showing the mode of
affixing and supporting the shade; and Figure 3 represents the application of
an ornamental shade to a table lamp.
A is a disc or protector of plain oval form in Figure 1, by preference
composed of opal glass with hole a, made by preference near one edge in
order to increase the range of the protector, as shown by the dotted lines in
some of its different positions; 6 is a thin metal plate folded over and secured
to the edge of the disc by an eyelet through the bole a, in which eyelet holo
the pin or rod c of the joint (Figure 2) works. This disc or protector will
vary in dimensions according to requirements and class and size of burner tó
which it may be applied, but must be sufficiently large to cover the flame, so-
that the eyes may be shielded from the direct glare of light whilst occupied at
the desk or table, or near to or under the light. B is a light metal rod or
spindle tapered if necessary at one end to fit into a socket on an ordinary clip
or ring d, or other suitable contrivance, or it may be secured or fixed to the
clip or ring itself, which clip or ring must be of sufficient size to fit round or
grasp the gas-fitting, lamp, or candle, and of sufficient strength to carry the
spindle or rod B and protector A, the other end of the rod or spindle being
bent and formed into a helix in the manner shewn at e, Figure 2, for the
attachment thereto of an ordinary universal or other approved form of joint,
having a small rod or pin f affixed to the same, such pin f passing through the
helical or coiled part e of the spindle B, and in which part e the whole joint.
itself can be turned and secured in position required by a small thumbscrew g.
The rod or pin c is jointed at h to the end of the rod f, and passes through the
eyelet hole a in the disc or protector A, Figure 1; upon this piu c the disc
can be turned and secured also in its required position by a small thumb
screw i, the object being that the disc or protector A may be adjusted at any.
angle or in any direction or position to suit the requirements of the user, or
the special purposes for which the disc or protector A may be required. The
length, strength, and shape of the rod or spindle B will vary according to
circumstances, but it must be of such a length that the disc or protector A
may be placed or adjusted near to the light and in the line of light, so as to
obstruct more or less the rays of light which would otherwise impinge directly
upon the eyes, and to be so shaped or bent as to cast as little shadow as

page_text: possible below the line of light, and of sufficient strength to carry and keep
the disc or protector A in its proper position. In some cases the spindles or
rods with dises or protectors attached can be fitted into a series of sockets
affixed to a clip or ring, as before described, adapted for candles and table
or other lamps, around which persons may be occupied; or the spindles or rods
may be fitted into plain or ornamental standards, in which case the disc or
protector may be employed in shielding the eyes from the glare of sunlight
or for any other suitable purpose.
The form and material comprising the protectors on shades may be varied
according to requirements and taste. They can be made with or without
frames, and of any opaque, translucent, semi-translucent, or semi-transparent
material, those materials being preferred which whilst most effectually pro-
tecting or shielding the eyes from the direct glaze of light will cast the least
amount of shadow, and interfere as little as possible with the general
distribution or diffusion of the light, and can be simple in form, or cast or
made to assume the form of fans, leaves, flowers (as shown at Figure 3),
birds, insects, and other ornamental devices. In some cases the backs of the
protectors or shades can be rendered reflective, so that a certain amount of
additional light may be thrown in an opposite direction to the eyes. The
protectors are well adapted for shop lights without involving any alteration in
the present form of gas-fitting.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conelusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the peculiar construction of adjustable
protectors or shades for shielding the eyes from the glare of light, and the
mode of applying or using the same, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by the Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Tyerman, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
FRED. TYEKMAN. (L.S.)