Improvements in Portable Electric Light Holders.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Electric Light Holders.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM WALLACE SAVAGE, of Toronto,
County of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, Electrical Engineer.
I WILLIAM WALLACE SAVAGE of 109 St. James's Street, Brighton, in the
County of Sussex, Chemist, 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 :-
The object of the invention is to design a holder for a portable electric lamp,
which, while holding the lamp, will maintain an open circuit, but when the lamp is
removed will automatically close the circuit and thereby light the lamp; and it
consists, essentially, of a forked lever, the inner end of which is pivoted on the
base-plate of the switch, the said lever being connected to a bell-crank, the upper
end of which is held from connection with the contact-plate, which completes the
circuit by the weight of the lamp held in the forked end of the lever, upon the
removal of which lamp, however, a spring arranged for the purpose forces the upper
end of the bell-crank into contact with the plate, which completes the circuit, as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the lamp in the holder, the cap being
removed to show the interior construction of the switch.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the lamp removed from the holder.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the holder with forked end a, designed to hold the portable lamp B; C the
base-plate of the switch; D and E the wires leading through the switch to the
portable lamp B. The wire E extends first to the contact-plate F only, to which
it is secured by the binding-screw f. The continuation of the wire E extends from
the plate G to which it is secured by the binding-screw 9 to the portable lamp B.
The circuit is thus incomplete between the plates F and G.
H is a bell-crank pivoted on the pin h, extending from the plate G.
I is a link connecting the lower end of the bell-crank H to the holding-lever A,
which is pivoted at its inner end at j. The link I and base-plate C are formed of
insulating material.
L is a spring designed to force the upper end of the bell-crank H against the
contact-plate F, and 7 is a stop.
Having now described the parts involved in my invention I shall briefly describe
their operation.
When the lamp is in position in the holder A as shown in Figure 1, the weight
of the lamp holds the upper portion of the bell-crank H away from contact with
the contact-plate F and against the stop which serves to support holder with
lamp. Upon the lamp B being removed, as shown in Figure 2, the tension of the
spring L immediately forces the upper portion of the bell-crank H against
the contact-plate F and the circuit is complete when the electrical current passing
through the wires D and E instantaneously lights the lamp.
Instead of connecting the holding-lever A to the bell-crank H by the link I,
I might simplify the construction by making the bell-crank and lever in one
piece, forming the forked end in the lower portion of the bell-crank lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a holder for portable electric lamps the combination with a forked lever
such as A, bell crank H, electrically connected with the plate G to which the end

page_text: of one portion of the wire E is attached, and the spring L of a contact plate such
as F to which the end of the other portion of the wire E is attached substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a holder for portable electric lamps the forked lever A pivoted at j, and
connected by the link I, to the bell crank H, which is pivoted on the pin h, extending
from the plate G-to which the end of one portion of the wire E is attached, the
spring, L. and stop in combination with the contact-plate F to which the end of
the other portion of the wire E is attached substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of August 1891.
THOMAS H. MELLOR,
110, St. James's Street, Brighton, Agent for the Applicant.