An Improved Gripping Tool for Electric Light and other Fittings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Gripping Tool for Electric Light and other
Fittings.
We, GUSTAV BINSWANGER Electrical Engineer, and WILLIAM EVERETT
GIBSON, Electrician, both of 71 Queen Victoria Street, in the City and County
of London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved gripping tool, and has for its object
the production of such a tool by the use of which electric lamp sockets and
other like fittings may be removed and replaced within a very limited space, such
for instance as a bell or flower shaped shade, without risk of damage to the
latter.
In carrying our invention into effect, we construct a segmental socket, with
two or more longitudinal divisions, so that when closed the bore of said socket
is circular, and shaped to conform to the fittings the tool is to be used upon.
Each segment is mounted at the end of one or more steel wires, or rods of any
elastic material, the other ends being firmly fixed within a handle or holder in
such a
manner that the segments forming the socket are normally sprung
outwards, presenting the maximum internal diameter. The wires or rods thus
form a cone, the apex of which is towards the handle. A telescopic tube is
arranged to slide upwards over said wires or rods, which by compressing them,
causes the diameter of the segmental socket to be diminished to a corresponding
degree, thus firmly gripping any object placed within it. The grip is maintained
by a ratchet rack, or any equivalent ineans, so that it may be released by a simple
movement of the fingers. We may also provide a screw or worm for moreing the
telescopic tube aforesaid, in some cases, and may fix, or maintain it in the desired
position by means of a screw, wedge, or any equivalent means.
Dated this 17th day of May 1894
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicants.
Fittings.
We GUSTAV BINSWANGER Electrical Engineer and WILLIAM EVERETT
GIBSON Commercial Clerk both of 69, 71 Queen Victoria Street in the City
and County of London 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved gripping tool for electric lamp holders
and other like fittings, and has for its object that these may be removed and
replaced within a limited area or space such as that of a bell or flower shaped
shade, without risk of damage thereto, also facilitating such removal and
replacement in cases where other tools could not be employed by reason of want of
space.

page_text: In order that our said invention may be the better understood we have appended
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the
device, and Figure 2 an elevation thereof Figure 3 being a sectional view of
the moving parts thereof, similar letters of reference being used to indicate
corresponding parts in the several views.
In carrying our invention into effect we employ a segmental socket, a a¹
Figures 1 and 2, each segment being fitted with two or more steel wires or
rods bb', or of other elastic material, and the socket formed by the segments
when closed or partially closed is of circular shape as shown. The wires or
rods bare fitted firmly within a handle or holder D, surmounted by a long
ferrule or tube Cupon which slides a telescopic tube A, with a handle B or
flange, by means of which it may be slid upwards thus compressing the rods b b t
and contracting the internal diameter of the segmental socket a a¹. The
elastic tension of the rods tend to cause them to spring outwards, opening the
socket, and presenting a coned outline or configuration, the apex being towards
the handle D.
When the socket a a¹ is presented to any object that is to be removed by
unscrewing or the like, it is opened sufficiently to embrace it, and the telescopic
slider is pressed upwards, thus contracting said socket as aforesaid and causing
it to grip the object desired to be held sufficiently firmly to enable it to be
removed or replaced, and it may be released when this is effected by a reversal
of the action before described.
We may add a longitudinal ratchet, spring, or screw grip for retaining the
contraction of the socket, but in ordinary cases of adaptation of said tool we do
not find such devices necessary.
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;-
First. The combination of parts forming a gripping tool for electric light and
other fittings substantially as herein described and shown by the drawings hereto
appended.
Second. In a gripping tool for electric light and other fittings the combination
of a segmental socket a a¹, with spring or elastic rods b 6', handle D, ferrule C
and telescopic sliding tube A, substantially as herein described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the appended drawings.
Dated this 27th day of February 1895..
FRED. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicants.