Improvements in Bicycle or Vehicle Lamp, and Spring Bracket for the same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1897-ccepted. 21st Aug. 1897
[Communicated from abroad by THE HAVELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a corporation
organised under the laws of New Jersey, and doing business at No. 284 Washington
Strect, in the City of Newark, County of Essex, State of New Jersey U.S.A.J
Improvements in Bicycle or Vehicle Lamp, and Spring Bracket for
the same.
WILLIAM JORDAN, of 120 Chancery Lane, in the City of London, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is chiefly to facilitate the manufacture of the
lamp body by dividing it vertically and forming the opposite halves of substantially
the same shape from the top to the bottom, thus avoiding the formation of the body
in one piece, the smoke funnel at the top in another piece, and the connection for
the oil cup at the bottom in still another piece.
The object is also to furnish a secure meaus of attachment for connecting the oil
cup to the bottom of the lamp body, for connecting the lens removably with the front
of the lamp body, and for connecting the lamp body by a spring bracket, elastically
with the arm upon the bicycle or vehicle upon which the lamp is to be supported.
The invention also includes a detachable spring for the bracket socket.
The improvement in the lamp body consists in dividing the entire body vertically
through the center line of the smoke funnel, and forming the opposite halves of sheet
metal with their edges united at the opposite sides of the body and funnel by a folded
Beam.
By making the opposite sides of similar shape, they may be formed in the same
die, and simultaneously provided with flanges at the edge to form such seain.
A bezel is formed upon the joint of the two parts at each side of the body, by
stamping the halves of the bezel integral with such parts, and providing each with a
semi-collar to retain the jewel, and with a semi-series of tongues to fold over the
jewel when inserted against the collar.
The bottom of the body is provided with a collar to engage a socket upon the oil
cup, and the folded seams are projected upon the opposite sides of the collar, and
fitted to loops which are projected from opposite sides of the socket upon the oil cup.
A movable ring is fitted to the outside of the socket and extended through notches
which are made in the loops upon the same, and loops are formed upon the ring to
correspond with the loops upon the collar when the ring is suitably turned.
The seams, which form ribs upon the opposite sides of the collar, are inserted
through the loops in the socket and movable ring, and are notched in the plane of
he ring to admit the body of the same when the latter is turned upon the socket.
When thus turned, the engagement of the ring with the notches upon the ribs holds
the oil oup securely upon the lamp body.
The funnel upon the top of the lamp is furnished with a perforated cover having a
central tube projected upward to support a cap a little distance above the perforations
of the cover, such cap being also provided with perforations upon a different line from
hose in the cover.

page_text: The center of the cap where fitted to the end of the tube is formed with a flat
round seat to receive an inscription.
By this construction, each half of the lamp body is formed of sheet metal in one
piece, including a semi-globe at the middle, a semi-oil cup collar at the bottom, a
semi-funnel at the top, and a semi-bezel upon each side of the globe.
The improvement in the spring bracket comprises a rectangular sheet metal socket
and a tie-plate, provided each with lugs upon the corners and united by pivoted links,
an arm attached to the socket, and a clock spring having its inner end secured to
Buch arm, and its outer end applied to raise the links.
The socket is fitted removably to a suitably shaped arm or post upon the bicycle or
vehicle, and the tie-plate is secured to the back of the lamp. The clock spring thus
elastically supports the weight of the lamp upon the socket.
The hinge lugs for the links, and the arm to support the clock spring, are
preferably attached to the socket by means of a foot-plate, which is held to the socket
by lugs stamped from the substance of the latter.
To hold the socket firmly upon the post or arm which fits within the socket, an
elliptic spring made of a parallel curved strip of sheet metal is secured detachably
within the socket by projections at its opposite ends adapted to engage the ends of
the socket and to retain it automatically within the socket, but permitting its
removal therefrom and reinsertion therein without alteration.
The upper projection is formed as a vertical hook to embrace one edge of the
socket, and the other projection extends laterally from the end of the spring to
engage the opposite end of the socket, and is adapted to be crowded into and through
the socket when required.
The spring may thus be inserted through the socket and secured therein without
any fastenings, and when it becomes flattened through use, it may be readily removed
and recurved to restore its original elasticity.
The improvement in the fastening for the lense consists of an annular bead
formed upon the front side of the lamp body, and a lense ring formed with an annular
socket to fit the bead, a tongue upon the lense ring adapted to enter a slot in the
body behind the annular bead, and a spring fitted within the body and having a
tooth to enter a slot in the lense ring, at the side opposite to the tongue.
The spring is provided with a stud which extends through the outer side of the
body and is formed with an annular head. By pressing the head of the stud into
contact with the body, the spring is pushed inward, the tooth is withdrawn from the
notch in the lense ring, and the ring can then be tipped outward until the tongue can
be withdrawn from the slot in the body.
The lense is applied to the body, by fitting the tongue back into the slot, and then
pressing the socket down upon the bead; when the tooth springs into the slot in the
lense ring, and instantly secures the lense in place.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle or Vehicle Lamp, and Spring Bracket for
the same.
I, WILLIAM JORDAN, of 120 Chancery Lane, in the City of London, Patent Agent, do 4
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 present invention is chiefly to facilitate the manufacture of the

page_text: lamp body by dividing it vertically and forming the opposite halves of substantially
the same shape from the top to the bottom, thus avoiding the formation of the body
in one piece, the smoke funnel at the top in another piece, and the connection for
the oil cup at the bottom in still another piece.
The object is also to furnish a secure means of attachment for connecting the oil
cup to the bottom of the lamp body, for connecting the lens removably with the front
of the lamp body, and for connecting the lamp body by a spring bracket, elastically
with the arm upon the bicycle or vehicle upon which the lamp is to be supported.
The invention also includes a detachable spring for the bracket socket.
The improvement in the lamp body consists in dividing the entire body vertically
through the center line of the sinoke funnel, and forming the opposite halves of sheet
metal with their edges united at the opposite sides of the body and funnel by a folded
seam.
By making the opposite sides of similar shape, they may be forined in the same
die, and simultaneously provided with flanges at the edge to form such seam.
A bezel is formed upon the joint of the two parts at each side of the body by
stamping the halves of the bezel integral with such parts, and providing each with a
semi-collar to retain the jewel, and with a semi-series of tongues to fold over the
jewel when inserted against the collar.
The bottom of the body is provided with a collar to engage a socket npon tlie oil
cup, and the folded seams are projected upon the opposito side of the collar, and
fitted within loops which are projected from opposite sides of the socket upon the oil
cup.
A movable ring is fitted to the outside of the socket and extended through notches
which are made in the loups upon the saine, and loops are formed upon the ring to
correspond with the loops upon the collar when the ring is suitably turned.
The seams, which form ribs upon the opposite sides of the collar, are inserted
through the loops in the socket and movable ring, and are notched in the plane of
the ring to admit the body of the same when the latter is turned upon the socket.
When thus turned, the engagement of the ring with the notches upon the ribs holds
the oils cup securely upon the body of the lamp.
The funnel upon the top of the larup is furnished with a perforated cover having a
central tube projected upward to support a cap a little distance above the perforations
of the cover, such cap being also provided with perforations upon a different line from
those in the cover.
The center of the cap where fitted to the end of the tube is formed with a flat
round seat to receive an inscription.
By this construction, each half of the lamp body is formed of sheet metal in ono
piece, including a semi-globe at the middle, a semi-oil cup collar at the bottom, a
semi-funnel at the top, and a semi-bezel upon each side of the globe.
The improvement in the spring bracket comprises a rectangular sheet metal socket
and a tin plate, provided each with lugs upon the corners, and united by pivoted
links, an arm attached to the socket, and a clock spring baving its inner end secured
to anch arm, and its outer end applied to raise the links.
The socket is fitted removably to a suitably shaped arm or post upon the bicycle
or vehicle, and the tie-plate is secured to the back of the lamp. The clock spring
thus elastically sustains the weight of the lamp upon the socket.
The hinge lugs for the links, and the arm to support the clock spring, are preferably
attached to the socket by means of a foot-plate, which is held to the socket by lugs
stamped from the substance of the latter.
To hold the socket firmly upon the post or arm which fits within the socket, an
elliptic spring made of a parallel curved strip of sheet metal is secured detachably
within the socket by projections at its opposite ends adapted to engage the ends of
the socket and to retain it automatically within the socket, but permitting its
reinoval therefrom and reinsertion therein without alteration.
The upper projection is formed as a vertical hook to embrace one edge of the
socket, and the other projection extends laterally from the end of the spring to

page_text: engage the opposite end of the socket, and is adapted to be crowded into and through
the socket when required.
The spring may thus be inserted through the socket and secured therein without
any fastenings, and when it becomes flattened through use, it may be readily removed
and recurved to restore its original elasticity.
The improvement in the fastening for the lens consists in an annular bead formed
upon the front side of the lamp body, and a lens ring formed with an aunular socket
to fit the bead, a tougue upon the lens ring adapted to enter a slot in the body
behind the annular bead, and a spring fitted within the body and having a tooth to
enter a slot in the lens ring, at the side opposite to the tongue.
The spring is provided with a stud which extends through the outer side of the
body and is formed with an annular head. By pressing the head of the stud into
contact with the body, the spring is pushed inward, the tooth is withdrawn from the
notch in the lens ring, and the ring can be tipped outward until the tongue can be
withdrawn from the slot in the body.
The lens is applied to the body, by fitting the tongue back into the slot, and then
pressing the socket down upon the bend; when the tooth springs into the slot in the
lens ring, and instantly secures the lens in place.
These improvements will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing, in
which Fig. I is a side elevation of a bicycle lamp embodying the invention; and
Fig. 2 a plan of the same with the body in section on line 2, 2, in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a
vertical section of the spring bracket socket on line 3, 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical
section of the lamp-body on line 4, 4 in Fig. 1, looking toward the lens, with the oil
cup having its socket and movable catch only, in section; Fig. 5 is a plan of the oil
cup with a section of the collar shown in solid black within the socket; and Fig. 6 is
a plan of the socket alone.
A, A' designate the front and rear halves of the body.
B, B' are the two halves of the collar, at its lower end, to receive the oil cup, and
C, C are the two halves of the funnel, integral with the body, at its upper end."
The front and rear parts of the body are shown in Fig. 2 united by a standing
seam; which is readily formed by stamping suitable flanges upon the integral halves
of the body and closing auch flanges together by a single pressing operation.
Upon the middle of the body the seain is intersected by the bezel, the parts A, A¹
being formed each with an integral semi-collar band with a semi-series of tongues b¹
shown at the right hand side of Fig. 4; the collar and tongues being adapted to
support and clamp the side light jewel, as shown at the left side of the same figure.
The funnel is flared or expanded toward the top C to furnish area around its outer
edge for a sufficient number of vent holes c shown in Fig. 4. The top is furnished
with a central tube el projected upward to support the cap, which is provided with a
round flat seat d in the center to rest upon such tube; where it is secured in any
suitable manner. The top C and tube c' are formed integral with the funnel C, C¹
so that each half of the lamp is in one piece from the top to the bottom.
The seat d has a cylindrical border d from which a bell d' is projected downward,
and a series of holes c, shown in Fig. 9, is formed in such bell close to the edge of
the seat.
The bell is solid in a line with the holes o, and the top C is in like manner solid
beneath the holes c to prevent the direct access of air drafts, and the lower edge of
the bell is curved inwardly for the same purpose.
By providing the cap with the flat seat d, an inscription may be stamped thereon
with auy dies adapted to operate upon a flat surface, and thus avoid the special
construction of dies, which is required in stamping upon a convex surface.
The seams upon the opposite sides of the collar B, B form vertical ribs, which are
provided with notches af to operate with a catch upon the oil cup. To furnish auch
a catch, the oil cup is provided with a socket E attached to the top of the oil cup by
a flange D soldered thereto, and is furnished upon the opposite sides with loops E¹
adapted to fit over the notched ribs a. The loops E are forined with notches E
(marked at the left side of Fig. 4), corresponding with the notches a' in the ribs, and

page_text: a band g of the same width as the notches is fitted to the exterior of the socket E,
and provided with loops g' (see Fig. 5) which correspond exactly with the loops E¹
when turned coincident therewith, as shown in Fig. 1. When thus adjusted the
collar upon the lamp body can be readily fitted to the socket with the ribs a inside
the loops, as shown in solid black lines in Fig. 5.
The band is formed with a thumb piece i to rotate it upon the socket, and with a
stop pin which projects above and below one of the loops g' to contact with the
loops E when the loops are coincident, as shown in the dotted lines and i upon the
lower side of Fig. 5. The stop h and the thumb piece i are shown in full lines upon
the upper side of Fig. 3, indicating the position in which the band is turned to lock
the oil cup to the collar B, B', by shifting the cylindrical or body portion of the
band g into the notches a', as shown in Fig. 4. When thus shifted the band fits
between the upper and lower portion of the loops E' and is thus held from disp'ace-
ment, and it is also held in place at other portions of its periphery by teeth stamped
outwardly from the inetal of the socket at the upper and lower edges of the band.
The collar B, B' is formed with a notch m to pass over the spindle which is used
for adjusting the lamp wick, and the top of the socket is cut out for one quadrant of
its periphery (as shewn at u in Figs. 1, 5 aud 6) down to the top of the band g, to
permit a partial rotation of the wick tube and its clamping devices, with the
spindle k, to detach the wick tube from the oil cup when necessary, to fill the cup
with oil.
It will be observed, by comparing the position of the thumb piece i in full lines
and in dotted lines in Fig. 5, that the band may be turned nearly a semi-rotation
upon the socket E, when locking the oil cup to the lamp body, and such an extended
movement of the catch wholly precludes the possibility of an accidental displacement
or disengagement of the catch, and the oil-cup is thus fastened to the lamp body
most securely.
The spring bracket consists of a socket M, jointed by links P to the lamp body, and
having an elliptic leaf-spring N sprung into the socket to clamp elastically upon
the head T of the usual bracket-supporting arm T.
A foot plate O is attached to the socket by four lugs o² upon the upper and lower
edges of the socket, and is pivoted to links P by ears 01; and a tie-plate Q is attached
to the body A¹ and pivoted to the links P by ears S and rivets 8. The foot-plate O
is formed with arms 1 reversely bent at their outer ends to produce pockets for
retaining the clock spring or springs used to balance the weight of the lamp. Clock
springs are used as having a greater length of coil than leaf springs, and being thus
more elastic and durable.
The clock springs R have their inner ends bent transversely across the spring, and
are fitted snugly within the pockets n', where they are secured by solder or by
pressing the sides of the pocket together. By recessing the sides of the foot-plate to
form the arms n, they are brought within the edges of the plate when bent outwardly,
as shown in Fig. 2, and by forming reverse bends upon the ends of the arms the
pockets are open toward the edges of the foot-plate, thus greatly facilitating the
introduction of the spring end to the pocket, and the application of solder to
the mouth of the pocket if desired.
By forming a lateral bend upon the arins n prior to the formation of the pocket,
the pocket is extended laterally from the arm, and the arm thus clears the coils of
the spring, as is fully shown in Fig. 2. The outer coil of the spring is terminated by
a straight leaf p, which is extended under a tie-bar q connecting the upper links, and
is looped over such tie-bar and extended toward the foot-plate, so as to form a slotted
connection to embrace the tie-bar in all positions of the links.
In. Fig. 1, the springs are shown holding the outer ends of the links a little higher
than their inner ends, in which position of the links the loops of the springs are
arranged to contact with the tie-bar, so that an upward movement of the links pulls
the coils of the spring upwardly. The pull upon the loops resists the upward move-
ment of the lamp, and thus restrains its upward vibrations, while the mere tension of

page_text: he coils restrains the vibrations in the opposite direction. Although two springs R
are shown, a single spring of greater strength may be used with the same effect; but
the whole construction is made symmetrical (while disposing the arms at one side of
the coils) by the construction shown in Figs. 2, 8, 9 and 10.
When the arin T is withdrawn from the socket, the spring would press to the
opposite side of the socket, as indicated by the dotted lines N. The spring is held
securely but renovably within the socket, by the vertical hook N' at its upper end,
which embraces the upper edge of the socket, and by the transverse ear N' at the
lower end, which resists the longitudinal movement and escape of the spring from
the socket, by engagement of the lower edge of the socket. When the elasticity or
curvature of the spring is impaired by use, as is liable to happen with any spring
metal, the transverse ear N2 is crowded into the socket by sufficiently bending the
same, as shown in Fig. 3, after which it may be slipped endwise through the socket
in the direction of the arrow t, and when removed from the socket, bent again into
the proper curvature.
By inserting the end of the spring, having the transverse ear, first into the socket,
it may be pushed downward within the same into its norinal position shown in Fig. 1,
where the normal curvature serves to hold it seenrely in place.
With such construction of the spring, it may be bent to its final form before it is
inserted in the socket, and is held therein by its normal pressure without any
alteration or fastenings. The spring may thus be entirely completed before it is
applied to the socket, and safely secured therein without any expense whatever;
while the same constructive features adapt it to be withdrawn from the socket and
replaced therein when required without breaking or removing any fastenings. The
elasticity of the spring may thus be readily restored at any time, which cannot be
done where the spring is permanently fastened in the socket by rivets or solder.
bent to form the
The formation of the foot-plato with the integral arms
pockets n', secures the attachment of the clock springs to the foot-plate without any
auxiliary fastenings, and the whole device is thus formed of very few parts and secured
together with the least possible labour. All the parts are readily stamped from sheet
metal by the use of suitable dies, and are then bent by other dies into the finished
shapo required, so that the whole structure can be manufactured with the utmost
cheapness.
To secure the lens I detachably upon the body A, the body is formed with a bead e,
and the lens ring f is provided upon its edge with a bead which forms an annular
socket fitted to the exterior of the bead e. One side of the lens ring, as shown in
Figs. 2 and 4, is provided with an inwardly projecting lug e fitted, as shown in
Figs. 2 and 4, to a slot e' in the body, adjacent to the bead e.
The opposite side of the lens ring is shown, in Figs. 2 and 4, with a slot 1, and a
spring 1 is riveted upon the interior of the body and provided with a hooked end L
to engage such slot. A stud L' is extended through the body and attached to the
spring L, to press the same inwardly to detach the hooked end of the spring from the
lens ring, which is then readily removed by tipping one side outwardly and slipping
the lug e from the slot e'.
When replaced upon the bead e with the lug e¹ in the slot e', the lens ring may be
readily snapped down into its position, as it operates to press the hooked end of the
spring inwardly. The stud 1 is cheaply formed of a tubular rivet with two
tongues upon its inner ends, as shown in Fig. 2, such tongues being inserted
through two small boles in the spring L, and bent over upon the inner side of the
same, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of the stud is formed, as shown in Fig. 2,
with a collar or head to limit the inward movement of the stud, and thus protect the
spring from any unnecessary degree of flexure.
The jarring of the lens when the lamp is in use, is sustained entirely by the bead e,
and the spring L is thus enabled to retain the lens securely upon the lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-

page_text: tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A bicycle lamp-body having a funnel upon the top, and divided into opposite
halves vertically at the center line of the funnel, substantially as herein set forth.
2. A bicycle lamp-body formed of sheet metal and having the bezel stamped from
sheet metal and integral with the body, substantially as set forth.
3. A bicycle lamp having a globe with a bezel upon one or both sides to hold the
side-light glass, and divided vertically upon the center line of the bezel, with the two
parts formed of sheet metal having the halves of the bezel integral therewith, as and
for the purpose set forth.
4. In a bicycle lamp, the combination, with the globe, of a collar at the bottom
provided with notched ribs at opposite sides, an oil cup having a socket to fit the
collar and provided with notched loops to fit over the said ribs, and a movable catch
adapted to engage the notches in the ribs and loops, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination, with a bicycle lamp having a funnel at the top, of a cap
provided with flat seat and bell d extended downward therofrom, as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. The spring bracket for bicycle lamps, comprising the socket M and tie-plate Q
provided each with lugs and having the links jointed thereto, an arm n attached to
the socket, and a clock spring mounted upon such arm with its outer end applied to
mise the links, as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a spring bracket for bicycle lamps, the combination, with the flat tubular
socket M, of an elliptic spring secured within the socket by projections at its opposito
ends adapted to engage the ends of the socket upon one side and to retain it
automatically within the socket, and to permit its reinoval therefrom and reinsertion
therein without alteration, as and for the purpose set forth.
8. The combination, with a bicycle lamp body having upon the front the annular
bead e, of the lens ring formed with socket to fit the bead, with tongue el adapted to
engage the slot e behind the bead, and with the slot l, as set forth, and the spring L
attached to the lamp body and provided with end to engage the slot l, as and for the
purpose set forth.