Improvements in the Lighting of Tables and the like by Electricity.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Lighting of Tables and the like by
Electricity.
I, OSCAR HENRY STOVELL of 1 Louis Villas, Childs Hill, Hampstead in the
County of Middlesex, Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the lighting of tables or similar
articles of furniture by electricity.
Hitherto it has been customary when employing an incandescent light or lights
on a table to carry the wires supplying the current outside the table either above
or below so that the wires and connections are not only visible but are liable at any
time to damage.
According to the present invention I am able to connect the portable or other
incandescent table lamps used, with the electric house mains without the use of
visible flexible connections. For this purpose I form in the thickness of the table
itself channels or passages of sufficient size to carry the insulated wire supplying
the current. They may be formed by drilling a hole for each wire the whole
length of the table or of sufficient length for the convenient placing of the lamps
required, or in other ways. I prefer to have two separate channels for the wires,
but this is not essential.
When tables having extending leaves are used each leaf should be wired as
above described, the connection between the various leaves being made by means of
a split metal plug and thimble, the metal plug on the one leaf being thrust into the
metal thimble on the other, thus forming a connection when the leaves are put in
place, or the terminals of the wires may be spring plates which when its leaves are
pressed together will make good contact.
I prefer to make the connection with the house mains by carrying the wires down
two of the legs of the table in similar suitable channels or passages, and to connect
the ends of the wires with lever bolts which are pushed into attachment plugs in
the floor which form the terminals of the house wires, or the table may be made to
stand upon suitable protected plates or cups which also form the terminals.
Suitable shoes are fixed in the table where required to which the portable lamps
may be attached in the ordinary way.
Dated this 12th day of December 1890.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Lighting of Tables and the like by
Electricity.
I, OSCAR HENRY STOVELL of 1, Louis Villas, Childs Hill, Hampstead in the
County of Middlesex, Carpenter, 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 lighting of tables or similar articles
of furniture by electricity.
Hitherto it has been customary when employing an incandescent light or lights
on a table to carry the wires supplying the current outside the table either above

page_text: or below so that the wires and connections are not only visible but are liable at any
time to damage.
According to the present invention I am able to connect the portable or other
incandescent table lamps or candelabra used, with the electric house mains without
the use of visible flexible connections.
To clearly explain the nature of my invention I will describe it in connection with
the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1. is a sectional elevation of a table fitted with my improvements.
Figure 2. is a plan of same.
Figure 3. is a view showing detached "leaves."
Figure 4. is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of a bolt in one of the
legs by which connection is made with the house mains.
Figure 5. is an elevation of that part of the leg.
Figure 6. is a plan taken on the line X X. Figure 4.
Figure 7. is a sectional plan of one of the thimbles or sockets in the table leaves
by which the connections are made between said leaves.
Figure 8. is a face view of same.
Figure 9. is a sectional elevation of one of the split plugs which engage with
said thimbles.
Figure 10. is face view of same.
Figure 11. is a longitudinal section through one of the table leaves showing the
wiring of same and the plugs upon which the candelabra or lamps are fixed.
Figure 12. is a transverse section of same and
Figure 13. is a plan.
Figure 14. is a longitudinal section showing another means of moving the table:
leaves, and
Figure 15 is a transverse section of same.
1
I form in the table top or leaves, channels 1. in which are laid the conducting
wires, said wires being attached by binding screws 2. to metal thimble pieces 3. let
into the wood work of the table and to split plugs 4. respectively, the plugs being a
all placed on one side of the leaf and the thimbles on the other as shown in
Figure 3. At the points on the leaves of the table where it is desired that the
lights shall be placed I let in pairs of metal blocks 5. 5 secured to a vulcanite
base 6 each block receiving respectively the flow and the return current wires
which are attached to same by the binding screws 7. These blocks 5 5 are adapted 3
to receive moveable plugs 8, 8 upon which the candelabra are placed, a pair of
sockets being provided in each of the latter to receive them. These plugs may be
removed so that the surface of the table is not interfered with.
The conducting wires are carried down channels 9. (Figure 4) in the legs of the
table, and are attached to the binding screws 10 of a metal bolt casing which is let 4
into same.
This bolt has a casing 11 and a bolt portion proper 12 which is
preferably split, and which is adapted to enter a socket 13 in the floor, said socket
being insulated by a vulcanite plate 14 or in other ways as desired. This socket is
connected to the main wires of the house, so that it is only necessary to force the
bolts into connection with the sockets to send the current through the table lamps. 4
The bolt 12 has a handle 14, and is normally kept out of contact with the socket
by a spring 15. which presses against the disc head 16 of same. A. right angle
slot 17 is provided in the leg of the table for this handle to move in, so that when
said handle is pressed down and a partial turn is given to it the slot will serve to
hold it in position.
In Figure 14. I show a modification of my invention, in which instead of forming
channels in the table leaves for the conducting wires I affix casings 18 beneath
same, each casing being constructed to carry a pair of wires as shown. These
casings terminate in the thimbles 3 and split plugs 4 and at intermediate points in
same, are provided with the blocks 5. which are let in between same and screwed 5
to the table through which their plugs 8 project.
It will be evident that where the table is not an extending one, and has

page_text: consequently no loose leaves the connecting thimbles and plugs are not required,
and it will also be understood that my invention is not confined to the particular
construction of parts shown in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A table having channels in the top and legs of same, electric conductors
carried in said channels bolts in the legs connected to said conductors for making
contact with sockets connected to the electric house mains and blocks placed in the
circuits, and provided with means for receiving candelabra or lamp fittings
substantially as described.
2. A table wired with electric conductors, means for connecting said conductors
to the electric house mains split plugs and thimbles, carried by the leaves of same
and connected with said conductors, and blocks in the circuit provided with means
for receiving candelabra or lamp fittings substantially as described.
3. The improvements in the lighting of tables by electricity substantially as
described, and illustrated.
Dated this 12th day of August 1891.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.