Improvements in Electric Light Fittings.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Light Fittings.
I, ALBERT EDWARD SALT, of 71, Hatton Garden, London, E.C, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain electric light fittings usually known as " ball"
fittings, and has for its object to provide a fitting that can be readily and easily
fixed, and which can at the same time be readily detached for renewal of the
globes or wires, or for repair.
My invention consists in the fixture of the lower to the upper hemisphere or
shell of the ball fitting by means of a spring catch capable of disengagement by
means of a button upon the exterior of the upper or lower hemisphere, such
spring catch acting in conjunction with a fixed catch or stop oppositely disposed,
and each engaging with opposite edges of the complementary hemisphere or shell.
In carrying my invention into effect according to one design I provide the
spring catch upon the lower detachable hemisphere or shell with its extremity
projecting slightly above the peripheral edge thereof, the spring catch being
arranged as a strip of steel, one end thereof being rivetted to the shell, and having
a button secured thereupon which projects through to the exterior, and by its
means the catch may be moved so as to disengage with a slot provided at the
lower edge of the upper hemisphere or shell. Diametrically disposed to the spring
catch upon the lower hemisphere or shell is a fixed engaging catch or hook which
serves to enter a corresponding slot provided near the lower peripheral edge of
the upper hemisphere or shell. Upon the introduction of the fixed catch or hook
into its corresponding slot and on the depression of the spring catch oppositely
disposed and its introduction to its corresponding slot, the lower is secured to the
upper hemisphere or shell, and is capable of disconnection by pressure upon the
outwardly projecting button of the spring catch.
According to another modification of design, instead of providing oppositely
disposed slots in the edge of the upper hemisphere or shell I may provide an
inwardly projecting bead or edge upon which the respective fixed and spring
catches may engage, so that thereby the lower hemisphere or shell is capable of
being secured to its complementary part in any relative position.
According to another modification I may provide stops which project slightly
into the interior and near the peripheral edge of the upper hemisphere or shell
which may engage respectively with a slot or hole in the upper edge of the lower
hemisphere or shell and with a slot or hole formed in a spring catch-piece which
may be operated from without by means of a button for the fixture or disengage-
ment of one to or from the other.
It will therefore be seen that I do not limit my invention necessarily to any
particular design of fixed and spring catches, as I may modify the same to suit

page_text: the exigencies of economic production or design while retaining the spring catch
piece with an oppositely disposed stop as the essential feature of my invention.
Doted this 3rd dow of Sentember 1807
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
3, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Electric Light Fittings.
I, ALBERT EDWARD SALT, of 1A, South Hill Park, Hampstead, London, N.W.,
but formerly of 71, Hatton Garden, London, E.C., Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to certain electric light fittings usually known as "ball"
fittings and has for its object to provide a fitting that can be readily detached for
renewal of the lamp holders or wires, or for repair.
My invention consists in the fixture of the lower to the upper hemisphere of the
ball fitting by means of a spring catch capable of disengagement by means of
a button upon the exterior of the upper or lower hemisphere, such spring catch
acting in conjunction with a fixed catch or stop oppositely disposed, and each
engaging with opposite edges of the complementary hemisphere or shell.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1,
and 2, are respectively sectional and front elevations of a ball fitting made in accord-
ance with the present invention, while Figures 3 and 4, are sectional elevations
of modifications thereof.
In carrying my invention into effect as illustrated in Figures 1, and 2, of the
accompanying drawings I provide the spring catch A upon the lower detachable
hemisphere or shell B, with its extremities slightly above the peripheral edge
thereof, the spring catch being arranged as a strip of metal and being rivetted
to the shell at b and having a button C secured thereupon which projects through
to the exterior, and by this means the catch A may be moved so as to disengage
the extremity A¹ of the spring catch with the slot D provided at the lower part
of the upper hemisphere or shell E. The spring catch A at its opposite end is
provided as a fixed engaging catch or hook A, which serves to enter the corres-
ponding slot D provided near the lower peripheral edge of the upper hemisphere
or shell E. Upon the introduction of the fixed catch or hook A³ into its corre-
sponding slot D', and on the depression of the spring catch A' and its introduction
into its corresponding slot D in the upper hemisphere or shell, the lower is secured
to the upper hemisphere and is capable of disconnection by pressure on the out-
wardly projecting button C of the spring catch A¹.
•
According to another modification in design as illustrated in Figure 3, of the
drawings, instead of providing oppositely disposed slots in the edge of the upper
hemisphere or shell E, I may provide an inwardly projecting bead or edge upon
which the respective fixed and spring catches A1 and A2 may engage so that there-
by the lower hemisphere or shell B is capable of being secured to its comple-
mentary part E in any relative position.
According to another modification as illustrated in Figure 4, of the accom-
panying drawings I may provide stops or projections E¹ which protrude slightly
into the interior and near the peripheral edge of the upper hemisphere or shell E,
which may engage respectively with a slot or hole in the upper edge of the lower
hemisphere or shell B, or with a slot or hole provided in the fixed extremity A

page_text: of the steel strip A, on the one side and on the other side with a slot or hole
formed in the spring catch A', which may be operated from without by means
of a button C as previously described.
It will be understood that the ball fitting may be provided in the usual way
with an internal screw thread E at its upper part for securing to the fixture to
which it is to be applied; while bosses B may be provided integral with the lower
part of the fitting or screwed or soldered thereto for the purpose of securing
thereto the lamp globe fitting or any other fitting that may be required.
It will be understood that I do not limit my invention necessarily to any
particular design of spring and fixed catches, as I may form a fixed catch or
hook separate from the spring catch, and I may modify the same to suit the
exigencies of economic production or design, while retaining a spring catch with
an oppositely disposed stop as the essential feature of my invention.
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 ball fitting in which an upper hemisphere or shell is secured to a lower
hemisphere or shell by means substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A ball fitting substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 1st day of June 1898.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.