Improved Means for Lighting Bicycle and other Lamps.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Lighting Bicycle and other Lamps.
I, ALEXANDER FERRIE MABON, of 52 West Nile Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Mathematical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention has for its object to provide means for lighting bicycle, miners'
and other lamps without obtaining direct access to the wicks or burners.
For this purpose the lamp has fitted on one of its sides, which is preferably
removable, a match holder which is operated to bring one match at a time opposite
an orifice through which it is drawn by gripping tongs and brought against an
anvil where it is struck by a spring hammer and thereby lit, the match being at the
same time or immediately afterwards lowered into contact with the lamp wick in
order to light the lamp.
Under a modification of the invention especially applicable to bicycle lamps
there is formed on or attached to the removable side of the lamp case, a bracket
piece carrying a match holder which is adapted to rotate in a sleeve bearing on the
bracket the match holder being cylindrical and formed with flanges having notches
or serrations formed around their peripheries wherein the matches are held vertically,
guard rings of wire or other material being provided to retain the matches in the
notches in the flanges. The match holder is partially rotated intermittently by
means of a ratchet at its lower end or by means of a worm and screw or like device
whereby each notch with the match carried therein is brought in succession
opposite a slit in the side of the lamp case. A match is there caught by means of
gripping tongs or grippers which draw it through the slit and present its head
against an anvil piece where it is struck by means of a spring hammer and thereby
lit, the grippers which are centred below the slit, then turning on their axis so as
to carry the match through an arc and bring its lighted end into close proximity
with the lamp wick.
The intermittent rotation of the match holder to bring a fresh match into
position for lighting the lamp when required is conveniently effected by a key or
handle turning a spindle on which is a toothed wheel and cam.
The teeth serve to
act on the ratchet to give the necessary extent of the rotation to the match holder,
whilst the cam acts on the spring hammer and draws it back ready for the blow on
the match head. On the spindle is a second cam which acts on a heel part of the
gripping tongs and brings them into the position for gripping the match the jaws
of the tongs being opened up automatically by a wedge piece on the match holder
bracket or other means and being self closing, whilst a mouse trap or like spring
serves to draw down the grippers on the passage of the raised part of the cam
surface which is so formed as to provide for the short rest or interval during which
the match is held stationary to receive the blow of the hammer.
A shield centred on the plate carrying the match holder is provided and acted
on by the grippers to uncover the slit while a match is drawn from the holder and
to cover it on the passage of the match in order to protect the remaining matches
in the holder from the beat of the burning wick.

page_text: In miners' lamps the match holder is preferably placed at the bottom of the lamp
case and the matches are drawn upwards into contact with the wick.
Dated this 1st day of May 1895.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant
I, ALEXANDER FERRIE MABON, of 149 Saint Vincent Street, late of 52 West
Nile Street, both in the City of Glasgow, Mathematical Instrument Maker, 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 has for its object to provide means for lighting bicycle, miners'
and other lamps without obtaining direct access to the wicks or burners.
For this purpose the lamp has fitted on one of its sides, which is preferably
removable, a match holder which is operated to bring one match at a time opposite
an orifice through which it is drawn by gripping tongs and brought against an anvil
where it is struck by a spring hammer and thereby lit, the match being at the same
time or immediately afterwards lowered into contact with the lamp wick in order to
light the lamp.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 being a vertical section of a bicycle lamp shewing the improved mechanism
for lighting the lamp in one position,
Fig. 2 is a like section from the other side of the lamp,
Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1 but shewing the mechanism in a different
position and Fig. 4 is a section at right angles to Fig. 3, whilst
Fig. 5 is a plan of the match holder.
Under the modification shewn there is formed on or attached to the removable
side A¹ of the lamp case A, a bracket piece B carrying a match holder C which is
adapted to rotate in a sleeve bearing D on the bracket B the match holder C being
cylindrical and formed with flanges having notches or serrations C₁ formed around
their peripheries where the initehes E are held vertically, guard rings of wire or
other material F being provided and secured to the bracket 13 or otherwise to
retain the matches in the notches in the flanges. The notch holder C is
partially rotated intermittently by means of a retebut at its lower end or by
incans of a worn and screw or like device whereby each notch C with the match
carriel therein is brought in succession opposite openings C in the guard ring. F
and opposite it in the side of the lamp case A. A match in there caught
by means of gripping tongs or grippers i which draw it through the slit and
present its head against an anvil piece J where it is struck by means of a spring
hammer K and thereby lit, the grippers I which are centrel below the slit II, ther
turning on their axis L so as to carry the match E through an arc and bring its
lighted end into close proximity with the lamp wick M. A projecting piece K¹ on
the hammer K covers the slit H until the grippers I have taken hold of the match
and so prevents it from falling out.
The intermittent rotation of the match holder C to bring a fresh match E into
position for lighting the lamp when required is conveniently effected by a key or
handle N turning a spindle O on which is a combined toothed wheel and cam P.
The teeth serve to act on the ratchet G to give the necessary extent of the rotation
to the match holler C, whilst the cam acts on the spring hammer K and draws it
back ready for the blow on the match head. On the spindle () is a second cam Q

page_text: which acts on a heel part I' of the gripping tongs I and brings them into the
position for gripping the match E the jaws of the tongs I being opened up
automatically by a wedge piece on the match holder bracket B or by their own
action upon the match E or other means and being self closing, whilst a mouse trap
or like spring I serves to draw down the grippers I on the passage of the raised
part Q of the cam surface which is so formed as to provide for the short rest or
interval during which the match is held stationary to receive the blow of the
hammer.
A shield R is provided centred at R' on the plate A' carrying the match
holder C and mechanism a part R2 of which shield is acted on by the grippers I to
uncover the slit II while a match E is drawn from the holder and to cover it on the
passage of the match in order to protect the remaining matches in the bolder C
from the heat of the burning wick M.
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. The arrangement and combination of devices in a bicycle or other lamp for
lighting matches and applying them to the wick or burner substantially as
described.
2. In a bicycle or other lamp the combination of a match holder or magazine a
tongs or gripper for engaging or selecting a match therefrom and bringing its end
into proximity with the burner and a striking device all arranged and operated
substantially as described.
3. In a bicycle or other lamp a rotatable match holder or magazine constructed
and operated so as to deliver a single match at a time to devices for gripping and
lighting it substantially as described.
4. In a bicycle or other lamp the combination of a gripper or tongs for engaging
a match, a spring hammer and anvil for lighting it and cam mechanism for actuating
the hammer and tongs to present the lighted end of the match to the lamp wick or
burner substantially as described.
5. In a bicycle or other lamp the combination of a spring hammer and anvil and
means for operating the hammer to cause it to strike a match on the anvil and
rebound therefrom substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of February 1896.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.