Improvements in Lamps for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1897-Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamps for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN HOLMES, of 422 High Street, in the City of Newark, County of Essex,
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention has reference to improvements in lamps for velocipedes, bicycles
and other vehicles; and the invention has for its primary object to provide a
neat, cheap and practically constructed lamp, which will not smoke, the con-
struction of the same being such to insure a steady and good light that will
illuminate the road for a considerable distance in front of the vehicle.
A further object of this invention is to provide a lamp having a dome or hood
provided with means which will prevent too great an egress of the air from the body
of the lamp, and thereby prevents the flickering of the flame and an unsteady flame.
A further object is to provide a novel construction of locking or holding device
to be used in connection with the bezel or with the oil well, whereby said parts
can be operatively connected with the main body of the lamp.
A further object of this invention is to provide a novel construction of reflector,
which prevents the light-rays from being projected through the openings for.
ventilation in the back of the said main body of the lamp; and a further object
is to provide a novel construction of spring-support for attaching the lamp to
the bracket usually attached to the frame of the vehicle.
A further object of this invention is to provide a novel lighter, in the form of
a tube or cylinder, arranged in a perforation or hole in the lamp-casing and
terminating near the wick-tube, so that, when a match is inserted in said tube,
a friction upon the ignition material of the match will ignite the same and light
the wick.
Other objects of this invention, not here specifically set forth, will be evident
from the accompanying description of my novel construction and form of lamp.
My invention therefore consists in the novel construction and form of lamp,
and in the novel arrangements and combinations of parts, as well as in the details
of construction of certain parts, all of which will be fully described in the
accompanying specification and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a side view of a lamp construction,
mbodying the principles of my invention.
Figure 3 is a top view of the lamp, and Figure 4 is a vertical section of the
amp, taken on line 44 in said Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical section, taken on line 5 -5 in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section, taken on line 6-6 in Figure 5, looking in the
lirection of arrow r, and Figure 7 is a similar section, taken on line 7-7 in said
Figure 5, but looking in the direction of arrow y.
Figure 8 is a cross section, taken on line 8--8 in Figure 4, looking in the

page_text: direction of arrow z; Figure 9 is a horizontal section, taken on line 9-9 in
Figure 8, on a slightly enlarged scale; and Figure 10 is a similar section, taken
on line 10-10 in said Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a front view of a modified form of construction of reflector adapted
to be used in connection with my novel form of lamp, and Figure 12 is a per-
spective view of the lighter, detached from the body of the lamp.
Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the above described views,
to indicate corresponding parts.
In said views, A indicates the complete lamp, which comprises a main body,
a hood or ventilator at the top and an oil reservoir at the bottom, having a burner,
with spring-actuated supporting or holding devices at the back of the main body
for securing the lamp in position on the lamp-bracket on the frame of the bicycle
or other vehicle.
Said main body of the lamp consists, essentially, of a cylindrical shell or
cup a, which is closed at the back, as at a', and has hinged to its open frame, as
at 6, a bezel b provided with a lense or other suitable glass front b², substantially
as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.
As will be seen from Figures 1 and 3, said bezel b is provided with a number of
looped portions 3, which are struck up in the metal of the bezel, or are soldered
or otherwise secured thereto, and in which is arranged to slide therein a lock-pin
or bolt e provided with a bent portion c¹, which forms a finger piece and at the
same time secures said pin or bolt in its operative position in the loops 63 and
prevents its displacement therefrom. The bezel b is provided with an opening b
through which a loop a², near the open edge of the shell a of the lamp, and formed
or secured thereon in any well known manner, can be passed, and through which
the free end of said pin or post can be forced and thereby hold the bezel and its
lense in the closed position against the open part of the shell or cup a, as will be
clearly understood.
Secured in suitable openings, in the opposite sides of the shell or cup a, by
means of prongs at on the metallic rings a³, are colored glass jewels or windows a³.
The back a¹ of said shell a, as will be more especially seen from Figures 2 and 5,
has a series of holes or perforations a6 for the purpose of ventilation, and d is a
suitable reflector which is secured against the inner surface of said back a¹ by
means of a pin or rivet d¹, as clearly indicated in Figures 4 and 5.
To prevent the light-rays from being projected through said perforations as
to dazzle the sight of the rider, said reflector is provided with an enlargement d³
at the top, which extends directly in front of the upper row of perforations a
in the back of said shell a, and with the reduced portions d³ adjacent to said
enlargement, to provide a considerable air space around the edge of said reflector,
as clearly indicated in Figures 4 and 5, or said reflector may be provided with
several such enlargements, and with reduced portions d, as in Figure 11, which,
when the reflector is secured in position in the shell a, are arranged directly in
front of the openings a at the top and sides of the back a¹, as will be understood,
and it will be seen, that no light from the flame within the body of the lamp can
shine through said openings a to the annoyance of the rider.
Secured over an opening in the top of said shell a of the lamp is a suitably con-
structed collar e having an annular bead e¹ into which is sprung a flat split ring 9,
made from sheet metal, and is securely held in said bead by the spring-action
of the metal. On the top of said collar e and directly above the said bead e¹ is
a suitable hood f provided with openings or perforations fl and f2 for the egress
of heat and gases of combustion from the flame in the shell a. Said hood f is
removably arranged on the collare by forcing a cut-away part f³ in a bead fi
on the hood over a teat or projection formed in the collar e, and by means of
a partial turn of the hood f on said collar e, said bead f is forced over said teat
until a circular opening f³ is brought directly over said teat or projection 2, when
the several parts naturally spring into holding engagement, and the hood is held
in its locked position on the collar e, as clearly indicated in Figure 6, until said

page_text: teat or projection ³ is again forced from the opening f³, when the hood is again
turned on the collar e.
When the said ring g has been secured in position in the bead e¹ in said collar e,
and the hood is also in place on said collar, then said ring g, which is flat in
cross section, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, will prevent too great an egress of
the heat or gases from the shell a of the lamp, and the flame, which would other-
wise flicker and be unsteady, will burn with a very steady and good light. Said
ring 9 also serves the purpose of a shield to prevent the light-rays from within
the main body of the lamp from being reflected through said openings f¹ and f
in the said hood f to dazzle the sight of the rider on the bicycle behind the lamp.
The shell a, which, as has been stated, forms the main body of the lamp, is
provided in the bottom with an opening over which is secured a collar ¹ to which
is hinged by means of a hinge h² an oil reservoir provided with a suitable
burner, substantially as illustrated in said Figures 4 and 5. To hold said reservoir
in its operative position in said collar h¹, the latter, as will be seen more especially
from Figures 2 and 7, is provided with a number of looped portions h³,
which are formed integral with said collar, or may be made separate therefrom
and secured thereto in any well known manner, and in which is arranged a
lock-pin or bolt ; provided with a bent portion j', which acts as a finger piece
and at the same time secures said pin or bolt in its operative position in said
loops h³ and also prevents the displacement therefrom.
The shell, forming the oil reservoir h, is provided with a loop portion h4 which
can be forced through a suitably slotted portion or opening in said collar h¹,
through which the free end of said pin j can be forced, as shown in Figure 7,
to hold said oil reservoir in the proper position, indicated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5.
From the above description it will be seen, that when the said pin or bolt j
is withdrawn from the loop ht, the oil reservoir swings on its hinge-joint, and
by setting the said reservoir in an upright position and tilting the main body of
the lamp, said oil reservoir can be readily filled with a fresh supply of oil.
In order to maintain the lamp A in its proper position on the frame of the
bicycle or other vehicle, I may secure to the back a¹ of the shell a of the lamp-
body, a supporting plate i provided at the top with ears and correspondingly
arranged ears at the bottom, which form suitable loops for the ends 12 and 1³
of a pair of upper supporting frames I and A, and for the ends 16 and 17 of a pair
of lower supporting frames and 15, as will be clearly evident from an inspection
of Figures 2 and 4. The opposite ends 18 and 19 of the upper frames and 1,
respectively, are pivotally arranged in certain ears m¹ and m² on a socket-plate m,
while the ends 10 and 7 of the lower frames and 5, respectively, are pivotally
arranged in certain ears m³ and m, also on said socket-plate m, as will be clearly
seen from an inspection of Figure 8.
When the ends of the respective frames and and the frames 14 and 15 have
thus been pivotally arranged in the several loops or ears on the plate i and the
socket-plate m, certain springs n and n², having their coiled parts n² arranged
over certain re-enforcing tubes o and o¹ to stiffen the free ends of said frames,
also have their free ends n³ forced down into tubular or socket-like portions m
formed on or in said plate m, see Figures 8 and 10 while the opposite end-portions
of the said springs n and n' respectively bear against the under side of a latch-
plate p which connects the two frames and 7, and against the upper surface
of a latch-plate pl which connects the two frames 14 and 15. Each latch-plate is
provided with a hinge-like portion 23, whereby said plates can be pivotally
secured to one set of said frames, as 11 and 15, while at the opposite edge each
latch-plate has a catch-portion 2, which can be sprung over the other set of
frames, as and , and, with the ends of said springs n and n¹ bearing against
said latch-plates in the manner stated. The several parts of the device are
thereby operatively held together, as will be clearly evident, and can also be
separated at will, for the purposes to be hereinafter fully set forth.
The said socket-plate m is suitably secured to the ordinary socket r, which is

page_text: provided on the inside with a spring 1, which, when the socket is forced down
upon the usual form of bracket on the frame of the vehicle, is firmly pressed
against said bracket and socket, and in consequence, the lamp is securely and
safely held in place on the vehicle.
By this arrangement of the two springs n and n¹, the action of one spring is
counteracted by the action of the other spring, whereby, when passing over rough
roads, there will be less jolting of the lamp, and hence, less danger of lowering
or extinguishing the flame.
By means of the hinged latch-plates p and p¹, the several parts of the lamp-
carrying or supporting device can be readily separated, which is of the greatest
advantage, in that either of said springs n and n¹ can be readily replaced should
they become broken.
The body of the lamp is suitably perforated in one side to receive the lighters,
which consists of a single piece of metal, preferably resilient brass, having a
tubular or cylindrical body provided with igniting arm s¹, at one end extending,
when in the lamp, inward, the free end of said arms lying near the wick tube
and at the opposite end having a series of cleats 2, adapted to be bent down to
hold the lighter to the lamp firmly and securely. The arms s', or at least one
pair of such arms are bent together or toward one another, so that their free
ends are sufficiently near to one another to produce a friction upon the ignition
material of the match, when the latter is thrust through the tube from the outside.
The parts are so arranged as that by a simple insertion of the match through
the lighter and a consequent scratching of the match, the latter will be ignited
and be guided into close relation to the wick.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A lamp for bicycles or other vehicles, comprising therein, a main body,
having a lense in the front and a closed back a¹ provided with openings or per-
forations a, and a reflector d having one or more enlargements, as d², arranged
in front of said openings or perforations a, and the reduced portions adjacent
thereto, to secure considerable air space at the edge of the reflector, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A lamp for bicycles or other vehicles, comprising therein, a main body a,
provided with an opening in the top, a collar e over said opening, having an
annular bead e', and a flat split ring arranged in said bead e¹, and a hood on said
collar e, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. A lamp for bicycles or other vehicles, comprising therein, a main body a,
provided with an opening in the top, a collar e over said opening, having an
annular bead c¹, a teat (3 on said collar, and a hood of having a bead fs, a cut-
away part f and an opening f³ in said bead f³, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. A lamp for bicycles or other vehicles, comprising therein, a main body a,
provided with an opening in the top, a collar e over said opening, having an
annular bead e¹, a teat 2 on said collar, and a hood f, having a bead f4, a cut- 4
away part 3 and an opening f³ in said bead f, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
5. In a lamp for bicycles or other vehicles, in combination, with the main body
of the lamp, a supporting plate on said lamp body, a socket-plate having ears,
a re-enforcing tube in said ears, a supporting frame pivotally connected with 5
said supporting plate and said socket-plate, and springs encircling said re-enforcing
tube and operatively connected with said supporting frame, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
6. In a lamp for bicycles or other vehicles, in combination, with the main body
of the lamp, a supporting plate on said lamp body, having ears, a socket-plate, 5
as m, having cars, and holding frames, as 1, 1, 1 and 15, removably arranged in

page_text: the ears of said supporting and socket-plates, latch-plates and p² pivotally
connected with two of said holding frames, having catch-portions 23 adapted to
be engaged with the remaining two of said holding frames, and springs operatively
connected with said holding frames, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
7. The combination, with a supporting plate, as i, having ears, and a socket-
plate, having ears, of a pair of supporting frames having their free ends removably
and pivotally arranged in said ears, and a latch-plate pivoted to one of said frames
and having a catch-portion p³, adapted to be forced over the other supporting
frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. The combination, with a supporting plate, as i, having ears, and a socket-
plate, having ears, of a pair of supporting frames having their free ends removably
and pivotally arranged in said ears, a latch-plate pivoted to one of said frames
and having a catch-portion 23, adapted to be forced over the other supporting
frame, and a spring connected with said supporting frames, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
9. The combination, with a supporting plate, as į, having cars, and a socket-
plate, having ears, of a pair of supporting frames and having their ends 12
and pivotally arranged in the ears on said plate i, and their ends 18 and 19
pivotally arranged in the ears on said socket-plate, a catch-plate pivoted to one
of said frames, said plate having a catch-portion 23, adapted to be forced over
the other supporting frame, a re-enforcing tube on said ends 18 and 19 of said
supporting frames, and a spring encircling said tube in engagement with said
latch-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
10. The improved lighter for lamps comprising a tubular piece of sheet metal
having at one end a series of resilient arms, providing frictional surfaces adapted
to engage the ignition material of a match, and at the opposite end a series of
cleats being adapted to be bent down to hold said lighter in rigid relation to
the lamp, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
11. The improved lighter for lamps comprising a single integral piece of
resilient sheet metal having igniting arms, at one end, and means at the opposite
end for fastening said lighter in place, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Dated this 24th day of March 1897.
Haseltine, Lake Co.,
JOHN HOLMES.
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.