Improvements in Electrical Contact Makers.
Year: 1898

page_text: I, EDWARD WINGFIELD BOWLES, of 28, Victoria Street, in the City of West-
minster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective device for making
electrical contacts, or, in other words, connecting one or more electric light leads,
more especially for use for theatrical purposes, though it is applicable for other
purposes.
In carrying out this invention, I provide a suitable box or casing with a hinged
lid, which is let into the floor or other convenient position, and to the bottom of
the box is secured a slab of slate, china, or other insulating material, to form a
base on which spring contact jaws are suitably mounted.
These jaws are provided with suitable terminals or other device, to receive
line wires.
On the underside of the lid, grooved flanges are provided to receive ribs on a
block or frame carrying the contact pieces.
The contact pieces project downwards beyond this block or frame in such a
manner that when the frame is inserted in the lid, and the lid is shut down, the
contact pieces will enter the spring contact jaws & make contact.
The frame is provided with an inclined plane on its rear end, so that it will be
pushed into its proper position by coming into contact with the side of the box
as the lid is being shut down.
To the frame is also attached a sleeve which will act as a handle, and through
which the wires will pass to the contact pieces.
This handle will enter a recess formed in the side of the box to receive it, when
the lid is shut down.
Dated this 1st day of July 1898.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Contact Makers.
I, EDWARD WINGFIELD BOWLES, of 28, Victoria Street, in the City of West-
minster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
Price 8d.]

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective device for making
electrical contacts, or, in other words, connecting one or more electric light leads,
more especially for use for theatrical purposes, though it is applicable for other
purposes.
In carrying out this invention, I provide a suitable box or casing with a hinged
lid, which is let into the floor or other convenient position, and to the bottom of
the box is secured a slab of slate, china, or other insulating material, to form a
base on which spring contact jaws are suitably mounted.
These jaws are provided with suitable terminals, or other devices, to receive
line wires.
On the underside of the lid, grooved flanges are provided to receive ribs on a
block or frame carrying the contact pieces.
The contact pieces project downwards beyond this block or frame in such a
manner that when the frame is inserted in the lid, and the lid is shut down, the
contact pieces will enter the spring contact jaws, and make contact.
The frame is provided with an inclined plane on its rear end, so that it will be
pushed into its proper position by coming into contact with the side of the box
as the lid is being shut down.
To the frame is also attached a sleeve, which will act as a handle, and through
which the wires will pass to the contact pieces.
This handle will enter a recess formed in the side of the box to receive it, when
the lid is shut down.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the device complete, taken on the line X-X,
Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the box, taken on the line Z-Z, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the box with the lid removed, and
Fig. 4 is an underside view of the contact pieces and carrier.
A is the casing or box, of suitable material, of any size, divided up into com-
partments by vertical partitions, and each open at bottom, as shown. B is a
hinged lid to the box. C is a slab or slabs of slate or other insulating material,
secured at the bottom of each compartment, and upon which the contact jaws D
are fixed. These jaws D are formed with a plate D', which is bolted to the
slab C, the jaws having saw-cuts to render them springy, to ensure contact all
along with the contact pieces.
The plate D carries a terminal to which the line wires are secured.
A is the recess in the side of the box to receive the handle of the contact pieces,
and B B are grooved flanges on the under side of the lid B.
E are the contact pieces carried by a block or frame G, having a handle G
The frame G has ribs or flanges H along its upper edge, to enter the grooves in the
flanges B of the lid B (see Fig. 1), and at the back it has the inclined planes J,
which, when the lid is closed down, will strike against the edge of the side of the
box, and force the frame forward in the grooves, so as to ensure the contact
pieces EE coming into the proper position, to make contact all along the jaws D.
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 means as herein shown and described for making electrical contacts
for theatrical and other purposes.
2. In means for making electrical contacts, a box containing fixed contact pieces
and having a hinged lid provided with means for receiving and securing in posi
tion removable contact pieces, as set forth.
3. In means for making electrical contacts, a box containing fixed contact pieces

page_text: and provided with means for receiving and holding in position removable contact
picces, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. Removable contact pieces as herein shown and described, and consisting of
contact pieces proper carried by a holder provided with means whereby it may
be secured in position with its contact pieces in contact with fixed jaws as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of January 1899.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.