Improvements in Pocket Lighting Devices.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pocket Lighting Devices.
I, JOHN HARVEY FARREL, a Citizen of the United States, residing at Camden,
in the County of Camden, and State of New Jersey, Mechanic, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET LIGHTING DEVICES,
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 that class of lighting devices designated as pocket lamps
provided with devices for feeding and exploding by frictional contact a fulminating
pellet or cap applied to a tape, strip or ribbon, to ignite means concealed within a
housing.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a cheap, compact, reliable
and convenient lamp adapted to be carried in the pocket with perfect safety; and
second, to provide a pocket lamp adapted to contain a narrow strip or ribbon having
fulminating pellets or percussion caps applied thereto, and fed by simple and effective
means to cause not only the pellets or caps thereof, to be exploded by frictional
contact with a scratcher to ignite a light, producing appliance in connection with the
lamp, but also to permit the used strip, tape or ribbon to be wound up so that it may
be easily removed for the insertion of another strip, tape or ribbon provided with caps
or pellets.
My invention consists of a pocket lamp adapted for the employment of a suitable tape,
strip or ribbon having fulminating pellets or caps applied thereto and the device
constructed, arranged and adapted for operation, substantially in the manner herein-
after described.
The particular characteristic features of the invention will be more fully understood
from the accompanying drawings forming part hereof; and in which
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a pocket lamp embodying the features of my
invention and showing the housing thereof in an open position with the narrow strip,
tape or ribbon provided with fulminating pellets or caps mounted 'therein; and
Figure 2, is a similar view of a lamp showing the two part housing in a closed position
with its cover thrown back and in a position to permit of the actuation of the toothed
disc for causing the tape, strip or ribbon to be fed and ignited by frictional contact
with a scratcher disposed adjacent to the wick of the lamp to produce a flame
thereat.
Referring to the drawings A, is the divided and recessed housing of the lamp
provided with a receptacle a, adapted to receive oil and an absorbent material or.
substance said receptacle being provided with a hinged cover a'. This cover is
provided with a tube a², adapted to permit of the insertion therethrough of a wick a
held in the receptacle in contact with fibrous material immersed or saturated with a
suitable oil for maintaining the wick in a condition to readily permit of its being
ignited or lighted at the exposed end of the tube a², in a manner to be hereinafter
fully described. bis a retaining pin or lug secured to the wall a', of the oil
receptacle a. c is a stud-pin secured to the wall of said oil receptacle and provided
with a loose sleeve c'. d is a toothed disc mounted on a pin d', secured into the wall
of the oil receptacle a. This toothed disc d, is arranged so that a portion thereof will
project beyond the recessed portion of the two part housing of the lamp. e is a
curved spring adapted to normally engage with the toothed disc d, to prevent said
disc from being turned in a reverse direction. The pin d', of the disc d, is bifurcated
for a purposo to be presently described. , is a stationary scratcher attached to the
hinged cover a', of the oil receptacle a. 9, is a narrow strip or ribbon of muslin,
inen or other suitable material provided with percussion caps or fulminating pellets g¹,

page_text: disposed at suitable distances apart along the same. The narrow tape, strip or ribbong,
formed into a coil is inserted onto the retaining pin or lag b, and then led around the
loose sleeve c¹ of the stud-pin c, and the forward end thereof coiled around and between
the bifurcated pin d', as shown in Fig. 1, and the divided housing then closed as
shown in Fig. 2 with its cover A', thrown rearward, and with the latch a', of one
part of the housing caused to engage in the small recess or opening a³, in the wall of
the oi! receptacle a. The disc d, is then actuated by the thumb or in any other
preferred manner and the narrow strip or ribbon fed upward from the retaining pin b,
around the loose sleeve c', of the stud-pin c, where the individual caps or pellets of the
narrow strip or ribbon g, are brought by the operation into frictional contact with the
stationary scratcher f, thereby causing the same to be exploded and the wick a³, at
the exposed end of the tube a², to be lighted. The tape, strip or ribbon after its
caps or pellets have been exploded simultaneously with the feeding of the same, is
wound around the bifurcated pin d', of the toothed disc d, until the entire strip has
been rendered useless by the consumption of all of the caps or pellets thereof, when
the strip or ribbon may be readily removed and another inserted by simply causing
the lamp to assume a position such as is illustrated in Fig. 1.
In the manufacture of the strips or ribbons it will of course be understood that the
pellets or caps thereof should be omitted for a short distance from the extremita!
portion of the tape, strip or ribbon in order that all possibility of accident or explosion
in the insertion of the same around and between the bifurcated pin d', of the toothed
disc d, may be obviated. The stud-pin c, instead of being provided with a loose
sleeve cl, may be formed integral therewith; and moreover, this sleeve is preferably
milled in the direction of its length to ensure greater certainty in action in the feeding
of the strip or ribbon for presenting the individual pellets or caps thereof, to the
scratcher f
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A pocket lamp provided with a divided housing and cover, an oil retainer therein
baving a wick holder and scratcher, a retainer adapted to hold a narrow percussion
tape, strip or ribbon, a stud-pin supported adjacent to said scratcher for said tape,
strip or ribbon to travel over, and a toothed disc extending through the casing at one
side and adapted to permit of said tape, strip or ribbon being caused to frictionally
contact with said scratcher and the said disc provided with a pin adapted to permit of
said tape, strip or ribbon being wound thereon, substantially as set forth.
2. A pocket lamp provided with a two-part housing and a hinged cover, an oil
retainer adapted to support in position a narrow wick and scratcher, a pin or lug
adapted to hold a narrow tape, strip or ribbon provided with caps or pellets, a stud-pin
provided with a milled sleeve, a toothed disc journalled in said housing and provided
with means adapted to permit of said tape, strip or ribbon being wound thereon
and a spring normally engaging with a tooth of said disc, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. A pocket lamp provided with a divided housing, an oil absorbent retainer therein
provided with a tube adapted to expose a wick, a scratcher, a retaining pin, a tape,
strip or ribbon provided with fulminating pellets or caps mounted thereon, a pin
provided with a sleeve, a toothed disc partially exposed beyond said housing and
provided with means to permit of said tape, strip or ribbon being wound thereon and
a spring to prevent a reverse movement of said disc, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. A pocket lamp provided with an oil and absorbent material. receptacle having a
wick tube and a scratcher, a retainer located in the lower part of the lamp casing, a
toothed disc extending through one side of said casing and provided with a pin or lug
adapted to receive an ignitable strip, tape or ribbon, a stud-pin in the upper part of said
casing having a loose sleeve mounted thereon and said disc by the actuation thereof

page_text: causing said strip, tape or ribbon to contact with said scratcher, substantially in the
manner set forth.
Dated this Sixth day of October & D 1800
JOHN HARVEY FARREL.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.