Improvements relating to Lamps and Alarm-bells, chiefly designed for Use on Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Lamps and Alarm-bells, chiefly designed
for Use on Velocipedes.
I, JOHN PRICE REES, of Rutland House, Sutherland Square, Newington, in the
County of Surrey, Electrical Engineer, 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: -
The object of this invention is to combine an electric lamp and an alarm-bell in
such a manner that they will occupy but a small space and can be very conveniently
attached to and carried upon bicycles and other velocipedes.
For this purpose. I provide a cylindrical or other suitable casing adapted to be
readily secured to and detached from the frame of a velocipede and I mount in the
said casing an electric incandescent or glow lamp and an electric bell, the said
electric lamp and bell being connected, through conductors provided with suitable
switches, pushes or the like, with an electric accumulator, battery or other
convenient source of electric energy whereby they may be operated as and when
required.
I find it advantageous to mount in the front end of the said casing a lens adapted
to project the light from the glow lamp outwards in any suitable manner with or
without the aid of a reflector. If desired, however, a plain window may be used in
conjunction with a parabolic or other suitable reflector for this purpose.
I prefer,
moreover, to so construct and arrange the parts of my apparatus that the other end
of the said casing will be closed by the gong of the electric bell.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice :-
Figure 1 is side elevation, the outer casing and other parts being shown in section,
illustrating one form of my apparatus.
Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connections.
a is the outer casing which consists of a tube of metal or other suitable material.
The front end of this casing is provided with a frame b hinged at 6 to the casing
and furnished with a catch c whereby it may be fastened or locked in the position
shown. In this frame is fitted a lens d which serves to concentrate and project
outwards the light from a glow lamp e. The said lamp e is mounted in a lamp-
holder in the casing a at such a distance from the lens d that its filament or
illuminating conductor shall lie at the focus of the said lens. I sometimes provide
a reflector g behind the said lamp e to increase the amount of light passing
outwards through the lens. Or, if desired, 1 substitute a plain window for the
lens d and project the light outwards by means of a parabolic or other suitable
reflector.
In the other end of the tubular casing a is mounted an electric bell h, the frame
of which is provided with lugs or extensions whereby it is secured in the said
casing by suitable screws or otherwise. The gong j of the said electric bell is of the
same diameter as the tubular casing a, and is arranged axially therewith so that it
closes the rear end thereof. A very neat and compact apparatus is thus produced,
and the entrance of dust and dirt is to a great extent prevented. The said gong
may, if desired, be arranged in any other convenient manner. For instance it may
be made to overlap the end of the casing or it may be suitably arranged within or
partly within the said casing so that the sound waves will pass from it
unimpeded.

page_text: The electrical connections may be arranged as indicated in Figure 2, in
which represents the electric accumulator or battery which may be secured in
any convenient position on the frame of the machine. From one pole say the
positive (+) of the said battery, a conductor / passes to one terminal of both the
bell and the glow lamp. The other terminal of the bell is connected through
the coils of the magnet to the other or negative (-) pole of the battery k by
means of a conductor m provided with a switch or push as indicated at m'. This
switch or push is preferably secured to the steering-bar or handle-bar of the
velocipede so that the circuit may be readily completed and the bell rung by the
rider of the velocipede, when necessary, without removing his hand from the handle-
bar. The other terminal of the lamp is connected to the negative pole of the
battery through a conductor n, a switch n¹ being provided so that the light may be
turned on or off as required.
The casing a is provided with a lug or bracket p whereby the combined lamp
and alarm may be attached to the usual projection or bracket 9 on the machine.
It is obvious that my combined electric lamp and alarm-bell can, if desired, be
used on other vehicles or conveyances; and also that the construction of my
apparatus may be somewhat modified without departing from the nature of my said
invention.
I sometimes provide the electric bell of the said apparatus with a switch
consisting of a lever pivoted to the casing a and provided with a retracting spring.
This lever is so arranged that it can be conveniently operated, either directly by
hand or through the medium of a cord connected with a lever on the steering-bar
or handle-bar, or in any other suitable manner, to sound the bell when desired.
It is obvious, moreover, that the electric connections may, if desired, be arranged
in any other suitable manner for the purpose of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An electric lamp and an electric bell combined in such a manner as to
form a single apparatus suitable for use on velocipedes or other vehicles, substan-
tially as herein before described.
Second. The combination of a casing, an electric glow-lamp therein, and an
electric bell the coils of which are enclosed in the said casing and the gong of which
closes one end of the said casing, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein-
before described.
Third. The combination of a tubular casing, a lens in the front end of the said
casing, and an electric glow-lamp and an electric bell both mounted in the said
casing, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
Fourth. The combination of the electric lamp and bell mounted within the
casing, the electric accumulator or battery, and the conductors provided with the
switches or pushes, all arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and for
the purposes specified.
Fifth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing, for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The modificati..n of my invention wherein I provide for the sounding of
the bell by means of a switch or push attached to the steering-bar or handle-bar of
the velocipede, substantially as described.
Dated the 13th day of November 1901.
J. F. KELS.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.