Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application; 30th May, 1888-
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SELKIRK, of 27, Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,
Hardware Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention I provide a cap having a central wick-hole and formed
to fit on the top of the candle. On the inner or outer side of the cap I provide one
or more slides having upper jointed flap and lower guided part, the bottom or tail
end normally projecting below the bottom of the cap. When the cap, in the process
of the burning of the candle, approaches the top of the candlestick the tail end of
the extinguisher, coming in contact with the candlestick, is pushed up whereby the
The top
jointed upper or flap end drops over the wick and extinguishes the flame.
or central part of the cap is made of heat non-conducting material, and the extinguisher
flap or flaps may also be so made. Sometimes I connect the extinguisher proper and
the slide by means of a spring catch which is released when the tail end of the slide
comes in contact with the candlestick, whereby the extinguisher or flap is made to
shoot up quickly and extinguish the flame. The length of the slide or tail end may
be made adjustable to enable the candle to be extinguished at any desired distance
above the candlestick. In some cases I form the top of the cap with one or more
points that enter the candle and thus steady the cap.
WILLIAM ROBERT SELKIRK.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Combined Self-acting Candle Extinguisher and Grease Guard.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SELKIRK of 27 Holborn Viaduct in the City of London
Hardware Agent do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
According to this invention I construct a cap formed to fit on the top of the candle
and having in the top a central hole for the wick to pass through. On the inner or
outer side of the cap I provide one or more slides having upper jointed flap and lower
guided part the bottom or tail end normally projecting below the bottom-of-the.cap.
When the cap in the process of the burning down of the candle approaches the top
of the candlestick the aforesaid tail end of the extinguisher coming in contact with
the candle-stick is pushed up whereby the jointed upper or flap end-drops-over- the
wick and extinguishes the flame. The central part or body of the cap is made of
heat nonconducting material and the extinguisher flap or flaps may also be so made.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view of a cap of my invention
applied to a candle, Figure 2 a vertical section, Figure 3 a plan, Figure 4 an end
view, and Figuro 5 a bottom view.
The cap consists of a ring A of bone, porcelain, glass, steatite, hard carbon,
hard wood or other suitable nonconductor of heat. Upon the top of this ring A is
fixed a ring B of brass or other suitable material having a central hole B' for the wick
to pass through. On the bottom of the ring A is fixed a ring C which by preference
does not go quite round but is cut open as shown at C" Figure 5 in order to prevent
heat being communicated from the upper to the lower part of the cap as much as
possible. D is a slide to the upper end of which is jointed a cap E. The slide D is
capable of working freely up and down in the lower guide C" which as will be seen
in Figure 4 is somewhat taper, the lower part of the slide D being made with a less
taper the slide D is also capable of working freely up and down in the upper guide B
which is large enough for the upper part of the slide with the flap E and the
projecting horn E' on the flap E to work freely in. On the ring is formed an
extension which may be shield formed as shewn or of any other ornamental shape
for the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of the slide D, flap E and guides B¹
and C on the opposite side of the cap. This construction of cap prevents guttering
and acts as a save-all.
The action of the cap is as follows:-
When the cap in the process of the burning of the candle approaches the top F
of the candlestick and the tail end D₁ of the extinguisher comes in contact therewith
the slide D is pushed up and when the horn E leaves the guide B' the flap E drops
upon the wick flame as shown in Figure 2 and extinguishes it.
The form of the extinguisher is not material; it may for instance be flat as shown
or concave.

page_text: The length of the slide or tail end may be made adjustable to enable the candle to
be extinguished at any desired distance above the candlestick. The tail end instead
of coming in contact with the candlestick may come in contact with a stop of some
kind fixed in or on the candle at any desired distance from the top. The upper
guide B may be omitted if the lower guide C¹ is suitably modified by being
lengthened.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
First. A candle extinguisher and save all consisting of a cap, an extinguisher flap
and a slide which latter on coming in contact with the candlestick or with a stop on
the candle causes the flap to turn down upon and extinguish the flame, substantially
as set forth.
Second. In candle extinguishers or caps the application of a heat non conducting
part between the upper and lower part of the cap, substantially as set forth.
Third. The construction of the candle extinguisher shown in the drawing.
WILLIAM ROBERT SELKIRK.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.