IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS FOR PROTECTING FOOD FROM INSECTS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS FOR PROTECTING FOOD FROM INSECTS, AND FOR
SIMILAR PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Samuel William
Lambeth and William Raymond Lafourcade, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
Sealed the 16th March 1877, and dated the 20th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS FOR PROTECTING FOOD
FROM INSECTS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication.
This Invention relates to an apparatus designed for driving flies and other insects
from food, beds, and other places, and preventing their alighting thereon.
The said Invention consists in fans fitted to a revolving shaft, and rotating with
their edges sidewise instead of broadside, whereby less power is required to accom-
plish the rotation, and the broadside will be overhead and horizontal, so as to
effectually scare the insects.
It further consists in constructing the said fans with frames which are light and
strong, and are adapted to be folded flat together, and they may be conveniently
handled and securely transported, and may be made of large dimensions without
great weight.
It also consists in rendering the fans adjustable to various altitudes.
It also consists in rendering the fans adjustable to various widths.
It also consists in an adjustable spring clamp peculiarly constructed for supporting
the fans on their shaft.
It further consists in an attachment between the upper and lower sections of the
fan shaft, whereby said sections may be readily connected and disconnected.
It further consists in a peculiarly arranged device for either stopping or starting
the fan shaft.
I provide the fan with a box or casing, which may stand upright, or may be sus-
pended. Within this box there is a train of clock mechanism, the power of which

page_text: is communicated to a shaft whose bearings are in the box. This shaft is made of
two sections or lengths, and the upper section is connected to a sleeve which fits
over the top of the lower section, and by means of a notch in the sleeve and a pin
or cross bar in the lower section the two sections or lengths will be properly con-
nected, the joint permitting their ready disconnection when required. On the said
shaft there is fitted a spring clamp consisting of two separating pieces of metal or
other suitable elastic material connected to a top piece, and having their lower ends
extending inward, and through said ends and top piece the said shaft is passed, the
openings in the lower ends therefor being of greater width than the thickness of
the shaft, so that as the pieces separate the walls of the opening through which the
shaft passes will bind against the shaft, and hold the clamp in adjusted positions.
When however the pieces are pressed together the walls of the aforesaid openings,
owing to their dimensions, present no obstacle to the free movement of the clamp,
and thus the latter may be readily shifted, and as the fans are connected to the
clamp it is evident that they may be adjusted to various altitudes.
The fans are preferably of elliptic or oval form, and each of them is constructed of
material stretched to a light frame, and braced by intermediate auxiliary frames.
These light frames are attached to arms, which are pivoted to the clamp, whereby
the fans may be raised and lowered on their axes, and thus occupy more or less
lateral space.
When the fans are raised they may be held by cords or other fastening, or their
ends adjacent to their axes or pivots may fit tightly against the sides of the clamps,
the friction between the parts then serving to hold the fans in their adjusted or set
positions. From the said box there projects a spring rod or arm, which is adapted
to come in contact with the pin on the said shaft, and thus prevent rotation of the
fans when so required. When however the fans are to operate the rod or arm will
be forced back and set in a notch in the adjacent portion of the box or a cap
thereon, whereby the said pin is no longer controlled, and the shaft and fans may
rotate.
As the arms of the fans may be turned on their axes on the clamp it is evident
that the fans may be adjusted to occupy more or less lateral space, and as the clamp
is vertically adjustable on the fan shaft provision is thereby made for the vertical
adjustment of the fans.
I provide a table caster made with central rings or openings which are adapted to
fit over the upright or support so that when the caster and fly fan are required
they may occupy a common position.
The bottom edge of the sleeve is of helical form, so that when it is fitted on the
lower section of the shaft said edge will ride over the pin, and cause the notch to
engage with the said pin. This feature would also be serviceable if the fan shaft
be suddenly stopped, the sleeve will be permitted to rotate, and would be caused to
disengage itself from the said pin, thus preventing strain on the parts, and to some
extent providing a brake for the fan.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
March 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS FOR PROTECTING FOOD
FROM INSECTS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by
Samuel William Lambeth and William Raymond Lafourcade, both of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to an apparatus designed for driving flies and other insects
from food, beds, and other places, or preventing their alighting thereon.
According to the said Invention fans are fitted to a revolving shaft, and rotate

page_text: effectually scare the insects.
The said fans are constructed of frames which are light and strong, and they are
adapted to be folded flat together, conveniently handled, and securely transported,
and they may be made of large dimensions without material weight.
I render the fans adjustable to various altitudes and to various widths.
I use an adjustable spring clamp peculiarly constructed for supporting the fans on
their shaft, and I provide an attachment between the upper and lower sections of
the fan shaft, whereby said sections may be readily connected and disconnected.
I also provide a device peculiarly arranged for either stopping or starting the fan
shaft.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side view of a fan supported in an upright position according to
this Invention; Figure 2 is a top view or plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a top view of the portion below the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 show detached portions, with the means for clamping the fans on
their shaft.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 6 is a side view of a fan suspended from a ceiling, gas fixture, or other
appropriate place.
Figure 7 is a top view of a table caster applicable to the said fan.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents a box or casing, which may stand upright, as shown in Figure 1,
or be suspended, as in Figure 6. Within the box there is a train of clock-
mechanism, the power of which is communicated to a shaft B, which has its bearings
in the box. This shaft is made of two sections or lengths, and the upper section is
connected to a sleeve C, which fits over the top of the lower section, and by means
of a notch a in the sleeve, and a pin or cross bar b in the lower section, the two
sections or lengths will be properly connected, the joint permitting their ready dis-
connection when required.
On the shaft B there is fitted a spring clamp D, consisting of two separating
pieces of metal or other suitable elastic material connected to a top piece, and having
their lower ends extending inward, and through said ends and top piece the shaft B
is passed, the openings in the lower ends therefor being of greater width than the
thickness of the shaft, so that as the pieces separate the walls of the opening through
which the shaft passes will bind against the shaft, and hold the clamp in adjusted
positions. When however the pieces are pressed together the walls of aforesaid
openings, owing to their dimensions, present no obstacle to the free movement of
the clamp, and thus the latter may be readily shifted, and as the fans are connected
to the clamp it is evident that they may be adjusted to various altitudes.
The fans E are preferably of elliptic or oval form; each of them is constructed
with a body of suitable material stretched on a light frame d, and braced by inter-
mediate auxiliary frames e. These frames d are attached to arms f, which are
pivoted to the clamp D, whereby the fans may be raised and lowered on their axes,
and thus occupy more or less lateral space. When the fans are raised they may be
held by cords or other fastenings, or their ends adjacent to their axes or pivots may
fit tightly against the sides of the clamps D, and the friction between the parts serve
to hold the fans in their adjusted or set positions.
From the box A there projects a spring rod or arm F, which is adapted to come
in contact with the pin b on the shaft B, and thus prevent rotation of the fans when
so required. When however the fans are to operate the rod or arm will be forced
back, and set in a proper notch g in the adjacent portion of the box A or a cap
thereon, whereby the pin b is no longer controlled, and the shaft and fans may
rotate.
It will be seen that when the spring of the said clock mechanism is wound up

page_text: power will be communicated to the shaft B and fans E, and thus the latter will rotate,
the motion of the fans being horizontal, the side edges of the fans advancing instead
of the broadsides, whereby the fans present but little resistance, and the broad or
flat sides being overhead and horizontal serve to effectually frighten or drive away
the insects from the article of food, the bed, table, or other place from which the fan
is intended to drive them. As the arms f of the fans may be turned on their axes
on the clamp D it is evident that these fans may be adjusted to occupy more or less
lateral space, and as the clamp is vertically adjustable on the fan shaft provision is
thereby made for the vertical adjustment of the said fans. The stopping of the fans
may be accomplished by the arm F, which brought in contact with the pin b will
control the fan shaft. By moving the arm from the said pin the fan shaft is again
made free to rotate.
G represents a table caster made with central rings or openings, which are adapted
to fit over the upright or support A, so that when the caster and fly fan are required
they may occupy a common position. The bottom edge a¹ of the sleeve C is of
helical form, so that when it is fitted on the lower section of the shaft B said edge
will ride over the pin b, and cause the notch a to engage with the said pin. This
feature will also be serviceable should the fan shaft be suddenly stopped; the sleeve
will be permitted to rotate, and it is caused to disengage itself from the pin b, thus
preventing strain on the parts, and to some extent providing a brake for the fan.
The above described construction of the said fans also permits them to be folded
together flatwise, whereby they may be conveniently handled and securely trans-
ported, and it permits them to be of large dimensions without material weight.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The fans arranged or presented to rotate sidewise, as above described, and
for the purpose set forth.
Second. The fan frames in combination with the auxiliary frames, as above
described, and for the purpose specified.
Third. The fans vertically adjustable on their supporting and rotary shaft, and
fitted to arms having axial motions, and rendered thereby laterally adjustable, as
above described, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination of parts comprising the spring clamp, embracing the
fan shaft, and carrying the fans, the locking sleeve, with its lower edge helical, and
the pin, as above set forth, and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The stopping device operating in combination with the fan shaft, as above
described, and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The table caster constructed to be applied to the upright support of the
fan, as above described, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
W* ROB LAKE. (L.S.)