IMPROVEMENTS IN CANDLESTICKS AND OTHER CANDLE HOLDERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ABSALOM EVANS, of 2 Larches Place, Compton Road, Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, foreman tinplate-worker, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for, IMPROVEMENTS IN CANDLESTICKS AND OTHER CANDLE HOLDERS, and
in what manner the same 18 to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon
-
The object of this invention is to form the socket of a candlestick or other candle
holder as a spring clip so that it will firmly hold candles of somewhat varying size,
and so that the candles will have a proper lead into such socket for the purpose of
expanding it to the necessary internal diameter to fit therearound
Spring clips or sockets have been employed heretofore for the purpose of holding
candles, but such clips or sockets have been within, or auxiliary to, the ordinary
socket, and have moreover been operated by some kind of mechanism, whereas,
according to my invention, the usual socket is formed to act as the spring clip,
and its action as the candle is inserted therein is entirely independent of any
mechanism
My invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which figure 1 is a tiansverse section through the centre of a candle-
stick, and fignre 2 a plan thereof The same letters of reference occurring upon
both these views indicate corresponding parts A is the base or bottom of the
candlestick, and B the socket The socket is divided vertically into three (or other
convenient number of) lobes or segments a a a fixed to the base or bottom, but
which are otherwise capable of yielding outwards when pressed from within The
upper end of each lobe or division 18 curved or slanted outwards as shewn at b b b,
thus giving a gradually increasing diameter from the point c towards the top of
the socket (forming a bell-mouthed top), and the lobes are preferably bellied or
curved outwards as shown at d d d so that the interior of the socket below the
point c may clear the bottom of the candle, and also to give strength to the lobes
or divisions
When a candle is inserted into the socket B, it enters first the concave cone-
shaped (or bell-mouthed) part at the top, and (unless of course it is to the exact
diameter of the socket at the point c, or smaller, in either of which cases, and
especially the latter, it is not a size for which the candlestick is intended) opens
out the lobes so as to enlarge the socket sufficiently to allow the candle end to pass

page_text: tightly through the narrower diameter thereof, and thus, when inserted, such candle
as firmly gripped or held in the socket Upon the removal of the candle end the
lobes of course spring back to their original or normal position
e is the ordinary extinguisher holder
The enlarged lower part of the socket may be formed as a hollow cone if preferred,
and with either straight or curved sides
My invention is of course applicable to lamps for holding candles, and generally
in cases where candles are employ ed
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18
1 Forming the sides or wall of a candlestick or other candle holder socket so as
to be capable of yielding outwards to expand the socket to the diameter of the
candle and to clip or firmly retain the candle in the socket, substantially as herein
described
2 Forming the socket of a candlestick or other candle holder of vertical lobes or
divisions fixed at their lower ends but otherwise free to yield outwards, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described
3 In a candle socket of the description referred to in the foregoing claims,
forming the lower part thereof to a bulbed or otherwise enlarged diameter,
substantially as and for the purpose herein described
4 In a candle socket of the description referred to in claims 1 and 2, bell-
mouthing or enlarging the diameter at the top, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described
STEPHEN WATKINS,
5, High Street, Wolverhampton,
Agent for the Applicant.