Improvements in Extension Standards for Lamps or other analogous purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extension Standards for Lamps or other analogous
purposes.
We ROWLAND Francis Heath, trading as Frank Heath, of Sun Lamp Works,
Leopold Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Brassfounder, and EDMOND BERZELIUS
TILLAM, and EDGAR HARRISON, both of Gothic Arcade, Snow Hill, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of the parts con-
stituting mechanism for adjusting and sustaining the extensible tube of what are now
known as floor or extension lamps, or of similar extensible parts of other stands for
tables, reading stands, and the like.
It consists in the employment of one or more rows or rings of balls, situated
between one, or more bevilled surfaces, or collars, which, when brought closer to each
other, expand in their circular diameter the aforesaid ring of balls, and presses
them against the inside of the lower tubular stand, and thereby sustain the weight of
the extensible tube in any given position. In some cases, instead of this ring or
rings of balls impinging against the inside of the lower tube, they may be made to
impinge upon the exterior of a central fixed rod, to effect the same result.
Upon a suitable foot or base, a tubular pillar is erected in which slides telescopically
a tubular extension piece, which said extension sliding piece, carries at its upper
end the lamp or lamps, or ornaments in combination with such lamp or lamps, or
other similar stand, &c. At the lower end of this extension sliding piece, is situated
the expanding mechanism, whereby it may be adjusted and secured firmly in any
desired position of its travel; and which is constructed after the following manner :-
The lower end of the sliding piece, fits loosely in the lower tubular part, and its
end is formed into a circular bevilled surface, having a central hole, through which
passes an operating rod. The lower end of this operating rod extends a required
distance below the extensible tube, and at its end is provided with a fixed (or adjust-
able) collar, the upper surface of which is also bevilled. Between this collar and
the end of the extensible tube a row or ring of balls is placed.
Again. The operating central rod is carried upwards through the tubular sliding
extension piece to within a short distance of the top, terminating with a cross lever
piece (or its equivalent) which is carried to the exterior of the sliding piece, and
capable of an up and down motion for a short distance, by the pressure of the thumb &c.
This rod is subject to a constant upward pressure, by means of a spiral spring,
placed at any convenient point, generally near the top.
Thus in its normal position, this spring, in compressing the two bevilled surfaces
towards each other, presses the ring of balls outwards, that is, enlarges their
diameter, and binds them against the lower tubular part, preventing further
motion until released. Upon pressing the manipulating lever, however, the
two bevilled surfaces are widened apart and the pressure relieved, when the
extensible tube may be raised or lowered at will.
In order to employ more than one ring or row of balls, a loose sliding collar or
collars, having a bevilled surface top and bottom, is inserted between the aforesaid
fixed collar and the end of the extensible tube, and a row of balls inserted between
any two of such bevilled surfaces.
In applying the balls to operate externally upon a central fixed rod, the bevilled
surfaces would incline inwards instead of outwards.
Dated this 14th day of March 1890.
CHARLES 1. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Extension Standards for Lamps or other analogous
purposes.
We ROWLAND FRANOIS HEATH, trading as Frank Heath, of Sun Lamp Works,
Leopold Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Brassfounder, and EDMOND BEZELIUS
TILLAM, and EDGAR HARRISON, both of Gothic Arcade, Snow Hill, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Engineers, 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:-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of the parts constituting
mechanism for adjusting and sustaining the extensible tube of what are now known
as floor or extension lamps, or of similar extensible parts of other stands for tables,
reading stands, and the like.
It consists in the employment of one or more rows or rings of balls, situated
between one or two bevilled surfaces, or collars, which, when brought closer to each
other expand in their circular diameter the aforesaid ring of balls, and press them
against the inside of the lower tubular stand, and thereby sustain the weight of the
extensible tube in any given position. In some cases, instead of this ring or rings
of balls impinging against the inside of the lower tube, they may be made to impinge
upon the exterior of a central fixed rod, to effect the same result.
Upon a suitable foot or base, a tubular pillar is erected in which slides telescopically
a tubulur extension piece, which said extension sliding piece, carries at its upper end
the lamp or lamps, or ornaments in combination with such lamp or lamps, or other
similar stand, &c., and the manipulative mechanism. At the lower end of this
extension sliding piece, is situated the expanding mechanism, whereby it may be
adjusted and secured firmly in any desired position of its travel; and which is con-
structed after the following manner :-
In order to more clearly explain this our invention, we have appended hereunto an
illustrative sheet of drawings upon which are figures and letters of reference,
similar letters referring throughout the several views to the same thing or part, and
in which:
Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation showing the manipulative and one form of the
sustaining mechanism.
Fig. 2, is a sectional plan on line A B.
Fig. 3, is a detailed view of one of the sliding collars.
Fig. 4, is a sectional elevation of the sustaining device, in a modified form.
Fig. 5, is a sectional plan view on line CD.
Fig. 6, is a detailed view of one of the modified forms of sliding collars.
Fig. 7, is a sectional elevation of the sustaining device in a further modified form.
Fig. 8, is a sectional plan view on line E F.
Fig. 9, is a detailed view of one of the sliding collars (Fig. 7).
Fig. 10, is a sectional elevation of the sustaining device as applied to external
gripping.
Fig. 11, is a general view of the kind of lamp to which this invention is
applicable.
We will first describe it as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 11.
a, is the tubular pillar or base, carried upon or attached to a suitable foot &c.
b, is the sliding tube upon the upper end of which is carried the lamp c &c.
The lower end of the sliding piece b, fits loosely in the pillar a, and its end formed
into a circular bevilled surface d. e, is a central operating rod which extends to near the

page_text: top of the sliding piece, and is there connected to a lever, having a fulcrum joint y,
apon the piece b, and a handle h.
The precise form and arrangement of this lever device is not binding, as it may
be variously modified, or even substituted by any suitable mechanism by which the
central rode, may be raised when required.
Upon this central rod double bevilled collars j. i, are provided and also a
terminating one side bevilled collar j. Between these bevilled surfaces rings of balls k,
are placed. The lock nuts 1, are then screwed up until the balls are nearly binding
upon the outer tube a.
m, is a spiral spring, acting between the collar n, and the stop piece o, tending
always to force the rod e, upwards, and consequently to expand the balls against the
tube a, and thus to sustain the sliding piece b.
It will now be readily seen that upon depressing the handle h, of the lever, the
rod e, is lowered and the expansive force of the balls relieved, when the sliding piece b,
may be raised or lowered at will.
Upon letting go the handle however the spring m, again lifts the rod e, and expands
the balls and the piece b, is sustained as before.
In Figs: 4, 5 & 6, instead of the balls being loose upon the bevilled surfaces, we
may extend the bottom of the piece &, and carry the rows of balls in holes made
therein, see Fig. 5. The bevilled collars, being also modified in shape to suit.
The action and operation of this arrangement will be very similar to that already
described, that is, upon the pressing of the handle h, the rod e¹, will be lowered, and
the balls freed from the tube a¹, and vice versa.
Further. In Figs. 7, 8, & 9, the arrangement is shown with but little variation to
that shown in Figs. 4, 5 & 6. Instead of making the balls 2, truly spherical, they
are made somewhat cylindrical in form so far as their central part is concerned,
while their ends are rounded or tapered as may be desired; the bevilled surfaced
collars being also varied in shape to soit. The action, function and operation of the
parts however are similar to those already described.
In some cases it may be desirable to arrange that these rows of balls should impinge
upon a central fixed rod or tube. The manner in which this may be done is illustrated
in Fig. 10, in which a³, is the external pillar tube, 63, is the sliding piece carrying the
lamp &c., e, is the rod (or tube) which is operated as before by the lever. In
this case however, the spring m³, is shown as always tending to press downwards
the rod or tube e, in order to grip the fixed central rod p, so that in this case when
the handle h, is depressed the rod or tube e³, is raised, and so the pressure is released.
Although in Figs. 1 to 9, three rows of balls or cylindrical pieces are shown and
described, still it will be apparent that a greater or less number may be used if
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In extension standards for lamps or other analogous purposes the combination
with the fixed pillar a, sliding tube b, and operating rod e, having spring m, lever f,
or their equivalents, of the bevilled surfaces d, and collars & j, and balls k,
constructed and operating substantially as described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3
& 11.
2. The modified combination with the pillar a', and operating rod el, having
bevilled collars, of the sliding piece &, having an extended part formed to carry
the balls k', each and all constructed and operating substantially as described and shown
in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 11.
3. The modified combination with the pillar a², rod, collars, and sliding piece b³,
of the part cylindrical pieces k³, constructed and operating substantially as described
and shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 11.
4. The modified combination and arrangement with the pillar a³, slide piece b*

page_text: operating tubular rod e³, bevilled collar, of the balls &², impinging upon a central
fixed rod p, constructed and operating substantially as described and shown in Figs. 10
and 11.
101 1
מ' ₪
1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.