Improvements in Portable and Adjustable Stands for Flash Lamps, Photographic Backgrounds, Optical Lantern and other Screens.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable and Adjustable Stands for Flash Lamps,
Photographic Backgrounds, Optical Lantern and other Screens.
1, FREDERIC WILLIAM HART, of and 9, Kingsland Green, London, Manu-
facturer of Scientific Apparatus, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
Tripods formed from rods, tubes or canes constitutes the base on which the
vertical rods, tubes or canes are raised to form a framework, the connections being
made by screw or other joint, there is also a continuation of the vertical rods from
the under part of the tripod head to near the floor. On the vertical rods I employ
claw-clamps and on these are arcs-(resembling bell-cranks) working on a centre
and capable of being clamped at various heights. At the angles of the chord of
the arc I provide clamps to hold longitudinal rods tubes or canes and thus with the
two I form a rod-shelf on which lamps or other objects of sufficient base-surface
can be placed or clamped thereon, the arcs working on their centres, the shelf can
be inclined in either direction, several of the above mentioned clamps with arcs,-
or plain cross clamps when not required to swing-can be put on the vertical
standards to form as many supports as may be required. On the top of the standards
put single clamps for a rod, tube, jointed cane or batten from which, lamps,
screen or background can be suspended, the bottom end of a screen or background
is attached to a rod, tube or batten connected at each end with one of the clamps of
the arcs, on depressing this side of both arcs the screen or background is stretched
vertically and then fixed by the clamping screw on the arc, or after adjusting the
stand to the size of the screen or background (which can commence at any
moderate height from the floor) either can be stretched by tapes as in the old form
of stands used for magic lantern screens. For very high screens a pulley fitting
is clamped on each of the standards so that after the erection of the frame, the
screen, background or even a shelf can be drawn up by cords from below. To give
stability to this light and portable stand I screw an "eye" into the floor immediately
under the centre of the tripod head and connect the two by means of a double cord,
the cords are then twisted by inserting a rod between them after the manner
employed on a bow-saw frame; when the frame or stand is erected in situations where
the screw-eye is inadmissible I then secure a low centre of gravity by suspending
weights from the heads of the supporting tripods, any household articles such as a
filled coal-scuttle pail of earth or water is found to answer the purpose; I further
secure the feet of the tripods by connecting the ends of the rods standing on the
floor with hoop iron and thus they are secured against being accidentally kicked
outwards.
1 1
2 30
1 1000
11th day of March 1800.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable and Adjustable Stands for Flash Lamps,
Photographic Backgrounds, Optical Lantern and other Screens.
I, FREDERIC WILLIAM HART, of 8 and 9, Kingsland Green, London, Manu
facturer of Scientific Apparatus, 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 construction is mainly as follows, with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4 with
detail on larger scale of the various fittings devised for constructing stands for

page_text: supporting flash lamps in any position needed, as shown in Fig. 1. where repre-
sents the Hash lamps clamped by k, detail seen at Fig. 1, F, ', the rods or canes h,
being jointed up to desired length are held in a fitting Fig. 1, A, clamped at any
height on the upright V, as at a, there are two hooks on the upright bar Fig. 1 A
and the clamping screw in the centre of the bar, the arc swings on the top pin and
is fixed at any inclination within the range of the slot in the arc by a thumb screw
clamping it to the upright bar-the two rings with bridge-clamping pieces shewn
in detail at Fig. 1, B, &, (R being a portion of rod or cane) the fitting Fig. 1, B, is
used in various positions-the female screw I is screwed on to the end of a rod or cane
and then another rod or cane pass through the metal fitting Fig. 1 B and is clamped
in the desired position as shown at b, in all the drawings; where the rods have to
form, ties as at g. 1.then employ jointed clamps Fig. 1, Č, c', the rods f, f, back and
front are for the purpose of supporting reflecting and diffusing screens.
The top of the tripod Fig. 1, D, d', is a stiff metal casting with three lugs
bevelled to the angle to form a tripod having an equilateral base, the male screw
end of the rods are then connected, the base is then tied by means of metal straps S,
through the ends of which pass set screws s¹ to bind them to the female ends of the
rods; in the centre of the plate there is a male screw both top and under, to the
top screw is connected the upper structure. The detail of the ends of rods is
shown by the metal fittings Fig. 1, E, e'. To further increase the stability beyond
the tripod form employ weights w suspended by strong cord from the tripod head
these weights may be in any form such as a pailful of earth or a scuttle of coals.
Where it is practical to get an attachment to the ground or carth-I employ the
means shown at Fig. 2, A, where the cords are passed over the top of and a
stake driven into the earth as depicted, the rod m¹ twists the cords and thus firmly
binds the tripod to the earth, one end of the rod m, engages with the tripod leg K,
Fig. 2 to prevent the cords untwisting. Where there is a firm wood floor to place the
tripods on I then screw a strong "screw eye" into the floor-and twist the cords as
just described. Fig. 2, shows the apparatus combined to form a portable outdoor
studio, for photography or a garden tent, only part of the covering is shown.
For supporting photographic backgrounds or optical lantern screen intended to
hang vertical, two tripod stands with upright rods to height required and width
apart, are placed as shown Fig. 2 and a horizontal rod clamped to top; a fitting
Fig., B is placed on each upright and the hook ', screwed into the clamping ring
at 1, the pins in the top battens or rollers as the case may be rest in the hooks, and
the background or screen hangs flat by its own weight or is connected with two
other slide clamps on a rod under the tripod head and then stretched down and
clamped, the sides of the background or screen can be stretched horizontally by
tapes in the usual manner. When the background or screen is to be drawn up
'from below I connect two ring clamps together as shown at Fig. 3, B, the double
pulley fitting Fig. 3, C, is clamped in one and then clamped by the adjoining ring
to the required height on the vertical rod above the tripod Fig. 3, A, is another
clamp with a universal joint j, to enable the tie rods to be clamped to the lofty
horizontal rods. Fig. 3, is a screen stand with canopy arrangement, an opaque
black cloth is placed over the top frame work hanging down on each side, this
arrangement is for the purpose of lantern demonstration in the day time where the
school or other room is unprovided with means to render it dark ;-It is also
intended that students and others. should be able to make notes, by the diffused light
of the room while. the demonstration is proceeding.
The same framework is intended to form an alcove-with suitable covering for
outdoor photography.-Copying painting &c. needing control of the light.
Fig. 4. shows the stand with screen S, on a separate screen frame n, n, the top
.batten is fitted at the ends with a hook working on a centre and an angle plate with
a screw that fits the female ends of the rods these then form the sides of the frame,
on the bottom batten there are two of the fittings Fig. 1, B, through these the side
-rods pass the screen can now be stretched tight in the vertical direction and the
clamps fixed, the sides can now be stretched horizontally with the tapes as shown→

page_text: this can all be done while lying flat on a floor or other support, and then lifted to
place in position upright or inclined to accommodate the tilt of the optical lantern
for projecting a rectilinear image on the screen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The construction of tripod stands tied at all angles substantially as described
for a base to support an upper structure on which to arrange flash lamps for dis-
tribution of the light, such tripod stands for use singly or in combination for this
and other purposes herein mentioned.
2nd. The employment of clamps substantially as set forth in Fig. 1, B, and
Fig. 1, C, with or without jointed connections substantially and for the purpose
herein described.
3rd. The employment of arc clamps as Fig. 1, A, for the purpose herein
described.
4th. The employment of clamps as Fig. 3, A, for the purpose herein described.
5th. The optical lantern screen stretching frame substantially as hercin described
in reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
6th. The tilting of the optical lantern screen by the means herein set forth
substantially and for the purpose described in reference to Fig. 4.
7th. The combination of the canopy framework with portable stands for use with
the optical lantern in diffused daylight substantially as herein described and set
forth in reference to Fig. 3.
8th. The combination of the tripod stands and fittings to form portable_back-
ground stands, alcoves and portable photographic studios (when draped) substan-
tially as described and set forth in reference to Fig. 2.
9th. The combination of the tripod stands and fittings to form extendible screen
supports to aid in arranging the light when photographing.
10th. The combination of the tripod stands and fittings to form portable garden
tents.
Dated this 11th day of December 1890.
F. W. HART.