Improvements in Illuminating the Plane Surfaces of Tables, Looking- glasses, Pictures, Clocks, and other Articles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1886
Complete Left, 20th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 21st Oct., 1887.
Improvements in Illuminating the Plane Surfaces of Tables, Looking-
glasses, Pictures, Clocks, and other Articles.
I FREDRICK JAMES BIGGS, of Leadenhall Buildings, Gracechurch Street, in the
City of London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Light as hitherto applied to the illumination of the plane surfaces of Tables,
Looking-Glasses, Pictures, Clocks, and similar articles, has been derived from a
source or sources placed either in front of or behind such surfaces, and independent of
the frames of such surfaces.
Now the object of this, my invention, is the adaptation of frames surrounding the
plane surfaces of Tables, Looking-Glasses, Clocks, and similar articles for the reception
of means of illumination, and the combination of the frames with the means of
illumination.
In adapting light emitting frames to the surfaces aforesaid, I so shape the frames
that they may have a space or spaces left between their overlapping edge and the
surface to be illuminated, and into this space or spaces I insert tubes, or sections of
tubes, of any shape, made of glass, or other suitable material, and I provide them with
reflectors, and I render them luminous by the introduction of an electric wire or
filament, or of any other conductor, or substance capable of becoming luminous, and
I suitably connect thein with the source of the supply of the illuminating agent. In
the application of my invention to billiard tables, I prefer to insert the above.
mentioned luminous tubes in the space existing between the projecting cushion and
the bed of the table. In the application of my invention to tables, chess boards,
reading desks, and similar articles, I surround the plane surfaces to be illuminated
with a frame containing a space or spaces for the insertion of the luminous tubes,
or sections of tubes, or I adapt the existing frames for the reception of the tubes or
sections of tubes.
It will be readily understood, that by means of my invention, the surfaces surrounded
by the luminous frame-work may be illuminated at will, and that the whole of the
light will be utilized in the most efficient possible manner in so illuminating them.
Dated this Twenty third day of November 1886.

page_text: Glasses, Pictures, Clocks, and other Articles.
I FREDERICK JAMES BIGGS of Leadenhall Buildings Gracechurch Street in the City
of London Merchant 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 :-
Light as hitherto applied to the illumination of the plane surfaces of Walls, Tables,
Looking-glasses, Pictures, Clocks, and similar articles has been derived from a source
or sources placed either in front of or behind such surfaces, and independent of the
frames of such surfaces.
Now the object of this my invention is the adaptation of frames or cornices
surrounding the plane surfaces of Tables, Looking-glasses, Pictures, Clocks, Walls
and similar plane surfaces for the reception of means of illumination and the com-
bination of the frames with the means of illumination.
In adapting light emitting frames to the surfaces, aforesaid I either make an
incision in the surrounding frame-work or I so shape the frame-work by giving it an
overlapping edge as to create a space or spaces around the surface to be illuminated
and into these incisions or spaces I insert Tubes or sections of Tubes of any shape
made of glass or other transparent material and I provide them with continuous
reflectors and I render them luminous by the introduction of an electric wire or
filament or of any other conductor or substance capable of becoming luminous and I
suitably connect them with the source of supply of the illuminating agent.
In the application of my invention to billiard tables I prefer to insert the above
mentioned luminous tubes in the space existing between the projecting cushion and
the bed of the table.
In the application of my invention to tables chess-boards, reading desks and
similar articles I surround the plane surfaces to be illuminated with a frame con-
taining incisions or spaces for the insertion of the luminous tubes or sections of tubes
or I similarly adapt the existing frames for the reception of the tubes or sections of
tubes.
It will be readily understood that by means of this my invention the surfaces
surrounded by the luminous frame work may be illuminated at will and that the
whole of the light will be utilized in the most efficient possible manner in so
illuminating the plane surfaces to which such frame work is attached or of which it
forms a part.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my. said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is:
1. The construction and adaptation of frames surrounding plane surfaces of Tables,
Looking-glasses, Pictures, Walls, Clocks, show and advertizing boards, and similar
articles by making incisions or forming an overlapping edge for the insertion of Tubes
or sections of Tubes capable of luminosity.
2. The insertion of Tubes or sections of Tubes capable of incandescent or other
means of luminosity together with continuous reflectors in the incisions in the frames
prepared for their reception as aforesaid.
3. The combination of the illuminating agent with the Tubes or sections of Tubes
inserted in the frame-work as aforesaid.
4. The particular arrangement for illuminating the plane surfaces of billiard tables
hereinbefore substantially set forth and described.