Improvements in or relating to Electric Light Fittings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electric Light Fittings.
I, FREDERIC AUGUSTUS CHAPMAN, of 1009 Atlantic Avenue, in the City of
Atlantic City, in the County of Atlantic, and State of New Jersey, United States
of America, Electrical Contractor, 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 an improvement in electric light fixtures, and it consists
in the novel construction and combination of parts thereof, as will be hereinafter
fully described.
In the drawings;-
Figure 1 is a view in side elevatiou, showing my improved fixture as it appears
before being placed in position for use.
Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation, showing the plug-casing, the plug being
removed.
Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the interior of the
plug-casing, and the contact-plates therein.
Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the construction of the plug, the lamp bracket
being removed therefrom to show the conducting wires connecting therewith.
Figure 5 is also a view in side elevation, showing a modified form of plug-
casing.
Referring to the drawings, and to Figs. 1, 3 and 5 thereof, A designates the
plug-casing, which may be constructed of any suitable substance, as porcelain,
gutta-percha, a composition of matter, or other like insulating material, and B a
face-plate secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by screws b, and having a door
or slide 2, which, when closed, lies flush with the face of the plate. Within the
casing are secured contact-plates C, each having secured to it a hollow boss or lug c
into which the ends of the conducting-wires C 2 are inserted, a screw c 2, one for
each boss, serving to hold the wires in place. The contact-plates are secured
within the casing as by screws c 3.
D designates the plug, constructed of any suitable non-conductive or insulating
material, and provided in each of its sides with a depression or chamber d, of
sufficient depth to allow its contained connections to lie wholly below the surface
of the plug. As these chambers are the same on both sides of the plug, a description
of one will answer for both. The chamber has at its top a side recess through
which projects an arm or offset e carrying a binding-post e 2, the arm forming a
portion of a contact-plate E secured to the side of the plug. The other portion of
this plate projects beyond the end of the plug and is slightly curved or bevelled
inward, as at e 3, to facilitate the insertion and removal of the plug with relation to
the casing A. Secured within the chamber is a terminal F which is held in place
by a screw extending from the opposite side of the plug, and carried by this
terminal are two binding-screws f2 f3. The screw f2 serves to hold in place one
end of a fuse-wire G, the other end of which is held by the screw e; and the
screw f3 to hold one of the tap-wires H, leading to the lamp-bracket I. The
contact-plates C and E are each slightly sprung from a straight line, in order that
when the plug is inserted within the casing there will be sufficient friction between
these parts to form a perfect electrical contact and at the same time hold the plug
firmly in place. The lamp-bracket I and the lamp J may be of any preferred
design, and constructed of any suitable material.

page_text: In connection with the plug-casing shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I employ a mat K of
wood or of a composition of matter to which the face plate B is secured, this mat
being in the nature of an ornament; but if preferred, the mat may be dispensed
with, as shown in Fig. 5.
In using my fixture, the plug-casing A is first secured in the wall, ceiling, or
floor of a room, with the face-plate let in until flush with the surrounding surface,
and the conducting-wires C2 are then connected with the bosses c. If the lamp-
bracket, to which the plug D is secured, is to be used, the door 62 is opened and
the plug is inserted otherwise, the lid will remain closed and thus conceal the plug-
casing from view. It is to be understood, that, if desired, the lamp may be
dispensed with and the tap-wires be connected with a motor or other piece of
machinery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. The electric light fixture herein described in whole or in part substantially as
specified.
2. The plug-casing combined with the contact-plates substantially as specified.
3. The plug-casing combined with the contact-plates and face-plate substantially
as described.
4. The plug-casing combined with the contact-plates face-plate and plug carrying
electric light bracket substantially as described.
5. In an electric light fixture a plug provided on opposite sides with chambers
electrical connections within the chambers a casing enclosing the plug and provided
with contact-plates engaging similar plates on the plug and a lamp electrically
connected with the plug substantially as specified.
6. In an electric light fixture a plug provided on opposite sides with chambers
electrical connections within the chambers external contact-plates electrically
connected with the said connections a casing enclosing the plug and having
contact-plates connecting with the source of electricity and a lamp electrically
connected with the plug substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of April 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.