Improvements in Lamp Standards or Supports.
Year: 1889

page_text: of Application, 29th July, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1389
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by AUGUSTUS HOWARD JONES, of Meriden, New Haven,
Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Lamp Standards or Supports.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 standards for that class of lamps which consist of a base
adapted to stand upon the floor, and the standard made adjustable to set the lamp to
different elevations.
The object of this invention is the construction of an engaging device between the
two parts of the standard, whereby the standard may be readily adjusted, yet securely
held at any desired position, and without liability of the movable part accidentally,
sliding downward.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side view of a complete standard and lamp.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the two tubes and the adjusting mechanism,
enlarged.
Figures 3 and 4 shows modifications in the adjusting mechanism.
A represents the outer tube, which is supported vertically in the base, in the usual
manner, and so as to be stationary. B represents the inner tube, which is of a
diameter substantially corresponding to the internal diameter of the outer tube, and
so as to slide freely up and down. In the lower end of the tube B a cam C is hinged
at one side, as at a, and extends across the tube to the opposite side, and so as to bear
upon that side of the inner tube, as seen in Figure 2. The length of the cam from
the pivot to the free end is somewhat greater than the actual distance from that
bearing point to the inside of the outer tube, and so that the cam, while its free end
bears upon the opposite side, will stand in an oblique position, that is, its free end will
be lower than its hinged point, hence in that condition, any tendency to force the
inner tube downward, will only cramp the cam against the inside of the outer tube,
and prevent descent of the inner tube, yet as the inner tube is raised, it will lift the
hinge point first, and so that the free end will readily slide upward without any
considerable amount of friction, thus permitting a free upward movement of the inner
tube, but the tube is cramped against downward movement.
At
Within the tube B is a suitable spring D, adapted to hold the cam upward to its
cramping position, but yield for the free upward movement, as before described.
Within the inner tube is a vertical rod E, which rests upon the upper surface of the
cam at a point distant from its pivot, and extends upward through the tube B.
some point near the upper end of the tube B, a collar F is fixed to the tube, and
this is best made at the termination of the tube, and at the point where the lamp is
secured, as seen in Figure 1. Transversely in this collar a slide G is arranged,
extending outward through the collar at one side, provided with a suitable head,
against which the thumb may be placed. This slide upon its under side is made
inclined, or of cam shape, as at 6; the rod extends upward, so that while its lower
end rests upon the cam, its upper end will stand beneath the incline 6 of the slide G,
the rod being held up by the spring of the cam.
If the slide G be pressed inward, as indicated in broken lines Figure 2, the
incline b, will force the rod E downward, and correspondingly turn the cam, as
indicated in broken lines, so as to take the cam out of engagement with the inside of
the outer tube, then while holding the slide G thus pressed inward, and the cam
downward, the inner tube may be lowered or raised to any desirable extent without

page_text: engagement between the cam and the inner tube, thus leaving the inner tube free for
any required adjustment, but so soon as the thumb is removed from the slide G,
then the spring reacts, brings the cam to its bearing, forces the rod E upward, and
the rod acting against the incline on the slide, forces the slide outward to its
normal position, so that as soon as the slide G is released, the cam comes into imme-
diate action, hence the inner tube can only move downward so long as the slide G
is held inward depressing the cam.
Instead of the radial or transverse slide G to operate the cam, it may be done by
a lever, as seen in Figure 3, adapted to bear upon the upper end of the rod, so that by
pressing the lever downward, as seen in broken lines, the rod will be forced down-
ward, and the cam released accordingly, the spring when free reacting to bring the
lever to its up position, the transverse slide is however preferred.
The rod and slide may be omitted, as seen in Figure 4, but in this case the cam
must be adjusted so as to bear against the inside of the outer tube only with sufficient
force to hold the outer and inner tubes in engagement, and so that sufficient power
being applied to the tube B to force it downward, the cam will slide upon the inner
surface of the outer tube, the spring holding the cam up to its engagement with
the outer tube, but so as to leave it free to slide when the inner tube is drawn
upward.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The combination of the outer tube A, the inner tube B, vertically adjustable
in the outer tube, the cam Chung at one side of the inner tube upon an axis at
right angles to the axis of the tube, and extending across the inner tube to the
opposite side, but in a downwardly inclined direction, and of a length that its free
end may bear against the inner surface of the inner tube, a rod within the inner
tube, its lower end adapted to bear upon the said cam, a bearing piece arranged
transversely across the inner tube above said rod, and so as to bear upon its upper
end, the said bearing piece extending radially outside said inner tube with a spring
between said cam and inner tube, the tendency of which is to lift the cam, all
substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the outer tube A, the inner tube B, the cam C hung in
the lower end of the inner tube, a spring between the inner tube and cam, a rod
extending from the cam upward within the inner tube, a transverse slide G, in the
upper end of the inner tube having its under face inclined, and against which
incline the upper end of the said rod rests, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of July 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.