Improvements in Electric Bell Communication.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
Improvements in Electric Bell Communication.
We; FRANK HELMAN, of 68 Empress Road, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Chef, and JOHN CARROLL, of 5 Landseer Road, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to an electric bell communication from dining tables, desks,
or any similar movable piece of furniture, that may need to be moved from time
to time.
The object of this invention is to have the button or bell push (or pushes as the
case may be) on the table, the communication to come either from above the table,
or below the table from the floor.
In the case of coming from above the table, we propose to have detachable
links, such links to fit in the suspended wires which will hang above the table at
such a distance as not to be in the road, when not in use, the aforesaid links, or
short pairs of wires, to be so fitted so as to be slipped in contact with the wires
above the table, and also with the bell push that lies on the table, the bell push in
this case might be weighted, to keep it steady.
In the case of coming from below the table the bell push may be so fixed in
the table top, as to lie on a level, or nearly so, with the top of the table, or on the
table framework, or a bracket brought from the framework, so that the push may
lie along the edge of the table, so that the tablecloth, can be put on or off without
inconvenience, as the cloth when used will cover the bell push the push to be
pressed by any suitable ornament, arranged to come in contact, with the real bell
push, that is covered by the table cloth, the false push will rest on the table cloth,
and lie immediately on the real push in the case of the push on the edge of
the table, its whereabouts may be indicated by means of a very light tab, it may be
any colour to contrast with the cloth.
The wires from the real bell push to pass under the table top, and down any
of the legs or pillars, either inside or outside the legs or pillars, in the case of a
table without castors the wires could pass through a hole bored lengthways through
the leg.
The two wires that pass through the leg are made secure by suitable fittings, the
fitting of one wire to have a small spring, the purpose of the said spring being
to meet any unevenness in the floor, or the covering that is on it, these two fittings
are to come in contact with two other suitable fittings to be fixed in or on the floor,
these fittings to be connected with the bell wires, which may be let into the floor
or passed beneath it: the wires to be continued on to the bell, wherever it may be
ocated.
The contact is then formed by means of the fittings on the bottom of the leg or
pillar of the table, by being placed in contact with the fittings described as placed
on the floor.
The object of this arrangement being to enable the table to be removed
f required, also to obviate the necessity of getting up from the table to ring
he bell.
Dated this Ninth day of May 1898.
FRANK HELMAN.
JOHN CARROLL.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Bell Communication.
We, FRANK HELMAN, of 68 Empress Road, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Chef, and JOHN CARROLL, of 5 Landseer Road, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 electric bell service for dining tables, desks, or tables
of any kind, or any piece of furniture that may be thought fit to have an electric
bell communication.
The objects of this invention are to enable the bell push to lie on the table, or
the like.
Temporary. When the communication comes from above the table, or permanently
fixed to the table top, or framework of the table, when the communication comes
from below the table; also, to arrange a contact fittings, so that the piece of
furniture may be moved at any time, and replaced with ease, and come in contact
as before.
These arrangements will obviate the necessity of rising from the table to ring
the bell.
We attain these objects by the arrangements as shewn in drawings, and
hereinafter described :-
Figure 1. Connecting pendant.
Fig. 2. Plan of treble connecting push.
Fig. 3. Section through treble connecting push.
Fig. 4. Plan of modification of treble connecting push."
Fig. 5. Section through modification of treble connecting push.
Fig. 6. Section through centre connecting block.
Fig. 7. Inverted plan of upper portion of centre connecting block.
Fig. 8. Section through suspended spring, double button, bell push.
Fig. 9. Section through contact bolt, and other parts.
Fig. 10. Plan of contact bolt.
Fig. 11. Section through modification of contact bolt, and other parts.
Fig. 12. Plan of circular contact plate and bolt socket.
Fig. 13. Section through false bell push table top, and real bell push.
Fig. 14. Enlarged screw, with screwed plug hole in centre of head.
Fig. 1. Connecting pendant. To be used when the connection comes from above
the table, or the like, it should hang at such a distance above the table, as not to
be in the road, when not in use, and also to be in reach, to enable connection to be
made without climbing.
a are a pair of wires that should be suspended from the ceiling by means of a
block, in the same way as electric light wires are suspended: or a screw eye, or a
staple may take the place of the block.
A-turned wooden case, with a pinch hole bored through full length in centre;
this case may be any size or shape that will hold the fittings.
bbare metal contact plates about 1 inch in width, the upper ends have holes in
them to connect the wires in, or fastened in any other suitable way, the lower
ends, should be ribbed, creased, or corrugated, or made rough in any way to
prevent the connecting links from slipping at a time when it was not desired:
these plates may be bent at right angles, and pinned or screwed to the lower end
of the pendant, that part of the plates may be smoothed where it is pinned or
screwed to the pendant. That part of the case A where the plates are placed
may be made flat, or the plates may be rounded to conform to the rounded sides of
the hole.

page_text: e is a plug that may be pressed in from either ends of the case to hold the plates
in place, also to prevent contact; it may be wood, or any insulating material.
d is a spring that may be in the form of a U, or a V about 1 inch long, in. wide;
2 short plates are bound to the spring, one on each side, the same width, and a
little longer than the said spring: the spring should be insulated from the plates,
to prevent a circuit being formed, the upper.ends of said plates should be ribbed in
the same way as those in the pendant, that part that comes in contact with plates,
and pendant, should be naked, the lower ends of said plates should have a hole to
connect wires with, or may be tapered, folded over with the wire lapped in between,
and insulated in the usual way. A simila: spring with plates is made fast to the
other end of the pair of wires in the same way as described above. Those pairs of
wires may be any length and be lapped or bound together to keep them in order,
those pairs of wires, we call connecting links. The purpose of the springs is that
they may be pinched or depressed and placed in the mouth, or plug hole in lower
end of pendant.
A piece of elastic or india rubber may take the place of the U or V spring. A
modification of the above arrangement is shown in Fig. 14, which is a section
through pendant case and screws, and also showing forms of spring connection links.
The case A has a hole a through its centre to allow of a pair of wires 6 to pass
from a pair of screws s s, the said wires to be lapped underneath the heads of
screws ss and pass out through the hole in top of pendant, and be made fast to
the ceiling as described above.
d is a pair of springs formed as shown from strips of metal a little narrower
than the plug hole c in the heads of screws ss. (Fig. 14 shows this screw
enlarged.)
The springs d should be creased or ribbed as seen on flat part of spring d² to
prevent slipping. The pair of springs d are held apart by any insulating material,
wood may be used in the form of a wedge e. The wedge e and springs & should be
bound together and have wires connected at their lower ends ww.
d is another form of spring that could take the place of d and be bound to eas
described above.
Connection is formed by pushing the springs d into the cavities or plug holes c.
The springs d and wedge e forms the end of a link, the other end should be the
same when intended for use with modifications of connecting pushes (Fig. 4) or
may have the form described for pushes (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2. Plan of treble connecting push.
nppp and n n are saw cuts in the base of push case. Those saw cuts are deep
enough to allow contact plates, about in. wide, to be set below the screwed
portion that receives the cover: those contact plates may be in the form of a T,
or an L, they may be cut in the said forms, or be cut in strips about in. in
width, and placed one over the other in the forms mentioned; and soldered together;
or the straight strips may be pushed down to the bottom of enw cut, and another
strip pushed down, endways, to come in contact with the first, each to go to the
bottom and come into close contact by being fit tight in the saw cut.
We will keep to the form of T and L. We place an inverted T edgewise into
the saw cut n n and then bend the leg of the T down at right angles flat on to the
face of the wood, (this figure represents the lower or base of bell push with the
dome or cover removed) as seen at o, it may be screwed down to hold it in place.
Two other pieces each in the form of Ĺ are placed in the shorter saw cuts np that
stand at right angles to the longer ones, one L is placed edgewise in the saw cut a
and the other in the saw cut p, the upper or back of the coming near the centre
they are each bent down at right angles on to the face of the wood as seen at o' o.
Another plate in the form of a T with the leg of the T out of centre, that is
with the upper part of the T longer on the left side and short on the right.
This is inverted and placed into the saw cut p p. This is bent down at right
angles flat on o as seen at o, a straight strip is pressed down into the saw cut an
end wise and bent down at right angles flat on to o¹ as seen at o. The plate o

page_text: should fit tight in the cut so as to come into contact with the other plate at o.
This arrangement brings the metal plates nnn into contact as one, and metal
plates ppp into contact as one.
N. and P. stands for the poles of the battery. The wood between the saw
cuts at a za should be cut away leaving the plates bare for about in., this will
allow the ends of the links to come into contact; the plates should be creased or
corrugated to prevent slipping at the mouth or cavity formed by cutting the wood
away at a as this is the place where the links come in contact and couple the
bell pushes together.
The contact plates may terminate where they are creased or be bent and made
fast by screw or nail as seen at r.
The ordinary contact plates and button in common use may be used, one plate
made fast down on o. That would bring it in contact with the n plates, and the
other plate made fast down on os and o³ but should not come in contact with o¹ or o
as they should be insulated to prevent a circuit being formed, or the contact
plates (that is the button contact plates which is intended to form the circuit) may
be placed one on o¹ o' and the other on o o2. In this case the plate o could be left
out as it is only for the purpose of placing the contact plate on.
Fig. 3. Section through treble connection path.
np dotted lines are the L shaped plates. oo shows them bent down at right
angles on to inner face of case. pp is T plate inverted with its upper part longer
on the left side, and short on the right. shows it bent down at right angles on
to inner face of case. o is part of plate that brings the three n nn in contact as
one. bis button. c and care button contact plates. d is dome or cover.
a shows the plates creased, or ribbed, also indicate where the wood should be
cut away to form a mouth or cavity to receive the ends of links. The dotted x
indicate the third cavity as seen and described in plan.
Those pairs of plates may be fitted in pairs of saw cuts, with less space between
them, and given room to act as springs: this would be met by a modification in
links, so that no spring would be needed in said links.
The 2 plates could be brought close together, with the inner faces insulated and
bound firm together, leaving the outer faces bare to about & in. long, the said
plates to be also creased at their bare parts, the ends that are connected with the
wires should be tapered, so that when they are bound up they may look neat: this
will form a thin ridged tongue or plug in. wide in. thick. May be less or more.
(Those modifications in links or plates will apply to the pendant Fig. 1, also to
the centre connecting block.) The wood ought to be notched out at aaa to
admit of links entering.
shews how the push case may be weighted, by having a plate of lead, or the
like, screwed into it to keep it steady on the table, or the like.
Fig. 4. Plan of modification of treble connecting push.
g is a circular groove for the purpose of giving room to lap the wires over the
. end of screws, such screws to have a plughole in the centre of their heads: the
said holes to be tapped or screwel to prevent links from slipping out.
The wires coming from screws nnn are connected as one. The wires coming
from p p p are connected as one.
The dotted lines n³ indicate where a groove may be made in the wood, and the
wire passed along it to prevent contact where the wires cross n and p2 or they
may be insulated at that point. The contact plates, and buttons, same as in
Fig. 2, the cover of case screws on the inside in this modification.
Fig. 5. Section through modification of treble connecting push.
gg circular groove.
np dotted circles indicate screws as seen in plan n p.
PP screws with wires attached.
weight in base same as in Fig. 3.
The modification of links described in Fig. 14 will meet this modification of
bell push.

page_text: Fig. 6. Section through centre connecting block.
This block may be of any other shape, but should be of such a form that it
may be readily distinguished from a bell push.
The block is in 2 parts: the base B is made to unscrew just below the
contact plates pp, the base may be weighted 2.
The upper part contains the plates.
Those plates are in the form of a T ppp: there are 2 of these T shaped
plates. They may be made from in. wide strips of metal by placing one on
the other in the form of a T and soldered together.
These 2 T's fit into 2 saw cuts. The stands of the 2 T's pass up a hole a:
these 2 T's are held in place by a wooden plug b, this plug could bind the
plates into contact, and take the place of soldering them together, also to prevent
contact between the 2 T's.
Fig. 7. Inverted plan of upper portion of centre connecting block.
nn and p p are saw cuts.
a is a hole the same size as the space between the 2 saw cuts. This hole may be
either round or square, and should run right through the block.
The wood should be noched out at a x to admit the plugs of links.
The stands of the T's pass up the hole a at n and p.
The T's should be creased at each place where they are to come into contact
with connection link.
The purpose of connecting block is to enable any number of bell pushes to be
used on the same table whatever its shape may be.
The block is placed right under a pendant, that hangs over the centre of a
large table: a pair of links of suitable length are placed one end, in the
pendant, the other end in the upper part of connecting block.
If one row of pushes are to be attached, the 2 lower connecting plugholes of the
block are placed longitudinal with the table.
We have described treble connecting pushes; they may by leaving out the
fittings become double or single connection pushes. The treble connection being
in the forin of a T, by leaving the stand fittings out it will become a double,
by leaving the top part of the T out it becomes a single, or it may be so
modified as to be in the form of an L Then by using the double push any
number of pushes can be connected together by means of the links that has been
described. (These links could be encased, in metal, leather, wood, or the like, so
that they could be kept clean, and also protect them.)
If a double row of pushes are wanted, the plug holes of the block lie across
the table. 2 T pushes are connected to the block by the stand plug hole by
means of links, and any number of pushes to each T, on either side of the
table.
In the case of using and connecting pushes on a comb table (that is a long
or main table having a number of smaller tables standing at right angles to it,
and butt up against it, with space between them to allow of them being used
for dining or other purposes, the form of the combined tables will be that of
a comb).
If then a row of pushes are arranged on the main table, and connected by
means of links to connecting block and pendant, and the pushes that form the
row on the main table when facing a small table should be a T or treble
connecting push with the leg of the T or single connection facing a small
table and have any number of double connecting pushes from the small tables
connected by means of links.
Fig. 8. Section through suspended spring, double button, bell push.
This bell push should be suspended in the same way as the pendant Fig. 1.
It should have a spiral spring formed in either of 2 ways, one way being to
entwine the 2 bell wires with a spiral spring, and bind them as one, or a double
spiral spring specially formed to act both as a spring, and bell wires in one.

page_text: The 2 dotted lines that runs across the bolt hole h is intended to show that the
contact plates d d which forms part of the bolt, should be of such a measurement as
not to allow either metal parts of the bolt to come in contact with the 2 plates in
the floor at the same time.
This is to prevent a circuit being formed, by moving the table round while the
bolt is in contact with the plates in floor, (when the circuit is not intended to be
formed).
The plates 63 are curved and bent down at right angles at bb for about inch,
and may have a small hole in them for connecting wires, they may pass through
the floor from this point, or along the floor as described in the early part of
this figure.
The bolt may be reversed and the wires passed along a groove in the bottom of
the leg, and up the hole in the centre of the leg this would obviate the necessity
of having a hole in the side of the leg.
The contact plates 6 3 may be covered with the floor covering, with a hole in
to admit bolt into the socket: to prevent trouble in finding the hole, it may be
indicated by a small circular plate, or it may have a few small brass headed nails
put round it, care being taken to keep clear of the wires, and plates, in fixing either
circular plate or driving nails.
The nails would also keep the hole in floor covering opposite the hole in bolt
socket.
Fig. 10. Plan of contact bolt.
A leg of table.
a² hole up centre of the leg of the table for wires to pass through.
a bolt case, this case may be made from metal tubing, it could be cut in such a
way at the back, and opened out so as to form 2 lugs on each side, or made in any
other way that bolt cases are made: but the place in the bolt where the 2 split
springs ee pass through from the bolt plates to the side of the table leg, the split
springs should be kept free from the metal case: the springs should also be
insulated from each other: each spring should be in contact with one of the bolt
plates and one wire only.
In fitting the bolt the insulating bush c should fit the case tight the case may
be burred over on to the bush at both ends to keep it in place.
The split springs should be placed in the groove in the bush, through a hole at
the back of case and bush such springs should grip the bolt plates in the manner
shown.
The bolt is then pushed into place and the bolt lift 6' screwed into the bolt
plate through the slot in the side of the case.
The wires when intended to pass through on the inside of the leg, pass from the
split springs through the hole a¹.
If the wires are to pass up the outside of leg, the wires are fitted to the springs
in the same way.
ee are bolt case lugs screwed to leg.
a a bolt plates.
w insulating centre part of bolt.
Fig. 11. Section through modification of contact bolt, and other parts.
A table leg with spring contact fitting, and single contact bolt attached.
A spring contact fitting.
fa kind of cylinder or tube in which the bore is larger at one end than the other:
the larger bore contains a small spiral spring.
9, also a kind of two headed nail.
hits upper part passes through the smaller bore, and has the second head formed
on to it by means of riveting or screwing a washer on it.
This bolt is of the common type that is on the market; its construction only
differs in as much as it is split in two at each end for part of its length, and should
be slightly spread to give it spring and have its ends rounded.
A small flat spring presses against the bolt through a hole in the back of the
2

page_text: bolt case, the said spring to have a slight projection at one end, and have a hole or
any other suitable means for connecting the wire to.
The purpose of the spring is to ensure contact..
The purpose of the split in each end of the bolt is to allow of the bolt being
reversed.
The object of the split in end of bolt is to ensure contact with bolt socket. The
bolt case is screwed to leg of table or the like, by means of its flanges or lugs.
If the wires are to pass up on the outside of the leg, the wire is connected to the
bolt spring e, the wire from the spring arrangement A' may be connected to the
lower end of the cylinder through a hole o, and pass along a groove o³ cut in leg of
table, and may pass behind the bolt case; both wires may then be carried up the
leg to the bell pushes and connected in the same manner as described above.
If the wires are to pass through the leg, one wire passes from the bolt springe
through a hole a' in the side of the leg and up the hole a; the other wire from
the spring arrangement A may be connected at O or under the head of A, in this
case the wire should be slack so as to allow the spiral spring to act.
The wires can be brought out through a hole in the side of top of the leg, at
that part of the framework, that is the most convenient to work.
The bolt may be reversed and the spriug e placed in the groove o, the hole a
would then not be needed.
The wire from the spring e2 passing up the inside of the leg, alongside the
cylinder, could have a groove in its side, or the leg could have a groove so as to
allow the wire to pass.
The hole a is bigger than the hole a to allow of the cylinder f to enter, it
should be a tight fit to hold it in place, or it may have a flange on the lower end
and be screwed to leg.
The hole a should be deep enough to give room to h (a sort of two headed nail,
the upper head being fixed on after it has passed through the cylinder) to move
up and down, also for the wires to have room.
The cylinder has a larger bore in the lower end to allow of a spring g to press
on the lower head of h; the said head comes in contact with a circular
plate ele.
The bolt d comes in contact with socket 63. 63 and c¹ have wires connected to
them, the said wires pass on to the bell and battery.
dd split part of bolt.
a bolt case.
noche for holding bolt up; there should be a noche at each end of the slot, in
case the bolt may need to be reversed.
d bolt 61 bolt lift.
bolt socket floor.
b a hole for wire when intended to go beneath the floor.
Fig. 12. Plan of circular contact plate and bolt socket.
e circular contact plate is in the form of a washer and should stand clear of bolt
socket 6*.
The plate e' should be screwed to the floor, with the floor covering beneath it
(if there be any).
The face of bolt socket may be covered, and a hole made in floor covering to
allow the bolt to enter 63.
If the wires are to pass along a groove in the floor, the wire from 6 may be
lapped under the head."
The wire coming from e' may be set underneath the plate round any of the
screws.
If the wires are to pass beneath the floor, one wire is connected at (Fig. 11):
the other may pass through a hole bored through the floor, on one side of the screw
that the wire is lapped round under c.
The purpose of the circular plate is that the table may be moved round to stand
in any position in the room.

page_text: Such moving round of the table may form a circle taking the bolt and its socket
as the centre; without breaking communication with the bell.
The plate may be in the form of any part of a circle.
Both of the bolts described above may by having no lugs on them, be fitted in
the inside of the ceutre, of bottom of leg, and could be held in place, by a lug,
formed on the bottom of the case at right angles, or be held tight in its place, by
having a collar round the bottom of the leg.
A slot in the side of the leg to pass the bolt lift through, and screw it into bolt,
and a slotted plate with a niche to hold the bolt up, screwed to the leg.
This idea could only be made use of in the case of a table with a thick leg, as the
spring contact arrangements (Fig. 11 A2) would have to be taken into account.
Fig. 13. Section through false bell push table top, and real bell push.
A is false bell push.
6 button made of bone, or the like. It may be glued or screwed on to c.
c should have a bead or swollen part d which works in a round hole e bored in
bottom of false push case.
The swollen parts & and d prevents the false button from falling out of its case:
the base may have a groove formed in it and have a leaden washer fastened
in it to keep it steady.
Or a small bole may run through false button, and the real button d' have a
larger hole bored part way in, and fitted with a cork, a rolled piece of cloth, or
the like, and a pin a passed through false button, and table cloth, and into the real
button d'
B is table top.
foval or diamond shaped dotted lines indicates that the real button may stand
a little above or below the table top.
If d stands above the table top, the false button will be hollowed out at the
bottom: if d stands a little below the face of table top, the false button will be
rounded, or brought to a blunt joint, and the real button dished or hollowed out.
This arrangement will enable any person laying a table to readily feel through
the table cloth, the whereabouts of the button, and fix the false bell push over it,
and pass a pin through.
C is push case, the table top forms the cover of C, it may have a flange h³ ³
to screw it to table top: or it may be screwed to top through any other part of
case clear from the bell wires.
hhhh are holes through the sides, and in a line with inner face of case.
Those holes are to pass the wires through, and arrange them in the manner
described in Fig. 4, as this is a treble connecting push, no groove or screws with
plug holes is required.
The contact plates in common use may be used: with the plate that the button
rests on a little stronger, as it will have to be strong enough to raise real and
false button when released from the finger.
Those bell pushes may be made with a single, double, or treble connection, as
any number of them may be fixed in the middle, or on both sides of the table.
Wires only need be used, as they may be fixed permanently, and connected one
with the other, and all to the wires that pass through or up the leg of the table.
Inside the frame work, and a little above its lower edge, so that it will not be
seen, and give room to work, and so as not to injure the joint work of the table,
a hole should be bored in the side of the leg, into the hole that runs lengthwise
through the leg, and the wires passes through and connected.
Any number of tables can be connected, by having a pair of plug holes in the
framework at the ends of the tables, and then having the tables end to end, and a
pair of links fitted into the plug holes of each table: and if a passage was desired
a pair of links long enough for part of them to lay on the floor, with a mat or rug,
or the like thrown over them to prevent tripping, or there may be any number of
contact fittings in the floor.
Fig. 14. Enlarged screw with screwed plug hole in centre of head. This screw

page_text: may be used in many places, and may be made in any size to suit the place and
purpose for which it is needed. It may be round, flat, or dished headed.
It may be used as described in Figures 1. 4. and 5. and it may be used as bolt
socket Fig. 11.
It may be used for plug holes for joining two or more tables with the links
described in Fig. 1, or in the floor with same links for tables with castors on.
The other links in the form of a tongue as described in Fig. 3. may also be used
to connect tables (with castors on) to contact plates in the floor, the said plates
can be rounded on one side, and flat on the other. The flat side should for part
of their length be ribbed, or have a rough face on to prevent the links from
slipping out.
If a circle inch in diameter have two parallel lines drawn across it dividing it
into three parts; the two outer parts should be the form of the plates, this would
allow a nonconducting plug of wood, or the like to fit between them: this would
leave the plates inch in their thickest part, they should be ahout It in. long, they
may have a hole at each end and to one side through the thin part of the plates,
the said holes for the wires to be connected to. The mode of fixing them is
thus, a round hole 3 in. is bored in or through the floor; if the wires are to pass
beneath the floor or through the ceiling they are connected to the holes in lower
ends of plates.
If the wires are to pass along a groove in the face of floor, the wires are con-
nected to the holes in top of plates, the holes should face each other so as to bring
the pair of wires as close together as possible.
A plate should be placed on each side of the hole in floor, with the rough face
at the top of the hole and facing each other and level with the floor; a hard
wood plug driven between, to hold them in place and insulate them.
The plug should be driven about in. below the floor face to allow of the links
entering into contact with them.
In any part of the framework of the table a similar pair of plates may be fixed
in the same way, with their wires connected to the bell push nearest them, and the
said bell push have any number of pushes connected with it, links connect plates
in floor and table. Also any number of tables may be connected to each other by
the same means.
Two screws (Figure 14) could take the place of the plates, they might be long
enough to pass through the frame work of end of table, and have the wires lapped
round them, and connected to bell pushes.
(The screws should come close together but not to touch; a pair of links connect
the tables.)
The screw could be used as bolt socket (Fig. 11 ), the wire lapped underneath
the head.
The head of the screw could be flat, round, or dished to suit the purpose for
which it was used.
The only differance between this and any common screw is that it has a hole c
or cavity formed in the head or upper part fength ways of the screw, as the screw
may be any length or thickness with a cavity or plug hole in proportion, and also
that it be screwed or tapped in said cavity to prevent links from slipping. When
used as bolt socket it need not be screwed in the cavity.
Those contact plates and the screws when placed in the floor are to meet with
tables with castors on as either of the forms of contact bolts could not be used.
The links could be fixed to the table permanently to the wires of the push, the
other end of the link when not connected to the floor, could be kept attached to any
part of the table by having a hole bored in any part of the table leg or framework,
till next wanted.
Those strips of metal, as described above, could be used and take the place of
those flat plates as described in Fig. 1. as they would conform to the roundness of
the hole, but they should be a little longer, and could also be used in Fig. 8. to
make contact plates: they would conform to the bored hole in case E with their

page_text: lower part made flat to give them spring: and also flat for the buttons e to
rest on.
In the case of the bell bushes being used along the side, or end of and below
the table top, they may be fitted to a bracket screwed underneath and to the table
top, and connected together if more than one is wanted.
The push case C Fig. 13. would be the most suitable with the flange left off and
the ordinary cover added.
The button may have a hole in centre, with cork, or the like, filled in to allow
of a small tab being pinned through the table cloth, on to the cork, or a tab with
a small hooked pin attached to it, by means of the other end of hooked pin being
coiled or made in such a way, that it could be sewn to the tab or between a double
tab: this tab could be hooked into the table cloth and hang just over the button;
the corked button would not be needed in this case. The tab should be of a
different coloured cloth to the table cloth, so as to catch the eye.
The bell push should stand in a line with the edge of the table top, or stand out
a little, so that the table cloth would lay close to the button.
The connexion between the table and the floor, could be made in any of the
modes described that best suited the kind of table, (with castors or without).
Other forms of detachable bell pushes for use on bar parlour tables, or baro
tables, of any kind, may be made by cutting in the centre of push case, an oblong
hole by in., the in. across grain of wood. Two plates each in. wide,
3 in. thick bent in the form of an L, the flat way of plates, those plates are put
back to back, (inverted) and their backs put in said hole, from inside of case. The
space in. hetween the plates, is filled in with a hard wood plug.
The plug and plates should protrude about 3 in. through bottom of case.
The plates should be bowed outwards from the wood plug but should be close
to it at the lower end. This would form a spring, they should be creased or ribbed,
to cause them to grip, as they come into contact with plates in the table top.
That part of plates that lie on inner face of case, inay be let into the wood.
The button contact plates may be screwed down on them, there need be no wires
as the L plate act for thein. A in. round hole is then bored through the
table top.
Two plates a little longer, than the table top is thick, should have a hole at lower
end of each for wires; one side of plate is round, the other flat. The flat side at
top end for about in. should be ribbed.
The round side of plates should conform to circumference of hole in table.
Those 2 plates when placed in the hole, one on each side, should have a space
between them, a little over 1 inch, a hard wood plug should be driven between
them: the plate should stand a little below the face of table.
The wood plug, stand a little over 3 in. below, the plates and plug should lie
across the grain of wood of table, so as not to split with plug.
The plates in push case, and plates in table, can readily be put in, and out of
contact, when desired.
Another means would be to use metal, in the form, of a little less than a half
circle.
The round hole bored in centre of push case.
2 short lengths of said metal placed in round hole.
The part at top might be split in a couple of places to allow of it being bent
down at right angles on the inner face of case, for to come in contact with button
contact plates.
The other ends that protrude through bottom of case should have a pin, or stud,
or the like, projection from them.
A round wood plug should fill the space, between the rounded plates, the full
length, and hold them in place.
Another round hole should be bored in table top, and another 2 rounded plates
large enough to take the first on their inside: that is, it will be equal to one tube
fitting in another.

page_text: The larger circular plates fit in the table top, they should have a slot crosswise,
cut in them, with a half round noche in upper edge at end of said slot to prevent
slipping, the slots should be slightly inclined downwards.
The plates should have a hole in their lower ends to connect wires.
A round wooden plug, should be driven in, to hold them in place.
The plug should stand below the slots in plates, to allow the plates of push case
to enter.
A short spiral spring could fit in table or push case round plug.
The pins or studs, or the like, on plates, in case, pass down the space made by
the 2 plates being less than a circle: and meet the slots in plates, in table, and by
a slight turn, they enter the slots, and are locked in place; in the same manner as
the electric light lamps, but the fittings could be smaller.
Any number of them may be on the same table, all connected into one pair of
wires, that may be attached to contact bolt or links at the floor; this idea will
enable the table to be clear for any purpose desired, or the ordinary push case can
be fixed permanently to the table in the usual way, and the table brought in
contact with wires in the floor, as described above.
To avoid annoyance by ringing bell at the time of connecting pushes, or fixing
false pushes to real, when cloth is used, in either cases, the contact bolt, the link
from pendant, or link from a table with castors on, should be the last to be put in
contact, and the first out when not wanted.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained, the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Claim 1. In general, a means of readily connecting, and disconnecting, an
electric bell communication from tables, or the like, in the manner described and
shown.
In detail:-
Claim 2. The connecting pendant, with its modifications of contact fittings.
C. 3. The links with their modifications, solid or spring plugs, as described.
C. 4. Construction and modifications of bell pushes with their means of single,
double, or treble connection, as described.
C. 5. Centre connecting block, as enabling any number of bell pushes to be
connected to one pair of wires in pendant, as described.
C. 6. Spring suspended bell push with one or more buttons, for the purpose
described.
C. 7. Double contact bolt, as described, and shown with fittings, connected
therewith.
C. 8. Modification or single contact bolt, as applied to electric bell communi-
cation.
C. 9. Spring contact arrangement in combination with circular contact plate, or
part thereof.
C. 10. Combination of real and false bell push, and method of construction.
C. 11. The form of screw Figure 14. as applied to electric bell contact fittings,
as described.
C. 12. The method of using tab, as indicating, whether hung over by means of
booked pin, or passed through table cloth into button with yielding or soft centre
to receive pin, as described.
C. 13. Detachable bell pushes as applied to bare tables, or the like, and method
of construction, as described.
Dated this Thirty-first day of July 1896.
FRANK HELMAN.
JOHN CARROLL.