Improvements in Night-lights, and in Cases and Holders for the same,
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Night-lights, and in Cases and Holders for
the same,
We, GEORGE CUPIT FOWLER and MокBIS BROAD FOWLER, both of
75-Tressillian Road, Brockley, in the County of Kent, Night Light Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
In a night light having the usual, form, of: oase or holder, that is having a
cylindrical body and flat bottom with a rectangular corner around edge of bottom,
unless the night light body is made of a material having a very low melting point
which however entails other disadvantages, there, is usually (especially in cold
weather) a quantity of material left unused all round the edge of the bottom and
a short distance up the sides of the case or bulder and this is due to the fact that
such parts are below the level of the flame (and therefore, receiving but very little
heat by convection, and, too far from the flame to receive sufficient heat by radiation
to melt the material there or to keep it melted..
In an ordinary paraffin wax night light, sny 1½ inch diameter, burnt in a case or
bolder slightly larger, as much as from 5 to 10% and even more of the material.
may be left unconsumed from this reason. The material thus left is so much waste,
the night light burns a less time than it otherwise would, and if the holder is to be
used again the material round the edge of the bottom, prevents the fresh night
light from going into it properly unless the trouble is taken of previously cleaning
out the holder.
By diminishing the diameter of the night light body and its holder or case to
Bay 1 inch diameter, usually the material even in a paraffin wax night light is
entirely melted and consumed; but such narrowing, is very detrimental to the
burning of the night light, the entering cold air and the escaping warm air,
interfering with one another and causing the flame to flicker, especially when the
flame gets low in the case or holder, which is very annoying to, the user and even
dangerous when a combustible case is used..
Again the mere narrowing of the night light, body and of its case or holder
necessitates a greater depth of material for a given, weight and consequently a
similar form of case or holder thus still further aggravating the evils of a narrow
case or holder both as to flickering of flame and liability of the sides to catch fire,
if the case is of combustible material.
A bemi-spherical bottom would also prevent the last portions. of the material
being left unused, and without increasing the liability, of the flame to flicker; but
when using a case of paper or other like. semi-transparent material it has the
following serious objection viz.: There is a double thickness of case for a great
portion of its height and the luminosity of the case is thereby seriously diminished:
This remark also applies in a ininor, degree to a glass or other like holder. It may
be laid down as a rule, that the flame should never get entirely, or even mostly,
below. the double and consequently comparatively opaque portion of the case.
Also when using cases or, holders of any material, it does not allow of a secure scat.
for, the sustainer supporting the wick, for the sustainer is, then only supported by
its four points, if square, or by, its edge if circular; and it: is therefore very liable
to be displaced and the wick with it, causing the night light to burn, badly or
perhaps even to "fire" the case, if the latter is of combustible material.
:
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page_text: This last observation does not apply to a night light in which the wick is fixed
into a hole in the bottom of the case, but tho, existence of such a hole is dis-
advantageous ns it often allows the melted material to escape and water to cuter
when the night light is burnt in water.
A "dish"
shaped bottom would obviate some of the disadvantages of the
hemispherical bottom but although better than the usual or flat bottom form, yet it
does not entirely prevent the material being left unused, round the edge of bottom
and especially in cold weather.
We have invented a form of case in which we have managed to avoid the various
disadvantages and to gain all the advantages above referred to.
Our improved case has a cylindrical body and a bottom in the form of a hollow
truncated cone or hollow cone.
The height of the sloping or conical sides should not be more than about the
middle of the flame when the latter is at its lowest point in the case; when the
bottom is in the form of a 'hollow truncated cone, the conical part is preferably of
such an angle and dimensions as to leave the flat central portion only just large
enough to take the sustainer comfortably when one is used. If however it is
desired to support the wick through a hole at the bottom of the case the sides may.
be sloped to such an extent as to come approximately to a point round the central
hole.
This case has the following advantages ¦
It does not impede the light of flame any more than the "dish" form, yet brings
the last portions of material much nearer the flame, thus ensuring the night light
body being more completely melted, and the slope conducts the melted material
readily right to the edge of the sustainer; whence it is sucked up, by the wick and
burned, in addition to which we are enabled to use a material for the body having
a higher melting point than that generally adopted thereby avoiding deformation
of the night light body when stored for sale..
:-.
The advantage of the improved shape of bottom over the "flat," or the "dish"
forms, as to melting of material will be readily understood from the following.
The angle or corner of a flat bottomed 'case, the curved corner of a case having
a dish shaped-bottom; and the conical part of our improved case towards the latter
part of the burning of the night light are mainly heated by the radiated heat from
the flame and the lintensity of the radiant hent at any point varies inversely as the
square of its distance froin the source of heat, therefore the intensity of the
radiated heat at about the centre of the slope of our improved form of bottom is
about four times that in the angle or corner of a case baving a flat bottom and'
about twice that in the curved portion of a "dish" shaped bottom:
When the conical bottom of the case has a central space for the sustainor, this
space should by preference be perfectly flat so as to afford a secure seat to the
sustainer. The sloping or conical sides then prevent it being displaced from, the
centre, thus ensuring that the wick is central and perpendicular.
The sloping or conical sides of the bottom of the case belp to direct the incoming'
cold air to the flame, thereby, lessening the liability of the flame to flicker. It is
obvious that the sloping sides might be made slightly' convex towards the wick
without departing from the character of our invention: We would have it under-
stood that the above described construction of case with a bottom in the form of a
truncated cone is equally applicable to glass or other holder capable of being used
from time to time for a fresh night light.
It is important that when a night light body stamped or otherwise formed
separately from the case or holder is employed it should fit the case or holder
accurately round the cylindrical sides. When a night light body of paraffin wax
or mainly of such material is laid aside after it is. formed for cooling and further
manipulation, it is apt to spread towards the bottom more or less irregularly and
if the cases or holders are made sufficiently large to allow for this the night light
body will not be in contact with the upper portion of the case or holder and those
bodies which do not spread at all will be quite loose
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page_text: According to our, invention we form a night light body in shape approximately
to fit cases, or holders made under the first part of our invention.
As the lower part is conical it is only that portion which tends to spread when.
the bodies are stored or laid aside for further manipulation. The main part of the
body preserves its size and shape which can then be made very accurately to fit
the case or holder. In making the case or holder we allow a slight margin for the
spreading of the night light body in the conical part, but if the fit is not quite
close there, it is of comparatively little importance as according to our invention
there can be only a very slight misfit at such part.
In night light bodies which are either stamped or moulded prior to the sustainer
being affixed thereto, we obtain certain advantages in regard to fixing the sustainer
by making the conical portion of the bottom to slope as before desoribed and by
forming in the centre of the bottom a recess of shape and size to receive the
sustainer and a slight edge of material between the edge of the sustainer recess
and the lower edge of the conical part. The recess is very slightly deeper than
the sustainer.
Thus when the sustainer is placed in the recess the edge of material around it
can readily be burred over onto the sustainer by pressure, without at the same time
deforming the rest of the night light body.
The material may be hurred over onto the sustainer either by pressing the night
light body and sustainer upon a suitably shaped surface, warin or coll, or by
supporting the body upside down and burring over the edge of material with a
suitable tool.
The surface or tool used is preferably of a concave or conical form, the more
readily to force the material in the direction.desired.
By thus burring the material over the sustainer, the latter is fixed in its place,
and secured against displacement in handling, storage, or transport; this is
specially valuable in those night lights which are sold without a case and made for
buruing in a glass or similar holder.
It will be readily understood that our improved form of case is equally applicable
to a poured night light as to those in which the body is separately formed:
We would also remark that the benefits of our invention are obtainable with
night light bodies, cases and holders of hexagonal or other similar forms but not
so completely as when using a cylindrical form.
Dated November 13th 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Night-lights, and in Cases and Holders for :
the same.
WC, GEORGE CUPIT FOWLER and MORRIS BROAD FOWLER, bath of
75 Tressillian Road, Brockley, in the County of Kent, Night Light Manu-
facturers, 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:-
In a night-light having the usual form of case or holder, that is, having a
cylindrical body and flat bottom with a rectangular corner around edge of bottom,
unless the night-light body is made of a material having a very low melting point,'
which however entails other disadvantages, there is usually (especially in cold'
weather), a quantity of material left unused all round the edge of the bottom and
a short distance up the sides of the case or holder, and this is due to the fact that
such parts are below the level of the flame (and therefore receiving but very little

page_text: beat by convection) and too far from the flame to receive sufficient heat by
radiation to melt the material there or to keep it melted. In an ordinary paraffin
wax night-light, say, 14inch diameter, burnt in a case or holder'slightly larger, as
much as from 5 to 10 per cent., and even more, of the material may from this cause
be left unconsumed.
The material thus left in the caso or holder is so much waste, the night-light
burns a less time than it otherwise would and, if the holder is to be used again, the
material round the edge of the bottom prevents the fresh night-light from going
into it properly unless the trouble is taken of previously cleaning out the holder.
'
By diminishing the diameter of the night-light body and its holder or case to,
say, 1 inch diameter, usually the material, eveu in a paraffin wax night-light, is
entirely melted and consumed; but such narrowing is very detrimental to the
burning of the night-light, the entering cold air and the escaping warm air
interfering with one another and causing the flame to flicker, especially when the
flame gets low in the case or holder, which is very annoying to the user and even
dangerous when a combustible case is used. Again, the mere narrowing of the
night-light body and of its case or holder, necessitates a greater depth of material
for a given weight and consequently a similar form of case or 'holder, thus still
further aggravating the evils of a narrow case or holder both as to flickering of
flame and liability of the sides to catch fire if the case is of combustible
material.
A hemispherical bottom would also prevent the last portions of the material being
left unconsumed and without increasing the liability of the flame to flicker, but
when using a case of paper or other like semi-transparent material it has the
following serious objections, viz.: There is a double thickness of case for a great
portion of its height and the luminosity of the case is thereby seriously diminished.
This remark also applies in a minor degree to a glass or other like holder.
It may
be laid down as a rule that the flume should never get entirely, or even mostly,
below the double and consequently comparatively opaque portion of the case.
Also, when using cases or holders of any material, n hemispherical bottom does
not allow of a secure seat for the sustainer supporting the wick, for the sustainer
is then only supported by its four points, if square, or by its edge if circular, and
it is therefore very liable to be displaced and the wick with it, causing the night-
light to burn badly, or perhaps even to
"fire
the case if the latter is of
combustible material.
"
A "dish shaped, that is to say, a slightly curved concave, bottom would
obviate some of the disadvantages of the hemispherical bottom, but although
better than the usual or flat bottom form, yet it does not entirely prevent the
material being left unused round the edge of bottom and especially in cold
weather.
For a night-light to be satisfactory in use, it is essential that the case, for a
considerable extent from its upper edge, slionld be of paper or other material
which in itself is transparent or semi-transparent or becomes so in the burning of
the night-light, as otherwise, when the night-light has burned down, the illumination
is nearly all concentrated in a vertical direction.
Night-light bodies, that is to say, night-lights without their cases, having the
usual flat bottoms, if laid aside for a time, have a tendency to spread out at the
surface upon which they rest and thereby become too large at such part for an
otherwise suitable care.
When using a night-light body with a 'bottom of the forms hitherto adopted,
there is a difficulty in burring over the material to hold the sustainer whilst the
night-light is being handled to put it into the case.
Our improved case or holder has a cylindrical body and a bottom in the form
of a hollow truncated cone or hollow cone, or in lieu of the bottom corners being
conical they may be somewhat concave or convex in form, and our improved
night-light body is of form to fit said case or holder, in addition to which it is
formed with a recess in the bottom to receive the sustainer and with a narrow

page_text: width of material around such recess, thereby facilitating the burring over. of: the
material on to the sustainer to secure the latter. With this form of night-light
body a slight spreading of the bottom is not detrimental.
Night-light oases are sold as an integral part of the night-light; it is, therefore
desirable that they be of cheap construction as they are not used a second time,
and it is important that they should be made complete by machinery and separate
from the night-light body so as to reduce hand labour to a minimum; aud it is
essential to employ a cheap and efficient means of securing the bottom within the
cylindrical part of the case.
In our invention wo have devised a night-light case in which there is a
combination of features by which all the above advantages are secured in one:and
the same case.
}
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one form of night-light case constructed according
to the present invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a vertical section and a plan of a slightly modified
form of night-light case.
Fig. 4 is another modified form of night-light case.
Fig. 5 shows a night-light body to fit the case shown at Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view.
Fig. 7 represents a holder of glass or other suitable material similar in shape to
that shown at Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 shows a night-light body to fit the case shown at Fig. 2 and having a
sustainer with the wick inserted applied thereto.
Fig. 9 shows the sustainer fixed in its place by burring the night-light material
over the edges of the sustainer.
Fig. 10 is a section of a slightly modified form of case and Fig. 11 is a section
of a night-light body to be used with the same.
In all the figures like reference letters are used to denote similar parts.
Our improved case, as represented at Figs. 1, 2, 3, has a cylindrical body a and
a bottom in the form of a hollow truncated cone, whilst as represented at
Fig. 4, it has a bottom in the form of a hollow cone. To secure the best results,
the height of the sloping or conical sides 6 should not be more than about the
middle of the flame when the latter is at its lowest point in the case; when the
bottom is in the form of a hollow truncated cone, as represented at Figs. 1, 2,13,
the conical part b is preferably of such an angle and dimensions as to leave the
flat central portion 6 only just large enough to take the sustainer c comfortably
when one is used. Or the sides b may be sloped to such an extent as to come
approximately to a point at 62, as represented at Fig. 4, in which case the wick
may be supported by being passed through a hole at such point, or in other
convenient manner.
In the modified form of case or holder shown at Fig. 10, the part b is in the
form of a hollow curve and the flat bottom & is preferably sunk slightly below the
junction of the part b therewith.
These cases have the following advantages. They do not appreciably impede
the light of flame more than the "dish" form, yet bring the last portions of
material much nearer the flame, thus ensuring the night-light body being more
completely melted, and the slope b conducts the melted material readily right to
the edge of the sustainer c, whence it is sucked up by the wick and burned, in
addition to which we are enabled to use a material for the body having a higher
melting point than that generally adopted, thereby avoiding deformation of the
night-light body when stored for sale.
The advantage of the improved shape of bottom over the "fat" or the “dish
forms ae to melting of material, will be readily understood from the following.
The angle or corner of a flat bottomed case, the slightly curved corner of a case
having a dish shaped bottom, and the conical part of our improved. case, towards
the latter part of the burning of the night-light, are mainly-heated by the radiated

page_text: ·
heat from the flame, and the intensity of the radiant heat at any point varies
inversely as the square of its distance from the source of heat; therefore the
intensity of the radiated heat at about the centre of the slope of our improved
form of bottom such as represented' in the diagram Fig. 6, is about 4, times that
in the angle or corner A of a case having a "flat" bottom, and about twice that
in the curved portion B of a dish" shaped 'bottom, and this advantage is also
proportionately obtained in cases and holders of the forms shown at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
and 10.
" . ' ***
The sloping conical or curved sides 6 of the bottom. of the case 'help to direct
the incoming cold air to the flame; thereby' lessening the liability of the flame to
flicker...
1.1
f
"
•
It is obvious that the sloping sides might be made slightly convex towards
the wick as will be readily understool without departing from the character of our
invention.
We would have it understood that the above described forms of cases are
equally applicable to a glass or other holder capable of being used' from time to
time for a fresh night-light, an example of which is represented at Fig. 7, in
which the bottom is in the form of a hollow truncated 'cone.
It is important that when a night-light body stamped or otherwise, formed
separately from the case or holder is employed; it should fit the case or holder
accurately round the cylindrical sides. When a night-light body of the ordinary
flat bottom form and of paraffin wax, or mainly of such material, is laid aside
after it is formed for cooling and further manipulation, it is apt to spread towards
the bottom more or less irregularly, and if the cases or holders are made sufficiently
large to allow for this, the night-light body will not be completely in contact with
the upper portion of the case or holder, and those bodies which do not spread at
all will be quito loose.
!
In the manufacture of our improved cases the cylindrical body a is niade of
paper in any ordinary or convenient way, whilst the bottom b, or b b', is made of
paper, tin or other suitable material, by the aid of suitable dies and pressure, and
preferably with a cylindrical part to fit tightly the oylindrical body'a.
According to our invention we form night-light bodies, see Figs. 5, 8, 9 and 11,
in shape. approximately to fit cases or bolders made under the first part of our
invention. As the lower part d is conical or curved off, it is only that portion
which tends to spread when the bodies are stored or laid aside for further
manipulation. The main part, that is to say, the cylindrical part d', of the body
preserves its size and shape, which can therefore be made very accurately to fit
the case or holder. In making the case or holder we allow a slight margin for
the spreading of the night-light body in the conical or curved off part, but if the
fit is not quite close there it is of comparatively little importance as, according to
our invention, there can be only a very slight misfit at such part.
In nightlight bodies which are either stamped or moulded prior to the sustainer
being affixed thereto, we obtain certain advantages in regard to fixing the
sustainer by making the conical or curved off portion d of the bottom to slope,as
before.described, and by forming in the centre of the bottom a' recess d³ of shape
and size to receive the sustainer c, and a slight edge d' of material between the
edge of the sustainer recess d and the lower edge of the conical or curved off
part d. The recess d' is very slightly deeper than the sustainer c. Thus, when
the sustaineric is placed in the recess d², the edge of material around' it can readily
be burred! over on to the sustainer by pressure, without at the same time deforming
the rest of the night-light body. The material may be burred over on to the
sustainer, either by pressing the night-light body and sustainer upon a suitably
shaped surface, warın or cold, or by supporting the body upside down and burring
over the edge of material with a suitable tool. By this burring the material over
the sustainer, the latter is fixed in its place and secured against displacement in
bandling, storage or transport; this is specially valuable in those night-lights
which are sold without a case aud made for burning in a glass or similar holder.

page_text: It will be readily understood that our improved form of case is equally applicable
to a poured night-light as to those-in which the body is separately formed.
We would also remark that the benefits of our invention are obtainable with
night-light bodies, cases and holders of hexagonal or other siinilar forms, but not.
so completely as when using a cylindrical form.
We are aware that there has been in the market a form of night-light, known.
as Clarke's, in which a plaster bottom has been cast on to the material forming the-
night-light, and the coutour of the point of junction of the side with the bottom
has been somewhat curved. To some extent the advantage of a better utilization
of the material is obtained by this form of construction, but there are great.
practical disadvantages in connection therewith, in consequence of the great.
amount of hand labour employed and the impossibility of the part of the
construction other than the night-light material being made by machinery and the
consequent cost thereof, which has caused these lights to be sold at a considerably
higher price than the ordinary case night-lights.
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 :-
1. A night-light case constructed substantially as herein described and for the
purpose stated.
2. A night-light holder constructed substantially as herein described and for the.
purpose stated.
3. The combination of a night-light case constructed as herein described, with.
a night-light body of form approximately to fit the same, substantially as herein
described and for the purpose stated.
4. The combination of a night-light holder constructed as herein described,.
with a night-light body of form approximately to fit the same, substantially as
herein described and for the purpose stated.
5. A night-light consisting of a case constructed as herein described and a
night-light body formed by pouring the night-light material therein, substantially
as herein described.
6. A night-light body constructed with a recess in the bottom to receive the-
sustainer, and the fixing of the latter therein by burring the night-light material.
over the edges of the same, substantially as berein set forth.
Dated this 13th day of Angust 1896.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents..