AN IMPROVED LIGHTING DEVICE
Year: 1885

page_text: "
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVED LIGHTING DEVICE and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The purpose of my invention is to provide a ready light or lighting device which
shall be of such small cost that it may be discarded after being once used, and to
furnish such a device with means for igniting it so as to render unnecessary the
search for, or use of, a match in time of haste or emergency.
The improved device consists of paraffine, tallow, petroleum, fat, oil or similar
material, combined with chalk, clay, or other absorbent earth or material, the latter
being moulded into the form of a taper or into some other convenient shape.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a top view or plan of a lighting device constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same, and
Figure 3 is a vertical section.
In the construction of the improved device, the following method may be
employed-The clay, chalk, or absorbent material is first moulded into the desired
form, which may be that shown in the drawing. These moulded pieces are then
heated to such a degree as to expel all moisture and make them capable of taking
up the largest possible amount of the illuminating material. While thus heated,
the said pieces are immersed in the illuminating material (which should be raised
to as high a degree of heat as can be done with safety) and are allowed to remain
therein until thoroughly saturated with the liquid material.
In constructing the taper a, shown in Figure 2, a recess or opening b, see
Figure 3, is left, into which is placed a lucifer or friction match c, the lighting end
projecting slightly above the head of the taper, see Figures 2 and 3.
This match
is inserted before the taper is treated with the illuminating material so that the
latter when cold will hold the match in place.

page_text: The use of the taper or lighting device so constructed is simple and obvious.
If a light is desired for a few minutes, friction is applied to the match in the
ordinary manner to ignite it, its combustion then heats the chalk or clay of the
taper to the burning point of the illuminating material, which is ignited and burns
until all, or substantially all, of the latter is exhausted.
A device is thus provided which is always ready for lighting without the
separate use of matches, which does not permit the dripping of the illuminating
material, and which may be used with or without a holder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention 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 a taper or other suitably formed piece of chalk, clay
or similar. absorbent substance, with paraffine, tallow, petroleum, or similar
illuminating material, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a taper or other suitably formed piece of chalk,
clay, or similar absorbent material, with paraffine, tallow, petroleum, or similar
illuminating material and a friction match, substantially in the manner described.
Third. A ready light or lighting device.consisting of a taper of absorbent
earth or similar material, saturated with an illuminating material and enclosing a
friction match, substantially as described.