Improvements in Candle or Lamp Holders.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Candle or Lamp Holders.
I, THEODORE WILLIAM HICKSON of Point Nepean Road, Brighton, in the
Colony of Victoria, Mechanic, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide certain improvements in candle or
lamp holding appliances which said improvements whilst being efficient in the
highest degree are at the same time inexpensive and not likely to get out of order,
may be conveniently carried (in pairs) together with their candles in a coat
pocket.
A holder embodying my improvements―
(a) Will fit varying sizes of candles and enable the last remnant to be burned
with little or no waste and without being unduly heated.
(6) May be used either as a hand, table, wall or hanging light.
(c) May be used as a handle, holder or support for an oil or spirit lamp.
(d) May be cleaned with a minimum of trouble and without any special skill.
(e) May be packed in a small space for storage or conveyance as aforesaid and
carried with a minimum of risk of damage in transit.
In order that my invention may be the more easily understood, reference may be
made to the accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1 is a plan of a candle holder fitted with my improvements.
Figure 2 an elevation of same.
Figure 3 a detail view shewing the reverse or underside of a detachable gripper
and grease guard shewn on Figs. 1 and 2.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are elevations shewing several applications of
suspending loops embodied in my invention.
Figure 7 is also an elevation shewing the holder acting as a lamp-holder and a
convenient way of suspending same.
Figures 11 to 18 are elevations of parts shewing application of such parts to
candles of varying thickness and length.
Figure 19 is a plan and
Figures 20 and 21 elevations illustrating methods of packing the said holders in
small compass for storage or carriage.
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Presuming that the holder is required for bedroom purposes then the parts would
be as follows (1) the tray or saucer as T," (2) the clip (consisting of grips
as "G, G" arms as "H, HI" and arched spring as "A" all preferably formed of
one piece of metal), and (3) the socket piece or thimble as "C" tapped to receive a
and 2).
screw as "S" which fastens the clip to the tray, (see Figs.
If the holder is to be used as a lamp-holder (see Fig. 7) an ordinary nut "C" is
used with the screw to fasten the clip to the tray "T" the socket piece or
thimble "C" being dispensed with.
The clip is so contrived that its grippers "G, G" will, when pressing on a
candle (see Figs. 11 to 17) or lamp (see Fig. 7) securely grip or hold the said
candle or lamp; that the said grippers "G, G may be opened or closed at will
by means of the tapped socket or thimble "C" (see Figs.
"
and 2) or nut "C1"
(Fig. 7) turned on the screw "S," acting on the arched spring "A," having
fulcrums at "J, J," the points of contact of the clip with the tray, and canting
H, H" inward or outward as the grippers" "G, G" are required to be
the arms
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page_text: tightened or loosened; that the arms "H, H" may serve as handles; that the
holders may be combined (as in Fig. 19) in pairs (with complete sets of the other
parts of the invention in duplicate) packed so that one tray placed inversely above
the other will form a neat case (see Fig: 20) containing everything (including
candles "D, D" if required) necessary to set up a pair of hand, wall, table or
swinging lights at a moments notice, and that (held together by a bolt, rubber
band or other convenient fastening) may be conveniently carried in the pocket or
travelling bag or valise, without risk of damage to themselves or other articles
packed with them.
The socket or thimble "C" serves two purposes that of receiving and steadying
the butt of any sized candle as in Figures 2, 11, 12 and 13, and that of a nut as
described above.
The grease guards "G¹, G" each, as shewn in the drawings, forming one piece
with the corresponding grippers "G, G," protect the arms "H; H" (on which they
are easily slipped) from grease caused by a candle guttering and the said
guards. "G" may be increased in size or extended upwards to form supports to
carry reflectors or lantern globes if required.
Though the grippers "G, G" may be made (as shewn in the drawings)
detachable, each in one piece with the corresponding grease guard, they may be
formed of one piece with the arms "H, H" by turning down the ends of the
said arms to the same or other suitable shape, the grease guards in each case
being dispensed with or else supplied' in separate pieces.
The arms "H, H" also (though in the drawings shewn made of thin flat metal)
may, from. the points "J, J" to the grippers "G, G," be tubular, semi-tubular or
of other comparatively rigid form; the only part in which spring is requisite
being in the arch "A" between the points "J, J."
Tiro metal suspending loops "L, L" are shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 7. These
may be made of wire or stamped metal, in several forms to admit of attachment to
arms "H, H" and sliding up and down' same.
The form shewn in the drawings is of wire bent to the outline of a shamrock
leaf having its stem divided and the ends bent laterally in the form of two
hooks, without points and which may embrace the arms "H, H" of the clip snugly
at the same time that they may with slight pressure be moved up or down the
arms. In another form the divided stem with the book-shaped end's may be
dispensed with, the central loop being in this case elongated and the outer tips of
the side loops bent over to form clips to embrace the sides of the clip- arms' and
slide up or down as required. Either form permits of their being easily attached
to or removed from the arms by slightly springing the embracing loops apart by
pressure of the finger. When not in use these suspender loops may be pressed
down the arms of the holder out of the way as shewn in Figs: 1 and 2
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate how these suspending loops may be used in suspending
the holder to a hook, screw or nail "N," against a wall' or post "P"""; one of the
loops is drawn up the arm and its eye "E"(Fig. 1) slipped 'over the head' of
the nail, the holder being then adjusted to a level position in the suspender where
it will remain firmly until removed.
For the purpose of suspending the holder from any over-head support (as in
Figure 7) an attachment is provided consisting of a piece of light cord or fine
wire "W," baving at each end a hook, bead or button "B," to slip through the
eyes of the suspenders, and midway between the ends a screw eyelet or pin "K" to
insert in, the ceiling, rafter, ridge-pole or other support from which it is desired
to suspend the holder.
Figure 6 shews the wire suspended by a pin stuck in textile fabric such as the
roof of a tent.
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Figure 8 shews how, in the absence of a nail,' by fastening the wire or cord
round a post, stake or stick "V," with one of the buttons B" projecting, the
holder may be suspended thereto in an upright position by passing the loop "L
over the button.

page_text: Figures 9 and 10, shew how by attaching the cord' or wire and button to a tack
or screw (and passing the button through the loop of the suspender) the holder
may be suspended in such awkward positions as the edge of a board "M," or
shelf "F," (in a horizontal or vertical position) may present.
In any candlestick if the candle is a long one its tendency is: to wobble owing
to its top-heaviness; it will be seen that this tendency is overcome in this holder,
partly by the firm pressure of the grippers "G. G" previously described,
and partly by the spreading teeth or petals XXX of the socket or thimble "C"
(or the rim of the thimble) which prevent any lateral movement of the butt end of
a long candle resting in them, see Figs. 11, 12, and 13.
When a candle has burnt down nearly level with the grippers "G, G"
(Figure 14) their hold may be relaxed by a slight unscrewing or turning of the
socket or thimble and the short piece of candle raised to the position shewn in
Figure 15, when a reverse turn of the thimble will secure it firmly.
Finally when the candle has burnt down to the last half-inch (Figure 16) it may
be again raised to the position shewn in Figure 17, where it will burn down until
the last remnant of the wick drops through the bottom end of the candle
(Figure 18) leaving the holder ready for the reception of a fresh candle.
There being no soldered parts there is no danger of the article coming to pieces
in case of fire being used in the process of cleaning the holders. The few parts
may if desired, be taken asunder and cleaned separately, or dipped as a whole in.
bot water and suspended to dry, being polished afterwards with a clean cloth; the
simplicity and strength of the combination rendering the parts easy to clean.
For transport the whole of the parts except trays are arranged in pairs together
with candles if required as shewn in plan (Fig. 19, packed in one tray ready to be
covered by the other tray inverted, and fastened together by a screw or nut as
sbewn in Figure 20 or by a rubber band embracing the pair or other simple
fastening.
Figure 21 shews how a number of pairs (each pair of trays containing pairs of
the other parts complete) may be strung together on cord or wire for carriage in
compact packages.
I would have it distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to an arbitrary
or rigid adherence to the precise placing of parts together as shewn on the drawings
herewith as I may in some case slightly vary or modify the placing of such combined
parts to one another to suit local circumstances or taste of purchasers neither do I
confine myself to any particular materials for constructing the parts set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
1. In candle or lamp holding appliances-a clip consisting of grippers as "G, G,'
arms ag 'H, H" and spring as A," substantially as aud for the purposes set
forth.
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2. In candle or lamp holding appliances-a socket piece or thimble as "C,"
provided with a screw thread substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In candle or lamp holding appliances-in combination the grense guards
as "G1, G1" and arms as "H, H" substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In candle or lamp holding appliances-adjustable suspender loops "L, L"
in combination with arms as "H, H" substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
5. In candle or lamp holding appliances-in combination a clip as "A," "H, H,"
"G, G" socket piece or thimble as "C," screw as "S," tray as "T," grease guards
as "G, G¹" and suspender loops as "L, L" substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
31.
6. In candle or lamp holding appliances-in combination a clip as A," "H, H"
"G, G" screw as "S," uut as "C" tray as "T" and suspender loops as "L,.
enbatantiallens and for the purposes set forth.
L

page_text: 7. In candle or lamp holding appliances-in combination two complete sets.
of saucers as "T" having the clips, thimbles, grease guards, grippers and
suspending loops contained within the said inverted saucers and secured by bolt and
screw or other suitable fastening, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.