Improvements in Holders for Incandescence Electric Lamps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Holders for Incandescence Electric Lamps.
We, JOHN WIGHAM EDMUNDSON, and WILLIAM CLARKE, both of the Sunbeam
Lamp Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Incandescent electric lamps, especially those of large size, are usually supported by
holders which grip the neck ef the lamp. Now this invention is designed to produce
a holder that can be cheaply made and to or from which the lamp can be readily
attached and detached.
A lamp holder according to this invention comprises two porcelain blocks, with or
without a cap or cover. Between these blocks there are secured a number (say four)
of springs or prongs shaped to embrace the lamp neck when it is applied to the
holder, and the grasp of these springs or prongs is further aided by an elastic ring,
such as a ring of spirally wound wire, which is placed around the lamp neck outside
of the springs or prongs. The two porcelain blocks are bolted together, and are
provided with holes for the passage of the lamp wires, and terminals by which they
may be secured. The cap or cover, when one is used, is also of porcelain, and is
constructed to enclose the greater part of the upper porcelain block, to which it is
attached by bolts. When it is designed for application to a bracket or pendant it
is provided with a screwed nozzle; when it is intended that the lamp shall be
suspended by twin conductors a simple mouthpiece for the passage of the wires is
provided.
By way of example a lamp holder according to this invention is illustrated in the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
A (Figs. 1 and 2) is the porcelain cover; it has two or more small holes in the top
for the passage of the holding down bolts which connect it to the block C. In
Fig. 2 the cover is shewn with a simple projecting nozzle in the centre, beveled out
inside to permit the flexible twin conducting cord to pass through. In Fig. 1 it
is shewn fitted with a brass screwed piece for attachment to a pendant or bracket.
B and C are the porcelain blocks. The latter of these blocks is fitted with two brass
screwed terminals for connecting the lamp wires to the leads. The nuts for fixing
these, as also the heads of the holding down bolts (Fig. 3) for the cover, are let
into recesses in the porcelain, so that block B can come tightly against block C. The
brass springs or prongs E are bent at right angles at the top (Fig. 5) and are
insulated from the nuts and bolt heads by an asbestos washer; they are held firmly
between the blocks B and C by the centre bolt F and are prevented from slipping out
of their position by the raised edge F¹ on the block C. The spiral ring D, Fig. 6, is
held at the upper part of the brass springs, in which there is a raised rib to keep it
up, until the lamp is placed in position, when it is slipped down round the neck of
the lamp as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 in which position it will hold all quite firmly but
will still allow of free expansion. In the blocks B and C are two large holes so
situated that they come opposite each other, as shewn in Fig. 4, to allow the lamp
wires to pass up to the terminals.
Although the blocks B and C, and the cover A are by preference of porcelain, they
may be made of any other suitable material.
Dated this 20th day of Januarù 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Holders for Incandescence Electric Lamps.
We, JOHN WIGHAM EDMUNDSON, of the Sunbeam Lamp Works, Gateshead-on-
Tyne, in the County of Durham, Engineer, and MARGARET CLARKE, of Gateshead,
Widow, Executrix of the late William Clarke, 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 :-
Incandescent electric lamps, especially those of large size, are usually supported by
holders which grip the neck of the lamp. Now this invention is designed to produce
a holder that can be cheaply made and to or from which the lamp can be readily
attached and detached.
A lamp holder according to this invention comprises two porcelain blocks, with or
without a cap or cover. Between these blocks there are secured a number (say four)
of springs or prongs shaped to embrace the lamp neck when it is applied to the
holder, and the grasp of these springs or prongs (hereinafter called spring arms) is
further aided by an elastic ring, such as a ring of spirally wound wire, which is placed
around the lamp neck outside of the spring arms. The two porcelain blocks are bolted
together, and are provided with holes for the passage of the lamp wires, and terminals
by which they may be secured. The cap or cover, when one is used, is also of
porcelain, and is constructed to enclose the greater part of the upper porcelain block,
to which it is attached by bolts. When it is designed for application to a bracket.or
pendant it is provided with a screwed nozzle; when it is intended that the lamp shall
be suspended by twin conductors a simple mouthpiece for the passage of the wires is
provided.
By way of example a lamp holder constructed according to this invention is
illustrated in the sheet of drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.
Referring to these drawings,
Fig. 1 shews in vertical section a holder with cover according to this invention,
applied to the upper part of an electric lamp, which is shewn in elevation.
Fig. 2 shews the holder and lamp in elevation, the cover being in section.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the holder with cover.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the holder alone.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the lower part of the holder with the springs or prongs carried
thereby.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the holder as it appears when not in use.
The holder comprises lower and upper blocks B and C of suitable material, for
example porcelain, bent spring arms E having their upper ends fixed between the
blocks and their lower ends formed to fit the upper part or neck a of an incandescence
lamp; and an elastic ring D formed of spirally wound wire placed outside the spring
arms and adapted to cause these spring arms to embrace the lamp neck when in use
therewith. Such a holder may be provided with a cover A of suitable material, for
example porcelain, formed with small holes in the top for the passage of the holding
down bolts A' which connect it to the block C. In Fig. 2 the cover is shewn with, a
simple projecting nozzle A2 in the centre, beveled inside to permit the flexible twin
conducting cord G to pass through. In Fig. 1 it is shewn fitted with a brass screwed
piece H for attachment to a pendant or bracket. The block C is fitted with two brass
screwed terminals B1 B2 for connecting the lamp wires to the leads. The nuts for
fixing these, as also the heads of the holding down bolts A' (Fig. 3) for the cover, are
let into recesses in the underside of the block C so that block B can come tightly
against block C. The spring arms E, which may be of brass, are bent at right angles
at the top (Fig. 5) and are insulated from the nuts and bolt heads just referred to, by
an asbestos washer I; they are held firmly between the blocks B and C by the centre
bolt F and are prevented from slipping out of position by the projecting rim F¹ on
the block C. The spiral ring D, when the holder is not in use, is moved to the upper
part of the spring arms E as shewn in Fig. 6, in which position it is held by the

page_text: raised or outwardly bent portion E¹ on each of the spring arms. When a lamp is
placed in proper position between the spring arms, the elastic ring D is slipped down
round the neck of the lamp as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 in which position it will hold
the lamp neck and arms firmly together but will nevertheless allow of free expansion.
In the blocks B and C are two large holes K so situated that they come opposite each
cther, as shewn, in Figs. 4 and 5 to allow the lamp wires to pass up to the terminals.
Although the blocks B and C, and the cover A, are by preference of porcelain, they
may be made of any other suitable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A holder for an incandescence electric lamp, comprising two blocks of porcelain
or other suitable material perforated for the passage of the lamp wires, and holding
between them spring arms shaped to embrace a lamp neck, and an elastic ring
arranged to surround the spring arms and cause them to embrace and hold the neck
of a lamp placed between them, substantially as herein before described, whether with
or without the cover A Fig. 1, or Fig. 2.
2. The improved holder for an incandescence electric lamp, substantially as
described and shewn, with or without the cover A Fig. 1, or Fig. 2.
DJ 101
1000
JOHN WIGHAM EDMUNDSON.
W. Lloyd Wise,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.