An Electrical Apparatus for Lighting Cigars, Pipes, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Electrical Apparatus for Lighting Cigars, Pipes, and the like.
THOMAS WILLIAM WATSON ARTHUR HENRY WATSON 4 Pall Mall London Elec-
tricians & Instrumen. Makers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:--
An improved plan of lighting pipes cigars cigarettes &c by electricity in which
the means of making the contacts is separate & removed from the resistance arrange-
ments and form part of or are connected to the carrier or stand holding the means of
lighting pipe or cigar the said contact being effected by means of a stud knob or
other suitable device which sets in motion a tumbler actuated partly by hand & partly
by a spring the spring pressure being at its dead point about the middle of the motion
of the tumbler it is brought up to & just beyond this point by hand when the spring
comes into play & completes the movement in a rapid manner.
The same action takes place but in the reverse order on breaking contact.
The lighting of the pipes &c. is effected by means of a specially prepared porcelaine
or carthenware substance perforated & traversed through the perforations by a con-
tinuous thread of platinum or other wire in such manner as to prosent a series of
highly heated surfaces to the tobacco.
Dated this 28th day of Lana 1200.
THOS. WILLIAM WATSON.
ARTHUR HENRY WATSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Electrical Apparatus for Lighting Cigars, Pipes, and the like.
THOMAS WILLIAM WATSON ARTHUR HENRY WATSON both of 4 Pall Mall S.W.
Electricians & Instrument Makers do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to enable persons to light cigars pipes and the like
from the supply of electricity as in use for illuminating purposes & this in such a
manner that only the contact mechanism & lighting material need be within the
reach of users, the resistance arrangement being separate & removal from them.
The invention consists substantially as follows a resistance of German silver or other
suitable material is placed in the circuit at a safe & convenient position outside the
control or interference of users or other persons and separated from the means of
completing the circuit which is effected by pressing a knob F forming part of the
holder or carrier containing the means of lighting the tobacco.
The lighting of the pipe or cigar is effected by means of dises of porcelaine or
earthenware material A A¹ A2 prepared & shaped so as to fit into the head of the
holder or carrier in such manner as to be readily removable as may become necessary
from damage or other cause. The head B of the holder is shaped so as to contain the
porcelaine insulating block E E' & E² & allow the discs A to be dropped into their
place & be held there by the porcelain collar CCC & a screw collar D D¹ D². The
block E carries the electrical conductors and forms a seating for the discs A. The
discs A of porcelaine are perforated see A' A², in such manner as to allow threads of
platinum wire to traverse their substance so that when a current of electricity is
passed through them the material rapidly becomes hot and presents a series of highly
eated surfaces to the tobacco.
The holder or carrier above referred to is so shaped as to carry the discs for lighting

page_text: the tobacco as well as the means of making the contacts to complete the electrical
circuits.
The contacts are brought about primarily by the knob F previously mentioned as
forming part of the holder or carrier. This knob F when pressed sets in motion the
contact mechanism which is constructed as follows. A tumbler G moving freely on
an axis is arranged so that it is moved by a lever H through one part of its motion
and by a spring J through the remainder, the operation being as follows. The
knob F is pressed causing the lever H to move and bring the tumbler up to & just
beyond its dead point whereupon the spring J begins to act & carries the tumbler
rapidly & violently up against the contact surfaces, K K K' they striking each other
in such manner as to traverse over a considerable portion of their surfaces & remain
jammed together which continues until the pressure is removed from the knob F.
When the pressure is removed from the knob the lever again acts upon the tumbler
setting it in motion to be completed by the spring as before but in the reverse
direction.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1st. Combining the means of making the contact with the holder or stand
carrying the porcelaine dises for lighting the cigar and separated from the resistance
material.
2nd. The arrangement of the mechanism for making & breaking the electrical
contacts substantially as herein described.
3rd. The construction of the porcelaine or carthenware discs with threads of wire
substantially as herein described.
4th. The combination of the foregoing or any portions thereof, of & for the purposes
herein described.
Dated this 28th day of October 1890.
THOS. W. WATSON.
ARTHUR H. WATSON.