Improvements in Fittings for Electric Lighting.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fittings for Electric Lighting.
HENRY LEA of the Firm of Henry Lea and Thornbery of 38 Bennetts Hill
Birmingham, Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to electric lighting fittings, which are applicable to work
benches, work-tables, lathes, and other appliances where the fittings can be fixed to
the bench, table, or horizontal backboard, and where it is requisite that the electric
lamp shall be easily moved by hand into any desired position with reference to the
work in hand and shall remain there until required to be moved to another position
without the necessity for releasing or tightening any screws or nuts and without
being dependent upon the frictional holding power of joints, as in the case of
folding brackets, and the like.
I will describe one method of carrying out my invention.
Through a hole bored in a bench or table, or horizontal backboard I pass a
vertical tubular stem having a collar below the bench and a nut above (or vice versa)
by which the tubular stem is securely fixed in position, projecting partly above and
partly below the bench. (By means of a suitable arm or bracket the said stem
may be fixed to a wall or other vertical surface is preferred.) Through the fixed
tubular stem-I pass a moveable tubular stem, which I will call the vertical slider
and I preferably introduce an internal collar at the upper end, and another at the
lower end of the fixed stem through which internal collars the "vertical slider"
can move with freedom. The extent of possible movement depends upon the
amount by which the length of the "vertical slider" exceeds the length of the
fixed stem.
I provide the lower end of the "vertical slider" with a solid pointed end which
rests in the bottom of a conical cavity formed in the solid bottom of a short
cylindrical box having two side arms projecting angularly upwards, and diametrically
opposite each other. From the end of each side arm I lead a flexible cord upwards,
and then over a grooved pulley turning on a pin fixed between the jaws of a
pulley frame attached to the fixed stem preferably just below the bench or
table.
I then lead each cord downwards and fasten to an arm (similar to the arms
above described) which is attached to or forms part of a cylindrical box
containing sufficient weight to balance the weight of the "vertical slider" and its
accessories.
To the upper end of the "vertical slider "I attach a ball or tee piece through
which I pass and fix horizontally a short piece of tube. Through the latter I pass
another piece of tube which I will call the horizontal slider, and I preferably
employ collars for the horizontal slider to work in, as already described in relation
to the vertical slider. The extent of possible movement of the horizontal slider
depends upon the amount by which the length of the slider exceeds the length of
the tube in which it slides.
To one end of the horizontal slider I attach an ordinary electric lamp holder
either directly, so that the axis of the electric lamp will lie horizontally, which
gives the best illuminating effect, or indirectly by means of au elbow in which case
the axis of the electric lamp will hang vertically, or the axis of the lamp may be
placed at any other angle that may be preferred, I use a light shade, preferably of

page_text: paper, to screen the eyes of the operator from the light, and reflect the light
down upon the work.
1 attach the electric wires to the lamp holder in the usual manner and I then
lead them through the interior of the horizontal slider--from the open end of which
1 lead them loosely upwards and connect them to a ceiling rose or other suitable
attachment fixed preferably at a point in the ceiling or roof vertically over the
centre of the vertical slider.
By means of my invention thus described the operator has the option of moving
the electric lamp in three distinct directions, namely first, vertically to the extent
that the length of the "vertical slider" will allow, secondly, horizontally, to the
extent that the length of the horizontal slider will allow, and thirdly circum-
ferentially around the axis of the "vertical slider" the foot of which is free to
turn in the aforesaid cyndrical box. As the weight of the vertical slider, and its
accessories is balanced by the cylindrical weight box already described, the electric.
lamp will remain in any position into which it may have been vertically moved,
while it will remain in any position in which it may have been placed by moving
the horizontal slider, radially or circumferentially its position being entirely
unaffected by gravitation.
The choice of position of the lamp is thus infinite within the limits of a
cylindrical annulus of which the greatest and least radii are determined respectively
by the greatest and least extension of the horizontal slider, and of which annulus
the depth is determined by the amount of vertical motion of the "vertical slider."
As the mechanism does not depend upon friction for its stability in any position
the movement of the lamp in any direction can be effected by the slightest touch
of the finger, and it is not necessary to release or to tighten any locking screws or
nuts in order to move, the lamp, or to maintain its position in which it is placed.
Dated 19th day of March 1896.
THOS. KENDRICK,
3 Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent.
Improvements in Fittings for Electric Lighting.
I, HENRY LEA of the Firm of Henry Lea and Thornbery of 38 Bennett's
Hill, Birmingham, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This my said invention for "Improvements in fittings for electric lighting
consists substantially of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts
and their application to work-benches, work-tables or horizontal back-boards and
other places and where it is requisite that the "electric lamp" (as one part of the
fitting) shall be easily moved by band into any desired position (with reference to
the work in hand) and shall remain there until required to be moved to another
position, without the necessity of employing screws or nuts for tightening or
releasing, and without being dependent upon the frictional holding power of joints
as in the case of brackets, and the like as hitherto employed.
And in order that this my said invention may be the better understood I will
proceed to describe the same, reference being made to the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
The same letters of reference denote the same parts in every figure in which they
occur.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fitting for electrical lighting and con-
structed according to my invention being applicable to work-benches, work-tables,
horizontal back-boards and other places.

page_text: Figure 2 is a partial elevation at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section of the balance weight.
Figure 4 is a side view of the shade holder.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a bracket by which the said fittings may be
secured to a wall or post.
Figure 6 is a detail of the internal collars, to a larger scale.
a is the bench or table to which the apparatus is usually fixed, a hole al is bored
through it to receive the vertical tubular stem b, which is secured in position by a
collar b' below the bench and a nut 6 above, or vice versú, or two nuts may be used
for this purpose, namely one above and one below the bench a.
Where it is desired to secure my apparatus to a wall or other vertical surface
instead of to a bench I fix a bracket c Fig. 5) to the wall or other vertical surface.
The bracket c has a vertical hole c uear its outer end I pass the tubular stein b
through the hole c¹ and secure it by a collar and nut or by two nuts as before
described.
Through the tubular stem b, I pass a second stem d, which I call the vertical
slider, and which for the sake of lightness I prefer to make tubular.
The vertical slider d is preferably guided by an internal collar (Fig. 6) at
each end of the fixed stem & whereby greater freedom of movement is obtained.
The extent of possible vertical movement of the vertical slider d is the amount
by which its length exceeds that of the fixed stem b.
The vertical slider d has a solid pointed end d' at its lower extremity which rests
on and is supported by a conical cavity formed on the bottom of a short hollow
cylindrical cup e, having two arms e, e', projecting outwards diametrically opposite
to each other. Each of the arms has an eye e near its outer end.
To each of the eyes e e I attach one end of a flexible cord e which I lead
upwards and over a pulley f. The pulleys are carried by arms b³ which form
part of the pulley frame 6 affixed to the lower end of the tubular stem b, or the
pulley bearings may be affixed to the underside of the bench a or to the
bracket e.
To the outer ends of the cords I attach the arms g' g' of a balance weight g.
The balance weight g may be either a solid body of the required weight, or may
be made hollow and loaded with shot or other loose weights as shewn in Fig. 3 so
as to balance the vertical slider d and accessories.
To the upper end of the vertical slider d I attach a ball or T piece A, through
and to which I pass and fix a horizontal piece of tube i having internal collars
similar to those marked 6 in Fig. 6 through the tube i I pass a longer horizontal
tubej which I call the horizontal slider.
The extent of possible movement of the horizontal slider is the amount by
which the length of the slider; exceeds the length of the tube i through which
it slides.
To one end of the horizontal sliderį I affix a holder k for an ordinary incan-
descent electric lamp the axis of which I prefer to place horizontally as this
arrangement gives the best downward illuminating effect."
In this case I provide a light semicircular frame m having an external groove m
to which is tied or wired a shade n preferably made of drawing paper for reflecting
the light downwards and for screening the eye of the operative from the direct
light of the lamp.
The horizontal slider ; can rotate in the tube i so that the light from the lamp
may be directed by the shade n either in a vertical or oblique direction.
Where desirable however I may fix the axis of the lamp holder and lamp either
vertically or at any angle with the vertical, the shade being then modified
accordingly.
I attach a pair of flexible insulated electric wires o to the lamp holder in the
usual manner and I lead them through the interior of the horizontal slider ; and
thence loosely to a wall plug or preferably to a ceiling rose placed vertically
over the centre of the vertical slider d.

page_text: By means of my invention thus described the operator has the option of moving
the lamp in three distinct directions namely first vertically to the extent that the
length of the vertical slider will allow, secondly, horizontally to the extent that
the length of the horizontal slider will allow, and thirdly, circumferentially around
the axis of the vertical slider, the foot of which is free to turn in the aforesaid
cylindrical box. As the weight of the vertical slider and its accessories is balanced
by the cylindrical weight box already described, the lamp will remain in any
position into which it may have been vertically moved and it will also remain in
any position in which it may have been placed by moving the horizontal slider
radially or circumferentially its position being entirely unaffected by gravitation.
The choice of position of the lamp is thus infinite within the limits of a cylin
drical annulus of which the greatest and least radii are determined respectively
by the greatest and least extension of the horizontal slider and of which annulus
the depth is determined by the amount of vertical motion of the vertical slider.
As the mechanisin does not depend upon friction for its stability in any position
the movement of the lamp in any direction can be effected by the slightest touch
of the finger, and it is not necessary to release or to tighten any locking nuts
or screws in order to move the lamp, or to maintain its position in which it is
placed.
In some cases where it may be considered unnecessary to have the weight of the
fitting balanced, and where the use of a gripping collar or set screw is not
objectionable, omit the balancing gear and I provide a gripping collar 6³ or its
equivalent in the form of a set screw or other clamping device for securing the
vertical slider at any desired height without the use of balancing gear.
I have thus described with the aid of the sheet of drawings the nature of my
invention and the manner in which I carry it out. I do not however limit myself
to the precise form or details of construction thus described and illustrated.
I contemplate necessary or desirable changes in the construction, and the substi-
tution of equivalent members without departing from the essential features of my
said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
In improvements in fittings for electric lighting.
1. The combination of the tubular stem the vertical slider d, the gripping
collar 6 or its equivalent, the horizontal tube i and the horizontal slider for the
purpose of obtaining a vertical and horizontal sliding motion, and a rotatory
circumferential motion on a vertical axis and a rotatory motion on a horizontal
axis of the lamp 1 substantially as described and shewn.
:
2. The combination of the parts comprised in the first claim together with the
pulley frame the pulleys the cords e e³ the pivot d' the pivot socket e and
the balance box or weight g for the purpose of obtaining all the motions described
in the first claim without the necessity for using a gripping collar or its equivalent
for locking the vertical slider d at any desired height, substantially as described
and shewn.
3. The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially
as herein before described in the foregoing specification and illustrated on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated 18th December 1896
THOS.
KENDRICK,
New Eldon Chambers, 50 Cherry Street, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.