IMPROVE- MENTS IN CANDLESTICKS FOR REGULATING THE BURNING OF THE CANDLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Romain Minard and Armand Pierre Minard, of
the City of Paris, in the Republic of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CANDLESTICKS FOR REGULATING THE BURNING OF THE CANDLES,"
Sealed the 21st December 1877, and dated the 30th June 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Romain Minard
and Armand Pierre Minard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 30th June 1877.
FRANÇOIS ROMAIN MINARD and ARMAND PIERRE MINARD, of the City of Paris,
in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANDLESTICKS FOR REGULATING
THE BURNING OF THE CANDLES."
In lieu of raising the candle by aid of an external knob sliding in a groove or slit
made lengthwise in the stem, it is regulated by a square threaded screw, at the head
of which a plate or piston is fixed, and on which the end of the candle rests. This
piston is moved up and down in a socket by turning a ring or crown at the head of
the candlestick.
The socket is a tube, open at both ends, and having at the upper part a rim or
shoulder which fits loosely in a circular groove in the crown of the socket, which
latter is soldered to it when all the parts are put together.
In the socket are two grooves or vertical spaces, which are the guides to the screw,
which is a double and square threaded one. At the head of this screw, as above
mentioned, is a plate acting like a piston in the tube or socket, and which moves
with the tube by aid of two tenons or wings made on the circumference of the
piston, and which engage in the vertical spaces or guides of the screw made in
the socket.

page_text: i
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said François Romain Minard and Armand Pierre Minard, in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 28th December 1877.
FRANÇOIS ROMAIN MINARD and ARMAND PIERRE MINARD, of the City of Paris,
in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANDLESTICKS FOR REGULATING
THE BURNING OF THE CANDLES."
The new candlestick forming the subject of the present Invention is essentially
characterized by the application of the screw in place of the ordinary button for
raising the candle.
f
The principle of the new system consists in the combination of a screw, the head
of which forms the seat of the candle; a candlestick of this description is more
simple and convenient, is cleaner, and more elegant than those in which the candle.
is raised by a button and slide.
First. As regards convenience, the resistance produced by the adhesion of the wax,
tallow, or composition when melted becomes nil by reason of the powerful action of
the screw; besides, the method is capable of application to flat as well as tall candle-
sticks, the candle-raising organ occupying less space; and does away with the button
in the ordinary system, running in a slit the whole. length of the stem, of the
candlestick.
Secondly The unsightly button and slot being dispensed with, the new arrange-
ment adapts itself perfectly to artistic candlesticks without destroying their harmony
of form or decorative design:
The accompanying Drawings represent examples of ordinary candlesticks
furnished with the improvements described, which may be modified as the illus-
trations show.
Fig. 1.represents a candlestick in elevation.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the combination of the new parts.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section following the line 1-2; and Fig. 4 the lifting screw
shown in detail.
Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of a candlestick slightly modified in the union
of the parts.
Fig. G is a section at 3-4.
i Fig. 7 shows a candlestick in which the candle-raising movement shown in section
does not originate in the terminal crown of the candlestick, but by aid of a rim or
projection on the lower part of the stem.
Finally, Fig. 8 is a horizontal section- following the line 5-6.
On the stem a of the candlestick, Figs. 1 to 4, which is made of any suitable
metal, the piece b is attached by screws or otherwise; this piece forms a pivot at c,
'and constitutes the external envelope of the socket & in which the end of the candle
is fixed..
The socket d is a tube, open at both ends, and shaped to cover the piece b or cup
by a shoulder, and there become solid with it in the following manner:-The piece
terminates above in a rim or projection e which adjusts itsef loosely in a groove or
circle made in the crown f of the socket, the crown being soldered to the shoulder of
'the socket when the parts are put together.
The socket in the tube bears two grooves or vertical spaces h which are the guides
to the screw v, which latter is square and double threaded, moving in the pivot c of
the head of the candlestick, and is solid or of a piece with the plate t, which forms
a kind of piston in the tube d, and moves with it by means of two tenons or lugs g, J,
made on the circumference of the piston t, and which engage in the spaces h of the
socket d.

page_text: lift.
The screw taking the pivot c as fulcrum, utilizes the rotary motion imparted to
the crownf (that is to say, to the socket) to rise or descend in the tube d, and
consequently to raise or lower the candle as may be required. The head of the
screw is the movable seat of the socket. Instead of the socket d being screwed
to the stem a, it may be of a piece with it.
In Figures 5 and 6 the stem of the candlestick a pivots at c, and receives the cup b
by screw. The socket & is cast with its crown f, and unites itself with the cup b,
with its base which. embraces. the lower screw threaded part of the cup by means of
the shoulder e, attached after.the union of these two parts.
:
This description of manufacture allows of reducing the diameter of the crown fas
much as desired.
As regards the functions of the screw head or plate, and of the socket, nothing as
regards their disposition, as shown, Figs. 1 to 4, is altered; the screw only is
lengthened by an unthreaded part below the axis c, regulated to suit the construction
of the cup and socket. The raising movement, as heretofore, is produced by the
rotation of the crown f.
In Figures 7 and 8, the point where the raising action is effected is differently
situated, this allows of the reduction in diameter and thickness of the crown f, as
compared with Fig 5. In this arrangement the socket d itself forms the cup, and
extending downwards adjusts itself to the cylindrical body a of the candlestick, a
projection a' limits the entry of the body a.
At a convenient part of the lower extension of the socket, which extension may
be more or less prolonged, a rim or projection shaped to taste is placed and supplied
with milling, or ribbed, for gripping with the fingers. In the tube & the screw
seat c is fixed by sunken screws c₁ to the tube, and the stem of the candle-
stick a is united to the socket as follows:-The piece c leaves below, and near
the shoulder of the tubes d, a space which receives the base é of a piece g,
adjusted in the stem a of the candlestick, and soldered by its base on the surface
which terminates this shaft.
Although soldering is mentioned, other equivalent means may be employed.
The piece g serves as guide to the screw by a projection h penetrating a mortise
longitudinal with the screw, the head of which t is also provided with lugs, as before
described.
The action of this lift, Figs. 7 and 8, is as follows:-It suffices to turn the socket by
aid of the rim F in the direction required, and the screw rises and descends in like
manner solicited by the piece c.
In conclusion, the motion for raising and lowering the screw may be effected
by lengthening the screw to the foot of the candlestick, and there by aid of a
button the necessary motion may be communicated to it. Any combination
therefore based on the use of a screw for directly actuating the seat of the socket
and dispensing with the knob and slot of the old system evidently enters into the
privileges conferred.
We claim the system of screw and socket lift here described, doing away with the
more expensive and less cleanly and neat method of the springs and buttons of the
ordinary methods.
The present Invention, whose object is to mobilise at will the seat on which
the candle rests, is the result of the combination of a screw, the head of which
forms the seat of the socket, and in conjunction with the socket so that by
imparting to this socket a turning motion to the right or left simultaneously a rise
or descent of the screw is effected.
In claiming the mechanical combinations herein specified, and represented in the
accompanying Drawings, we reserve the right to vary the constituent parts as
concerns their form, dimensions, and material of construction, according as this system
is applied to candlesticks, chandeliers, lamps, or any species of candle-holder, so

page_text: 'as
to harmonize with the aspect and style of these articles,. severally and
individually.
In witness whereof, we, the said François Romain Minard and Armand Pierre
Minard, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
Seven
F. R. MINARD. (L.S.)
A. P. MINARD. (L.S.)