Improvements in and relating to Hanging Supports for Lamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Hanging Supports for Lamps.
I, REINHART WILLIAM PITTMAN, of 100, Broadway, in the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This invention relates to means or brackets for supporting lamps, and is more
particularly designated as a pendulous or suspension lamp-bracket or support,
and is more especially adapted for carrying or supporting incandescent lamps,
and the object of the invention is to provide an improved universally-adjustable
supporting means, simple in its construction and operation, and which will also
be pleasing, neat, and ornamental in appearance.
A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp-supporting means, adapted
to be suspended from a ceiling or other suitable place, and by means of which the
lamp supported thereby will have a universal adjustment to permit it to be adjus-
ted into any desired position within certain determinate limits, dependent upon
mere mechanical construction, whereby the lamp may have an adjustment trans-
versely to and into any desired lateral position relatively to its vertical or
pendulous supporting means, without changing the position of such supporting
means; an adjustment in a circular horizontal path relatively to said supporting
means without exerting torsional stress or twisting or turning of such support-
ing means; an adjustment in a circular path transversely to the plane of its
circular horizontal path; and a vertical or an up and down adjustment relatively
to its supporting means.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting means
which will permit the lamp to be adjusted or swung into various positions
independently of the, adjustment of the supporting means proper.
In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1
is a view of one form of this improved supporting means or bracket, showing a
part of the main weight thereof in section, and showing the supplemental weight
in its normal inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a view of this improved supporting
means showing the lateral or transverse adjustment of the lamp-holding means
or rod, and also the adjustment of the main weight, relatively to the perpendicular
or pendulous supporting means, to equalize the weight of the lamp in its adjusted
position, said view also showing another means of carrying an incandescent light
globe, such globe being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional
view of a portion of one form of main weight illustrating more clearly the means
for securing or clamping the lamp-holding member or rod therein. Fig. 4 is a
view similar to Fig. 1, showing this improved supporting means carrying an
incandescent light lamp having a shade thereon, and showing the supplemental
weight adjusted in position to equalize the increased weight of the lamp with
its shade, and also showing in dotted lines the positions of the lamp and shade
when the supplemental weight is adjusted inwardly or toward the pendulous-
supporting means. Fig. 5 is a view of another form of main and supplemental

page_text: weights. Fig. 6 is also another form of main weight with the supplemental
weight adjusted into a different position from that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a
view of one member of one form of suspension or supporting means with one
construction of coupling device secured thereto. Fig. 8 is a view thereof taken
at right-angles thereto. Fig. 9 is a view of the lamp-carrying means or member
partly in section. Fig. 10 is a view thereof taken at right angles thereto. Fig. 11
is a view of one means or device for securing the pendulous-supporting member
in position to a ceiling. Fig. 12 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 13 is a view of
this improved supporting means, showing another form of weight, and show-
ing the lamp adjusted with its bulb extending upwards. Fig. 14 is a view show-
ing the vertical or upward adjustment of this improved supporting means with
the weight broken off. Fig. 15 is a view of another form of the character of
weight shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a view of one form of means for support-
ing an incandescent lamp similar to that described in connection with Fig. 2, a
portion of such incandescent lamp being shown in dotted lines, and said view
also showing the means of adjustment whereby the lamp may be swung out-
wardly or upwardly, and Fig. 17, Sheet 1, is a view showing the suspension
member comprising the incandescent light conductor and the sleeve member
adjustable thereon.
Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawings.
This improved lamp-supporting means or bracket comprises in a general way,
supporting or suspension means (designated generally by A,) a weight (desig-
nated in a general way by B,) and carried or supported by said supporting or
suspension means; said weight embodying means of adjustment whereby the
lamp may be adjusted into different positions, and said weight in one form thereof
also embodying a supplemental weight, whereby different sizes and weights of
lamps may be supported, and in the same, or in another form thereof, embody-
ing a supplemental adjustment whereby also different weights and sizes of lamps
may be supported; and laterally or transversely adjustable lamp-holding or carry-
ing means (designated in a general way by C).
In the preferred form thereof, herein shown and described, the weight support-
ing or suspension means A, comprises a pendulous member, such as a rod or
bar 18, of any suitable material, such, for instance, as wire, and preferably
adapted to resist torsional or twisting movement, and which supporting member
is preferably composed of two members, one of which, as 19, comprises a series
of short bars or members 20-21, whereby said supporting member may be made
of any desired length by coupling two or more of the members together by any
suitable means, such as a clamp-sleeve 22, and a clamping device or screw 23,
and thus permit any desired length of pendulous-supporting means to be quickly
made without the necessity of using one length of rod or wire. It is obvious
that two or more of these bars or members could have relatively long overlap-
ping ends or portions, as shown in the drawings, whereby such suspension member
could be lengthened or shortened as found necessary for different heights of ccil-
ings by increasing or decreasing, respectively, the overlapping parts thereof. The 4
other member of this supporting means comprises a member adjustable relatively
to the member 19, and in its preferred form comprises a sleeve 24, split adjacent
to its upper end, and having a collar or clamping band 25 encircling the same,
and carrying a fastening or clamping device, such as a set-screw 26, and into
which sleeve 24 a part of the member 19 extends, whereby the weight can be 5
adjusted, up and down, and clamped in any desired position by the clamping
device 26.
It will be understood, however, that the members 19 and 24 of this supporting
means might be held in position relatively to each other by any other suitable
means, if desired, in place of the clamping-sleeve 25 and set-screw 26.
It will also be understood that the incandescent light conductor or cord 80
might be used in place of the member 19, as one member of the supporting means A,
5

page_text: by simply carrying the same through the sleeve 24 from the top thereof and out
through an opening 24¹ at the side of such sleeve 24, adjacent to the bottom,
whereby the sleeve could be adjusted on the cord. (See Fig. 17.)
Any suitable means may be used for securing this weight-supporting member A
in position to a ceiling or wall. One form of means herein shown comprises a
suitable block 28 having a central perforation 29 and a transverse recess 30 on
one face of said block, opening into said perforation and at the periphery thereof,
and adapted to receive a bent end of the supporting member A (Figs. 1 and 14).
This block 28 may be secured to the ceiling or wall by any suitable means, such
as screws 31, for which purpose the block is provided with perforations 32.
It will be understood that any desired construction and form of weight adapted
for the purpose may be used, but according to one form thereof, herein shown
and described, the weight is provided with suitable means for carrying a trans-
versely-adjustable lamp-holding-or-carrying means C, hereinafter described, and
with a suitable supplemental and adjustable weight, whereby the effectiveness or
efficiency of the main weight can be augmented or increased and in one form
thereof suitable means, whereby the main weight can be adjusted to increase or
augment the effectiveness or efficiency of such supplemental weight, or vice versa.
In one form of bracket shown the weight is illustrated as quarter-moon shaped
or semi-circular, from which it will be obvious that its own weight can be
augmented by reversing its position relatively to the suspension member-that
is to say, by turning the weight so that the semi-circular part thereof will be
relatively remote from said suspension member-its weight will be augmented
as compared therewith when in the position herein illustrated.
In the preferred form thereof herein shown and described, the main weight 34
is preferably heavier than the ordinary form of lamp to be supported, such, for
instance, as an incandescent light lamp 100, and is provided with a suitable
supplemental weight 35, adjustable on said main weight to augment or increase
its effectiveness or efficiency. The main weight 34 is also provided with suitable
means for carrying the lamp-holding or carrying means, and is herein shown
having a longitudinal aperture or bore 36, adapted to receive said lamp-holding
or carrying means C and which bore in the form of weight herein shown extends
through a substantially circular portion 37 thereof. The supplemental weight 35
is provided with a suitable clamping device, such, for instance, as a set-screw 38,
whereby it can be clamped in position on said main weight in any desired place
within the limits of its adjustment, and for this purpose the main weight 34 is pro-
vided with a way 39 and the supplemental weight is provided with a groove or
slot, adapted to slide on said way 39, whereby the supplemental weight 35 can
be moved into various positions to increase or augment in different degrees the
effectiveness of the main weight.
It will be obvious, however, that the main weight might have the recess and the
supplemental weight slide therein, if desired, it not being deemed necessary to
illustrate herein such a mere mechanical change.
According to one form of means for securing the weight B in position relatively
to the pendulous-supporting means A, said supporting means is provided with
a coupling which may be of any suitable construction adapted to permit circular
movement of the weight and the lamp carried thereby. In the preferred form
thereof, however, this coupling 40 (Figs. 7 and 8,) comprises a suitable bifurcated
bracket or U-shaped angle-iron 41, having an upwardly-extending stud or pin 42,
on which said bracket or angle-lever turns, and which pin or stud 42 has suitable
screw-threads adapted to enter a threaded aperture 43 in the lower end of the
sleeve 24. A spiral or coiled spring 44 is interposed between the lower end of
the supporting sleeve 24 and the bracket 41, whereby said bracket is prevented
from free rotary movement relatively to said sleeve and supporting member. A
transversely extending pin or journal 45 projects through the arms of the bracket
and constitutes a means for directly supporting the weight or the weight-bar or
arm, as the case may be. This weight-bar or arm 46, in one form thereof, is

page_text: adapted to slide on said pin or journal 45, transversely of the supporting means A,
and is operatively connected to the main weight, and has an enlarged end 47 or
other means, whereby it is prevented from detachment from the coupling, and
said bar or arm 46 may be detachably connected to the main weight and may
consist of a plain bar 48 (Figs. 1 and 4,) or be provided with a rack 49, (Fig. 5,)
or said bar or arm may be integrally joined at both ends thereof to the main
weight and be plain or be provided with a rack 49, (Fig. 6,) or said bar or arm
may be constructed in the nature of a rack-bar or arm 49, integrally joined to
the weight at one end thereof only, (Fig. 13,) so that the bar may constitute,
directly or indirectly, a part of said weight, as desired.
This bar 46, which, as before stated, may have a rack or a plain face, supports
the weight, and in the preferred construction said weight is adjustable on said bar
toward and from the weight-supporting means A, independently of the adjust-
ment of the bar 46, and in one form thereof this adjustment is obtained by pro-
viding the weight with a suitable sleeve 50 having a clamping device in the
nature of a set-screw 51, whereby the weight may be adjusted on the bar to and
from said weight-supporting means A, and clamped in any desired position.
The lamp-holding or carrying means proper, C, preferably comprises two
members, one adjustable relatively to the other, and both adjustable relatively
to the weight, and in its preferred form this lamp-carrying means preferably
comprises a tubular sleeve 60, having a longitudinally-extending slot 61 (Figs. 9
and 10) at one side thereof, and which sleeve extends transversely through the
bore 36 of the weight B, whereby it will also extend transversely to or of the
supporting or suspension means A, according to the position of the weight, and
is adjustable transversely of said weight, and clamped in any desired position by
means of a suitable clamping device, in the nature of a set-screw 62. This sleeve
may be provided, if desired, at each end thereof with suitable means, such as
annular flanges 63, one or both of which may be removable, (see Fig. 9,) to pre-
vent the detachment or displacement of the sleeve relatively to the weight B.
It will be understood that this sleeve 60 may be supported by the weight in
any suitable way, rather than by having it extend through the longitudinal
bore 36 thereof.
Adjustable within this sleeve member 60 is a suitable member, in the nature
of a rod or bar 64, having a transversely-extending pin 65, preferably adjacent
to one end thereof, and extending into the slot 61 of the sleeve 60, whereby said
bar and sleeve are splined together for simultaneous rotation, and whereby one
member is adapted to slide simultaneously to the other. This pin 65 also pre-
vents the separation of the members 60 and 64 which constitute the telescopic
lamp-carrying means.
According to one form of means for clamping the sleeve member 60, of the
lamp-carrying means, adjustably within the weight, a suitable supplemental
sleeve 65 is provided, (see Fig. 3,) preferably split adjacent to one end thereof,
and which sleeve, if desired, may be soldered or otherwise connected at one part
or end thereof to the weight to prevent displacement. This sleeve 65¹ is engaged
by the clamping device 62, whereby it will tightly clamp the sleeve member 60
in its adjusted positions. It will be, however, understood that the supplemental
sleeve 651 can be dispensed with, if desired, and the holding member C be directly
clamped by the set-screw 62.
Any suitable means may be carried by the transversely adjustable lamp-
carrying member C, for holding or supporting a fixture or lamp, but in the present
construction, which is shown adapted to support an incandescent light-globe or
bulb 100, the member 64 of the carrying means C is provided at its outer end
with a clamping device in the nature of a pair of spring-arms 66 adapted to
spring around the lamp-socket, and which arms are pivotally secured at their
inner ends adjacent to the end of the member 64, for swinging movement or
adjustment relatively to the lamp-carrying member C, and for this purpose the
arms are shown bifurcated, as at 67, to preferably receive the end of said bar or

page_text: rod 64, which is provided with an enlarged or squared end 68, for this purpose,
integral therewith, or detachably secured thereto, as desired, by a fastening
device 68¹. A suitable pivot device or screw 69 extends through the bifurcated
ends of said clamping-arms and the enlarged end 68 of the rod or bar 64, and
which pivot-screw can be in the nature of a set or thumb screw, if desired.
According to another form of means for holding an incandescent light lamp,
a screw-threaded stud or member 70 is inserted intermediate the spring-arms 66;
at the inner ends thereof, and has a slot 71 opening into such spring-arms,
whereby when it is desired to support the lamp by the incandescent light con-
ductor or cord 80, rather than by the socket thereof, such cord may be slipped into
said stud or member. (See dotted lines Figs. 2, 4, and 16.)
In the use of this improved device the pendulous supporting or holding
member A, having been attached to a ceiling, or, if desired, to a side wall, by
means of a suitable extending arm or bracket, the weight B is secured thereto by
the means herein shown and described, and the lamp-supporting or carrying
member C placed in position relatively to the weight, and the lamp 100 placed
on said carrying member C.
When it is desired to adjust the lamp up and down, the fastening device 26
is manipulated to permit the sleeve 24 to be moved relatively to the member 19
of the weight-supporting or holding means A, and is then reclamped in position.
If an ordinary lamp, or a lamp without a shade, is used, for instance, the
supplemental weight 35 is moved inwardly toward the pendulous weight-support-
ing or holding means A, and the main weight adjusted, in some forms of con-
struction on the adjustable bar or arm 46, to bring said main weight into effective
position to equalize the weight of the lamp when the lamp-carrying means C is
adjusted to its extreme position. These bars or arms 46, when detachably secured
to the weight, may be of different lengths, if desired, according to the different
sizes of lamps to be used. The weight of the lamp having been properly equalized
by the position of the main weight, if it is desired to adjust the lamp-carrying
means transversely of the weight, for instance, as shown in Fig. 2, the weight-
bar or arm 46 is moved transversely of the pendulous supporting or suspension
means A, whereby the weight will be brought, in this particular adjustment,
practically directly under such pendulous-supporting means, and will thus
equalize the weight of the lamp 100 in its adjusted position. From this illus
tration it will thus be seen that different positions of the lamp-carrying means C
and lamp 100 can be quickly and easily secured, and the lamp thereby maintained
in a perfectly horizontal position by moving the weight and its bar or arm trans-
versely of the pendulous-supporting means A.
It will also be obvious that the weight-bar or arm 46 could remain stationary
and the weight be adjusted thereon toward and from the supporting means A, if
desired, and thereby accomplish the same purpose, but this adjustment would
necessitate the manipulation of both fastening devices 51 and 62, and is, there-
fore, not intended for this purpose, but the adjustment of the weight on the bar
or arm is simply for the purpose of equalizing the weight of the lamp when said
lamp is first placed in position in connection with this improved bracket.
When a heavier lamp is to be carried by this improved lamp-bracket, or a shade
is placed on the lamp, which would thereby cause the lamp, with the additional
weight of such shade, and also cause the weight and the lamp-carrying means C, to
assume the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4-in order to properly equalize
the lamp with its increased weight and bring it into its proper horizontal position
- it is necessary to augment or increase the efficiency or effectiveness of the
main weight, and to do this the supplemental weight 34 is moved away from the
perpendicular or pendulous supporting means A whereby the lamp-carrying
means C will again be brought into a perfectly horizontal position, as shown in
full lines in Fig. 4. This self-same adjustment, however, may be also accom-
plished in some forms of weight by moving the main weight with or on its bar 46
a greater distance laterally from, or transversely to, the pendulous-supporting

page_text: means A, and thus leaving the supplemental weight for use in connection with
even larger or heavier lamps, or vice versa, unless such adjustments have already
been utilized.
When it is desired to bring the lamp into a different position from that in
which it ordinarily hangs, the lamp-carrying means C may be rotated relatively
to the weight by releasing the clamping device 62, and thereby turning the lamp
into any desired position, such, for instance, as shown in Fig. 13, and, if desired,
a suitable adjustable and removable reflector 90, which may be the subject-matter
of a future application, may be used to reflect the rays of said lamp, such a
reflector being shown in the nature of a suitable shield 91, having a spiral or
coiled spring 92 adapted to extend around the neck of the lamp-bulb and by
means of which the shade is held in position.
If it is desired to swing the lamp into various positions up and down, indepen-
dently of the up and down adjustment of the supporting means A, such adjust-
ment can be accomplished by moving the spring-arms 66 into different positions,
as shown, for instance, in Figs. 13 and 16, in which adjustment the character of
shade herein shown is particularly applicable.
From the above it will be seen that the lamp-carrying means C is adjustable
as a whole transversely of the weight, or one member thereof only may be
adjusted relatively to the other, either to bring the lamp into a different light-
ing position, or to compact it into a small space when not in use.
By means of this improved construction of bracket (see Fig. 2) or lamp-sup-
porting means, the lamp may be adjusted up and down by two separate and
independent adjustments, and may be adjusted transversely to its pendulous-sup-
porting means, and in a circular horizontal direction, and in a circular direction
at right angles to its transverse adjustment; and different sizes and weights of
lamps and their attachments can be used with the same supporting means, and
the same by means of the telescopic weight-supporting means A, and the teles-
copic lamp-carrying means C, placed in a small space and out of the way, so that
by this simple and inexpensive construction of lamp-bracket an adjustment of
the lamp in all directions can be secured, and also a device pleasing in shape
and design, as well as a highly ornamental fixture or article of furniture obtained.
It will be obvious and understood that the various details of this improved
lamp-bracket or supporting means-such, for instance, as the coupling means-
can be greatly varied without departure from the scope of my said invention, the
main features of this device comprising, separately and combined, the main and
supplemental weights and the various adjustments thereof, and the adjustable
pendulous suspension member and lamp-carrying member.
It will also be understood that the various parts of the device can be suitably
insulated, if desired, by any suitable means, such as by a coating of insulating
material.
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. The combination, with a telescopic weight-supporting device, of a laterally-
sliding counterbalance supported thereby; and a telescopic lamp-carrying device.
2. The combination of a pendulous telescopic weight-supporting instrumen-
tality, one of the members thereof comprehending a plurality of longitudinally-
adjustable parts; a laterally-shiftable counterbalance supported thereby and
adjustable relatively thereto; and a lamp-carrying instrumentality supported by
said counterbalance.
3. The combination of an adjustable supporting instrumentality; a main weight
supported thereby and adjustable laterally relatively thereto; a supplemental
weight carried by said main weight and adjustable thereon to augment or increase
the effectiveness of said main weight to thereby support different weights and

page_text: sizes of lamps; and a lamp-carrying instrumentality adjustable transversely of
the main weight and the supporting instrumentality.
4. The combination, with a longitudinally-adjustable suspension device having
a coupling at its lower end, of a weight carried by said coupling and having a
sliding connection therewith; and an adjustable lamp-carrying device supported
by said weight.
5. The combination of a suspension member; a weight having a rack-bar
adjustable relatively to and transversely of said suspension member; and a lamp-
carrying member adjustable relatively to the weight.
6. The combination, with a suspension device, of a laterally-adjustable weight
supported thereby; a lamp-carrying sleeve supported by said weight; a rod
adjustable in said sleeve; and a device on the rod and adjustable to set the lamp
in the desired position.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.