Improvements in Candlesticks and Candle-lanterns.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Candlesticks and Candle-lanterns.
I, FRIEDRICH WILHELM STEINENBÖHMER, of Iserlohn, Westfalia, Germany,
Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in candlesticks and in similar candle
holding devices for lanterns. It has for its object to facilitate and simplify and to
render safe the handling when inserting a fresh candle, to allow easy inspection of
the interior of the tube of the candlestick or the candle-holding device of the
lanterns, to prevent the running of liquid stearine or other candle-stuff into the
interior of the tube and to prevent any soiling or staining of the hands or other
objects by drops of liquid candle-stuff.
Another object of this invention is to prevent the candle being thrown out of the
tube by the pressure of the spring when the top-cap should happen accidentally to
be unlocked, and to procure a means indicating always the length of the candle
which remains still unburnt in the tube of the candlestick or lantern; further it is
the object to secure economy in candles by making the candlestick or the holding
device of the candle-lantern fit to let the candle to be burnt up without any residue,
to the last trace of material; and lastly constructing the candlestick for easy
attachment of a shade, if desired to use one.
The accompanying drawings illustrate this invention and show in Sheet One:
In Fig. 1a candlestick in outside view with a candle in it.
In Fig. 2 a vertical section of the upper part of a candlestick with a candle in
place.
In Fig. 3. a vertical section of the upper part of a candlestick with a candle
nearly burnt up.
In Fig. 4 a vertical section of an upper part of a candlestick with a modification
of the inner candle-bearer and the top cap.
In Fig. 5 the upper part of a candlestick with the hinged top-cap half opened,
in perspective view.
In Fig. 6 the upper part of a candlestick with a removable shade-holder, in
side-view.
In Fig. 7 a view at right angles to Fig. 6 with a part of the removable shade-
holder socket in section.
Sheet Two, Fig. 8 shows a variation representing the new candlestick arranged
for use in combination with a coach-lantern.
Fig. 9 is a view at right angle to Fig. 8 showing in full lines the lantern
housing in opened state and in dot-and-dash lines in closed state and with a
handle;
Fig. 10. is a top view of the upper flange of the lantern;
Fig. 11 is a horizontal section of the lantern along line I-1 Fig. 8.
The candlestick is composed of a base of dish-shape in the centre of which stands
the tubular candle-holder A having on two diametrically opposite sides longitudinal
slots F ending at the lower part in two horizontal notches G.
In the tubular candle-holder which is shut at the bottom, is contained a coiled
spring D, which has fixed to its upper end a peculiarly shaped candle bearer E
or E in form of a hollow cylindrical cap, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4; the upper

page_text: part of which in Figs. 2 and 3 is conical with a dished concave top surface,
while in Fig. 4 it is cylindrical throughout and has an elevated rim N round its flat
or concave top-surface.
The tubular lower part of this candle-bearer E or E¹ respectively is traversed
diametrically by a pin H', the ends of which project through the slots F and have
knobs H fixed to them for easy handling. As will be understood from the
drawing, the candle-bearing cap E can be moved downwards and the spring D
compressed so much, that the cross-pin H' will stand opposite the notches G at the
base of the slots F, and can be turned by aid of the knobs H to be hooked under
the upper edge of the notch, securing the compressed spring with the cap E
in their lowest position and preventing the cap and candle being thrown upwards.
In this state, when the hinged cover B is opened, a candle can be conveniently
inserted into the candlestick without any necessity to press down the spring by aid
of the candle and to close, with a certain skill, the covering cap, as is the case with
candlesticks of somewhat similar construction; the hinged cover or lid B of my
new candlestick can be closed easily and gently and locked safely after the insertion
of a candle.
After this is done, the knobs H can be turned to move pin H¹ back, out of the
horizontal notches G and when the pin is standing in the longitudinal slots F
the candle will be under pressure and may be burnt down to the last trace without
leaving any residue.
The central part B1 of the covering lid B forms the hollow conical continuation
of the tubular candle-holder, and at its circumference it has a vertical flange
overlapping the upper broad rim W, to which the cover is hinged by a bracket K.
The inner cone of lid B corresponds to the upper conical part of the candle-bearing
cap E, which therein finds a tightly closing seat.
The upper central opening of the covering lid B has a somewhat smaller diameter
than the candle and an interior projecting rim B2, so that the candle inserted into
the tube, when the lid is closed and the knobs H do not hold the spring down, by
the free action of the latter, will be pressed against said interior rim and
consequently cannot be thrown out of the tube.
In the modification Fig. 4 the candle-bearing cap embraces with. its elevated
upper rim N a corresponding and suitably shaped, downwardly projecting rim M,
at the interior edge of the bore of the covering cap.
In both cases obviously the top of the candle-bearer forms a valve-like joint
in the interior of the covering lid B and so efficiently prevents liquid candle-stuff
from running down into the tube.
The covering lid with the top of the candle-bearer pressed upwards against it, is
like a cup or a little basin from which the molten candle-stuff finds no way to flow
down into the tube and on the spring D.
In place of being shaped conically or cylindrically the top part of the candle-
bearer E may, for the purpose of forming a valve joint, have another shape, as for
instance a ball shape; the inner part of the covering lid being shaped accordingly.
In order to lock the cover B upon the flange Wa slot W is cut therein and
a swivel joint I is fitted to the cover which according to its position allows the cover
to be turned upwards or keeps it locked down upon the flange W.
From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be understood, that in accidentally opening the
locking device I, the candle cannot be thrown out by the action of the spring in
consequence of the tubular prolongation B' of the cap of the covering lid B, and
its being hinged to the flange W; the candle or the candle-bearing cap reaching
up into this part B', will be jammed when the covering-lid is turned upwards on
its hinge. Further it is obvious that the knobs H at any time indicate, by their
relative position in the tube A, the length of candle held therein. The outer flange
of the covering lid B may be provided at the lower side with a socket Win
order to carry a rod T with a shade-holder S or a reflector as shown in Figs. 6
and 7.
Now the main and essential parts of the candlestick will not be affected, or only

page_text: slight alterations of its exterior shape will have to be made in order to make it fit.
as a coach-lantern or hand-lantern, bicycle-lantern and the like, as shown in
Sheet Two, Figs. 8 to 11.
The upper flange P of the tubular candle-holder A' is enlarged and corresponds
to the lantern bottom-plate; the flange Q of the covering lid is conform in shape-
to the lantern's bottom and is hinged to the upper flange P of the candle-tube as in
the candle stick described above; the hinge is seen at K Fig. 9.
In place of the dish-shaped foot of the candle-stick the lantern is provided with
a side-bracket R projecting at the upper part of the tube A' or under the
flange P, so that the lantern may be put into a socket or bush of a bracket Y, fixed
to the coach or cab. The side bracket R preferably of square section will prevent
the lantern turning round by the vibrations of the coach.
The inclined position of the lantern head Fig. 9 indicates how the insertion of
a candle in the tube is made easy by simply turning back the lantern box upon its
hinge K, when the spring is secured in its compressed state by putting the
knobs H into the horizontal recesses of the vertical slots; the tube's upper end is.
tben quite freely accessible for conveniently putting in a candle. After this is
done the lantern housing is put in place again and locked safely by turning the
thumb-screw or swivel-lock 1. The automatic action of the covering lid,-which
bere forms the bottom of the lantern-of forming an efficient brake or of jamming
the candle when accidentally the lock I should happen to get free by the
vibrations of the driving coach, is of especial value in this case, as it never will
happen, that the lantern-head will be opened by itself or the candle be thrown out,.
even when the lock I does not fulfill its function.
A handle S', as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 will convert the coach-lantern
into a hand-lantern so, that it may be used in carrying it about easily.
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. In a candlestick in combination with a tube A having vertical slots Fou
opposite sides, ending at the bottom in horizontal notches G, a spiral spring D,.
carrying at its top a cap E, conical at its upper part and being secured to the
spring by a pin H passing through the same and the cap and across the tube A,.
with its ends projecting out of the slots F and provided with knobs H so, that it
may be turned radially into the horizontal notches G and held there securely
against the upward pressure of the spring; a cover B hinged to the flange W of
the tube A and locked thereto by a thumb-screw I, said cover being surmounted
by a conical cap B' with inwardly projecting rim 132 at top, so that the candle,.
when the pin H is released from the notches G will be pressed upwards by the
spring, its top bearing against the rim B' and when burut short the conical top
of cap E will be seated against the inside of cap B¹ like a cone valve and form a
tight joint.
2. In a candlestick as specified in Claim One, forming the cap E of spring D
cylindrically with an elevated rim N, which when the candle is burnt short and the
cap E pressed upwards, engages with projecting edge M of the cap of cover B to
form a cylindrical valve joint.
3. In combination with a candlestick as specified in Claims One and Two, a
socket W connected to the flange of the covering lid B to receive a rod T
carrying a ring S to serve as support for a shade or screen.
4. In combination with a tube A having vertical slots F on opposite sides, ending
at the bottom in horizontal notches G, a spiral spring D carrying at its top a
cap E, conical at its upper part and being secured to the spring by a pin H' passing
through the same and the cap and across the tube A, with its ends projecting out
of the slots and provided with knobs H, so that it may be turned radially into
the horizontal notches G and held there securely against the upward pressure
of the spring;
a cover hinged to flange P of tube A at K' and locked.

page_text: thereto by a thumb screw I, said cover Q being surmounted by a conical cap B
with inwardly projecting rim B at top, so that the candle, when the pin H¹
is released from the notches G, will be pressed upwards by the spring, its top
bearing against the rim B and when burnt short, the conical top of cap E will be
seated against the inside of cap B' like a cone valve and form a tight joint, and
said cover Q forming the bottom plate of a lantern housing, fit to be turned over
on hinge K¹ for giving free access to top of tube A for inserting a candle and said
flange P being conform to the shape of bottom plate Q; a side bracket R on the
side of tube A. for fastening the lantern to a coach or bicycle, and a handle S¹
for carrying the lantern by hand, the whole as set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 7th day of October 1896
FRIEDRICH WILHELM STEINEN BÖHMER,
Per Karl J. Mayer,
Agent.