GB2220734A - Lantern - Google Patents

Abstract

A lantern comprises a first glass container (10) having a translucent bowl portion (16) whose walls are frosted by means of acid etching. A second glass container (12) is disposable within the bowl (16) of the first container, and is printed with a design (28). A candle (14) is situated inside the second container, and, when lit, projects an image and/or shadow of the design (28) onto the frosted bowl (16). Flickering of the candle flame causes the image to move, and the flame and the frosted bowl produce a "soft" image on the bowl (16). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION LANTERN The present invention relates to lanterns, and in particular, but not exclusively, to candle lanterns.

Candles are widely used nowadays for their aesthetic and decorative effect. They are commonly placed in a candle holder, which may be in the form, for example, of a candlestick wherein one end of a candle is secured in a holder, and a lit wick is exposed, or of a lantern wherein a lit candle is at least partially surrounded by a transparent shade.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lantern.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lantern comprising a container, a light source positioned or positionable within the container and a design, shape or other object means disposed or disposable between the light source and the container, at least part of the container being adapted to receive and display an image and/or shadow of the object means projected onto the container by the light source.

Preferably, the container is translucent, to enable the projected image to be visible on the exterior of the container. The container is preferably frosted, e.g. by acid etching, and is advantageously made of glass.

In a preferred embodiment, a second container is disposable within the first container, the second container being generally transparent and provided with the design, shape or other object means whose image is to be projected. The second container also preferably comprises glass.

The light source is preferably disposed within the second container. Most preferably, the light source comprises a flame, e.g. by means of a candle. This produces a moving, flickering image on the container.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lantern comprising a first container having translucent enclosing side walls, a second container disposable within the first container and also having enclosing side walls, and a light source disposable within the second container, the enclosing walls of the second container being provided with a design, shape or other object means, whereby the light source projects an image of the design, shape or other object means onto the translucent walls of the first container.

Preferably, the light source comprises a candle, and preferably the walls of the first container are frosted By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of lantern in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lantern of Fig. 1.

The lantern comprises a glass goblet 10, a glass tumbler 12 shaped to fit within the goblet, and a "night-light" candle 14 shaped to fit within the tumbler 12. The goblet comprises a bowl 16 which is fluted such that it defines an opening 18 which is larger than the maximum diameter of the bowl, a circular, disc-like base 20 and a thick stem 22 extending between the bore 16 and the base 20. The surface of the goblet is etched with acid in a known, conventional manner to produce a frosted effect on the surface of the goblet, and thus to render the goblet translucent as opposed to transparent. Alternatively, the surface of the goblet may be sand-blasted to produce the same effect.

The tumbler 12 is formed from clear glass into cylindrical, tubular side walls 24 and a thick base 26. The exterior surface of the tumbler is printed with a design 28, which in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a transparent coloured design but t7hich mav he opal' 3 t-anslucent or any combinatlon of transparent, opaque and translucent.

The tumbler 12 is adapted to receive a conventional night-light candle 14, which comprises a wax candle 32 with a wick 34. The night-light candle 14 has approximately the same diameter as the internal diameter of the tumbler 12, so that it is a press-fit therein.

In use, the night-light candle 14 is positioned within the tumbler 12 as described, and the tumbler 12 is then placed inside the bowl 16 of the goblet 10, such that the base of the tumbler rests on the interior base of the bowl 16. As seen in Fig. 1, in this position the upper rim of the tumbler 12 lies slightly below the level of the rim of the goblet 10.

The wick 34 of the candle 14 is then lit (or may be lit before the tumbler 12 is placed inside the bowl).

The candle frame projects the image printed on the tumbler radially outwardly, and since the goblet 10 is frosted, a magnified, projected image is visible on the bowl of the goblet, as shown in Fig. 1. Moreover, as the flame moves and flickers, due to draughts for example, the image displayed by the goblet also moves and changes with the flame. The image viewed on the goblet is softer than that printed on the tumbler, and together with the movement of the image provides an aesthetically pleasing effect.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, the tumbler 12 is a very convenient, but not essential, way of positioning an image to be projected. The tumbler may be replaced with another article, for example silhouette shapes, to be projected onto the bowl 16 of the goblet. Also, the design projected onto the bowl 16 is in no way limited by the disclosure herein, but may be of any design. Finally, although the invention has been described with reference to a candle, it should be understood that it relates equally to a lantern fitted with, or capable of being fitted with, any light source. For example, an electric light bulb may be provided. An electric light would not produce the aforementioned changing of the image on the bowl unless a candle-effect electric bulb (which simulates the flickering of a candle) were provided.

Claims (15)

1. A lantern comprising a container, a light source positioned or positionable within the container and a design, shape or other object means disposed or disposable between the light source and the container, at least part of the container being adapted to receive and display an image and/or shadow of the object means projected onto the container by the light source.

2. A lantern as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is translucent.

3. A lantern as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the portion of the surface of the container adapted to receive and display the image and/or shadow is frosted.

4. A lantern as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container comprises glass.

5. A lantern as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the container is frosted by means of acid etching.

6. A lantern as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a second container, disposable within the first container, the second container being generally transparent and being provided with the design, shape or other object means whose image is to be projected onto the container.

7. A lantern as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second container comprises glass.

8. A lantern as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the light source is disposed within the second container.

9. A lantern as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light source is a press fit within the second container.

10. A lantern as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the light source comprises a flame.

11. A lantern as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the light source is in the form of a candle.

12. A lantern comprising a first container having translucent enclosing side walls, a second container disposable within the first container and also having enclosing side walls, and a light source disposable within the second container, the enclosing walls of the second container being provided with a design, shape or other object means, whereby the light source projects an image of the design, shape or other object means onto the translucent walls of the first container.

13. A lantern as claimed in claim 12, wherein the light source comprises a candle.

14. A lantern as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the walls of the first container are frosted.

15. A lantern substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.