GB2324854A

GB2324854A - Lantern

Info

Publication number: GB2324854A
Application number: GB9709034A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Se-Kit Yuen
Original assignee: John Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: John Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 1997-05-02
Filing date: 1997-05-02
Publication date: 1998-11-04
Also published as: GB9709034D0

Abstract

A lantern having a main housing 1 with a handle 2 and a circular light 3 overlying a further circular light 6, light 3 being pivotable to reveal light 6. Lights 3, 6 are of contrasting colours and may flash. A subsidiary housing 7 of circular cross-section is mounted on housing 1 via a spotlight housing (8, Fig. 1) and horizontal pivot 9 such that 7 may be moved through approximately 180‹. Housing 7 comprises a transparent tubular member 13 enclosing at least one fluorescent tube 15. A semi-circular, opaque shade 16 with a reflective inner surface is engageable with member 13 by means of fingers 17. The lantern may be used as to illuminate a work area with shade 16 attached or as a beacon visible from all directions with 16 removed.

Description

LANTERN The invention relates to a lantern.

While a simple flashlight may simply direct a beam of light in a single direction to provide illumination, much more may be required of a lantern. Thus a lantern may have a housing which incorporates other features than those merely to provide illumination, for example the housing may contain a radio and one or more flashing lights which provide a warning rather than illumination. A lantern may be required to provide illumination of a specific region in the vicinity of the lantern, for example it is known to provide a lantern with an arm raisable about a pivot from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation, the underside of the arm in such horizontal orientation being provided with fluorescent tubes and preferably als a reflector thereby to illuminate an area of a work surface such as a desk on which the lantern is standing so that, for example, a book placed on such area of the desk is illuminated and can readily be read.

According to the invention a lantern comprises a main housing, a subsidiary housing pivotally mounted on an upper portion of the main housing about a generally horizontal pivot axis so as to be rotatable substantially through 1800 about said pivot axis from a downwardly directed stowed position, through a generally horizontal position to an upwardly directed illumination position, the subsidiary housing being substantially completely transparent between its ends, containing at least one fluorescent tube and cooperating with a generally opaque shell which can engage and be retained upon the subsidiary housing and when so engaged can reduce radiation of light from the fluorescent tube through the subsidiary housing to only a fraction of the periphery of the subsidiary housing.

Preferably the subsidiary housing is generally circular in cross-section and the opaque shell is a substantially semi-circular section shell having a length the same as the subsidiary housing. Advantageously the shell is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the subsidiary housing.

In the downwardly directed stowed position, the shell can be provided located closely around the subsidiary housing and adjacent to the main housing so that the subsidiary housing gives an outwardly directed light. When raised to the generally horizontal position and with the shell rotated around the subsidiary housing longitudinal axis through 1800, the subsidiary housing gives a downwardly directed illumination suitable for illuminating a work surface on which the lantern is standing.

When raised to the upwardly directed illumination position and with the opaque shell completely removed, the subsidiary housing gives a light like a beacon directed for the full 360" outwardly about the longitudinal axis of the subsidiary housing.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lantern according to the invention in a first position in which a subsidiary housing is in a stowed position; Figure 2 is a view of the lantern of Figure 1 with the subsidiary housing raised to an upwardly directed position; and Figure 3 is a view of the lantern of Figures 1 and 2 in the position of Figure 2 but with a shell removed so that the lantern acts as a beacon for 360" illumination.

Referring to the drawings, a lantern has a main housing 1 which includes a handle 2. A circular light 3 is mounted adjacent the handle 2 by an arm 4 and a horizontal pivot 5, the circular light 3 being movable from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figures 2 and 3 and in the Figure 1 position overlying a further circular light 6 of a contrasting colour. Circuitry within the housing 1, which also contains a battery, is provided so that the circular lights 3 and 6 can flash on and off alternately to give a warning indication.

At a front side of the housing 1, a subsidiary housing 7 is mounted on a spotlight housing 8 which is mounted about a further horizontal pivot 9 to the main housing 1. The subsidiary housing 7 and the spotlight housing 8 can thus be turned together through approximately 180 about the further horizontal pivot 9 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. A spotlight bulb 10 within a reflector 11 is mounted in the spotlight housing 8 behind a transparent screen 12.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the subsidiary housing 7 is of circular section and comprises a tubular transparent member 13 with an end cap 14. At least one, and as shown two, fluorescent tubes 15 are mounted in the tubular member 13 and can be illuminated by a control switch (not shown) on the main housing 1.

A semi-circular section shell 16 of opaque material and with a reflective inner surface is mountable on the tubular transparent member 13 and can be retained thereon by flexible fingers 17 provided at the ends. The flexible fingers 17 engage in grooves in the surface of the tubular transparent member 13 such that the shell 16 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 13 between the position shown in Figure 1 and the position shown in Figure 2. Further the shell 16 can readily be detached from the tubular member 13 as shown in Figure 3 and can be reattached thereto as desired.

In the configuration of Figure 1, light from the tubes 15 shines out through the front of the tubular transparent member 13 and can complement the light shining from the spotlight bulb 10 and reflector 11 through the transparent screen 12. If the subsidiary housing 7 is rotated about the further horizontal pivot 9 through 90 , or through 180O to the position of Figure 2, and the shell 16 is turned through 1800 about the longitudinal axis of the subsidiary housing 7, then light shining out through a half of the periphery'of the tubular transparent member 13 will illuminate a work surface on which the lantern is placed. The lantern can thus be used when work is to be effected on the work surface, the horizontal position of the tubular transparent member 13 being particularly useful when reading a book.

If the shell 16 is removed, as shown in Figure 3, then the light from the tubes 15 will radiate outwardly through the tubular transparent member 13 through a full 360O of the periphery of the tubular transparent member 13, thereby to act as a beacon visible from all directions or to provide illumination in all directions, for example in this configuration the lantern could be placed in the middle of a camp table to provide illumination for campers sitting at the table and for example eating a meal. The shell 16 can readily be restored to the tubular transparent member 13 before the subsidiary housing 7 is pivoted back to the stowed position of Figure 1.

Claims

1. A lantern comprising a main housing, a subsidiary housing pivotally mounted on an upper portion of the main housing about a generally horizontal pivot axis so as to be rotatable substantially through 1800 about said pivot axis from a downwardly directed stowed position, through a generally horizontal position to an upwardly directed illumination position, the subsidiary housing being substantially completely transparent between its ends, containing at least one fluorescent tube and cooperating with a generally opaque shell which can engage and be retained upon the subsidiary housing and when so engaged can reduce radiation of light from the fluorescent tube through the subsidiary housing to only a fraction of the periphery of the subsidiary housing.

2. A lantern according to claim 1, wherein the subsidiary housing is generally circular in cross-section and the opaque shell is a substantially semi-circular section shell having a length the same as the subsidiary housing.

3. A lantern according to claim 2, wherein the shell is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the subsidiary housing.

4. A lantern according to claim 3, wherein, in the downwardly directed stowed position, the shell is provided located closely around the subsidiary housing and adjacent to the main housing so that the subsidiary housing gives an outwardly directed light.

5. A lantern according to claim 4, wherein, when raised to the generally horizontal position and with the shell rotated around the subsidiary housing longitudinal axis through 1800, the subsidiary housing gives a downwardly directed illumination suitable for illuminating a work surface on which the lantern is standing.

6. A lantern according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein, when raised to the upwardly directed illumination position and with the opaque shell completely removed, the subsidiary housing gives a light like a beacon directed for the full 3600 outwardly about the longitudinal axis of the subsidiary housing.

7. A lantern substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.