GB2464175A

GB2464175A - Heat source supporting member in a sky lantern

Info

Publication number: GB2464175A
Application number: GB0914178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Arscott
Original assignee: STEARING Ltd
Current assignee: STEARING Ltd
Priority date: 2009-08-13
Filing date: 2009-08-13
Publication date: 2010-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-13
Also published as: GB0914178D0; GB2464175B

Abstract

A sky lantern 10 capable of rising under the action of heat, comprising: a body 12 defining a fluid cavity 14; a frame 20 coupled to the body 12 and defining an opening 21; and a supporting member 22 connected to the frame 20 at first and second positions 26a, 26b, and extending across the opening 21, the supporting member 22 arranged to support a heat source 30. The supporting member 22 is flexible, non-resilient and heat-resistant and may be made from aluminium silicate. This provides a safe, inexpensive and light-weight lantern.

Description

IMPROVED SKY LANTERN

The present invention relates to lanterns, in particular sky lanterns which are capable of rising under the action of heat.

Sky lanterns, or Kongming lantern, are airborne paper lanterns traditionally found in East Asian cultures.

According to folklore, the sky lantern was the first hot air balloon, said to be invented by the military strategist Zhuge Kongming at the turn of the 3rd century as a type of signaling balloon or, it is claimed, as a type of spy blimp in warfare.

Recently, sky lanterns have become popular. The release of sky lanterns are now incorporated into many festivals in Asia, and are becoming increasingly popular in the West.

Sky lanterns are generally constructed from oiled rice paper attached to a bamboo frame. Typically, a heat source, such as a small candle or a fuel cell, is supported at the center of the frame using metal supporting wires that are attached to the bamboo. The paper creates an air cavity above the heat source such that when the heat source is lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern cavity, causing the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is airborne until the fuel is consumed, after which the lantern falls back to the ground.

In general, fine wires are embedded in the heat source and the heat source is mounted onto the metal supporting wires by twisting the fine wires around the metal wires.

This conventional method of attaching the heat source to the frame can be tedious, and the fine metal wires can injure the user.

Moreover, an airborne sky lantern may be carried away by the wind from its original position where it was released. In this case, it may not be possible to retrieve the sky lantern when it has landed. Occasionally, sky lanterns left on a field may be eaten by animals, such as roaming cattle and sheep, and the wire used in the construction of the lantern may cause injury to the animal's digestive tract.

It is therefore desirable to provide a sky lantern which is safe and easy to handle.

The present invention is defined in the attached independent claims, to which reference should now be made.

Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto.

According to the present invention there is provided a sky lantern capable of rising under the action of heat, comprising: a body defining a fluid cavity; a frame coupled to the body and defining an opening; and a supporting member connected to the frame at first and second positions, and extending across the opening, the supporting member arranged to support a heat source; wherein the supporting member is flexible, non-resilient and heat-resistant.

The body may be an envelope. The body may be made of paper.

Preferably the sky lantern further comprises a second supporting member connected to the frame at third and fourth positions, and extending across the opening, the second supporting member arranged to support a heat source.

Preferably the first and second supporting members are substantially perpendicular.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, the or each supporting member is made of aluminium silicate. The or each supporting member may be in the form of a cord, string, rope, or thread. The or each supporting member may be intrinsically heat-resistant. The or each supporting member may be homogeneous. The or each supporting member may be homogeneous in composition.

Preferably the sky lantern further comprises a heat source attached to the or each supporting member. The heat source may comprise a plurality of laminated thin sheets.

The sheets may be paraffin-soaked paper. The heat source may comprise a block of flammable material.

In a preferred arrangement the heat source has a mounting opening, and the supporting member is located within the mounting opening, thereby securing the heat source to the supporting member. The mounting opening in the heat source may be a hole through the thickness of the heat source. The heat source may have a plurality of mounting openings.

The frame may be made from bamboo. Preferably, the frame is annular.

Some or all parts of the lantern may be biodegradable.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sky lantern capable of rising under the action of heat, comprising: a body defining a fluid cavity; a frame coupled to the body and defining an opening; and a supporting member coupled to the frame and extending across the opening, the supporting member arranged to support a heat source. The member may be directly or indirectly coupled/attached to the frame. At least a portion of the supporting member may be flexible, non-resilient and heat-resistant. The supporting member, or a portion thereof, may be aluminium silicate. In one embodiment, the portion of the supporting member in the vicinity of the heat source during use is heat-resistant. Preferably the supporting member is made from a single material. This improves the ease of manufacture.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sky lantern capable of rising under the action of heat, comprising: a body defining a fluid cavity; a frame coupled to the body and defining an opening; a supporting member coupled to the frame and extending across the opening, the supporting member arranged to support a heat source; and a heat source having a mounting opening; wherein the supporting member is located in the mounting opening of the heat source, thereby securing the heat source to the supporting member.

The invention may comprise any combination of the features and/or limitations referred to herein, except combinations of such features as are mutually exclusive.

The present invention will be explained, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a sky lantern in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows an example of a heat source which can be used in the sky lantern of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows an attachment method of the heat source of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a sky lantern 10. The main body of lantern 10 is an envelope 12 and is typically made of rice paper or another flexible light-weight material. The envelope 12 has a first closed end 16 and a second open end 18, and defines a cavity 14 therein. A frame 20, usually in the form of a bamboo ring (or annulus) which is chosen for its light-weight, is attached to the envelope 12 in the vicinity of the open end 16. The frame defines an opening 21 to the envelope 12, which allows air to fill the cavity 14.

A first supporting member 22 extends across the frame opening 21 through the center of frame 20, and is connected to the frame 20 at first and second positions 26a and 26b.

A second supporting member 24 extends across the frame opening 21, is perpendicular to the first supporting member 22, and is connected to the frame 20 at third and fourth positions 28a and 28b. The supporting members 22 and 24 provide support for a heat source 30, placed approximately at the center of frame 20 where the first and second supporting members intersect.

The supporting members 22 and 24 are flexible and non-resilient. This means that they can curl-up and be deformed without returning to their original shape. This reduces the risk of a user of the lantern 10 injuring themselves on the supporting members 22 and 24 when handling lantern 10. Further, animals are not harmed if the lantern 10 is accidentally ingested. Importantly, the supporting members 22 and 24 are capable of withstanding the heat produced by heat source 30 without being damaged.

In this embodiment, the supporting members 22 and 24 are made from an aluminum silicate cord (or string) . This material is inherently flame retardant.

Figure 2 shows an example of the heat source 30 that can be used by the lantern 10. The heat source 30 comprises a plurality of sheets 32 laminated one on top of the other to form a thin block. The sheets 32 may be paraffin-soaked paper. The heat source 30 may also be wax or another flammable substances, in the form of a plurality of laminated sheets or a single block.

The heat source 30 has a plurality of holes 34-37 that extended through the block. The holes 34-37 are positioned at the four sides of the heat source 30 at the mid-point of each side. The holes 34-37 act as mounting openings for mounting the heat source 30 onto the supporting members 22 and 24. As will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, the mounting openings in heat source 30 are not necessarily in the form of holes through the thickness of heat source 30, and may be in the form of channels, slots or grooves.

Figure 3 shows the heat source 30 mounted onto supporting the members 22 and 24. The first supporting member 22 is threaded through two opposite holes 35 and 37.

Similarly, the second supporting member 24 is threaded through two opposite holes 34 and 36. The first supporting member 22 and the second supporting member 24 form a secure supporting construction for the heat source 30.

It should be apparent to a person skilled in the art that a secure support can also be provided by a single support member 22 being fed through holes 35 and 37.

In use, the heat source 30 is placed in the center of the frame opening 21, secured to the frame 20 by the first and second supporting members 22 and 24. The heat source is then lit, thereby heating the air in the cavity 14.

The envelope 12 inflates as the air in the cavity 14 expands. The density of the air in the cavity 14 decreases as a result of heating by the burning heat source 30, thus causing the lantern 10 to rise.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A sky lantern capable of rising under the action of heat, comprising: a body defining a fluid cavity; a frame coupled to the body and defining an opening; and a supporting member connected to the frame at first and second positions, and extending across the opening, the supporting member arranged to support a heat source; wherein the supporting member is flexible, non-resilient and heat-resistant.
2. A sky lantern according to claim 1, wherein the body is an envelope.
3. A sky lantern according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body is made of paper.
4. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, further comprising a second supporting member connected to the frame at third and fourth positions, and extending across the opening, the second supporting member arranged to support a heat source.
5. A sky lantern according to claim 4, wherein the first and second supporting members are substantially perpendicular.
6. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is made of aluminium silicate.
7. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is in the form of a cord, string, rope, or thread.
8. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is intrinsically heat-resistant.
9. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is homogeneous.
10. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, further comprising a heat source attached to the or each supporting member.
11. A sky lantern according to claim 10, wherein the heat source comprises a plurality of laminated thin sheets.
12. A sky lantern according to claim 11, wherein the sheets are paraffin-soaked paper.
13. A sky lantern according to any of claim 10, wherein the heat source comprises a block of flarrimable material.
14. A sky lantern according to any of claims 10-13, wherein the heat source has a mounting opening, and the supporting member is located within the mounting opening, thereby securing the heat source to the supporting member.
15. A sky lantern according to claim 14, wherein the mounting opening in the heat source is a hole through the thickness of the heat source.
16. A sky lantern according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the heat source has a plurality of mounting openings.
17. A sky lantern according to any preceding claims, wherein the frame is made from bamboo.
18. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is annular.
19. A sky lantern substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A sky lantern capable of rising under the action of heat, comprising: a body defining a fluid cavity; a frame coupled to the body and defining an opening; and.a supporting member connected to the frame at first and. second positions, and extending across the opening, the supporting member arranged to support a heat source; wherein the supporting member, or a portion thereof, is made from aluminium silicate.2. A sky lantern according to claim 1, wherein the body is an envelope.(Y) 3. A sky lantern according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Q body is made of paper. C)Q 20 4. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, further comprising a second supporting member connected to the frame at third and fourth positions, and extending across the opening, the second supporting member arranged to support a heat source.5. A sky lantern according to claim 4, wherein the first and second supporting members are substantially perpendicular.6. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is flexible, non-resilient and heat-resistant.7. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is in the form of a cord, string, rope, or thread.8. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is intrinsically heat-resistant.9. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting member is homogeneous.10. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, further comprising a heat source attached to the or each supporting member.11. A sky lantern according to claim 10, wherein the heat source comprises a plurality of laminated thin sheets. C')12. A sky lantern according to claim 11, wherein the sheets are paraffin-soaked paper.13. A sky lantern according to any of claim 10, wherein the heat source comprises a block of flammable material.14. A sky lantern according to any of claims 10-13, wherein the heat source has a mounting opening, and the supporting member is located within the mounting opening, thereby securing the heat source to the supporting member.15. A sky lantern according to claim 14, wherein the mounting opening in the heat source is a hole through the thickness of the heat source.16. A sky lantern according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the heat source has a plurality of mounting openings.17. A sky lantern according to any preceding claims, wherein the frame is made from bamboo.18. A sky lantern according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is annular.19. A sky lantern substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. C') C)