US2917755A

US2917755A - Floating lantern support

Info

Publication number: US2917755A
Application number: US687480A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peck Ralph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-10-01
Filing date: 1957-10-01
Publication date: 1959-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-22

Description

Dec. 22, 1959 R. PECK 2,917,755

FLOATING LANTERN SUPPORT Filed Oct. 1, 1957 INVENTOR. A 41 PH P6K BY United States Patent FLOATING LANTERN SUPPORT Ralph Peck, Independence, Kans.

Application October 1, 1957, Serial No. 687,480

3 Claims. (Cl. 9-8.3)

This invention relates to floating supports, and more particularly to a floating support for a lantern.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved inflatable floating support for a lantern, said support being especially useful in night fishing, the support being simple in construction, being easy to inflate for use, and providing a secure seat for a lantern supported thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved inflatable lantern support especially useful in night fishing, the floating support being inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, being provided with means for easily receiving the base of a lantern and for clamping the base to the support when the support is inflated, and being provided with means for attaching an anchor line thereto, as well as a guide line.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view taken through an improved lantern support constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown in operating position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the inflated lantern support illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the inflated lantern support of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the inflated lantern support of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, the floating lantern support of the present invention is designated generally at 11 and comprises a hollow annular body 12 of flexible resilient material, such as rubber or the like, the annular body being suitably shaped at its inner portion to define an inner upwardly projecting hollow member 13 when the body is inflated, said inwardly and upwardly projecting member 13 being provided with an upwardly converging, generally conical inside surface 14. Designated at 15 is an inner flexible wall member secured to the inner periphery of the body 12 at the base of the upwardly converging inner surface 14, the member 15 defining the bottom wall of an upwardly converging, generally conical seat defined when the body 12 is inserted and shaped to receive the base 16 of a conventional lantern 17, shown in dotted view in Figure 1.

As is clearly shown in Figure l, the bottom wall 15 of the lantern seat is spaced upwardly from the bottom plane of the generally toroidal hollow body 12, thereby defining a cavity at the bottom of the floating support 11 which serves to stabilize the body when it is floating in the water and to prevent undue oscillation thereof by water wave action.

The body 12 is provided at its top portion with a conventional air valve 18 for inflating the body from a suitable source of compressed air. Provided on the body 12 opposite the air valve 18 is an apertured lug 19 to which is connected at fastening ring 20, the ring 20 being adapted to be connected to a guide line 21. Additional rings 22,

22 are provided on the top surface of the main portion of body 12, as shown in Figure 1, for connection to suitable lamp-securing cables which may be fastened between the rings 22 and which may be arranged to engage the base of the lamp 17 in a manner to reinforce the securement of said base to the body 12.

The flexible bottom wall member 15 is integrally formed centrally on its bottom surface with an apertured lug 23 to which is connected a ring member 24. An anchor line 25 is adapted to be fastened to the ring member 24, the anchor line 25 being secured at its other end to a suitable anchor 26 which may be employed in the manner shown in Figure 1 to anchor the lantern support 11 in a substantially stationary position in the Water.

The lantern 17 is of a conventional type having the downwardly flaring, generally conical base 16, as illustrated in dotted view in Figure 1. When the device 11 is in a non-inflated condition, the base 16 may be readily received in the upwardly converging seat defined by the conical surface 14 and the bottom wall member 15. Under .these conditions, the

portions

14 and 15 of the floating support device 11 are-readily yieldable to receive the lantern base. However, when the body 12 is subsequently inflated to a substantial pressure, the conical inner wall surface 14 of the lantern seat acquires substantially increased rigidity and cooperates with the bottom wall 15 to exert a clamping action on the portion of the lantern base 16 received in the seat.

As will be readily apparent, a suitable guide line 21 may be fastened to the guide ring 20, and an anchor line 25 may be fastened to the bottom ring 24.

When employed in the manner illustrated in Figure l, the lantern 17 provides illumination of the water in a manner to attract fish as well as various types of insects and other creatures which serve as bait for further attraction of fish to the location adjacent the lantern. The lantern also serves to attract insects such as moths, or the like, relieving the fisherman of annoyance from such insects.

When the device 11 is not in use, it may be deflated and may be readily folded to a relatively compact condition for easy transportation or storage.

While a specific embodiment of an improved floating lantern support has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a lamp having a downwardly flaring conical base, and a floating support comprising a hollow inflatable annular body of flexible material, means for inflating said body, and an inner flexible horizontal wall member secured to the inner periphery of said body, the upper portion of said inner periphery being of upwardly convergent, generally conical shape clampingly receiving said base and securing same on said horizontal wall member when the body is inflated.

2. In combination, a lamp having a downwardly flaring conical base, a floating support comprising a hollow inflatable annular body of flexible material, means for inflating said body, an inner flexible horizontal Wall member secured to the inner periphery of said body, the upper portion of said inner periphery being of upwardly convergent, generally conical shape clampingly receiving said base and securing same on said horizontal wall member when the body is inflated, a ring member secured to the bottom surface of said wall member, and an anchor line secured to said ring member.

3. In combination, a lamp having a downwardly flaring conical base, a floating support comprising a hollow insurface of said wall member for connection to an anchor flatable annular body of flexible material, means for line.

inflating said body, an inner flexible horizontal wall memf d th fi f th' t ber secured to the 1111161 periphery of said body, the upper Re erences Cite m e 1e 0 1S Pate portion of said inner periphery being of upwardly con- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS vergent, generally conical shape clampingly receiving said 51,120 Quinby 2. Nov. 21, 1865 base and securing same on said wall member when the 456,621 Kopcke July 28, 1891 body is inflated, a first ring member secured to an outer 2,324,983 Gollings July 20, 1943 peripheral portion of said body for connection to a guide 2,342,363 Oestnaes Feb. 22, 1944 line, and a second ring member secured to the bottom 10 2,365,587 Pennow Dec. 19, 1944