US3327108A - Hurricane lantern - Google Patents

Description

`lume 20, 1967 F. PRESS HURRICANE LANTERN Filed Oct. 23) 1965 United States Patent 3,327,108 HUCANE LANTERN Fred Press, White Plains, N.Y., assignor to Rubel & Co.,

Decorator Accessories Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,938 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-13) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hurricane lantern in which the neck portion of the lantern housing is enclosed by a collar to which the lantern handle is secured, the collar providing a structure for supporting an illuminating device within the housing as well as a weather hood above the neck portion.

This invention relates to lighting devices and is particularly concerned with an improved hurricane type lantern.

Windproof lanterns or Hurricane Lanterns as they are sometimes referred to in the prior art usually comprise a base portion wherein may be housed a fuel supply including a llame means such as a wick, and a glass globe or chimney supported on the base and enclosing the llame means. The globe may be supported on a collar surrounding the upper part of the base portion and adjustable vertically relating thereo. When it is desired to light the lantern, the globe is raised up from the lantern base by adjusting the vertical position of the collar thus providing the user access to lighting the kerosene wick, candle or other fuel means employed. This expedient has certain drawbacks. For one thing, the globe may get very hot when the lantern is lighted so that in the case where the lantern is accidently extinguished and the user wishes to immediately relight same, he must exercise care to avoid being burned. Furthermore, the need fo'r raising and lowering the globe each time the lantern must be lighted and extinguished, may increase the chances of `breaking the globe if the users grip thereon slips. Furthermore, the mechanism for elevating the globe such as a gear and ratchet device adds to the cost of making the lantern. Finally, the configuration of globe which may be used on hurricane lanterns is limited.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hurricane type lantern which involves minimum manipulation or adjustment of the globe when lighting or extinguishing the lantern.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hurricane lantern which is fully protected from the atmosphere and the incidents of accidental extinguishment.

Another object is to provide a hurricane type lantern wherein the fuel and flame means is supported in an easily accessible fuel holder thereby facilitating ready replenishment of these devices.

Still another object is to provide a hurricane type lantern which is adapted for use with globes or jars of various sizes and configurations.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The hurricane lantern of the present invention cornprises in part a removable frame-like assembly adapted to be supported inside a globe. The frame assembly includes a collar which may be lixedly secured to the neck of the globe with set screws or like fasteners. An upwardly extending handle is firmly secured to the collar to provide means by which the lamp may be transported 3,327,108: Patented June 20, 1967 or hung from a support in use. The frame assembly also includes a removable fuel holder sub-assembly intended to be supported from the collar and extending down into the inner reaches of the globe, the fuel holder being loosely supported by suitable support members on top of the collar. The removable fuel holder may have a bowlshaped lower portion for receiving, a candle, kerosene reservoir or like illuminating means.

For purposes of economy, the hurricane lantern may be made in an embodiment wherein the handle, collar, and fuel holder are made in a single structure. In this embodiment, the fuel holder is supported within the globe by means of flexible hanger strips which are lirmly connected with the collar. The hanger strips are shaped to engage the inside of the globe adjacent the neck and in this manner provide support for the globe when the lantern is hung from a hook by means of the handle.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture prossessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference should be had to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of eX- ample preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a hurricane lantern constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, some parts being broken away for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the hurricane lantern illustrated in FIGURE 1, the fuel holder sub-assembly being shown in its normal position when the lantern is lighted.

FIGURE 3 is the same as FIGURE 2, except it shows kthe fuel holder sub-assembly moved to a raised-up position such as that required for providing access to the illuminating means.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical central sectional view of a different form of the hurricane lantern wherein the handle, collar, and fuel holder are made as a single structure.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE l of the drawing, the hurricane lantern comprises as major components, a frame assembly 1t), a fuel holder sub-assembly 11 supported on the frame 10 and a globe 12 or other protective enclosure for protecting the ame from the wind, rain and other extinguishing forces. The globe 12 may be of bulbous shape such as that shown or it may have any other convenient shape, but preferably it has an outwardly flared neck portion at the top as indicated at 13 (FIG. 2). It is within contemplating of the present invention that other transparent devices which may serve the function of an enclosure, such as an ordinary household food jar, may also be used with the lantern frame assembly.

The lantern frame assembly 10 includes a collar 14 which may have a generally annular shape as shown including a ilat upper portion or shoulder and a downwardly depending skirt. The collar may be provided with a number of set screws 15 for removably securing it to the liared neck 13 of the globe 12, as shown. In this manner the lantern frame assembly may be xedly secured to the globe and permits the lantern to be picked up by the user, hung from a support, etc. For the latter purposes, there is provided an inverted U-shaped handle piece 16, the handle piece being firmly secured to the collar 14 as at 17 by welding or other fastening means.

The lantern also includes a fuel holder sub-assembly 11 which as seen, includes a bowl 18 wherein may be supported a candle, kerosene burner device or other illuminating means 19. Extending upwardly from the sides of the bowl 18 are a number of hanger strips 20 which are connected at their upper ends to a disc-like hood 21. The hanger strips 20 have attached thereto and spaced a distance below hood 21, a number of supporting feet 22 in the shape of angle pieces and which engage in the at shoulder of the collar 14 for suspending the bowl 18 therefrom and down within the globe. As seen in the drawings, the hood 21 is spaced a slight distance above the collar 14.

When it is desired to light or extinguish the illuminating means 19, the user raises up the fuel holder subassembly 11 from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. The latter may be accomplished by means of a handle (not shown) provided for that purpose. The illuminating means 19 is thus sui-Iiciently exposed for lighting same (the wick of a candle for example) or for blowing out the flame if the illuminating means is lighted. When the illuminating means 19 has been lighted or extinguished, the user need only lower the fuel holder sub-assembly 11 until the supporting feet 22 thereon once again rest on top of the collar 14 as shown in FIGURE 2.

The lantern of the present invention is such that it is of completely windproof character since the flame therein is located well below the opening. `Also, the hood 21 prevents any gust of wind from entering the globe in a direct downdraft which could extinguish the flame. The hood serves the further purpose of preventing rain from entering the lantern as it is in substantial register with the central opening in collar 14.

The lantern embodiment 40 illustrated in FIGURE 4 is designed to minimize the cost of making the lantern and simplify the means whereby the globe is secured to the fuel holder and handle means. In this embodiment, the lantern 4t) includes a globe 41 of any suitabley configuration and which is ared outwardly at the neck'as at 42 so as to supportingly receive the annular, flanged collar 43 which comprises part of the fuel holder and handle support means now to -be described.

The handle 49 with which the lantern in use may be suspended from a hook or like support is a narrow inverted U-shaped strip having downwardly directed legs 50 which extend down to a location at the collar 43. Extending between the legs 50 adjacent the bottom thereof is a disc-like hood 51 having at opposite sides thereof downwardly depending tabs 52 formed integral with the disc and adapted to locate the hood spacedly a distance above the collar and the open neck of the globe. Collar 43 is also provided with integral upwardly depending tabs 44, Extending downwardly from the collar 43 at each side thereof are a pair of narrow flat hanger strips 47 which preferably are made from spring steel and which together merge into a generally rectangular bottom portion 46 adapted to supportingly receive a cup-like fuel holder 45, the fuel holder 45 being secured to bottom portion 46 by means of a rivet 55. The fuel holder 45 is adapted to hold a candle 56, the wick 57 providing an illuminating means.

The handle 49, collar 43, hood 51 and hanger strips are connected together to form a single structure. To that end, rivets 53, 54 are used to connect together the tabs 44 on the collar, the upper end portions 48 of the hanger strips 47, the bottom portion of the legs 50 of the handle and the tabs 52 on hood 51 in the manner shown in FIG- URE 4.

The hanger strips 47 are formed to have the normally outwardly bowed shape indicated, the span between the strips being greater than the size of the opening in the neck of the globe. Thus, when the lantern 40 is suspended from an overhead support, the globe will be suspended securely on the hanger strips. Thus, when it is required to light the .candle 56 or replenish same, the user merely applies a pulling force downwardly on the globe thereby flexing the hanger strips inwardly to the moved position shown in dashed lines and providing access to the fuel holder 45.

The lantern of the present invention offers a number of advantages. It is easy to handle, may be supported from any overhead structure or'set down on a table, desk or shelf. The illuminating means is conveniently raised and lowered for lighting, extinguishing and replacement of the fuel supply, and the lantern is easy and economical to manufacture.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the lantern of the present invention is susceptible to modification within the scope of the inventive concept. For example, the globe 12 may be given various shapes and colors to enhance its aesthetic character.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hurricane lantern including a globe having an opening in the top thereof, an annular collar mounted on said globe, said collar having a skirt extending around said opening outwardly thereof and downwardly of said globe, and a shoulder extending inwardly of said opening, a fuel holder, hanger strips connected with said fuel holder and extending upwardly therefrom, support feet connected with said hanger strips and engageable with the shoulder of said collar for supporting said fuel holder a distance therebelow within said globe, and a hood connected with said hanger strips and spaced a distance above said support feet.

2. In a hurricane lantern including a globe having an opening in the top thereof, an annular collar fixedly secured to said globe and having a skirt portion extending around said globe outwardly and downwardly of said opening, and 'a shoulder portion extending inwardly of said opening, a bowl-like fuel holder, hanger strips connected to said fuel holder and extending upwardly therefrom, support feet firmly connected to said hanger strips are engageable with the shoulder portion of said collar for supporting said fuel holdery a distance below said t collar within said globe, a disc-like hood firmly connected to said hanger strips and spaced a distance above said support feet, and a handle in the shape of an inverted U connected to said collar and extending upwardly therefrom, the legs of said U being firmly connected to the collar portion of said skirt.

3. In a hurricane lantern including a globe having an opening in the top thereof, an annular collar having a skirt portion extending around said globe outwardly and downwardly of said opening, and a shoulder portioniextending inwardly of said opening, a bowl-like fuel holder, a pair of flexible hanger strips connected to said fuel holder -and extending upwardly therefrom at opposite sides thereof in an outwardly bowed path, the span between said hanger strips being greater than the size of said opening whereby said globe is suspended from said hanger strips, said hanger strips Ibeing yconnected ,with said collar for supporting said fuel holder a distance below said collar within said globe, a disc-like hood con.

nected with said collar and spaced a distance above said opening, and a handle connected to said collar and extending upwardly therefrom.

4. In a hurricane lantern including a globe having an opening in the top thereof, an annular collar having a skirt portion extending aroundsaid globe outwardly and downwardly of said opening, and a shoulder portion extending inwardly of said opening, said shoulder having a pair of tabs thereon extending upwardly therefrom, a bowl-like fuel holder, a pair of flexible hanger strips yconnected to said fuel holder for supporting it within said globe and extending upwardly therefrom at opposite sides thereof in an outwardly bowed path, the span between said hanger strips being greater than the size of said opening whereby said globe is suspended from said hanger 5 6 strips, said hanger strips having terminal portions located References Cited adjacent the tabs on said collar, a disc-like hood spaced UNITED STATES PATENTS a dlstance above said collar and havmg a pa1r of down- 7 Wardly depending tabs extending adjacent said collar, and 3 0770 10/1887 Dmmheuer 240""13 a handle extending upwardly of said collar and having a 5 1705'877 3/1929 Ramsey 24o-13 pair of legs extending adjacent said terminal portions of FOREIGN PATENTS said hanger strips; the tabs on said collar, said handle legs, 116,679 9/1926 Scotland.

the terminal portions of said hanger strip and the tabs on said hood being connected together, said hanger strips NORTON ANSHER Pfl-mary Emmi-nen ilexing inwardly towards each other when said globe is 10 moved downwardly relatively of said collar. W- M- FRYE Assistant Examme-

Claims (1)

1. IN A HURRICANE LANTERN INCLUDING A GLOBE HAVING AN OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF, AN ANNULAR COLLAR MOUNTED ON SAID GLOBE, SAID COLLAR HAVING A SKIRT EXTENDING AROUND SAID OPENING OUTWARDLY THEREOF AND DOWNWARDLY OF SAID GLOBE, AND A SHOULDER EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID OPENING, A FUEL HOLDER, HANGER STRIPS CONNECTED WITH SAID FUEL HOLDER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SUPPORT FEET CONNECTED WITH HANGER STRIPS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SHOULDER OF SAID COLLAR FOR SUPPORTING SAID FUEL HOLDER

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