US736506A - Folding jack-o'-lantern. - Google Patents

Description

No. 736,506. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903, J. J. DUKET. FOLDING JAGK-0-LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

NiTn STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

JOHN J. DU KET, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

FOLDING JACK-O-LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,506, dated August 18, 1903. Application filed July 3, 1902. Serial No. 114,168. (No model.)

To (Z7, whom it mmy concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. DU KET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo,

in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Folding J ack-o-Lantern, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a folding jack-olantern, and has for its object to produce an inexpensive toy of the kind which is adapted to present facial features of a different character when lighted from those presented when unlighted.

A further object is to provide a lantern of the kind in which simulated movements of the facial features may be made when the lantern is lighted.

A further object is to produce a lantern of the kind which may be folded up into a fiat compact form adapted for convenient packing and economical shipment.

I accomplish these objects by the construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, claimed, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention set up for use and showing the face presented when the lantern is unlighted. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the faces appearing when the lantern is lighted and showing the lantern partly opened at the top. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lantern. Fig. 4. is an isometric rear View of my invention in position to show the bottom opening and with the parts in position for folding, and Fig. 5 shows a lantern-slide adapted to produce apparent movement of the jaws and eyes.

In the drawings, A designates an oblong rectangular lantern-body comprising the face-plate 1, the sides 2 and 3, the back 4, the bottom closure 5, and the top closure 6.

Face-plate 1 is outlined to form the contour of a grotesque or fantastic human head and neck in a front View silhouette and is provided with apertures 7 cut therethrough, outlining the facial features of such a head. Preferably the bottom closure 5 is formed integral with the lower end of the face-plate and is creased along the line of the lower edge of the plate to form a flexible corner 8, upon which the bottom closure may be freely moved to open or close the lower end of the lantern-body. The sides and free edge of the closure 5 are incut and creased to form the flexible side flaps 9 and the end flap 10, which may be angled to the body of the closure to telescopically enter between the sides 2 and 3 and the back 4 or opened outward in the plane of the closure.

Preferably the sides 2 and 3, the top closure 6, and the back 4 are out to form from a single sheet of cardboard or other suitable material and creased to form the flexible vertical corners 11 and the flaps 12, by which the sides are secured to the back of the faceplate, and the top closure 6 (which is formed integral with the side 3) is creased along its connection with side 3 to form a flexible corner 13, upon which it may be freely moved to open or close the top end of the lanternbody.

The sides and free edge of the top closure 6 are incut and creased to form the side flaps 14 and the end flap 15, which may be angled to the body of the closure to telescopically enter between the face-plate 1, the back 4, and the side plate 2.

Centrally to the bottom closure 5 is secured upon its upper side when in a closed position, by any suitable means, a candle-socket 16 of suitable form, and in the top closure vertically above the candle-socket is provided a ventilator-opening 17.

The bottom closure is secured in a closed position by a spring-catch 18, secured to the back 4 of the lantern-body and having its lower end angled to the body of the spring to engage the bottom side of the closure when in a closed position. The back 4 is also provided with incuts forming the downwardlyprojecting ears 19, which being bent slightly inward at the bottom engage the end flap 10 of the closure and limit its upward movement.

The side 2 is also incut to form the upwardly projecting cars 20, which being slightly bent inward engage the end flap 15 of the top closure and limit its downward movement.

Through the top end portions of the side 2 and coincident through the flap 15 of the top closure and opposite thereto in side 3 are provided bail-orifices 21, in which are inserted the angled ends of a spring-bail 22, by which the lantern may be carried tnd the top closure locked in a position closing the top of the lantern-body.

To the sides 2 and 3are secured the angled strips 28, forming grooves 24 between flaps 12 and the strips, into which are inserted the side portions of the slide-plate 25, having its lower end angled to form a base 26 and its upper central portion cut away and indented to represent the teeth of a lower jaw 27 and form inwardly-curved upper edge portions 28, adapted when the plate is moved upward to pass over the facial apertures of the faceplate, representing the mouth and eyes and simulate the movement of the lower jaw and the closing and opening of the eyes. Attached to the slide-plate 25 by a hook 29, formed thereon, is a wire 30, which extends upward on a curve and has the top end portion 31 projecting through 'a suitable aperture in the back 1: near its top end, by means of which the slide-plate 25 may be moved upward and downward to prod uce the simulated movement of the lower jaw and eyes.

Upon the outer side of the face-plate 1 is secured a translucent covering 32, which is of the same size and outline as the face-plate l and has printed thereon a representation of facial features and the like differing in character and expression from those of the face-plate 1, but located in the same relative positions. I

Thus constructed when the lantern is not lighted the outer face only is visible; but when a light is placed within the body of the lantern the outer face disappears and the features of the inner face appear in glowing light. If then the slide 23 is moved upward and downward by the wire 26, the lower jaw and eyes of the inner face appear to be opening and closing, thereby increasing the grotesque and fantastic appearance of the figures.

When it is desired to fold the lantern-body in compact form for shipment, by removing the bail, opening the top and bottom closures, flattening their flaps, removing the candlesocket, and then folding the sides in the same lateral direction until they are flattened against the back of the face-plate, with one side central to and the other extending beyond the side edge of the face-plate, and then folding downward thereon the top and bottom closures, it will be seen that many of the lanterns may be packed within the same thickness of space that would be occupied by a single lantern set up in form for use.

It is manifest that the features of the faceplate maybe made to conform to those of the translucent coverings, so that thelantern may present the same facial'expression whether the lantern be lighted or unlighted. I therefore do not limit myself to dissimilar facial features in the covering from those in the face-plate. 7

What I claim to be new is 1. In a toyjack-o-lantern, the combination with the face-plate of a lantern-body outlined to the contour of a head and having apertures delineating facial features, of a translucent outer covering for the face plate secured thereto and conforming to its outline and having facial'features printed thereon differing in outline and expression from the features of the face-plate. Y

2. In a toyjack-o-lantern, the combination with the face-plate of a lantern-body outlined to the contour of a head and having apertures delineating facial features, of a translucent outer covering for the face plate secured thereto and conforming to its outline and having facial features printed thereon, and a movable slide within the lantern-bod y shaped and adapted when moved upward and downward to simulate the'movement of the features of the face-plate.

3. In a toy jack-o-lantern, the combination of a collapsible lantern-body with a face-plate outlining a head and having apertures delineating facial features provided with a translucent covering, and a movable slide within the lantern-body shaped and adapted when moved upward and downward to simulate the movement of the features of the face-plate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my,

hand this 3d'day of June, A. D. 1902.

JOHN J. DU KET. Witnesses:

J. S. WERTMAN, JABEZ DIOKEY.

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