Abstract:
A portable lamp assembly which comprises a fuel containing container and a globe therefore, the globe having a plurality of convex reflective surfaces on an inner surface thereof to maximize light output. The globe also functions as a protective member for the fuel containing container when in a stored position for transportation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lamp and more particularly, relates to a portable lamp utilizing a liquid fuel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Liquid fuel burners are known in the art and have been used for a number of years. They are generally considered to be a disposable item and have been used both for providing lighting and for warming foods in chafing dishes and the like. Typically, the burner includes a sealed container in which the fuel is stored and a wick that passes upwardly through the lid of the container. The fuel passes up through the wick and the wick is lit. When the fuel is exhausted, the container is typically discarded and replaced with a new unit. 
     Most disposable liquid fuel burners are relatively simple in structure and preset in the factory to provide for an optimum flame height by exposing a limited lamp wick above the top of the burner. The wick assembly, intended only for use with the single can, is relatively simple. One disadvantage of many of the disposable liquid fuel burners is the inherent danger in transporting the same. In many instances, it is desirable to transport the liquid fuel burner as, for example, when using the same on camping trips or the like. However, known liquid fuel burners generally are not designed for such use and particularly so when a relatively volatile fuel is utilized. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable liquid fuel burner suitable for lighting purposes and which is compact in nature. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disposable liquid fuel burner for lighting purposes which is readily transportable. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fuel burning assembly comprising a container designed to contain a fuel and a globe therefore, the container having a container side wall and a container top wall, the container top wall having an opening therein, an externally threaded neck surrounding the opening, the globe comprising a continuous globe side wall sized to fit externally of the container side wall, the globe side wall having an interior face and an exterior face and at least one member extending inwardly from the interior face and being arranged such that the member will rest on an upper portion of the container when the globe is placed over the container whereby the globe may function as a chimney. 
     The container having the liquid fuel therein, according to the present invention, is formed of a metallic material and is preferably cylindrical in configuration. Located centrally in the upper side wall is an aperture which is designed to receive a wick device. Surrounding the aperture is a neck, the neck preferably having external screw threads formed thereon to receive a cap. The top of the neck is designed to receive the wick assembly which will sit thereon. 
     The wick assembly includes the wick, which is preferably of a woven material, and a cover member, as previously mentioned, will include a flange which will seat on the top of the wall surrounding the aperture. Centrally of the cover member there will be a raised land portion with a lower portion surrounding the raised land portion. In the center of the raised land portion there will be provided an aperture for the wick to extend therethrough. The lower portion surrounding the raised land portion will include a drain back aperture formed therein such that any fuel thereon will drain back into the container. 
     In the preferred embodiment, there is also provided an intermediate cover member designed to cover a portion of the wick holder. In particular, the cover member may be designed to fit interiorly of the upstanding wall of the wick retainer and have a portion thereof designed to enclose the wick per se. In so doing, leakage during transportation is prevented. 
     There is also provided a chimney, the chimney serving two functions. During the transport, the fuel container is designed to fit within the chimney which provides additional protection therefore and also allows for a compact storage of the device. During the use, the chimney is designed to seat on the top of the fuel container and extend above the flame to provide protection for the flame. At the same time, a lower portion extends downwardly about the upper side wall of the container while still permitting a supply of air to the wick. Preferably the chimney is formed of a clear heat resistant material and more preferably of a heat resistant plastic material such as marketed under the trademark Lexan®. To maximize the lighting effect, the chimney is preferably given refractive properties and to this end, may comprise a cylindrical wall having beveled portions on the interior surface thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel burning assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the globe portion thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the fuel container portion thereof, 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the globe and fuel container in a storage position; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the fuel container and globe in an operative position; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wick and cap component of the fuel container. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a fuel burning assembly generally designated by reference numeral  10  and which fuel burning assembly is designed to be used for lighting purposes. 
     Assembly  10  includes a fuel container generally designated by reference numeral  12  and a globe generally designated by reference numeral  14 . 
     Fuel container  12  comprises a can  16  having a bottom wall  18 , a side wall  20  and a top wall  22 , the hole being formed in a conventional manner. Situated on top wall  22  and formed intrically therewith is a neck  24  having external threads  26  formed thereon. 
     Turning to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a wick assembly which is generally designated by reference numeral  28 . Wick assembly  28  includes an insert  30  sized to fit within neck  24 . Insert  30  includes a side wall  32  having a flange  34  extending outwardly at the upper end thereon and designed to seat on the upper periphery of neck  24  of can  16 . At the lower end of side wall  32  of insert  30 , there is provided an upwardly sloping bottom wall  36 . Located centrally of sloping bottom wall  36  is an inner side wall  38  which extends to an inner top wall  40  having a wick aperture  42  formed therein. Mounted in wick aperture  42  is a wick  44  designed to extend into can  16  and the fuel contained therein. 
     Formed within sloping bottom wall and located proximate to its point of joinder with side wall  32  are one or more drainage apertures  46  to permit drainage of any fuel back into can  16 . A cap member  48  is sized to fit within insert  30  and to sealingly engage the same. 
     A cover member  50  includes a top wall  52  and a downwardly depending skirt or side wall  54  having internal threads  56  formed thereon and which internal threads are designed to meet with external threads  26  on neck  24 . 
     Globe  14  is formed of a transparent material and may be conveniently formed of a transparent plastic material. Globe  14  includes a minor portion  64  having first and second bevel segments  66  and  68  formed therein. Thus, minor portion  64  is generally circular in configuration, both on the interior and exterior surface, except for bevel segments  66  which have a convex configuration on the inner surface thereof. 
     A major portion  70  of globe  14  has a plurality of equally configured bevel segments  72  formed thereon. Bevel segments  72  are formed on the interior surface of major portion  70  and comprise a plurality of concave configurations. 
     Separating minor portion  64  and major portion  70  are a plurality of inwardly extending tabs  74 . 
     In use, the arrangement is such that minor portion  64  of globe  14  will fit over the upper portion of can  16  with tabs  74  sitting on the rim of can  16 . Major portion  70  extends above can  16  and the beveled portions are designed to reflect the maximum amount of light. The arrangement is such that air may flow upwardly between minor portion  64  and can  16 . 
     For transport purposes, the globe is inverted such that major portion  70  is in the lower position. The distance between tabs  74  and the marginal edge of major portion  70  is substantially equal to the height of can  16 . In this configuration, minor portion  64  will extend above the neck  24  and cover  50 . Globe  14  is also arranged such that there will be frictional engagement between the area of major portion  70  adjacent tabs  74  and the rim of can  16 . 
     It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.