An Improved Box for Optical Lanterns and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Box for Optical Lanterns and the like.
I, WILLIAM DOMMETT ASKEW, Foreman Tailor, 20 Barnstaple Street, South
Molton, in the County of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
(1) A method for converting an oblong, or other, box (hereafter called lantern
box) into a table and stand for optical lanterns and the like.
The lantern box is attached to a base-board by means of a flanged tube or shaft
When bolted to a tripod (or other stand) head, the bolt passing through the said
flanged tube or shaft, the lantern box is swung round to a transverse position on
said base-board, the ends of which said base-board project on either side of the
lantern box, and thereby form supports. The two sides, or portions of sides
(hereafter called side-wings) of lantern box are hinged to bottom of lantern box,
and being opened outwards on either side, the said side-wings fall on projecting
ends of base-board thereby forming a level operating table.
(2) A flanged tube or shaft of peculiar shape for clamping bottom of lantern
box to base-board.
A hollow, or partly hollow, flanged tube or shaft, with washer and clamping cap,
is so constructed as to receive a screw or other bolt, and to allow lantern box and
base-board to be clamped together and to revolve upon each other.
(3) A method for forming a revolving bed in bottom of base-board.
A depressed ring or disc (or segments of same) is formed in bottom of base-
board, and, receiving a circular tripod (or other stand) head, forms a revolving bed
for said head, and centres bolt hole of said head opposite the bolt hole of said
flanged tube or shaft.
(4) A method for tilting optical lanterns, and the like, and giving draughtway
to the lamps.
A tilting-board, with adjustable support (or otherwise) is attached to top-side of
lantern box (a hole or slot in said tilting-board allowing handle of lantern box to
project) and when tilted, forming, by means of said hole or slot, an air passage for
better ventilation of lamp.
(5) A method for holding unframed lautern slides, and the like.
Hinged pieces of wood (or other material) are attached to, and lay flat upon, the
inside of side-wings, and when said side-wings are opened to form a table, the said
hinged pieces are erected and kept in position by side stops, thereby forming a box
or receptacle in which the operator may safely place his slides during an
exhibition.
(6) A method for forming a reading desk.
Double boards are so hinged and attached to lantern box that when opened they
form a support for books, papers, and the like, being in such a position that the
light from rear of lantern falls on said reading desk.
(7) Another method for forming a reading desk.
The rear end of lantern box is made to open outwards, and being binged at top
of said lantern box and supported by an arm or stay may be tilted outwards and
upwards to the required angle.
(8) Another method for supporting side-wings, and thereby forming table.
The side-wings open outwards and are supported by stays attached to lantern
box, in which case the revolving bed is formed in bottom of lantern box, the base-
board by this method being needless.
(9) A method for forming operating shelves to replace said table.
Antonhable and the said detached piece

page_text: being fastened to tripod (or other stand) head, the lantern box is so placed upon
said detached side or cover that the projecting parts of said detached side or cover
form shelves for support of lantern slides, &c.
Dated this 14th day of March 1892.
WILLIAM DOMMETT ASKEW.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Box for Optical Lanterns and the like.
I, WILLIAM DOMMETT ASKEW, Foreman Tailor, of 102 Manor Street,
Clapham, in the County of London, formerly of 20, Barnstaple Street, South
Molton, in the County of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved box in which an optical lantern (or the like)
is placed for safety and conveyance. The said lantern box is also adapted for use
as a support or stand for the lantern and its slides, and as a reading desk by the
operator, at the time of exhibiting the slides.
In the further description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a closed box, ready for conveyance from point to
point, and supposed to contain the optical lantern.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the said lantern box opened out ready to receive
the lantern upon its top; the two sides or wings opened out to form a table, with a
receptacle on each to hold unframed slides; and a reading desk at the back end to
receive books or manuscript.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the nearest wing let down, and showing the
interior of the closed wing on the other side of the lantern box. This view also
shows the tilting top or board on which the lantern is placed, and the reading desk
opened out.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a plan showing both wings, and the reading desk, opened out (as in
Fig. 2) and
Fig. 6 is an inverted plan showing the base board slightly displaced from its
normal position when the lantern box is closed.
The
In these figures a represents the parts or frame of an open rectangular box.
The four sides of the frame a are securely fastened together by dovetailing, metal
corner pieces or other suitable means. To the bottom part of the frame a, two
side wings b, b, are hinged so that they may be opened out to form a table, as shown
in Figs. 2 and 5, or closed up in the manner indicated in Fig. 1. These side
wings b, b, are supported when in their horizontal position as a table, (as in Figs. 2
and 5), by a base board c, pivoted at d to the bottom part of the frame a.
pivoted base board c, is capable of being turned at right angles to the frame a (as
indicated in Fig. 6), and being oblong it then projects beyond the wing faces of
the frame, and thus serves to support the wings b, b, as a table in the manner
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The pivoted base board c is strengthened by
cleats c¹ the central pair being cut away in a circular manner to clear the top of
the tripod and allow of the rotation of the base board thereon. The pivot d is
adapted to receive the tripod pin or screw, in the usual manner; and it is to be noted
that when the side wings 6, b, are let down for a table, (and supported by the
pivoted base board c) there is a total adsence of suspension chains or tapes which
have hitherto obstructed the rapid movements of the operator, when working in
darkness.
On each side wing b, a slide receptacle e is hinged at e¹, as shown in Figs. 2, 4
and 5. Each receptacle is made in oblong form, like a box, but without bottom or

page_text: lid. Each of its four sides is connected to its contiguous sides by a small hinge e³,
so as to be collapsible when laid flatways or parallel with the side wing b to which
it is hinged. But on turning it over on the hinges e' the sides stand upright at
right angles to its side wing (as shown in Figs. 2 and 4) and are held thus in
rectangular position by thin stops e³, ready to receive the slides. When beginning
to operate the slides are placed in their required order for exhibiting in the right
hand receptacle (for example), and as each slide is shown it is withdrawn from the
lantern by the operator, and consecutively deposited in the left hand receptacle ;
thus avoiding confusion, or delay. When all the slides have been exhibited, they
can be removed from the left hand receptacle (for example) and put away in a
suitable slide box ready for the next exhibition, without danger of disarrangement.
Subsequently the slide receptacles are turned slightly upon their hinges e¹ to clear
the stops then the sides e are collapsed by turning on their hinges e³ in the
direction indicated by the curved dotted lines in the lower part of Fig. 5; and
finally turned as far as possible upon the hinges e, into the flattened position shown
in the upper part of Fig. 5, and indicated by dotted lines on the inside of the
closed wing in Fig. 4.
The lantern is placed upon a tilting board which is hinged at one end (next to
the reading desk), and secured at the other end by thumb screws g, 9 passing
through slotted metal plates secured to the tilting board f. The screws y engage
with corresponding nuts (or the reverse) secured to the frame a, so that the tilting
board may be placed at any suitable angle required to throw the light of the
lantern upon the screen, and it is fixed in that position by tightening the screws g,
or their equivalent nuts, as the case may be.
A large orifice is cut through the tilting board, so as to clear the handle h by
which the box is carried. The handle h, is so made or adapted with reference to
the tilting board, that it will lie below the surface of the tilting board when the
lantern is placed thereon, and consequently a flat bed-free from projections-is
provided for the lantern.
A reading desk is hinged to the frame a so as to fold against the back of the
said frame when not in use. A strut j is also hinged to the bottom of the desk i to
extend the latter (as shown in Fig. 3) for supporting the lecturer's reading matter,
the free end of the strut; resting upon a support k secured to the frame a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A box arranged and adapted as a portable receptacle and exhibition support
for an optical lantern having in combination sides lying horizontally when opened
and forming supports for slides without obstructing chains or tapes, and a tilting
support for the lantern, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and
described.
2. A box arranged and adapted as a portable receptacle and exhibition support
for an optical lantern having in combination sides lying horizontally when opened
and supported upon a swivelling base, slide receptacles secured to the said sides, a
tilting lantern support having an orifice therein for a sunk handle, and a folding
and extensible reading desk, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and
described.
3. In combination with a portable receptacle and exhibition support for an
optical lantern the combination of a hinged side b, supported in a horizontal
position when opened, with an extensible and collapsible slide receptacle e,
substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1892.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.