Improvements in Reflector Lanterns.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 10th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1994
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reflector Lanterns.
I EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES of 38 Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
Patent Agent (a communication to me from Frederick A. Smith of Wollaston, in
the County of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, U.S. America, Inventor) do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to that class of lanterns which are adapted to be carried in
the hand to light the steps of the user and others, and which it may be necessary to
set down in various places to light the surrounding vicinity.
It is the object of the invention to provide a lantern of the kind mentioned with
means of greater area than the proper base, which may he adjusted when the user is
walking or moving about, so as to form a reflector of the light, which reflector, when
the lantern is placed in a stationary position and it is desired to light the surround-
ings, may be folded under the base, or bottom, and so form a broader and more
secure support for the lantern and in this way providing with greater certainty
against the upsetting of the device.
According to my invention I provide a frame or case which may be of any
suitable form and character, to hold and protect a light or luminous body contained
therein and which frame or case has a suitable bail or handle. The reflector, I
fashion of greater area than the base, which may be formed of metal or any other
material or substance capable of reflecting or mirroring a light. The reflector is
slightly concave or providing with a rim projecting beyond its face towards the
lantern, and is adapted to be adjusted at the side of the light in the lantern when
it is desired to employ it as a reflector and be also adjustable beneath the base to
form a secure and firm support for the lantern when a reflector is not needed, or
when it would disadvantageous to employ it. The means for pivotally or hingedly
connecting the reflector to the lantern and latching or holding it in adjusted
position may be varied. I preferably employ a link pivotally connected at one end
with the base and at the other end with the edge of the reflector. This enables
the latter to be raised to position at the side of the lantern with its reflecting face
opposite the light therein. and to be folded down beneath the base to form a
broader and more secure bottom or support for the lantern than it would otherwise
have.
A second link is pivoted at one end to the reflector and adapted at the other end
to engage a catch on the frame to hold the reflector up, or to be engaged with a
catch on the base to maintain the said reflector in place beneath the base. Any
other suitable means for latching the reflector in desired position may, however, be
employed.
Das his 10th day of January 1804

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reflector Lanterns.
I EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of 38, Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Frederick A. Smith, of Wollaston, in the County of Norfolk, and State of
Massachusetts, U.S. America, Inventor) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention bas relation to that class of lanterns which are adapted to be
carried in the hand to light the steps of the user and others, and which it may he
necessary to set down in various places to light the surrounding vicinity.
It is the object of the invention to provide a lantern of the kind mentioned with
means of greater area than the base proper, which may be adjusted when the user
is walking or moving about, so as to form a reflector of the light, which reflector,
when the lantern is placed in a stationary position and it is desired to light its
surroundings, may be folded under the base, or bottom, and so form a broader and
more secure support for the lantern and in this way providing with greater
certainty against the upsetting of the device.
To these ends the invention consists of a lantern comprising the construction and
combination of parts, all as I will now proceed to describe and claim.
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings and to the letters marked thereon,
forming a part of this Specification the same letters designating the same parts or
features, as the case may be.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lantern equipped with my improvement, adjusted to
form a reflector of the light.
Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the reflector adjusted in a position beneath
the base of the lantern to form a broader and more secure support for the
latter when it is placed in stationary position by being allowed to rest upon
its base.
In the drawings a designates the frame or case, which may be of any suitable
form and character to hold and protect a light or luminous body contained
therein.
6 designates a bail or handle with which the lantern may be provided in order to
enable the user to carry it about when desired, and c is the base, affording a
support for the lantern and a means of retaining the lamp d in proper place
and position.
All of the parts so far described may be formed as shown or be otherwise
constructed.
e designates the reflector, of greater area than the base c, which may be
formed of metal or any other material or substance capable of reflecting or
mirroring a light.
The reflector e as shown in Fig. 1, is slightly concave or provided with a rim
projecting beyond its face toward the lantern, and is adapted to be adjusted at the
side of the light in the lantern when it is desired to employ it as a reflector, and to
be also adjustable beneath the base c to form a secure and firm support for the
lantern when a reflector is not needed, or when it would be disadvantageous to
employ it.
The means for pivotally or hingedly connecting the reflector to the lantern and
latch or holding it in adjusted position may be varied. As herein shown, a link ƒ'is
pivotally connected at one end with the base c and at the other end with the edge
of the reflector. This enables the latter to be raised to position at the side of the
lantern with its reflecting face opposite the light therein, as shown in Fig. 1, and to
be folded down beneath the base c, to afford a broader and more secure bottom or
support for the lantern than it would otherwise have, as shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: is a link pivoted at one end to the reflector e and adapted at the other end to
engage a catch h on the frame a to hold the reflector up, as represented in Fig. 1,
or to be engaged with the catch i on the base c to maintain the said reflector in
place beneath the base, as portrayed in Fig. 2.
Any other suitable means for latching the reflector in desired position may,
however, be employed.
Owing to the concave shape of the reflector, its reflecting surface, when it is
turned around or to the position shown in Fig. 2, is above and out of contact with
the support upon which the lantern may be placed, and therefore liability of
scratching or soiling the face of the reflector is avoided, while the base c of the
lantern rests directly upon the back of the reflector. Furthermore, any oil that
may be on the base of the lantern is prevented from being deposited upon the face
of the reflector.
By my invention I am enabled to provide a lantern with a reflector which may
be brought into requisition when desired, as when it is carried to light a road or
pathway, and which may be employed to render the support for the lantern more
secure than it otherwise would be when it is stood upon its bottom, and the reflector
is not needed. And furthermore, by my invention, I am enabled to provide a
reflector of greater area than it could be if adapted to fit underneath and within
the base.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination with a lantern, of a concave reflector of greater area than the
base proper of the lantern, a link pivotally connected with the base and with the
reflector whereby the latter may be turned to a position to support the lantern on
its back, and means for securing the reflector in this position or when turned to a
vertical position at the side of the lantern substantially as described
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.