Improvements in Folding or Pocket Lanterns.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in Folding or Pocket Lanterns.
I, ALBERTO BARRERA, of Via Ormea, 8, Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This folding or pocket lantern comprises;-
1) Three plates of mica, rectangular or approximately so, in shape, mounted in
metallic frames, united together by hinge-joints, and forming three sides of the
lantern;
2) A fourth plate or back, entirely of metal, of the same size as the three other
sides, and provided with a reflector, and joined to one of the other sides or frames
by a hinge-joint and to another of the frames by a suitable detachable joint ;
3) A metal top and bottom;
4) A candle-holder, with internal coiled spring, and screwed into the centre of
the lamp bottom. The top-piece is fitted with a small circular chimney, protected
by a cover, and rivetted or otherwise secured to the centre of the top.
In the centre of the lamp bottom is a circular hole with a ferrule tapped to
receive the candle-holder which is screwed to fit it. This hole allows of the
passage of a candle which is held by a spring clip attached to the bottom of the
lantern.
Holes or perforations are provided in the lamp-back above the reflector for
ventilating purposes.
The candle-holder is a cylindrical metal tube formed in two parts and closed at
the bottom, and into the lower of which is introduced the coiled spring which
pushes up the candle as consumed. The two parts of the candle-holder are screwed
together and the candle is introduced into said holder at the point of connection of
these two parts.
When the lantern is put together, the top and bottom are held in place by
prolongations or goose-neck terminations of the hinge-pins connecting some of the
plates together, these pins being rotated for the purpose.
This lantern may be formed of any dimensions or metal, and when taken apart
and folded up will occupy a small space and can be carried in the pocket and would
be especially useful for tourists and cyclists.
Dated this 16th day of August 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ALBERT BARRERA of Via Ormea 8, Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy 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 :-
This invention relates to a new folding lantern which can be made of any required
size and weight, according to the purpose, for which it is to be used.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which

page_text: Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lantern as when ready for use.
Figure 3 is a perspective view drawn to a smaller scale than the other figures
showing the manner in which the lantern may be folded up.
Figure 4 is an elevation of an oil lamp adapted for use in the lantern.
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a modification of the candle clip
represented in Figures 1 and 3 and
Figure 6 is an elevation of the candle holder which in Figure 2 is shown applied
to the lantern.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The lantern consists of three preferably rectangular mica plates ABC (Figure 1)
each mounted in a suitable metal frame A' A 2 A 3. Each of these frames at one
of its longer edges is hinged to its neighbour by a hinge pin or wire, R, these
hinges being so arranged that the plates can fold one on to another as shown in
Figure 3.
The frame A 3 is also hinged to a metallic plate D of the same dimensions as the
before mentioned frames A A 2 A 3 so that the three frames can be folded upon
this plate.
The plate D may be replaced by a fourth mica plate and frame so that the lamp
will then have four transparent sides instead of as shown in the drawings, three.
The mica plates are attached to the inner sides of the frames A' A 2 A 3 by clips
or flanges a conveniently formed in part with the said frames, except at the top
where the plates may be held by triangular or other turn buttons or equivalent d
Figure 1 in order to facilitate exchange of plates; or the plates may be secured
in position entirely by turn-buttons.
The wires or hinge-pins R of the two central hinge joints are each extended at
the top and bottom and bent to form a swan neck or arm R¹ so that when these pins
are turned round so as to bring the arms R₁ over and under the top and bottom
plates of the lantern the said arms will hold these plates in place.
The lower arms R₁ also serve as feet for supporting the lantern at the front, the
back feet being formed by extensions hi of the back plate D of the lantern.
At the lower part of the back plate D there is a vertically-movable sliding
plate or door N guided by a keeper o which door may be opened when it is desired
to light the candle or lamp. Inside the lantern there is a reflector P, attached to
the plate or door N with which it rises and descends; otherwise if it were not
movable with the plate N, it would prevent the lighting of the lamp through the
door N.
The cover E and bottom plate F are square metallic plates bent at two opposite
edges so as to form wings e which, when the lantern is in its operative condition
fit outside of the frames A' A 3 to hold them in position. The cover E and bottom
plate F are also hinged to the back plate D so, that when the lantern is in its
completely collapsed condition, all the plates composing it are folded one on
another. Thus folded, the lautern is reduced to very small bulk and thickness so
that it can be easily carried in the pocket.
To the cover E is movably connected a handle M of conveniently rectangular
or curved shape and if desired provided with a hook or a ring according to the
purpose for which the lantern is to be used, that is to say whether it is to be used
by tourists, military people or by passengers on railways for facilitating reading
in the carriages. In the centre of the cover there is an opening L which serves as
an air hole or chimney the surrounding edges being conveniently bent upwards,
this opening is covered with a small cap L' Figures 2 and 3 supported on feet L 2
at a necessary distance above the cover E for the passage of air. In the centre of
the bottom plate there is a hole H to which may be fitted an internally threaded
ferrule H (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) for screwing in the candle socket Q
(Figure 2). To the bottom plate G there is attached a spring G to which a small
metallic plate G 2 may be attached, which presses edgewise into or against the
candle and so keeps it in place. This spring is used generally when the candle

page_text: is not enclosed in a candle socket or holder Q. The plate G 2 is provided with an
extension G3 which passes through a curved slot G 4 in the bottom plate G so
that the plate may be operated from the outside of the lantern. When it is desired
to secure a candle in position the plate is moved so as to leave the opening H
unobstructed and then the candle is passed into the opening and the plate released
when the candle will be held between the edge of said plate and that of the
opening H.
The spring G¹ as shown in Figure 5 may be made a double pressure spring by
means of two branches rs which cross each each other and are free to move under a
keeper t which holds them in position on the bottom; by pressing the spring ends
nearer together the opening between them and the edge of the opening H is
enlarged and the candle can then be inserted, and when these spring ends are
released the candle will be securely held between the spring rs and the edge of the
opening H.
The candle socket Q is of ordinary shape like those used in, carriage lamps, that
is to say it consists of two cylindrical tubes one of which is introduced into the
other and held therein by a bayonet-joint n Figures 2 and 6.
A spiral spring Qin the lower tube pushes the candle upwards.
The bottom
of the lower tube is perforated for the passage of air round the candle and together
with holes Q2 in the upper tube produce the necessary draught.
A screw threaded collar Q 3 fixed upon the upper tube serves for screwing the
candle socket Q to the bottom plate G which, as before explained, is provided
with the screw threaded ferrule H for that purpose, the said ferrule projecting
from the under or outer side of the bottom plate.
If an oil lamp is to be used instead of candles, then a small lamp Figure 4 with
a preferably rectangular reservoir may either be placed inside the lantern or
attached to it as by a screw threaded collar S to the before mentioned ferrule H¹.
The lamp is preferably provided with a cap S¹ which can be screwed on the
collar S to prevent spilling of oil when the lamp is not lighted. If desired when
the lamp is adapted to be secured to the ferrule H a screw-threaded ring may be
fixed on the back plate D and the cap S¹ may be screwed on to said ring when not
required to cover the wick.
It is not absolutely essential that the ferrule H' should be provided for receiving
the screwed collar of the candle holder or lamp as the spring controlled plate G 2
or the spring clips Figure 5 may be caused to engage with the screwed collar or
any other suitable roughened surface or notch ou the candle-holder or lamp.
The free edge 6 of the back of the lantern and the edge a of the frame A¹ are
formed with hooks wings or equivalent b' a' respectively so that when they are
brought together they can be engaged with each other and give the lantern a square
shape. If afterwards the bottom plate G and cover E are placed in position and the
hinge-pins R are turned round till the arms R' hold the bottom plate and cover in
place then the lantern is ready for use.
The frames A' A 2 A 3 are provided with suitable openings a 2 for ventilation
purposes.
The arms R' are preferably more or less in the form known as "swan-neck " the
extreme ends being turned outwards from the frames A¹ A 2 A 3 so that they may
act as cams upon the cover and bottom plate G should these latter not be quite in
their proper closed position when the arms R' are turned; I may however make
the arms of any other desired shape. Instead of securing the several walls of the
lantern in position by means of the arms R' as previously described I may employ
hooks & eyes or other convenient fastenings for the purpose.
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 :-
1. In a folding lantern the combination with hinge pins connecting together the

page_text: vertical walls of the lantern of arms formed in part with the hinge pins substantially
as and for the purpose described.
2. In a folding lantern the employment of four vertical walls and a bottom
plate and cover and hinges connecting all these parts together so that when the
lantern is out of use they may be folded one on to another in substantially the
manner described and illustrated in the drawings.
3. The combination with a folding lantern of a spring clip such as shown in
Figure 1 or Figure 5 for securing a candle or lamp in position substantially as.
.described.
4. In a folding lantern the combination with a sliding door or plate such as N
for facilitating the lighting of the lamp of a reflector attached to it substantially as
described.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete folding
lantern substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 18th day of May 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.