An Improved Folding Lantern.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Folding Lantern.
I, PAUL MICHEL of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris in the Republic of France, Doctor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for its object an improved collapsible lantern capable of
use for general purposes, but which may be very advantageously employed for use
on velocipedes.
This lantern consists essentially of two light frames or squares forming its top
and bottom, the sides are formed of a transparent substance easy to fold and
rendered incombustible, for instance, it may be prepared in a similar manner to
tracing cloth. One of these folding sides may be fitted with a sheet of mica or
glass to give more illumination, and to allow of the candle or other illuminant
being lighted.
A convenient way of carrying out this invention is as follows:-
This upper square or frame of the lantern is perforated with holes for allowing
the air to pass through, a second frame, similar to the first, but of slightly smaller
dimensions and recessed in the middle, forms the lower support. Between the two
a suitable paper tissue or fabric is stretched. This is sufficiently supple and
resisting and at the same time transparent and incombustible, and serves to form
the body of the lantern, it may be fixed to the upper and lower frames by any
suitable means.
One part of this paper or fabric is made to form a large fold, and
a little frame is fixed in it, forming a groove for a sheet of glass or mica to slide in,
intended to yield a stronger light and to allow of the lamp or candle being lighted.
The bottom of the lantern is formed of a little plate of thin metal, divided into two
parts placed at a short distance from one another, and connected by a sheet of india-
rubber or similar elastic material of sufficient thickness to offer resistance. An
opening is cut in this indiarubber with slits at each side, which, owing to their
elasticity, afford sufficient pressure to hold the candle which may be placed
therein. The insertion of the candle and its support is effected by bending the
strip at the centre and then replacing it in position, turning it round suitably,
the whole is then placed in the central recess formed in the lower square or
frame.
The lantern is folded up as follows:-
The front and rear sides fold up, the one in two and the other in four folds,
and the sides fold longitudinally in the centre in the manner of bags with a square
flat bottom. The upper and lower frames fit one in the other, completely covering
the fabric which forms the body of the lantern.
In order to fix the lantern in position, especially in the case of velocipedes, supports
or elastic bands having hooks are made use of, these can be stretched, if desired,
for attachment to fixed parts on which the lantern may be hooked, and that in such
a way as to maintain it in a rigid position.
The openings in the upper frame may, if desired, be provided with a register
grating for regulating the passage of the air.
In case the side of the lantern has a sheet of glass or mica, the special arrange-
ment of lower frame for the insertion and support of the candle may be dispensed
with.
Finally, the lantern may have an arrangement of folding spring strips operating
in the same manner as those in an opera hat.
Dated this 21st day of February 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Folding Lantern.
I, PAUL MICHEL of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris in the Republic of France Doctor,
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 has for its object an improved collapsible lantern capable of use
for general purposes, but which may be very advantageously employed for use on
velocipedes.
This lantern consists essentially of two light frames or squares forming its
top and bottom, the sides are formed of a transparent substance easy to fold
and rendered incombustible, such for instance, as tracing cloth may be if suitably
prepared. One of these folding sides may be fitted with a sheet of mica or glass
to give more illumination, and to allow of the candle or other illuminant being
lighted.
In order to allow of this invention being better understood reference will now be
made to the accompanying drawing on which:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lantern when expanded.
Figure 2 a side view of the same when partly folded up.
Figure 3 a view of the same when entirely folded up.
Figure 4 a plan view.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a plan view of a section of Figure 6 on the
line 1-2 and a sectional elevation on the line 3-4 of Figure 5 of the whole of the
lantern, in a plane perpendicular to that of Figure 1.
This improved lantern is composed of an upper square or frame A made of thin
iron or other suitably resistant, incombustible and light material and a second
frame B similar to the first, but of slightly smaller dimensions and recessed in the
middle, forms the lower support. Between the two frames some suitable paper
tissue C or fabric is stretched, which is sufficiently supple and resisting and at the
same time transparent and incombustible, which serves to form the body of the
lantern and which may be fixed to the upper and lower frames by any suitable
means. One part e of this paper or fabric is made to form a large fold, and a small
frame is fixed in it, forming a groove for a sheet of glass or mica to. slide in,
intended to yield a stronger light but this sheet of glass etcetera may be otherwise
suitably arranged. The bottom of the lantern is formed of a plate B of thin metal,
having in its centre a recess E in which an indiarubber washer F is arranged and
retained by means of a small plate E¹ which has a hole in its centre. An
opening is cut in this indiarubber washer which serves to receive and hold the
candle which may be placed therein. This single washer may be replaced by two
washers placed one above the other and each having a slot arranged at right angles
to that of the other in order to form the support for the candle.
The air necessary for combustion is supplied by the opening a arranged in
the upper part of the back of the lantern at the point where the two sides of
the fabric overlap as shown in dotted lines on the drawing. This opening also
serves for the escape of the products of combustion and also as a means for lighting
the candle.
The lantern is folded up as shown in Figure 2.
The front and rear sides fold up, the one in two and the other in four folds, and
the sides fold longitudinally in the centre in the manner of bags with a square flat
bottom. The upper and lower frames A and B fit one in the other, completely
covering the fabric which forms the body of the lantern.
Figure 3 shows the appearance of the lantern when folded up.
In order to fix the lantern in position, especially in the case of velocipedes,
supports or elastic bands S S¹ having hooks s are made use of, these can

page_text: be stretched, if desired, for attachment to fixed parts on which the lantern may
be hooked, and that in such a way as to maintain it in a rigid position as shown in
Figure 1.
These elastic bands S S¹ are themselves attached to a series of lugs or loops T
arranged in such a way as to be easily folded down on the top or bottom frame
they serve to render the lantern more solid by attaching it if necessary to the
steering bar of the machine.
Finally the lantern may have an arrangement of folding spring strips operating
in the same manner as those in an opera hat.
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. An improved folding lantern characterised by the combination of an arrange-
ment of upper and lower frames capable, or not, of being fitted one in the other,
and having stretched between them a transparent, flexible, tissue, fabric or paper
sufficiently resistant and incombustible, which constitutes the body of the lantern,
in which tissue, etcetera, a sheet of glass, mica or like substance may be placed,
substantially as described.
2. A lantern such as described in Claim 1, being held expanded in position by
means of elastic fasteners, or bands, which allow of its position being adjusted as
may be desired, or even by means of a series of springs similar to those employed
in opera hats, substantially as described.
3. In connection with a lantern such as described, a device whereby the candle
is held in the lantern, consisting of a slot or opening formed in one or more india-
rubber washers fixed in the bottom frame of the lantern: the whole substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 4th day of November 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.