Improvements in Lanterns.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec.; 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lanterns.
I ALPHONSE L'HOIST of 106 Bonlevard d'Estrées, Chatellerault, in the
Republic of France, Gunsmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows :-
This invention for improvements in lanterns has for its object to provide a
folding lantern specially applicable for army use and which can be folded up for
transport and he opened out and readily fixed to a wall or the barrel of a rifle
either when stacked or on march and shall also indicate the company and batallion
to which it belongs; and consists essentially of a triangular prismatio frame whose
skeleton frame sides containing the mica or transparent sheets and the top and
bottom aro cach hinged to the back at such a height from the back that one side
folds over the back, then the other side over that side and finally the top and
bottom over the uppermost side. The back is provided with from ono to four
openings according to the number of the company and covered with a transparent
material coloured to correspond with the batallion.
A tube serving as a candle holder is connected to the bottom which is also
provided with three feet. The top is provided with a flanged opening to which the
chimney and cover is attached and is provided with a handlo. Tho back is
suitably porforated for ventilation and also carries two rings by which it can be
slung on a rifle barrel. The parts are scoured together by suitable bolts and
fastenings.
Dated this 28th day of January 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lanterns.
I, ALPHONSE L'HOIST of 106 Boulevard d'Estrées Chatellerault, in the
Republic of France, Gunsmith, 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 for improvements in lanterns has for its object to provide a folding
lantern specially applicable for army use and which cau be folded up for transport
and be opened out and readily fixed to a wall or the barrel of a rifle either when
stacked or on march and shall also indicate the company and batallion to which it
belongs; and consists essentially of a triangular prismatic frame whose skeleton
frame sidos containing the mica or transparent sheets and the top and bottom are
each hinged to the back at such a height from the back that one side folds over the
back, then the other side over that side and finally the top and bottom over the
uppermost side. The back is provided with from one to four openings according
to the number of the company and covered with a transparent material coloured to
correspond with the batallion.
A tube serving as a candle holder is connected to the bottom which is also
provided with three fect. The top is provided with a flanged opening to which the
chimney and cover is attached and is provided with a handle. The back is
suitably perforated for ventilation and also carries two rings by which it can
be slung on a rifle barrel. The parts are secured together by suitable bolts and
fastonings.

page_text: In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a lantern completely opened constructed according to
this invention and
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation with the top and bottom brought into the horizontal
position ready for fitting up the lantern for usc.
•
Fig. 4 is a front view of the lantern fitted up for use.
Fig. 5 is a front view of the lantern folded ready to put into a suitable case, and
Fig. 6 is a side view of the same.
The lantern is constructed of tinned iron the illuminating sides boing fitted with
mica, and having three hinged sides and a top and bottom also hinged, the sides
being arranged to fold up one on the other, and the top and then the bottom to
fold over the sides. The sides are fastened to the top and bottom by means of
copper bolts.
One of the three sides A of the lantern serves as a back and reflector
and to this back aro attached by means of hinges the two sides and tho
top and bottom. The hinges on the four sides of the back are disposed as
follows: The right hinge B is fixed on the edge and on a level with the back.
The left hinge C is bent at right angles and placed in front of the plane of the back
in order to allow this side to fold over the right side when the latter is folded over
the back. The binge of the top D is placed in front of the hinge of the second
side, and the hinge of the bottom E is placed in front of the hinge of the top.
These differences in the distance of the hinges from the plane of the back are for
the purpose of allowing the different pieces to fold one over the othor.
The back is provided, in addition to the holes for the admission of air, with
rectangular holes a, the number of which holes' varies from ono to four according
to whether the lantern is for a 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th company. The holes a are
closed by coloured mica plates, the colour indicating the batallion. The holes aro
placed in the corners of the back. The mica plates slide behind these holes in
guides T provided for this purpose.
.
Behind the back are placed two brass rings RS which serve to fix the lautern
to a gun barrel the rifle being carried ou the shoulder by the strap. The upper
ring R also serves to fix the lantern to stacked rifles it being sufficient to slip
this ring over the end of the barrel. It also serves to hang the lantern against
a wall.
Two hollow conical feot U soldered and rivetted to the part folded back nre
placed between the centre of the hinge and the lower angles of the back.
The right side F is constructed of four edge pieces of tinned iron soldered one to
the other, they are folded so as to form grooves. One of the edges B' also carries
the hinge fitting to the side of the back. The upper edge 1 carries a bolt, the
grooves in which this bolt works are in the same piece as the edge. The front
edge piece G that is the one opposite the hinge carries a bolt at its lower part this
bolt fits into a hole X made in the edge of the bottom of the lantern. The left
Bide is constructed similarly to the right side, it is a little narrower the hinge
connecting with the back being slightly raised. A bolt is placed in the upper edge
piece J and another in the lower edge K their object being to fasten this side to
the top and the bottom. Mica plates are let into the grooves of the sides these
grooves being pressed on to the mica in order to clamp and hold it. The top of
the mica plate is edged with a band of tinnod iron L.
The top is of tinned iron, the shape being triangular. One of tlio edges carries
the hinge connecting it to the back the two other sides have their edges bent over
at right angles. These edges are bent over in such manner as to provide a point
of support for the sides (of the lantern). On these edges are fixed two tubes
receiving the bolts to fix the top part of the sides. On the top au opening in the
form of a trapeze M serves for the passage of the smoke. The metal from this
opening is turned up at right angles on each of the longest sides and to these pieces
the chimney is attached,

page_text: The chimney N is of tinned iron and is placed on the opening made in the top.
It is in the form of a trapeze the four sides having the edges turned up at right
angles. The chimney is fixed to the top by four rivets. These rivets have double
shanks, the object being to prevent contact of the chimney with the top and to
allow the hot air to escape between the chimney and the top. The cover O is
placed over the chimney and servos to prevent contact, with the latter by the
hands. It is rivetted to the top by double shank rivets in order to diminish the
points of contact with the top. On the cover is placed a wooden handle P on a
brass wire rod. This handle is connected by means of a tinned iron saddle piece.
It folds down in front when the lantern is folded up.
The bottom is the same shape as the top, the edges are turned over in the same
manner and serve as support for the sides. The lower edge E' of the back carries
a hinge which connects the bottom to the back. The left edge carries a small
tube V in which engages a bolt. The right edge is bored with a hole X of suitable
diameter to receive a bolt. The bottom is bored at about its centre with a hole in
which to place the candleholder Y.
This candleholder is a tube of tinued iron and at a short distance from the upper
edge a rib is provided in order to more solidly fix the candleholder to the bottom.
A hollow conical foot Z in tinned iron similar to the two feet soldered to the edge
of the back is soldered and rivetted to the front part of the bottom.
The lantern being folded up in order to open it :-
The bottom and top are unfolded, the two sides pulled out and the top and
bottom arranged in place and fixod by means of bolts. The lantern is lit by
opening the right side which serves as a door and is fastened by means of the top
bolt after which the bottom bolt must also be lowered. (The left side which
supports the top and bottom should not be opened to light the lantern.)
To fold up the lantern the candle is taken out all the bolts are withdrawn the
top and bottom are folded back the right side of the lantern and then the left side
are folded against the back, the bolts being folded against the sides, and the top
and then the bottom are folded against the sides.
•
To carry the lantern on the end of a rifle it is sufficient to lift up the two brass
rings folded behind the lantern, and slide the rifle barrol through these rings. The
lower ring should pass over the end of the muzzle, and the upper ring butt against
the small tenon on the barrel preventing the lantern from sliding down.
dressing flag should also fit into this ring.
The
In order to hang the lantern on stacked arms the upper ring is raised from
behind and the barrel of the rifle slipped therein. The small tenon on the barrel
prevents the descent of the ring. The. lantern is kept upright by giving more or
less space between the rifles forming the stack. The same ring may serve to hang
the lantern to a wall.
In order to carry the lantern by hand take hold of the wooden handle fixed on
the cover of the chimuey. In a room this handle is to a certain extent warm, but
in the open air it is quite cold.
Having now partionlarly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
1. A lantern constructed to fold substantially as described with reference to the
drawings.
•
2. An army lantern provided with a definite number of openings covered by a
definite colored transparent material to indicate the company and also the batallion
to which it belongs substantially as described.
3. A folding lantern constructed and arranged substantially as described with
reference to the drawinge.
Dated this 28th day of 'Outober 1802