Improved Folding Lantern.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Folding Lantern.
I, RICHARD BACKMANN, of No. 83, Hainstrasse, Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of
Saxony, German Empire, Merchant, 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:-
The present invention relates to a folding pocket lantern in which the side parts
are so hinged together that the lantern can be placed at will either in the folded
condition, or in the position for use, without unfastening the connections of the
side pieces, or having to re-unite them. By means of this method of connecting
the whole of the side pieces the lantern frame forms a permanent connected
whole, which only requires in order to convert it into a folded apparatus or con-
versely to restore it into the position for use, the putting in place of the cover
and the bottom as will be understood from the following explanation. Referring
to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shews the lantern extended for use in elevation.
Figure 2 shews the same seen from above.
Figure 2 shews a section of the lantern when folded.
Figure 3 shews a section of the lantern ready for use.
Figure 4 shews the method of folding.
Figure 5 shews the light holder.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, the lantern
consists of two truncated pyramids, each of which is composed of six side faces
marked respectively abodef and enclosed by the lid g and the bottom h. These
latter pieces can be folded over by means of the hinges s, Figures 3 and 4, but
the side pieces a to f are constructed so that the same can be moved for the pur-
pose of folding the lantern at the hinges or joints, but will remain continuously
connected together and consequently always form a single whole without refer-
ence to whether the lantern is set up or folded.
The securing of the lantern in the position for use (Figures 1, 2, and 3) is
principally effected by aid of the cover and the bottom h, because these parts
hold the side parts by means of the rim which laps over them, and also are
detachably connected with them by means of the springs n or in any other suit-
able manner at their front ends.
When it is desired to fold the lantern flat together, that is to say, to transform
it from the shape shewn in Figures 2 and 3 into that shewn in Figures 2 and 4,
it is only necessary, after the light holder which is normally fixed in m (Fig. 3)
has been removed (Figures 1 and 5), to fold back the cover 9 and the bottom h
in the direction indicated by the curved arrows (Figure 4). Under a slight
pressure in the direction of the arrow z applied to the frame the side parts bf
will then move on their hinges, and cause the lantern to assume the flat form
shewn in Figures 2 and 4. If the chimney (Figure 1) were fixed in the manner
hitherto usual in lanterns it would strike against the back part a when the part g
is folded over (Figure 4) and thereby prevent the complete folding of the lid.
On

page_text: this account the part i is constructed in the shape of a spiral spring (Figures 1
and 2) or the like form, so that it will, when the lantern is folded together,
(Figure 4) be pressed into the plane of the lid, and thereby reduce to the smallest
possible proportions the amount of space required by the lid and consequently
the space required by the folded lantern.
Instead of the shape shewn in Figure 1 the improved lantern might possess any
other suitable form without departing from the principle of the invention.
Having now particularly 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. Improved folding pocket lantern, the side parts whereof are all permanently
connected together by joints or hinges in such a manner that for the purpose of
holding the lantern in the position for use, or in the folded position respectively,
it is only requisite to open or shut the cover and the bottom.
2. A pocket lantern such as set forth in Claim 1 in which the chimney is con-
structed as a spring in such a manner that upon the folding of the lantern it can
be pressed into the plane of the lid for the purpose of economizing space, sub-
stantially as described.
3. The improved folding lantern, constructed substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of July 1898
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.