IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE LANTERNS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Barnes Windle at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
August 1866.
I, GEORGE BARNES WINDLE, of 56, Maiden Lane, in the City of New York,
in the United States of America, but now residing at 53, Gracechurch Street,
in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE LANTERNS," to be as
follows:-
The lantern which is the subject of this Invention is constructed of tin plate,
or of any other suitable metallic material or materials, and when extended and
prepared for use is of a rectangular form. One side of the lantern consists
of a shallow box, the exterior side of which is hinged to the frame or rim
(so as to be capable of being opened), and has attached thereto a receptacle
or receptacles for containing a store or reserve of candles and matches, such
receptacle or receptacles being separated from the remainder of the lantern by
a metallic plate which partially extends across the other side of the box. In
that portion of the box which is not separated from the interior of the lantern
a socket or holder for the candie employed for the purposes of illumination is
placed, the same being attached to a strip of metal mounted on a pivot, and
by turning which the candle can be moved to the centre of the lantern. One
end of this strip of metal goes into a slot in the bottom of the shallow box
and maintains the lantern in its extended form. The two sides of the lantern
at right angles to the box are hinged to the latter in any suitable manner,

page_text: such sides being again respectively hinged to the portion of the lantern
opposite to and parallel with the box when the lantern is in use.
The top
and bottom of the lantern are also respectively binged to two of the sides
thereof, and when the same is extended for use, the top, which is perforated
to allow of the admission of air and the emission of the products of com-
bustion, is connected by means of tongues and slots, or in any other suitable
manner with the side of the lantern opposite that to which it is hinged. The
moveable sides of the lantern are thus held in extension with sufficient
rigidity, that object being also assisted by the bottom of the lantern, which is
so placed as to be capable of being brought into a horizontal position a little
above the lower edges of the respective sides. In order to render the lantern
portable it is only necessary to turn the bottom and top thereof upon their
hinges, and bring them into such positions as to lie flat, the one in the
shallow box, and the other on the exterior of the opposite parallel side of
the lantern or upon either of the respective sides thereof. Upon two of the
other sides of the lantern being respectively turned upon their hinges and
pressed, the one upon the shallow box and the other upon the remaining
side of the lantern, and then turning the latter upon the joint by which it is
hinged to the shallow box, and bringing it into parallel juxtaposition there-
with, the lantern is so reduced in size as to occupy little more space than the
shallow box itself. A handle should be provided which can also fold against
one of the sides of the lantern. When thus compressed and reduced in bulk
the lantern can be readily placed in the pocket of the person using it without
inconvenience. For the purpose of affording illumination a portion of one or
more of the moveable sides of the lantern should be removed, and the aperture
filled or covered with glass, talc, or other suitable transparent or translucent
material.