US 4,186,430 A · Telescoping candle lantern

Abstract

A candle lantern comprises a cylinder for enclosing a candle, a telescoping chimney with a protective reflector, a tubular candle holder with means for feeding an expendable candle thereby to maintain the wick at desired position relative to the reflector. The candle holder includes a wax dam comprising a cap and a tapered tube with a labyrinth seal therebetween for minimizing overflow and leakage of wax. The lantern may be telescoped from a compact and tight collapsed position to a fully telescoped lighting position to a partially collapsed operating position. Annular detents and ribs on the inside of the cylinder and on the outside of the chimney interlock at the three operating positions. An annular rubber ring is provided around one rim of the cylinder and a rubber plug with an annular rubber ring is provided at the other end of the cylinder. The rubber rings extend from the body of the cylinder to protect against damage due to shock. Further, the plug supports the candle holder and candle feed. Ribs and detents are provided within the ring and plug as well as the body and candle holder to lock the device in a shock resistant yet easily assembled and disassembled unit.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A lantern for holding a candle comprising:

a cylindrical base member;
a reflector shield telescopically coupled to said cylindrical base member;
a glass chimney mounted within said reflector shield;
a shock absorbing elastomeric plug mounted to said base member and closing one end thereof;
a candle holder mounted within said base member, wherein said candle holder comprises:
a base mount connected to said plug;
a tube having one end attachable to said base mount;
a spring disposed within said tube and engaging said base mount;
a cup connected to said spring for engaging the base of the candle;
said tube including an increasingly thicker, inwardly tapered inner wall portion toward the top end of the tube constructed of a thermally insulative material selected from the group consisting of nylon and Teflon for insulating the candle and engaging the top end of the candle;
and
an annular heat conductive metal cap covering the top end of said tube for protecting the top end of said tube and for minimizing the overflow of wax.

9 more elements

A candle lantern for holding a candle having a top end and a bottom end, and especially adapted for outdoor use such as camping, said candle lantern comprising a hollow cylindrical base member having perforations through the walls thereof for induction of air, a semi-cylindrical shield member adapted to be telescoped within said base member, said shield member being snap mountable to said base member in three positions, namely a first fully collapsed position, a second fully extended position, and a third position intermediate of said first and second position;

a hollow cylindrical glass chimney partially enclosed within said reflector shield for protecting a candle flame against drafts;
a cap member attached to an end of said reflector shield and including perforations therein for the exhaust of hot gasses;
an elastomeric annulus attached to an upper ring of said base member and including means for engaging said reflector shield and said selected positions;
an elastomeric plug for enclosing a bottom end of said base member;
said annulus and said plug extending radially outwardly of said upper rim and said bottom end of said base member respectively;
and
a candle holder, said candle holder comprising a tubular elastomeric base mount integrally formed with said plug and including fluting along the outwardly disposed walls;
a tube having minimal wall friction attachable to said base mount;
a helical spring disposed within said tube and at one end engaging said plug;
a cup engaging the other end of said spring for receiving a candle, said cup being concentrically stepped for accommodating various diameter candles;
said tube including an inwardly tapered inner wall portion adjacent the top end thereof for engaging the top end of said candle, said wall portion for engaging the top end of said candle being constructed of a thermally insulative material selected from the group consisting of nylon and Teflon;
and
a metal cap engaging and covering the top end of said tube and an annular portion of said inner wall and said outer wall adjacent said end for protecting said top end.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Telescoping candle lantern

Life of this patent

Telescoping candle lantern

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7