Lantern

• US 5,455,751 A
• Filed: 09/15/1994
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Furth, David A., Ferguson, Mark A., Lynch, Peter F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US08/306,876
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 362/157, 362/183, 362/190, 362/194, 362/195, 362/199, 362/387, 362/389, 362/399, 362/258, D26/44, D26/45, D26/50
• US Class Current: 362/194
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/88 Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/02 capable of hand-held use, e.g. inspection lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/06 Bases for movable standing lamps; Fixing standards to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/005 for portable lighting devices

Abstract

A lantern assembly is provided having a handle supporting beam. The handle is attached to a low profile base containing a channel defined about its circumference configured to receive and stow a length of electric cord therein. The electric cord is connected at one end to a pair of terminals extending from the top of the base, which also serves to attach the handle to the base. The opposite end of the electric cord is attached to a connector for coupling the lamp to the vehicle power supply. The lamp configuration is specially configured and adapted to easily convert a battery-powered lantern to one for use with a vehicle.

Claims

1. A hand-held lantern, comprising:

a base having a bottom and a top spaced from and interconnected to said bottom by a neck defining a channel extending entirely around said base between said bottom and top and open to an exterior of said base; and

a lantern assembly and a cover assembly attached to said top of said base.

2. The hand-held lantern as defined in claim 1, further including a pair of terminals disposed in said top and attaching said cover assembly to said top;

an electrical conductor having one end attached to said pair of terminals; and

an opposite end adapted and configured to be coupled to a power source.

3. The hand-held lantern as defined in claim 2, wherein said bottom includes a treaded foot disposed on a lower surface of said bottom.

4. The hand-held lantern as defined in claim 3, wherein said base has a length and a width greater than its height to provide a low center of gravity and a more stable base.

5. The hand-held lantern as defined in claim 4, wherein said electrical conductor is adapted to be wrapped around said neck and stored thereon.

6. The hand-held lantern as defined in claim 5, further including a raised bead extending from an upper surface of said bottom for detachably retaining said opposite end of said electrical conductor in said channel of said base.

7. A lantern, comprising:

a cover assembly including a handle and having a mounting plate interconnecting opposite ends of said handle, said mounting plate having a pair of electrical connectors defined therein;

a lamp assembly attached to one end of said handle and electrically interconnected to said pair of electrical connectors in said mounting plate;

a base assembly attached to said mounting plate of said handle, said base assembly including a circumferential channel configured to store therein a length of electrical conductor having one end electrically connected to said electrical connectors in said handle plate and an opposite end configured to be coupled to a power source.

8. The lantern as defined in claim 7, wherein said base assembly includes a top member interconnected to a bottom member by a lesser diameter neck portion, said circumferential channel having a bottom wall defined by said neck portion, a first side wall defined by said top member, and a second wall defined by said bottom member.

9. The lantern as defined in claim 8, further including a bead defined along at least said second wall extending into said circumferential channel.

10. The lantern as defined in claim 8, further including a pair of electrically conductive posts extending from an upper surface of said top member, each received in a respective electrical connector defined in said plate, and extending through said plate;

and

a pair of fasteners, each received over a respective post to fasten said handle to said base.

11. The lantern as defined in claim 8, further including tread attached to a lower surface of said bottom member.

12. The lantern as defined in claim 7, wherein said base is generally rectangular in plan view and has a width and a length greater than a height of said base assembly.

13. The lantern as defined in claim 7, further including a blinker lamp assembly disposed in an end of said handle opposite that receiving said lamp assembly, and electrically interconnected to said pair of electrical connectors through a switch.

14. The lantern as defined in claim 7, wherein said lamp assembly is pivotally coupled to said one end of said handle.