Lantern Tote

Abstract

A tote for storing and transporting lanterns and carrying same either lighted or unlighted within the closed tote. The tote has three perforated fixed sides and a hinged fourth side or door and a hinged cover which can be latched down over the door. The carrying handle is insulated from the remainder of the tote and storage space is provided below a removable false bottom member on which the lantern rests.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fueled lanterns of the type commonly used by campers, sportsmen and others are generally made of metal and glass with fabric mantles and a control system for supply fuel and air in desired quantities to the mantle for burning. The lanterns, being subject to the usual rigors of camping and other outdoor activity are often damaged during storage, transportation, carrying aud use.

Various lantern containers, cases and the like have been devised in recent years such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,198,321 (1965) and 3,337,027 (1967). These devices, while providing means for storing, transporting and carrying unlighted lanterns, do not provide means for carrying lighted lanterns within the closed device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Basically, this invention resides in providing a simple, inexpensive, new and improved lantern tote which in addition to the usual uses enables one to carry about a fueled lantern in lighted condition while enclosed within the tote. The tote has three perforated side walls fixedly attached to a bottom member and a fourth side wall or door hingedly attached to one of the walls. A hinged cover or top member can be latched down over the door to hold it in closed position. A carrying handle mounted on the cover is spaced from the top member by an insulation gasket so that the tote may be carried by the handle with a lighted lantern enclosed therein. This permits the person to move from one area to another without extinguishing the lantern.

The perforations in the three side walls provide for the intake of air and the emission of light and heat.

The hinged cover and side door provide for easy accessiblity and allows the lantern to be inserted in the tote while lighted.

Provision is also made for carrying extra mantles, replacement parts, repair tools such as small wrenchs and the like under an easily removable false bottom.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention for exemplification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a lantern tote embodying the principles of my invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the tote shown in FIG. 1 with the cover and door swung open and the false bottom member removed.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts in both views, my lantern tote is generally referred to at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tote comprises a square bottom member 11 having an upturned peripheral flange 12. Three upright rectangular perforated side walls 13, 14 and 15 are fixedly mounted to the bottom member by spot welding same to the peripheral flange.

An upright rectangular door 16 is mounted by a vertical hinge 17 to the front edge of sidewall 13 for swinging between closed and open positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Sidewall 15 has a transverse front flange 18 against which the door closes.

A square top or cover member 19 is hingedly mounted at 20 for swinging between closed and open positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. The cover member has a depending flange 21 along three sides which overlaps side walls 13 and 15 and door 16 when the cover is closed. A LATCH 22 releasably latches the cover member down over the side walls and door as shown in FIG. 1.

A carrying handle 23 is hingedly mounted on the cover member for placing same in an upright manner for carrying and a substantially flat position for storage and packing. An asbestos gasket 24 is interposed between the handle bracket and cover member to insulate the handle from the heat of the lantern to facilitate carrying a lighted lantern.

As shown in FIG. 2, a false bottom plate 25 which is slightly smaller than the bottom member has a depending skirt portion 26 which can be set into and removed from the bottom member to provide a storage space for extra lantern mantles, other spare parts, small tools and the like. A recessed portion 27 is formed in the false bottom plate and a handle 28 is pivotally secured therein for movement between a flat position within the recess and an upright position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the handle extends upwardly of the recessed portion to facilitate grasping for removing the false bottom to provide access to the storage space.

It is understood that the present invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A lantern tote comprising:

a. a bottom member having an upwardly projecting peripheral flange,

b. three upright side walls fixedly attached to said bottom member flange, at least one of said side walls being perforated,

c. an upright door hingedly attached to one of said side walls for swinging between open and closed positions,

d. a top member hingedly attached to one of said side walls for swinging between open and closed positions, said top member having a depending peripheral flange which overlays the other two fixed side walls and said hinged door when said top member is in said closed position,

e. latch means for releasably latching said top member in closed position whereby said door is held in closed position by said peripheral flange,

f. a carrying handle for said tote hingedly mounted on said top member for movement betweeen an upright position for carrying and a flat position for storage,

g. a heat insulation gasket secured between and spacing said carrying handle from said top member,

h. a removable false bottom plate having a depending skirt portion removably received in said bottom member to provide a storage area between said bottom member and said false bottom plate,

i. a recessed portion formed in said bottom plate, and

j. a second handle pivotally mounted in said recessed portion for movement between a flat position within said recessed portion and a second position extending upwardly of said recessed portion to facilitate grasping said handle for lifting said false bottom plate out of said bottom member to provide access to said storage area.