Impact resistant fluorescent lantern

Claim 1

An impact resistant fluorescent lantern for use with a source of electrical power comprising: a base; a light transmitting shade on said base and having a hollow interior disposed about a central axis; a multiplicity of thin, rectangular reflective panels in said hollow interior, each panel being flexible and adapted to move toward and away from said central axis when the lantern is subjected to impact, each panel having a pair of opposite edges substantially equal in length to corresponding edges of the remaining panels; a multiplicity of panel retaining clips in frictional engagement with the interior side of said shade, each panel being retained in a predetermined position within said shade by a pair of said clips with each clip joining an edge of one panel to a corresponding edge of an adjacent panel, the panels and clips cooperating to form a light reflector encircling said axis and located within the hollow interior of said shade; each of said panels being in a flexed condition between the clips retaining it to form an arcuate surface extending between the clips and to exert a restoring force on the retaining clips to urge said clips against the interior side of said shade so as to hold the clips in frictional engagement with the shade; a multiplicity of electric fluorescent light bulbs, a bulb operatively mounted on each of said flexible, movable panels, the flexed, movable panel providing an impact absorbing medium to preserve the integrity of said bulbs when the lantern is jarred; a cap positioned on said shade; means joining said base to said cap to confine said shade and reflector therebetween; and means for operatively delivering electrical energy from the source of electrical power to said fluorescent bulbs.