Lantern

Claim 2

A lantern comprising a reflector having therein a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a surface which is part annular, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially perpendicular to said surface at the apex of the associated reflector element, and a socket for carrying a source of light at a location with respect to said surface to cause the light from the source that impinges on said reflector to be returned by said reflector substantially back to said location.

Claim 3

The lantern set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface is part spherical, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements is radially directed, and said socket is arranged to carry the source of light substantially at the center of curvature of said surface.

Claim 4

A lantern comprising a reflector having therein a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a surface which is part-spherical, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said location, and means for condensing the light from the source in at least one direction.

Claim 5

A lantern comprising a reflector having therein a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a surface which is part-spherical, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said location, and means for condensing the light from the source in at least one direction.

Claim 6

The lantern set forth in claim 3, wherein said reflector is mounted on said condensing means.

Claim 7

A lantern comprising a reflector including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical surface, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature, and means for condensing the light from the source in at least one direction.

Claim 8

A lantern comprising a reflector including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical surface, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature, and means for condensing the light from the source in at least one direction.

Claim 9

The lantern set forth in claim 5, wherein said body has a pair of side edges respectively lying in planes containing the center of curvature of said surface.

Claim 10

The lantern set forth in claim 5, wherein said body has a pair of side edges respectively lying in planes containing the center of curvature of said surface, said planes being skewed with respect to the vertical.

Claim 11

The lantern set forth in claim 5, wherein said reflector has an extent in one direction of between 60* and 180*.

Claim 12

A lantern comprising an annular sidewall having thereon a plurality of dioptric rings defined by planes disposed substantially normal to an axis about which said sidewall is symmetrically arranged, a reflector including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical surface, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the focal point of said dioptric rings and substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the sourcE that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature and light from the source that impinges on said dioptric elements will be condensed thereby in at least one direction.

Claim 13

A lantern comprising an annular sidewall having thereon a plurality of dioptric rings defined by planes disposed substantially normal to an axis about which said sidewall is symmetrically arranged, a reflector including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical surface, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the focal point of said dioptric rings and substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the sourcE that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature and light from the source that impinges on said dioptric elements will be condensed thereby in at least one direction.

Claim 14

The lantern set forth in claim 9, wherein said annular sidewall is substantially frusto-conical.

Claim 15

The lantern set forth in claim 9, wherein each of said dioptric rings extends substantially 360* around said annular sidewall.

Claim 16

The lantern set forth in claim 9, wherein said body has a pair of end edges respectively lying in planes disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the planes defining said dioptric elements.

Claim 17

The lantern set forth in claim 9, wherein said body has a pair of side edges respectively lying in planes containing the center of curvature of said surface.

Claim 18

The lantern set forth in claim 9, wherein said body has a pair of end edges respectively lying in end planes disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the planes defining said dioptric elements, and said body has a pair of side edges respectively lying in side planes containing the center of curvature of said surface, said side planes being skewed with respect to said end planes.

Claim 19

The lantern set forth in claim 9, wherein said reflector includes a plurality of elongated zones, the boundaries between adjacent zones being disposed respectively in planes substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the planes defining said dioptric rings.

Claim 20

The lantern set forth in claim 9, wherein said body has a pair of end edges respectively lying in end planes disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the planes defining said dioptric rings, a point on the upper one of said end edges and a point at the source of light and a point substantially on the lowermost one of said dioptric rings lying substantially on a straight line, the point on the lower one of said end edges and a point at the source of light and a point substantially on the uppermost one of said dioptric rings lying substantially on a straight line.

Claim 21

A lantern comprising an annular sidewall having thereon a plurality of dioptric rings defined by planes disposed substantially normal to an axis about which said sidewall is symmetrically arranged, a plurality of butting reflectors each including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical surface, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the focal point of said dioptric rings and substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature and light from the source that impinges on said dioptric elements will be condensed thereby in at least one direction.

Claim 22

A lantern comprising an annular sidewall having thereon a plurality of dioptric rings defined by planes disposed substantially normal to an axis about which said sidewall is symmetrically arranged, a plurality of butting reflectors each including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical surface, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the focal point of said dioptric rings and substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature and light from the source that impinges on said dioptric elements will be condensed thereby in at least one direction.

Claim 23

The lantern set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said bodies has a pair of side edges respectively lying in planes containing the center of curvature of said surface, the edges of one of said bodies butting against and mating with the associated side edge of the adjacent one of said bodies.

Claim 24

The lantern set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said bodies has a pair of end edges respectively lying in planes disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the planes defining said dioptric rings, adjacent ones of said end edges lying in substantially the same plane.

Claim 25

The lantern set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said bodies has a pair of side edges respectively lying in plAnes containing the center of curvature of said surface, the edge of one of said bodies butting against and mating with the associated side edge of the adjacent one of said bodies, each of said bodies having a pair of end edges respectively lying in planes disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the planes defining said dioptric rings, adjacent ones of said end edges lying in substantially the same plane, the planes containing the said side edges being skewed with respect to the planes containing said end edges.

Claim 26

The lantern set forth in claim 17, wherein said reflectors are arranged side by side.

Claim 27

The lantern set forth in claim 17, wherein there are two reflectors provided.

Claim 28

The lantern set forth in claim 17, wherein three said reflectors are provided.

Claim 29

The lantern set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said reflectors is 60* measured in a plane substantially normal to the planes defining said dioptric rings.

Claim 30

A lantern comprising an annular sidewall having thereon a plurality of dioptric rings defined by planes disposed substantially normal to an axis about which said sidewall is symmetrically arranged, a reflector including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the focal point of said dioptric rings and substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature and light from the source that impinges on said dioptric elements will be condensed thereby in at least one direction, said sidewall having a window therein horizontally aligned with the focal point of said dioptric rings, a mark being disposed on said sidewall 180* away from said window and horizontally aligned with said focal point, adjusting means for said socket to enable movement thereof while viewing through said window at said mark until the source of light is in alignment with said window and said mark.

Claim 31

A lantern comprising an annular sidewall having thereon a plurality of dioptric rings defined by planes disposed substantially normal to an axis about which said sidewall is symmetrically arranged, a reflector including a part-spherical plate-like body and a multiplicity of cube-corner reflector elements thereon, each of said reflector elements having an apex and a cube axis, said plate-like body being constructed of transparent material and having a substantially smooth part-spherical front surface, said reflector elements projecting rearwardly from said body, the apexes of said reflector elements defining a substantially part-spherical, the cube axis of each of said reflector elements being substantially radially directed, a socket for carrying a source of light substantially at the focal point of said dioptric rings and substantially at the center of curvature of said surface, whereby light from the source that impinges on said reflector will be returned by said reflector substantially back to said center of curvature and light from the source that impinges on said dioptric elements will be condensed thereby in at least one direction, said sidewall having a window therein horizontally aligned with the focal point of said dioptric rings, a mark being disposed on said sidewall 180* away from said window and horizontally aligned with said focal point, adjusting means for said socket to enable movement thereof while viewing through said window at said mark until the source of light is in alignment with said window and said mark.

Claim 32

The lantern set forth in claim 25, wherein said reflector is mounted on said sidewall between said window and said mark, said reflector having a hole therethrough and aligned with said window and said mark.

Claim 33

The lantern set forth in claim 25, wherein said sidewall has a further window therein spaced 90* from said first mentioned window and horizontally aligned with the focal point of said dioptric ring, a further mark being disposed on said sidewall 180* away from said further window and horizontally aligned with said focal point, said adjusting means being further operated to move said socket while viewing through said further window at said further mark until the source of light is in alignment with said further window and said further mark.