Portable electric lantern apparatus

Claim 2

A new and improved portable electric lantern apparatus, comprising: a base assembly which includes a housing portion, a lamp-supporting portion supported by said housing portion, and a light-diffuser-retaining portion supported by said lamp-supporting portion, a plurality of strut members connected to said base assembly and projecting upward from said base assembly, a handle-supporting assembly connected to said strut members, a handle supported by said handle-supporting assembly, said handle located above said base assembly and above said strut members, said handle connected to said handle-supporting assembly by a pivoted connection, a light diffuser supported by said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, said light diffuser extending upward from said base assembly toward said handle-supporting assembly, a lamp assembly supported by said lamp-supporting portion of said base assembly, said lamp assembly being supported by said lamp-supporting portion such that said lamp assembly is centrally disposed in said light diffuser when said light diffuser is supported by said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, wherein a combination of top portions of said strut members and said handle-supporting assembly are positioned a sufficient distance from said base assembly and said light diffuser such that a clearance is provided between said light diffuser and said handle-supporting assembly which is sufficient to permit said light diffuser to be raised above said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly and to clear a top portion of said lamp assembly, to permit said light diffuser to be removed sideways from the lantern apparatus through a space between the strut members for replacement of said lamp assembly, and to permit said light diffuser to be returned to said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, a switch assembly supported by said base assembly for controlling operation of said lamp assembly, and an electrical power source which includes an electrical conductor assembly supported by said base assembly and connected to said lamp assembly and said switch assembly for providing electrical power to said lamp assembly and said switch assembly.

Claim 3

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said switch assembly is supported by said lamp-supporting portion of said base assembly.

Claim 4

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said handle includes a curved portion adapted to be hung from a wall fastener.

Claim 5

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said light-diffuser-retaining portion is comprised of a plurality of resilient leaves arrayed circumferentially around said light diffuser.

Claim 6

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said lamp assembly is powered by DC current derived from a voltage step down transformer and an AC to DC converter.

Claim 7

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said lamp assembly is powered by DC current derived from a battery supply.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 6 wherein said battery supply is stored in said housing portion of said base assembly.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein said battery supply includes rechargeable batteries.

Claim 10

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said lamp assembly includes a lamp that includes a bulbous bottom portion and pointed top portion such that said lamp resembles a flame.

Claim 11

The apparatus described in claim 1, further including: an illumination modulation assembly placed in an electrical circuit between said lamp assembly and said electrical power source and connected therebetween.

Claim 12

The apparatus described in claim 10 wherein said illumination modulation assembly includes a circuit interrupter for causing illumination from a lamp in said lamp assembly to flicker in simulation of a flame.

Claim 13

The apparatus described in claim 10 wherein said illumination modulation assembly includes a dimmer assembly for dimming illumination provided by said lamp assembly.

Claim 14

A new and improved portable electric lantern apparatus, comprising: a base assembly which includes a housing portion, a lamp-supporting portion supported by said housing portion, and a light-diffuser-retaining portion supported by said lamp-supporting portion, a plurality of strut members connected to said base assembly and projecting upward from said base assembly, a handle-supporting assembly connected to said strut members, a handle supported by said handle-supporting assembly, said handle located above said base assembly and above said strut members, said handle connected to said handle-supporting assembly by a pivoted connection, a light diffuser supported by said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, said light diffuser extending upward from said base assembly toward said handle-supporting assembly, a lamp assembly supported by said lamp-supporting portion of said base assembly, said lamp assembly being supported by said lamp-supporting portion such that said lamp assembly is centrally disposed in said light diffuser when said light diffuser is supported by said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, wherein a combination of top portions of said strut members and said handle-supporting assembly are positioned a sufficient distance from said base assembly and said light diffuser such that a clearance is provided between said light diffuser and said handle-supporting assembly which is sufficient to permit said light diffuser to be raised above said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly and to clear a top portion of said lamp assembly, to permit said light diffuser to be removed sideways from the lantern apparatus through a space between the strut members for replacement of said lamp assembly, and to permit said light diffuser to be returned to said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, a switch assembly supported by said base assembly for controlling operation of said lamp assembly, and an electrical power source supported by said base assembly and connected to said lamp assembly and switch assembly for providing electrical power to said lamp assembly and said switch assembly, an illumination modulation assembly placed in an electrical circuit between said lamp assembly and said electrical power source and connected therebetween, wherein said illumination modulation assembly includes both a circuit interrupter for causing illumination from said lamp assembly to flicker in simulation of a flame, and includes a dimmer assembly for dimming illumination provided by said lamp assembly.

Claim 15

A new and improved portable electric lantern apparatus, comprising: a base assembly which includes a housing portion, a lamp-supporting portion supported by said housing portion, and a light-diffuser-retaining portion supported by said lamp-supporting portion, a plurality of strut members connected to said base assembly and projecting upward from said base assembly, a handle-supporting assembly connected to said strut members, a handle supported by said handle-supporting assembly, said handle located above said base assembly and above said strut members, said handle connected to said handle-supporting assembly by a pivoted connection, a light diffuser supported by said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, said light diffuser extending upward from said base assembly toward said handle-supporting assembly, a lamp assembly supported by said lamp-supporting portion of said base assembly, said lamp assembly being supported by said lamp-supporting portion such that said lamp assembly is centrally disposed in said light diffuser when said light diffuser is supported by said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, wherein a combination of top portions of said strut members and said handle-supporting assembly are positioned a sufficient distance from said base assembly and said light diffuser such that a clearance is provided between said light diffuser and said handle-supporting assembly which is sufficient to permit said light diffuser to be raised above said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly and to clear a top portion of said lamp assembly, to permit said light diffuser to be removed sideways from the lantern apparatus through a space between the strut members for replacement of said lamp assembly, and to permit said light diffuser to be returned to said light-diffuser-retaining portion of said base assembly, a switch assembly supported by said base assembly for controlling operation of said lamp assembly, and an electrical power source supported by said base assembly and connected to said lamp assembly and switch assembly for providing electrical power to said lamp assembly and said switch assembly, an illumination modulation assembly placed in an electrical circuit between said lamp assembly and said electrical power source and connected therebetween, wherein said illumination modulation assembly includes both a circuit interrupter for causing illumination from said lamp assembly to flicker in simulation of a flame, and includes a dimmer assembly for dimming illumination provided by said lamp assembly.