Lantern lock

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is a novel lighting device for the film and video production industry.
The invention is a lantern lock assembly that replaces or attaches to the socket assembly of a hanging-style lamp and which locks a lamp into a fixed position relative the lantern lock.
The lantern lock assembly includes a clamping device that allows the lamp to be fixedly positioned relative the clamp.
Accordingly, the lamp may be positioned in a variety of positions limited only by the number of clampable positions.
In the preferred embodiment, the lantern lock replaces the hanging socket assembly and spreading unit of a hanging lantern of the type having an accordion-style lamp shade.
In this embodiment, the lantern lock includes a corded light bulb socket fixedly attached to an accordion-style lamp shade spreader.
The lantern lock also includes a stud that is matable with a clamping device.
In the preferred embodiment, the stud is ⅝" and designed to be clamped and held by standard film and video production accessories which accept a ⅝" or ¾" stud, such as a Mathews "C stand" with griphead.
In operation, a light bulb such as a standard-base 24 bulb or a floodlight is screwed into the lantern lock socket and an accordion-style lamp shade is fit over the spreader and hooked into position.
The lantern lock stud is inserted and locked into a clamping device.
In the preferred embodiment, the clamping device is a C stand griphead mounted on a "C" stand.
The C stand griphead is adjusted to position the lamp into the desired position with precision control.
The lamp is powered by plugging the lantern lock power cord into a power source such as a standard outlet.
The lantern lock is advantageous for several reasons.
First, because the lantern lock is clampable, a lamp originally designed for hanging on a cord is positionable in any desired position.
In addition, because the lantern lock fixes the lamp relative to the lock, the lamp is prevented from swinging.