GB2513254A - Lampshades - Google Patents

Abstract

A lampshade comprises a support-frame having upper and lower rings 2, 3 mounted parallel to one another, and a replaceable light-diffusing inner covering 1 between the rings. The covering is an elongate flexible strip 1 of semi-transparent plastics that extends lengthwise completely round the frame with its opposite longitudinal edges (10, 11, Fig. 4) engaged in respective open circumferential channels (7, 8, Fig. 3) of the upper and lower rings 2, 3. Gaps 15 at the same location round the frame in the outer walls of the channels enable the strip 1 to be fed lengthwise into the channels for securing its ends together. The channels may be a series of individually-grooved elements spaced from one another round the frame. A decorative outer strip 9 may also be engaged at its edges within the channels of the rings 2, 3.

Description

Laitp shades This invention relates to larroshades.

The invention is concerned with lampshades in which the covering of nbc lompshade can be ieadiiy replaced so as to enable the decorative or other effect provided by the iampshade to be easily changed.

Accordrng to one aspect of the present invention a lampshade compri.sing a support-frame having upper and lower rings that are mounted in the frame substantially parallel to one another arid a covering of the frama between the upper and lowen rings, wherein circumferential channels are defined in the upper and Lower rings respectively, the channel of the upper ring opens downwardly towacls the lowe ring and the channel of the lower ring opens upwardly towards the upper ring, and the covering of the lampshade comprises an elongate flexible strip that extends lengthwise round the frame for retention there with its opposite, longitudinal edges engaged respect ivelv in the channels of the upper and lower rings Each off the channels defined in the upper and lower rings may be defined by a porpheraL groove in the respective ring or by a series of individaaily-groovod elements spaced from one another round the ring--periphory. ln the former case, a smail gap is desirably provided in the outer wail of each of the peripheral grooves of the two rings at the same tocation round the frame.

These gaps, and correspondnglt-locatod gaps between the individually-grooved elements, facilitate entry arid feeding of the cover Lng strip throughout its full length with its two longitudinal edges engaged in the defined channels of the frame.

The frame of the lampshade may be of a generally-cylindrical configuration and in this case, the covering may simply be an eiongane rectangular strip having a length sufficient to extend completely round the foam with its ends joined one to the o:her.

As an alternative where:he iarnpshade is of frusto-conical form, the covering may be an elonga:e s:rip which has opposite longitudinal edges of unequal lengths to adapt to the part-conical fo:m with:5 ends joined to one another. In both forms, the joining to one another of the s:rip-ends may be with the two ends held butted on:o one another, or bonded overlapping one another.

The elongate flexible strip of the covering may be a strip of a semi -transparent plastics material, and may have a rr:t surface that re:ains a decorative pattern, image or images, in colour or otherwise. The decorative pattern, Image or images may be transferred:0 ode strip for example, directly by brush or pen, by photographic process, or by Laser or irk-jet prin:cr.

hithin the covering of the lampshade there may be an inner, :ranslucent covering for diffusion of light emitted from within the lampshade for the purpose of enhancing the decorative effect of light transmit:ed fro:T the lampohade. The inner covering may comprise an elongate strip that is retained on the support-frame by engagement of its ocpcsite longitudinal edges in the circumferen:ial channels of the upper and lower rings.

A lanpshade according to:he present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figmres I and 2are respectively a side view and a plan illustrative of the basic form of the lamashade according to the Lnvention, prior to fitting with an outer covering; Figure 3 shows at a) (h) and (c) sec:ional views taken on the line 111-ill of Figure 2 at:hree successive stages respectively in the covering of the lampshade in accordance with the invention; Figijre 4 is illustrative!Qf a flexible plastics strip for providing the outer covering of the lampshade in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is ilustrative schema. cally of a stage in the fitting of the outer covering of Figure to the lampshade; ard Figure 6 is a side view of the iampshade of the invention as fitted with the outer covering of Figrire 4.

The lampshade to be described is shown in Figure 1 in a stage that is preliminary tc the fitting tc it of its outer covering. More especially in this regard, thu lajnpshade is shown in Figure 1 as already fitted wIth an inner covering for diffusion of light.

Referring to Fiaxes 1 and 2, the inner light-diffusing covering 1 is retained *on the metal support-frame!of the lampshade. The frame comprises upper and lower rings 2 and3o f equal diameter that are retained parallel arid spaced apart from one another in a cylindrical configuration by tour wire struts 4 that each interconnect the rings 2 and 3 and are bonded at either end to then'-A retaIning-ring 5 for attaching the iampshade frame 1 to a lamp-holder (not shown) is located on the axis of the cylindrical structure just below thc upper ring 2 by tour stays 6 attached to the upper ring 2; the struts 1. the ring 5 and the stays 6 are shown in Figure i in brolcen line.

As illustrated a: (a) of Figure 3, the upper and lower rings 2 and 3 are eaoti of channel or grooved-form. More particularly, the mounting is such that the channel or groove 7 of the upper ring 2 is open downwardly towards the lower ring 3, and the onannel or groove 8 of the lower ring 3 s open upwardly towards the upper ring 2. The inner light-diffusing covering 1 is retained on the larnpshade-frane trapped with its top and bottom longitudinal edges located in the channels or grooves 7 and 8 as Illustrated at (b) of Ficjure 3. furthermore, it is into the space between the upper and lower rings 2 and 3 that the outer covering 9 (Figure 4) of the iampshade is entered to be similarly retained with its upper and iower edges trapped in the channels or grooves 1 and 8 as illustrated at (c) of figure 3, to give the required decor-ative effect overall to the lampshade.

In the latter respect, and referring to Figure 4, the outer covering of the Iampshade has the form of an elongate, rectangular strip 9 of flexible, resilient plastics with longitudinal edges 10 and 11 and ends 12 and 13. The strip 9 Is semi-transparent arid has a rnatt surface on its front face 14 that retains a coloured *decorative pattern, iuge or images applied:o It by laser or Ink-jet printer.

The strip 9 is deployed on the lampahade-frame in front of the light-diffusing covering I, by inserting the end 12 as the leading end, into the space between the upper and lo-'er rings 2 and 3 with Its edge 10 entened in the channel or groove 1 and the edge 11 entered in the channel or groove H. Entry of the edges 10 and 11 into the respective channels or grooves 7 and 8 is facilitated by gaps 13 at: the same location rojnd the frame in the outer walls of the channels or grocves 7 and 8. The gaps 15 enable the end 12 of the strip 9 to he entered and fed (as indicated schematically in Figure 5) round the frame in the channels or grooves 7 and 8 without any need for longitudinal bending of the strip 9 to engage the edges 10 and 11 in the channels or grooves 7 and 8. The length of the strip 9 is just sufficient to encircle the frame and bring the two ends 12 and 13 into abuts:eet with one another. The two ends 12 and 13 -are retained butted onto one another to complete the outer eovoring of the lampshade, by transparent adhesive-taoe (net shown) applied bridging the two ends 12 and 13; alternatively, the strip 9 may be retained with its two ends 12 and 13 bonded overlapping one another.

H

The overall appearance and decorative effect of the laxnpshade is enhanced by the diffusion of the light emitted by the lamp through the inner covering 1. As an alternative to the diffusion being brought about cy the inner covering I, it may be brought about wholly or prrncically by the outer covering provided by the strip 9 This would allow the inner covering i to be dispensed with.

Where the covering 1 for the laiapshade is provided as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, it is in the form of a diffusing strip which is of the same or similar dimensions to those of the strip 9, arid is entered and retained with its ongitudinal edges in the channels or grooves 7 and 8, in a simiiar way to the strip 9, prior to, or with, the strip 9.

The outer covering provided by the strip 9 can he readily roved from the lairpshade and replaced when desired by a corresponding strip that provides a different decorative or other effect. The two ends 12 and 13 of the strip 9 are first released from one another, and the strip 9 withdrawn 1engthvise out of the channels or grooves 7 arid 8 through toe slots lb ready for entry of the replacement strip through the slots 15. The replacement strip is dxawn lengthwise round the lornpshade frame in the channels or grooves 7 and 8 to bring its twc) ends together for retention together, in the same way as used tc establish the strip 9 as the outer covering.

Claims (3)

1. Claims: 1. A lampshade comprising a support-frame having upper and lower rings that are mounted in the freune' substantially parallel to one another, and a covering of the frame between the upper and lower rings wherein circumferential channels are defined in the upper and lower rings respectively? the coannel of the upper ring opens docward1y towards the lower ring and the channel of the lower ring opens upwardly towards the upper ring, and the covering of the lanpshade comprises an elongate flexible strip that extends engthwise round the frarLe for retention there with its opposite, longitudinal cages engaged respectively in the channels of the upper and lower rings.
2. 2. A lampshade according to claim 1 wherein the circumferential channel of one or of each of the rings Is defined by a peripheral groove of the respective ring.
3. 3. A lainpshade according to claim 2 wherein a gap is provided in the outer wall of the groove of the respective ring.

   4 A 1 airpshado according t*o cia i in 1 wherein the circumferential channel of each of the rings is defined by a peripheral groove of the respective ring, and a gap is provided at the same location round the frame in the o-uter weT l of the peripheral groove of each ring to enable the covering strip to he fed lengthwise onto the frame into retention there with its opposite, longitudinal edges engaged respecticely in Lhe channels of the upper and lower rings 5. A lampshade according to claim 1 wherein the circumferential channel of one or of each of the rings is defined by a series of individually-grooved elements spaced from one another round the periohery of the frame.6. A lainpshade according to any one of claims 1 to S wherein the frame is of a generalIy-cyIindricaI or frusto-conical configuration, and the elongate strip of the covering extends lengthwise completely round the frame with its ends joined to one another.7. A lampshade according to claim 6 whoroin the ends of the elongate strip of the covering are held butted onto one another or bonded overlapping cne another.8. A lampshade according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the elongate strip of the covering comprises a strip of semi-transparent plastics material.9. A lampshade according to claim S wherein the elongate strip of the covering has a matt surface retaining a decuraLice paLtern, image or images, in colour or otherwise.10. A lampsha*de according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein within the covoring of the lamoshade there is an inner, transhioent covering for diffusion of light emitted from within thu lampshade to enhance the decorative effect of light transmitted frcm the lampshac3e.11. A iampshade according to claim 10 wherein the inner covering is in the form oi an elongate strip that is retained on the support-frame by engagement of its opposite longitudinal edges in the circumferential channels of the upper and lowor rings.12. A lampshade substantially as hereinbefore describod with reference to the accompanying drawings.