Collapsible Lamp Shade

Abstract

A lampshade which is capable of being flattened and comprising a tubular shade constituted by two halves formed with inturned flanges joined together at diametrically opposite points, springs in each half of the shade which extend between the flanges at top and bottom of the shade and can yield to permit the shade to be flattened, supporting means for supporting the shade in the expanded condition and a fitting carried by the supporting means for attaching the shade to a lamp to be shaded.

Description

This invention provides a lampshade which is capable of being flattened and comprising a tubular shade constituted by two halves formed with inturned flanges joined together at diametrically opposite points, springs in each half of the shade which extend between the flanges at top and bottom of the shade and can yield to permit the shade to be flattened, supporting means for supporting the shade in the expanded condition and a fitting carried by the supporting means for attaching the shade to a lamp to be shaded.

The shade may be made of any desired foldable material, for example paper or fabric. It is normally held expanded by the springs, which are preferably pre-bent wires, but can be flattened by pressure to enable it to be accommodated in an envelope in which it may be packed for sale. The packed lampshade can thus be stacked flat in a shop and will immediately expand to the working configuration when removed from the envelope by the purchaser.

The supporting means may be a telescopic strut permanently attached to the shade or it may be detachable and packed in the same envelope as the flattened shade. In the latter case it may be a non-telescopic strut which can be fitted to the flanges of the shade at a location intermediate of the depth of the shade or a pair of rings which can be clipped to the top and bottom of the shade, one of these rings carrying the fitting for attachment to the lamp.

Two embodiments of lampshade in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment in the expanded condition,

FIG. 2 is a corresponding sectional elevation,

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the flattened lampshade,

FIG. 4 is a corresponding plan view, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment.

The shade 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, which is of frusto-conical form when expanded, consists of two sheets 11 of stiff paper or similar material having their edges inturned and glued together to form diametrically opposed internal flanges 12. At top and bottom of the shade are springs, consisting respectively of pairs of pre-bent wires 13, 14, which extend between and abut at their ends against the flanges 12 and are respectively enclosed by inturned top and bottom flanges 15 and 16 on the shade which are glued to the inner face of the shade to retain the wires in place. The wires normally assume a semi-circular configuration and hold the shade expanded as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but nevertheless allow it to be pressed flat for enclosure in an envelope.

A strut 17, which is attached to the shade about midway in its depth, consists of a metal tube 18 and two stout wires 19 bent to a right angle and having limbs accommodated in the ends of the tube. The end of one wire 19 is freely slidable in the tube 18 but the end of the other wire is cranked as shown at 20 to provide a friction grip on the tube which prevents the tube from sliding on the wire during collapse of the shade, but nevertheless permits the tube to rotate with respect to the wire.

The other ends of these wires extend downwardly alongside the flanges 12 on the shade and are attached to the flanges by glued paper strips 21. The extreme lower ends 22 of the wires are bent inwardly to prevent withdrawal of the strut from the shade.

The strut 17 carries a fitting 23 for attaching it to a lamp to be shaded. This consists of a length of wire bent to form two overlapping circular loops 24 and attached at its ends 25 to the tube 18 by welding. Alternatively the ends 25 may be attached to the tube by glued paper strips.

The loops 24 of the fitting can be sprung apart to grip the bulb of a ceiling lamp, when the tube 18 is positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the loops extend upwardly, or the bulb of a standard lamp when the tube 18 has been rotated with respect to the wires 19 so that the loops extend downwardly.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, owing to the flexibility of the wires 13, 14, the shade may be flattened by lateral pressure, the wires 19 moving apart in the tube 18, to permit it to be accommodated for package in an envelope.

As an alternative to using a telescopic strut which is permanently attached to the flanges 12, the shade may be supported in the expanded condition by a non-telescopic strut carrying the fitting 23 and having down-turned ends which are removably accommodated in the pockets formed by the paper strips 21.

The lampshade shown in FIG. 5 is generally similar but in this case the shade 10 is cylindrical and is held expanded by two detachable rings 30, 31 which can be clipped to the wires 13, 14 at top and bottom of the shade and which can be packed in the same envelope as the flattened shade. The ring 30 carries a ring 32, attached to it by spokes 33 and serving to attach the shade to a lamp. The ring 30 is fitted to the top of the shade as shown in the case of a hanging lamp. For a table lamp the positions of the rings 30, 31 are interchanged, the ring 30 being fitted to the bottom of the shade.

As will be seen each of the rings 30, 31 has a flexible lip 34 to facilitate clipping of the rings over the wires 13, 14.

Claims

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lampshade which is capable of being flattened and comprising a tubular shade constituted by two halves, each consisting of a single sheet of flexible material formed at its edges with inturned flanges, opposed flanges of said sheets being joined together to form diametrically opposite pairs of joined flanges, springs of prebent wire in each half of the shade which extend in pairs between said flanges at top and bottom of the shade, are enclosed and retained by inturned top and bottom flanges on said sheets, normally maintain the shade expanded and can yield while retained by said top and bottom flanges to permit the shade to be flattened, supporting means for supporting the shade in the expanded condition and a fitting carried by the supporting means for attaching the shade to a lamp to be shaded.

2. A lampshade as claimed in claim 1, in which the supporting means is a strut carrying the fitting and extending between the flanges of the shade at a location intermediate of the depth of the shade.

3. A lampshade as claimed in claim 2, in which the strut is telescopic.

4. A lampshade as claimed in claim 3, in which the strut is constituted by a tube and two bent wires having ends accommodated in the tube and other ends attached to the flanges of the shade, one wire being freely slidable in the tube and the other having a friction grip on the tube.

5. A lampshade as claimed in claim 4, in which the fitting for attaching the shade to the lamp is constituted by a length of wire bent to form two overlapping circular portions and having its ends attached to the tube.

6. A lampshade as claimed in claim 2, in which the strut is non-telescopic and is removable from the flanges to permit of flattening of the shade.

7. A lampshade as claimed in claim 1, in which the supporting means is constituted by removable rings adapted to clip on to the top and bottom ends of the shade, one of the rings carrying the fitting for attaching the shade to the lamp.