GB2089488A

GB2089488A - Lampshades

Info

Publication number: GB2089488A
Application number: GB8040027A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: NUTHALL LIGHTING Ltd
Current assignee: NUTHALL LIGHTING Ltd
Priority date: 1980-12-13
Filing date: 1980-12-13
Publication date: 1982-06-23
Also published as: GB2089488B

Abstract

A lampshade comprises a frame and a plurality of glass panels 24 each of which has a hole 26 at its top, the top member 10 supporting downwardly extending struts 16 connected at their lower ends by a scalloped base ring 18. A plurality of U-section supports 12 are fixed to the underside of the top member 10 so that the holed ends of the panels can project therethrough and be retained in this position by the fitment of an annular locking member 30 having a plurality of downwardly projecting pins 32. The number of pins corresponds to the number of glass panels and the pins project through the holes in the glass panels on the inner side of the U-section members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements In or RelatingTo Lampshades The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to lampshades, especially but not exclusively those lampshades comprising a framework which supports one or more panels which may be glass panels.

According to the present invention there is provided a lampshade including a frame and at least one glass panel having a fixing hole at one end thereof supported by the frame, the frame having at least one slot through which the holed end of the glass panel projects and a locking member having a pin projecting through the hole in the panel to prevent it from being withdrawn through this slot.

Preferably the frame includes a top member, curved struts extending downwardly and outwardly from the top member and a scalloped base ring attached to the ends of said struts.

Preferably the top member is annular and has a plurality of U-section supports fixed to the underside thereof by the ends of the limbs of the U to define said slots, one U-section member being provided between each adjacent pair of struts. The U-section members may be formed integrally with the top member and arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the top member.

Preferably the locking member is annular and has a plurality of pins projecting downwardly therefrom, the pins being equispaced and corresponding in number to the number of Usection members. The pins may be formed integrally with the locking member and arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the locking member.

Preferably the top member supports also a decorative member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the frame of a lampshade; Fig. 2 shows a plan of the frame; Figs. 3 and 4 show respectively end and side elevations of one of six glass panels mountable on the frame to form the shade; Figs. 5 and 6 show respectively a plan view and a perspective inverted view of a locking ring of the frame.

The frame of a lampshade comprises an annular top member 10 to the underside of which six U-shaped members 12 are fixed by the free ends of the limbs of the U to define, with the top member 10, six rectangular slots 14.

Conveniently the U-shaped members and top member 10 are formed by stamping and bending from a single sheet of metal. Six curved rectangular cross-section frame struts 1 6 are attached by their upper ends by spot welding to the top member at the junctions of the top member 10 with the U-shaped members 12. Thus the struts 1 6 are equispaced around the top member and extend radially outwardly and downwardly therefrom, their lower ends being fixed to scalloped circular cross-section bottom ring 18. A decorative sleeve 20 having a scalloped upper edge 22 is fixed to the upper surface of the top member 10.

Six petal-shaped curved glass members 24, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, are provided to cover the frame, each petal having a hole 26 formed near its upper end, the dimension of which end being such that it may protrude through a slot 14 for such a distance that the hole 26 is located on the inner side of the member 12. The petals are thus supported on the frame at least by the Ushaped member 12 and the scalloped ring 18.

They are retained in position simply by dropping a lock member 28 as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 downardly onto the top member 10, the lock member comprising an annular ring 30 and six pins 32 formed integrally therewith the pins lying perpendicularly of the plane of the ring 30. When the locking member 28 is placed in position each pin 32 passes through a hole 26 of a petal and thus extends across the slot 14 to prevent removal of the petal 24 through the slot.

The locking member may be retained in position by a suitable fixing member, may be held in position by the lamp holder for the electric bulb to be protected by the shade, or may be fixed by deforming the free ends of the pins after they have passed through the holes 26.

Various modificatins may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example several of the parts described above rather than being pressed and formed from sheet metal may be moulded from plastics material. The shade couid be designed such that any number of petals could be supported on the top ring and in such a modification there would be provided a Ushaped member and locking pin for each petal.

The dimensions of the shade may be varied between relatively wide limits.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A lampshade including a frame and at least one glass panel having a fixing hole at one end thereof supported by the frame, the frame having at least one slot through which the holed end of the glass panel projects and a locking member having a pin projecting through the hole in the panel to prevent it from being withdrawn through the slot.

2. A lampshade as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame includes a top member, curved struts extending downwardly and outwardly from the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements In or RelatingTo Lampshades The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to lampshades, especially but not exclusively those lampshades comprising a framework which supports one or more panels which may be glass panels. According to the present invention there is provided a lampshade including a frame and at least one glass panel having a fixing hole at one end thereof supported by the frame, the frame having at least one slot through which the holed end of the glass panel projects and a locking member having a pin projecting through the hole in the panel to prevent it from being withdrawn through this slot. Preferably the frame includes a top member, curved struts extending downwardly and outwardly from the top member and a scalloped base ring attached to the ends of said struts. Preferably the top member is annular and has a plurality of U-section supports fixed to the underside thereof by the ends of the limbs of the U to define said slots, one U-section member being provided between each adjacent pair of struts. The U-section members may be formed integrally with the top member and arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the top member. Preferably the locking member is annular and has a plurality of pins projecting downwardly therefrom, the pins being equispaced and corresponding in number to the number of Usection members. The pins may be formed integrally with the locking member and arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the locking member. Preferably the top member supports also a decorative member. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the frame of a lampshade; Fig. 2 shows a plan of the frame; Figs. 3 and 4 show respectively end and side elevations of one of six glass panels mountable on the frame to form the shade; Figs. 5 and 6 show respectively a plan view and a perspective inverted view of a locking ring of the frame. The frame of a lampshade comprises an annular top member 10 to the underside of which six U-shaped members 12 are fixed by the free ends of the limbs of the U to define, with the top member 10, six rectangular slots 14. Conveniently the U-shaped members and top member 10 are formed by stamping and bending from a single sheet of metal. Six curved rectangular cross-section frame struts 1 6 are attached by their upper ends by spot welding to the top member at the junctions of the top member 10 with the U-shaped members 12. Thus the struts 1 6 are equispaced around the top member and extend radially outwardly and downwardly therefrom, their lower ends being fixed to scalloped circular cross-section bottom ring 18. A decorative sleeve 20 having a scalloped upper edge 22 is fixed to the upper surface of the top member 10. Six petal-shaped curved glass members 24, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, are provided to cover the frame, each petal having a hole 26 formed near its upper end, the dimension of which end being such that it may protrude through a slot 14 for such a distance that the hole 26 is located on the inner side of the member 12. The petals are thus supported on the frame at least by the Ushaped member 12 and the scalloped ring 18. They are retained in position simply by dropping a lock member 28 as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 downardly onto the top member 10, the lock member comprising an annular ring 30 and six pins 32 formed integrally therewith the pins lying perpendicularly of the plane of the ring 30. When the locking member 28 is placed in position each pin 32 passes through a hole 26 of a petal and thus extends across the slot 14 to prevent removal of the petal 24 through the slot. The locking member may be retained in position by a suitable fixing member, may be held in position by the lamp holder for the electric bulb to be protected by the shade, or may be fixed by deforming the free ends of the pins after they have passed through the holes 26. Various modificatins may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example several of the parts described above rather than being pressed and formed from sheet metal may be moulded from plastics material. The shade couid be designed such that any number of petals could be supported on the top ring and in such a modification there would be provided a Ushaped member and locking pin for each petal. The dimensions of the shade may be varied between relatively wide limits. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. Claims

2. A lampshade as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame includes a top member, curved struts extending downwardly and outwardly from the top member and a scalloped base ring attached to the ends of said struts.

3. A lampshade as claimed in claim 2, in which the top member is annular and has a plurality of U-section supports fixed to the underside thereof by the ends of the limbs of the U to define said slots, one U-section member being provided between each adjacent pair of struts.

4. A lampshade as claimed in claim 3, in which the U-section members are formed integrally with the top member and arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the top member.

5. A lampshade as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the locking member is annular and has a plurality of pins projecting downwardly therefrom, the pins being equispaced and corresponding in number to the number of Usection members.

6. A lampshade as claimed in claim 5, in which the pins are formed integrally with the locking member and arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the locking member.

7. A lampshade as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the top member supports also a decorative member.

8. A lampshade substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.