GB2446209A - Interlocking elements forming a cone shape - Google Patents

Abstract

An interlocking form comprises 17 elements: 1 disc-shaped base element (fig. 1) and 16 flap elements (fig. 2) which connect to the base. The base element is formed into a cone (fig. 6) by a tab/hole engagement at A and each flap element has a pair of tabs which then interlock with a respective pair of base element apertures (fig. 7). Once connected the elements form a cone shape which can be used as the supporting structure for a light shade hung around a ceiling mounted light bulb fitting. The elements can be formed from sheets of paper, cardboard or plastics (e.g. polypropylene).

Description

I

Interlocking form which enables the construction of light shades hung around ceiling mounted light bulb fittings Many light shades are made from flexible materials such as card, paper, polypropylene or plastic, and usually require some means of maintaining their shape so that they can hang around the light bulb in a safe and effective way. This is usually achieved with a wire frame which connects to the light bulb fitting, thereby forming the supporting structure of the light shade The design being put forward for this patent application, which shall be referred to as the interlocking form' from here on, provides an alternative means to achieve this All elements of the interlocking form can be made from flexible sheet materials such as paper, card, polypropylene or plastic with a thickness of anything between 0.1mm to 1.2mm The interlocking form's structure arises from the specific arrangement and positioning of a series of holes and a flap which are cut into one circular shaped element, the disc', into which 16 other parts fit (The disc' is not a true disc in that it has a section cut away from the edge to the center, stopping it from being an entirely closed circle but the term disc' shall be used from here on to describe this element of the design) The 16 other parts are all the same, each beanng 2 flaps which are designed to be inserted into and interlock with the holes which are cut into the disc. Once all 16 pieces of material which bear the flaps have been correctly inserted into the disc, a cone-like structure is formed The form and the way in which the flaps and the holes are designed and arranged is unique.

The interlocking form will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1: Shows the disc.

Figure 2: Shows the uppermost part of the piece of material bearing flaps which interlock with the holes in the disc.

Figure 3: Shows the disc design with technical specifications Figure 4: Shows the flap design with technical specifications Figure 5: Shows how flaps are inserted into the disc.

Figure 6: Shows how the disc forms a cone when it is flexed round itself.

Figure 7: Shows how pieces of material bearing the flaps fit into the disc to form the cone (just 4 inserted pieces of material with flaps shown, not the total 16 pieces of material with flaps) Figure 8: Shows how the cone fits around a standard ceiling mounted light bulb fitting Figure 1 shows the disc shape, it features 36 round-cornered squares of equal size, a cut away section from the edges to the centre of the disc, a flap and a semi-circular hole into which the flap is inserted once the disc has been flexed into a cone shape. Figure 2 shows the upper part of one of the 16 pieces of material bearing 2 flaps which attach to the disc shape shown in figure 1 The 2 flaps are inserted into the disc as per figure 5 Figures 3 and 4 show the technical specifications for the disc and the material beanng flaps Figure 6 shows how the disc forms a cone once it has been flexed into position The part marked A' at the top of the cone shows how the flap fits into the hole adjacent to it, this prevents distortion by distributing the weight of the light shade equally around the cone shape Figure 7 shows how pieces of material bearing the flaps fit into the disc to form the cone (just 4 pieces of material with flaps shown as inserted, not the total 16 pieces of material with flaps) Figure 8 shows how the cone fits around a standard ceiling mounted light bulb fitting once all 16 pieces of material bearing flaps have been inserted. (Material bearing flaps not shown -refer to Figure 7 to see how the pieces of material bearing flaps are inserted into the disc to form the cone)

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1 An interlocking form comprising two distinct types of parts

   which fit together to form a cone shape 2 An interlocking form according to claim 1, in which it is used as the supporting structure of a light shade hung around a ceiling mounted light bulb fining 3 An interlocking form according to claim I, in which there is a flat disc shaped piece of material which includes a specific design and arrangement of holes, a flap and a cut away section from the edge of the disc to the centre 4 An interlocking form according to claim 1, in which there are 16 pieces of material, each bearing 2 specifically designed flaps which fit into the flat disc shaped piece of material An interlocking form according to claim 1, in which it is made from flexible sheet material 6 An interlocking form according to claim 3, in which there is a locking feature to prevent distortion of the cone shape at its top end once it is mounted around the wire of a ceiling mounted light bulb fitting 7 An interlocking form according to claim 5, in which the flexible sheet material from which it is made can have a thickness of anything between 0 1mm and 1.2mm 8. An interlocking form according to claim 5, in which the flexible sheet material is paper 9 An interlocking form according to claim 5, in which the flexible sheet material is cardboard An interlocking form according to claim 5, in which the flexible sheet material is polypropylene 11 An interlocking form according to claim 5, in which the flexible sheet material is plastic