US3035166A - Lamp with adjustable shade sections - Google Patents

Description

R. c. SMITH 3,035,166

LAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADE SECTIONS May 15, 1962 Filed May 6. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l il 25 23 W1 29 H /9 II I I in INVENTOR. /F.C.5M/TH May 15, 1962 R. c. SMITH LAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADE SECTIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1960 INVENTOR. R0. 544 TH 9 y 1962 R. c. SMITH 3,035,166

LAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADE SECTIONS Filed May 6. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 Z 71 [ii I: I 54 5+ 52 -|9 H IN V EN TOR.

RCSM/TH United States Patent 3,035,166 LAIVIP WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADE SECTIONS Robert C. Smith, 1422 E. 22nd Ave., Denver, Colo. Filed May 6, 1960, Ser. No. 27,380 7 Claims. (Cl. 240-81) This invention relates to a lamp of extremely simple construction the shade of which is provided with a plurality of adjustable shade sections selectively movable to different positions relative to the light source of the lamp for varying the amount of light rays emitted and for causing the light rays to be emitted through selected parts of the lamp shade and in desired directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp including a lamp shade having a rigid stationary part supporting the adjustable sections of the lamp shade and which stationary lamp shade part is provided with openings or windows through which light rays from the light source are emitted in certain adjusted positions of the movable lamp shade sections.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lamp embodying the aforementioned features which may be constructed in various sizes and shapes and from various materials, and which may be very economically manufactured and sold.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of the lamp;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6--6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along a plane as indicated by the line 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of another form of the lamp;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 1010 of FIGURE 8, and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 11--11 of FIGURE 10.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and first with reference to FIGURES l to 7, the lamp as disclosed therein in its entirety is designated generally 12 and includes a lamp base 13 having an upstanding pedestal portion 14 provided with an upwardly opening socket 15 for receiving a light bulb 16, constituting the light source of the lamp 12. The base 13 may be of any desired size and shape and is provided with electric wiring 17 which may lead from any conventional electrical outlet and is connected to the lamp socket 15 to provide current for the bulb 16. Any form of conventional switch 18 may be provided in the base 13 and interposed in the wiring 17 for making and breaking the electric circuit to the lamp bulb.

A plurality, preferably four rigid bars 19 have lower ends embedded in the upper end of the pedestal 14, around and spaced outwardly from the socket 15. The supporting bars 19 extend upwardly from the pedestal 14 in diverging relation to one another and have upper portions disposed within a lamp shade, designated generally 20. The lamp shade 20 may be of any size and shape and includes a stationary substantially rigid section, designated generally 21. The section 21 is shown as being substantially cylindrical in shape but may be of various other shapes and is provided with an open bottom 22 through which the supports 19 extend. Fastenings 23 extend inwardly through the shade section 21 and threadedly engaged through substantially upright upper portions 24 of the supports 19 for supporting the shade section 21 above the base 13 and above the light source 16.

In the embodiment as disclosed in FIGURES 1 to 7, the stationary shade section or drum 21 is provided adjacent its upper end 25 with four corresponding circumferentially spaced openings 26 over each of which is disposed a pzme 27 which may be formed of any suitable colored translucent material to form a window. The windows 27 are disposed slightly above the fastenings 23 and the upper support ends 24 and said support ends and fastenings align with portions of the shade section 21 disposed between the windows 27, as best seen in FIG- URE 4. The lower part of the shade section 21 has four circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots 28 which align with the centers of the windows 27 and are disposed approximately midway between the supports 19. The shade 20 includes four movable shade sections 29 of arcuate cross section and which are of a length slightly less than the length of the startionary shade section 21, as best seen in FIGURE 3. Each of the four movable shade sections 29 has a nut 30 rigidly secured to and projecting from the concave inner side thereof and which is disposed nearer the lower end than the upper end of the shade section. Each shade section 29 has an opening 31 aligning with the bore of the nut-3t The movable shade sections 29 are disposed against the inner surface of the shade section 21 with the openings 31 thereof aligning with the slots 28. Knobs 32 are disposed externally of the shade section 21 and have threaded stems 33 extending loosely through the slots 28 and openings 31 and threadedly engaging in the nuts 30. The stems 33 are tightened sufficiently in the nuts 39 so that the knobs 32 will bear against the stationary shade section 21 on opposite sides of the slots 28 thereof to frictionally retain the movable shade sections 29 in different adjusted positions relative to the shade section 21, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. Each movable shade section 29 has a pin or stud 34 fixed to and projecting outwardly therefrom, above and in longitudinal alignment with its opening 31, and adjacent said opening, for slidably engaging the slot 28 above the stem 33, to prevent turning or twisting of the shade section 29* within the shade section 21. The lower portions of the shade sections 29 are of a width slightly greater than a quarter of a circle so that the side edge portions 35 thereof overlap one another, as best seen in FIGURE 5. However, the

or upper portions of the shade sections 29 are of a width slightly less than a quarter of a circle so that there will be a gap between the upper edge portions 36 of the adjacent shade sections 29 to accommodate the support portions 24 which are disposed above the overlapping edge portions 35, when the shade sections 219 are in fully raised positions.

The upper end 25 of the rim'd shade section 21 is preferably closed by two semicircular closure members 37 having adjacently disposed straight edge portions 38 which are clamped around shafts 39. The shafts 39' have portions disposed beyond the sleeve portions 38 which extend through and are journaled in the upper part of the shade section 21. Each shaft 39 has a knob 40 fixed to an outwardly projecting end thereof and by which the shafts can be individually turned for individually swinging the closures 37 from fully closed positions, as seen in FIGURE 1, upwardly to open positions. Pins 41, forming stops, may project inwardly from upper portions of the shade section 21, as seen in FIGURE 3, to limit downward swinging movement of the closures 3 7.

With the slidable shade sections 29 all disposed in fully raised positions within the stationary shade section 21, and with the closures 3-7 closed, light rays from the light source 16 will be emitted directly from the lamp 12 below the shade 20, and no light rays will be emitted through said shade. One or more of the shade sections 29 may be lowered, as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, so that light rays will be emitted between the lowered shade sections 29 and below the stationary section 21, only in a desired direction or directions. Certain of the light rays will then also be emitted through the colored windows 27 which are exposed by the lowered shade "sections 29, as seen in FIGURE 3. A part of the light rays from the light source 16 can also be emitted through the top 25 of the shade 20 when one or both of the closures 37 is in an open position, and said closures may have reflective surfaces for reflecting the light rays emitted through the open top of the shade and also for reflecting light rays therefrom through the exposed windows 27, when the closures 37 are in closed positions. By moving all of the shade sections 29 to lowermost positions, the light source 16 will be completely surrounded by the shade sections '29 so that no light rays will be emitted below the lamp shade 20 and a subdued light will be provided by the colored light rays emitted through the windows 27, or additional illumination can be provided by opening the closures 37 for emitting a part of the light rays through the open top 25. The slidable shade sections 29 are preferably made opaque but could be translucent and colored so as to emit a subdued light therethrough when in lowered positions. The shade sections 29' and the shade section 21 may be formed of any suitable materials and a greater or lesser number of slidable shade sections 29 may be provided.

FIGURES 8 to 11 illustrate another form of the lamp, designated generally 42, including a lamp shade 43 having a stationary outer section 44 and a plurality of movable inner sections 45. The lower end of the stationary outer section 44 may be disposed around or suitably secured to the bottom portion of the lamp base 46, which may be of any desired size and shape. The outer section 44 has openings 47 and colored windows 48, similar to the openings 26 and windows 27, respectively, except that the openings 47 and windows 48 are located adjacent the lower end of the light shade section 44 and around the light source 49 which is supported by and rises from the base 46. p

The upper part of the outer shade section 44 has vertically elongated slots 50 which align with intermediate portions of the windows 48. The movable shade sections 45 are arcuately bowed to fit against the inner side of the stationary shade sect-ion 44 and are each of a width less than a quarter of a circle to provide spaces between the adjacent longitudinal edges of the movable shade sections 45, as seen in FIGURE 11. The shade sections 45 each carries a nut 51 which is engaged by a threaded stem 53 of a knob 52 and which parts have the same relationship to one another and to the slot 50 as the nut 30, stem 33 and knob 32. Each shade section 45 is also provided with a pin 54, corresponding to the pin 34 and for the same purpose.

The lamp 42 may also be provided with upright supporting members 55 which are secured to and rise from the base 46 and which engage the inner side of the station ary shade section 44, between the openings 47 and the slidable shade sections 45 and which are secured to said shade section 44 by fastenings 56. The upper end of the shade section 44 may be closed by a closure 57.

The materials of the shade 43 correspond with the materials of the shade 20. The slidable shade sections 45 are shorter than the shade sections 29, in relationship to the height of the shade section 44, and when in raised positions are disposed above the openings 47 and may be lowered to completely cover said openings. If the shade sections 45 are formed of an opaque material,- light rays will be completely excluded from passing outwardly through the windows 48 covered by the shade sections 45. Light rays will be emitted through the windows 48 when the shade sections thereof are raised, and in this manner the light rays can be directed in any desired direction. If desired, the windows 48 can be made clear and the shade sections 45 formed of a colored translucent material for emitting either colored light rays or unobstructed light rays as desired and selectively through the windows 48.

Thes lamp 42 may 'aIso be made in various sizes and shapes.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

-I claim as my invention:

1. A lamp comprising a base, a light source supported by said base, a lamp shade supported by the base, said lamp shade including a stationary shade section and a plurality of movable shade sections, means connecting the movable shade sections to the stationary shade section and adjustably supporting the movable shade sections on the stationary shade section in different vertical position-s relative thereto and to the light source, said movable shade sections in lowered positions thereof being disposed around the light source to obstruct the light rays emitted from the light source, and said movable shade sections being disposed above the light source, in a fully raised position thereof, whereby the light rays may be emitted from said light source beneath the movable shade sections. 2. A lamp as in claim 1, said stationary lamp shade section being disposed above the level of the light source and having windows in the upper part thereof, saidmovable shade Sections closing said windows in the raised positions of the movable shade sections and being disposed below the windows in the lowered positions of said movable shade sections.

3. A lamp as in claim 2, said stationary shade section having manually adjustable closure means for closing or opening the upper end of the lamp shade.

4. A lamp as in claim 1, said stationary shade section having a lower portion provided with windows surroundingsaid light source and through which the light rays from the light source are emitted when said movable shade sections are in raised positions within the stationary shade section and above said windows, said movable shade sections covering the windows in the lowered positions thereof.

5. A lamp shade comprising, in combination with a lamp base and a light source supported by the base; a lamp shade including a stationary section and a movable section, means connecting the stationary section immovably to the base for supporting the lamp shade on said base, manually actuated means slidably connecting and adjustably securing the movable shade section to the stationary shade section, said movable shade section having a lower portion providing a light excluding shield substantially surrounding the light source, in one position of the movable section, and said movable section being disposed above the light source in another position thereof to permit the light rays to be emitted from the light source below said movable shade section.

6. A lamp shade as in claim 5, said movable shade section comprising a plurality of individual shade elements each selectively movable relative to the stationary shade section.

7. A lamp shade as in claim 6, said shade elements 6 being mounted internally of the stationary shade section, and said manually actuated means including parts individual to said shade elements and disposed externally of the stationary shade section to be manually engaged for raising and lowering the shade elements relative to the light source.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,335,640 Beales Mar. 30, 1920 2,638,533 Zobran May 12, 1953 2,683,801 Faselt July 13, 1954 2,767,308 Newman Oct. 16, 1956 2,841,697 Smith July 1, 1958

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