US3113732A - Lamp harp - Google Patents

Description

JFJ.

Dec. 10, 1963 P. CHILQ ,7

LAMP HARP Filed July 22, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 10, 1963 P. CHILQ 3,113,732

' LAMP HARP Filed July 22. 1959 I 3 She ets.-Sheet 2 Dec. 10, 1963 P. CHILO ,7

LAMP HARP Filed July 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllll .fzmezzfor. fizz Z @6120,

@Jy z d ggs United States Patent 14 Qlaims. (*Cl. 24il-14-3) The present invention relates to a novel and improved lamp harp construction or lamp shade holder.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a lamp harp construction having means engaging automatically upon disposition of the harp in desired position on the lamp to retain the harp against vertical movement from said position along the axis of the lamp.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a lamp harp construction having means for positive locking of the harp against rotation about its axis.

Another object is the provision of a lamp harp construction having means for positively locking the harp legs against movement toward each other, so as to prevent unintentional detachment of the lamp harp.

A further object is the provision of a lamp harp construction which provides an extremely eflicient, simple and inexpensive attachment of the harp to the lamp base.

It is also an object to provide a lamp harp construction including an ornamental base or cup which permits use of a cheaper lamp socket of unfinished appearance by concealing the socket.

A further object is a lamp harp construction employing two main members separable for convenience and space saving in packaging and shipping, and readily connectable for assembly in use.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a lamp harp construction having means for selective vertical adjustment of the position of the harp.

Other objects and the various advantages and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with certain parts broken away and partially in section, of a lamp employing the lamp harp construction of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale, partly broken away, of the base or cup of the lamp harp construction;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cup as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cup as shown in FIG. 2, with a portion broken away to show inte-rengagement of the harp and the cup as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the lamp harp, the shape and position thereof in the assembled condition being shown in full lines, and the unstressed or released position thereof in unassembled condition being indicated by broken lines;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 5, with the assembled and unassembled positions of the harp indicated in a manner corresponding to that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating one of the locking clips employed in the construotion;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view, partly in section, illustrating the construction at the free ends of the legs of the harp;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a lamp harp according to the invention employing a modified construction;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, partly broken away, similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modified form of base or cup;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing a modification of the structure at the end of the harp legs;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, but showing another modification of the harp end structure, and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing a somewhat modified form of locking clip.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a lamp harp construction 20 according to the present invention, mounted on a lamp base A and carrying a conventional lamp shade B. The lamp harp construction or lamp shade holder 20 comprises a base or cup 21 formed from 24 gauge sheet material of ferrous or non-ferrous material and suitably plated for ornamentation, in this case of generally cylindrical form, the bottom of which is centrally apertured to provide for mounting of the cup on the lamp base A in any suitable manner, and to provide for electrical connections to a conventional electric lamp socket C for a lamp bulb D, the socket having any suitable switch means E controlling flow of current to the bulb, with in this case a rotatable shaft E projecting radially from the socket for operating the switch. The base or cup 21 has a suitable aperture or slot 2 2 in its wall to accommodate the switch shaft E or other switch operating means, and in its rim portion is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots or notches 23 for locating the lamp harp 29 with respect to the switch means E. Adjacent the bottom of its wall, the cup 2:1 is formed with an interiorly-opening circumferential groove 24 providing a channel or recess extending outwardly of the cup wall. It will be noted that the formation of the groove 24 results in an exterior head on the cup which enhances the ornamental appearance thereof. The rim portion of the cup is shown as provided with an outturned lip which assists in providing the cup with an additional ornamental pleasing appearance, but it will be understood that this lip may be omitted if desired, or may be replaced by an inturned lip or flange, without affecting the invention.

The lamp shade holder or lamp harp construction of the invention also includes a lamp harp 25 formed of relatively heavy gauge steel wire, such as five gauge wire, and having inherent resilience, and suitably ornamentally plated and bent to a general U-shape with a central bight or connecting portion 26 on which a lamp shade holder swivel fixture 27 of any desired construction is mounted, the lamp shade being secured to the lamp shade holder 27 in the usual manner by a finial F on a threaded stud of the lamp shade holder. Extending oppositely from the central portion 26 of the harp are two legs 28 which may be bent in any appropriate shape, each of which has a substantially straight free end portion 29. The harp is formed to a shape generally such as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 5, in which it is generally unstressed and the legs 28 are sprung into a position relatively remote from each other. It will be evident that in order to insert the end portions 29 into the cup 21, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, the end portions 29 must be brought into relatively close relation, against the tendency thereof to remain in the widely spread relation shown in the dotdash lines, and due to the inherent resilience of the harp material will be biased to return to the widespread position after insertion in the cup 21, but will be prevented from such return due to the cup Wall. The tendency of the end portions 29 of the harp legs to move away from each other by reason of the resilience of the harp assures a close, secure engagement in the cup groove 24 of generally arcuate elements 30, one secured to each of the leg end portions 29 at the terminus thereof. The arcuate elements 3% are preferably formed of either 11 or 12 gauge steel wire suitably plated, such as with brass, nickel or other ornamental plating. The end portion 29 may be welded preferably electrically as spot welded, soldered, brazed or otherwise suitably secured to the arcuate member 3d, and as best shown in FIG. 8 is disposed within the curve of the member 3t so that relative to the cup 21 the members 30 extend radially outwardly of the end portions 29 so as to engage fully in the groove As evident from FIG. 6, the arcuate members 39 are two parts of a split ring which define appreciably less than a complete circle. This permits the end portion 29 to be brought into relatively close relation, so that they may fit readily within the cup 21 during insertion, without interference by engagement of the members 39 against each other. The gaps between the ends of these members also allow the split ring to move to the bottom of the cup without interference with or by the switch shaft E. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. I, the members 3% are shown as formed of wire of lighter gauge than that employed for the harp 25, but it will be understood that it might be of the same or heavier gauge if desired. Of course, the members 30 may be formed of other material than wire or rod. It will be apparent that upon insertion of the free end portions 29 into the cup and engagement of the members 39 in the groove 24, the harp is secured or retained against vertical movement longitudinally of the axis of the cup by reason of the engagement of the members 3% in the cup groove and is held thereby against rocking, but it may rotate about its axis, since the members 30 may move along the groove. The harp is also subject to accidental disengagement from the cup, since the legs and end portions are free to move relatively toward each other so that either or both of the arcuate members 30 might be disengaged from the groove 24. To secure the legs against lateral movement, and thus prevent rotation of the harp or unintended release of the arcuate members 30 from the cup groove, locking means cooperable with the cup 21 are provided.

The locking means as disclosed take the form of a pair of locking clips 32, one on each of the legs 23 of the harp 25. As best shown in FIG. 7, each clip is generally of C-section having an inverted channel portion, the bottom 33 of which is apertured at 33 to receive the leg 23 therethrough, and one side of which provides a flange or lip 34 which is relatively short, that is, has a relatively small dimension in the direction perpendicular to the channel portion bottom 33. The other side 35 of the channel portion has a considerably greater dimension in this direction than the lip 34, and at its free end is provided with a flange 36 parallel to the channel bottom 33. The flange 36 engages with the adjacent leg 28 of the harp 25, but has a width such that its free edge does not project beyond the leg periphery diametrically opposite the peripheral portion adjacent which the channel side 35 extends. The flange 36 is provided with a notch or recess 37 in its edge which complementally receives the harp leg 28 therein, the dimensional relations of the flange 36 and recess 37 relative to the leg 23 being such that the flange embraces the leg sufiiciently to be retained thereon. It will be apparent that the leg-receiving aperture 33' in the channel portion bottom 33 and the recess 37 are substantially coaxial, and that by reason of the engagement of the clip with the harp leg at two points spaced by the channel portion side 35, the clip 32 is prevented from cocking or jamming on the leg 2%. The aperture 33' in the channel portion bottom 33 and the recess 37, however, provide sufiicient clearance above the harp leg 23 so that the clip 32 may readily slide thereon. The clips 32 are slipped onto the leg end portions 29 prior to the securement of the arcuate members 3% to these portions. t is to be noted that the dimension of the channel portion bottom 33 in the direction of the length of the channel portion, or in other words of the width or breadth of the clip 32 as a whole, is such that the bottom 33 will fit snugly into one of the rim portion slots or notches 23 of the cup 21. After the harp 25 has been retainingly engaged in the cup by insertion of the free end portions 29 as already explained, the locking clips 32 are shifted along the legs 23 so as to dispose the channel portion bottorns 33 thereof in the rim slots or notches 23, the legs 28 being positioned so as to extend centrally along the notches 23, and the lips 34 act as hooks to overlie and engage with the exterior of the cup wall adjacent the notches. It will be apparent that the harp legs 28, and particularly the end portions 29 are locked against lateral movement, the engagement of the channel portion bottoms 33 in the notches holding the legs against movement along the interior of the cup wall, and the clips 34 preventing movement of the legs away from the cup wall and toward each other. The resilience of the harp urging the end portions 29 away from each other is, of course, restrained by the cup wall.

it will be apparent that by the construction just de scribed, the lamp harp is securely retained in the base or cup 21 and is prevented from shifting either longitudinally, rotationally, or laterally therein, so that the lamp shade B will be retained in the desired positiornand there will be no rotation of the harp to bring it into contact with the switch shat-t E it being noted that the split ring construction provided by the arcuate members 30 provides gaps which permit the ends of the harp to be inserted in the cup 21 without interference with or from shaft E, and that the slots or notches 23 are preferably arranged at substantially ninety degrees from the switch shaft slot 22.

in HQ. 9 there is shown a harp which is generally similar to the harp 25 previously described, having the central portion 2a with the lamp shade holding member or swivel fixture 2'7 thereon and with the legs 28 having substantially straight end portions 29 biased away from each other by the inherent resilience of the harp material, and also provided with the locking clips 32 employed on the harp 25. instead of the arcuate end members 30 employed on the harp 25 to provide split ring means, the harp 40 has a split ring 41 secured to the extremities of the free end portions 29, and adapted to engage in the cup groove 24- in substantially the same manner as the arcuate end members 39. The gap in the split ring 41 permits its contraction and the approach of the end portions 29 toward each other sufficiently to enter the cup 21 without difiiculty, and also allows the ring 41 to pass the switch shaft E or similar means in moving to the plane of the groove 24. The ring 41, as will be evident, limits the separation of the end portions 29, which thus normally assume a position such as that shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9, such position preferably locating the end portions 29 spread or separated away from each other a distance greater than the diameter of the cup 21, and in any event sufficient to assure that the ring 41 substantially fills the groove 2 The contracted position of the split ring 41 and end portions 29 are shown in dotted lines in this figure. The application of the lampharp 40 and its connection in and to the base cup 21 is otherwise substantially identical with that of the lamp harp 25. Because of the effect of the split ring 41 on the resilient separation of the end portion 25, and to avoid making the harp construction too still for ready contraction for insertion into or removal from the base cup 21, the ring 41 is made of a lighter gauge wire than the harp 4%), for example, an eleven or twelve gauge as against a live gauge for the harp proper.

In FIG. 10 there is illustrated a base or cup 45' which is substantially similar to the cup 21 already described, having the shaft slot 2-2 in the wall thereof, the diametrically opposed rim portion slots or notches 23, and thegroove 24 at the bottom of the cylindrical cup Wall. The cup 45, however, is provided with a second circumferential groove 46 generally similar to the groove 24 and parallel to the plane thereof located bet-ween the rimof the cup 45 and the groove 24, spaced longitudinally from the groove 24 any desired or suitable distance. The groove 46, just as in the case of the groove 24, is adapted to receive the split ring means of either of the harps or and retain the harp against movement longitudinally of the cup. By reason of the provision of the additional groove 46, the cup allows for an adjustment of the harp vertically along the axis of the cup, as for accommodation of lamp shades of different depths. The harp is locked against rotation and against movement of its legs laterally relative to each other and the cup wall by means of the locking clips 32 described. It will be obvious that, if desired, more than one additional groove 46 may be provided in the cup so that more than two adjustments of the harp vertically along the axis of the cup may be provided for.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 there are shown two specific connections of split ring means and the end portion of a harp leg which are somewhat different from that shown in FIG. 8 to improve the spot welding of the lighter gauge metal to the heavier gauge member so that there is no burning of the metal at the weld because of this junction of a light gauge wire to a heavier gauge wire. The structure of FIG. 11 employs a harp leg end portion 48 which has the radially outer portion of its end cut away as shown to provide a rectangular notch 4-9. The depth of this notch radially of the leg portion 48 and its height axially thereof are such as to receive a member 50 therein in such a manner that a part of the cross section of the member 50 projects radially outwardly of the notch, so that the member may engage properly in the retaining groove in the base cup in the manner heretofore explained with regard to the arcuate members 36* and split ring 41. The member 50 is part of the split ring means of the harp structure and the construction shown in FIG. 12 is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 11. The end portion 52 of the harp leg has formed in its radially outer position an arouate notch 53 extending substantially normal to the axis of the portion 52. The radius and depth of the notch 53 are such as to receive snugly the member 54, forming part of the split ring means, with part of the cross section of the member 54 extending radially outwardly from the notch for engagement in an internal groove of a base cup as already explained.

In the case of the construction of FIG. 12, the use of an internal groove such as the groove 24, located at the bottom of the cylindrical wall of the cup 21, might require some modification to avoid the slight projections of the end portions 52 beyond the plane of the member 54 coming into engagement against the bottom of the cup and thus preventing proper engagement of the member 54 in the groove. This would not be the case with a groove such as shown at 46, since the projecting portions of the end portions 52 would not abut the bottom of the cup. It will be understood that the arcuate members 54 and 54 may represent either of the split ring means heretofore disclosed, whether the split ring halves 36 or the split ring 41. It is therefore obvious that the constructions of FIGS. 11 and 12 are of particular advantage in connection with a harp structure in which the split ring means are of considerably smaller cross section than the end portions of the harp legs. The cross section of the leg end portion is brought into closer approximation with that of the split ring means, and burning of the parts in welding thereof is avoided.

The base or cup employed in the lamp harp construction or lamp shade holder of the present invention need not be of the specific form herein disclosed, since it may take any of various shapes while still achieving the desired result. The cup may thus assume a form most appropriate to the particul-arl lamp with which it is used. The leg end portions of the harp need not conform to the precise shape of the cup wall, so long as the locking thereof in the particular position desired may be achieved; that is, the end portions of the harp legs need not contact with the cup walls at every point of their length. If the base cup is formed of a non-circular cross section, the split ring means conforming thereto may serve to prevent rotation of the harp about its axis, and accordingly the locking means may be modified by eliminating means for holding the harp against rotation giving a simplified construction. It is within the scope of the invention that either of these split ring constructions may be used with cup grooves of the same cross section when lighter gauge wire than that of the harp is used.

The members of the lamp harp are preferably brass plated though they may be formed from brass or aluminum. The members of the lamp harp may be ornamentally plated with other suitable metals such as nickel and chromium as is desired.

In the assembly and disassembly of the lamp harp by anyone the procedure is substantially identical as illustrated and described with reference to FIG. 1. The base or cup 21 for the lamp harp 25 is preferably mounted on the threaded pipe 56 for the wiring and the pipe 56 is positioned in the lamp base A after the lock nut 57 and threaded ornamental Washer 58 are assembled, as shown. After the Wiring has been installed and connected to the lamp socket B, the lamp socket C is threaded upon the threaded end of the threaded pipe 56 extending through the aperture 59 to the threaded support bracket 69 of the lamp socket B. The threaded washer 53 serves as a lock washer to securely mount the lamp socket within the base 21. The lam socket may be disassembled in the reverse order. The ornamental base therefor suitably shields the insulating paper cover 61 of the less costly lamp socket used with this invention though it is equally adapted for use with other conventional forms of lamp sockets.

In FIG. 13 there is shown a locking clip generally designated 62 engaged on a leg 28 of the lamp harp. The clip 62 is of general channel form, corresponding to the channel portion of the clip 32 previously described. The bottom 63 of the channel-form clip s2. is provided with an aperture 63' through which the harp leg 28 is received, allowing the clip to be moved along the leg as required. Depending from opposite edges of the bottom 63 are the flanges or lips 64 and 65, which preferably are substantially identical to each other, and which with the bottom 63 define the channel form of the clip 62. The clips 62 are used to secure the lamp harp in place in the same manner as the clips 32. These clips 62 provide certain advantages not attainable by the clips 32. Thus, the clips 62 may be more readily moved along curved portions of the legs 28 because they have only a single bearing on the legs, and either of the lips 64 or 65 may be engaged with a notch 23 to lock the harp against movement.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

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

l. A lamp shade holder comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped cup including a pair of diametrically opposite notches in the rim of said cylindrically shaped cup, a circumferential groove in the interior circumferential surface of said cylindrically shaped cup, a lamp harp of inherently resilient Wire-like material including a pair of legs comprising substantially straight free end portions normally urged apart by the resilience of said resilient wire-like material, split wire ring means complemen tally formed to said circumferential groove and alhxed to said end portions of said legs for resiliently afiixing said l-amp harp in said circumferential groove upon inward compression for insertion of said legs in the cylindrically shaped cup, and a locking clip complementally formed to said notches and operatively mounted on each end portion of the legs for detachably afiixing each leg to its respective notch and for preventing movement of the legs along the circumferential wall of the cylindiically shaped cup and also movement thereof toward each other, each locking clip comprising a channelshaped member including an inverted channel bottom and one side of said channel-shaped member extending from the inverted channel bottom an appreciably greater distance than the opposite side of said channel-shaped member, an aperture in said inverted channel bottom for operatively receiving the respective end portion of the leg extending therethrough, and an integral flange parallel to said inverted channel bottom on saidu one side of said channel-shaped member having an edge recess for slidably aldxing said locking clip to the end portion of the respective leg extending therethrough, said inverted channel bottom complement-ally formed to each of said diametrically opposite notches for detachably affixing said locking clip in its respective notch, and said other side of said channel-shaped member extending down over the rim of the cylindrically shaped cup in its res ective notch for affixing the locking clip in its latching position within its respective notch.

2. A lamp shade holder as set forth in claim 1, in which said split wire ring means comprises a pair of arcuate wire members, an arcuate wire member secured to each of said end portions of the legs of the lamp harp and said pair of arcuate Wire members together being less than a complete circle corresponding to the circumference of said arcuate wire members.

3. A shade holder as defined in claim 1, in which said split wire ring means comprises a generally arcuate wire member being less than a complete circle corresponding to the circumference of said arcuate wire memoer and secured to both said end portions of the legs of the lamp harp.

4. A lamp shade holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrically shaped cup comprises at least one additional circumferential groove in the interior circumferential surface of said cylindrically shaped cup and spaced from said first-mentioned circumferential groove axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrically shaped cup for receiving said split wire ring means for selectively adjusting the vertical position of the lamp harp relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrically shaped cup.

5. A lamp shade holder comprising a hollow base cylindrically shaped cup provided with a pair of oppositely disposed slots in the rim portion of said hollow base cylindrically shaped cup, a circtunferential groove formed in the interior circumferential surface of the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup and extending in a plane substantially normal to the length thereof, a lamp harp of resilient wire-like material including a pair of legs having free end portions biased away from each other by the resilience of said wire-lil e material, split wire-like ring means secured to said end portions and complementally formed to said circumferential groove and to said inner periphery of the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup for engaging said circumferential groove for retaining the legs against movement longitudinally of the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup upon insertion of said end portions of said legs into the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup, and locking means movable on the end portions of said legs and complementally formed to said pair of oppositely disposed slots for slidably engaging said slots and for detachably holding the legs against lateral movement in the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup upon the insertion of said legs within the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup and with the split wire-lil'e ring means afiixed within said circumferential groove.

6. A lamp sia .e holder as set forth in claim 5, in which said split wire-like ring means comprises a pair of mer bers each defining part of an annulus and each part of said annulus secured to one of said end portions of said legs and complementally formed to said circumferential (.3 groove and to said inner periphcrycf the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup, the adjacent ends of said members being spaced sufliciently far apart to allow positioning of the end portions against said resilient bias sulficiently close together for insertion in the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup and with said pair of members adapted for biasing outwardly for afiixing within said circumferential groove.

'7. A lamp shade holder as defined in claim 5, in which said split wire-like ring means comprises an annular memher having a single gap therein permitting contraction thereof to accommodate movement of the end portions of said split annular wire-like means toward each other sufficiently for insertion in the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup, said annular member affixed to both end portions, and said annular member and end portions adapted for biasing outwardly for arfixing wit. in said circumferential groove.

8. A lamp shade holder as defined in claim 5, in which the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup includes at least another longitudinally spaced circumferential groove in the interior circumferential surface, each circumferential groove complementally formed to said split wire-like ring means and adapted to receive said split annular wire-like means in said leg-retaining relation, whereby the position of said lamp harp longitudinally relative to the hollow base cylindrically shaped cup may be selectively adjusted.

9. In a lamp shade holder comprising a base cup, a lamp harp including a pair of legs having free end portions insertable in the cup and urged apart by inherent resilience of the cup material, annular groove means formed on the interior peripheral surface of said base cup, an annular wire-like means complementally formed to said annular groove means and on said free end portions for retaining the legs against movement longitudinally of the base cup upon insertion of the wire-like means of said end portions within said annular groove means, means for locking the end portions against lateral movement to prevent rotation of the harp in the base cup and disengagement of said annular wire-like means from said annular groove means complementally formed to said annular wire-like means for reception therein, said means for locking comprising a pair of oppositely disposed slots in the rim of said base cup and a locking clip slidably mounted on each of said end portions for engaging in one of said oppositely disposed slots, each of said lockingclips having a hooked form including a latch portion slidably mounted on the respective leg end portion and a catch portion rigid with the latch portion extending angularly relative thereto in the direction of the ends of said legs, said latch portion engaging in said slot for preventing lateral shifting of the end portion along the peripheral wall of the base cup and said catch portion for operatively engaging the exterior of the cup and for holding the end portion against movement away from the peripheral wall of the base cup.

10. A lamp shade holder as defined in claim 9, wherein a plurality of said annular groove means complementally formed to sai annular wire-like means and formed on said interior peripheral surface of said base cup and said annular wire-like means of said lamp harp complementally formed to each of said annular groove means providing for selectively adjusting the lamp harp longitudinally of the vertical axis of the base cup.

11. A lamp shade holder comprising a base cup, annular groove means and a pair of oppositely disposed slots provided in the peripheral wall of said base cup, a lamp harp of wire and including a pair of legs having free end portions biased apart by inherent resilience of the lamp harp wire material and disposable relatively close together for insertion within the base cup, complementally formed annular means of wire similar to that of the harp affixed to said end portions and said base cup for detachably securing the lamp harp against movement longitudinally of the axis of the base cup upon insertion within the annular groove means, said annular groove means and said annular means of wire being complementally formed for attaching and detaching of the lamp harp to and from the base cup, and clip means for locking the end portions against lateral movement, said clip means comprising a pair of latch members of hooked formation, each clip means movably secured on one end portion of each leg for engaging one of said slots and the exterior of the peripheral wall of the base cup.

12. A lamp shade holder comprising a base cup, a lamp harp including a pair of legs having free end portions urged apart by inherent resilience of the harp material and disposable relatively close together for insertion in said base cup, annular wire-like means on said leg end portions and annular groove means complementally formed to said annular wire-like means on the inner peripheral surface of said base cup cooperable upon insertion of the annular wire-like means of the lamp harp within said annular groove means of said base cup to retain the harp against movement longitudinally of the axis of the base cup, and means for locking the end portions against lateral movement, said means for locking comprising a pair of oppositely located slots in the rim of the peripheral wall of the base cup and a pair of latch members, one of said latch members slidably mounted on each of said end portions of the legs, each latch member including a latch portion engageable in one of said slots and a lip portion projecting from said latch portion to engage the exterior surface of the peripheral wall of the base cup contiguous to the respective slot.

13. A lamp shade holder as defined in claim 12, wherein said annular wire-like means and said annular groove means including at least two annular grooves longitudinally spaced with respect to the vertical axis of the base cup and provided in the peripheral wall of the base cup providing cooperable means for selectively adjusting the lamp harp longitudinally relative to the vertical axis of the base cup upon selectively positioning the annular wire-like means in the selected annular groove means.

14. A lamp shade holder comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped cup including a circumferential groove provided within the inner peripheral surface of the cup, a pair of diametrically opposite notches in the rim of said cylindrically shaped cup, a lamp harp of inherently resilient wire-like material including a pair of legs comprising substantially straight free end portions normally urged apart by the resilience of said resilient Wire-like material, split wire ring means complementally formed to said circumferential groove and afilxed to said end portions of said legs for resiliently afiixing said lamp harp in said circumferential groove upon inward compression for insertion of said legs in the cylindrically shaped cup, and a locking clip complementally formed to said notches and operatively mounted on each end portion of the legs for detachably afiixing each leg to its respective notch and for preventing movement of the legs along the circumferential Wall of the cylindrically shaped wall and also movement thereof toward each other, each locking clip comprising a channel-shaped member including an inverted channel bottom and one side of said channel-shaped member extending from the inverted channel bottom an appreciably greater distance than the opposite side of said channel-shaped member, an aperture in said inverted channel bottom for operatively receiving the respective end portion of the leg extending therethrough, said inverted channel bottom complementally formed to each of said notches for detachably afiixing said locking clip in its respective notch, and said other side of said channel-shaped member extending down over the rim of the cylindrically shaped cup in its respective notch for affixing the locking clip in its latching position within its respective notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,975 Ruff July 27, 1915 1,341,845 Glanding June 1, 1920 1,406,649 Jaeger Feb. 14, 1922 1,487,758 Rabideau Mar. 25, 1924 1,489,474 Beckwith Apr. 8, 1924 2,424,908 Willenbacher July 29, 1947 2,453,658 Chilo Nov. 9, 1948 2,531,523 Mosel Nov. 28, 1950 2,594,074 Rosenfeld Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 673,850 Great Britain June 11, 1952

Claims (1)

11. A LAMP SHADE HOLDER COMPRISING A BASE CUP, ANNULAR GROOVE MEANS AND A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SLOTS PROVIDED IN THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID BASE CUP, A LAMP HARP OF WIRE AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF LEGS HAVING FREE END PORTIONS BIASED APART BY INHERENT RESILIENCE OF THE LAMP HARP WIRE MATERIAL AND DISPOSABLE RELATIVELY CLOSE TOGETHER FOR INSERTION WITHIN THE BASE CUP, COMPLEMENTALLY FORMED ANNULAR MEANS OF WIRE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE HARP AFFIXED TO SAID END PORTIONS AND SAID BASE CUP FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE LAMP HARP AGAINST MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF THE AXIS OF THE BASE CUP UPON INSERTION WITHIN THE ANNULAR GROOVE MEANS, SAID ANNULAR GROOVE MEANS AND SAID ANNULAR MEANS OF WIRE BEING COMPLEMENTALLY FORMED FOR ATTACHING AND DETACHING OF THE LAMP HARP TO AND FROM THE BASE CUP, AND CLIP MEANS FOR LOCKING THE END PORTIONS AGAINST LATERAL MOVEMENT, SAID CLIP MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATCH MEMBERS OF HOOKED FORMATION, EACH CLIP MEANS MOVABLY SECURED ON ONE END PORTION OF EACH LEG FOR ENGAGING ONE OF SAID SLOTS AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE BASE CUP.

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