US3598988A - Decorative hanging lamp with adjustable shade - Google Patents

Abstract

A lamp hanging from a chain or the like has a tube depending from the chain, electric bulb means supported medially of the tube, and a series of slats made of wood or the like of generally semicircular shapes, having their ends secured to upper and lower portions of the tube. The slats are pivotal to various adjusted positions for decorative effects, the decorative effects also being influenced by having slats in the series contrast in appearance.

Description

United States Patent Richard A. Link Box 211, Jackson, Wyo. 83001 826,560

May 21, 1969 Aug. 10, 1971 Inventor Appl No Filed Patented DECORATIVE HANGING LAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADE 15 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 240/1011, 240/36, 240/108 lnt.C1...,w F21p 1/02, F21v 1/00 Field of Search 240/108, 10, 36;161/13,14,16,17

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,972,674 2/1961 de Sentrnenat 240/108 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,137,031 1/1957 France Primary Examiner- Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner1(enneth C Hutchison AttorneyDuane C Bowen ABSTRACT: A lamp hanging from a chain or the like has a tube depending from the chain, electric bulb means supported medially 0f the be, and a series of slats made of wood or the like of generally semicircular shapes, having their ends secured to upper and lower portions of the tube. The slats are pivotal to various adjusted positions for decorative effects, the decorative effects also being influenced by having slats in the series contrast in appearance.

PATENTEDAUBIOISTI 3,598,988

SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR.

RICHARD A. LINK ATTORNEY PATENTED we 1 0 mn SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR, RICHARD A. LINK film 6f ATTORNEY PATENTED Am; 1 019m sum 3 0F 3 O G F INVENTOR.

RICHARD A. LINK F/GQ ATTORNEY DECORATIVE HANGING LAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a lamp having both lighting and decorative functions, and, more particularly, to a lamp having a series of pivotally adjustable slats of semicircular shapes and varying in decorative effect depending on adjustment of slat positions and also, optionally, depending on use of contrasting appearances in the slats of the series.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTIVES One type of electric lamp has as much (or more) a purpose in decorative appearance or lighting effect as a lighting func tion per se. For example, a chandelier is an expensive form of lighting fixture if the desire is primarily lighting efficiency rather than primarily decoration or aesthetic lighting effect. It is an objective of my invention to make a lamp which is primarily decorative in lamp body or lighting effect rather than being oriented primarily toward lighting efficiency or economy.

There are many decorative lamps on the market, and, to some extent, these match the interior and/or exterior design of dwellings or other facilities. For example, a lamp featuring maple wood might be associated with Early American design and might fit an interior and/or exterior of a house of Early American design. It is an objective of my invention to design a lamp of modern design and especially one that features natural wood grain for use in compatible environments. It is a further objective of my invention to make a lamp particularly adapted for hanging from rather high ceilings or other location where quantity of lighting is not of special importance, i.e., an entrance hall light. v

It is an additional objective of my invention to make a hanging light of adjustable decorative effect to adapt to the decorative choice of the manufacturer, seller and/or user or which may be adjusted from time to time for different effect or which may be adjusted to light intensity desired in the installation, etc. Further objectives of my invention include to make a lamp of reasonable cost to manufacture, of ready adjustment, and of durable construction.

Further advantages and objectives of my invention will be understood from the following description, read with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a lamp forming a specific embodiment of my invention, and having the slats thereof disposed in a single bank position.

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view, primarily in section, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa single slat.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross section taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side and bottom views, respectively, of related lamp forms with the sluts in positions different than FIG. I.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are side and bottom views, respectively, of related lamp forms featuring another type ofadjusted position of the lamp slats.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the lamp with the slats in a further adjusted position.

Lamp 10 depends from preferably a flexible support such as a chain 12 which is accompanied by an interwoven electrical conductor 14, both well known in the art. Considering the lamp assembly of tube (actually an upper section and a lower section 21); incandescent bulbs 22, sockets 24, bent arms 26 and central connector 28; and end members 30'and 32, members 22-32 are standard lamp parts which can be bought from stock and which will not be detailed in construction for that reason. They are adapted to be secured together usually by threaded connection, or even by soldering, etc., in various orders of assembly along with selections from other alternative or additional standard lamp parts. The design election here was not the above basic parts but to decide to depend a tube from chain 12, to secure incandescent bulbs medially (and symmetrically) of the tube 20, 21, and to select and arrange parts adapted to support pivotal slats.

Tubes 20, 21 pivotally support a series of slats 40. Slats 40 have end openings 42 in which upper and lower tube portions 20, 21 are disposed with the ends of slats 40 lapping and retained thereon by abutments comprising, respectively, upper loop member 30 and a nut 44 (and washer 46) threadedly connected to tube 20, and lower end disc 32 and a nut 48 (and washer 50) threadedly connected to tube 21.

Slats 40 are of generally semicircular curvatures, the semicircular shapes being in the direction of minimum thickness (the shaping being in the direction of cross section minor axis or, to put the matter differently, curvature about the cross-sectional major axis). It will be evident the slats 40 are arranged in series according to size with the radii of curvatures increasing from inside to outside of the series. This doesnt mean, for purpose of specification and claims, that the slats are precisely semicircular or that the slats nest in full abutment with exact circular mathematical and geometrical relationships. The description instead means the slats are generally semicircular (or the normal contour of bent slats) and the sizes are serially such as to permit nesting and clearing for pivotal adjustment, and the expression semicircular is meant merely to be generic to return curves whether they are in truth parabolic, hyperbolic, elliptical, or free curves of nonmathematical shapes. In one configuration avoidance of pivotal interference of slats in their central portions occurred by the innermost slats being medially a bit flatter than semicircular and by the outermost slats being medially more generously curved than semicircular. Some such allowance should be made for minor slat warping, particularly if wood slats are used. To an extent the shape of the slats in use is controlled by design (length of slat v. distance between pivotal locations), to an extent the shape of the slats is influenced by their abutment, and to an extent the shape is influenced by the natural bending shape of the slats. The slats usually will be normally straight when unrestrained rather than being normally semicircular, i.e., this is not an especially important consideration, but it is simply that the slats usually will be made out of flat stock.

Slats 40 could be made of various materials, such as plastic, paper, metal, etc., but I prefer to make the slats of wood. FIG. 5 indicates two thin laminant strips 60, 62 of wood bonded together with a suitable adhesive at 64 at abutting faces.

The expression slats seems to well describe the strips 40 as to relative thickness-width-length. Considering the width of slats 40 versus the 360 circumference of the lamp body, 24 slats (which can be arranged to substantially or completely .encircle bulbs 22, i.e., FIGS. 6 and 7) would be typical. It is thought that even in designs of maximum spacing, i.e., FIG. 9 has nine slat clock positions," six to eight slats would be a rockbottom minimum to get at all a desired aesthetic effect. To put this another way, the slat width usually will represent something like 15' of the 360 circumference (in the horizontal, medial plane) and 30 would be a maximum for the desired aesthetic effect. To give some ideas of scale, a typical height of the lamp between members 30 and 32 would be around [5 inches.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are shaded to indicate alternating shades or colors. It will be understood all the slats could be thesame shape and color (and FIG. l0'is used'to represent that condition). Of course more than two colors or shades could be used or two or more colors orshades could be used in arandom manner. A pleasing effect is obtained in wood by alternating lighter and darker woods. Note in FIG. 10 if alternating dark and light woods were used, the upper portion as viewed would be one wood shade and the lower portion would be a second wood shade.

As stated before, the slats have some pivotal adjustment. The adjustment can be made in the factory, or the adjustment can be made by the ultimate consumer one or more times, or the retailer could make the adjustment. The configurations of (a) FIGS. l-3, (b) FIGS. 67, (c) FIGS. 89, and (cl) FIG. are the principal forms which will be sold.

FIGS. 13 show a nonsymmetrical arrangement with the slats in a bank (an arrangement that can be varied by fanning).

FIGS. 6 and 7 is an arrangement in which lapped slats are arranged serially in order of size from smallest at 70 to largest at 72. This is thought to be a form of conch shape. A gap at 74 will leave an area of free light transmittal. Of course usually there will be substantial light transmission through cracks between slats. The slat configurations will influence the amount of illumination as long as opaque slat materials are used, as is demonstrated in these various Figures.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are representative of clocked slat positions. FIG. 8 shows ineach clock position a group of slats in that location in sizes ranging from smaller to larger radius slats. As viewed, FIG. 9 could be the same as FIG. 8 or, with lesser number'of slats, could be merely clocking and random sizes. Some fanning could also be used in the FIG. 8 configuration.

FIG. 10 is an interesting variation in which a group of lapped slats at 80 are opposed to a group of lapped slats at 82. The intent is to alternate slats in the series of sizes of slats, between groups 80 and 82 so they are substantially the same, whereby slats of smaller and larger radii of curvatures are substantially evenly divided in the two groups.

Having thus described my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise disclosure but instead wish to cover modifications thereof which will occur to those skilled in the art upon learning of my invention, and which properly fall within the scope of my invention.

Iclaim:

l. The improvement in a lamp hanging from a support member including electrical wire means connecting to electrical bulb means in the lamp, comprising:

a. an upright member, said bulb means being supported medially of said upright member, said upright member depending from said support member which is attached to the upper end of said upright member b. a series of at least six slats forming shades, said slats being of generally semicircular shapes, the semicircular curvatures being in the direction of the minimum thickness dimensions of the slats, the slats having their ends lapping in series and the radii of curvatures of said slats increasing from inside to outside of the series, said slats having .aligned openings in their lapped ends and said upright member having upper and lower portions extending through said openings and including means securing the slats in end-lapped positions and securing said slats to said upright member c. said upright member being tubular and having abutments on each side of the lapped slat ends and said support member including a flexible tension member such as a chain or the like.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are normally straight and are bent into curved dispositions.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 in which each slat is formed from two strips of wood whose faces are bonded together.

4. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are formed of wood and said wood is of a lighter and a darker shade which are alternated in the series for decorative effect.

5. The subject matter of claim 1 in which there are at least one dozen slats.

6. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are pivotally adjustable about said upright member as an axis.

7. The subject matter of claim 6 in which various slats in said series contrast in appearance for decorative effect.

8. The subject matter of claim 7 in which the contrast in appearance is between lighter and darker woods.

9. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are arranged in a series of groups symmetrical about said upright member and medially spaced apart, each group having it least one larger radius slat selected from slats of larger radii of curvature and at least one smaller radius slat selected from slats of smaller radii of curvature.

10. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the slats are arranged evenly spaced around said upright member and in a series from smaller to larger radii of curvature.

11. The subject matter of claim 10 in which side margins of adjacent slats are lapped.

12. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the slats are arranged evenly medially spaced apart around said upright member and in a series in which the order of smaller to larger radii of curvatures are mixed.

13. The subject matter of claim I in which the slats are arranged nonsymmetrically relative to said upright member.

14. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the slats are arranged in two opposed groups in which slats within each group are more closely medially spaced than the spacing between the groups and in which slats of smaller and larger radii of curvatures are substantially evenly divided in the two groups.

15. The subject matter of claim 14 in which side margins of adjacent slats within each group are lapped.

Claims (15)

1. The improvement in a lamp hanging from a support member including electrical wire means connecting to electrical bulb means in the lamp, comprising: a. an upright member, said bulb means being supported medially of said upright member, said upright member depending from said support member which is attached to the upper end of said upright member b. a series of at least six slats forming shades, said slats being of generally semicircular shapes, the semicircular curvatures being in the direction of the minimum thickness dimensions of the slats, the slats having their ends lapping in series and the radii of curvatures of said slats increasing from inside to outside of the series, said slats having aligned openings in their lapped ends and said upright member having upper and lower portions extending through said openings and including means securing the slats in end-lapped positions and securing said slats to said upright member c. said upright member being tubular and having abutments on each side of the lapped slat ends and said support member including a flexible tension member such as a chain or the like.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are normally straight and are bent into curved dispositions.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 in which each slat is formed from two strips of wood whose faces are bonded together.

4. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are formed of wood and said wood is of a lighter and a darker shade which are alternated in the series for decorative effect.

5. The subject matter of claim 1 in which there are at least one dozen slats.

6. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are pivotally adjustable about said upright member as an axis.

7. The subject matter of claim 6 in which various slats in said series contrast in appearance for decorative effect.

8. The subject matter of claim 7 in which the contrast in appearance is between lighter and darker woods.

9. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said slats are arranged in a series of groups symmetrical about said upright member and medially spaced apart, each group having it least one larger radius slat selected from slats of larger radii of curvature and at least one smaller radius slat selected from slats of smaller radii of curvature.

10. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the slats are arranged evenly spaced around said upright member and in a series from smaller to larger radii of curvature.

11. The subject matter of claim 10 in which side margins of adjacent slats are lapped.

12. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the slats are arranged evenly medially spaced apart around said upright member and in a series in which the order of smaller to larger radii of curvatures are mixed.

13. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the slats are arranged nonsymmetrically relative to said upright member.

14. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the slats are arranged in two opposed groups in which slats within each group are more closely medially spaced than the spacing between the groups and in which slats of smaller and larger radii of curvatures are substantially evenly divided in the two groups.

15. The subject matter of claim 14 in which side margins of adjacent slats within each group are lapped.

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