US3693001A

US3693001A - Apparatus for mounting lamp shades on hanging lamps

Info

Publication number: US3693001A
Application number: US130347A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Rogers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-04-01
Filing date: 1971-04-01
Publication date: 1972-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-19

Abstract

A C-shaped member interposed between the terminal link of a chain in a hanging lamp and an electric socket embraces a hub mounting zone. The threaded mounting stud of the socket protrudes into the zone to receive the apertured mounting hub of a standard lamp shade.

Description

United States Patent [151 3,693,001 Rogers [4 1 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING LAMP [56] References Cited SHADES ON HANGING LAMPS UNITED STATES PATENTS [721 The Lamp 1 583 639 5/1926 Ziska ..240/12s Bmkfield Center 06804 1,683,904 9/1928 Knoblock ..240/7s E [22] Filed: April 1, 1971 Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Peters, Jr. [21] Appl 130347 Attorney-Mattem, Ware & Davis [52] US. Cl. ..240/l28, 240/137, 240/143, [57] I ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. F21 3 3 7 /32 A c-shaped memberimerposed between terminal Field of Search ..240/85 B, 85 C, 85 D, 78 E, 240/88,108 R, 126, 127, 128, 132, M2, 153, 137, 143

link of a chain in a hanging lamp and an electric socket embraces a hub mounting zone. The threaded mounting stud of the socket protrudes into the zone to receive the apertured mounting hub of a standard lamp shade.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEP I 9 I972 3.693; 001

INVENTOR. JOHN B. ROGERS RE AND DAVIS MATTERN WA ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING LAMP SHADES ON HANGING LAMPS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hanging lamps or swag lamps or swag lamp kits currently on sale and in use have a chain portion terminating at a ring which receives in threaded engagement the threaded mounting stud of an electrical socket. An electric cord passed through the links of the chain and passed coaxially through the threaded connector into the socket for supplying electricity thereto. The socket is adapted to receive a light bulb, and a switch may be associated therewith.

The coaxial configuration of the chain, chain terminating ring, light socket and cord does not provide a threaded stud for receiving a standard lamp shade without removal of the socket and disconnecting of the socket. For the purposes of this application, a standard lamp shade shall be defined as one having an apertured hub portion with a plurality of spokes extending radially outward therefrom to support an outer, decorative shade portion.

Consequently, specialized mounting apparatus for a shade and other decoration associated with the prior hanging lamps or swag kits was provided. Each such hanging lamp therefore had to be manufactured individually and stocked by a retailer as a single unit. No change in the style of shade or type of decoration can readily be made. It was also not possible to easily replace the shade or decoration on such lamps if they became damaged or soiled.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The hanging lamp according to this invention is adapted to have mounted thereon a standard lamp shade. The hanging lamp comprises a chain portion with a terminating ring at the end thereof. A C-shaped support member has its top leg connected to the terminating ring. The lower leg of the C-shaped support member has an internally threaded bore formed therethrough, and a threaded mounting stud protruding from a standard electrical socket is secured therein. The side portion of the C-shaped member provides an offset support for the electrical socket, which is thereby positioned below the terminating ring. An electric cord is threaded through the chain and introduced into the electrical socket at a point removed from the mounting stud.

A space embraced by the C-shaped bracket remains between the terminating ring of the chain and the electrical socket. A portion of the threaded mounting stud of the socket upstands into this space. The hub portion of a conventional lamp shade may be placed over the upstanding mounting stud, and secured thereto by a decorative nut. This decorative nut may be easily removed and a plurality of different shades may be installed in a similar manner. Decorations other than shades having a similar, apertured hub portion can also be mounted on the hanging lamp.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a hanging lamp having easily changeable shades and decoration.

It is a second object of the invention to provide a hanging lamp on which a standard lamp shade can b removably mounted.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a hanging lamp on which decoration can be removably mounted.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the features, elements, combinations and operating procedures disclosed in the following detailed description and shown in the drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of hanging lamp according to the invention with a standard shade poised for mounting thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the hanging lamp and shade of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, partially sectional, and partially broken away of the hanging lamp of FIG. 1 with the shade mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, a hanging lamp assembly 10 is shown. The lamp comprises achain 12 having a terminating ring 14 secured to the end thereof. An electrical socket l6 and a light bulb 17 are secured to the terminating ring 14 by means of a C-shaped support member 18. A lamp cord 20 is threaded through the chain and introduced to the electrical socket 16 at an aperture 22; The lamp cord 20 may have a switch 24 interposed therein, and a plug 26 connected thereto for insertion in a standard electrical outlet.

The lamp is supported by securing the chain 12 over an overhead hook 28 mounted on a ceiling 30 of a room, and by a second hook 32 mounted on a wall 34 of the room, said second hook supporting the chain adjacent to the wall in a decorative fashion.

The lamp could also be supported by securing the chain to a mounting plate of an overhead electrical box, with the lamp cord 20 terminating therein.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional lamp shade 36 having a central apertured mounting hub 38 and three

spokes

40, 41, and 42 extending radially outward therefrom to support the outer decorative shade portion 44. The lamp shade 36 is being maneuvered towards its installed position in the hanging lamp assembly 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, greater detail of the structural relationship between the chain terminating ring 14, the C-shaped bracket 18, and the electrical socket 16 is apparent. The chain terminating ring 14 comprises a circular ring 50 which is passed through one length of the chain 12, and a generally conical member 52 having a flat bottom portion. The top leg 54 of the C-shaped bracket 18 is secured to the conical member 52 by means of a rivet 53 or the like. The terminating ring 14 and the C-shaped bracket 18 could also be fabricated as one piece. The bottom leg 56 of the C- shaped bracket 18 has an internally threaded bore 58 therethrough, into which is turned a threaded mounting stud 60 extending upward from the electrical socket 16. The side portion 62 of the C-shaped bracket 18 provides an offset support means connecting the chain terminating ring 14 and the electrical socket 16. A hub mounting zone is embraced by the C-shaped bracket. A portion of the stud 60 extends above the bottom leg 56 of the C-shaped bracket into the hub mounting zone. The lamp cord 20 is introduced to the electrical socket 16 through aperture 22, which is spaced from the mounting stud 60.

The electric socket 16 is thereby suspended generally centered below the chain 12 in the hanging lamp apparatus 10. The mounting stud 60 is also suspended directly below the chain 12, and a space remains between the top of the mounting stud 60 and the top leg of 54 of the C-shaped bracket, this space comprising a portion of the hub mounting zone.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the shade 36 has been moved upward from its position in FIG. 1, and the electric socket 16 is positioned between

spokes

41 and 42 of the shade. A subsequent sideways shift of the shade 36 will cause the apertured mounting hub 38 to be positioned in the hub mounting zone and aligned with the mounting stud 60. The mounting hub 38 is then passed over stud 60, and secured thereto by means of a decorative nut 64, wherein the shade 36 is mounted on the hanging lamp assembly 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the hub portion 38 of the lamp shade 36 is shown positioned on the mounting stud 60 and secured thereon by the decorative nut 64. The vertical dimension D of the mounting hub 38 is less than half of the height H which the mounting stud 60 protrudes above the bottom leg 56 of the C-shaped bracket 18. Thus a second mounting hub could also be mounted on the same stud, said second hub supporting auxiliary decoration exclusive of the lamp shade.

It will be recognized that this method of attaching a shade to a lamp may be utilized in lamps other than hanging lamps by attaching the electric socket to the lamp base by means of the bracket described herein. For instance, the C-shaped bracket could be utilized in supporting an electrical socket and light bulb on a pole lamp, and a shade attached in a manner similar to that described above. The C-shaped bracket could also be interposed between the flexible neck and electric socket in lamps of the goose neck variety and a shade attached thereto. An L-shaped bracket could also be utilized in a similar manner in these lamps.

Since the foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative, the scope of the invention has been broadly stated herein and it should be liberally interpreted to secure the benefit of all equivalents to which the invention is fairly entitled.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for attaching a standard lamp shade having an apertured mounting hub to a hanging swag lamp having a suspended socket and shade support portion axially aligned with and surmounting a depending electric socket and associated depending light bulb comprising:

A. a non-axial cord bypass conduit associated with the sockets shell and connecting a depending electrical power cord non-axially to the interior of said socket;

B. an offset, non-axial bracket connected to the support portion, embracing an axial hub mounting zone positioned between the socket and the axially aligned support portion, and

C. a threaded axial mounting stud 1. secured to the top of the socket in axial alignment therewith,

2. positioned at the lower end of the offset bracket and protruding into the axial hub mounting zone for receiving the apertured mounting hub of the standard lamp shade and an associated nut for securing the shade thereto.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a C-shaped bracket, one leg of which is connected to the support portion of the lamp.

3. The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the support portion of the lamp comprises a chain.

4. The apparatus described in claim 3, wherein the bracket is integral with the terminal link of the chain.

5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the cord bypass conduit is formed as a cord side-entry aperture in the sockets shell.

Claims

1. Apparatus for attaching a standard lamp shade having an apertured mounting hub to a hanging ''''swag'''' lamp having a suspended socket and shade support portion axially aligned with and surmounting a depending electric socket and associated depending light bulb comprising: A. a non-axial cord bypass conduit associated with the socket''s shell and connecting a depending electrical power cord nonaxially to the interior of said socket; B. an offset, non-axial bracket 1. connected to the support portion, 2. embracing an axial hub mounting zone positioned between the socket and the axially aligned support portion, and C. a threaded axial mounting stud 1. secured to the top of the socket in axial alignment therewith, 2. positioned at the lower end of the offset bracket and protruding into the axial hub mounting zone for receiving the apertured mounting hub of the standard lamp shade and an associated nut for securing the shade thereto.

2. embracing an axial hub mounting zone positioned between the socket and the axially aligned support portion, and C. a threaded axial mounting stud

5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the cord bypass conduit is formed as a cord side-entry aperture in the socket''s shell.