GB2151010A

GB2151010A - Lampshade and kit for the construction thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2151010A
Application number: GB08332622A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Craven Walker
Original assignee: Crestworth Ltd
Current assignee: Crestworth Ltd
Priority date: 1983-12-07
Filing date: 1983-12-07
Publication date: 1985-07-10
Also published as: GB8332622D0

Abstract

A lampshade comprises a translucent sheet-like diffusion member and means for mounting the diffusion member adjacent a light source, wherein the diffusion member is constituted by a layered structure comprising a translucent backing sheet and a transparent cover sheet superimposed thereon and sandwiched between the two is, one or more translucent or transparent design elements, which when the lampshade is mounted adjacent said source is illuminated by diffused light passing from the source, through the backing layer and through the design element or elements. Also disclosed are kits for the construction of the lampshade.

Description

SPECIFICATION Lampshade and kit for the construction thereof This invention relates to lampshades in assembled or kit form. According to one aspect the invention provides a lampshade comprising a translucent sheet-like diffusion member and means for mounting the diffusion member is constituted by a layered structure comprising a translucent backing sheet and a transparent cover sheet superimposed thereon and sandwiched between the two, one or more translucent or transparent design elements, which when the lampshade is mounted adjacent said source are illuminated by diffused light passing from the source, through the backing layer and through the design element or elements.

As will be apparent from the above description the invention provides a simple, inexpensive, attractive lampshade comprising design elements e.g. positive photographic prints or transparencies or other transparent or translucent pictures or designs, which are illuminated from behind by diffused light from the light source passing through the diffuser and through the design elements.

If desired, the design elements can be removably mounted between the two layers of the diffusion member so as to be interchangeable from time to time with the new design elements.

Whilst the lampshade of this invention may take any geometric shape, preferred are lampshades in which the diffusion memer is in the form of an endless structure, e.g. a cylinder, which surrounds the light source through a complete arc of 360 .

The lampshade of this invention may be sold in assembled form, and with or without the design elements inserted between the layers of the diffusion member, the purchasers in some cases possibly preferring to insert their own design elements, e.g. family photographs, into the diffusion member. More usually, however, the lampshades of this invention will be sold in kit form, and accordingly the present invention also extends to a kit for the assembly of a lampshade as described and comprising a backing sheet of translucent material and a cover sheet of transparent material having substantially the same dimensions as the backing sheet and superimposable thereon to form a layered structure capable of receiving between the superimposed layers one or more transparent or translucent design elements, and means for mounting the two sheets when so assembled in the form of a lampshade about a light source. Usually, also the kit will be sold complete with the necessary lamp holder, e.g.

of the conventional bayonet or screw cap type, and the necessary light bulb.

In a preferred embodiment, the two opposite ends of both the backing sheet and the cover sheet are each formed with a hole, the holes at each end of the two sheets when superimposed being in registration one with the other, so that when the superimposed sheets are formed into a cylinder, the four holes in the overlapping ends of the two sheets are aligned and provide the means for mounting the lampshade on the lampholder by removing the shade ring from the lampholder, inserting the lampholder through the aligned holes in the shade and refastening the shade ring to the holder from inside the shade. The shade ring thus serves both to mount the shade on the lampholder and to hold the superimposed sheets in a cylindrical configuration about the lamp.Additional forming elements are preferably provided for attachment to the opposite ends of the lampshade to maintain the cylindrical configuration.

In an alternative kit, in addition to the two sheets a frame member or members is or are provided, the frame member or members being assembled or assembable to define the shape of the lampshade and providing a framework about which the two superimposed sheets can be mounted to form the lampshade, the framework also providing means for mounting the assembled shade about a light source. In one such arrangement the frame members comprise two circular end pieces positionable at the opposite ends of the lampshade, one of said end pieces being provided with means for mounting the assembled lampshade in surrounding relation to a light source, and the two sheets are elongated, generally rectangular sheets superimposable one on the other and mountable about said end members to form a generally cylindrical lampshade.

As already indicated, the kit may or may not also comprise the design elements for insertion between the layers of the diffusion member, since purchasers may prefer to insert their own.

For avoidance of doubt the terms "translucent" and "transparent" are used herein in the strict sense of transmitting visible light respectively with and without diffusion of the light transmitted. Numerous modifications, improvements and variations may be made in the lampshades described herein and without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A lampshade comprising a translucent sheet-like diffusion member and means for mounting the diffusion member adjacent a light source, wherein the diffusion member is constituted by a layered structure comprising a translucent backing sheet and a transparent cover sheet superimposed thereon and sand

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lampshade and kit for the construction thereof This invention relates to lampshades in assembled or kit form. According to one aspect the invention provides a lampshade comprising a translucent sheet-like diffusion member and means for mounting the diffusion member is constituted by a layered structure comprising a translucent backing sheet and a transparent cover sheet superimposed thereon and sandwiched between the two, one or more translucent or transparent design elements, which when the lampshade is mounted adjacent said source are illuminated by diffused light passing from the source, through the backing layer and through the design element or elements. As will be apparent from the above description the invention provides a simple, inexpensive, attractive lampshade comprising design elements e.g. positive photographic prints or transparencies or other transparent or translucent pictures or designs, which are illuminated from behind by diffused light from the light source passing through the diffuser and through the design elements. If desired, the design elements can be removably mounted between the two layers of the diffusion member so as to be interchangeable from time to time with the new design elements. Whilst the lampshade of this invention may take any geometric shape, preferred are lampshades in which the diffusion memer is in the form of an endless structure, e.g. a cylinder, which surrounds the light source through a complete arc of 360 . The lampshade of this invention may be sold in assembled form, and with or without the design elements inserted between the layers of the diffusion member, the purchasers in some cases possibly preferring to insert their own design elements, e.g. family photographs, into the diffusion member. More usually, however, the lampshades of this invention will be sold in kit form, and accordingly the present invention also extends to a kit for the assembly of a lampshade as described and comprising a backing sheet of translucent material and a cover sheet of transparent material having substantially the same dimensions as the backing sheet and superimposable thereon to form a layered structure capable of receiving between the superimposed layers one or more transparent or translucent design elements, and means for mounting the two sheets when so assembled in the form of a lampshade about a light source. Usually, also the kit will be sold complete with the necessary lamp holder, e.g. of the conventional bayonet or screw cap type, and the necessary light bulb. In a preferred embodiment, the two opposite ends of both the backing sheet and the cover sheet are each formed with a hole, the holes at each end of the two sheets when superimposed being in registration one with the other, so that when the superimposed sheets are formed into a cylinder, the four holes in the overlapping ends of the two sheets are aligned and provide the means for mounting the lampshade on the lampholder by removing the shade ring from the lampholder, inserting the lampholder through the aligned holes in the shade and refastening the shade ring to the holder from inside the shade. The shade ring thus serves both to mount the shade on the lampholder and to hold the superimposed sheets in a cylindrical configuration about the lamp.Additional forming elements are preferably provided for attachment to the opposite ends of the lampshade to maintain the cylindrical configuration. In an alternative kit, in addition to the two sheets a frame member or members is or are provided, the frame member or members being assembled or assembable to define the shape of the lampshade and providing a framework about which the two superimposed sheets can be mounted to form the lampshade, the framework also providing means for mounting the assembled shade about a light source. In one such arrangement the frame members comprise two circular end pieces positionable at the opposite ends of the lampshade, one of said end pieces being provided with means for mounting the assembled lampshade in surrounding relation to a light source, and the two sheets are elongated, generally rectangular sheets superimposable one on the other and mountable about said end members to form a generally cylindrical lampshade. As already indicated, the kit may or may not also comprise the design elements for insertion between the layers of the diffusion member, since purchasers may prefer to insert their own. For avoidance of doubt the terms "translucent" and "transparent" are used herein in the strict sense of transmitting visible light respectively with and without diffusion of the light transmitted. Numerous modifications, improvements and variations may be made in the lampshades described herein and without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims. CLAIMS

1. A lampshade comprising a translucent sheet-like diffusion member and means for mounting the diffusion member adjacent a light source, wherein the diffusion member is constituted by a layered structure comprising a translucent backing sheet and a transparent cover sheet superimposed thereon and sand wiched between the two, one or more translucent or transparent design elements, which when the lampshade is mounted adjacent said source are illuminated by diffused light passing from the source, through the backing layer and through the design element or elements.

2. A lampshade according to claim 1.

wherein the design element(s) is or are removably mounted between the two layers of the diffuser to as to be interchangeable from time to time with the new design elements.

3. A lampshade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the design element(s) is or are positive photographic prints or transparencies.

4. A lampshade according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the diffusion member comprises an endless structure mountable about said light source so as to surround said source through a complete arc of 360 .

5. A lampshade according to claim 4, wherein the diffusion member is a cylindrical structure mountable about said light source.

6. A kit for the construction of a lampshade as claimed in claim 1, comprising a backing sheet of translucent material and a cover sheet of transparent material having substantially the same dimensions as the backing sheet and superimposable thereon to form a layered structure capable of receiving between the superimposed layers one or more transparent or translucent design elements, and means for mounting the two sheets when so assembled in the form of a lampshade about a light source.

7. A kit according to claim 6, wherein the kit comprises said two sheets each provided at its opposite ends with a hole, which when the two sheets are superimposed are in registration one with the other, the two sheets, when superimposed being formable into a cylinder with the opposite ends of the two superimposed sheets overlapping one with the other and with the said holes in registration, said holes when in registration providing said means for mounting the lampshade about the light source.

8. A kit according to claim 7, additionally comprising two forming elements for mounting on the opposite ends of the cylinder when formed from said superimposed sheets and serving to hold the superimposed sheets in the cylindrical configuration.

9. A kit for the construction of a lampshade as claimed in claim 1, and which comprises a frame member or members assembled or assembable to form a framework defining the shape of a lampshade and providing means for mounting the assembled lampshade adjacent the light source, a backing sheet of translucent material and a cover sheet of transparent material superimposable thereupon to form said layer, the two, superimposed sheets being mountable upon the frame or frame members to provide said diffusion member.

1 0. A kit according to claim 9, wherein the frame members comprise two circular end pieces, one being provided with means for mounting the assembled lampshade in surround relation to a light source, and wherein the two sheets are elongated, generally rectangular sheets superimposable one on the other and mountable about said end members to form a generally cylindrical lampshade.

11. A kit according to any one of claims 6-10, including one or more transparent or translucent design elements for positioning between said sheets.

1 2. A kit according to claim 10, wherein said design element(s) is or are positive photographic prints or transparencies.

1 3. A kit according to any one of claims 6-12, including a lampholder, the lampshade when assembled being mountable onto said lampholder.