LAMP SHADE ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR USING THE SAME

Abstract

A lamp shade assembly, including: (a) a frame sub-assembly; (b) a shade sub-assembly; and (c) wherein the lamp shade assembly is readily convertible between a low-profile, substantially flat storage/collapsed configuration and a fully articulated use/expanded configuration.

Claims

1. A lamp shade assembly, consisting of: a frame sub-assembly, wherein the frame sub-assembly consists of: an upper frame member, wherein the upper frame member consists of a first semi-circular rod and a second semi-circular rod, wherein the first and second semi-circular rods of the upper frame member are secured together by a first connector and a second connector, wherein the first and second connectors of the upper frame member are plastic, non-fully enclosed, and substantially U-shaped, to, in turn, facilitate a snap fit connection between the first and second semi-circular rods of the upper frame member; and a lower frame member, wherein the lower frame member consists of a first semi-circular rod having a first support spoke secured thereto and a second semi-circular rod having a second support spoke and a third support spoke secured thereto, wherein a central circular member is secured to the second and third support spokes of the second semi-circular rod of the lower frame member, wherein the first and second semi-circular rods of the lower frame member are secured together by a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector, wherein the first, second, and third connectors of the lower frame member are plastic, non-fully enclosed, and substantially U-shaped, to, in turn, facilitate a snap fit connection between the first and second semi-circular rods of the lower frame member, and wherein the third connector is positioned between the first support spoke and the central circular member; and a shade sub-assembly, wherein the lamp shade assembly is readily convertible between a low-profile, substantially flat storage/collapsed configuration and a fully articulated use/expanded configuration.

2-18. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted.

[0030] It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

[0031] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a lamp shade assembly of the present invention being converted between a low-profile, substantially flat storage/collapsed configuration and a fully articulated use/expanded configuration;

[0033] FIG. 2 of the drawings is a perspective view of the lamp shade assembly of FIG. 1 (unassembled);

[0034] FIG. 3 of the drawings is a perspective view of the lamp shade assembly of FIG. 1 (assembled);

[0035] FIG. 4 of the drawings is a perspective view of an upper frame member of the lamp shade assembly of FIG. 1 (unassembled to assembled);

[0036] FIG. 5 of the drawings is a perspective view of a lower frame member of the lamp shade assembly of FIG. 1 (unassembled to assembled);

[0037] FIG. 6 of the drawings is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a lower frame member of the lamp shade assembly of FIG. 1 (unassembled to assembled);

[0038] FIG. 7 of the drawings is a perspective view an assembly progression of the lamp shade assembly of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 8 of the drawings are perspective views of foldable upper and lower frame members of the lamp shade assembly (folded to unfolded); and

[0040] FIG. 9 of the drawings are perspective views showing alternative plastic connectors for use in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0042] It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

[0043] In accordance with the present invention, and as is best shown in FIG. 1, lamp shade assembly 10 is readily convertible between a low-profile, substantially flat storage/transportation/collapsed configuration and a fully articulated use/expanded configuration. Lamp shade assembly 10 enables significantly reduced shipping costs while, at the same time, provides the user with a lamp shade that is easy to assemble in minutes with little or no instruction.

[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, lamp shade assembly 10 is shown as generally comprising frame sub-assembly 12 and shade sub-assembly 14.

[0045] As is best shown in FIG. 2, frame sub-assembly 12 comprises upper frame member 16 and lower frame member 18.

[0046] As is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, upper frame member 16 includes rods 20 that are joined together via connectors 22. Preferably, upper frame member 16 includes a pair of semi-circular rods that are joined together via a pair of friction fit rod joiners to form an upper circular frame member.

[0047] Upper frame member 16 is preferably fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, fiberglass and/or wood.

[0048] As is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, lower frame member 18 includes rods 20 that are joined together via connectors 22. Preferably, lower frame member 18 includes a pair of semi-circular rods that are joined together via three friction fit rod joiners to form a lower circular frame member having three supports/spokes 24 spaced apart approximately (+/?10 degrees) 120 degrees that are connected to central circular member 26 that is connectable to a lamp. In particular, central circular member 26 is placed on the lamp socket (not shown) and a socket ring (not shown) is screwed down to secure the lamp shade assembly. Central circular member 26 is preferably positioned above the lower circular frame member.

[0049] An alternative embodiment of lower frame member 18 is shown in FIG. 6.

[0050] Lower frame member 18 is preferably fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, fiberglass and/or wood.

[0051] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, shade sub-assembly 14 includes shade 28 having top 30, bottom 32, inner surface 34, and outer surface 36. Inner surface 34 of shade 28 preferably comprises a plurality (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, etcetera) of slots proximate top 30 and bottom 32 for retaining a plurality of retaining clips 38 (e.g., C-shaped, U-shaped, etcetera). Retaining clips 38 may be secured in place via a traditional adhesive.

[0052] In accordance with the present invention shade 28 may be transparent, translucent, non-transparent, and/or non-translucent.

[0053] Shade 28 is preferably fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a fabric, a metal, a metal alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, fiberglass and/or wood.

[0054] As is best shown in FIG. 7, lamp shade assembly 10 is readily assembled by securing assembled upper frame member to the lamp shade via the snap-fit connectors. Next, the assembled lower frame member is secured to the lamp shade via the snap-fit connectors. The lamp shade assembly is ready for securement to an associated lamp.

[0055] As is best shown in FIG. 8, lamp shade assembly 10 may utilize foldable upper and lower frame members 16 and 18, respectively. Such an implementation readily enables the frame members to be converted between a folded (e.g., storage, flat, substantially flat) configuration and an unfolded (e.g., use, deployed) configuration. The frame members are preferably multi-piece members that are connected via a pin, rivet, etcetera through apertures in and/or associated with each one of the frame members.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 9 of the drawings, and in one embodiment of the present invention, the lamp shade assemblies of the present invention may include substantially-U shaped and/or U-shaped plastic connectors 22. The plastic connectors disclosed herein are preferred over metal connectors because metal connectors can leave gaps between the frame members and/or scratch the frame members themselves during assembly and installation. The plastic connectors of the present invention also provide a degree of flexibility which help facilitate easy and rapid assembly relative to metal connectors.

[0057] The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0058] While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims.

[0059] The embodiments, illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms comprising, including, containing, etcetera shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology. Additionally, the phrase consisting essentially of will be understood to include those elements specifically recited and those additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase consisting of excludes any element not specified.

[0060] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and compositions within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, which can of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0061] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0062] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etcetera. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etcetera. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as up to, at least, greater than, less than, and the like, include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

[0063] All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

[0064] Other embodiments are set forth in the following claims.