Abstract:
A lamp with a head freely rotatable above a base is provided. Preferably both the head and base are made of several panels interconnected with hinges. The panels forming the head include a frame with tabs defining a slot for inserts. The inserts are transparent or translucent and bear decorative designs. A low heat highly efficient light bulb is used as a light source. The various elements are preferably shipped in a single box and are arranged and constructed so that they can be readily assembled to form the lamp without any tools required.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The subject matter of this application is related to U.S Design Patent application S.N. ______ entitled A FRAME FOR A LAMP filed on even date herewith, now ______; and U.S Design Patent application S.N. ______entitled A DESK LAMP filed on even date herewith, now ______, all incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention pertains to a decorative lamp that having several replaceable panels. The panels are preferably provided on a rotatable lamp head and arranged in a geometric configuration. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Lamps are an important and common means of providing decorations as well as lighting in many areas, including residential, commercial and industrial environments. A typical lamp includes a base, a light fixture holding a light bulb or other light source and a decorative covering that covers the light source so that the lamp is more esthetically pleasing. While millions of such lamps are sold all over the world, a problem with most of them is that decorative covering is fixed and hence a lamp cannot be changed to match changes in the decorative styles of a room or environment without changing the whole lamp or taking the whole lamp apart. 
         [0006]    A further problem is that typically lamps are fairly fragile and cannot be readily dismantled and reassembled. As a result, they must be shipped in bulky boxes with various protective means, such as Styrofoam padding, plastic bags, loose paper, etc. 
         [0007]    The present application describes a lamp that provides solutions to these problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A lamp is disclosed formed of several interconnected panels defining a lamp head shaped as a polygon. The panels are connected by pins and are arranged so that they can be easily taken apart and reassembled. A light source, such as a high efficiency LED light bulb is positioned within the polygon to generate light. The panels have decorative openings, or, preferably, inserts with various designs that can be readily slipped in and out. A top is mounted on top of the panels and preferably includes its own decorative panel having a matching pattern to the pattern on the other inserts. 
         [0009]    A base may also be provided. In one embodiment the base is also made of panels that are hingedly interconnected. A support, such as a tubular member extends upwardly of the base to support the light source within the polygon. The head may be rotatably rested on the support. 
         [0010]    The various elements of the lamp can be readily stored and shipped in a small box. A customer can then assemble the lamp quickly and easily by interconnecting the panels, slipping the inserts into the panels and mounting the light bulb, or without the need of any tools. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an orthogonal elevational view of a lamp constructed in accordance with this invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the lamp head; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a front elevational view of the lamp; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of the lamp 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an elevational cross sectional view of the lamp; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the lamp; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of a light bulb and its socket used in the lamp of  FIGS. 1-6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a partial view of two panels forming the lamp, the panels being joined by a pin; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows an orthogonal view of the frame for the lamp; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  shows a front elevational view of the frame for the lamp; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  shows a top view of the frame; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  shows a rear or inside elevational view of the frame; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12A  shows a side view of the frame 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  shows a bottom view of the frame; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13A  shows an orthogonal view of a panel forming the base for the lamp; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13B  shows an orthogonal view of the brace for the base; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13C  shows a tubular member for the support; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  shows an orthogonal elevational view of a different embodiment of a head in which panels with cutouts are provided; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 15A-15F  show in a somewhat diagrammatical format top views of various lamp heads arranged in various geometric configurations; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  shows an embodiment in which several interconnected panels are arranged by themselves on a flat surface rather than being closed to form a lamp head. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    Referring to the Figures, a lamp  10  constructed in accordance with this invention includes a base  12 , a support  14  and a head  20 . In one embodiment, the base  12  is configured to rest on a flat surface, such as table or other furniture. In another embodiment, the base is omitted and the support  14  is configured for mounting the lamp on a vertical surface, such as a wall or a vertical beam. In this case, the support  14  may be L-shaped. 
         [0032]    The lamp head  20  includes several, preferably identical, panels  22 . The panels  22  are hingedly connected to each other long their vertical sides as discussed in more detail below, mounted by conventional braces to the support  14 , and a light source  24  (seen in  FIG. 5 ). In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the head  20  is formed of four panels  22  interconnected and arranged to form a square. 
         [0033]    It should be understood that the lamp is either battery powered or, more conventionally, it is connected to AC standard line by wires and a switch (not shown). The switch may be a straight on/off switch, a dimmer switch, may include a timer or may include electronics for controlling the intensity and/or the color of the light source  24 . Preferably, the light source  24  generates little or no heat so that it does not affect the panel  22  and their inserts. For example, the light source may be a fluorescent light source with a spiral body. However, preferably the light source is an LED bulb having LEDs immersed in an fluid—such as the LED light bulb distributed under the name of INFINIA by Switch Lighting of San Jose, Calif. This latter light bulb is available in various ratings such as 6 W rating generating the same light as a standard 40 W incandescent bulb. Moreover, this light bulb is guaranteed for 25,000 hours. 
         [0034]    Each panel  22  consists of a frame  30  and an insert  32 . The frames are made of aluminum or other light-weight durable material. The inserts  32  are made of a transparent or translucent material (such as a glass or a high impact heat resistant plastic material) to allow light from the source  24  to be emitted outwardly therethrough. Preferably the inserts  32  are provided with decorative designs, as at  34 . Alternatively, the inserts may be made of an opaque or translucent material with one or more decorative cutouts  202 , as shown in  FIG. 14  for head  200 . 
         [0035]    The purpose of inserts  32  is to provide a unique decorative look to lamp  10 . In the embodiment of Figs. each of the panels  22  is provided with its own insert  32  bearing the same or a different design  34 . In addition, as described in more detail, the head  20  includes a top  40  with its own insert  42  having a design  44  that may match the designs  34  or can be different. When the light source  24  is on, it provides light beams that pass through and illuminate the inserts  32 ,  42 . Importantly, many different panels with various designs can be provided and inserted into the frames as discussed below. Thus once a user buys lamp  10  he has many different choices for inserts  32 ,  42  with different designs, materials, colors, etc. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8-13 , each frame is formed with a central cutout  34 . Around its vertical edges, the frame  30  is provided with hinging elements  36 A,  36 B with holes  39  arranged in a complementary configuration so that when the right edge of a frame  30  is positioned next to the left edge of an adjacent frame, the hinging elements  36 A,  36 B line up with holes  39  being coaxial. An L-shaped pin  61  can then be inserted into holes  39  to connect the adjacent panels.  FIG. 8  shows how two frames  30 A,  30 B are lined up and joined by a pin  61 . This configuration results in a piano-hinge type connection joining the frames. 
         [0037]    Each frame  32  is also provided with a plurality of tabs  33 . The tabs  33 ,  33 A are about ½′ long, extend about ⅛″ away from the frame  30 , are generally L-shaped and are arranged and constructed to form a channel  35 . No tab is required on the top edge  37  of the frames. Tabs  33  formed on the lateral sides of the frame are generally parallel to the rest of the frame  30 . Tabs  33 A on the bottom of the frame  30  are disposed at an angle of about 10° with respect to the plane of the frame. The inserts  32  are introduced into the channels formed by the tabs  33 ,  33 A from the top of the frames  30  are maintained in place by the tabs. (In  FIG. 12 , dotted lines indicate the position of an insert  32  being held in place by tabs  33 ,  33 A in this manner). Tabs  33 A guide the insert so that it is held close to the frame. 
         [0038]    Head  20  further includes a top  40  with an insert  42  supported by a frame  44 . Frame  44  is similar to frames  30  with tabs (not shown) supporting insert  42 . One difference between frame  44  and frames  30  (in addition, obvious to their shape) is that instead of hinging elements, frame  44  is formed with clips  46  that are shaped to position and hold the top  40  in the position shown (see  FIG. 5 ). The clips may be shaped so that they grip and form an interference fit with the top edges of the frames  30  thereby further securing the top  40 . It should be understood that since the frames  30  are hingedly connected, they are free to pivot with respect to each other until the lamp is assembled. 
         [0039]    Finally, the head  20  further includes a bottom brace  50 . While this brace may have various shapes, in the preferred embodiment, the brace shown in  FIG. 6 , is cross-shaped and has at its four edges clips  52  that engage the lower ends of the frames  30  in a manner similar to the clips  46 . 
         [0040]    Base  12  has a structure similar to the head  20 . More specifically, base  12  is formed of four panels  60  as shown in  FIG. 14 . These panels are similar to frames  30  but do not need cutouts since they do not have an insert. The panels have hinge members  62 A,  628  so that four panels  60  can be hingedly interconnected using pins  63  similar to pins  61 . The four panels  60  are held in place by a top brace  64  similar in size and shape to brace  50 . Brace  64  also includes clips  66  engaging the top edges of panels  60 . Supporting legs  70  may be attached either directly to the panels  60  or to the interconnecting pins  63 . In an alternate embodiment, instead of panels  60 , frames may be used with replaceable inserts similar to the frames  30 . 
         [0041]    The support  14  includes a tubular member  72  terminating in a lower threaded end  74 . The end  74  is sized and shaped to fit through  68  in brace  64 . The hole  68  is threaded to receive end  74  or a threaded nut may be used to affix support  14  to brace  64 . 
         [0042]    The top of the member  72  is hollow and is sized and shaped to receive a standard electric bulb receptacle  80  with a shoulder  82  resting on cylinder  72 . Preferably, the receptacle  80  is arranged to allow the brace  50  and therefore head  20  to rotate with respect to the base  12  and support  14 . Therefore, the head  20  can be positioned at any angular orientation with respect to base  12 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the light source  24  is screwed into standard receptacle  80 . 
         [0044]    Advantageously, the lamp  10  can be stored and shipped in a box disassembled. A buyer can then assemble the lamp by interconnecting the panels forming the base  12  and head  20  (of course, for head  20 , the inserts  32 ,  42  are also introduced into the frames of the panels) with the respective pins, add the braces and then attach each to the support  14  with the bulb disposed within the head. The electrical wire for the bulb is threaded through the member  72  and exits through the base. It should be appreciated that this assembly can be performed quickly and easily without any special skills and without any tools. Moreover, once the lamp is assembled, not only it presents a pleasing decorative appearance that is easily customizable, but it is light yet sturdy so that it will not break easily when is turned over or falls down. 
         [0045]    Preferably, the head  20  is not fixed to the support  14  but it is free to rotate with respect to the base  12  and the bulb with its receptacle  82 . In one embodiment, a conventional motor may be mounted, for example in base  12  to drive the head. 
         [0046]    In the Figures discussed so far, the lamp has a square or rectangular cross section. Of course, it can have other cross sections as well with 3, 5, 6 , 7 sides, etc., as illustrated in  FIGS. 15A-15D . The frames  22  in each of these embodiments is made with slots for panels  32  so that they can be changed at will. In the configuration shown, the lamp can be packaged in a box  4 ″ in high and weighing less than 1-½ lb, thus saving shipping, storage and display space. 
         [0047]    Finally, the panels need to be interconnected to form a closed head, but instead can be interconnected in a zig-zag shape as shown in  FIG. 16 . In this configuration, two or more panels with respective inserts can be interconnected and placed on a flat surface, such as table. 
         [0048]    Numerous modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.