Universal foldable lamp shade overshade

Abstract: A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (1⊘) which includes a uniformly pleated rectangular sheet (12) of thin, somewhat rigid yet bendable material having a plurality of side-by-side slender elongated panels integrally connected one to another in accordion fashion along a fold line between each panel. A hole is formed through each panel adjacent its upper end (24) through which a draw string (14) is positioned in in-and-out fashion through alternate holes. The side margins (28 and 3⊘) of the pleated sheet are connected to form a somewhat tubular member which is sized, when reduced in circumference at its upper end (24) by tightening the drawstring (14), to be held in place primarily by gravity over and substantially covering a lamp shade (L).

Description: This invention is generally related to lamp shades, and more particularly to a removable, universal, foldable lamp shape overshade. The construction of conventional lamp shades is well known and typically require replacement long before the lamp itself is either worn or desired to be replaced for decorative considerations. However, in replacing a conventional lamp shade, both size and decorative considerations become somewhat restrictive in selecting a replacement. Additionally, seasonal or festive considerations may make it desirable to temporarily alter the appearance of one or more lamp shades in a room or home setting. One such device for accomplishing this is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,731,715 to Anderson which is directed to a conformable covering fabricated from a rectangular swath of cloth which may be fitted over a conventional lamp shade. Other uniquely constructed lamp shades and lamp shade covers are as follows: Gottlieb 3,161,358 Washick 3,385,963 Weisbrod 4,055,760 Gall 4,354,222 Payne 4,625,268 Naumoff, et al. 4,727,461 However, none of these references are of a nature similar to that of the present invention. US-A-1 940 672 discloses a pleated lampshade that is gathered at the top by an elastic cord to sit on the flange of a conventional lampshade support and is spread and stiffened near the bottom by a circumferential fold running across the pleats and forcing them flat. US-A-1 929 315 discloses a lampshade that consists of a smooth inner layer and a pleated outer layer fastened together along substantially the whole of the inner fold of every pleat. The invention provides a universal foldable lamp shade overshade consisting essentially of: a uniformly pleated rectangular sheet of thin, bendable material; said pleated sheet defined by a plurality of side-by-side slender elongated rectangular panels integrally connected one to another in accordion fashion along a fold line between each two adjacent said pleated panels ending in an end panel at each end of said pleated sheet; a hole formed through each said panel uniformly positioned from, and close to, the upper margin of said pleated sheet; means for connecting said end panels together to form a generally tubular member; a drawstring extending through each said hole in alternate in-and-out fashion around said tubular member and exiting at each end of said drawstring from two adjacent said holes, said drawstring longer than the relaxed circumference of said tubular member; said tubular member having a relaxed circumference sized to fit around an upwardly tapering lamp shade; said tubular member reducible in circumference at its upper end by shortening said drawstring to provide an only means for hanging support of said tubular member in position over the lamp shade whereby said tubular member will rest over and substantially cover the lamp shade remaining thusly primarily by the force of gravity. It is possible to manufacture a universal, foldable lamp shade overshade according to the present invention from any convenient semi-rigid decorative material which is formed into a uniformly pleated rectangular sheet bendable primarily about the fold lines between each slender panel in accordion fashion. This structure preferably has sufficient pliability about the fold lines so as to conform to a broad range of lamp shade sizes of perimeters and lengths and shapes. Because the device is structured so as to rest atop a tapered lamp shade held thusly primarily by gravity, it preferably requires no additional connecting means between the device and the lamp shade. The lamp shade overshade may be fabricated from a virtually limitless selection of semi-rigid, bendable decorative materials. It is possible in accordancw with this invention to provide a universal lamp shade overshade which will decoratively cover a conventional lamp shade, thus providing a completely different decorative lamp shade appearance without the need for lamp shade replacement. It is also possible to provide a universal lamp shade overshade which is expandable to fit over and cover a very broad range of lamp shade sizes of perimeters and lengths and shapes. It is further possible to provide a universal lamp shade overshade which may substantially alter the decorative length configuration of a conventional lamp shade. It is further possible for the lamp shade overshade to be made compactly storable. In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in its relaxed configuration. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the invention shown in Figure 1 fitted over a conventional lamp shade. Figure 3 is a section view in the direction of arrows 3-3 in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section view similar to Figure 3 showing an alternate connecting means between the free side margins of the pleated rectangular sheet. Figure 5 is a view in the direction of arrows 5-5 in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 in conjunction with an irregularly shaped lamp shade. Figure 7 is an end view of the invention in its stored configuration and showing yet another configuration for connecting the side margins of the pleated sheet. Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown generally at numeral 1⊘ . This overshade 1⊘ is fabricated of a pleated sheet 12 formed of relatively stiff, yet foldable decorative material sufficiently rigid so as to maintain a free-standing shape as shown in Figure 1, yet sufficiently pliable so as to be expandable in accordion fashion. Referring additionally to Figure 3, edge panels 28 and 3⊘ of pleated sheet 12 are overlapped and adhered together along surface 32 by conventional adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape, or the like so as to form the generally tubular-shaped member depicted in Figure 1. A drawstring 14 formed of a length of thin, flexible cord material is positioned in in-and-out fashion through holes formed adjacent the upper margin 24 of the pleated sheet 12 . The ends 2⊘ and 22 of drawstring 14 exit through adjacent holes at 16 and 18 so as to be tightenable and tieable after suitably reducing the circumference of the upper end 24 of the tubular-shaped pleated sheet 12 . Alternately, the flexible cord 14 may be elastic and continuous. Referring additionally to Figure 2, the overshade 1⊘ is shown having drawstring 14 tensioned so as to have reduced the circumference of upper margin 24 ready for slidable fitting downwardly over a conventional lamp shade L . No further preparation is required to fit the device 1⊘ in snug position over and substantially or fully covering the lamp shade L . Because most lamp shades are tapered upwardly, coupled with the tensioning and securing of drawstring 14 , the device 1⊘ will remain in position decoratively covering the lamp shade L , aided primarily by the force of gravity and surface friction between the inner surface of the device 1⊘ and the outer surface of lamp shade L . Referring now to Figure 4, an alternate embodiment of the connecting means between the edge panels 28 and 3⊘ of the pleated sheet 12 is there depicted at 1⊘ . This connecting means is in the form of a U-shaped metal or plastic clip 36 having opposing inwardly projecting barbs 38 and 4⊘ which pierce through the corresponding layers of overlapping panel material to secure and maintain the tubular shape. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the compliability of the embodiments 1⊘ and 1⊘ of the invention around irregular shaped lamp shades L and L each having its own distinctively shaped upper and lower margins N and M or N and Ml is there shown. Thus, from the standpoint of both size and shape accommodation, either embodiment of the invention 1⊘ or 1⊘ is fully capable of expanding as required and exhibiting sufficient pliability so as to generally maintain the overall shape of the lamp shade L or L . Moreover, the length of the tubular member 12 may be selected so as to be substantially longer than the height of the lamp shade and drawstring 14 may be tensioned such that either the upper margin 24 or the lower margin 26 may extend either above, or below, the upper or lower margins, respectively of a lamp shade. Because of the relatively stiff nature of the pleated sheet, the overall tubular shape, in the form of a truncated cone as in Figure 2, will uniformly extend the existing shape of the lamp shade itself so as to alter the decorative impact thereof. Referring lastly to Figure 7, the invention is shown in another alternate form at 1 ⊘ in its fully folded or stored configuration. In this embodiment 1⊘ , the same pleated sheet 12 is adhered along overlapping edge panels 28 and 3⊘ and the panel adjacent to each so as to increase the overall strength of the tubular shape.

Claims: A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') consisting essentially of: a uniformly pleated rectangular sheet (12) of thin, bendable material; said pleated sheet defined by a plurality of side-by-side slender elongated rectangular panels integrally connected one to another in accordion fashion along a fold line between each two adjacent said pleated panels ending in an end panel (28, 30) at each end of said pleated sheet (12); a hole formed through each said panel uniformly positioned from, and close to, the upper margin (24) of said pleated sheet (12); means for connecting said end panels together to form a generally tubular member (12); a drawstring (14) extending through each said hole in alternate in-and-out fashion around said tubular member and exiting at each end of said drawstring from two adjacent said holes (16, 18), said drawstring longer than the relaxed circumference of said tubular member (12); said tubular member (12) having a relaxed circumference sized to fit around an upwardly tapering lamp shade (L, L'); said tubular member reducible in circumference at its upper end by shortening said drawstring (14) to provide an only means for hanging support of said tubular member (12) in position over the lamp shade (L, L') whereby said tubular member (12) will rest over and substantially cover the lamp shade (L, L'), remaining thusly primarily by the force of gravity. A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') as set forth in Claim 1, wherein: said connection means is adhesive. A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') as set forth in Claim 1, wherein: said connecting means is a self-engaging barbed clip (36). A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein: said tubular member (12) is sized to expand and fit over a wide range of circumferences of lamp shades (L, L'). A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein: said tubular member (12) has a length substantially longer than the height of the lamp shade (L, L'). A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein: said tubular member (12) is sufficiently compliant along said fold lines to conform around non-circular lamp shades (L, L'). A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein: said tubular member (12) is collapsible along said fold lines into a compressed configuration for storage. A universal foldable lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein: said drawstring (14) is elastic. In combination, a lamp shade and a lamp shade overshade (10, 10', 10'') cooperatively structured to loosely fit over and be supported only by said upwardly tapered lamp shade (L, L'), said lamp shade overshade consisting essentially of: a uniformly pleated rectangular sheet (12) of thin, bendable material; said pleated sheet defined by a plurality of side-by-side slender elongated rectangular panels integrally connected one to another in accordion fashion along a fold line between each two adjacent said pleated panels ending in an end panel (28, 30) at each end of said pleated sheet (12); a hole formed through each said panel uniformly positioned from, and close to, the upper margin (24) of said pleated sheet (12); means for connecting said end panels together to form a generally tubular member (12); a drawstring (14) extending through each hole in alternate in-and-out fashion around said tubular member and exiting at each end of said drawstring from two adjacent said holes (16, 18), said drawstring longer than the relaxed circumference of said tubular member (12); said tubular member (12) having a relaxed circumference sized to fit around said lamp shade (L, L'); said tubular member (12) reducible in circumference at its upper end by shortening said drawstring (14) to provide an only means for supporting said tubular member (12) in position over said lamp shade (L, L') whereby said tubular member (12) substantially covers the lamp shade (L, L'), remaining thusly primarily by the force of gravity.

Inventors: HYLAND BARBARA B, HYLAND JOSEPH F, HYLAND, BARBARA B., HYLAND, JOSEPH F.
Applicants: HYLAND BARBARA B, HYLAND JOSEPH F, HYLAND, BARBARA B., HYLAND, JOSEPH F.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F21V1
IPC codes: F21V1