Abstract:
A lampshade that is capable of retaining and illuminating images printed upon a translucent film material is presented. The lampshade is preferably manufactured of a smooth opaque plastic material that is capable of transmitting light efficiently therethrough. Translucent film images are then placed about the periphery of the lampshade and held in place by a clear plastic overlay, a static cling device, or tape. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a standard conic sectioned lampshade whereby the geometry of the shade helps to hold the image in place. A second preferred embodiment of the present invention included a lampshade that is substantially cylindrical in shape and employs a bottom ledge in conjunction with the clear plastic overlay to retain the image securely in place.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/268,557 filed Feb. 14, 2001, and entitled “Lampshade to Display and Illuminate Translucent Images,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a device for mounting translucent materials for display purposes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shade for a lamp that is configured to retain a translucent image and transmit light therethrough as the lamp is activated such that the image is illuminated and visible from a distance, regardless of ambient light circumstances.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Although there are many ways for illuminating and displaying graphical images and materials (i.e. photographs, holograms, art prints, etc), the most popular method of display involves placing them in a frame, setting them on a table, or hanging them from a wall. Typically, a spotlight, or other direct or indirect illumination source, shines on the image, thus enabling an audience to observe the image. Alternatively, such images may be represented upon photographic “slides” and projected upon a surface, preferably a white screen, to be seen, however such presentations require significant equipment costs and preparation to perform properly. Although both methods for illuminating and displaying such images are effective, a new and unique approach would be well received by the general public.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The deficiencies of the prior art can be addressed by a lampshade that is capable of retaining images printed upon a translucent film material. The lampshade is preferably manufactured of a neutrally colored opaque material that is capable of transmitting light efficiently therethrough. The translucent film images are then placed about the periphery of the lampshade and partially held in place by a clear plastic overlay. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a standard conic sectioned lampshade whereby the geometry of the shade helps to hold the image in place. A second preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a lampshade that is substantially cylindrical in shape and employs a bottom ledge in conjunction with the clear plastic overlay to retain the image securely in place. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    For a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view drawing of a lampshade in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an enlarged profile view of the lampshade of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a plan view of an unwrapped covering in accordance with a preferred embodiment that is to be placed about the periphery of the lampshade of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view drawing of the lampshade of FIG. 1 and the covering of FIG. 3 prior to assembly with a translucent image in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a top view assembly drawing showing the lampshade, covering, and translucent image of FIG. 4 in an assembled position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a perspective representation of a lampshade in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a close up perspective representation of a bottom ring portion of the lampshade of FIG. 6;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a perspective representation of the lampshade of FIG. 6 with a translucent photograph mounted thereupon;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a perspective representation of the lampshade of FIG. 6 with a three-dimensional translucent image mounted thereupon;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is a perspective representation of the lampshade of FIG. 6 with another three dimensional translucent image mounted thereupon; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is a close up perspective representation of the bottom ring portion of the lampshade of FIG. 6 with clear plastic tubing mounted thereupon. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, a lampshade  10  to illuminate translucent graphical images is shown. Lampshade  10  includes a structural frame  12  at its top  13 , an outer profile  14 , and a retaining ledge  16  at its bottom  18 . Lampshade  10  is preferably constructed as a truncated cone, with the top edge  13  and bottom edge  18  of outer profile  14  having substantially dissimilar circular geometries. Lampshade  10  outer profile  14  is preferably made of a hard, white frosted translucent plastic or hard paper to illuminate the shade uniformly for displaying translucent materials and offer a solid white background behind the translucent material for better viewing. Furthermore, outer surface  14  provides a smooth hard surface to mount and hold the image material. The design of shade  10  allows it to fit on most standard table and floor lamps with construction and cost of the lampshade being similar to conventional lampshades. An ideal candidate for the material of profile  14  of lampshade  10  would therefore be a material capable of emitting as much white light therethrough as possible without allowing an observer to view the contents of any light source or framework  12  within lampshade  10 . Candidate materials for outer profile  14  would be coated opaque white papers, fabrics, and plastic (preferably styrene), or hard, white extruded plastic.  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 2 a profile view of lampshade  10  is shown. In this view, retaining ledge  16  can be seen to closely resemble a hook extended about the circumference of the bottom edge  18  of shade  10 . Although ledge  16  is shown as a formed hook-shaped rotation, it should be understood that ledge can take the form of any geometry that is capable of retaining a substantially flat image or piece of film upon outer profile  14  of shade  10 . Examples of retaining ledge  16  can include but are not limited to, a structural wire ring, a bent or formed piece of rigid material, or even a piece of plastic tubing sliced along its length and placed over the bottom circumference of shade  10 .  
         [0020]    Still referring to FIG. 2, a translucent image  20  can be placed about the periphery of outer profile  14  and is preferably secured in place by a clear plastic shield  22 . Image  20  can be of any variety of translucent media but it has been discovered that “Duratrans” photographic film yields the best results. When image  20  is placed against outer profile  14  of lampshade  10 , the bottom edge of image  20  abuts ledge  16  to stay in place (not shown). Ledge  16  preferably protrudes away from bottom  18  of shade by {fraction (1/16)} to ⅛ of an inch. While image  20  is upon profile  14  clear plastic shield  22  is wrapped completely around profile  14  and secured with clear, adhesive tape (not shown). As the lamp is illuminated, light shines from a bulb (not shown) inside shade  10 , and through shade  10 , image  20 , and shield  22  simultaneously, thereby illuminating image  20 .  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 3, clear plastic shield  22  is shown unwrapped. Shield  22  includes a top portion  24 , a bottom portion  26 , and two ends  28 ,  30 . Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, shield  22  is attached to shade  10 , adhesive tape (not shown) is attached at location  32  and shield  22  is wrapped around image  20  and outer profile  14  of shade  10  until end  30  overlaps end  28  and sticks to adhesive tape at  32 . When in place, top edge  24  of shield  22  substantially corresponds with top edge  13  of shade  10 , while bottom edge  26  of shield substantially corresponds with bottom edge  18  of shade  10 . Referring now to FIG. 5 a top view of a completed lampshade  10  with image  20  “sandwiched” between outer profile  14  and clear shield  22  is shown.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 together, lampshade  10  can further include another clear plastic pane of static cling material  34 . Static cling material  34 , commonly called “Spar-Cal,” is capable of allowing plastic materials, including translucent image  20  and clear shield  22 , to cling thereupon about the outer profile  14  of shade  10 . FIG. 5 details a top view arrangement of shade  10 , static cling material  34 , image  20 , and the outer clear shield  22  in an assembled state.  
         [0023]    While cone shaped shades  10  described above and shown in FIGS.  1 - 5  are most common because their geometries allow them to be stacked and packaged efficiently, the shape of their outer profiles makes producing outer wraps to be mounted thereupon difficult. The outer shield  22  of lampshade  10  must take the form of an irregular shape with both curved and straight cuts, with the curved cuts being the most difficult and time consuming. A successful manufacturer of shade  10  must be able to properly measure and cut wrap  22  with the proper curvature for the upper  24  and bottom  26  portions and cut the proper angle and locations for the ends  28  and  30 .  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternative, cylindrical embodiment  50  to the lampshade of FIGS.  1 - 5  is shown. Cylindrical lampshade  50  functions in the same manner as lampshade  10  of FIGS.  1 - 5  but has top  52  and bottom  54  edges of outer profile  56  that are substantially equal circular geometry. Edges  52 ,  54  of outer profile  56  are preferably constructed of wire rings  58 ,  60 . Whereas wire ring  58  of top edge  52  is constructed along the inside of outer profile  56 , wire ring  60  is constructed along the outside of outer profile  56 . By placing ring  60  upon the outer side of outer profile, ring  60  can therefore be used to abut any objects that are wrapped around profile  56 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 details a close-up view of ring  60  of bottom edge  54  of outer profile  56 . The outside placement of ring  60  is preferred for lampshade  50  because the cylindrical geometry of shade  50  will not allow dressings to remain in place without secondary support. Rather than physically adhere or tape dressings upon shade  50 , the outside placement of ring  60  abuts such dressings and keeps them from sliding off of outer profile  56  under the influence of gravity.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIG. 8, a photographic image  62  is shown mounted upon the outside of shade  50  and held in place by an outer shield  64 . Although outer shield  64  may be clear or otherwise opaque, outer shield  64  of FIG. 8 has been produced with a decorative secondary image to produce the effect of a “framed” window  66  through which to view photographic image  62 .  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, two examples of design wraps  70 ,  72  are shown upon shade  50 . Design  70  is a stars and stripes image while design  72  is a multi-colored rainbow design, however designs  70 , 72  may be of any color, pattern, or style that is appealing to the user, including three dimensional (3-D) images, holograms, and patterns. Designs for wraps  70 ,  72  may include a clear outer shield similar to shield  22  of FIGS.  2 - 5  or they may be printed directly upon the shield to create a single-piece construction.  
         [0028]    With lampshade  50  in a cylindrical shape, the wrap-around decorations ( 64 ,  70 , and  72  of FIGS. 8, 9 and  10  respectively) can slide off the shade. As mentioned in reference to FIG. 6 above, this issue can be corrected by constructing bottom ring  60  of shade  50  such that it supports the shade is on the outside of outer profile  56 , and not on the inside of outer profile  56  as in common in most conventional shades. Ring  60  on the bottom of outer profile  56  acts as a shelf for the decorative wraps ( 64 ,  70 , or  72 ) to rest on, thus preventing them from sliding off.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 11, the bottom edge  54  of lampshade  50  is shown with a piece of plastic tubing  76  has been added about wire ring  60 . Tubing  76  is preferably a standard {fraction (5/16)}″ OD, {fraction (3/16)}″ ID clear plastic tubing that is cut along its length to allow it to “snap” over the profile of bottom wire ring  60 . Tubing  76  serves to increase the effective diameter of ring  60  as well as to provide additional friction resistance to assist in retaining a dressing ( 64 ,  70 , and  72  of FIGS. 8,9, and  10 , respectively) upon shade  50 .  
         [0030]    Because shade  50  of FIGS.  6 - 11  is cylindrical, wraps or shields ( 64 ,  70 , or  72  from FIGS. 8, 9, and  10  respectively) will be rectangular in shape. Such rectangular wraps and shields are much easier to manufacture than the complex shape of shield  22  of FIGS.  2 - 5 . Although cylindrical shades  50  can not be stacked as conical shades  10 , the additional costs in shipping and storage of cylindrical shades  50  may be justified by the ease of manufacture of materials that are wrapped about their outer profiles  56 .  
         [0031]    Shades  10  and  50  of FIGS.  1 - 11  allow translucent materials and overlays to be changed quickly, easily and inexpensively, thus allowing unlimited ways to customize the lampshade to ones personal taste and liking. Lampshades  10  and  50  can accommodate different quantities, sizes, and shape of pictures and are only limited by the size of the shade exterior. Translucent images are capable of being mounted anywhere on the outer perimeter of the lampshade which is beneficial for the displaying of panoramic pictures upon the shade. A lampshade in accordance with the present invention can be decorated in unlimited ways, and only limited by the owner&#39;s imagination. There are abundant sources of translucent materials from which to chose from including, but not limited to, panes that are printed with pictures, designs, patterns, holograms, team logos, flags, art, or promotional advertisements.  
         [0032]    While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.