Abstract:
A lampshade adapted to be interconvertible between an assembled configuration having a first volume and a knockdown configuration having a second, smaller volume comprises lampshade segments connected to rotational elements. Slotting means on preselected rotational elements position the connecting members to assume predetermined positions with respect to the common axis, where the rotational elements are locked in place. Methods for use of the lampshade in knockdown shipping, and kits containing the lampshade and instructional materials are also taught.

Description:
BACKGROUND ART 
     A common problem in the home furnishings business is that many articles occupy a large volume of space, although much of that space is empty. For example a table having a top and four legs occupies a cube-like expanse of space, although much of the volume under the tabletop is empty. This characteristic causes problems in shipping and transporting home furnishings, because such home furnishings require large shipping containers and occupy large volumes of space in transporting vehicles, resulting in high shipping costs. Moreover, home furnishings in one or more oversize shipping containers are difficult objects for a customer to transport in the luggage compartment or passenger compartment of a standard passenger automobile. This problem obviously becomes even more acute in the case of items that incorporate several components having large dimensions or volumes. For example, floor lamps have lengthy lampposts and bulky lampshades. It is a common practice nowadays for customers to take purchases home in their own passenger automobiles, rather than to incur the added expense of obtaining home delivery by a delivery van. Thus, lost sales may result from the reluctance of customers to purchase articles contained in one or more oversize shipping containers. 
     A solution to this problem has been the practice of shipping home furnishings in a “knock-down” or “KD” state, in which the home furnishings are shipped partially unassembled to conserve space both in the shipping container and the transporting vehicle. For example, the table cited above could be shipped as a knocked-down shipment comprising a top and four separated legs, for later assembly. Under these circumstances, it is further required that the assembly procedure result in a robustly reassembled article that will not loosen and disassemble under normal use, and that the assembly procedure be a simple one, since it is normally carried out by the customer. It is important to emphasize that a “knockdown state” is in no way the same as an “unassembled state” which may involve a collection of a multitude of parts. Preferably, a “knockdown state” comprises a few parts that can be simply and rapidly reassembled without the need for elaborate tools or special skills. Moreover, it is important that the final, reassembled product be aesthetically pleasing, and in particular, that it should not display any visual evidence of the knockdown enabling features. Particularly in the case of lampshades, which are valued for their aesthetically pleasing features, disassembly and reassembly should not result in either aesthetically displeasing visual evidence or in damage resulting from the reassembly efforts of an ordinary customer without specialized training. Thus, a successful knockdown article is one that can be easily and safely reassembled by the customer from a few parts to form a robust unit without any aesthetically displeasing visual evidence or damage resulting from either the reassembly measures or the reassembly efforts of an ordinary customer without specialized training, and one that at the same time results in a significant saving of shipping space. 
     Lampshades are devices that partially block the radiation of light from illumination means. Illumination means are defined as any structure that includes a source of light, including table lamps, wall lamps, lanterns, candlesticks and their holders, street lamps, etc. Lampshades can be fixedly or removably attached to any part of the illumination means—for example to the lamp structure or to a light bulb—or they may be fixedly or removably attached to a nearby structure—for example, the wall to which a wall lamp is attached. Many types and configurations of lampshades are known in the lampshade art. For example, they may have a hollow generally conical, cylindrical, or cube-like configuration having an open top and bottom. However, the structures of lampshades often have features that restrict their economical shipment. Such lampshades are undesirably expensive to ship due to their relatively large diameter and height, which result in a lampshade that has a large volume. Shipping containers for fully assembled lampshades require excessive shipping room and thus transportation by ship or truck becomes relatively costly as a high volume of unused space is created. Accordingly, the shipper is paying for the excess unused space. Moreover, a lampshade in an oversize shipping container is a difficult object for a customer to transport in a standard passenger automobile. It is a common practice nowadays for customers to take purchases home in their own passenger automobiles, rather than to incur the added expense of obtaining home delivery by a delivery van. 
     This invention relates to novel, useful lampshades adapted for shipping in a knockdown state, and more particularly, to lampshades comprising at least two segments interconnected by a rotational locking connector means. Even more particularly, the present invention comprises novel lampshade structures, wherein the lampshade is separated into at least two segments interconnected by a rotational locking connector means and wherein the segments are adapted to be securely and aesthetically reunited with the use of clips. Such clips may include decorative features. This knockdown construction allows a shipping container to be constructed in dimensions that are only a fraction of what would otherwise be required but for the present invention. For example, a conical lampshade having a maximum diameter of about 16.5 inches (42 cm.) and a height of 10 inches (25 cm.) would require a container of at least 16.5×16.5×10 inches having a volume of about 2723 cu. in. (44,100 cc.). By contrast, the same lampshade, when manufactured as three segments using the KD lampshade and method of this invention, could be shipped in a container of about 9×14×10 inches having volume of only about 1260 cu. in. (20,406 cc.). The lampshade sections are disassembled without disconnection when shipped and are then reassembled after reaching their destination or later after sale to the purchaser. The present invention provides a KD lampshade that enables a purchaser to take the lampshade at the time of purchase for transportation in a passenger automobile. The present invention further provides a KD lampshade that is easily assembled without the use of tools by a person of average dexterity. 
     Applicant believes he is familiar with commercially available lampshades for knockdown shipping, and he represents that he never has encountered a lampshade constructed in accordance with this invention. By way of background, attention is called to the lampshade disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,746 by C.-F. Huang. This lampshade is not an advantageous knockdown structure because the lampshade is disassembled into a multiplicity of disconnected parts in its knockdown configuration. As has already been discussed, an advantageous knockdown structure must be configured in a manner where the conversion to the final article is rapid, facile, and structurally sound, when practiced by even an inexperienced consumer. An example of an effort to avoid these limitations is the disclosure Hidetaro Ozeki in U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,377 describing a collapsible lantern structure. However, this is a paper lantern and its construction is not applicable to a typical lampshade structure. 
     In contradistinction to these lampshades, the present invention embraces and finally addresses the clear need for a novel, useful lampshade for knockdown shipping, and more particularly to a successful knockdown lampshade that can be easily and safely reassembled by the customer from a few parts to form a robust unit without any aesthetically displeasing visual evidence or damage resulting from either the reassembly measures or the reassembly efforts of an ordinary customer without specialized training, and one that at the same time results in a significant saving of shipping space. Thus, as pioneers and innovators attempt to make KD lampshades cheaper, more universally used, and of higher quality, none has approached same in combination with simplicity and reliability of operation, until the teachings of the present invention. It is respectfully submitted that other references merely define the state of the art or show the type of systems that have been used to alternately address those issues ameliorated by the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, further discussions of these references has been omitted at this time due to the fact that they are readily distinguishable from the instant teachings to one of skill in the art. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the foregoing, it is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a novel, useful KD lampshade intended to obviate or minimize the problems of the type previously noted. It is a particular object of the invention to provide KD lampshades wherein the segments may be locked against rotational movement relative to one another by means of a simple and unexposed locking assembly. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a KD lampshade structure that can be be packaged in its knockdown configuration in a standard shipping container of advantageously reduced size. It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a KD lampshade structure that can be converted to its KD configuration without disconnection of its segments. It is another object of the present invention to make possible a KD lampshade packaged to enable a purchaser to take the lampshade at the time of purchase. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lampshade of knockdown character whereby the lampshade is easily assembled without the use of tools by a person of average dexterity. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lampshade of knockdown character that is simple in its structure and rugged in construction, as well as relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and yet pleasing in its design. It is yet still a further object of the invention to provide a KD lampshade of which, when the connector fittings and the segments are in their assembled state, is always fitted snugly together even when made with only modestly stringent manufacturing tolerances. It is even still a further object of the invention to provide a knock-down lampshade wherein the relative rotation of the initially loosely fitting telescoping KD parts into a locking position automatically draws the lampshade segments involved snugly against each other, so that no unsightly gaps are visible between them. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a knock-down lampshade as described wherein the parts thereof, even after repeated assembly and disassembly thereof, continue to form a secure, tightly fitting joint. It is even another object of the invention to provide a lampshade that includes a rotational connector that can exist in two general configurations, viz a telescopically extended configuration adapted for lampshade KD, in which rotational elements of the connector are free to rotate and are not positioned within one another, and an assembled, telescopically compact configuration adapted for functional lampshade use, in which rotational elements of the connector are not free to rotate and are positioned within one another. 
     These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments of which—illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles—are set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part hereof. 
     The present invention is directed to a lampshade adapted to be interconvertible between an assembled configuration having a first volume and a knock-down configuration having a second, smaller volume. The lampshade may be generally conical, generally cylindrical, generally hemispherical, or may have generally rectangular segments. The lampshade may comprise at least two lampshade segments, a predetermined number of connecting members, and a predetermined number of rotational elements having a common axis of rotation adapted to be positioned within one another. The connecting members connect preselected rotational elements with preselected lampshade segments. Assembly means, which may comprise spring means, permit rotational movement of the rotational elements and maintain them in a substantially inseparable assembly. The spring means may be disposed on the common axis to urge the rotational elements and locking means apart. The spring means may be further adapted to permit rotational movement of the locking means and the rotational elements; and even further adapted to maintain the rotational elements and the locking means in a substantially inseparable assembly. Slotting means on preselected rotational elements are adapted to slottingly fit connecting members. The slotting means are further adapted to position the connecting members to assume predetermined angular positions with respect to the common axis. Locking means are adapted for lockingly positioning the connecting members in predetermined angular positions. The lampshade may further comprise mounting means for mounting on a lamp. The connecting members may be attached to preselected rotational elements and preselected lampshade segments by attachment means such as welding, soldering, gluing, press fitting, tying, wiring, bolting, crimping, and manufacture as a single unit. Clipping means adapted for clipping together preselected borders of the lampshade segments may be included in the lampshade. 
     A method for knock-down shipping and subsequent reassembly of a lampshade adapted to be interconvertible between an assembled configuration having a first volume and a knock-down configuration having a second, smaller volume comprises providing the lampshade in the assembled configuration having a first volume, unclipping the clip means if there are any, unlocking the locking means, urging the rotational elements and the locking means apart on said common axis of rotation, positioning the segments into the knock-down configuration, and packaging the lampshade in the knock-down configuration in a package. Then transporting the package as a shipment, unpacking the shipment, rotating the segments into the assembled configuration, urging the rotational elements and the locking means together on the common axis of rotation, locking the locking means, and clipping the segment clips, if there are any. 
     A kit for shipping a lampshade structure lampshade adapted for shipping in a knock-down state comprises the lampshade, packaging materials and at least one device selected from the group consisting of printed materials, CD disks, magnetic data storage disks, and videotapes for explaining the assembly of the lampshade. 
     In sum, the above and other objects, features and objectives of the present invention, shall become apparent with the following description whether in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerical designating indicators designate the same elements. 
     Definitions 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference. 
     As used herein, a “lampshade” is any device that can partially block the radiation of light from an illumination means. 
     As used herein, an “illumination means” is any source of artificial light, including light bulbs, table lamps, wall lamps, lanterns, desk lamps, candlesticks and their holders, street lamps, etc. 
     As used herein, a lampshade can be fixedly or removably attached to any part of an illumination means, or alternatively fixedly or removably attached to a structure adjacent to an illumination means—for example, a wall to which a wall lamp is attached. 
     As used herein, the term “fixedly secured” means attached by such known processes as, for example, welding, soldering, gluing, press fitting, bolting, screwing, nailing, tying, wiring, crimping, manufacturing as a single unit, etc. 
     As used herein, the term “adapted for connecting” includes connecting by such known processes as, for example, welding, soldering, gluing, press fitting, bolting, screwing, nailing, tying, wiring, crimping, manufacturing as a single unit, etc. 
     As used herein, the terms relating to telescopes such as “telescopically compact” and “telescopically extended” refer to the structural configurations exhibited by telescopes constructed of a series of tubes, wherein a compact form can be produced by urging the tubes to lie within one another, and an extended form can be produced by reversing the process. As used herein, adverbs, adjectives and verbs such as telescopically and telescope refer to the configurational characteristics of telescopes, as just defined, and not to the optical characteristics of telescopes. 
     BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a generally conical KD lampshade in its assembled state, comprising three lampshade segments connected to rotational connector that is lockingly fitted together in a telescopically compact configuration, the edges of said lampshade being fastened together by three segment clips, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the lampshade in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view in partial section of the top of the lampshade in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through two lampshade segments and a segment clip shown in FIG. 1, taken along section line  4 — 4  therein; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotational connector of FIG. 1 in the unlocked telescopically extended configuration; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the rotational connector in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the rotational elements in the rotational connector in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a generally conical KD lampshade in its knockdown (KD) state. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a KD lampshade in its assembled state, comprising three generally rectangular lampshade segments connected to rotational connector that is lockingly fitted together in a telescopically compact configuration, the edges of said lampshade being fastened together by three segment clips, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a generally cylindrical KD lampshade in its assembled state, comprising three lampshade segments connected to rotational connector that is lockingly fitted together in a telescopically compact configuration, the edges of said lampshade being fastened together by three segment clips, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a generally hemispherical KD lampshade in its assembled state, comprising three lampshade segments connected to rotational connector that is lockingly fitted together in a telescopically compact configuration, the edges of said lampshade being fastened together by three segment clips, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a kit for shipping a lampshade adapted for shipping in a knock-down state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in more detail to FIGS. 1 through 8, there is shown an embodiment of the invention, comprising in combination a generally conical knockdown lampshade in its assembled configuration, generally indicated at  10 . Lampshade  10  comprises a first lampshade segment  20 , a second lampshade segment  30  and a third lampshade segment  40 . Each segment is of equal size, and comprises 120° of arc of the circumference of lampshade  10 . Segment  20  is fixedly secured to a first end  50  of a connecting member  80 . Segment  30  is fixedly secured to a first end  60  of a connecting member  90 . Segment  40  is fixedly secured to a first end  70  of a connecting member  100 . A second end  110  of member  80  is inserted in a hole  120  of a rotational element  130  and fixedly secured therein. A second end (not shown) of member  90  is inserted in a hole (not shown) of a rotational element  140  and fixedly secured therein. A second end (not shown) of member  100  is inserted in a hole  115  of a rotational element  150  and fixedly secured therein. 
     Element  150  is a hollow cylindrical female member of such size and shape in internal diameter as to be adapted for telescopic penetration by element  140 . Element  140  is a hollow cylindrical member of such size and shape in external diameter as to be adapted for telescopic insertion into element  150 . Element  140  extends from an abutment surface  190  that comes into abutting contact with element  150  upon insertion. Element  140  is of such size and shape in internal diameter as to be adapted for telescopic penetration by element  130 . Element  130  is a hollow cylindrical member of such size and shape in external diameter as to be adapted for telescopic insertion into element  140 . Element  130  extends from an abutment surface  190  that comes into abutting contact with an underside  210  of the upper surface of element  140  upon insertion. 
     A slot  230  centered 120° from the center of the insertion point of member  90  is cut into element  140  above abutment surface  190 . Slot  230  is sized to snugly accommodate member  80 . A slot  240  centered 120° from the center of the insertion point of member  100  is cut into element  150  for accommodating member  80 . Slot  240  is sized to snugly accommodate member  80 . A slot  250  centered at 120° from the center of the insertion point of member  100  and 120° from the center of slot  250  is cut into element  150  for accommodating member  90 . Slot  250  is sized to snugly accommodate member  90 . 
     A cylindrical linking element  200  is slidingly inserted in an aperture in the top surface of element  130  and fixedly secured to a spring  260 . Spring  260  is sized such that it is unable to pass through the aperture in the top surface of element  130 . A locking member  270  has an aperture  280  that is fixedly secured to linking element  200 . Three hook-like projections  281 ,  290  and  300  are spaced 120° apart around the periphery of member  270 . Element  150  has a rectangular nib  282  projecting radially from its external circumferential surface. Element  150  has a rectangular nib  291  projecting radially from its external circumferential surface. Element  150  has a rectangular nib  301  projecting radially from its external circumferential surface. Projections  281 ,  290 , and  300  are adapted to slidingly engage nibs  282 ,  291 , and  301 , respectively, and to cammingly lock them in place. A retaining member  310  has an aperture  320  that is sized to be too small for spring  260  to pass through. Retaining member  310  is fixedly secured to element  150 . 
     In this embodiment of the invention, segments  20 ,  30 , and  40 , elements  130 ,  140 ,  150 , and  200 , spring  260 , and members  80 ,  90 , 100 ,  270  and  310  form a substantially inseparable assembly generally indicated at  12 . In this embodiment of the invention, elements  130 ,  140 ,  150 , spring  260 , and members  270  and  310  include a coextensive passageway  220  as a mounting means for the accommodation of hardware (not shown) for mounting on a lamp. 
     A segment clip  330  has a body  340  with a first end  350  and a second end  360 . End  350  comprises a hook for hooking over the connection between the top of two adjacent lampshade segments, for example  20  and  30 . End  360  is pivotally attached to a lever  370  which can be pivotally rotated to a locked position  380  to lock together the borders of two adjacent lampshade segments, for example  20  and  30 . Elements  130 ,  140 , 150 , and member  270  are independently rotatable when projections  281 ,  290 , and  300  are not engaged with nibs  282 ,  291 , and  301 , respectively, to be cammingly locked in place, and are thus adapted for rotation to produce a lampshade KD configuration  15  wherein segments  20 ,  30 , and  40  are nested and have minimal shipping volume. 
     To convert lampshade KD configuration  15  of this embodiment of the invention to the assembled configuration for use as a lampshade, elements  140  and  150  are rotated in a manner to cause slots  230  and  240  to lie in the same plane, and element  130  is rotated to position segment  80  over slot  230 . Member  270  and member  310  are urged together in telescopic fashion, for example by pressure such as finger pressure, whereupon segment  80  enters slots  230  and  240 , whereas segment  90  enters slot  250 . Member  270  is then rotated to urge projections  281 ,  290 , and  300  to slidingly engage nibs  282 ,  291 , and  301 , respectively, and to cammingly lock them in place. 
     A first, a second, and a third clip  330  may decoratively cover the joined borders between segments  20 ,  30 , and  40 . A lever  370  of each clip  330  is rotated to a locked position  380  to lockingly secure the clips to afford a clipped assembled lampshade  10 . Assembled lampshade  10  may be attached to a lamp by methods known in the lampshade art; for example, by inserting a bolt from the lamp through passageway  220  and securing lampshade  10  with a threaded finial. 
     A kit  400  for shipping a lampshade structure lampshade adapted for shipping in a knock-down state comprises lampshade  15 , packaging materials  410  and at least one device  420  selected from the group consisting of printed materials, CD disks, magnetic data storage disks, and videotapes for explaining the assembly of the lampshade. 
     On this basis, the instant invention should be recognized as constituting progress in science and the useful arts, as solving the problems in knockdown designs for lampshades enumerated above. In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that the various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the lampshade can have many other shapes, and can make use of many different lampshade construction materials. As a further example, the invention can be used for a lampshade that is divided into numerous segments, preferably about 2-6 segments, and even more preferably about 3-4 segments. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.