Abstract:
This invention combines a lampbox and lampshade. The lampbox lampshade provides a uniform illumination for the transmitted light viewing of photographic slides removably attached to the outside of the lampshade. Optimum viewing conditions are insured by the fact that no surfaces are interspersed between the surface of the slides and the eye of the viewer. The normal functions of a lampshade are not affected.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to lampshades. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98 
     This invention is a lampshade with flat translucent sides to which photographic slides and other transparencies are mounted, which allows the convenient viewing and examination of photographic slides or other transparencies. The slides can be removed and replaced to update the display. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,517 discloses a collapsible lampshade with sides connected by hinges to a square frame. The lampshade has an opening to be covered with a shade material passing light therethrough. The sides of the shade are hinged by ears and sockets, the ears retained in place by ridges on the ears and grooves on the sockets. The sides of the shade are locked in place by short pins inserted into holes at the tops of the uppermost ears and sockets. A single brace is used to attach the lampshade to the lampbase and extends from two opposed sides. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,998 discloses a cone shaped lampshade with a picture display window. The lampshade is opaque with a window opening behind which are an inner sheet and an outer sheet, both preferably translucent, although one or both may be transparent. A replaceable picture is mounted between the inner and outer sheet. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,822 discloses a lightbox for use with maps with a horizontal surface illuminated by a lamp assembly behind the surface and which is illuminated only when a map is placed on the lightbox in the correct orientation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,821 discloses a lightbox as pictorial or advertising display units. The lightbox is of inexpensive construction with a one piece molded frame with grooves for retaining the pictorial display. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,896 discloses a lampshade which comprises a support having two opposed vertical support members with grooves which receive two a rectangular place mats or wall pictures each of which is bent into a hemisphere with the edges retained by the grooves. The place mat or picture is illuminated by the light passing through the picture. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,505 discloses a holder for light-transmissive pictures which comprises two curved transparent or light transmissive plastic sheets or foils formed in a tubular form with the ends overlapping. Rings cover and secure the ends of the tube which is formed. A light bulb inside the tube provides illumination for light-transmissive pictures mounted between the foils. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,115 discloses a ceiling mounted plastic translucent lampshade with decorative self-adhesive contact paper attached. The contact paper can be chanced if the decor of the room is changed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,315 discloses a three dimension display device with a first translucent panel having an art motif over which a second picture (or other object) is mounted, thereby giving a three-dimension effect when illuminated by the lamp and viewed through a viewing aperture cut in the lampshade. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,428 discloses a lightbox for display purposes. The lightbox is mounted vertically with a flexed facia consisting of outer and inner panels between which is placed a photographic transparency. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,283 discloses a lightbox with a number of illuminated panels mounted at a 45° angle. A number of masking cards each having a different sized opening are attached to the panels. A negative to be cropped is placed on the various cards and the negative is taped to the card having the most appropriate opening to best display the features of the negative. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,115 discloses a lampshade with a projection lens which projects the image from a slide within the lampshade to the ceiling. The lampshade has vents about the circumference and a fan for cooling the interior. 
     None of the discovered prior art provides the advantages of the present invention, that is, providing a combination lightbox and lampshade for the convenient viewing and study of photographic slides as well as allowing for conventional use of a lamp with a lampshade. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides the even illumination and support of a light box for the viewing and study of photographic slides with the decorative and functional effects of a lampshade. It is especially suitable for the display of vacation trip, wedding, or other thematic series of photographs. The lightbox aspect of this invention, the even subdued illumination from behind the slide, provides the optimum conditions for viewing such transparencies without any surfaces between the surface of the slide and the person viewing the slide. The combination of a lightbox with a lampshade allows the convenient viewing and study of such slides in a social environment, as in a home. The slides are mounted in an easily viewable vertical orientation which does not require bending over to view, as does a conventional lightbox. Slides can be easily removed and replaced in order to view and display new additions to one&#39;s slide collection. Furthermore, the normal function of a lampshade in diffusing light and eliminating the glare of a naked bulb is in no way impaired by the lightbox lampshade. In addition, the collapsible feature of the combination lightbox lampshade allows easy and convenient storage of the lightbox lampshade when its use is no longer desired. 
     The objective of this invention is to provide a lampshade upon which photographic slides may be displayed for study and examination without the imposition of any surface between the surface of the slide and the viewer of the slide. 
     Another objective is to provide a lampshade with the ornamental and functional aspects of a conventional lampshade. 
     Another objective is to provide a lightbox lampshade which is collapsible for convenient storage. 
     Another objective is to provide a lightbox lampshade having a variety of number of sides for obtaining desired decorative purposes. 
     Another objective is to provide a lightbox lampshade where photographic slides may be changed when desired. 
     Another objective is to provide a lightbox lampshade which requires less space than a conventional lightbox and a conventional lampshade. 
     A final objective is to provide a lightbox lampshade which may be manufactured from inexpensive materials without adverse effect on the environment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the first embodiment lightbox lampshade. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the second embodiment lightbox lampshade. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the third embodiment lightbox lampshade. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fourth embodiment lightbox lampshade. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fifth embodiment lightbox lampshade. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-section view through line  6 — 6  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 shows the relation between horizontal and vertical runners. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first embodiment lightbox lampshade with the front side removed. 
     FIG. 9 shows details of a piano hinge between sides. 
     FIG. 10 shows details of a tongue and groove hinge between sides. 
     FIG. 11 shows details of a living hinge between sides. 
     FIG. 12 shows details of a sleeve for use with a vertically-oriented slide. 
     FIG. 13 shows details of a sleeve for use with a horizontally-oriented slide. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the second embodiment side. 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of the front surface of the front layer of the second embodiment side. 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of the back surface of a third embodiment side. 
     FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a slide holder on the back surface of the third embodiment side. 
     FIG. 18 is a plan view of a frame for sides. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the first embodiment lightbox lampshade  18 . A base  12  rests on the floor and supports a post  10  which supports a conventional light fixture (not visible in FIG. 1) with a harp lampshade support  14  and a threaded post (not visible in FIG. 1) at the top of the harp and a filial  16  with corresponding threads attached to the post. 
     Visible in FIG. 1 are the front  20 , left  22 , back  24 , and right  26  sides of the lampshade. Each side is approximately rectangular, with the upper edge  21  approximately equal to the lower edge  23 , and the right edge  27  approximately equal to the left edge  25 . The sides are connected to each other by front left  30 , left back  32 , back right  34 , and front right  36  hinges. 
     The lightbox lampshade is attached to the lamp through an upper support  60  attached at the top of the lampshade and a lower support (not visible in FIG. 1) attached at the bottom of the lampshade. The upper support  60  includes a collar  68  which is rotatable attached to the post (not visible in FIG. 1) at the top of the harp  14  and is retained in place by a filial  16  attached by screw threads to the post. The collar  68  rotates on the post which allows rotation of the lampshade to facilitate viewing of the left  22  and back  24  sides of the lampshade. The left support rod  62  connects the collar  68  and left side  22 . The front support rod  63  connects the collar  68  and front side  20 . The back support rod  64  connects the collar  68  and back  24  side. The right support rod  66  connects the collar  68  and front side  20 . Further details concerning attachment of the lampshade to the lamp are in FIG. 7. A lower support is not shown in FIG. 1 but is shown as  80  in FIG.  7 . 
     Removal of the lightbox lampshade  18  from the lamp and detachment of the upper support  60  and lower support (not visible in FIG. 1,  80  in FIG. 7) from the lampshade allows the lightbox lampshade to be collapsed through the movement of the hinged sides. Collapse of the lampshade allows convenient storage of the lampshade when not in use. Further details on hinges are in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     Small  50  or large  52  transparent slides are transparent film photographs which may be mounted in cardboard mounts. 
     Horizontal runners  40  are used to retain small  50  or large  52  transparent slides against the sides for display and viewing of the slides which are illuminated by the light transmitted through the translucent sides. The horizontal runners  40  are supported by vertical runners  42 . The horizontal runners  40  may be moved up and down and may be removed to accommodate transparent slides of varying sizes. Further details on the runners are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     A magnifying glass  72  is retained by a cord  70 . The magnifying glass may be used for enhanced viewing of details of the illuminated slides. 
     The slides  50 ,  52  may easily be removed and other slides substituted for them. This allows updating of the display when desired, for example, by displaying a collection of slides of specific vacation photographs. The lightbox lampshade is attractive and utilitarian even when no slides are on display, as it provides for diffused and indirect lighting which adds to the ambience of any room. The slides viewed on the lampbox lampshade are viewed by transmitted light and directly without any surfaces between the photographic slide and the viewer. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the second embodiment lightbox lampshade. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except the second embodiment has three sides rather than four. In this example the second embodiment lampshade  218  is shown in use with a gooseneck lamp. 
     A base  212  rests on the floor and supports a post  210  which supports flexible gooseneck  211  to which is attached a conventional light socket  213  and light  215 . 
     Visible in FIG. 2 are the front  220 , back  224 , and right  226  sides of the lampshade. The sides are connected to each other by front back  231 , back right  234  and front right  236  hinges. At least one hinge in the second embodiment lampshade has provisions for detaching the hinged side&#39;s one from another. In this example, hinge  236  can be detached allowing separation of the front  220  and right  226  sides of the lampshade and allowing the lampshade to be collapsed for storage. Details on hinges are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     The lightbox lampshade is attached to the lamp through an upper support  60  attached at the top of the lamp socket  213 . The upper support  60  includes a collar  68  which rotates on the lamp socket  213  to facilitate viewing of the back  224  side of the lampshade. The front support rod  63  connects the collar  68  and front side  220 . The back support rod  64  connects the collar  68  and back  224  side. The right support rod  66  connects the collar  68  and right side  226 . 
     Removal of the lightbox lampshade  218  from the lamp and detachment of the upper support  60  from the lampshade, and detachment of the front  220  from the right  226  sides at hinge  226  allows the lightbox lampshade to be collapsed through the movement of the hinges  231  and  234 . Collapse of the lampshade allows convenient storage of the lampshade when not in use. 
     Horizontal  40  and vertical  42  runners hold transparent slides  50  as in the first embodiment. 
     A magnifying glass is not shown in FIG. 2 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the third embodiment lightbox lampshade. The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except the third embodiment has six sides rather than four. In this example the third embodiment lampshade  318  is shown in use with a table lamp. 
     A base  312  rests on a table and supports a post  310  which a conventional light socket (not shown in FIG. 3) and light  315 . 
     The lightbox lampshade is attached to the lamp through an upper support  60  attached at the top of the lamp  315  by a wire clip  316  which is friction fitted about the top portion of the bulb. The upper support  60  includes a collar  68  which rotates to facilitate viewing of the back sides of the lampshade. The support rods  63  connect the collar  68  and alternate sides of the lampshade. A lower support such as  80  in FIG. 7 also supports the third embodiment lightbox lampshade. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fourth embodiment lightbox lampshade  418 . The fourth embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except there are five sides rather than four. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fifth embodiment lightbox lampshade  518 . The fifth embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except the lampshade  518  hangs from the ceiling. The lampshade  518  is supported by a conduit  510  attached to the ceiling which conducts the electrical supply wires and also provides physical support to the lamp. The lampshade  518  is attached to the conduit  510  by a collar  568  to which are attached multiple support rods  563 . Additional lampshades  519  and  520  and associated lamps may be attached to the conduit. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a portion of the front side  20  of the first embodiment lampshade taken along the line &amp; 6  in FIG.  1 . Visible in FIG. 6 is the front side  20 , runners  40 , and attached slide  50 . Each runner  40  has an upper lip  44  and a lower lip  46 . A slide  50  is removably retained on the front side by the runner lips. 
     FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the horizontal runners  40  and the vertical runners  42  on the front side  20 . The vertical runners  42  are C-shaped and are attached by the bottom of the C to the left  25  edge and the right  27  edge of the front side  20 . The horizontal runners are retained by the C-shaped vertical runners. The horizontal runners can be removed and the spacing between horizontal runners can be changed to accommodate slides of various sizes. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first embodiment lightbox lampshade with the front side  20  in FIG. 1 removed. Vertical and horizontal runners are not shown in FIG.  8 . FIG. 8 shows the post  10 , light socket  13 , light bulb  15 , and harp  14  which is surmounted by a filial  16  which is threaded attached to a post at the top of the harp (post not visible in FIG.  8 ). Also visible in FIG. 8 are the left side  22 , right side  26 , and rear side  24 . 
     The lampshade is removably connected to the lamp by the upper support  60  and lower support  80 . The lampshade can be rotated to display the back side and the upper support and lower support can be detached from the sides in order to allow the lampshade to be collapsed. 
     The upper support  60  can be rotated on the post at the top of the harp  14 . Components of the upper support  60  visible in FIG. 8 include the collar  68 , left support rod  62 , and right support rod  66 . A left support rod hook  61  is at the end of the left support rod  62 , and connects with the left upper loop  92  attached to the left side  22 . A right support rod hook  65  is at the end of the right support rod  66 , and connects with the right upper loop  96  attached to the right side  26 . 
     The lower support  80  can be rotated on the light socket  13  at the top of the post  10 . Components of the lower support  80  visible in FIG. 8 include the collar  88 , lower left support rod  82 , and lower right support rod  86 . A lower left support rod hook  81  is at the end of the lower left support rod  82 , and connects with the left lower loop  94  attached to the left side  22 . A lower right support rod hook  83  is at the end of the lower right support rod  86 , and connects with the right lower loop  98  attached to the right side  26 . 
     The upper connector  60  can be removed from the lamp by unscrewing the finial  16 . The lower connector  80  can be removed from the lamp by removing the bulb  15  and harp  14  and sliding the lower connector  80  upward over the lamp socket  13 . 
     Although FIG. 8 shows a hook and loop mechanism for connecting the connectors to the sides, other suitable methods of making reversible or demountable connections can be used, such as a screw and screw eye or a hook at the end of the rod and hole in the side. A magnifying glass  70  is attached by a hook  72  protruding from the side of light socket  13 . 
     FIG. 9 shows details of a piano hinge  30  connecting the front side  20  with the left side  22  of the first embodiment lightbox lampshade. The left wing  37  of the hinge is attached to the front side  20  by fasteners  31  and the right wing  39  is connected to the left side  22  by fasteners  31 . In this example screws are used as fasteners, but any suitable fasteners may be used, such as brads, bolts, or the hinge may be connected to the sides by adhesive. 
     FIG. 10 shows details of a tongue and groove hinge  43  connecting the front side  20  with the left side  22  of the first embodiment lightbox lampshade. Tongues  31  and grooves  33  are cut into the sides. A hole (not shown in FIG. 10) is drilled from the top of the sides through the tongues and grooves. A removable pin  35  is inserted through the hole which connects the sides in a movable hinge which allows collapse of the lampshade. Removal of the pin detaches the two sides, a process which is necessary for the collapse of the second embodiment lampshade. 
     FIG. 11 shows a living-hinge  45  connecting the sides  20  and  22 . A living-hinge  45  is a flexible hinge the sides of which are attached to the sides  20  and  22  by any suitable means such as described with reference to FIG. 9. A preferred material of manufacture of the living hinge is any suitable strong flexible material such as fabric, plastic, tape, or cardboard. A preferred method of attachment of the living hinge is by adhesive. 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view of a first embodiment sleeve  101  which is used to cover a photographic slide containing a vertically-oriented photograph. The sleeve comprises a front  102  side, back  103  side, top  106  and bottom  108 . A vertically-oriented window  104  is cut into the front  102  and back  103  sides. The right  105  and left  107  ends of the sleeve  101  are open and allow insertion of a photographic slide. Illumination from the translucent side of the lampshade is transmitted through the windows in the back side, is transmitted through the photograph, and emerges through the window  104  on the front  102  side of the sleeve  101 . No surface is between the photographic slide and the viewer. The purpose of the sleeve is to cover the cardboard supports or mounts of photographic sides which may be of various colors, may have become soiled or discolored by time, or may bear undesirable indicta. Use of the sleeve with each photographic slide provides a more attractive lampbox lampshade. 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of a second embodiment sleeve  201 . The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except the window  204  in the front side is horizontally-oriented rather than vertically-oriented in order to accommodate photographic slides bearing a horizontally-oriented photograph. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment side  54 . The second embodiment side is a sandwich comprised of a translucent side  20  which is identical to the first embodiment side, attached to side  20  are a number of lower horizontal runners  56  and upper horizontal runners  59  and attached to the lower horizontal runners  56  and upper horizontal runners  59  is the front layer  58 . The front layer  58  has an array of windows  55  cut into it. Photographic slides (not shown in FIG. 14 are inserted into the space  57  between the side  20  and front layer  58  and are supported by the horizontal runners  56 . The photographic slides therefore are viewed by transmitted light and without any surfaces interspersed between the surface of the photographic slide and the viewer. The photographic slides are oriented so each photograph is behind a window. Light from the lamp is transmitted through the translucent side  20 , illuminates the photographic slide, and is viewed through the window  55 . The runners shown in this embodiment are U-shaped with the straight portion of one arm attached to the side  20  and the straight portion of the other arm attached to the back surface of the front layer  58 . Any runner can be used. 
     FIG. 15 shows the front layer  58  of the second embodiment side. The front surface, the surface most distant from the lamp, is shown in FIG.  15 . The windows  55  are used to view vertically-oriented photographic slides in this depiction. Rotation of the window through a one-quarter turn allows the use of this front layer with horizontally-oriented photographic slides. The front layer  58  can be constructed of any suitable strong light material, but a non-transparent material is preferred in order to provide a desirable uniform appearance for the front layer. Use of the second embodiment side covers the cardboard mounts of photographic sides which may be of various colors, may have become soiled or discolored by time, or may bear undesirable indicta. The front layer is preferably made of frosted, ribbed, or sand blasted plastic. The front layer may be colored as desired. 
     FIG. 15 shows the back surface of the third embodiment  51  side. The front surface of the third embodiment side is identical to the front surface of the front layer of the second embodiment side. The back surface is the surface which is closest to the lamp. In this third embodiment  51 , the photographic slides are supported on the back surface of a one piece side. The third embodiment side has windows  53  cut into the side for viewing of photographic slides which are mounted on the back surface of the third embodiment side and are illuminated by the lamp. The photographic slides are retained on the back surface of the third embodiment side by flanges  57  forming chambers  79  and tabs on the flanges (not shown in FIG. 16) which retain one slide in each chamber. 
     FIG. 17 is an enlargement of a portion of the back surface of the third embodiment side  51 . Visible in FIG. 17 is a window  53  through which a photographic slide is viewed by transmitted light when attached to the third embodiment side and illuminated by a lamp. Flanges  57  extend from the back surface of the third embodiment side forming a chamber which which retains one photographic slide. In this example, the flanges  57  extend approximately ⅛ inch from the surface of the third embodiment side forming a chamber  79  which accommodates one photographic slide. Tabs  59  extend from the sides of flanges  57  and serve to retain the photograph slide in the chamber  79 . 
     FIG. 18 is a plan view of a first embodiment frame  73 . The frame is constructed of U-shaped material with a top  75 , bottom  78 , left  76  and right  77  edges. The top  75  has a slot  74 . The frame  73  is constructed by connecting the edges with the open portion of the U-shaped edges directed toward the interior of the frame. A first, second, or third embodiment side is inserted into the slot  74  and retained by the U-shaped edges. The left  76  edge of one frame is hinged to the right  77  edge of an adjacent frame, forming the framework of a lightbox lampshade. The use of a frame allows convenient alteration of the sides used with a lightbox lampshade. 
     Each lightbox lampshade allows the viewing of a photographic slide by transmitted light from the lamp and without any optical surface between the illuminated photographic slide and the viewer. 
     The various embodiment lightbox lampshades have been shown with floor, table, and gooseneck bases and a conduit which support the lamps and lampshades. Any embodiment lightbox lampshade can be used with any type of base. 
     The sides of the lightbox lampshades of this invention may be manufactured of any rigid, translucent material which allows the diffusion and transmission of light. Preferred materials include translucent plastic or ground glass. 
     The lamps and lamp posts and bases are conventional and well known in the art. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the examples and embodiments described herein are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and that other examples may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.