Patent Publication Number: US-8992054-B1

Title: Providing a lampshade with a longitudinal slit to receive a lampshade cover

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to light fixtures, and more particularly to lampshades. 
     SUMMARY 
     A lampshade is provided with a longitudinal slit to receive a lampshade cover. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lampshade includes an external surface and an internal surface. At least one fastener is affixed to an internal surface of the lampshade. The lampshade also includes at least one longitudinal slit on its outer surface. The longitudinal slit is configured to receive both ends of at least one lampshade cover. 
     The lampshade cover includes decoration on an external surface. At least one fastener is affixed to an internal surface of the cover. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention utilizes a method of applying a lampshade cover to a lampshade. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an embodiment of the lampshade and the lampshade cover, depicting both ends of the lampshade cover entered through the longitudinal slit in the lampshade and fastened to the internal surface of the lampshade. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an embodiment of the lampshade, depicting one end of the lampshade cover unfastened to the internal surface of the lampshade. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an embodiment of the lampshade cover, depicting the external surface of the lampshade cover. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an embodiment of the lampshade cover, depicting the internal surface of the lampshade cover. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an embodiment of the lampshade, depicting the binding on one of the edges of the lampshade created by the longitudinal slit in the lampshade. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for applying a lampshade cover to a lampshade. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A lampshade is a fixture that covers the light bulb on a lamp. The main purpose of a lampshade is to diffuse the light that the light bulb emits. Beyond its practical purpose, significant emphasis is usually given to the lampshade&#39;s decorative and aesthetic features. As such, a homeowner may choose to coordinate her lampshade with other room furnishings, such as curtains and tablecloth. In addition, a lampshade may become discolored or outdated with normal usage and the passing of time, which may cause the homeowner to replace the lampshade. Although there is a wide array of lampshades of different colors and styles available for purchase, purchasing multiple lampshades may be prohibitively expensive. 
     The lampshade with a longitudinal slit to receive a lampshade cover, the lampshade cover itself, and the method for applying the lampshade cover to the lampshade may allow a homeowner to coordinate her lampshade with her room furnishings or to “freshen up” her discolored or outdated lampshade at a relatively low cost. The present invention may allow for the purchase of one lampshade and may provide numerous design and styling opportunities with the use of inexpensive decorative covers. These decorative covers may be reused or disposed by the homeowner at her convenience. 
     The lampshade with a longitudinal slit to receive a lampshade cover, the lampshade cover itself, and the method for applying the lampshade cover to the lampshade may also allow for an elegant and sleek look to the lampshade and its decorative cover. With the insertion of the ends of the cover into a longitudinal slit on or in close proximity to the seam of the lampshade, the lampshade may maintain a smooth appearance, despite the fact that it is encircled by a decorative cover. 
     A lampshade with a longitudinal slit that receives a lampshade cover may be used to change the physical appearance of the lampshade without having to replace the lampshade itself. The lampshade cover may be easily removed from the longitudinal slit of the lampshade to wash or dry clean. The lampshade cover may be easily placed back on the lampshade by placing at least one of its ends through the longitudinal slit and attaching at least one of its fasteners to the corresponding fastener on the internal surface of the lampshade. The first end of the lampshade cover and the second end of the lampshade cover may then be attached to the internal surface of the lampshade. Alternatively, the lampshade cover may be disposed of, and a second lampshade cover may be placed on the lampshade. 
     A lampshade  100  and a lampshade cover  300  according to embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lampshade  100  includes an external surface  105  and an internal surface  110 . The external surface  105  and the internal surface  110  may also be composed of fire-resistant or fire-retardant material. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the lampshade  100  may be composed of any material, such as plastic, fabric, metal, and paper. The lampshade  100  may also be composed of or coated with fire-resistant or fire-retardant material. Additionally, the lampshade  100  may be of any size and of any shape, such as coolie, empire, bell, oval, and drum. 
     As depicted in FIG.  2 ., at least one fastener, a fastener  205 , is attached to the internal surface  110 . The fastener  205  is attached to the internal surface  110  with the use of any attachment procedure, such as sewing, gluing, or using magnets. The fastener  205  may be of any type of fastener, such as hook-and-loop, magnet, grommet, hook-and-eye, snap, fastener tape, and toggle. 
     Turning now to the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 5 , an upper seam binding  505  may line the top rim of the lampshade  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, a lower seam binding  510  may line the bottom rim of the lampshade  100 . The upper seam binding  505  and the lower seam binding  510  of the exemplary embodiment may provide the lampshade  100  with a finished look. As such, the upper seam binding  505  and the lower seam binding  510  may be decorative and may be of any color or design. The upper seam binding  505  and the lower seam binding  510  may also be composed of any material, such as rayon, silk, and cotton. In some embodiments, the placement of the upper seam binding  505  and the lower seam binding  510  on the respective upper and bottom rims of the lampshade  100  may reduce or prevent injury to the person who is handling the lampshade  100 . For further safety purposes, the upper seam binding  505  and the lower seam binding  510  may be composed of or coated with fire-resistant or fire-retardant material. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the lampshade  100  includes a longitudinal slit  115 . The longitudinal slit  115  is on the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100  and is configured to receive at least one end of the lampshade cover  300 . In additional embodiments, the longitudinal slit  115  may be on or in close proximity to the seam of the lampshade  100 . If made with two or more layers or pieces of material, the lampshade  100  may have a seam. The seam is the join where two or more layers of material are held or attached together. Placing the longitudinal slit  115  on the seam of the lampshade  100  may support and may protect the structural integrity of both the longitudinal slit  115  and the lampshade  100 . In other embodiments, in which the lampshade is made with one piece of material and is therefore seamless, the longitudinal slit  115  may be placed anywhere on the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100 . 
     The longitudinal slit  115  may extend along the full length of the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100 . The full length of external surface  105  of the lampshade  100  is the full height of the lampshade  100 , from the top of the lampshade  100  to the bottom of the lampshade  100 . Alternatively, the longitudinal slit  115  may extend along the partial length of the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100 . The partial length of the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100  is a fraction of the height of the lampshade  100  (e.g., one-half or three-quarters of the height of the lampshade  100 ). 
     As seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.  5 ., the longitudinal slit  115  may commence at the bottom of the upper seam binding  505  and may end at the top of the lower seam binding  510 . Further, a longitudinal slit edge  520  may be created by the longitudinal slit  115  and may be lined with seam binding. Lining the longitudinal slit edge  520  with seam binding may reduce or may prevent injury to a person who may handle the lampshade  100  (e.g, a person who is putting at least one of the ends of the lampshade cover  300  through the longitudinal slit  115 ). As such, the seam binding may be composed of any material, such as rayon, silk, and cotton. The seam binding may also be composed of or coated with fire-resistant or fire-retardant material. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 4 , at least one fastener, a fastener  410 , is attached to an internal surface  415  of the lampshade cover  300 . The fastener  410  may be attached to the internal surface  415  with the use of any attachment procedure, such as sewing, gluing, or using magnets. The fastener  410  may be of any type of fastener, such as hook-and-loop, magnet, grommet, hook-and-eye, snap, fastener tape, and toggle. The fastener  410  may correspond to and may be able to bind with at least one fastener, the fastener  205 , which may be attached to the internal surface  110  of the lampshade  100 . 
     The lampshade cover  300  has a decoration  315  on an external surface  310  of the lampshade cover  300 . As such, the decoration  315  may be of any color. In some embodiments, the decoration  315  may also be of any pattern, such as floral and striped. The lampshade cover  300  may be configured to encircle a lampshade of any shape, such as coolie, empire, bell, drum, oval, and square. The lampshade cover  300  may also be of any size. Further, in other embodiments, the lampshade cover  300  may be composed of any material such as plastic, metal, fabric, and paper. The lampshade cover  300  may be disposable. The lampshade cover  300  may also be transferable, and as such, may be taken off the lampshade  100  and may be put on another lampshade. In an exemplary embodiment, the lampshade cover  300  may also be reusable, and may be taken off the lampshade  100  for an extended period of time and placed back on the lampshade  100 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method  600  for applying the lampshade cover  300  to the lampshade  100 . The lampshade cover  300  has two ends and a length that is between these two ends, a lampshade end  320  and a lampshade end  325 . 
     The method  600  may include a step  610  of inserting the lampshade end  320  of the lampshade cover  300  into the longitudinal slit  115  on the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100 . The method  600  may also include a step  615  of inserting the lampshade end  325  of the lampshade cover  300  into the longitudinal slit  115  on the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100 . The lampshade cover  300  may then be pulled or stretched over the external surface  105  of the lampshade  100 , causing the lampshade cover  300  to encircle the lampshade  100 . 
     The method  600  may also include a step  620  of matching at least the fastener  205  attached to the internal surface  110  of the lampshade  100  to at least the fastener  410  attached to the internal surface  415  of lampshade cover  300 . The lampshade cover  300  may be secured in its encirclement of the lampshade  100 .