Patent Publication Number: US-6698910-B2

Title: Folding structure of a two layer lampshade

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lamp structure, and particularly to a folding structure of a two layer lampshade, wherein the lampshade can be assembled so as to have a smaller volume and thus the transfer cost is reduced. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional lampshade is illustrated. The supporting frame of the conventional lampshade is directly connected to a top ring and a bottom ring so as to form a lampshade. However, the prior art structure has many defects which are necessary to be improved. For example, the prior art lampshade is a rigid structure so that it is inconvenient to be assembled for transferring since the lampshade occupies a larger space. As a result, the cost for transferring is high. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a folding structure of a two layer lampshade having a top ring at a topmost of the lampshade, a bottom ring having a diameter larger than that of the top ring, and a supporting frame between the top ring and the bottom ring. A plurality of supporting rods extend from an edge of the top ring toward a center of the top ring. A middle section of each supporting rod is firmly secured with a confining hook. An inner top ring is connected to the top ring through the confining hooks of the supporting rods. An opening of the upper ring is exactly clamped by the clamping portions of the supporting frame. The supporting frame is formed by a plurality of longitudinal rods and a plurality of transversal rods. A cloth lampshade covers a periphery of the top ring and the bottom ring; the lampshade is formed by a layer of outer cloth which is tightly stuck to a periphery of the top ring and bottom ring. A layer of inner cloth is stuck to the bottom ring. When the lampshade is packaged, the inner top ring can be taken down from the confining hook. Since the supporting frame is engaged to the bottom ring by the buckle, it can rotate to a horizontal position by using the buckles as fulcrums. Thereby, the lampshade can be assembled to have a smaller volume and further the transfer cost is reduced. 
     The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2-A is an enlarged view showing a bottom ring and a supporting frame of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the lampshade of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the lampshade of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5-A shows a partial plane cross sectional view illustrating the connection of the top of the lampshade. 
     FIG. 5-B shows a partial plane cross sectional view illustrating the connection of the bottom of the lampshade. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a prior art lampshade. 
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the structure of the present invention is illustrated. The folding structure of a two-layer lampshade of the present invention is illustrated. The folding structure of a two-layer lampshade has a top ring  1  at a topmost of the lampshade, a bottom ring  2  having a diameter larger than that of the top ring  1 , and a supporting frame  3  between the top ring  1  and the bottom ring  2 . 
     The top ring  1  exactly resists against a stand rod of a table lamp. A plurality of supporting rods  11  extends from the ring edge of the top ring  1  toward a center of the top ring  1 . A ring edge of each supporting rod  11  is bent upwards to form as a receiving space  111 . A central ring  12  having a through hole  121  is installed at the connection of the supporting rods  11 . The center of each supporting frame  3  has a limiting hook  13  for installing an inner top ring  1 A. 
     The bottom ring includes an upper ring  21  with an opening S at a predetermined portion thereof, and a lower ring  22  sticky to a lower end of the upper ring  21 . The opening S of the upper ring  21  is exactly clamped by the clamping portions  33  of the supporting frame  3 . At the portions of the lower ring  22  clamped by the supporting frame  3  have stopping grooves  221  for confining the movement of the supporting frame  3 . 
     The supporting frame  3  is formed by a plurality of longitudinal rods  31  and a plurality of transversal rods  32 . Each transversal rod  32  of the supporting frame  3  has a stopping sheet  321  protruded from a lateral side thereof. The stopping sheet  321  is exactly confined to the bottom of the top ring  1  so as to prevent the supporting frame  3  from releasing due to collision. A lower end of each longitudinal rod  31  of the supporting frame  3  is punched to form a flat buckle  33  with a through hole  331  at a center thereof. The supporting frame  3  can be coupled with the bottom ring  2  by the buckles  33 . 
     A cloth lampshade  4  covers the periphery of the top ring  1  and the bottom ring  2 . The lampshade is formed by a layer of outer cloth  41  which is tightly stuck to the periphery of the top ring  1  and bottom ring  2 . A layer of inner cloth  42  is stuck to the bottom ring  2 . One end of the inner cloth is stuck to the inner top ring  1 A which may resist against the lower side of the top ring  1 . The inner top ring  1  and the inner cloth  42  can be hooked to the confining hooks of the top ring  1  so that the inner cloth  42  is fixed to the inner edge of the supporting frame  3 . Thereby, the inner and outer cloths are installed at the outer and inner sides of the supporting frame  3 . 
     Thereby, when the lampshade is packaged, the inner top ring  1 A can be taken down from the confining hook  13 . Since the supporting frame  3  is engaged to the bottom ring  2  by the buckle  33 , it can rotate to a horizontal position by using the buckles  33  as fulcrums, as illustrated in FIG.  3 . Thereby, the lampshade  4  is assembled to have a smaller volume. As a consequence, the transfer cost is reduced. 
     Further, referring to FIG. 5, a central ring  14  having a through hole  141  extends from an edge of the inner top ring  1 A to the center thereof and the central ring  14  is exactly aligned to the central ring  12  of top ring  1 . Thereby, a bubble frame  15  with a threaded rod  151  at a top end thereof may pass through the through holes  141 ,  121  of the inner top ring  1 A and a top ring  1 . A nut  16  is used to lock the structure so as to fix the bubble frame to the supporting frame  3 . 
     The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.