Patent Publication Number: US-2003231488-A1

Title: Fragrance emitting lamp shade and lamp employing the same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is generally directed to a fragrance emitting lamp which includes a light fixture and a lamp shade in which the lamp shade is made from a fragrance emitting material or a material that has fragrance applied thereto.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention is generally directed to a fragrance emitting lamp including a light fixture and a lamp shade in which the lamp shade inherently contains or has incorporated therein a fragrance emitting material capable of emitting a pleasant aroma especially when in the presence of heat provided by the light emitting portion of the light fixture.  
       [0003] In a particular aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lamp comprising:  
       [0004] a) a base;  
       [0005] b) a light emitting fixture operatively connected to the base; and  
       [0006] c) a lamp shade secured over the light emitting fixture and comprised of a fragrance emitting material.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] The following drawing is illustrative of the embodiment of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the application.  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a is a perspective view of a lamp employing a fragrance emitting lamp shade in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0009] The present invention is generally directed to a lamp including a lamp shade made of a fragrance emitting material or having a fragrance emitting material incorporated therein. The lamp shade is fit over or associated with a light fixture.  
     [0010] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a lamp including a light fixture employing the fragrance emitting lamp shade in accordance with the present invention. The lamp  2  has a base  4  which supports the light fixture including a source of light  6  which may be a light bulb  8  as specifically shown or a candle or other source of light. In a preferred form of the invention, the source of light provides sufficient heat to enhance release of the fragrance from the lamp shade as described hereinafter.  
     [0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the lamp shade (identified by the numeral  10 ) is secured to the base  4  so that it is positioned in proximity to the light source  6 .  
     [0012] In accordance with the present invention, the lamp shade inherently releases a fragrance or is provided with a fragrance emitting material as hereinafter described.  
     [0013] The light fixture  6  including the base  4  can be made from any material including metal, plastic, glass, ceramic and the like. As previously indicated, the light fixture  6  can include an electric bulb, a candle or any other light source which preferably releases an amount of heat suitable for enhancing release of the fragrance emitting material from the lamp shade.  
     [0014] The lamp shade  10  may be made from a variety of materials any of which are able to carry a fragrance or have a fragrance applied to it by diffusion or other means. In a particular aspect of the present invention, the lamp shade may be made from a plastic material which is injection molded into the form of a lamp shade.  
     [0015] It will be understood that the lamp shades can be formed by thermoforming, injection molding, casting, blow molding, hand forming, compression molding, die cutting and the combination of panel sections and the like. Injection molding is a preferred form of making a lamp shade of the present invention.  
     [0016] The lamp shade made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethyl vinyl acetate, K-resin, styrene polymers and copolymers, rubbers, polyvinyl chloride, ethyl methacrylate polymers, ABS, polyamide, acrylics, acrylic emulsions, latex, combinations thereof and the like.  
     [0017] Fragrances while are available for use in the present invention are any fragrance that may be applied to or incorporated into a lamp shade material and which may be released over time in response to the absence or the presence of heat provided by a typical light source such as a light bulb or candle. Fragrances of this type are readily available from fragrance suppliers such as International Flavors and Fragrances, Givaudan and the like.  
     [0018] The lamp shade o the present invention is preferably produced by an injection molding process in which the plastic material forming the lamp shade is combined in a molten condition with a suitable fragrance or fragrance concentrate and then the lamp shad is molded into a desirable form. Injection molding techniques are well known in the art.  
     [0019] The selection of a suitable fragrance will depend in part on the rate it is released form the lamp shade, especially when subjected to heat emanating from a light source. Typically, desirable fragrances will be released at a desirable level from the lamp shade when the temperature reaches typically at least 75° F.