Patent Publication Number: US-7909491-B2

Title: Chain support

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a chain support. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a support for a plurality of ball-chains. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Ball-chains are known and comprise spherical balls, often manufactured from a metallic material, and elongate links, intermittently connected to one another to form a chain. The link sections may themselves be manufactured from any suitable material such as organic fibers, polymers or metals. The links also often have a degree of flexibility so as to give the chain as a whole a desired degree of flexibility. Alternatively, the links may be rigid and the points of connection between the balls and the links may allow for pivotal movement of the links relative to the balls in order to give the chain the desired degree of flexibility. It is also known to manufacture ball-chains by securing spherical balls spaced apart along the length of a piece of string. 
     Ball-chains are most commonly used to suspend objects like bath tub and basin plugs from connection points on the surfaces of the tubs and basins, or for connecting articles of adornment to key rings or the like. They are also used for decorative purposes and in the manufacture of jewelry. 
     In addition to ball-chains, a number of ball-chain connectors are also known. These connectors come in a variety of shapes and are used for various purposes. Connectors are, for example, used to join separate ball-chains end-on-end to make endless assemblies for key chains, neck chains and the like, they may act as connecting links to splice lengths of chain, and they may be used to provide flexible, swiveling, permanent attachments for hanging objects. Connectors may also be supplied with jump rings to attach parts such as sink stoppers and the like to ball-chains. 
     Connectors may also be used to attach ball-chains to surfaces with, for example, screws, bolts or rivets. Certain connectors may also be used to retain ball-chains to pens, electrical outlet caps and the like, or for attaching ball-chains to light actuators to serve as pulls for electric lighting socket extension chains, convector controls or the like. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a practical and efficient support for a plurality of chains and, more particularly, for a plurality of ball-chains. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with this invention there is provided a chain support comprising:
         a body defining a plurality of seats spaced apart in a predetermined configuration from which chains can be suspended; and   at least one passage from an edge of the body to the seats.       

     Further features of the invention provide for the passage to extend to each of the seats; for there to be a plurality of passages from the edge of the body, and for each passage to provide access to at least one seat. 
     Still further features of the invention provide for the body to be substantially planar. 
     Yet further features of the invention provide for the seats to be spaced apart adjacent one another near the periphery of the body and for the body to define a passage from each of the seats to an edge of the body; and for a number of chains to be suspendable from the seats so as to form a curtain of chains suspended from the body. 
     Further features of the invention provide for the seats to be apertures through the body or, alternatively, indentations in the body; and for the chain to be a ball-chain. 
     Still further features of the invention provide for the body to be laser-cut, stamped, die-cut or water-jet-cut; and for the chain support to be an ornament or a lampshade. 
     The invention further provides a lampshade comprising:
         a substantially planar body defining a plurality of seats spaced apart in a predetermined configuration over the surface of the body;   at least one passage from an edge of the body to the seats; and a plurality of chains, each of which is suspended from a seat.       

     Further features of the invention provide for the body to define a passage from each of the seats to an edge of the body; for the seats to be apertures through the body or, alternatively, indentations in the body; for the chain to be a ball-chain; and for the body to be laser-cut, stamped, die-cut or water-jet-cut. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1 : is a top view of a chain support in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2 : is a side view of a ball-chain suitable for use with the support shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3 : is a perspective view of a ball-chain as shown in  FIG. 2 , suspended from the support as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4 : is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a chain support; 
         FIG. 5 : is a perspective view of an adaptation of the chain support of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6 : is a perspective view of a chain support in accordance with  FIG. 5  having an array of ball-chains suspended therefrom; 
         FIG. 7 : is a perspective view of a lamp shade utilizing the chain support in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 8 : is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a chain support in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 9 : is a top plan view of a further alternative embodiment of a chain support; 
         FIG. 10 : is a top plan view of a further alternative embodiment of a chain support; 
         FIG. 11 : is a perspective view of a chain support in accordance with the invention from which an alternative type of chain is suspended. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A chain support ( 10 ) is shown in  FIG. 1  and is provided by a generally planar body ( 12 ) defining a plurality, in this instance two, seats ( 14 ) in the form of apertures ( 16 ) near its edge ( 18 ). The body ( 12 ) further defines two passages ( 20 ) from the edge ( 18 ), one to each of the seats ( 14 ). 
     A ball-chain ( 22 ), as shown in  FIG. 2 , has a number of spherical balls ( 24 ) connected to one another with elongate links ( 26 ). The balls ( 24 ) are manufactured from a metallic material and the links ( 26 ) are manufactured from a flexible string. 
     In order to suspend the ball-chain ( 22 ) from the support ( 10 ), a link section ( 26 ) of a ball-chain ( 22 ) is passed through the passage ( 20 ) such that at least one of the balls ( 28 ) passes over the top of the body ( 12 ) and the remainder of the ball-chain ( 22 ) hangs below the body ( 12 ). Once the ball ( 28 ) is positioned directly above an aperture ( 16 ) it is lowered and comes to rest in the seat ( 14 ) formed by the aperture ( 16 ). In the same way, a second ball-chain ( 22 ) may be suspended from the second seat ( 14 ) thereby suspending two ball-chains ( 22 ) from the chain support ( 10 ) in a side-by-side configuration as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the chain support ( 10 ) is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the outer edges ( 30 ) of the passages ( 20 ) are rounded to create sliding surfaces ( 32 ) tapering towards the seats ( 14 ). It will be appreciated that the rounded edges ( 30 ) and the sliding surfaces ( 32 ) aid the insertion of the ball-chains ( 22 ) through the passages ( 20 ). It will also be appreciated that the distance between the innermost edges ( 34 ) of the sliding surfaces ( 32 ) may be marginally smaller than the diameter of the links ( 26 ) on the ball-chains ( 22 ). If this is the case, the links ( 26 ) will temporarily have to partially deform to move past the edges ( 34 ). Once past the edges ( 34 ), the edges ( 34 ) act as detents, preventing the links from passing back through the passages ( 20 ). 
     In  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of the chain support ( 10 ) of  FIG. 4  is shown. In this embodiment, the body ( 12 ) is cut into a predetermined shape and defines a number of seats ( 14 ) in the form of apertures ( 16 ) in a side-by-side configuration near an edge ( 18 ) of the body ( 12 ). The edge ( 12 ) in this embodiment is considerably longer than that of the body ( 12 ) in  FIG. 4 . The body also defines a number of passages ( 20 ), equal in number to the number of apertures ( 16 ) in the body. Each passage ( 20 ) extends from the edge ( 18 ) to a seat ( 14 ). The body ( 12 ) is laser-cut from a metallic material and can be cut into any required shape. In this embodiment, an array of ball-chains ( 22 ), as shown in  FIG. 3 , can be suspended from the body ( 12 ) in a side-by-side configuration, as shown in  FIG. 6 , thereby creating a curtain ( 36 ) of ball-chains ( 22 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the body ( 12 ) of the support ( 10 ) is laser-cut into a predetermined shape, and defines seats and passages, as explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , along the entire periphery of the body ( 12 ). As explained with reference to  FIG. 6 , an array of ball-chains ( 22 ) can be suspended from the body ( 12 ) and will form a closed curtain ( 36 ) of ball-chains ( 22 ). It will be appreciated that the shape of the body ( 12 ) is by no means limited. In this embodiment, the support ( 10 ) may also be retrofitted with a light-bulb socket ( 38 ). The socket ( 38 ) may be fitted below the plane of the body ( 12 ) within the boundaries of the curtain ( 36 ). If the socket ( 38 ) is connected to an electricity supply and a light bulb ( 40 ) connected to the socket ( 38 ), the ball-chain curtain ( 36 ) serves as a lampshade ( 42 ). It will be appreciated that the spherical surfaces of the balls ( 24 ) on the ball-chains ( 22 ) refract the light emitting from the bulb ( 42 ) in an aesthetically pleasing way. 
     From the above description it should be evident to a person skilled in the art that the shape of the body is by no means limited. The invention therefore lends itself to the creation of customized lamp shades or chandeliers using curtains of ball-chains suspended from the body. It should also be evident that the seat and passage configuration on the periphery of the body makes it possible for the ball-chains to be easily attached, altered or removed if necessary. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , it is also possible that the body ( 12 ) may define a plurality of seats ( 14 ), but may have a smaller number of passages ( 20 ) than the number of seats ( 14 ). In this configuration, each passage ( 20 ) may provide access to a number of seats ( 14 ). 
       FIG. 9  shows a chain support ( 10 ) in accordance with the invention having a body ( 12 ) defining alternatively shaped seats ( 14 ) in the form of indentations ( 44 ) near its edge ( 18 ) and passages ( 20 ) from the edge ( 18 ) to the seats ( 14 ), as before. It will be appreciated that the aperture as explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 8  and the indents as explained with reference to  FIG. 9 , are not the only ways of defining the seats in the body. What is of importance for the purposes of the invention is the fact that a seat must be provided which offers a measure of resistance to lateral movement of the ball seated therein. It is furthermore an important aspect of the invention that a passage is provided whereby ball-chains may be inserted from an edge of the body. 
     It is envisaged that the body may also define the seats in alternative configurations. An example of such an alternative configuration is shown in  FIG. 10  where the seats ( 14 ) are essentially arranged in two rows. Each passage ( 20 ) from the edge ( 18 ) provides access to a seat ( 14 ) positioned in each of the rows. The important aspect for the purpose of the invention is that a passage is provided to each of the seats so that ball-chains may be suspended therefrom. 
     It will also be appreciated that the body may be manufactured form any suitable material such as metal, wood, glass, board, fabrics or plastics, and also that the method of manufacturing of the body may vary depending on the material used. It is, for example, envisaged that the body may be manufactured using a variety of processes such as laser-cutting, die-cutting, stamping, water-jet-cutting, carving or any other suitable process. 
     It will furthermore be appreciated that the chain support may be used in a variety of applications of which lamp shades and chandeliers are but two. It is, for example, envisaged that the chain support may be used for creating light fittings, architectural fittings, screens, dividers and curtains as well as fashion accessories, jewelry and clothing, but are not limited in its application to these. 
     Finally, it should also be appreciated that the chain support may also be used with conventional link chains instead of ball-chains.  FIG. 11  shows the support of  FIG. 3  used for suspending link chains. 
     Although the present invention is described above in connection with a number of preferred embodiments and variations of the embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many modifications can be made to the invention described without departing from the scope of the claims that follow. For example, the shape of the body, number of seats and number of passages are not limited in any way. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the invention is in any way limited by the above description, but should instead be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.