Patent Abstract:
A system for leveling a lampshade comprising, a pivot member operative to engage a post of a lamp harp and support a spyder portion of a lampshade, and a retaining member operative to engage the post and induce a force on the spyder portion.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/934,400, filed Jun. 13, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to lamps and methods and systems involving leveling lampshades. 
     2. Description of Background 
     Lampshades are commonly used on lamps and lighting fixtures for decoration and for directing light in a particular direction. Often lampshades are attached to a lamp with a fastener. The components of lamps are often made of metal that can be bent out of shape if subjected to a force resulting from a fall or from a blow. If a component of a lamp is bent out of shape, the lampshade may not be level to a table or floor. Thus, it is desirable to limit the effects on lamp components when subjected to a force, and to allow for a lampshade to automatically adjust to being level if the lamp components are bent. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Systems and methods involving leveling lampshades are provided. In this regard, an exemplary embodiment comprises a system for leveling a lampshade comprising, a pivot member operative to engage a post of a lamp harp and support a spyder portion of a lampshade, and a retaining member operative to engage the post and induce a force on the spyder portion. 
     An embodiment comprises a lamp comprising, a harp having a post, a pivot member engaging the harp operative to support a spyder portion of a lampshade, and a retaining member operative to engage the post and exert a force on the spyder portion. 
     A method of assembling a lampshade leveling system, the method comprising, placing a spyder portion of a lampshade on a pivot member, placing a damper in a cavity of the spyder portion, threading a retaining member onto a post of a lamp harp. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and/or advantages of the present invention will be or may become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and/or advantages be included within this description and protected by the accompanying claims. 
     Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are side partially cutaway views illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system. 
         FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are side partially cutaway views illustrating an alternate exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system. 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are side partially cutaway views illustrating another alternate exemplary embodiment of a lamp and a lampshade leveling system. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an alternate embodiment of a harp of a lampshade leveling system. 
         FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are side partially cutaway views illustrating of another alternate exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system. 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Systems and methods involving leveling lampshades are provided. Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1   a  is a side partially cutaway view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system  100 . 
     The lampshade leveling system  100  comprises a finial  102 , a retaining member  104 , a damper  106 , a spyder  108 , a pivot member  110 , a lampshade  112 , a post  114 , and a harp  116 . 
       FIG. 1   b  is a side partially cutaway view illustrating the assembled lampshade leveling system  100 . The lampshade leveling system  100  is assembled by placing the pivot member  110  over the post  114  that is connected to the harp  116 . The pivot member  110  has a cavity that is a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the post  114 . The post  114  engages the cavity and extends through the pivot  110  member such that threads of the post  114  are exposed. The pivot member has an outer profile that is curved. 
     The lampshade  112  is placed on the post  114  by placing a center cavity of the spyder  108  over the post  114 . A bottom surface of the spyder  108  rests on the curved profile of the pivot member  110 . In the illustrated embodiment, the damper  106  is placed over the post  114  and rests on the curved profile of the pivot member and in the center cavity of the spyder  108 . The damper  106  in the illustrated embodiment is an O-ring, however other types of elastic or malleable dampers may be used, including multiple dampers  106 . The embodiment is not limited to O-rings and may include any suitable damping material. Alternate embodiments may not include a damper  106 . 
     The retaining member  104  has a cavity  105  that may be threaded and engages threads of the post  114 . A bottom surface of the retaining member  104  contacts the damper  106 . The finial  102  may be attached to a threaded post  103  of the retaining member  104  and engages the threaded portion threaded post  103  with a threaded cavity  101 . The retaining member  104  may include a flange portion  107  having an outer diameter. 
     In operation, when a force is implied on the lampshade  112 , the spyder  108  pivots on the pivot member  110 . The pivot member  110  may remain substantially stationary relative to the motion of the spyder  108 . The post  114  and the harp  116  also may remain stationary. Thus, the spyder  108  pivots relative to the post  114  and the harp  116 . The force of gravity eventually returns the lampshade  112  to a position level with a table or floor. 
     The retaining member  104  exerts a compressive force on the damper  106 . The compressive force on the damper  106  may be adjusted by rotating the retaining member  104  on the post  114 . By tightening the retaining member  104  onto the post  114 , the compressive force exerted on the damper  106  is increased. The compressive force may act to expand the damper  106  radially from the post  114 . As the damper  106  expands, the effects of the damper  106  on the motion of the spyder  108  is increased. Thus, by tightening the retaining member  104 , the range of motion of the spyder  108  and the lampshade  112  may be controlled. Additionally, the amount of force necessary to pivot the spyder  108  increases with the tightening of the retaining member  104 . 
     The retaining member  104  includes a flange portion  107 . The flange portion  107  increases the range of motion of the spyder  108 . The flange portion  108  effectively reduces the diameter of the retaining member  104  in the cavity of the spyder  108  allowing greater clearance when the spyder  108  pivots. 
     The illustrated exemplary embodiment, the lampshade  112  includes a weight  118  that may be adjusted by a user to ensure that the lampshade  112  is balanced. Preferably, the balanced lampshade will return to a position level with a table or floor following a bump from a user. The weight  118  may be magnetic so that it attaches magnetically to the lampshade  112 . Alternatively, the weight  118  may be secured to the lampshade  112  with an adhesive, or another securing means such as Velcro. In another exemplary embodiment, the lampshade  112  may be balanced in or after production to ensure that the lampshade  112  returns to a level position. 
     The lampshade leveling system  100  also has the advantage of allowing the lampshade  112  to be level even if the harp  116  or other components of a lamp are misaligned, misformed, or deformed. 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a side partially cutaway view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system. In the illustrated embodiment, lampshade leveling system  200  includes a spyder  208  that has a shaped interior surface  209 . In this embodiment, the shaped interior surface  209  is curved such that it has a profile that engages the pivot member  210 . This embodiment is but one example of the shaped interior surface  209 . The shaped interior surface  209  may be, but is not limited to a beveled shape, or another curved shape that facilitates the pivoting of the lampshade  212 . The reduced profile of spyder  208  may allow for a finial  202  to act as a retaining member.  FIG. 2   b  illustrates a side partially cutaway view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system  200  where the lampshade  212  is angled. 
       FIG. 3   a  illustrates a side partially cutaway view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system. In the illustrated embodiment, lampshade leveling system  300  includes a retaining member  304  having an incorporated finial portion  302 , and a lamp  350  connected to a harp  316 . The incorporated finial portion  302  allows a simplified design without using a threaded portion to attach a separate finial  102  (as shown in  FIG. 1   a ).  FIG. 3   b  illustrates a side partially cutaway view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system  300  where the lampshade  312  is angled. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate partially cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system. In the illustrated embodiment, lampshade leveling system  400  includes a pivot member  410  that is attached to a harp  416 . A threaded post  414  is connected to the pivot member  410 . The lampshade leveling system  400  reduces the number of separate components used in assembling the system  400 , and operates in a similar manner as the embodiments described above. 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  include a partially cutaway view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a lampshade leveling system. In the illustrated embodiment, lampshade leveling system  500  includes a spyder  508  having a reduced vertical profile. The vertical profile of the spyder  508  is reduced by incorporating a cavity  510  in the upper surface of the spyder  508 . 
     While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims that follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5