Abstract:
The invention is directed to a combination lampshade assembly. The assembly consists of a base lampshade with a closed outer surface, with an upper opening and lower opening and a generally uniform closed surface area between them. The base lampshade assembly has no visible connecting devices or means which would differentiate it from the outward appearance of a standard lampshade. The base lampshade may be of opaque, transparent or translucent material. A rigid outer lampshade assembly is configured to fit over the standard lampshade base assembly and is held in place gravitationally by contact between the base assembly and the outer assembly. The outer assembly may be in two interchangeable pieces, with an inner sheath, and an outer cover with cut-out designs on its surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/215,146, filed Jun. 30, 2000, for a Combination Lampshade, and claims the benefit of said filing date. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to lampshades generally, and, more specifically, to a combination lampshade device primarily directed to providing interchangeable outwardly appearing lampshades over a base which may be independently utilized as a lampshade, without the use of any affixing means, beyond the shape of the individual elements. 
     The concept of a cover for an existing lampshade, either for protection, or for varying the outward appearance, only, is generally known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,506, issued to Dunbar, provides a removable lampshade cover which is secured to an existing lampshade, at its top and/or at its bottom, by elastic band fastening means. U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,412, to Glendmyer, discloses a removable cover for an existing lampshade by utilization of VELCRO fasteners affixed both to the cover material and to the existing lampshade. U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,912, to Bendit, discloses a lampshade dressing kit for receiving fabric over an existing lampshade frame by clamping strips to the upper and lower rims of the existing lampshade frame where said strips are utilized to hold the added material in place. U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,474, to Leitner et al, discloses a do-it-yourself lampshade kit for preparing and affixing material to a base lampshade utilizing adhesive means. U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,902, issued to Hyland et al, discloses a universal foldable lampshade of pleated material which may be reduced in circumference at its upper end and held in place primarily by a strip of double-sided adhesive tape. U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,715, to Anderson, discloses a lampshade cover utilizing a drawstring and/or elastic band to hold the same in place. U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,216, to Chong et al, discloses a pleated lampshade cover and method which utilizes one or more circumferential elastic bands to hold the cover in position. 
     While all of the referenced prior art relates, in some respects, to covering an existing lampshade, or lampshade frame, with different material, or a different “appearance,” all of said applications are directed to separate and distinct fastening “means” such as adhesive, drawstring, or elastic bands to hold the cover in place. Further, the applications shown in the prior art, as an example, the Glendmyer patent, require a modification to the base shade, which renders the base shade unacceptable for use standing alone without the cover, or, as in the case of the Dunbar patent, or the Anderson patent, utilize fastening means beyond the shape of the cover, which present, when in place, a different shape, or overall “feel” than that provided by the base standing alone. The referenced prior art is not directed to a combination lampshade assembly which may be used as a complete assembly combination or may be utilized in conjunction with existing lampshade assemblies, which allows, at the user&#39;s option, the existing base shade to be utilized alone without visible modification or in combination with one or more outer shells, which do not change the outer shape of the overall assembly from the outer shape of the base lampshade assembly, and which one or more outer shells may be held in place solely by the “fit” of each successive outer shade over the base shade, or any succeeding outer shade, by the force of gravity, and without additional fastening means. 
     Neither does the known prior art address the present invention&#39;s feature of providing a combination outer shade utilizing one or more translucent inner shades, and one or more outer shades having “cut-out” areas, thereby providing the ability to provide, not only a variety of external surface appearances, but, within those appearances, an infinite variety of visible lighted designs and a virtual unlimited supply of translucent colors. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a combination lampshade which does not require any modification to the base lampshade assembly which would prevent it from being utilized alone, in an aesthetically pleasing manner, and which will permit interchangeable variations of the outer appearance of the entire assembly while maintaining the appearance of a single shade. 
     Further, a need additionally exists for a lampshade assembly, as mentioned above, in which the external component or cover may be interchanged without application and/or adjustment of any other fastening means, and which can be immediately returned to the original application without removal of any fastening means. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to the provision of a lampshade assembly device, which is essentially a combination lampshade having a base lampshade element, which is, essentially, a standard lampshade, which combination lampshade does not require any modification to the base lampshade assembly which would prevent it from being utilized alone. It is further directed to a combination lampshade which, in combination with the base lampshade, provides a lampshade cover element, which may be of one, or two, separate elements, which lampshade cover or shade may be included in any number of interchangeable variations. The invention, in its base form, constitutes a combination lampshade which includes a standard base lampshade having a uniform outer surface, an upper opening and a lower opening, with a differentiation in surface area of the openings whereas the diameter of the base lampshade increases from top to bottom. 
     An outer lampshade cover, of a rigid material sufficient to allow it to stand alone, is provided. The cover rigid cover lampshade may be provided in multiple units, all interchangeable. It is configured so that it is slightly larger than the base lampshade, but uniformly configured to match it so that it may be placed over the base lampshade and, in such placement, the outer diameter of the base lampshade and the inner diameter of the cover lampshade correspond in a male-female relationship with the top opening and bottom opening of the base lampshade and of the cover lampshade defining areas, for the top and the bottom, which are substantially in the same horizontal plane, with the outer surface of the base lampshade contacting the inner surface of the cover lampshade across their respective general surface areas. The cover lampshade is held in place, gravitationally, by such contact and, when properly configured, covers the outer surface of the base lampshade. 
     According to a further feature of the invention, the base lampshade may be constructed of an opaque, transparent or translucent material and the cover lampshade may be configured so as to provide cut-out areas whereby light from the lamp, through the opaque base shade, may project defined images through the outer cover lampshade, when the inner shade is transparent or translucent. 
     According to a further feature of the invention, the cover lampshade element may be provided in two parts, with each part being available in multiple interchangeable variations. In this feature of the invention, an inner shade element is provided which may be of rigid or non-rigid material, with its shape generally conforming to the outer shape of the base lampshade. This inner cover shade is constructed of opaque, translucent or transparent material. A second or outer cover shade is provided having cut-out areas in it so that, when used in combination with a translucent or transparent base shade material, light from the lamp may be projected through the base shade, further through the inner shade, and through cut-outs on the rigid outer shade, to provide lighted defined images of varying shapes and/or colors or levels of intensity depending upon the combination of inner and outer shades chosen. For example, a translucent inner shade may be of different degrees of translucency, or of different colors. One outer shade may be used with a variety of inner shades, or, the variations may be combined in any desired combination. As stated, the lamp can always be utilized with simply a single outer shade, or with only the base lampshade assembly. 
     The outer shade element may, of course, be constructed of an opaque material without cut-outs, simply to provide a variation in that manner as well. 
     The base lampshade element, in all applications, provides a means, normally standard for such lampshades, for affixing the same to the lamp itself. 
     The above and additional features of the invention may be considered and will become apparent in conjunction with the drawings, in particular, and the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled combination lampshade, according to the invention, as mounted on a lamp; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a combination lampshade showing a standard base shade assembly and one interchangeable outer shade, as mounted on a lamp; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an interchangeable cover shade defining cut-out areas; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, assembled, including two interchangeable cover shades utilized together, with the first outer shade of an opaque material and the second outer shade defining cut-out areas; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the invention showing a two part outer shade used in combination with the base shade, with the first portion of the outer shade being opaque and the second portion of the outer shade defining cut-out areas; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a combination lampshade in the form of a four-sided truncated pyramid structure, mounted on a lamp; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a combination lampshade in the form of a truncated three-sided triangular combination as mounted on a lamp; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line  5 — 5  of FIGS. 1 and 4; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of a combination lampshade comprising a disassembled base shade assembly and outer shade combination; 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of a combination lampshade comprising a disassembled base shade assembly and outer shade combination; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a combination lampshade comprising a disassembled base shade assembly and outer shade combination; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of a combination lampshade, disassembled, showing a base shade assembly, a first opaque outer shade and a second outer shade defining cut-out areas; 
     FIG. 13 is a top view of a combination lampshade, disassembled, showing a base shade assembly, a first opaque outer shade and a second outer shade defining cut-out areas; 
     FIG. 14 is a bottom view of a combination lampshade, disassembled, showing a base shade assembly, a first opaque outer shade and a second outer shade defining cut-out areas; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Throughout the following detailed description, like numerals are used to reference the same element of the present invention, although the same may be shown in more than one figure thereof. 
     The invention combination lampshade  10 , broadly considered, includes a base lampshade assembly  11 , which is essentially a standard lampshade, with an upper opening  12  and a lower opening  13 , the exterior surface  14  of base lampshade assembly is a generally uniform closed surface  14  running between the upper opening  12  and lower opening  13 , with a corresponding closed inner surface  15 . The upper opening  12  defines a surface area A and the lower opening  13  defines a surface area B. The uniform closed surface  14  runs from the upper opening  12  to the lower opening  13 . Area B is larger than area A, thence the diameter C of the closed uniform surface  14  surrounding area B is greater than the diameter D of the closed uniform surface  14  surrounding area A. The closed uniform surface  14  presents a truncated outer appearance which runs generally uniformly at an increasing diameter from the upper opening  12  to the lower opening  13 . 
     The base assembly  11  is affixed to a lamp  20  by a standard bracket  16  or other means as may be generally known and available. 
     The invention  10  further includes a rigid outer lampshade assembly  30 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this rigid outer lampshade assembly  30  is constructed of material of sufficient rigidly to allow it to stand alone and maintain its structural integrity. 
     The rigid outer lampshade assembly  30 , similarly to the base lampshade assembly  11 , has an upper opening  31  and a lower opening  32 , defining, respectively, surface areas AA and BB. Assembly  30 , likewise, has a closed exterior surface  33  encircling and running between the upper opening  31  and lower opening  32 . Surface area AA is smaller than surface area BB in substantially the same ratio as surface area A is smaller than surface area B in base lampshade assembly  11 . The rigid outer lampshade assembly  30  also has a closed interior surface  34  which corresponds to the closed exterior or outer surface  33 . Both interior surface  34  and exterior surface  33  are truncated in the same manner as the outer surface  14  and inner surface  15  of base lampshade assembly  11 . 
     The outer lampshade assembly  30  is sized and configured so that the outer closed surface  14  of base assembly  11  fits removably within the closed interior surface  34  of the rigid outer lampshade assembly  30  in a male-female relationship as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When in place in said male-female relationship, the closed outer surface  14  of base assembly  11  and the closed inner surface  34  of outer assembly  30  contact each across the areas of their respective surfaces, the respective surface areas A and AA are substantially within the same horizontal plane, the respective surface areas B and BB are substantially within the same horizontal plan, and the outer assembly  30  completely covers the closed outer surface of the base assembly  11 , with the outer assembly  30  being held in place, gravitationally, by circumferential contact with the base assembly  11 . 
     The rigid outer lampshade assembly  30  may be provided in one or more interchangeable assemblies constructed of different materials or colors, and may be opaque or translucent. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the base lampshade assembly  11  may also function alone as a lampshade if the outer assembly  30  is removed. 
     In a variation of the preferred embodiment, the closed outer surface  14  of the base lampshade assembly  11  may be alternately constructed of opaque, translucent, or transparent material. The outer closed surface  33  and corresponding inner closed surface  34  may also define one or more apertures  35  in the shape of desired designs. When the outer surface  14  of the base assembly  11  is opaque, and outer assembly  30  is in place, the design of the aperture(s)  35  may be apparent because of color or material variation. When said outer surface  14  is transparent, said aperture(s)  35  may be visible by radiated light or lack of color, and when said outer surface  14  is translucent, said aperture(s)  35  may be visible because of any combination of these factors. When outer assembly  30  is provided in interchangeable units, as previously described, such units may vary on their outer surface  33  and inner surface  34  in color, material, and/or in design, number and combination of apertures  35  provided. 
     In another variation of the preferred embodiment, the outer shade assembly  30  may be provided where such assembly  30  has a first cover shade or member  40  having an upper opening  41  a lower opening  42 , an upper defined surface area AAA and lower defined surface area BBB, as well as a closed outer surface  43  and corresponding closed inner surface  44 , in the manner as generally described above for a single unit outer lampshade assembly  30 . In addition, such first cover shade or member  40  may not necessarily be of rigid material, but is sized and configured to fit over the outer surface  14  of the base assembly  11  in a male-female relationship. Said member  40  may be of opaque, transparent or translucent material, and may be of varying degrees of translucence and/or varying colors. 
     In this variation of the preferred embodiment, as demonstrated in FIGS. 5,  12 ,  13  and  14 , assembly  30  has a second cover shade or member  50 , generally comprised of the same elements as such assembly  30  has in the initial preferred embodiment. Said second member  50  is constructed of a rigid material sufficient to allow it to stand alone and maintain its structural integrity; it has an upper opening  51 , and lower opening  52 , defining surface areas corresponding substantially to surface areas AA and BB in the initial preferred embodiment. Second member  50  likewise, has a closed exterior surface  53  encircling and running between the upper opening  51  and lower opening  52 . The defined surface area corresponding to AA is smaller than that corresponding to BB in substantially the same ratio as surface area A is smaller than surface area B in the base assembly  11 . Second member  50  also has a closed interior surface  54  which corresponds to the closed exterior or outer surface  53 . Both interior surface  54  and outer surface  53  are truncated in the same manner as provided for base lampshade assembly  11 , and first member  40 . 
     First member  40  and second member  50  are respectively sized and configured so that the outer closed outer surface  14  of base assembly  11  fits removably within the interior or inner surface  44  of the first element  40  in a male-female relationship as shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, and the closed outer surface  43  of first element  40  fits removably within the closed interior surface  54  of the second element  50 , in a like male-female relationship, as likewise shown in said FIGS. 5 and 12. When in place, the closed surface  14  and closed inner surface  44 , the closed outer surface  43  and closed inner surface  54 , respectively, contact each other across their respective surfaces, with the respective surface areas A, AA and AAA substantially within the same horizontal plane, and the respective surface areas B, BB and BBB substantially within the same horizontal plane. The second element  50  completely covers first element  40  and base assembly  11 , with the outer assembly  30 , in its entirety, being held in place, gravitationally, by circumferential contact with the base assembly  11 , by the first member  40 , and like circumferential contact between first member  40  and second member  50 . In this variation of the preferred embodiment, the second element  50  of assembly  30  may be constructed alternatively of opaque or translucent material and may contain apertures  35  of type and combination as previously described for outer assembly  30 . Any combination of one or more each interchangeable first elements  40  and second elements  50  may be provided. 
     WHEREAS, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent that further and various changes may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.