Abstract:
There is provided a lampshade frame that shifts between an erect, use configuration and a collapsed configuration for shipping, packaging and/or storage. The frame includes an upper hoop and a lower hoop with segmented ribs extending between the hoops. Each of the segmented ribs includes at least two segments that are interconnected by a sleeve that allows them to shift between an extended position, where the length of the rib is maximized for erecting the lampshade, and a retraced state, where the length of the rib is shortened for collapsing the lampshade. The sleeve also locks the ribs in the extended state against unintentional collapse of the lampshade frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to lampshades and, more particularly, to a lampshade frame with segmented ribs that shift relative to one another to achieve both an erect state and a collapsed state. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The need for collapsible lampshades stems from the fact that it is more cost effective to store and ship lampshades if they are flat than when they are erect because this reduces the amount of space that these lampshades require during shipment. In addition, shipping a lampshade in the collapsed position minimizes the chance of damage to the lampshade. Accordingly, there have been a number of collapsible lampshades in the prior art that have been developed to satisfy this need. However, these solutions have been unsatisfactory for several reasons. 
     One prior solution to this problems is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,048 to Barnes. This patent shows a collapsible lampshade that has a number of ribs extending directly between the upper and lower hoops. These ribs are rotatably attached to the top and bottom hoops and are articulated with a pivot at about the middle of each rib. The central hub actuates a slide that locks the pivot of each rib to form the lampshade. This solution has two problems with it. First, this design includes many more parts than a conventional lampshade which increases the cost of the lampshade. Second, the position of the central hub is too low for the lampshade to fit properly with some lamps. 
     Other prior solutions including those show in U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,222 to Gall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,099 to Vicars-Harris, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,801 to Mainieks have multiple parts that need to be assembled by the end user. This can be time consuming and can frustrate the end user. Accordingly, there exists a need for a collapsible lampshade that is one piece, that is cost effective, and that is simple for the end user to erect and attach to a lamp. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a lampshade frame that can be shifted between an erect state for use and a collapsed state for shipping, packaging and/or storage. A lampshade frame in accordance with the present invention includes an upper hoop, a lower hoop and at least one segmented rib extending between and pivotally attached to the upper and lower hoops. The at least one segmented rib has at least a first segment and a second segment. The segments are capable of shifting relative to one another between and an extended state to hold the lampshade frame erect and a retracted state relative to one another to allow the lampshade frame to collapse. A sleeve interconnects the first and second segments and aids in locking the segments in the extended state against unintentional movement to maintain the lampshade frame erect and upon selective activation allows the segments to move relative to another to retract and collapse the lampshade frame. 
     The sleeve may be fixed relative to the first segment and may surround at least a portion of the second segment. The second segment also may have a notch that receives a portion of the sleeve to lock the segments in the extended state to maintain the lampshade frame erect. The second segment may also be capable of sliding through the sleeve when the segments are being shifted between the extended and retracted states. 
     The segments further maybe capable of pivoting at the hoops when the segments are being shifted between the extended and retracted states. In addition, the segments in the extended state may create an inward biasing force which further locks the sleeve into the shelf of the second segment. 
     The first segment may be pivotally attached to the upper hoop, and the second segment may be pivotally attached to the lower hoop. The upper hoop may also include an upper ring and a lower ring. The lower ring attaches the at least one segmented rib, and the upper ring defines at least one slot to allow the at least one segmented rib to pivot. The at least one segmented rib may be a plurality of segmented ribs. 
     The upper hoop may further includes a hub for mounting the lampshade and at least one spider member extending between the upper hoop and the hub. The at least one spider may include a plurality of spider members. Each of the plurality of spider members may extend downward and inward toward the hub to position the hub below the upper hoop. 
     The lampshade frame may further comprise a cover that extends between the upper and lower hoops. The cover may define holes whereby the segmented ribs and spider arms can extend through the cover to attach to the upper and lower hoops. The cover also may be capable of engaging the second segment of the segmented rib, thereby aiding the notch in receiving a portion of the sleeve when in the elongated state. In addition, there may be an internal liner that covers the segmented ribs. This liner may be a predetermined size large enough so that it does not interfere with the movement of the upper hoop, lower hoop, and segmented ribs. 
     Also in accordance with the present invention is a method of erecting a lampshade. The method of erecting a lampshade from a collapsed state includes the step of providing a lampshade frame having an upper hoop, a lower hoop and a plurality of segmented ribs extending between the upper and lower hoops. Each of the segmented ribs has at least two rib segments being interconnected by a sleeve that allows the ribs segments to move relative to one another. Finally, a shade cover extends between the upper and lower hoops and over the segmented ribs. To erect this lampshade, one moves the upper hoop and the lower hoop with a constant action in opposite directions to one another. Once the hoops are moved as far apart as the shade cover allows, the sleeve is designed to lock each of the segmented ribs in an extended state. More specifically, for example, to lock the segmented ribs in an extended state relative to one another with the sleeves, each of the sleeves may be fixed relative to one of the segmented ribs and the other of the segmented ribs may slide through the sleeve so that a notch-like construction may engage the sleeve to form a locking engagement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lampshade frame having segmented ribs with sleeves that lock the rib segments in the erect state and allow the rib segments to shift to achieve the collapsed state; 
     FIG. 2 is perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 1 with a shade cover and an internal liner covering the segmented ribs; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 1 showing the pivotal connection between a rib segment and the lower hoop; 
     FIG. 4 a  is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 1 showing the sleeve and notch engagement between rib segments; 
     FIG. 4 b  is an enlarged, partial elevational view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 1 showing the pivotal connection between a rib segment and the upper hoop; 
     FIG. 4 c  is an enlarged perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 2 showing a user erecting or collapsing the lampshade frame depending on the direction (see arrows); 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 2 with the internal liner omitted to show a few of the holes through the cover that allow attachment of the spider arms and rib segments to the upper hoop; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 1 showing the upper hoop, spider arms, central hub and rib segments; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 1 showing the operation of the segmented ribs in a collapsing motion; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the lampshade frame of FIG. 2 in the collapsed state; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of a lampshade with an alternate construction compared to the lampshade of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the upper segment of the lampshade of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is embodied in a lampshade frame  10  that can be easily erected and collapsed for effective and efficient packaging and/and or storage (see also FIGS.  2  and  8 ). The frame  10  includes in general an upper hoop  12  and a lower hoop  14 , each of which preferably has a circular cross-section and defines a circular perimeter. Ribs segmented  16  into an upper segment  18  and lower segment  24  extend between the upper and lower hoops  12  and  14 . The upper segment  18  pivotally attaches to the upper hoop  12 , and the lower segment  24  also pivotally attaches to the lower hoop  14 . A sleeve  22  interconnects the upper and lower segments  18  and  24  and allows the segments  18  and  24  to shift relative to one another between an a fully extended state (FIG. 1) when the frame  10  is completely erect and a fully retracted state (FIG. 8) when the frame  10  is collapsed. In the erect state, each sleeve  22  cooperates with a notch in one of the segmented ribs  16  to lock the segments  18  and  24  against unintentional movement. More specifically, the hollow sleeve  22  is fixed to one of rib segment and its surrounds the other. 
     The number of segmented ribs  16  generally depends on the overall size of the lampshade frame. The larger the lampshade frame, then the number of segmented ribs would typically increase. For example, where the upper hoop has a diameter of approximately 4 inches and the lower hoops has a diameter of approximately 11 inches, the preferred number of segmented ribs is six, as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The segmented ribs, as wells as the other components, i.e., the hoops, sleeves, etc., may be made of any material of suitable rigidity, such as metals and plastics, that can support a lampshade cover and are tolerant of the heat generated by conventional light bulbs. 
     A shade cover  32  also extends between the upper and lower hoops  12  and  14 . With respect to the illustrated lampshade frame  10 , since the upper hoop  12  is smaller in diameter than the lower hoop  14 , the shade cover  32  takes a conical or frustoconical shape, enhancing the cosmetic appeal of the lampshade  10  (see FIG.  2 ). 
     More specifically, with each segmented rib  16 , the upper segment  18  has an upper end  18   a  and a lower end  18   b . As illustrated in FIG. 4 a , the sleeve  22  is fixed permanently to the lower end  18   b  with any suitable method of attachment, such as by welding or a secure type of glue. The preferred lower end  18   b  is configured to provide sufficient surface for the attachment of the sleeve  22 . For example, it could be flattened or configured, as illustrated in FIG. 4 a , to match the profile of the outer surface of the sleeve. The sleeve is mounted on the inward side (toward the center of frame) of the lower end  18   a  of the upper segment  18 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4 b , a pivotal connection  20  affixes the upper end  18   a  of each upper rib segment  18  to the upper hoop  12 . The pivotal connection  20  includes a ring  38  that extends downward from the upper hoop  12 . The ring can be glued or welded on to the upper hoop  12 . The upper end  18   a  of the upper rib segment  18  defines a hole  40  through which the ring  38  passes. To facilitate pivoting, the upper end  18   a  is preferably flattened at the hole, this also enables the ring  38  to be narrow and more elongated to restrict lateral movement at the pivotal attachment  20 . 
     Referring the FIGS. 3 and 4 a , the lower rib segment  24  includes an upper end  24   a  and a lower end  24   b . A second pivotal connection  26  affixes the lower end  24   b  to the lower hoop  14 . The second pivotal connection  26  includes a short tube or sleeve-like structure  30  that is affixed on and generally perpendicular to the lower end  24   b . The tube  30  may be affixed in a suitable manner, such as by a weld or glue. The tube  30  encompasses the circular cross-section of the lower hoop  14 . Because of the radius of curvature of the lower hoop  14 , the tube  30  is relatively short, such as, for example, when compared to the interconnecting sleeve  22 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4 a , the lower rib segment  24  extends through the sleeve  22 . The sleeve  22  enables the lower rib segment  24  to be shifted relative to the upper rib segment  18  to change the effective length of the rib between an expanded state (as shown in solid lines) and a retracted state (as shown in dashed lines). More specifically, a user simply needs to move the upper and lower hoops  12  and  14  toward one another to retract the segmented ribs  16  to their shortest length to collapse the lampshade frame  10  and away from one another to extend the segmented ribs  16  to their maximums length to achieve the erect state for the lampshade frame  10 . The pivotal connections  20  at the upper hoop  12  enable the upper segments  18  to pivot outward when shifting to the collapse state and inward when shifting to the erect state. Similarly, the pivotal connections  26  at the lower hoop  14  enable the lower segments  24  to pivot inward when shifting to the collapse state and outward when shifting to the erect state. 
     Each sleeve also serves in locking the segmented ribs in their extended state to maintain the lampshade frame in the erect state against unintentionally collapse. That is, to erect the lampshade, a user simply needs to move the hoops  12  and  14  in opposite directions away from each other to lock the segmented ribs. It is preferred that this movement be a single constant action to erect the lampshade with no other assembly, such as interconnecting additional parts. This facilitates quick set-up of the lampshade for use. 
     More specifically, the lower edge of the sleeve  22  is received in a notch  28  defined by the outer side of the upper end  24   a  of the lower segment  24 . This engagement occurs when the lower end  24   a  is brought into the sleeve  22  to maximize the length of the segmented rib  16 . To further facilitate this locking engagement, the rib segments  18  and  24  are bowed inward slightly to create a biasing effect that tends to force the lower edge of the sleeve  22  into the notch  28 . In other words, this inward movement is created by the shape of the segmented rib  16 , which is slightly bowed to accommodate the frustoconical shape of the shade cover  32 , which in turn, forces the hollow sleeve  22  to press on the surface of the upper end portion  24   a  that faces toward the outside of the lampshade frame  10  until it reaches the notch  28 , which also faces toward the outside of the lampshade  10 . It then snaps into the notch  28 . In the erected state, the tension of the shade cover  32  being stretched between the upper and lower hoops  12  and  14  also provides generally uniform pressure on the segmented ribs, thereby aiding in maintaining the lower edge of the sleeve in the notch  28 . In addition, the shade  32  cover prohibits the upper hoop  12  and lower hoop  14  from being spread too far apart, which prevents the lower segment  24  from being pulled out of the sleeve  22  which would effectively dismantle the lampshade frame  10 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the user can move the upper hoop  12  and lower hoop  14  toward each other to collapse the lampshade  10 . However, before moving the hoops  12  and  14  toward one another, one needs to release the locking engagement between the sleeves  22  and notches  28 . This is done by reaching inside the lampshade frame and gently pressing outward on each of the sleeves  22  until they slide off the notches, which causes them to release. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a shade cover  32  that is made of cloth or other material is attached to the upper hoop  12  by having its top end  42  encircle the upper hoop  12  where it is sewn or glued to itself and is also attached to the lower hoop  14  by having its lower end  44  encircle the lower hoop  14  where it is also sewn or glued to itself. There are also holes  46  cut into the shade cover  32  through which the spider members  48  and first portion  18  of the segmented ribs  16  extend. These holes  46 , located near the lower hoop  14 , also allow the segmented ribs  16  to move so that the lampshade  10  may be erected or collapsed without interference from the shade cover  32 . Consequently, the shade cover  32  can be attached last of all the components of the lampshade  10 . In addition, there also may be an internal liner  33  that may extend between the upper hoop  12  and lower hoop  14  to cover the segmented ribs  16  of the lampshade frame  10 . The internal liner  33  may be sufficiently opaque so the segmented ribs  16  cannot be seen by an observer looking through the top or bottom openings of the lampshade. This liner must be large enough so that it allows the upper hoop  12 , lower hoop  14 , and segmented ribs  16  to move freely without any interference. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, three spider members  48  are shown that are attached to the inside of the upper hoop  12  and extend toward the center of the upper hoop  12  where they are attached to the central hub  50 . These spider members  48  are capable of suitably transferring the weight of the lampshade  10  to the central hub  50  which has a hole  52  in its center for receiving a screw (not shown) from a lamp (not shown) upon which a nut (not shown) is screwed, thereby securing the lampshade frame  10  to a lamp. Since the central hub  50  is only near the top of the lampshade  10  and the spider members  48  bend down from the upper hoop  12 , this attachment can be satisfactorily hidden from view, thereby increasing the cosmetic appeal of the lampshade  10 . Further, any number of spider members may be employed, especially depending on the size of the lampshade and/or the shape of the lampshade. For example, the larger the lampshade, then the more spider members would generally be used. In addition, for square cross-sectioned lampshades, four spider members are generally used. 
     Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of a lampshade frame. The alternate lampshade frame  110  includes an upper hoop  112  and a number of segmented ribs  116 , each with an upper rib segment  118  and a lower rib segment  124 . 
     More specifically, the upper hoop  112  includes a ring  154  with a circular cross-section. The ring  154  is made up of two arcuate segments  154   a ,  154   b . The first arcuate segment  154  extends less than, but over a majority of, the three hundred sixty degrees of a circle. The second arcuate segment  154   b  extends the remainder of the circle. There may be breaks between the first and second segments  154   a ,  154   b.    
     The upper hoop  112  also includes a circular band  158  with a rectangular cross-section. The ring  154  attaches to the bottom edge of the band  158 . The band  158  includes a series of vertical slots  160 , wherein each slot  160  is employed in attaching one of the segmented ribs  116  by way of the upper segment  118 . That is, the upper end of each upper rib segment  118  includes a hole  140 . The ring  154  threads through the hole to attach the rib  116  to the upper hoop  112 . The slot  160  allows the upper end room to pivot as the shade is shifted between the erect and collapsed state. 
     The upper hoop  112  and the attachment of the segmented ribs  116  is done in the following general manner. First, the first arcuate segment  154   a  of the ring  154  is threaded through the hole  140  of all but one of the upper ribs segments  118 . The circular band  158  is then placed on top of the first arcuate segment  154   a  with the upper rib segments  118  spaced so that they each line up with one of the slots  160 . The circular band  158  is then glued, welded or otherwise secured to the first arcuate segment  154 . The first arcuate segment  154   a  and the slots  160  allow each of the segmented ribs  116  to pivot freely. The slots  160  also maintain the circumferential spacing between each of the segmented ribs  116 . 
     Second, the second arcuate segment  154   b  of the ring  154  is threaded through the hole  140  of the upper rib segment  118  of the remaining segmented rib  116 . Then, the second arcuate segment  154  is mated with the circular band  158  with the upper end of the upper rib segment  118  aligned with the remaining slot  160 . The second arcuate segment  154   b  and the circular band  158  are secured together by gluing, welding or other attachment method. 
     This embodiment of the lampshade frame  110  has the advantage of being easily and cost-effectively manufactured and assembled. For example, in addition to the assembly steps described above, the upper rib segments  118  can be manufactured from plastics and can be made using a plastic injection molding process, which is cost advantageous. Thus, for example, the sleeve  122  can be molded integral with the upper rib segment  118 . In addition the lower rib segments  124  could also be manufactured from plastics and made using a plastic injection molding process. The notch  128  of the lower rib segment  124  would be molded integral therewith. Otherwise, the operation and structure of this embodiment is similar to that of the previously described lampshade frame  10 . 
     While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the particular embodiments illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the description of the appended claims.